Enragement

"Open Personal Panel."

[Suzuki Tsubame]

[Physique: 10]

[Intelligence: 9.5]

[Skills: Board Games Mastery, Ball Sports Mastery, ...]

So gaining skills could also boost intelligence at the same time? That made sense.

Suzuki Tsubame felt that the strength in his clenched fist had increased considerably, though he had no idea exactly how much stronger he had become.

With one hand, he could easily lift a double bed 1.8 meters wide. He had no idea whether that counted as impressive.

He arrived at the classroom.

Suzuki Tsubame activated System Scan and looked first at the powerful characters from the original work.

[Koenji Rokusuke]

[Physique: 9.7]

[Intelligence: 9.5]

...

[Hirata Yosuke]

[Physique: 9.2]

[Intelligence: 8.9]

...

[Sudo Ken]

[Physique: 9.3]

[Intelligence: 5.5]

...

[Ayanokoji Kiyotaka]

[Physique: 9.5] (Physique did not represent actual combat strength)

[Intelligence: 9.8]

...

Koenji and Ayanokoji really had ridiculously high stats.

Good thing I have Deep Blue to add points...

He could have skipped class outright without any consequences. For one thing, he was curious about everyone's stats; for another, he wanted to eat the breakfast Horikita had prepared.

Breakfast consisted of two rice balls, one savory and one sweet.

Suzuki Tsubame did not know whether he preferred sweet or savory, but both were quite delicious.

The savory one had glutinous rice wrapped around meat floss and fried chicken, paired with some unknown sauce and topped with crushed seaweed and white sesame seeds.

The sweet one was filled with red bean paste and various dried fruits.

He secretly ate them during class. The teacher did not care anyway, so he just finished them.

He needed to think carefully about what excuse he could use to get Horikita to go to a café with him.

Right now, she still believed she could change classes after the exam at the end of the month, so inviting her over something related to class affairs was clearly unsuitable.

Ring ring ring...

The teacher did not linger at all and turned to leave.

"Suzune, there's something I want to talk to you about!"

Just as Horikita Suzune finished packing her things and was about to leave, Suzuki Tsubame spoke up and stopped her.

"What is it?"

It was the first time Horikita Suzune had seen him looking so serious.

Could it be... Yesterday, he had even asked whether she planned to get married. I've been far too indulgent with him and made him get ideas he shouldn't have.

"Suzune, come with me for a moment. There's something I want to tell you."

Suzuki Tsubame gestured for Horikita Suzune to follow and walked ahead to lead the way.

Just as I thought! Horikita Suzune's face darkened. I should have been colder to him!

"So the thing you wanted to discuss was drinking coffee?"

"Uh... Suzune, have you ever heard the words of the famous philosopher Voluan Sode? Every person harbors incomparable treasure within themselves, and the key to unlocking that treasure comes from communication."

"Hehe, are you making fun of me? I've never heard of any philosopher with that name."

Horikita looked displeased. She could tell that he was making things up, but she still patiently sat beside Suzuki Tsubame.

"Suzune, look over there."

Suzuki Tsubame subtly pointed into the distance. A group of girls in identical school uniforms stood there in a lively atmosphere, surrounding a pink-haired girl as though she were the moon among stars.

The pink-haired girl looked innocent and cheerful, and her looks were stunning. Most importantly, she was incredibly strong!

She was the most beautiful girl Suzuki Tsubame had ever seen. Even a mature beauty like Chabashira Sae could not compare to her.

[Ichinose Honami]

[Appearance: 9.9]

[Intelligence: 9.3]

[Physique: 8]

"Mm, she's very pretty. So? Do you need me to get her contact information for you?"

Horikita Suzune remained calm and even made a joke.

That girl's looks had indeed made even her take a second glance.

In terms of appearance alone, she might have held a slight edge, but unfortunately, the other girl was far stronger than her.

"I'm not telling you to look at how pretty she is." Though that was true, Suzuki Tsubame automatically left out the latter half of that thought.

"Didn't you notice that her affinity is a little too exaggerated? She's the type that makes people instinctively want to get close to her."

Suzuki Tsubame tried to guide Horikita so she could understand the importance of friends.

"Hmph, they're just a mob of rabble, surrounding themselves with such useless people."

"I'm afraid even her own judgment would be affected, wouldn't it?"

"Just thinking about becoming friends with someone like that sounds troublesome."

Horikita sneered and continued her sharp critique.

Although Ichinose really was like that, she was still much better than Horikita as she was now.

Hmm... It looked like making Horikita understand the importance of friends within this month would be impossible.

Just then...

"Huh? It's Suzuki and Horikita. What a coincidence!"

Kushida Kikyo appeared from nowhere, holding a cup of Cappuccino in her hands.

[Kushida Kikyo]

[Appearance: 9.6] (Some people may find this debatable, so let me explain. In the original novel, the only ones truly described as beautiful-girl tier were Ichinose, Horikita, and Sakura Airi. This refers to the novel itself; Ayanokoji personally called those three beautiful girls. The others felt a notch below. Besides, the stats I gave them aren't low, just slightly below the very top tier.)

[Physique: 7.5]

[Intelligence: 8.9]

"Can I sit here, Horikita?"

Kushida pointed at the seat right next to Horikita Suzune.

"No."

Horikita Suzune looked at her impatiently.

"Also, I believe I told you yesterday not to come bother me again!"

Kushida Kikyo's smiling face stiffened slightly. Settling for the next best thing, she said, "Then can I sit over there, Suzuki?"

"Of course," Suzuki Tsubame replied with a smile, ignoring Horikita Suzune's murderous glare.

"Sorry for the trouble, Suzuki."

After thanking him, Kushida Kikyo sat down beside Suzuki Tsubame.

"You two are really close," Kushida Kikyo said with a faint smile.

"Horikita, what do you usually like to do?"

There was no response.

"I'm leaving."

Horikita picked up the Strawberry Milkshake on the table and stood up, preparing to leave. She could not stand this hypocrite.

"Suzune, you've barely been sitting here. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Suzuki Tsubame hurriedly grabbed the hand she was trying to pull away.

Horikita tried to shake him off, but failed.

"Since Kushida is here, you don't need me anymore, do you?"

She looked as though it was either Kushida or her.

"How could that be? My relationship with Suzune is obviously better than my relationship with Kushida."

"If I had to choose, I'd definitely choose Suzune!"

Horikita Suzune's feelings were clearly purer than Kushida Kikyo's.

If he really had to choose, no matter how he thought about it, he would definitely choose Horikita.

Of course, part of the reason was that he had a thing for tsundere girls with long black hair.

After hearing Suzuki Tsubame's words, Horikita unexpectedly calmed down and sat back in her chair.

She did not even know why. After hearing that he had chosen her, her heart somehow calmed down. Did being chosen by someone else feel this good? Horikita Suzune could not help asking herself.

[Ding! Long-Term Mission: Solitary Maiden. Completion: 30%. Reward: Martial Arts Mastery (including but not limited to: Eastern Ancient Martial Arts, Judo...)]

Well, damn. Horikita was this easy to raise?

You really could not tell. In the original work, all he had seen was her tsundere side.

President Horikita truly had not deceived him. Suzune's true nature really was adorable!

"Suzuki and Horikita are really close," Kushida Kikyo said with a smile, though it was slightly stiff.

"Of course. Suzune will even... cook specifically for me in the future."

Suzuki Tsubame deliberately said something misleading. Horikita merely sneered twice without denying it.

"Huh? Are Suzuki and Horikita already in that kind of relationship?" Kushida Kikyo's expression looked like it was beginning to slip out of control.

Suzuki Tsubame decided to add fuel to the fire. "That's right. After next month, our relationship will become even more intimate."

There was actually nothing wrong with that statement. Even Horikita thought so.

Suzuki Tsubame's ability made her regard him more highly once again. At the very least, she did not possess his talent for lying through his teeth.

"Hehe, is that so? Then I won't disturb your date. I'll be leaving first. Bye-bye."

Kushida Kikyo could no longer maintain the mechanical expression on her face and turned to leave.

Wasn't this just flaunting their relationship right in front of me? And I even asked Suzuki Tsubame for help!

No! If they were in that kind of relationship, that bitch Horikita must have already told him about me!

Damn it! I'll make those two bastards get expelled!

"How long are you planning to hold my hand?"

Horikita's hand was slender and soft, and Suzuki Tsubame had been a little reluctant to let go.

"Sorry, sorry. It's my first time holding a girl's hand, so I got a little excited."

Suzuki Tsubame released Horikita's hand and smiled at her to ease the awkwardness.

"Hmph. Is there even half a sentence of truth in anything you say?"

Heaven and earth bear witness! This time, I really wasn't lying. After all, I'd only been in this world for three days.

Other than Sakayanagi and Kushida Kikyo, he had not touched any other girls. He had carried Sakayanagi in a princess carry, so he had not touched her hand. Kushida had hugged his arm herself, so he had not touched her hand either.

So it really was his first time.

Two minutes later...

"I'm going back to cook. What do you want to eat?"

After drinking half of the beverage in her hand, Horikita could no longer bear the ambiguous atmosphere between them.

"Huh? I can order this time?"

Suzuki Tsubame asked in surprise. So he had that kind of right?

"I want braised pork."

Suzuki Tsubame spoke extremely quickly, afraid Horikita would change her mind.

Chinese cuisine was also within Horikita's range of study, so there was no need to worry that she would not know how to make it.