Nishikawa Rin felt like her heart was in pain.
It had been shattered to pieces.
She still hadn't recovered from yesterday, when her dream had blossomed, shattered, and blossomed again. She'd planned to show off in front of the new underclassman today and demonstrate her strengths.
But instead, the underclassman had stuffed her full of PDA by bringing his girlfriend (short for female friend), dealing her a merciless critical hit worth ten thousand points of damage.
It hurt so much!
Feeling a little dejected, she led the two of them to the counter and began teaching Sakura Airi and Dongfang Yi how to operate the register, prepare orders, and mind the seating arrangements, as well as the order in which to serve dishes—and—
How to make beautiful, high-class coffee.
It was a skill only an experienced barista could claim, and one that required extensive training before anyone could be entrusted with it. But she couldn't resist the urge to show off in front of Dongfang Yi.
Hearing a few words of praise would help lift her spirits, wouldn't it?
Nishikawa Rin swiftly and deftly made a pretty rose pattern on the surface of the latte in her hands, then proudly showed it off to the two newcomers.
"Wow, that's amazing!"
Stars lit up in Sakura Airi's eyes, and for a moment she felt an urge to take a picture.
Pleased by the compliment, Nishikawa Rin grew even happier and shot Dongfang Yi a smug glance.
This was the ultimate skill for picking up girls. Want to learn?
Call me big sister, and I'll teach you. Hehehe~
Imagining the two of them exchanging secret lessons, she couldn't help swallowing a little.
I get the feeling you've got your eye on me, big sis.
Dongfang Yi blinked and, as expected, detected a hint of greed in the expression of the person before him.
At the same time, though, he'd grown a little interested in making coffee and latte art.
Following Nishikawa Rin's steps, he made himself a latte and used milk to create a crooked spade pattern.
[D-Rank Coffee Making Skill learned, proficiency +30] [D-Rank Latte Art Skill learned, proficiency +30]
Wasn't this Magic Hands skill a little too useful?
Dongfang Yi was rather surprised. Yesterday, opening Sakura Airi's dorm room door had earned him a Lockpicking skill, and today, making a cup of coffee had given him two more skills.
And they were both D-Rank to start, with thirty experience points apiece!
Wouldn't leveling them up be a piece of cake?
Dongfang Yi's eyes lit up. He tapped the panel and immediately registered the café as a training base.
Then, before Nishikawa Rin and Sakura Airi could crowd around him, he opened the Time Rift without hesitation.
The Time Rift was set up exactly like the real place, but all the supplies inside could be used freely. Once they were used up, he could leave and re-enter.
Everything would be restored after he re-entered.
Even if he ate anything in the Time Rift, he'd be exactly as he was the previous second once he returned to reality.
Everything he ate would vanish into thin air.
Dongfang Yi had reason to suspect it was actually a virtual training ground, but he had no proof.
In just half an hour, he made fifty cups of coffee. He got faster and faster, and by the time the Time Rift ended, he'd raised the skill to A-Rank and absorbed all the experience from the upgrades.
Now, when it came to making coffee, he was confident no one could beat him.
Even his latte art skill had reached perfection. He could make any pattern he wanted.
He felt the lonely chill of standing at the summit.
"The underclassman's got potential."
Nishikawa Rin glanced at the crooked spade in his cup, feeling even more pleased with herself.
A newcomer was still a newcomer. When it came to latte art, he was nowhere near her level.
In her smugness, she effortlessly put herself on a pedestal and began to critique him.
"But you're still lacking in guidance and practice. If you call me senpai, your big sister here might just give you some one-on-one lessons."
It was clear she was still hung up on him calling her big sis yesterday.
"No need, Nishikawa-senpai. I've already had my breakthrough."
Dongfang Yi set down the coffee in his hand, casually took out another cup, followed the steps to make a latte, and began working on the latte art.
"You're all talk, underclassman. Latte art isn't that simple. To make beautiful patterns appear on the surface of the coffee, you need to put in years of hard work." Nishikawa Rin thrust out her chest smugly. "You can't do it just by running your mouth—What?!"
Dongfang Yi ignored her and, in no time at all, made a latte with a double-winged unicorn pattern.
He let out an exaggerated sigh. "Sigh. I had an idea of what I wanted to make, but this is as far as I got. I still lack experience."
Sakura Airi looked at the unicorn in his cup, then at the rose in her senpai's. The choice was obvious.
Yep, Dongfang's looked better!
Nishikawa Rin's reaction was even more telling. She stared, dumbfounded, at the lifelike unicorn in Dongfang Yi's cup, feeling as though all her hard work over the years had gone to waste.
She swallowed and bowed respectfully to Dongfang Yi.
"Senior, please teach me!"
While Dongfang Yi worked hard to hone his barista skills,
most of the students had already followed the crowd to the gymnasium to check out the clubs that interested them.
The lovely girl with orange hair was no exception.
She just looked even more excited and happy than everyone else.
After all, she'd soon get to see the kind, handsome senior, and the network of connections among the third-years would open up to her.
At this rate, it wouldn't take long for her to become another shining star at Advanced Nurturing High School.
How could a simple, lighthearted joke from the handsome senior fool the clever Kushida Kikyo?
She was certain she'd already won!
Facts:
1. The handsome senior had a very strong physique. He'd carried a pile of heavy things without breaking a sweat, so he was probably a pillar of an athletic club.
2. The school only held two large-scale events during the first three days of term—the opening ceremony and club recruitment!
3. The opening ceremony was already over, and the senior had been nowhere to be seen. But he'd made it clear that she'd learn his name within three days.
The scheming frog kept rubbing your belly.
Kushida Kikyo was certain she'd figured out the truth behind the puzzle!
The handsome senior would definitely show up at club recruitment!
Nothing could go wrong!
Certain of victory, Kushida Kikyo had already planned her next move. She'd even practiced her smile specially the night before.
Now she could perfectly pull off an adorable, surprised expression.
Of course, she'd also rehearsed the lines and sequence of events for when she met the senior several times in her head.
First, she'd offer a few heartfelt compliments: "Senpai, you're so cool," "Senpai, you're amazing," and "Senpai, you're the best." That would make him feel on top of the world as he basked in the admiration of his junior.
Next, she'd gently say that she wanted to join his club, but was worried she'd hold everyone back because she had no experience. That would be the perfect chance to get him to promise to guide her later.
Finally, she'd secure the promise, then use the senior as a stepping stone into the whole third-year network of valuable connections.
What a perfect plan!
To be on the safe side, she'd even brought along the beautiful girl from her class, Hasebe Haruka.
Flowers needed greenery to set them off.
And a beauty needed another beauty as a foil to better highlight her own charm.
Besides, two beauties drew more attention than one.
It would also be a huge help in building her network.
See that group up ahead, constantly looking back? That was the perfect result!
From today on, my name as an angel, Kushida Kikyo's, would ring throughout Advanced Nurturing High School!
"Haruka, are you interested in the Archery Club?"
She stood beside the well-endowed Hasebe Haruka, smiling sweetly while perfectly hiding her true thoughts.
"Archery looks so cool, after all. What about you, Little Kikyo?"
Hasebe watched the archery club president's stance onstage, her eyes shining.
"I haven't decided yet. There are so many clubs here. I want to join them all~"
Kushida Kikyo stuck out her tongue, looking as though she really couldn't make up her mind.
But—
That was a lie!
Before you continue