Classroom of the Elite, Keima Katsuragi's Love Brain Battle

"The Chief seems to have added some features to the cards, like displaying current affection levels, and even granting achievements if a conquest is successful. I have no idea what the point of that is--what's wrong, God of Conquest?!"

Elsie looked at Keima Katsuragi with surprise. His expression was far more serious than before, and his eyes behind his glasses seemed to be glowing.

How could a gamer ever refuse something like this!

"Ahem."

Keima Katsuragi coughed twice to calm himself down, his gaze falling on the card at the very top.

On the screen was a girl with short amber hair. Her cuteness was on par with Elsie's, and the curves of her figure, wrapped in the same style of uniform, were even more impressive.

This was basically the quality of a game character portrait, wasn't it?

[Name: Kushida Kikyo]

[Current Affection: 0%]

Keima Katsuragi adjusted his glasses and quickly scanned the cards in his hand before looking around. The interior of this bus was almost identical to the ones in his original world; if he hadn't experienced it himself, he would have found it hard to believe he had actually transmigrated to another world.

"It seems the final stop of this bus is the school we're about to enroll in. Maybe there are other students from the same school riding with us."

Just then, a clear voice rang out from the front.

"Um, everyone! Could I please trouble someone to give up their seat for this elderly lady?"

Keima Katsuragi's gaze immediately locked onto the source of the voice, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Because the speaker was none other than Kushida Kikyo, whom he had just seen on the card.

Her expression looked somewhat anxious, and standing beside her was an elderly woman with a hunched back.

Keima Katsuragi quickly scanned the people around him; none of the passengers on the bus seemed to have any intention of giving up their seats.

And it was at this moment that Keima Katsuragi's gaze fell upon someone else.

She was undoubtedly a beauty, with features that were not inferior to Kushida Kikyo's—perhaps even more refined. She had long black hair reaching her waist, adorned with a ribbon and a long braid on the right side, paired with a pair of fox-like, alluring eyes. However, there was no expression on her face, and she looked incredibly cold.

Keima Katsuragi had also seen this person on a card just a moment ago.

[Name: Suzune Horikita]

[Current Affection: 0%]

Seemingly noticing the gaze from Keima Katsuragi, Suzune Horikita turned her head to look at him.

Their eyes met--

Suzune Horikita frowned.

[Current Affection: -3%]

"?"

Keima Katsuragi's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Does the affection level drop just from making eye contact during a first meeting?

This was the kind of scenario that only happened in the highest-difficulty games.

"What should we do, God of Conquest! The affection level dropped before we even started!"

Elsie seemed a bit nervous.

"It's fine."

Keima Katsuragi just smiled and adjusted his glasses.

Affection levels can be raised.

The drop in Suzune Horikita's affection actually provided Keima Katsuragi with information, helping him gradually understand her character profile.

This person was likely the type who was difficult to get along with.

Besides, leaving an impression in her mind was already a good start.

"It's starting to feel like playing a game."

Volume 1: Chapter 3: You just looked at me, didn't you?

"I'll do it."

A second later, Keima Katsuragi raised his hand and said with a smile to Kushida Kikyo in the distance.

In dating sims, intimacy and the number of meetings are directly correlated.

As long as you keep watering the plant before it blooms, it will eventually flower and bear fruit.

And for a female character you are meeting for the first time, the most important thing is to leave a deep impression in her mind.

Making her remember you is more important than anything else.

Judging by Kushida Kikyo's previous actions, she seemed to be the most common "kind-hearted" type found in games.

To increase her affection, performing a similarly kind-hearted act in front of her was a pretty good choice.

Keima Katsuragi stood up and helped the elderly woman sit in his former seat.

Kushida Kikyo also walked over to his side with a smile and said:

"Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome, it's what I should do."

Keima Katsuragi also smiled and replied to her.

Because they were standing so close, he could clearly smell the faint fragrance emanating from Kushida Kikyo.

Next, he needed to steer the conversation a little.

"Oh, looking at your uniform, it seems we're schoolmates. May I ask if you're also a first-year freshman?"

"Yes, I am! What a coincidence! Today is my first day reporting! You're a freshman too, right! Maybe we'll even be in the same class!"

"I look forward to working with you!"

Keima Katsuragi chatted with Kushida Kikyo for a few more sentences, initially judging her to be the generous and friendly type who could talk about anything. Furthermore, her conversational boundaries, tone, and content were all perfectly balanced; she was the type who excelled at socializing.

It was just that Keima Katsuragi himself wasn't very interested in socializing in the real world.

After all, games were enough.

How could girls in reality ever be as cute as characters in games!

Keima Katsuragi didn't notice that while he was chatting with Kushida Kikyo, a pair of slightly lazy eyes had been staring at him the whole time.

"Final stop, Advanced Nurturing High School has arrived."

As the broadcast sound rang out, the bus stopped at the destination, and everyone got off one after another.

"Katsuragi-kun, shall we go to the school to report together?"

Kushida Kikyo asked politely.

"I still have to handle some things with my... younger sister in a moment, Kushida-san, you go ahead! Maybe we'll run into each other on campus later."

Keima Katsuragi looked behind him and pursed his lips.

"Oh! Katsuragi-kun actually got into this school with your sister! Your family is amazing! Then I'll go report to my class first!"

"How about we exchange contact information first? If we aren't assigned to the same class later, maybe we can help each other out if we need anything!"

Keima Katsuragi said while taking out his phone.

Although he had transmigrated to another world, he discovered that his electronic devices could still be used, though they were limited to this world and could not contact anyone from his original world.

If he could successfully exchange contact information, then he would have already succeeded more than halfway.

He could communicate with her more conveniently every day and build his presence in front of her.

This was the most important part of cultivation.

The higher the frequency of appearing in front of a female character, the higher the efficiency of increasing her affection.

"Oh, that's not necessary, is it! Doesn't Katsuragi-kun know? All electronic products are confiscated after entering the school! We can't use phones at all! And we have a mandatory boarding system; we will live here for the entirety of high school!"

"Huh?"

Hearing Kushida Kikyo's words, Keima Katsuragi felt a bolt of lightning shatter his heart, and his entire body stiffened in place like a statue.

What did she mean by...

Confiscating all electronic products?

Doesn't that mean his handheld console would be confiscated too?!

Doesn't that mean he wouldn't be able to play any games at all?!

And mandatory boarding?

Doesn't that mean...

He wouldn't even be able to buy games belonging to this world!

Unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable!

This world could lack anything, but it absolutely could not lack games!!!

"God of Conquest, are you alright?"

Just at this moment, Elsie walked to Keima Katsuragi's side and patted his shoulder, which finally pulled his thoughts back to reality.

"I, I am not alright at all! You didn't tell me that they confiscate electronic products here!!! What about my PFP! What about my most important partner!"

"I didn't know either! But if it's the God of Conquest's request, I can help!"

As she spoke, Elsie touched her haori, and Keima Katsuragi's handheld console immediately shrank to the size of a coin.

"This way, it should be able to avoid inspection!"

"Elsie, I knew I could trust you!"

Keima Katsuragi had a look of relief on his face and patted Elsie's shoulder hard, but at this moment he remembered something and quickly turned his head.

"Oh, where did Kushida-san go?"

"While you were lost in a daze just now, she told me she was heading off first! She seems like a very easy-going girl! I remember she's one of the target missions, too! Seeing as you two were chatting quite well just now, your affection level should have gone up quite a bit, right!"

"Let me check."

Keima Katsuragi immediately picked up the card for Kushida Kikyo.

If this were a standard gal game, he should have established a pretty decent first impression.

[Name: Kushida Kikyo]

[Current Affection Level: 0%]

"Zero?"

Keima Katsuragi reached out with his other hand and gently rubbed his chin.

From any angle, his initial contact with her should have been flawless; there was no way it wouldn't have increased at all.

It seems—

Kushida Kikyo isn't as simple as she appears on the surface.

This is also very important information.

"Oh my, what on earth is going on? This shouldn't be happening! You two looked like you were having such a heated conversation just now! No matter what, it should have gone up at least a little bit! Even a fraction of a percent is still an increase!"

Elsie was clearly getting anxious and hurriedly asked.

"It's fine. Every beginning is hard; this is a normal phenomenon."

Keima Katsuragi pushed up his glasses.

That enthusiastic and friendly demeanor was likely nothing more than a shell for Kushida Kikyo.

To raise her affection level, he would have to slowly probe his way into her heart.

What would the real her be like?