Before the Second Class, the School Swimming Pool (Continued)

Could he prove that the White Room's ideals were wrong?

The thought crossed Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's mind, but only for an instant.

"You're a student in Class D, so this concerns you, too. Do you want to aim for Class A, or do you want to drop out? Take your pick."

Sae Chabashira's breathing grew more labored. She seemed eager for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka to give her an answer.

"You might regret it, you know—trying to use me."

"Don't worry. My life is already full of regrets."

"I understand. For now, I'll work toward leading Class D to Class A. But I have one question, Teacher Chabashira—"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked at Sae Chabashira.

There was no emotion in those eyes, only endless darkness.

"What should I do if Keima and I disagree on how to proceed?"

"Any method is fine, as long as it leads the class to Class A."

"I understand."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka nodded, then left the guidance office.

He glanced down at his terminal. Posts about last night's incident were appearing one after another.

Who had posted them?

It was as if someone was deliberately directing people's attention to the incident.

But for now, it had nothing to do with him.

At the moment, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka wanted to learn more about Keima Katsuragi.

Keima had knowledge the White Room did not.

"I have enough points. I'll buy a handheld console."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka spoke to himself.

Meanwhile, Keima Katsuragi and the others had finally brought their somewhat awkward get-together to an end.

Airi Sakura and Shiina Hiyori were both the type who struggled with socializing.

One could go ages without saying a single word.

The other didn't talk much either, but nine times out of ten, when she did speak, it was about novels.

That made the gathering a little awkward.

At the library, they usually talked about their classes, but this was a completely different setting.

Luckily, Elsie could talk nonstop, keeping things from getting any more awkward.

It was the day Keima Katsuragi missed Haruka Hasebe the most.

Though, if he had to say, it was all Elsie's fault.

"It's getting late, so I'll head off first. I still have to go to the library later!"

Shiina Hiyori stood up and brought her hands together.

"If I come across any more interesting novels, I'll be sure to recommend them to you, Keima-kun."

"Okay."

Keima Katsuragi nodded, then turned to Elsie beside him.

"We should head back, too. Elsie, you still need to go to the supermarket to buy some things, right?"

"I need to buy something?"

Elsie looked at Keima Katsuragi in surprise. A second later, she realized what he meant.

"Oh, right! I need to buy something! I'll be off, Brother! Hiyo-chan, let's go together!"

Elsie then left the café with Shiina Hiyori.

"I'm heading back to the dorm now. Want to come with me, Airi?"

"Yeah!"

After the other two left, Keima Katsuragi and Airi Sakura also started walking back to the dorm.

"Um... Keima-kun."

"What is it?"

"Um... you and Hiyori seem really close, don't you?"

Airi Sakura asked in a voice only the two of them could hear if they stood close together.

"We get along. She's been trying out games lately, so we've talked a lot about that."

Keima Katsuragi replied.

He had deliberately sent Elsie away just now to get a chance to be alone with Airi Sakura.

He had raised Shiina Hiyori's affection quite a bit today, but because of Elsie, Airi Sakura had been dragged into the whole situation, too.

If he didn't talk with Airi afterward, her affection might drop.

"Um... what were you and Hiyori talking about today?"

Airi Sakura was terribly curious.

Earlier, while they were on the way, she had seen Shiina Hiyori and Keima Katsuragi chatting animatedly.

"Hiyori's started playing games lately, so we've been talking about games."

"I see..."

Airi Sakura nodded thoughtfully, then continued asking.

"But, um... was Hiyori going to give you something, Keima-kun?"

That was what she was most curious about.

"Give me something? Why do you ask?"

"I-I... I was just saying!"

Airi Sakura quickly shook her head.

She absolutely couldn't admit that she had been spying from the side!

"Now that you mention it, Hiyori recommended a few novels to me earlier and asked me to read them, but I didn't take them."

"Huh? W-why didn't you accept them?"

"Because I'd already read those books. I borrowed them from the library and haven't returned them yet."

"Oh..."

Airi Sakura lowered her head.

Hiyori and Keima-kun had so many things in common...

And she could barely manage to say a few words...

Wait.

Just then, Airi Sakura thought of something and raised her head again.

Her clear, ocean-like eyes shone with enthusiasm as she looked at Keima Katsuragi.

"Um, Keima-kun, I-I want to try playing games..."

"Oh? Are you serious?"

"Yeah!"

Airi Sakura nodded with all her might.

She wanted to learn more about Keima Katsuragi.

She also wanted to have as many things in common with him as Shiina Hiyori did.

And playing games was the first step.

"I-I'm serious!"

Airi Sakura quickly added.

"I... I am interested in them, too... And... I-I've seen some online creators who dress up as game characters and take photos."

"Cosplay?"

Keima Katsuragi was neutral about cosplay.

After all, no one in real life could imitate the female characters in games. Even if they looked exactly the same on the outside, their essence, their personalities, and everything else couldn't be replicated. Keima Katsuragi could tell at a glance that they were "fakes."

Still, cosplay was related to games, and it might even help promote some overlooked masterpieces, so Keima Katsuragi didn't object to it.

"I think so. So... so I want to learn about that, too—"

"That's great. I'll recommend a few games for you, then."

Keima Katsuragi promptly listed a few games for Airi Sakura.

But that left Airi Sakura a little confused.

"Huh... Keima-kun, the games you recommended to Hiyori were different from the ones you recommended to me."

"That's because Hiyori prefers puzzle games, while I thought you'd probably like games with pretty character art and a nuanced story."

Airi Sakura nodded.

She was becoming more and more convinced that Keima Katsuragi was a very kind person.

He had carefully considered what she liked before recommending different games to her.

Thinking about it made Airi Sakura's face turn even redder.

"Um... Keima-kun."

Airi Sakura gently placed a hand against her chest. She seemed hesitant, but after giving it careful thought, she finally spoke again.

"Keima-kun, there's something I'd like to ask you..."

"Oh?"

"Keima-kun... what do you think of Hiyori?"

"Hiyori is a very special student. She's the literary-girl type, but she's quite different from those in games."

"Literary girl...?"

Airi Sakura quietly repeated the unfamiliar term.

"She may seem languid and struggle with socializing, but she's actually a very kind and considerate person."

"That's true... Hiyori really is a good person."

Airi Sakura lowered her head.

In every way, Shiina Hiyori seemed better than her.

They weren't even the same type, but even Airi Sakura couldn't help admiring how pretty she was.

Though she wasn't good at socializing, she got along with the people around her without causing them any trouble.

Shiina Hiyori was practically a higher-spec version of herself.

A feeling of inferiority slowly rose in Airi Sakura's heart.

"Hiyori really is better than me in every way, isn't she..."

But just then, Keima Katsuragi stopped walking.

"Keima-kun?"

"To me, Airi, you're completely different from Hiyori."

"Huh? I-I..."