Round Three, Verification

But Kushida Kikyo understood.

Although Hoshino-kun seemed very capable, he apparently... didn't understand women's feelings.

"Girls need to be coaxed. With a clever and forceful girl like Classmate Sakayanagi, you should show a little weakness in the areas where she excels. That way, she'll feel that her dignity is respected, and she'll be happy."

"When you put her down like that, even if she doesn't get angry, she won't be in a good mood. Do you understand, Hoshino-kun?"

"But wouldn't that make me no different from a simp?"

Kushida Kikyo: ...Huh?

The three who'd been listening the whole time: "..."

How had he reached that conclusion?

"H-How did you come to that conclusion?"

For the first time, Kushida Kikyo felt like her brain had stopped working.

"Isn't it? Using fake praise to win over someone of the opposite sex—that's what a simp does, isn't it?"

"And the more convincing and frequent the fake praise is, the more the person being praised will believe it. When the day comes that the fake excellence is torn apart, that's when their endless hell begins."

"It destroys a person mentally. It's terrifying."

Although the tactic worked well, it was difficult to make it effective in a short time, so it wasn't worth the effort. That was why Hoshino En hadn't used it much in the past.

Kushida Kikyo: "..."

No, I'm trying to tell you how to get along with the opposite sex. How did you suddenly jump to profound theories about human nature and values?!

Ahhh, the pressure's getting to me. I want to kick the railing!

"Boyfriend-kun, I only took my eyes off you for a moment, and you were already hitting on someone else?"

Setting Kushida Kikyo's breakdown aside for now, the slightly withdrawn Sakayanagi Arisu finally lifted her head and glared at Hoshino En.

"Or are you really that attracted to all that vulgar fat? Arisu's legs are pretty too. Is that not enough for you?"

She deliberately said the last part loudly. The others, who had lost interest because they couldn't hear what was being said, turned to look again.

And since Hoshino En had indeed leaned in close to Kushida Kikyo to ask her for advice—and Kushida Kikyo had a much more generous bust than Sakayanagi Arisu—those who didn't know the truth almost immediately believed Sakayanagi Arisu's accusation.

"Ugh, what a scumbag! Cheating on his girlfriend right in front of her. Shameless."

"Seriously. He looks so composed, but who knew he was actually a lecherous pervert?"

"This is unbelievable. Just being in the same room as someone like him is giving me goosebumps."

"Let's go. Having such a disgusting creep here has ruined the mood."

Someone started it, and soon the girls who'd been hoping to watch the drama began leaving the café, each casting Hoshino En a look of disgust as she went.

Before long, aside from the six people at the three tables around Hoshino En, Shiranami Chihiro, who'd been watching from nearby, and the three members of Karuizawa's group, there were no other students left in the café.

But the customers had left without making the café staff angry. After all, they'd already paid.

If anything, she'd met her quota for the day, and no longer had to divide her attention among multiple customers. Her work had suddenly become much easier.

So she brought Hoshino En, who'd freed her up, another dessert.

"I don't think I ordered anything."

Looking at the little cake pushed in front of him, Hoshino En glanced at Sakayanagi Arisu across the table.

Sakayanagi Arisu looked puzzled too. She didn't remember ordering it.

"No, no, this one's on me. Please, keep chatting."

The server set down the dessert but didn't leave. She stood to the side, holding her tray, her eyes sparkling as she watched them. She was clearly enjoying the drama.

One guy and several girls—she hadn't seen such an exciting love triangle in ages.

Hoshino En: "..."

I'm exhausted.

He wasn't particularly good at guessing what girls were thinking, but he could still analyze their patterns of thought.

After this afternoon's commotion, he figured his reputation as a "womanizer" would spread among all the first-year girls by tomorrow.

Then, within three months, probably every girl in the school would know about it.

And once the girls knew, the boys would find out too. Before long, everyone in the school would be against him.

Ah, my future looks bleak. Maybe I should just drop out. This place is such a hassle.

"Kushida, I'm sorry you got dragged into this today. Let's exchange contact information, and I'll make it up to you later."

"N-No, it's fine."

Beep—

After sending Kushida Kikyo off to the side, Hoshino En looked at Sakayanagi Arisu and said tiredly, "Sakayanagi, is this really fun for you?"

He had no plans to date in high school and didn't care much about his reputation, but he was still a little angry at being falsely accused.

"I can't help it. I don't really like using the advantages that come with gender differences, but since this is the only way I can turn the tables right now, what choice do I have?"

Seeing his unhappy expression, Sakayanagi Arisu was delighted.

"Now we're tied, two to two."

Just then, the server brought over the items Sakayanagi Arisu had ordered earlier. She pushed the most expensive-looking dessert toward Hoshino En.

"All right, all right. I did go a little too far, so take this as compensation. Don't be upset."

"Try lowering those upturned corners of your mouth when you say that. You'll sound more convincing."

"And like I said, if you really feel sorry, pay for this order. Don't put on a cute act."

"Aw, you came on a date and still expect the girl to pay. Aren't you embarrassed?"

"I was going to pay until you started acting up!"

"But you're still going to pay, right, Hoshino-kun?"

"...We did agree on that."

The three in the Atmosphere Group stared in disbelief at the pair, who'd been bickering just moments ago but were now chatting in harmony.

"Feels like I poured my heart out for nothing..."

"What was that, Kushida?"

"...Oh, nothing, nothing. Anyway, Ichinose, what did you mean earlier?"

"Oh, I was wondering why Hoshino-kun didn't just come ask me in my classroom if he wanted to know something. Why was he secretly watching from outside the window?"

Ichinose Honami looked at the other three at her table.

"You're in the same year and class as him. Do you know why he did that?"

"Um, I haven't spoken to him before, so I'm not sure." —Wang Meiyu.

If anything, after hearing Hoshino En and Sakayanagi Arisu discuss How to Raise an Obedient Puppy, she wanted nothing to do with either of them.

"I'm the same..." —Karuizawa Kei.

Faced with someone who might be a romantic rival, Karuizawa Kei chose to lie.

Sorry, Ichinose Honami. You're a good person... No, it's because you're so nice that I can't tell you anything about Hoshino-kun.

After the other two quickly distanced themselves from the situation, Ichinose Honami turned to Kushida Kikyo, who was sitting beside her.

Kushida Kikyo: "..."

"Actually, that was my first time talking to him too. But I get the feeling he's not very good at talking to girls. You saw it yourself just now. He probably knows that about himself, which is why he didn't come ask you directly."

"Ichinose, you should be aware of your own effect on people. A guy who's bad with girls would definitely get all flustered and tongue-tied when he saw someone as well-endowed as you."

Kushida Kikyo eyed Ichinose Honami's even more impressive bust, envy practically welling up in her eyes.

Ichinose Honami: "..."

Well... I started growing without even realizing it back in middle school. It wasn't like I wanted this, and my shoulders ache every day...

But does that mean Hoshino-kun didn't come into Class B this morning because he disliked me?

No, maybe he doesn't even remember me...

Seeing Ichinose Honami smile and then frown as she listened to Kushida Kikyo's guess, Karuizawa Kei, sitting opposite her, felt even more certain.

Also, I absolutely can't let her get close to Hoshino-kun. He'll turn into a useless wreck!

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 12: Round Three, Verification

"So, as compensation, you can ask me anything you want, and I'll tell you."

As he ate the expensive dessert Hoshino En had treated him to, Sakayanagi Arisu made a shocking offer.

"Whether it's my measurements, the color of my underwear today, or something even more personal... Ask me, and I'll tell you!"

"Of course, this 'perk' is only available today, so make the most of your chance and ask me everything you want to know~"

The Atmosphere Group: "..."

Karuizawa Kei: ...Yikes!!

S-She... Why would she suddenly say something like that?!

"Sakayanagi, you can't say things like that to a boy!"

Ichinose Honami didn't care whether she was interrupting them anymore. She walked straight over and stepped between them, delivering a righteous lecture.

"Aw, but what I say to my boyfriend-kun has nothing to do with you, does it, Ichinose Honami of Class 1-B?"

"But you two aren't even—"

"Ichinose, calm down. Don't let her drag you into this."

Hoshino En cut off Ichinose Honami's argument. He didn't want things to get even more complicated.

"You said you could tell me 'anything,' but you never said that what you told me would be 'true and accurate.'"

He looked at Sakayanagi Arisu and exposed the trap in her words.

She'd deliberately said that to muddy the waters and confuse everyone.

As for her target... Although part of it was to tease him, her real aim was the four members of the Atmosphere Group who'd deliberately come over to them.

They'd deliberately approached their table, so they must have had some purpose. Sakayanagi Arisu had been testing them.

Unfortunately, apart from Wang Meiyu, the genuine little bunny who'd come along with Kushida Kikyo, she'd figured out the other three.

"You really don't fall for it, do you?"

Although her trap had been foiled again, Sakayanagi Arisu didn't look disappointed in the slightest. Her fingers swiped across her phone screen, and an "evil" smile appeared on her face.

Hoshino En: "..."

Did she have someone investigating him in person?

Hoshino En quickly glanced outside the window and saw that the blond and the curly-haired student who'd been hanging around there were now gone.

They'd probably gone to ask people from their old middle schools about the information they'd gathered on him and the girls.

Well, even if they found something, it wouldn't matter. He didn't have any friends who'd gone to the same middle school as him. Even if she found someone who knew him, she wouldn't be able to squeeze much information out of them.

As for Kushida Kikyo and Karuizawa Kei, all he could do was hope they'd be lucky and wouldn't get doxxed on the very first day.

But that didn't stop him from striking back.

"Besides, there are things I can figure out without you telling me. For example, your measurements are probably around 68/54/80, from top to bottom, with a margin of error of no more than three centimeters. You're an A cup."

Sakayanagi Arisu's "evil" smile froze.

"And the color you're wearing today. Judging by your skin tone and personality, cute white, pale colors, and sexy black or purple would be your first choices. You're wearing white thigh-high stockings today, so what you have underneath should be the white one, since it has the least contrast. As for the style..."

"Enough! Stop talking!!"

Sakayanagi Arisu's "evil" smile collapsed.

Her face flushed red as she wrapped both arms around her shoulders, her body trembling awkwardly in her chair.

"You've got me. Are your eyes measuring tape?"