Don't Make Your Brother Laugh!

Makoto Nishikado and Honami Ichinose were discussing the situation regarding the Student Council in low voices, the air still thick with a hint of tension.

Suddenly, a crisp, sweet voice rang out from behind them, cutting their conversation short.

"Ichinose-san, and Ximen-kun, are you two interested in clubs as well?"

Kushida Kikyo approached them quickly, waving her fair hand like a cheerful little bird.

She greeted Honami Ichinose with enthusiasm first, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

Yet, her gaze drifted toward Makoto Nishikado involuntarily, carrying a trace of scrutiny.

"Kushida-san, do you know Ximen-kun?"

Honami Ichinose was somewhat surprised.

In her impression, Makoto Nishikado had a rather cold personality.

While he didn't exactly keep people at arm's length, he wasn't the type to actively seek out friendships either.

He hadn't even attended the gatherings organized by Class B.

Even within Class B, Makoto Nishikado didn't have any particularly close friends, let alone with Kushida Kikyo, who was a student from Class D.

On the other hand, Honami Ichinose and Kushida Kikyo were both skilled at socializing.

On the first day of school, the two had locked eyes and recognized each other as fellow social butterflies.

The two girls hit it off and exchanged contact information.

Therefore, Honami Ichinose was very clear about Kushida Kikyo's social circle.

Makoto Nishikado's name was definitely not among them.

"It's like this, Ximen-kun helped me out on the bus..."

Kushida Kikyo smiled as brightly as a blooming flower, explaining her connection with Makoto Nishikado.

Her tone carried just the right amount of gratitude, as if it were a major event she had taken to heart.

Then, as if remembering something, she took out her personal terminal.

"Ximen-kun, we agreed to exchange contact information, remember?"

Unlike the impeccable smile on her face, Kushida Kikyo was not in a good mood at this moment.

They had clearly agreed to exchange contact information on the bus, yet Makoto Nishikado hadn't taken the initiative to reach out to her.

She had been waiting for his message, only to receive nothing until now, and she even had to come find him herself!

This feeling of being ignored truly infuriated Kushida Kikyo.

[Triggered Kushida Kikyo's emotions, obtained 1970 emotion points.]

"Oh, right, I almost forgot about that."

Makoto Nishikado glanced at the system notification and smiled as he took out his own personal terminal.

He made sure to emphasize that he had indeed forgotten.

The effect was outstanding.

[Triggered Kushida Kikyo's emotions, obtained 3390 emotion points.]

"Well, we're friends now."

The smile on Kushida Kikyo's face remained sweet, as if there were no dissatisfaction in her heart.

But she knew better; the anger in her heart had flared up even higher.

Exchanging contact information with a gentle beauty like her—shouldn't that be a major event to keep in mind at all times?

How could this Makoto Nishikado actually forget?

Kushida Kikyo realized that Makoto Nishikado really had a talent for easily making her angry.

Her smile was on the verge of turning into a frustrated sneer.

For her own sake, Kushida Kikyo decided to change the subject.

"Speaking of which, I saw you talking to Horikita-san earlier, Ximen-kun?"

"That's great, I'd love to be friends with Horikita-san too."

Kushida Kikyo lowered her eyes slightly, her tone laced with a hint of regret, and her gaze drifted toward where Horikita Suzune was standing.

At this moment, Horikita Suzune was still standing alone in the corner, her expression shifting unpredictably.

She seemed even more unapproachable than her usual icy self.

If it were an average boy, seeing a goddess in distress would surely make him rush to help, spilling every bit of information he knew without reservation.

But Makoto Nishikado was hardly an average boy.

"Horikita-san is a bit difficult to talk to; you'll have to do your best, Kushida-san."

Makoto Nishikado smiled, offering only moral support.

While pretending that he was indeed close with Horikita Suzune, he also completely avoided taking the bait.

"Makoto Nishikado, do you have any tips? Horikita Suzune is really hard to approach; I honestly don't know what to do anymore."

Kushida Kikyo was cursing him out in her heart.

If she had a way to get close to Horikita Suzune, why would she ever need Makoto Nishikado's help?

This bastard really had zero social awareness; he was practically a block of wood!

"Just keep approaching her with a sincere heart. Even the coldest ice will eventually melt away like snow. Kushida Kikyo, you have to have confidence in yourself."

Makoto Nishikado gave a thumbs up, grinning to reveal a set of healthy, solid white teeth.

"Mm, I'll definitely do my best! My goal is to become friends with everyone in the first year. My friends are waiting for me, so I'll be going now."

Kushida Kikyo clenched her fist to cheer herself on, but she was stomping her feet in frustration internally.

She had encountered boys like this before—the kind who completely failed to understand what people were saying and could infuriate someone to death with just a few sentences.

So the question is, is Makoto Nishikado really a block of wood?

Don't make your Brother Cheng laugh!

Kushida Kikyo was ten thousand percent certain that this guy was doing it on purpose!

For the sake of her own sanity, Kushida Kikyo decided to call it a day.

She would battle this "infuriating brat" Makoto Nishikado another time; for today, she would avoid his sharp edge!

"Goodbye, Kushida Kikyo... Makoto Nishikado, it seems like you were bullying her?"

Honami Ichinose waved goodbye to Kushida Kikyo, looking a bit surprised.

She knew how smart Makoto Nishikado was, and she didn't believe for a second that he hadn't understood the subtext in Kushida Kikyo's words.

Yet, Makoto Nishikado had just acted like a novice who didn't understand social interactions; it was highly unusual.

"Honami Ichinose, don't tell the other classes that I'm the leader of Class B for now. It makes it easier for me to operate."

Makoto Nishikado didn't offer an explanation, shifting the topic instead.

"Oh, I see. I'll let everyone know."

Honami Ichinose had a sudden realization, believing she understood Makoto Nishikado's intentions.

Makoto Nishikado was just playing the fool earlier, preparing to pull a fast one on the other classes, which was why he acted so strangely.

Possessing high Affinity and serving as the class representative of Class B, Honami Ichinose was easily mistaken for the class leader.

This was a natural, high-quality cover that allowed Makoto Nishikado to better lay his plans in the shadows.

"As for Yuki Himeno, she will be working for me from now on. Tell the others."

"Little Yuki? I understand."

"One more thing: stay away from him, from that guy named Ayanokoji Kiyotaka."

Makoto Nishikado pointed toward a spot not far away.

Honami Ichinose followed his finger to find a boy who looked completely unremarkable.

"Is there something wrong with him?"

Honami Ichinose didn't understand why Makoto Nishikado would tell her to stay away from a boy who looked so harmless.

"Just a gut feeling. He might be even more dangerous than the leader of Class A."

"Makoto Nishikado, can't you trust me a little more? I won't be deceived so easily."

"...Have a little self-awareness!"

Without spoiling the plot, Makoto Nishikado couldn't explain it at all.

It was like the male lead in a romance novel meeting his "white moonlight," suddenly becoming obsessed, going crazy, and throwing himself into a wall for her.

Makoto Nishikado was worried that Honami Ichinose had also been hit with some kind of curse.

But who would believe him if he said that?

"Alright, I'll stay away from him."

Honami Ichinose was full of confusion, not knowing why Makoto Nishikado was so biased against her, but she agreed nonetheless.

Then, as if remembering something, she smiled at Makoto Nishikado and said, "Makoto Nishikado, let's exchange contact information too."

"Don't we have a class group chat?"

"That's different. Don't you want to be friends with me, Makoto Nishikado?"

Seeing the girl's bright, sunny smile, Makoto Nishikado felt helpless and took out his personal terminal once again.

"Don't use this trick in the future. That smile of yours is a foul."