"Right."
Makoto Nishikado nodded, leaving Amikura Asako stunned.
Was this what romance between boys and girls was like?
It wasn't at all like what she'd read in books.
"Isn't it wrong to date two people at once? You think so too, don't you, Yuki?"
Amikura Asako wanted to condemn this outrageous behavior.
But she wasn't good with words, so she tried to draw Yuki Himeno into the argument.
"It's not a big deal, is it? Masumi even went out of her way to help Sakayanagi deliver a bento. They're really close."
Yuki Himeno chimed in from the side, helping explain her boss's actions.
If Makoto Nishikado said something like that himself, most people wouldn't believe him.
But coming from Yuki Himeno, an uninvolved bystander, it was much more convincing.
"Huh? So one girl was delivering a bento for another girl?"
Amikura Asako was shocked all over again.
She hadn't caught what Kamuro Masumi and Makoto Nishikado had said to each other earlier, but was that really what had happened?
This was too bizarre!
And it just didn't make sense, did it?
Even though she'd never read a romance novel, her simple view of romance told her this was completely absurd.
"He's really popular. What's strange about that?"
Yuki Himeno didn't think there was anything odd about it.
From what she knew, it was common for people among the powerful to have multiple lovers.
With Makoto Nishikado's abilities, he was sure to become an important figure someday.
He was such a playboy that he'd probably spend money supporting plenty of people in the future.
Yuki Himeno had no objections.
She even hoped that once Makoto Nishikado became someone important, he'd reward her with a cushy nine-to-five job paying half a million a month.
When that time came, she'd keep every detail of Makoto Nishikado's private life absolutely secret. She wouldn't let a single thing slip.
Loyalty!
"Could I be the one with the problem?"
Amikura Asako began to question her own values.
Makoto Nishikado didn't think it was strange, and neither did those two girls. Even Yuki Himeno thought it was perfectly normal.
Was she the only odd one out because she found it strange?
When had the world become so twisted that she couldn't understand it anymore?
"Nishikado, another girl from school is looking for you outside."
Once again, Yonezu Haruto had come to pass along a message. This time, he looked at Makoto Nishikado as if he were someone else entirely.
The person standing before them now might well be a master of romance!
Amid the sour, lemon-scented air, Makoto Nishikado stood up with an air of resignation.
"Can't be helped. I'm just too popular. Who is it this time?"
"It's not a person. Just go."
Yonezu Haruto didn't want to look at Makoto Nishikado's face.
If he could, he'd ask to change seats.
Makoto Nishikado was curious too. When he stepped outside, he saw a familiar yet unfamiliar figure.
When Karuizawa Kei saw Makoto Nishikado come out, she took a deep breath, bowed, and handed him a letter.
"Nishikado, please accept this."
The letter was sealed with a pink heart sticker.
Anyone who glanced at it would assume it was a love letter.
As for what it actually contained, that was something she couldn't let others know.
"What a classic approach. And isn't this our first time meeting? That's pretty bold."
Makoto Nishikado accepted the letter, already guessing what Karuizawa Kei was after.
Still, he hadn't expected Karuizawa Kei to choose him instead of Hirata Yosuke.
Hirata Yosuke was not only in Class D, but also had a great personality. He probably wouldn't refuse Karuizawa Kei's request to pretend to date her.
Perhaps Karuizawa Kei had chosen him because he looked like he could fight?
"My contact information is written in there. Please make sure to give me an answer."
Karuizawa Kei's face turned a little red as she glanced behind her.
A few of her friends were cheering her on.
After watching her leave, Makoto Nishikado returned to his seat and opened the letter.
"What does it say?"
Amikura Asako asked curiously, but didn't lean in to look.
It was someone else's private love letter. Without permission, she couldn't just read it.
But she was really curious!
"Do you really want to know? Want me to read it to you? It might even help you gain some romance experience."
Makoto Nishikado folded the letter and teased her with a smile.
[Amikura Asako's emotions stirred. Emotional value gained: 4,643 points.]
"No, no. I'm not ready to enter that world yet."
Amikura Asako was tempted, but still shook her head repeatedly.
She hadn't met anyone she liked yet, much less thought about writing a love letter.
Listening to something like that would just be too embarrassing.
"That's a shame."
Makoto Nishikado put the letter away so nobody else could see it.
In truth, it wasn't a love letter.
If Amikura Asako wanted to hear the contents of one, Makoto Nishikado would have to make one up on the spot.
If she knew the truth, she'd surely be disappointed.
After all, it was incredibly rare for Makoto Nishikado to make up a love letter on the spot.
Before long, it was break time.
Makoto Nishikado went to the place they'd arranged in the letter. Karuizawa Kei had been waiting there for a while.
"H-hello."
Facing Makoto Nishikado alone, Karuizawa Kei felt nervous in a way she couldn't describe.
It really was the first time she'd ever done anything like this.
"Why don't we start by introducing ourselves? I don't even know your name yet."
Makoto Nishikado asked with a smile.
"My name is Karuizawa Kei. I'm a first-year student in Class D. Um..."
Under Makoto Nishikado's gaze, Karuizawa Kei grew nervous and forgot what she'd planned to say.
She didn't know whether she should go on and ask him to date her, or explain her situation first.
A boy as passionate as Makoto Nishikado probably wouldn't accept having a pretend girlfriend, would he?
Realizing she'd come here without properly thinking things through, Karuizawa Kei grew even more flustered.
"Take your time. Just tell me the most important thing. I won't get mad."
Makoto Nishikado reassured her.
Thinking back to his previous life, he'd once believed in the ideology of the Kei faction for a while, convinced that Karuizawa Kei could defeat the Great Sound Empire led by Horikita Suzune.
For the Makoto Nishikado of today, that was a fond and amusing memory.
"Could you date me and protect me from now on?"
Karuizawa Kei took a deep breath and said what was on her mind.
A fake boyfriend might not be enough, but she couldn't bring herself to turn around and leave.
More than having another boyfriend, what she couldn't bear was going back to the life she'd lived before.
She really needed someone to protect her, even if it meant being nothing more than a parasite.
Makoto Nishikado didn't agree on the spot when she confessed to him. He wasn't even slightly moved.
He naturally knew why Karuizawa Kei was doing this.
A romance built on taking advantage of someone's vulnerability wouldn't last.
Makoto Nishikado wouldn't rashly pursue something meant to last a lifetime.
But he also had no interest in pursuing anything that couldn't last five years.
"It's like this. I was once the victim of some serious bullying..."
Karuizawa Kei told Makoto Nishikado about her past.
Perhaps because Makoto Nishikado seemed calm and reliable, Karuizawa Kei felt much less nervous.
Makoto Nishikado had expected this and gave the answer he'd prepared in advance.
"I can help you, but you'll have to become my informant in Class D."
Before you continue