System intelligence

Three or four days had passed.

Natsukawa gradually grew closer to his classmates who were targets, including Hiyori and Ibuki. Their Affection Ratings rose slowly and steadily.

Among Natsukawa's main targets:

Shiina Hiyori Affection Rating: 66

Ibuki Mio Affection Rating: 75

Ichinose Honami Affection Rating: 40

Kushida Kikyo Affection Rating: 40

Horikita Suzune Affection Rating: 0

As for the second tier of people he interacted with, Natsukawa normally made no particular effort to win them over:

Tool Chuto Rika Affection Rating: 70.

Natsukawa discovered that once a target's Affection Rating reached good friends (60) or above, it became difficult to see any particularly large fluctuations around that level.

That was because the only important stages above it were the two special milestones: special friend (80), and completing the conquest to earn system points (90). As for reaching 100 for a perfect conquest and obtaining a special reward, once the Affection Rating reached 90 and would never drop, it would get there eventually.

Natsukawa felt that the remaining Affection Rating would need to rise gradually through spending time together, or through certain special events.

So, besides his daily interactions with Hiyori and the others to increase their affection, Natsukawa began turning his attention toward people he had yet to meet who qualified as system targets.

After all, the sooner he met them, the better.

Natsukawa discovered a special merchandise section in the system shop, containing items that increased his chances of winning over targets.

[Information Card]

Price: 30 friendship points.

Effect: Obtain intelligence on certain events involving people who qualify as system targets!

Note: Three random pieces of intelligence are generated, based on the nearest dates and times after the card is used!

Natsukawa promptly spent a small number of points to redeem an Information Card.

After Natsukawa successfully used it, the system gave him a notification of its effects:

Ding! Information Card successfully used!

Intelligence ①: Around 11 tonight, Kamuro Masumi, who has spent three days scouting out her new school, will decide out of boredom and a desire for thrills to visit the second convenience store near the dormitory building at this hour when few students are around, for her first thrilling activity at her new school!

Intelligence ②: Around 11 tonight, Sakayanagi Arisu, who brought several more Class A students over to her side today, will have finished washing up for the evening and, while seeking to relax, discover that she has insufficient coffee grounds stocked in her dorm room. She will therefore decide to visit a convenience store near the dormitory building to buy some.

Intelligence ③: Around 11 tonight, Kushida Kikyo will finish a gathering with her classmates. At the gathering, she will have had to keep smiling while listening to their boring conversations. On top of that, after she previously obtained the account she had agreed to trade to Natsukawa and sent it to Natsukawa Tatsuya, that bastard still did not send her Horikita's social media account! To vent her feelings, she will head to the deserted school building's rooftop to let off steam.

Natsukawa smiled. System items really were effective, providing three pieces of intelligence about today all at once.

He remembered now. Kushida Kikyo had indeed sent him the account information for Katsuragi that he needed that morning. He had no idea how she had found it, but she had been quite punctual. Yet he seemed not to have replied to her.

Natsukawa thought it over. There would be more occasions when Kushida showed up at her venting spot.

As for that shrewd Sakayanagi Arisu, she probably would not pay attention to someone as ordinary as him this early on, and Natsukawa did not want to get involved with her at this stage either.

If she suddenly took an interest in scheming against him and exaggerated some information about him to Ryuuen, who was competing for leadership of the class, it would be far too troublesome. In any case, she would naturally notice him once he showed his abilities later.

So Natsukawa decided to go and "happen upon" Kamuro Masumi, that "master thief," around eleven that night. As long as he caught her with something he could hold over her, he would keep having opportunities to increase her Affection Rating!

Hiyori looked up from her book.

Indeed, at Hiyori's invitation, Natsukawa was currently reading with her in the library.

Their afternoon classes, as well as Hiyori's club activities, had long since ended.

Hiyori asked curiously:

"Tatsuya, what were you smiling about just now?"

"Haha, nothing, Hiyori. I just thought of something happy!"

"Oh, okay, then."

Natsukawa began chatting with her:

"By the way, Hiyori, what club did you join?"

Deciding to take a break, Hiyori closed her book too and said with a smile:

"Me? I joined the Tea Ceremony Club."

Natsukawa smiled in puzzlement:

"Hiyori, that's really unexpected. I thought you'd join the Reading Club. I remember there being a club like that in the club information booklet I saw before, wasn't there?"

Hiyori smiled sweetly:

"Hehe, does that surprise you too, Tatsuya? But I'm also very interested in the Tea Ceremony Club. And some girls from our class joined too."

Then Hiyori added softly, a little embarrassed:

"Of course, I'm already very happy just having you as a reading friend, Tatsuya. I don't need that many others. Besides, the students in the Reading Club might read widely, rather than mystery books, so their tastes might not match mine."

After becoming friends with Natsukawa, Shiina Hiyori seemed to have stopped wearing that placid expression, naturally showing her true expressions at any time in front of him.

Natsukawa smiled sincerely too, joking in response:

"Boo-hoo! Hiyori, that's so touching!"

"Well then, Hiyori, once you've mastered it, I'll definitely have to sample your tea-making skills if I get the chance!"

Clever as she was, Hiyori immediately realized that if Natsukawa were to drink tea she made, either he would have to visit her dorm room, or she would have to visit Tatsuya's room.

Hiyori blushed and smiled:

"Yes, of course. I'll let you try it if we get the chance, Tatsuya!"

The two then returned to discussing books.

When it was nearly evening, they began saying their goodbyes.

After bowing happily, Hiyori walked over to Natsukawa with a smile and said:

"Tatsuya, I'm really sorry for troubling you again. You spent so much time keeping me company in the library while I indulged myself in reading again. Anyway, I'm very happy!"

Natsukawa said with a smile:

"Hiyori, don't mention it. I actually have plenty of free time too. Getting to read with you makes me happy as well!"

"Hiyori, let me walk you back. See you tomorrow!"

"Yes, I look forward to spending tomorrow with you too!"

So the two walked back to the dormitory building together, chatting and laughing.

Ding! Affection Rating +5

Since the girls' dormitory floors were directly above the boys', there was no question of them going different ways.

After they parted in the elevator, Natsukawa returned to his dorm room.

Next, he just had to wait for the time mentioned in the intelligence. In his free time, after washing up, Natsukawa also sent two friend requests using the Anonymous Account.

He could extort two more batches of points now.

"Katsuragi, do you know about certain school rules? This concerns Class A, you know? If you want to know, accept my friend request!"

As for Class B, it was simple. Natsukawa also used the Anonymous Account to add Ichinose Honami.

"Ichinose, you wouldn't want anything to happen to your classmates in Class B, would you?"

Sorry, Honami. I'll make it up to you properly in other ways later.

As for Class C and Class D, the less said, the better.

Class C was still embroiled in a leadership struggle, and Natsukawa could practically see injured classmates at any time.

As for Class D, they were a disorganized mess without a clear leader, and probably had no points either.