Shido almost sprinted out of the school building at the tail end of the dismissal bell, panting slightly. He adjusted his breathing before walking towards the cherry tree at the school gate.
Kotori's hushed but clear voice came through his miniature earphone:
"Listen, Shido, this is a rare opportunity! Besides asking about Koushi, also try to mend your relationship with Chinatsu for the long term! Show your gentleness and care—this is key to accumulating favorability!"
(Favorability…)
Shido smiled bitterly inwardly, looking at the figure under the tree that was clearly emanating a low-pressure aura. He felt the task was arduous.
"Cl-Classmate Hōōin! I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!" Shido tried to make his tone sound natural and apologetic.
Chinatsu looked up, her icy-blue eyes glancing at him, her "pouting" emotion almost materializing.
(Finally, he's here! If he didn't come soon, I'd be drowned by the stares of passersby!)
But on the surface, she just gave a faint "Hmm," as a response.
Shido looked at her, remembering Kotori's instructions, and bravely tried to comfort her:
"Um… today's competition, you actually did a fantastic job! Especially that tiramisu, it looked just like something from a professional dessert shop! Really!"
Chinatsu: "..." (This guy… is he comforting me? Does he think I'm mad about losing the competition?)
She rolled her eyes inwardly but outwardly displayed a slightly awkward expression that said, "You have some taste, but don't think that'll win me over," and subtly turned her face away:
"Lost is lost. You don't need to say that."
---
Shido watched Chinatsu merely snort coldly without leaving, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
(Her reaction is cold… but she didn't walk away directly… there's a chance!)
Just as he was about to say something more, Kotori's hushed but clear voice immediately came through his miniature earphone. At the same time, in the corner of his vision, he seemed to "see" an option screen from Fraxinus:
[Shido, listen up! Initial options are popping up now!]
[Option One: Praise the opponent's technical details in depth, e.g., 'Your temperature control for the mascarpone cheese was absolutely perfect,' showing your professional insight and sincere appreciation.]
[Option Two: Express anticipation for the next match in a relaxed tone, e.g., 'Let's have another match next time, I'll definitely prepare even better moves!' maintaining a friendly competitive relationship and stimulating fighting spirit.]
[Option Three: 'This scorching sunset! This youthful restlessness! Classmate Hōōin! I know a highly-rated love hotel nearby, let's go explore the mysteries of life!']
Fraxinus Bridge, Real-time Combat Meeting (1)
In the futuristic bridge command center, the main screen was divided into multiple displays:
In the center was a real-time image of Shido and Chinatsu walking side by side, flanked by streams of Shido's and Chinatsu's physiological data and constantly scrolling environmental analysis data. Soft blue light illuminated the metal bulkheads, creating a tense yet professional atmosphere.
Kotori, in commander mode, sat in the elevated Commander's chair, the precious jewel stick in her mouth dangerously bobbing up and down as she stared at the main screen with a deep frown.
"What the hell is Option Three?! Kannazuki! Do you want my brother to be arrested as a pervert?!"
Kyohei Kannazuki sprang up from the adjutant's seat, dramatically stretching his hands towards the main screen, his face flushed with a perverted blush:
"Commander! Please see clearly! This is the shortcut to victory! It's the ultimate direct approach to break all false pretenses! In the sanctuary of a love hotel, all disguises will be stripped away, leaving only the most primal, purest collision of souls—!"
"Bang!"
A heavy metal thermos precisely hit Kannazuki's back of the head, knocking him to the ground. The one who struck was the expressionless Shiizaki.
Operator Shiizaki withdrew his hand and calmly reported: "Option Three rejected. Social death risk 100%, mission failure rate estimated 99.8%."
Kanmoto, beside him, pushed up his glasses and quickly analyzed: "Option One is too technical and may not effectively close the distance. Option Two is safer, fits the current context of 'post-match communication,' and can naturally continue the conversation."
Kotori rubbed her temples in exasperation: "Everyone, vote!"
The voting results quickly flashed on the screen, with Option Two winning by a clear margin. "Alright, Shido, choose two! Keep your tone natural!" Kotori issued the final command.
Shido received the instruction, took a deep breath, and gave Chinatsu the most natural smile he could muster:
"Your skills are truly impeccable, every step so precise. I hope we'll have another chance to exchange cooking insights in the future."
Chinatsu inwardly: (Huh? Exchange insights? Exchange insights with you on how to cheat with honey syrup?)
On the surface, she just gave another noncommittal "Hmph."
A subtle silence fell between them as they walked side by side down the street, dyed red by the sunset. The atmosphere was a bit stiff.
[Shido, don't let it go silent! New options!]
[Option One: Bring up a topic the other person might be interested in, for example… (Database searching: no reliable data yet)… talk about astronomy?]
[Option Two: In elementary school, I used to firmly believe I was a hidden magical boy, practicing transformation poses in front of the mirror every day.]
[Option Three: 'Classmate Hōōin… May I… see your panties, as pure as the first snow…?']
Fraxinus Bridge, Real-time Combat Meeting (2)
Kannazuki had just gotten up from the floor, and upon hearing Option Three, he became excited again: "Oh! This… this is such…!"
Before he could finish, Kotori had already sprung up from the Commander's chair, snatched another tablet from beside her, and her eyes were icy cold: "Kannazuki, if you dare finish that option, I'll launch you from the bridge!"
"Bang!" Kannazuki was precisely struck down again, this time by Kotori herself. "Hi! It's an honor!"
Shiizaki, who was reporting the situation, ignored the fallen Vice Commander:
"Option One rejected, topic relevance is zero. Option Two, the 'self-deprecating' strategy, carries some risk, but if it can evoke resonance or laughter, it can effectively break the ice."
Kanmoto: "Data shows that moderate self-deprecation can increase approachability. Suggest trying Option Two."
Kotori sat back in her Commander's seat, gritting her teeth: "Vote! Quickly!"
"Huh? Say this?"
Shido felt his cheeks flush, but he still braced himself and spoke with a somewhat awkward tone:
"Um… it's a bit embarrassing to say… when I was in elementary school, for a while I was really obsessed with magical girl anime… uh, no, magical boy! And then I firmly believed I was also a chosen child, secretly practicing transformation poses and lines in front of the bathroom mirror every day…" He regretted it as soon as he finished speaking and wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
Chinatsu paused slightly, turned her head, and scrutinized Shido with an extremely strange gaze. A very subtle hint of a smile seemed to flicker in her icy-blue eyes. (Or was it the look one gives an idiot?)
She let out a soft "Pfft," then immediately regained her cool, but her tone seemed less stiff: "…Are you an idiot?"
Although he was called an idiot, Shido inexplicably felt the atmosphere had softened a little.
Just then, Chinatsu's gaze seemed to inadvertently drift towards a cutely decorated crepe stand by the roadside, its sign proclaiming "Limited Double Chocolate" looking particularly tempting in the sunset.
[Target's gaze Stay detected! Associated options generated!]
[Option One: Seize the opportunity to invite, 'That crepe looks really good, want to try it together? My treat.']
[Option Two: Ask about the other person's preferences, 'Classmate Hōōin, do you like sweets?']
[Option Three: Such a beautiful crepe, can I drizzle it on you and then eat it?]
"Option One! Immediately! Now!" Kotori almost shouted on the bridge.
Shido immediately understood, pointing at the crepe stand: "That crepe looks really delicious, I kind of want to eat it. Want to go together? My treat."
Chinatsu inwardly: (Why not eat free food? No harm in eating it, and I'm hungry.) On the surface, she just nodded faintly: "…Okay."
The two walked to the stand, and Chinatsu unceremoniously ordered the most expensive double chocolate lava and strawberry supreme flavors.
Shido, meanwhile, ordered a regular cream banana. Holding the steaming crepes, Shido, under Fraxinus's instruction, suggested they sit on a nearby park bench to eat.
Sitting on a bench facing the fountain, the setting sun stretched their shadows.
Chinatsu first took a bite of the double chocolate, frowned slightly, then looked at the seemingly ordinary but already bitten cream banana crepe in Shido's hand.
She suddenly leaned closer to Shido, tilted her face up, a hint of cunning and playfulness in her icy-blue eyes, and said in a slightly coquettish tone:
"Classmate Itsuka~ My chocolate one seems a bit too sweet, it doesn't taste good… I want to try yours, may I?"
"Eh?!"
Shido was completely unprepared for this, instantly freezing, his cheeks turning red at a visible rate. He looked at the exquisite face so close, smelled the faint fragrance emanating from her, and his mind went blank.
Chinatsu watched his flustered state, secretly chuckled inwardly, and leaned forward even more aggressively.
Shido instinctively pushed back on the chair with both hands, trying to create distance. However, Chinatsu pressed her advantage, almost half her body leaning over.
Her hands pressed on the seat on either side of Shido, trapping him in the corner of the bench, his back tightly against the edge of the armrest.
She tilted her head slightly, closed her eyes, her long eyelashes casting shadows beneath them, and elegantly brushed a wisp of icy-blue hair behind her ear, revealing her fair neck and delicate ear. She spoke in a near whisper, with an expectant tone, softly saying: "Neh… just one bite, Classmate Shido~"
This posture was extremely ambiguous; from certain angles, it looked as if Chinatsu was about to lean in and kiss the trapped Shido.
Shido's heart pounded incessantly, his breathing became rapid, and the hand holding the crepe trembled slightly, completely at a loss.
On the Fraxinus bridge, chaos erupted instantly, with (fake) alarms and (real) cheers from Kannazuki mixing together.
(Is, is this progress too fast?!) Shido silently screamed in his heart.
And Chinatsu, meanwhile, thought with amusement: (Hmm, this distance, this angle… Fraxinus must be in a complete mess by now, right? What an interesting after-show.)
This "sunset date," orchestrated by Fraxinus but reverse-led by Chinatsu, was developing in a direction no one could have predicted.