As the most popular Student Council President among female students in Hakuo Academy, and also known as the Student Council President most trusted by students, Hinagiku's popularity at Hakuo Academy was beyond imagination.
This also meant Hinagiku's popularity there was not limited to the boys. Many in the girls' circle liked her as well.
For example, the girls who gave Hinagiku chocolates on Valentine's Day last year and this year, those were all honmei chocolates.
"Honmei…"
Only at this moment did Hinagiku realize that those chocolates carried special meaning and feelings.
She knew those chocolates were a sign of respect and gratitude from her juniors.
But she did not know that those chocolates also carried special affection.
"I thought you already knew."
Nagi truly thought Hinagiku knew. The attitudes and thoughts of those girls were quite obvious. It would be hard not to notice.
But precisely because of this, Nagi felt that Hinagiku knew.
Who knew she herself was completely unaware.
"I really didn't know…"
Hinagiku only felt now that she lacked awareness in this area.
She had truly never thought there was anything unusual about the chocolates girls gave her in the past, but now she realized that was the biggest problem.
"For girls, it should be fine."
"Mm, even if Miss Katsura is more masculine in some aspects than boys, the girls at Hakuo Academy still remember that Miss Katsura is a girl."
Upon being reminded by Ren, Hinagiku felt a heavy blow.
Especially that phrase, "more masculine in some aspects than boys," was that not just calling her a tomboy?
But the problem was, she was a girl.
There was nothing more insulting than describing a girl as masculine.
"Amamiya, after all, I am a girl…"
Ren smiled. He naturally knew what Katsura meant.
"Is it that bad? The feelings between girls do not have to be complicated. So-called liking can include admiration, and it can also simply be a romantic idea."
"Mm, I remember in the story your orientation was quite normal. And those girls who liked you actually supported your romance, even acting as cheerleaders."
"Romance… cheerleaders…"
These two words should not be combined. Hinagiku really did not want to understand how these two words went together.
After calming down, Hinagiku focused on the story.
"So, I ended up falling for the male protagonist in the story? Why? It cannot just be because of simple kindness, can it?"
"Mm… hard to say. Do you remember what I just said? Miss Katsura always appears in high places for inexplicable reasons."
"Ah…"
Hinagiku somewhat understood the meaning of this sentence. She knew this plot point. Next would be the male protagonist saving her from a high place.
"I remember the first time Miss Katsura and the male protagonist met was in such an atmosphere, only Miss Katsura stepped on the male protagonist's face and then successfully jumped down from the tree."
"…"
Everyone imagined the scene of Hinagiku jumping from the tree, stepping on the male protagonist's face, then landing successfully.
How to describe it? A bit cool, a bit unconventional.
"Both were sold by their parents, the gentle personality of the Japanese male protagonist, plus Miss Katsura often encountering trouble and him stumbling upon it, naturally led to more connections."
"In the past, Miss Katsura always displayed abilities equal to or surpassing those of her male peers at any time. And even such a Miss Katsura had times when she faced trouble, so…"
Ren paused here.
Hinagiku rubbed the bridge of her nose. The plot Ren spoke of, and the part he did not continue, was already clear enough.
"Unconsciously displaying an ability not inferior to mine in front of me, which constantly draws my attention to him, making me subconsciously develop some thoughts of concern for him."
"Hmm, I think I generally understand what is going on."
Hinagiku organized the information she knew, then made a subjective definition.
"The 'me' in the story must have developed a bit more concern for that person due to some previous actions. The real beginning of paying more attention to that person should have been after learning that he had the same experiences as me."
"Similar experiences create corresponding empathy, and then after learning about the other party's attitude toward those matters, recalling my past self, I gradually developed a sense of identification with that person, let down the basic defense line in my heart, and only then did the past concern turn into a very deep concern."
"During this stage, as the time of contact increased and more situations were understood, feelings also developed."
Hinagiku understood herself very well, and she also understood how stories between male and female protagonists develop, so she could deconstruct the general situations that would follow.
Similarly, she also simulated in her mind how she would act in such a situation.
Then she frowned, unwilling.
It was not because such a situation was unreasonable, but because it was too reasonable, and she herself would indeed gradually develop feelings of concern for that person in this process.
"If I did not know the situation at all, I would really develop some thoughts of concern for that person."
"Hmm, that is quite normal."
Ren found this quite normal.
"Perhaps there are certain differences between stories and reality, but there are always some similar situations. Especially certain personalities and ideas, as well as some reactions you would have."
"After all, stories also need a certain logical relationship."
"Ultimately, a story is just a story. Stories are often the most beautiful because unbeautiful stories do not sell."
Hinagiku was stunned, then she smiled.
"That is right, if it is not an interesting story, it will not sell."
(To be continued.)