During the Shuka High School cultural festival.
Toru moved through the classroom in a butler's tailcoat, serving tea to the guests.
"Young lady, here is your tea. The elegant and handsome butler bowed slightly as he offered the cup."
By the way, one cup cost 1000 yen.
"Um… Kitahara kun, can I take a photo with you?" The girl asked as she opened her camera.
"I am sorry, young lady, photos require an additional fee." Toru pointed toward the price board nearby.
"I see, I will pay right away."
The girl happily paid another 3000 yen and took the commemorative photo home.
In the corner of the classroom.
Hitori's tea brewing movements were smooth and practiced.
"Hehe, thank goodness I do not have to deal with customers today."
A few days earlier, during the duty assignment.
Toru had spoken up first, saying that Hitori did not like interacting with strangers.
He successfully helped her escape the fate of customer service.
Toru did not want anyone outside their class to see Hitori in a maid outfit.
His possessiveness was surprisingly strong.
At another corner of the classroom.
Two girls on break were chatting.
"It has completely turned into Kitahara's personal show."
A quiet girl sighed.
"There is no helping it, Kitahara is too handsome." The gyaru said.
She then asked "So where should we hold the after party? How about karaoke?"
"Chitose, Kitahara has never agreed to go out with us before." The quiet girl reminded her.
"But I have seen Kitahara and Gotoh walking home together after school."
The gyaru glanced again at Hitori.
Everyone in the class was quite kind toward this cute little social anxiety girl, so there was no bullying at all.
"Gotoh-san, your tea is about to spill." The gyaru hurriedly warned.
"S-sorry."
Hitori scrambled to steady the teapot.
She had gotten distracted listening to them.
This afternoon, on the second day of the cultural festival, she and her bandmates would be performing on stage.
Yes, after thinking for a long time, Bocchi-chan had finally submitted the application form.
Now, it was time to see the results.
Yesterday.
Hitori had planned to invite Toru to walk around the cultural festival with her, but somehow he ended up spending the whole day with Kita instead, chatting and laughing the entire time.
The two of them were like a perfect golden couple, completely out of reach for someone like her.
"Kitahara-kun is so hard to understand…"
"Who did he actually like? Last time he rested his head on her lap, and then… nothing happened afterward."
"Normally, resting on someone's lap was practically a confession, right?"
"Ah, I hope Kitahara-kun can be more proactive." Hitori indulged in her innocent dreams.
Confessing was impossible for her. In this lifetime, she would only survive by waiting for opportunities to fall into her lap.
[Player, please note, you have received a special quest.]
…A quest?
It had been a long time.
The last time was during summer break, when her simulator had no remaining uses and she had needed quests to gain more.
Anyway, I still have two simulations left. I will just ignore the quest for now.
[You have a new email.]
[Before the cultural festival ends, please deepen your relationship with the target character, Toru. The simulator will grant simulation attempts based on completion level.]
[1. Hold Toru's hand in front of the members of Kessoku Band. Simulation attempts +1]
[2. Kiss Toru while he is fully conscious. Simulation attempts +3]
[3. Confess and successfully start dating. Simulation attempts +100, and simulator permissions permanently increase by one level. Highly recommended.]
"Ah… even if you recommend it, it is impossible."
Hitori did not dare confess.
Timid as a squirrel, she had only just reached the stage where she could secretly glance at Toru with both eyes.
Confess? That was too cruel for her.
Besides.
If she succeeded in confessing in real life, what would she even use the simulator for anymore? Forget one hundred, she would not need ten thousand. She would win instantly.
Right, it is almost time to meet up.
Hitori checked the clock. Ten in the morning. The others from Kessoku Band had agreed to arrive at Shuka High around this time.
Yamada Ryo and Ijichi Nijika lived in Shimokitazawa, not too far from Yokohama.
Thinking of this.
Hitori glanced several more times at Toru.
A few minutes later.
Having made up her mind, she quietly approached him and asked "Kitahara kun, once you finish your shift, will you come with me to meet up with the band?"
Wandering the festival alone with Kitahara? Impossible.
But going with a group, that she could handle.
"Sure, later." Kitahara-kun replied.
He was quite free today. His schedule only had two shifts, totaling about an hour and a half.
The rest of the day was open.
Okay.
Hitori felt like she might float away.
Kitahara did not refuse. That definitely meant he liked her, right?
Bocchi-chan, for once, had not guessed wrong. Toru did like her, although not to an absolute degree.
Mainly, Hitori was simply too big of a temptation for him to refuse.
Half an hour later.
At the gate of Shuka High.
Yamada Ryo and Ijichi Nijika waited in casual clothes for Kita to come pick them up.
"We are performing today. I am getting a little nervous." Nijika looked around for a familiar crimson silhouette.
"Nervous." Yamada Ryo echoed flatly.
Then she added "Actually, I want to perform with Toru-kun."
"Mm… me too, but he did not agree." Ijichi Nijika shrugged. They had invited him, but he declined.
He had said that as a guy, joining an all girl band would not be appropriate.
Maybe he cares about public opinion?
"He is just lazy." Yamada Ryo had visited Kitahara's home.
She knew that in private, he spent most of his time lazing around.
Completely different from the simulator's hardworking demon.
What she did not know was that because he worked so hard in the simulations, every time he returned to reality, he fell into a long period of idleness.
"Ryo, your relationship with Toru-kun is really good."
"Yes, very good." Ryo nodded.
"I'm so jealous~"
Hearing that, Yamada Ryo thought If nothing unexpected happens, you are probably the woman he likes the most. I can only be second at best.
At the moment, in Ryo's mind, the threat ranking of romantic rivals was as follows:
Ijichi Nijika five stars. As long as she made a move, Kitahara would never refuse.
Kita three stars. An unpredictable creature with potential to go yandere and sweep all competition.
Ijichi Seika two stars. Low chance, but cannot be ignored.
Hitori one star. Weak, unable to pose any threat.
"Ryo, Bocchi-chan is coming… eh…"
Hearing Nijika's voice, Ryo looked toward it.
In her field of view, Hitori was holding Toru's arm, walking toward them with unmistakable intimacy.
Threat level up.
Loser girl power up.
Sorry. I take it back. When it comes to stealing men, this despicable little woman… is quite dangerous.