Looking at Tanaka Masao in the picture, covered in sweat and exhausted, Fujiwara Chika couldn't help but exclaim,
"He looks like he's working very hard."
Saying that, she propped her chin on her hands, resting them on the table, and sighed.
"Actually, I've tried to lose weight a few times, but I always failed. How are Junior Tanaka's weight loss results?"
"As for me, I lost about five kilograms in half a month."
"Five kilograms!"
Hearing that number, Fujiwara Chika's eyes widened.
"How did you do it? Quickly teach me."
Tanaka Masao pinched his chin and slowly explained.
"Actually, it's not that hard. I get up at seven every morning to run for an hour, and then train for another hour after school in the afternoon.
Then, my daily diet consists of boiled chicken breast, boiled broccoli, boiled…
Finally, a cup of fresh vegetable juice is all it takes."
Fujiwara Chika's initially expectant expression gradually stiffened, then became twisted in pain.
She quickly reached out to stop Tanaka Masao.
"Don't… don't say any more."
She looked at Tanaka Masao with a horrified expression.
"How did you manage to stick with something so terrifying?"
Just thinking about that situation made Fujiwara Chika tremble all over.
She felt that if it were her, she definitely wouldn't last even a single day.
Suddenly, Fujiwara Chika realized something.
"Oh right, Tanaka-kun, since you're on a diet, why are you eating ramen now?"
She was a little puzzled, and there was also a hint of teasing in her eyes, as if to say,
"Junior Tanaka, you haven't given up, have you, just like me?"
Tanaka Masao noticed the teasing in her eyes and explained,
"Because I get one cheat meal a week where I don't have to control my diet."
"I see, one chance a week to eat whatever you want."
Fujiwara Chika nodded, thought for a moment.
She indicated that even with that, she couldn't do it.
She patted Tanaka Masao on the shoulder and praised him sincerely,
"Junior Tanaka, you're amazing, keep up the good work."
Saying that, she also gave him a thumbs up.
"Thanks for the compliment."
Learning that Tanaka Masao was diligently losing weight, Fujiwara Chika's favorability towards him increased quite a bit.
Because Fujiwara Chika liked hardworking people.
For example, in the original work, Fujiwara Chika really liked diligent boys like Shirogane Miyuki.
But after witnessing his various astonishing flaws, her liking was completely eroded by the despair of each devilish training session.
However, through repeated special training guidance for Shirogane, she awakened a strange maternal instinct.
And there was that classic line to Kaguya,
"This child was raised by me."
Fujiwara Chika lay on the table, her legs dangling, and began to fantasize beautifully.
"Junior Tanaka, if you lose weight, will you suddenly become a great handsome guy?"
Tanaka Masao shook his head.
"Although I'm also looking forward to becoming a great handsome guy, it's unlikely."
"Of course, this is without the help of the system."
"Ah, don't be so pessimistic, believe in yourself. Isn't there a saying that every fat person is a potential stock? Junior Tanaka, you have a good foundation."
Looking at Fujiwara Chika cheering him on, Tanaka Masao couldn't help but think of a phrase.
"Only girls know how good my foundation is."
"Could it be that I am actually very handsome and charming?"
Tanaka Masao was even made confident by Fujiwara Chika.
"Oh right, the midterm exams are coming up soon. Junior Tanaka, have you been studying?"
"Of course, I've even reduced my exercise volume recently to study. Why are you suddenly asking this, Fujiwara-senpai?"
"Heh heh heh~"
Fujiwara Chika showed a proud smile and said,
"Actually, I've recently learned a really great study method. Junior Tanaka, do you want to know?"
Tanaka Masao asked curiously,
"Oh, what method is it?"
He had been feeling discouraged by Kashi's genius recently, so he was quite curious about good study methods.
"The best study method is…"
Fujiwara Chika drew out her words, fully piquing Tanaka Masao's interest.
"No studying at all!"
Looking at Fujiwara Chika's confident smile, Tanaka Masao's gaze was like he was looking at an idiot.
"Fujiwara-senpai, how can you say something like that with such confidence?"
Seeing Tanaka Masao's overflowing distrust, Fujiwara Chika felt a little indignant and argued with reason and evidence.
"This is valuable experience I painstakingly (casually mentioned when bored) learned from the first and second-place students at Shuchiin.
As long as you pay attention in class normally, there's no need to pull all-nighters or cram, it will only harm your body.
Moreover, exams are for seeing your own ability. Even if you force yourself to get a good score, you won't see your true self.
So, not studying and just taking the exam naturally is the best way."
After listening to Fujiwara Chika, Tanaka Masao roughly understood what was going on.
This must have been a carefully crafted lie by those two from the student council, intended to defeat each other.
Only, this lie failed to deceive the other party and instead fooled Fujiwara Chika.
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
"Although I don't know about Fujiwara-senpai's situation, I usually don't study diligently, so I have no choice but to cram.
And while exams are for seeing your own ability, if your ability is too poor and your family finds out, your allowance might be reduced because of it."
Although, the reduction of allowance wouldn't happen to Tanaka Masao.
After all, he was last in his grade, with no room for decline.
Oh, no, it should be said that he had a lot of room for improvement.
Hearing Tanaka Masao's words, the previously confident Fujiwara Chika suddenly froze in place.
Because she suddenly remembered that she also didn't seem to study diligently normally.
And her allowance…
If she didn't do well on the exam, she would definitely be scolded by her mother and her allowance would be reduced.
"No!"
Fujiwara Chika couldn't imagine the hard times of a reduced allowance.
"No, I need to hurry back and study."
At this moment, Fujiwara Chika had completely forgotten the brainwashing from Shirogane Miyuki and Shinomiya Kaguya; her intelligence was back online.
Now she finally intended to study.
At this time, Tanaka Masao also finished his second bowl of ramen.
He actually still had an appetite and could continue eating, but the ramen was a bit salty, and eating more would make it too rich.
"Perfect, I should also head back. It's getting late, I'll walk you home."
"Alright then, let's hurry back."
Fujiwara Chika didn't refuse, stood up, and took out a few coins from her pocket, which was exactly the cost of one ramen, so the owner didn't need to make change.
"She even prepared change for ramen, Fujiwara Chika is indeed an expert."
Tanaka Masao also took out money to pay and leave.
The two people in the ramen shop watched their departing backs and silently wished them well.
"Keep it up, young man."