Chapter 4 – The Only Clear Way to Decrease Your Favorability
The large auditorium of the Otori Magic Academy.
Inside, red chairs were lined up to surround the podium in the center. There was also a magnificent dome painted with religious paintings like an opera house. And private rooms that were covered with red curtains were lined up on those rounded walls.
Those private rooms were VIP seats for people with high scores…. In other words, those are seats for honor students, and I can see senior students chatting while gracefully drinking something in those rooms.
After the entrance ceremony was finished, all freshmen went into this auditorium. And in this dimly lit auditorium, Marina-sensei, who was guiding us, tripped over something and fell down. Coupled with the atmosphere of the room, the sight of the students desperately trying to calm her, who was crying, made it look like a tragedy.
“A-ano, from here to there! These are class A’s seats, so for now, please sit wherever you like! And from now on, the three dormitory directors will be introducing the dormitories, so please be quiet!”
With that, I sat down in the nearest seat.
“….”
And as soon as I sat, my classmates were leaving from the surrounding seats, as if they’re pulled by the waves.
Looking at such a sight, I applauded in my mind. Since the existence of men is treated like a poisonous and deleterious substance, the way those girls responded by changing seats as soon as I sat down was actually wonderful. Or rather, Lapis and Rei who were trying to get involved with me like it was natural are the strange ones.
Being isolated, I folded my arms and tried to sleep, until– someone sat next to me.
“Hello.”
A sweet smell entered my nostrils. Tsukiori Sakura, who sat next to me, greeted me with a smile on her face, as if illuminating me with her beautiful smile, like the moon peeking through the clouds.
“…Are you okay sitting next to me?”
“Are you by chance learning swordsmanship or other things?”
Oi oi oi!! Please listen to what people say!! (Mother)
“I do have a Master, but I had a slight accident…. I almost died because of magic power exhaustion, so I haven’t learned any swordsmanship from her yet.”
“Self-taught, huh…”
While leaning against the unmanned seat in front of her, she smiled.
“You sure are strong, really.”
Hearing that from a cheat MC like you sounds really ironic, though…. and the difference between me and your magic power is like a cup and a pool, okay?
Although I don’t know why she suddenly decided to talk to me, there is no need for me to get along with Tsukiori more than necessary. Because the more attention the natural-born tanker, Hiiro-kun, gets from her, the more precious time Tsukiori and the heroines waste.
Since I want Tsukiori to encounter a lot of events and even go for the harem route if possible…. Quickly go to Lapis and Rei!!
“….”
Thus, I closed my eyes to end the conversation.
“Ne, have you ever been to a dungeon?”
“…”
“How about going there with me? Do you have time after school today?”
“…”
“Where do you live? Are you going to enter the dormitory? Which dormitory are you aiming for?”
“…”
What’s wrong with this girl?!
Why are you trying to get involved with me?! Isn’t your character supposed to be cool?! Why are you poking my arms?! What part of me interests you that much?! And can you please stop poking the cheek of the person you’ve met for the first time?!
“….Oi.”
“What, you are awake, after all.”
With her jet-black eyes, Tsukiori glanced at me.
What beautiful eyes. And also very bright and clear. For a moment, I have almost drawn to their bottomlessness, but… fortunately, I barely managed to regain myself.
“Are you sure you want to keep a man company in the start of your valuable school life? Even though there are so many cute girls around, do you intend to end your school life by poking a man’s cheeks?”
“They are weak.”
She whispered with a cold look.
“Because I only like someone who is equal to me.”
There is actually a good reason for her to say that. Tsukiori Sakura originally enrolled in the Otori Magic Academy in search of power. Her objective was to destroy the core of every dungeon in Japan, and the fact that she was able to enroll in this elite all-girls school despite being a commoner was because she was recognized as being good at magic.
Then, by meeting the heroines in this academy, her stubborn heart will gradually loosen, and in the end she will become really conscious of love relationships to the point of thinking, 『Dungeon? To hell with those! I’m going to spend my life flirting with girls and have a happy life!』.
But well, this is still the opening of the game, after all…. she eventually will kiss a girl too (confirmed future)1.
When I was thinking deeply about Tsukiori’s reaction, Lapis came and sat on my left. I then silently stood up and moved to the back seat.
“….”
“….”
As if it was the natural thing to do, the two followed me and sat on my left and right.
These girls… are they trying to kill me by sandwiching me between Yuri…?
“Ano…”
Suddenly, Rei comes and talks to Tsukiori with a beautiful smile.
“Can you change your seat with me? The one sitting next to you is my Onii-sama… Ah, even though I said Onii-sama, he is a distant brother, so there is almost no blood relation between us. But since Onii-sama was born a little earlier than me, I’m acting as a little sister. By the way, the other day, Onii-sama risked his life to save me. And in order to return that favor, I have a duty to support Onii-sama who has a hard life as a man. So, could you please change your seat with me?”
“….”
“Can you please change your seat with me? (Pressure)”
“….”
Completely ignoring Rei, Tsukiori smiled at me.
“Do you want gum?”
What’s with your nerve…? (Fear)
Knowing that Tsukiori didn’t intend to give up her seat, Rei sat down in front of me while sighing. She then flutters her long black hair, turns around, and stares at me.
“Onii-sama.”
“Ah, yes?”
“You won’t enter the dormitory, right? The main residence of the Sanjou family is there for you, after all, right?”
“I’ll enter.”
All of a sudden, Tsukiori entered the conversation.
“Because we have promised to go to the dormitory together.”
We didn’t!! Don’t tell such a fabrication with a smile!!
“Haa?! You are going to enter the dormitory?! I haven’t heard about that?! What will happen to that house?! Astemil and the elves will make a racket, you know?! Or rather, please talk properly about such important things!!”
“Onii-sama will live in the Sanjou family’s main residence, though. He has promised earlier.”
“Eh? You promised to live in the villa, right?”
“No no, he promised to enter the dormitory a while ago.”
S-scary… the facts were twisted from three directions and deformed to the point where they can’t keep the original… or rather…
In the middle of the three arguing girls, I hid my face between my arms.
Why did it become like this… This is just a normal harem love comedy story… Before I knew it, their favorability seemed to have increased that much… Since I know it is just a pure favor and not a romantic feeling2, I’m still relieved, but… I really don’t understand.
Thus, I am seriously thinking about how to reduce their favorability to 0 at once from this situation.
“….”
Should I shit in my pants… No, but, there is no other way…
“…”
As expected, should I shit…?
“…”
No matter what I think, there doesn’t seem to be any other choice but to shit in my pants… (despair).
When I decided to abandon my dignity as a person for Yuri, the surroundings became pitch black– and the podium was spotlighted.
Apparently, the introduction of the three dormitory directors will begin. And the fact that the three dormitories’ directors are on the stage means… She will also be introduced.
The three who were quarrelling also regained their tranquility, and I gazed at the podium.
This will be the appearance of— the third heroine.