Shirakawa Sawahei remained silent for a long time and softly said, "I’m sorry."
"That’s not right." Tachibana Tomoku gently shook her head, "Didn’t you say it yourself, Shirakawa? Friends should only apologize when needed."
"That’s true, isn’t it?" Shirakawa Sawahei laughed, "I forgot, sorry..."
The two of them exchanged a glance and couldn’t help but laugh. Shirakawa Sawahei feigned surprise, "I didn’t expect you to be so well-behaved, Tachibana, and yet you once considered running away from home."
"That... was back in elementary school... Now, I don’t dislike going to school at all!"
"Is it because of your friends?"
Because of you and the friends.
Tachibana Tomoku silently answered in her heart but replied out loud.
Shirakawa Sawahei smiled, "I’m honored to be a source of strength for you, Tachibana."
"Likewise, on my end."
"So, Shirakawa, have you had many friends before?"
"Hmm? Well, that depends on how far back we’re talking." Shirakawa Sawahei recalled the past, feeling as if it was a different lifetime.
Oh, wait, he already was in a different world now.
"Probably... in elementary school?"
"Elementary school?" Shirakawa Sawahei thought for a moment, then chuckled lightly, "Back in elementary school, everyone thought upsetting the pretty girls was fun. Maybe we couldn’t tell the difference between like and dislike, so we were all awkward."
"Boys were awkward, and girls were awkward too."
"Huh? You, Shirakawa, also acted like that towards girls?" The shy girl stammered, "So you were... gentle with girls you didn’t like?"
"What kind of logic is that? I wasn’t like that either." Shirakawa Sawahei smiled wryly, "That was just a peculiar childhood perspective on love. Looking back, it’s pretty amusing now."
"Did Shirakawa ever have someone you liked before?"
"Liked before? There were a few girls in high school who confessed to me, but I refused them all."
"So... you didn’t have anyone you liked then?"
After a while, Tachibana Tomoku asked again, "Then... are you not planning to date in high school, Shirakawa?"
"I used to think that way... but it seems like such matters aren’t for me to decide."
"Eh? Why isn’t it up to you?"
Because of that stupid system! Shirakawa Sawahei cursed inwardly but kept a straight face, "Because life is full of surprises. Who knows, I might meet a stranger in a few days and start dating her."
Tachibana Tomoku: (ｷ｀ﾟДﾟ´)!!
"Tachibana, I was just giving an example... No need to be so shocked..."
"It could also be a familiar girl, you know?"
Tachibana Tomoku: !!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ
Oh my, that expression is so cute. Tachibana, do you know how adorably clueless you are?
"Alright, alright, just joking," Shirakawa Sawahei said, trying to hold back his laughter, "It’s not that easy. It would be difficult for me to start a relationship now."
"Eh? Is it your parents who don’t approve, Shirakawa?"
"Not exactly disapprove. It’s just that there are a lot of restrictions." Shirakawa Sawahei thought about it, realizing he couldn’t really explain the system, and said, "It’s just quite troublesome, really."
Shirakawa Sawahei still didn’t fully understand how this irritating system worked or determined a "failed conquest," but maintaining the status quo seemed like the best course. He’d consider all of it after high school was over.
He had no intention of forcibly keeping girls from pursuing happiness if the conquest was unsuccessful anyway. Who knew how many skill levels would be lost by releasing a conquest status—probably akin to failing?
As for a successful conquest...
If he did somehow succeed, would these learning queens genuinely like him, or was it the system’s assistance causing them to like him?
Oh right! That lousy system hardly ever made its presence felt, didn’t it? Not like a gal game with a god-viewpoint helping with conquests. Never mind, then.
If a real conquest succeeded, being a boyfriend wouldn’t be a problem. After all, it wasn’t like he was picky...
Black Hearted Lolita? Little Shy? Anyone would work, I’m not choosy...
Shirakawa Sawahei pondered quietly for a bit, suddenly feeling a bit odd about already considering a relationship with one of the learning queens even before a successful conquest...
Could it be that I’m really just lusting after them?
No chance! Not possible!
Shirakawa Sawahei flatly denied the thought, convincing himself: If I really were lusting, wouldn’t I have already made a move?
No way I’d lust after the learning queens! Even though the Lazy Girl lived with me, I rely on my strong sense of righteousness and the trust her parents have in me to resist temptation.
Of course, the main point is that taking advantage of an airhead soulless girl seems embarrassingly beneath the main character’s dignity.
Sorry, was that offensive?
"You seemed to have a strange expression just now... Is something the matter?"
In a way, "I’m sorry" had become a secret language between the shy girl and him, making the two of them chuckle again.
The next day, the Lazy Girl, who had fallen onto the bed, was woken up by love as usual. Half-asleep, she stumbled towards the washroom, squeezing toothpaste and waiting for Shirakawa Sawahei to come over.
This sweet little routine was something the cute little Ise Yu seemed to cherish because it was one of the few exclusive benefits of living under the same roof.
Well, although she regretted not inviting Shirakawa to sleep together because she was gaming last night, she was sure he wouldn’t blame her as they were so close!
The boss yesterday was really tough... I should’ve asked Shirakawa to help... Why hasn’t he gotten up yet? Did he fall asleep comfortably on the sofa...?
The Lazy Girl suddenly woke up and ran, slippers flapping, to the living room to find the Shirakawa Sawahei that should’ve been on the sofa missing.
Where’s my Shirakawa? The big Shirakawa I left here?
Maybe he went out for breakfast? No, Sakurazawa said she wanted him to cook breakfast tomorrow...
The cute little Ise Yu hesitated for a moment, then ran again, slippers flapping, to check the door and saw Shirakawa Sawahei’s shoes still there.
She instantly understood everything...
He got intercepted! It’s Sakurazawa! It must’ve been her!
The Lazy Girl immediately came to the same conclusion as the Black Hearted Lolita, just as the wrongly accused boo-hoo beast stepped out of the room.
"Eh? Koorikin... morning~"
Tsukimi Sakurazawa yawned, looking sleepy, "You’re up so early... so energetic... hmm... I didn’t sleep well last night."
Seriously, is that how you talk?!