For this mixer to go smoothly, someone capable of keeping Yukinoshita Yukino in check had to be there — someone with enough presence to balance her out.
And so, the ever-carefree, sharp-minded, and capable Tsukikawa Shū became the number one candidate.
Besides, the guy's face was thick enough that he might even outmatch Yukinoshita Yukino in that department.
Yukinoshita's immediate hostility toward Shū upon their first meeting stemmed precisely from Hiratsuka Shizuka's decision.Yukino didn't want anyone restraining her — much less someone daring to stand above her.
"Today, I called the few of you here so you can get to know each other beforehand.
"Hiratsuka folded her arms, her expression businesslike yet faintly amused."
"In short, you three are to assist the student council in managing this mixer."
Yukinoshita Yukino continued flipping through her book in silence, offering not even a glance up.Only Yuigahama Yui responded brightly, "We'll do our best!"
What followed was a rather dry meeting about the event's details. Hiratsuka went over each item carefully — especially emphasizing Yukinoshita's role.
Tsukikawa Shū quickly found himself bored, but at least he'd now gotten a grasp of the Service Club's structure in this world.
This version of the club only had two official members: Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui.
There was also one quasi-member — the first-year student council president, Isshiki Iroha, who liked to drop by frequently.
The meeting dragged on endlessly, so Shū, instead of listening, pulled out his phone and started scrolling through the Inner World forum.
After the opening of the Inner World, some surviving players had established a dedicated board.The number of users wasn't huge — many were just onlookers curious about the chaos — but it served as a good hub for players to exchange information.
Scrolling down, he noticed a nearly buried thread.
"Recruiting Wives!
Level 20 player carrying you — guaranteed to reach Level 15 in three days!
Comes with bonus EXP cards, job cards, skill cards, and green-tier weapons!
Sign the 'Fate Contract' now — click to receive your reward!"
The post included a list of rare items and materials — and, of course, a handsome photo of Tsukikawa Shū himself.
Yes. It was his marriage recruitment ad.
Shū glanced over his own post. Fewer than a hundred views.The replies, however, were filled with people flaming him.
After all, from a modern moral standpoint, turning marriage into a transactional system was a flagrant violation of both law and ethics.
But the Inner World had no such restrictions.
"Man, when will these people finally realize what kind of world they're actually in…"Shū muttered to himself, indifferent.
Once the Inner World opened for the second time, many would come to understand its danger — and when that time came, his post would probably resurface with new appreciation.
And his handsome photo?Validated.
Shū looked up from his phone at the meeting again.
Yukinoshita Yukino was still sitting with impeccable posture, quietly listening to Hiratsuka's instructions — though the faintly furrowed brow betrayed her disapproval.
Yuigahama Yui, on the other hand, was clearly zoning out halfway through — probably wouldn't be much help.
"Alright, that's all from me," Hiratsuka concluded, knocking lightly on the desk."You two are the faces of this school — don't embarrass me."
Once Hiratsuka had finished, Yukinoshita closed her book and stood up.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, next time, please schedule the meeting after school rather than during such a short break," she said in her usual cool, faint tone.
"Hah, blame this guy for that." Hiratsuka shot a look at Shū, who had already stood up before Yukino did. "He's got a date after school."
"Him?"
Yukinoshita gave Shū a sidelong glance — a flicker of surprise crossing her face.
Then again, thinking about it, it wasn't impossible.She didn't like him — far from it — but she had to admit the guy did look… pretty good.
"That's right — me." Shū shrugged.
He had plans to build a harem, sure, but he'd never intended to hide it.Plenty of people already knew he was dating Gotō Hitori, after all — they'd gone on enough dates for that to spread.
Leaving the clubroom, Tsukikawa Shū made his way back toward his own classroom.
"Hold it right there."
He turned to see Hiratsuka Shizuka standing behind him, one hand on her hip.
She walked up, arms crossed, a teasing smile playing at her lips.
"I never thought I'd see the day you actually got yourself a girlfriend."
With zero respect for personal space, Hiratsuka draped an arm casually around his shoulder.
"So, that girl's from another class, right? Haven't seen her before.You're into the shy, timid type, huh?"
"If I don't find a girlfriend soon, I might end up like you, sensei," Shū shot back dryly, giving her a once-over.
Her looks were top-tier, her figure excellent, and she was good at both combat and sports.
"How old are you, anyway?" he asked.
"It's rude to ask a lady her age," Hiratsuka replied, giving him a light flick on the head.
"I wouldn't mind marrying another one," Shū muttered, rubbing his scalp — her flick barely hurt.
"Then you'd better become Prime Minister first and get rid of that damned monogamy law," Hiratsuka retorted.
She sighed softly afterward. "If I were seven or eight years younger… no, five or six would do… maybe I'd actually consider a little cougar romance with you."
"So if we started dating, would that mean we could do something naughty around campus?" Shū asked, his gaze meaningful.
"You wish. You've already got a girlfriend and now you're trying to flirt with your teacher?"
Her long, elegant fingers poked him lightly in the cheek as she leaned in, smiling."Eating from one bowl but eyeing the next, huh?"
"Take good care of that girl, and stop chasing every butterfly that flutters by."
With that, Hiratsuka hugged her books, turned, and walked off, her heels clicking crisply against the floor.
Just the usual teasing — that's all it was.Sure, Shū's looks were enough to catch her attention, but it was nothing more than playful banter between teacher and student.
When the bell finally rang, Shū went to his usual spot — where he always met Gotō Hitori.
Stepping out of the building, he spotted her from afar, standing by the school gate with her backpack.
He froze for a second.
Today, Gotō Hitori wasn't wearing her usual tracksuit — she'd switched to her JK uniform, and had even properly brushed her hair.
On top of that, a brand-new ribbon gleamed proudly on her head, perfectly centered.
As expected of Bocchi-chan — worried I wouldn't notice her, huh?
Shū couldn't help but smile inwardly.
He glanced at his system time.
[Time Until Inner World Opens: 14:00]
Plenty of time left. No problem fitting in a date.
Then again — the fact that they could still go on a date less than a day before the Inner World reopened…
Well, that just made them the most relaxed couple in either world.