[After the diary incident,]
[Toru grew even colder toward you at school.]
[Current affection: Indifferent]
"What do I do…? At this rate... this is terrible."
Kita had originally believed her run would go smoothly.
She never imagined she would suffer such a heavy blow so early on.
Her social skills that had never failed her had actually fallen flat before Toru.
[After school, at the live house, you wonder what exactly Toru's diary contains.]
[Nowadays, barely anyone records their daily life on paper.]
[With Instagram and Line, people prefer posting online instead of handwriting.]
[Besides, who seriously still writes a diary?]
[Regarding Toru's little secret, you think——]
[1. Peek at his diary, find his dark history, and take revenge.]
[2. Give up and stop thinking about revenge.]
[3. Ask your friends.]
Kita considered her options.
A bold choice might break the deadlock, but she truly did not dare risk it.
The second option felt too passive…
Alright, choose 3. Ask everyone's opinion.
[You tell the Kessoku Band the situation that happened after school today.]
[They begin thinking.]
[Ryo believes the diary might contain a heartbreaking secret. For example, he might have a terminal illness and, not wanting emotional ties, closed off his heart.]
Possible.
No, very possible!
That sounds exactly like Toru.
[Hitori stammers, believing Kitahara-kun would not avoid friends for such a strange reason. She thinks there must be a deeper cause.]
Also possible.
In previous simulations, even when he was about to die, he still dated someone.
Kita rubbed her forehead, her elegant features clouded with worry.
No, the known information was too little.
There was no way to deduce the truth.
[Nijika asks why you're asking about Kitahara-kun. Do you like him?]
[You answer——]
[1. "O-of course I don't. Who would like someone so rude and heartless?"]
[2. "I… care a little, but that doesn't mean I like him."]
[3. "I like him."]
[4. Simulate personally]
This one…
Only the second answer fits.
"Who is this tsundere in option one?
That's not me at all."
[You explain you don't have strong feelings for Kitahara-kun, just curiosity because he stands out so much in class.]
[Nijika says Kitahara-kun might be too used to his busy acting schedule. Once freed from it, maybe he no longer knows how to socialize.]
[They chatter for a while, but you gain no useful information.]
[The next day,]
[at noon, you notice Kitahara-kun leaving the classroom alone.]
[After asking some girls, you learn that Kitahara-kun always eats lunch on the rooftop.]
[Your friends chat——]
["The rooftop? Isn't it locked by teachers?"]
["Kitahara-kun-kun has great grades. The teacher gave him a key."]
["If he acted a little nicer it'd be perfect, but this is fine too. Anyway, someone like him would never date someone like me. I'd cry if he had a girlfriend."]
["Yabai, Yuka, your personality is awful."]
[Listening, you recall what the homeroom teacher told you this morning when you were called to the office——]
['Kita, please look after Kitahara-kun-kun if you can.']
[When school opened, you became class representative.]
[Helping classmates is part of your job.]
[Ten minutes later,]
[after finishing lunch, you head to the rooftop to speak with Kitahara-kun and pry out his secret.]
[You open the rooftop door.]
[The summer wind lifts your scarlet hair. In a daze, you spot a tent.]
[Not an illusion.]
[Toru really set up a tent on the rooftop, with a lounge chair beside it.]
[Rather than attending school, he looks like he's on vacation.]
["Hm?" Kitahara-kun hears the door and glances back.]
[He wonders why, after yesterday's incident, you still dared approach him with such shameless ease.]
[Due to certain special reasons, Kitahara-kun cannot make friends.]
"Special reasons? So Toru isn't doing this on purpose."
Kita continued reading.
['Setting up a tent on the rooftop breaks school rules, Kitahara-kun-kun.' You frown. Having lived upright your whole life, you are the kind of student teachers praise.]
[Such rebellious behavior bothers you.]
['What does that have to do with you?' Kitahara-kun narrows his eyes.]
[His gaze is sharp, almost frightening.]
['I…' You hesitate, then threaten him: 'You'd better take it down or else…']
[Before you finish, Kitahara-kun steps forward, pinning you against the wall.]
['Or else what?' Kitahara-kun lifts your chin with a faint smirk.]
[With his handsome face so close, you look down instinctively. This scene, known as "kabe-don," is something you had only seen in shoujo manga.]
[Never did you expect to experience it yourself.]
[Your heartbeat goes out of control.]
['Go ahead. See whether the teachers will punish me.' Kitahara-kun releases you, unfazed.]
[As a top student who always ranks first, he knows the teachers won't give him trouble.]
[You know that too.]
['I don't want to leave.' You speak stubbornly.]
['You make no sense. First you threaten to report me, now you want to stay. You're strange.' Kitahara-kun lies back in his chair, not planning to attend the afternoon classes.]
['I want to be your friend, Kitahara-kun-kun.']
['Sorry. I cannot be friends with anyone.' He rejects you instantly.]
[Facing his stubbornness, you decide——]
[1. An interesting man. You've caught my attention. Kiss him.]
[2. Skip class with him.]
[3. Simulate personally.]
Which one?
Hmm…
The first is too aggressive.
Go with 2.