Leo Ash's intention in saying all this was to help Anna relax a little.
But judging from the shyness she could no longer hide on her face, she probably grew even more bashful and nervous after Leo Ash pointed out her inner thoughts.
*Sigh*, to send someone with this kind of personality out to seduce him, did the Schariac family have no one else to send?
With a personality like hers...
[With a personality like hers, you could easily trick her into bed dozens of times.]
I think so too.
[But you also know full well that after tricking someone with her personality into... heh heh heh... you definitely wouldn't be able to just leave her be.]
[As long as you establish a deep enough emotional bond with her, the objective of those old geezers who sent her will be achieved.]
[Even if it's just for show, you slept with one of their own. Even if they don't bring up a political marriage, you'll be emotionally biased towards the Schariac family.]
...Yeah.
You've analyzed it quite correctly.
Damn it, I haven't even met those old geezers, and they've already got me cornered without even showing their faces.
If I didn't know the plot and didn't dare to rashly provoke the people around me...
[You really would've taken the bait, wouldn't you.]
Isn't that obvious? A beautiful girl is delivered to your doorstep. If there's no danger, you wouldn't sleep with her?
[This System isn't human. I have no such needs.]
[However, with that thought of yours, your instincts have truly awakened, haven't they.]
Perhaps it's because I'm too afraid of dying, and I have some premonitions. That, in turn, has stimulated desires in other areas as a survival instinct.
But I need to rein it in, or Anna will start overthinking again.
"You..."
At this moment, Anna gazed at the young man before her, for whom she felt a great deal of affection, and truly felt...
—*No, this is too embarrassing. I feel like I can't face anyone anymore.*
I was the one who was all aggressive before, wanting to help Leo Ash relax a little, but now...
*I'm such an idiot.*
*No matter how nervous Leo Ash gets, as an agent, he's far more mature than I am.*
*Someone as mature as him definitely knows how to adjust his own mood better than I do—what on earth was I worrying about before!*
In her complicated state of mind, Anna suddenly apologized for some reason.
"I-I'm sorry."
"...You don't have to apologize, you know."
Watching Anna, who had suddenly lowered her head and didn't dare to look up, Leo Ash said with a chuckle.
"We're just out for a stroll, not fighting Honkai Beasts. Why so serious—those were your own words, have you forgotten?"
"Relax, just relax. There are no enemies here, nor are there any of those annoying old geezers from your family."
*But... you're here.*
*I was the one who wanted to help Leo Ash relax, so I dragged him out to go shopping.*
*But now, less than half an hour has passed, and I've become the one whose emotions are being soothed...*
At that moment, Leo Ash suddenly saw the character profile template pop up from the System.
[Name: Anna Schariac]
[Identity: A young lady of the Schariac family, a Schicksal B-rank Valkyrie, currently assigned to the Far East Branch.]
[Current Affection: 50.5]
[Note: Don't look at me. If you think there's a problem with the affection level, please do some self-reflection, Mr. Cold, Handsome Man.]
Then, in the next instant, Leo Ash saw the 50.5 jump directly to 50.6.
And this affection level was still slowly rising, increasing by 0.1 each time.
I have a question—
[Don't ask. This System has already put the answer in the notes.]
[What benefit is there for this System to deceive you in this regard?]
[You can doubt this System's integrity, but you can't doubt its underlying logic.]
[At least when it comes to affection values, this System will definitely not give you false data.]
This is so damn ridiculous.
I remember Bianka's was only at 55 before!
We've known each other for two years. Can't that compare to Anna knowing me for two months?!
Oh, wait, we've known each other for two months, but have we actually seen each other for a combined total of five days???
[Well—she is special, after all.]
[You see, when you two first met, you happened to have the [Cold, Handsome Man] title.]
[When Bianka met Leo Ash, he was just an ordinarily handsome young man. His charisma value wasn't that high.]
[After spending so much time together, even if Bianka senses that your charisma has increased, her affection for you won't suddenly rise for that reason.]
Oh, so in the end, it all comes down to looks.
[To be precise, it's the first impression—Anna's first impression of you was too good. The combination of your words, your face, and (the increase in charisma) resulted in such an absurdly high affection level.]
After watching the affection value stop at 53, Leo Ash noticed that Anna had finally calmed down a bit.
And as Leo Ash compared Anna to the others, he truly realized what a huge difference having enough life experience made.
In fact, it wasn't just Anna. All of his peers in the dormitory shared a common trait—a lack of worldly experience.
It was precisely because of this lack of experience that Leo Ash, who had just a tiny bit more than them, could analyze them in advance, knowing their personalities and pasts, and then use his words to bluff them.
But when facing old foxes and super old foxes like Himeko, the Wraith, and Otto, Leo Ash didn't dare to act recklessly.
There was no master of rhetoric here; it was purely Leo Ash relying on the intelligence he had from before his transmigration and the [Cold, Handsome Man] title to fool little girls.
"You're right. I really should relax a bit."
Picking up the menu, Anna had now completely calmed her heart.
Then, after placing her order, she looked at Leo Ash and suddenly sighed softly.
"You're only two years older than me. Why do you feel so much more mature?"
"...Two years is a long time."
[Yeah, a year is enough to clear Honkai.]
Hearing the System's words, Leo Ash was so startled he almost dropped the menu in his hands.
*What do you mean? Are you finally decreeing that I only have ten months to live?!*
[That's not it. This System just saw a battle recording sent by another senior—don't get distracted, you continue.]
If you want me to not get distracted, then you should talk less.
After casually ordering an iced coffee, Leo Ash handed the menu to the waiter and turned his gaze back to Anna.
"Alright, you're the one who asked me out today. As the leader of this event, you should have some ideas of your own."
"What do you want to buy? Which shops do you want to visit? Do you have any specific plans?"
"Or do you just want to wander around randomly?"
Hearing Leo Ash's words, Anna seemed to have a sudden realization, as if remembering something.
Then, her eyes darted away evasively, and she said to Leo Ash in a very soft voice.
"...There's something I need your help with, to give me some advice on which style would be suitable."
Watching the two of them discussing something, the clerk at the counter couldn't help but sigh once again—being handsome really is useful.
*Sigh, it's obvious that the young lady was shy just now.*
*And this young man...*
*He brought a different girl here last time.*
*I hope he has his emotional affairs in order.*
*Otherwise...*
*—If you don't manage a fleet of linked ships properly, you'll be wiped out in one go.*
.....
About an hour later, outside a certain shop on the commercial street.
In that hour, after finishing their afternoon tea at the café, Leo Ash and Anna had casually browsed a few shops on the street.
But what Leo Ash hadn't expected was that Anna, whom he thought would remain slightly shy, had graciously led him through several stores and helped him pick out some clothes and accessories.
He had to admit, for someone who had never really considered going out to buy clothes, being taken shopping by a girl to pick out outfits—was a surprisingly novel experience.
Thinking about it, it was quite pathetic.
[Who's to blame but yourself for being a tryhard every day? Do you even remember the last time you went out shopping with a girl?]
...Probably two months ago, right after arriving at St. Freya High School, when I captured Yuna and completely brainwashed her into an Avenger.
[See? Don't you think you deserve this?]
[You're surrounded by a bunch of vibrant, beautiful girls, and you don't make a move. You've only been out shopping twice in two months!]
[Forget sleeping with them, you don't even have any interactions to deepen your bonds—are you even human!]
Even though you say that, I remember everyone's affection for me has risen slightly.
[So what if you're handsome—damn it, life isn't just about work, there's also poetry and distant places!]
Cut the crap. If you spent a little less time chatting with your seniors and a little more time on a search engine, you'd know there's a line that follows that one.
*Life is not only about poetry and distant places, but also the drudgery right in front of you*—I could die at any moment, and you're talking to me about poetry and distant places? Is that appropriate!
[Sigh, you have a point, but life still needs some lubricant.]
[You're mature enough in every other aspect, but you're just too paranoid about this—Anna is much better than you in this regard.]
I can't deny that.
I'm now certain that I have indeed been too neurotic about this.
[So, you should—]
But even if I know there's a problem, I can't just change my habits in an instant.
[You—sigh, forget it. You're right.]
[For a creature like a human, changing a habit is an incredibly difficult thing to do.]
[While observing humans, this System has seen plenty of people who claim every day that they'll go to bed early and wake up early, only to stay up all night scrolling on their phones.]
At that moment, Anna, standing in front of Leo Ash, looked at the shop before her as if she had made up her mind. She suddenly took Leo Ash's hand and proactively walked into the store.
As for Leo Ash, being led by the hand, seeing Anna's beet-red face, he wasn't surprised at all that she would have such an expression.
The reason was actually quite simple.
The shop the two had just entered was a swimsuit store.
He might seem dense, but he wasn't actually a block of wood—besides, even if he were a real block of wood, after seeing the affection level, it would be impossible for him not to realize anything.
Anna brought him here purely because she hoped to get his opinion and choose a swimsuit that 'Leo Ash would like'.
To be honest, the feeling of being valued was really nice, and the feeling of being liked was even better, but...
"Leo Ash."
Anna, having tried her best to calm her emotions, had now returned to her previous state of extreme nervousness.
"I heard from Kiana and the others that everyone is going to have a big party on the beach in a few days. I... I didn't bring a swimsuit, so I was hoping you could help me pick one out, to see what would be suitable."
After saying these words, Anna immediately regretted them.
*W-What am I saying!*
*T-Those words are way too forward!*
*And it's not just the words—why are the swimsuits here so revealing!*
*Especially this black one, it barely covers anything!*
*Oh no, I didn't think it through before bringing Leo Ash to this store.*
*Now, what will he think of me...*
"Anna."
After gently calling his friend's name, Leo Ash said with a helpless smile.
"See, you're at it again."
"Don't be so nervous. Or to put it another way—don't worry so much about my opinion and feelings."
Looking at the incredibly tense Anna, Leo Ash said gently.
"Whether it's a swimsuit or clothes... no, even your own way of life."
"You care too much about the opinions and feelings of others, so much that you ignore your own heart. In my opinion, while this way of life can easily please others, it tends to suppress your own inner feelings."
"Whether it's the opinions of those old geezers in the Schariac family or my opinion of you, neither is actually important to you."
"For you, the most important thing is always to please yourself."
At that moment, Leo Ash suddenly struck a pose, clenching his fist and affecting a laughable attitude.
"For any person, your own satisfaction is always the most important thing."
"As someone who's been there, let me tell you a secret to life—be a little more selfish, and you'll live a much easier life."
Seeing Leo Ash's expression, the previously tense Anna suddenly shook her head, completely relaxed.
"Honestly, what do you mean 'someone who's been there'? You're only two years older than me, 'Big Brother' Leo Ash."
"And as I said, two years is a long time, 'little sister' Anna."
After saying this to each other, they both burst out laughing at the same time.
After listening to Leo Ash's advice, Anna, with a relaxed heart, said to him.
"Alright, I'll keep that secret in mind for now—turn around, I'm going to pick a swimsuit."
"Alright, alright. I'll wait for you at the entrance."
At that moment, the two of them tacitly walked in different directions.
Picking up the black swimsuit from before, Anna truly felt that she was happier now than she had been just a moment ago.
*Sigh, I was the one who dragged him out to relax, but along the way... the tables have turned.*
*Even though he saw my inner turmoil, he didn't make fun of me. Instead, he tried to dispel the awkward atmosphere between us.*
*And, he really is considerate of my feelings...*
*I'm so glad I met Leo Ash.*
*To think that the elders of the family wanted to take advantage of such a person's kindness... it's just too despicable when I think about it!*
As Anna walked into the fitting room, Leo Ash, who had walked to the store's entrance, saw the character profile template pop up from the System again.
[Name: Anna Schariac]
[Identity: A young lady of the Schariac family, a Schicksal B-rank Valkyrie, currently assigned to the Far East Branch.]
[Current Affection: 60]
[Note: This System has nothing to say. Were you really single before???]
Could it be fake?
You've seen my past. You should know very well that I've never been in a relationship.
[Yeah, and that's what this System finds even more terrifying.]
If you think there's a problem with the affection level, go look at Anna. Don't stare at me; the problem isn't with me.
What's so scary about it?
Besides, I think you're misunderstanding me again.
I really don't have any ulterior motives. I'm just honestly speaking my mind.
What I said wasn't just for Anna; it was for myself too.
These are my own true feelings.
Sometimes, if a person lives a little more selfishly...
—They can truly live a much easier life.
...