"Detect lies? Psychology? Reading microexpressions? Or a combination of both?"
"None of those," Seino Rin shook her head. "When I was three, I suddenly realized I could tell if someone was lying."
"…."
"Unbelievable? I don't expect anyone to believe something so detached from reality. But since then, I've truly despised liars—and I've demanded the same of myself: never to lie."
"That… you mean lying?"
"Of course."
That was interesting. Watanabe Tetsu's curiosity got the better of him. "Do you… like me?"
Rin pressed her forehead with her hand in apparent frustration. "Are you a fish? I just said I hate liars. Are you never lying—or are you calling yourself non-human?"
"Sorry. Think of it as a boy's curiosity," Watanabe Tetsu said. "After all, it's not every day you hear a girl claim she never lies. But really… nobody can go a life without lying."
"So I hate everyone except myself," Rin said without hesitation.
The Tokyo sun slowly sank in the west. A flock of crows flew past the Shinokawa Private Academy's buildings. On the girl's face, there was no hint of joking.
Watanabe Tetsu, deep down, believed her. She really was honest—someone who never lied.
It was absurd. He suspected he was just dazzled by Rin's nine o'clock beauty, tricking himself into believing such nonsense.
No one could go without lying. Impossible. Being human meant lying—and lying was necessary.
"Questions over." Rin opened her hardcover book. "As an official club member, you can stay if you want—but remain quiet."
"No problem."
The clubroom settled into silence. Watanabe Tetsu faintly heard a sharp metallic sound—the bat striking a ball.
The baseball club's training had begun.
He pushed thoughts of Rin aside, took out his textbook, and pretended to study.
[You have a new message]
He opened it.
[Temporary Event: Game Time April 26, 16:03 – a girl claiming to see through all lies appears before you.][Objective: Successfully deceive her once.][Duration: One week][Reward: Mind-reading ability / 1,000,000 points]
Mind-reading?
This was supposed to be an everyday game. How could such an overpowered reward appear here? Even the abilities in the shop were things humans could acquire through learning.
Watanabe Tetsu reopened the [Regulations].
He had read the temporary event rules before but hadn't memorized them. He knew that skipping the event carried no penalties.
…
[250: The game imposes no punishment on players, including temporary events.][251: Special rewards for temporary events only appear in those events; they do not refresh in the shop.][252: Temporary event difficulty varies, and the danger level is uncertain. Players are encouraged to participate but should act cautiously.][253: Event rewards correspond to difficulty, in accordance with game principles.][254: Some events may be nearly impossible, but none are absolutely impossible.][255: Any illegal actions by players, including but not limited to kidnapping, threats, bribery, seduction, or drug use, are entirely the player's responsibility and unrelated to this game.]
…That was roughly it.
Judging by the absurd reward of one million points, this was a nearly impossible task.
Watanabe Tetsu's eyes lit up at the idea of mind-reading—but he had no real hope of obtaining it.
Still… this seemed to confirm that Rin Seino could indeed see through all lies. Even if not all lies, at least no ordinary person could deceive her with casual effort.
Hate everyone except herself? If true… what would that feel like?
Watanabe Tetsu imagined being surrounded by people he despised… hmm. Better to stay in the countryside and farm his whole life.
At the end of school, Watanabe Tetsu closed the sliding door to the clubroom and couldn't resist glancing at Rin, still immersed in her book.
A girl of noble lineage, beautiful and intelligent—but possessed of this obsessive, almost pathological stubbornness.
Too bad.
After leaving the Human Observation Club, Watanabe first met up with Keisuke Saito, then waited for the sweat-drenched Kunii Osamu on the playground. The three walked together to a nearby family restaurant.
The restaurant, named Bawa Café, sat on a corner of Shinjuku Avenue and was a popular spot for students.
Besides Shinokawa Private Academy, the area included a nearby prestigious girls' school and an ordinary private school. The three schools often held joint events.
When they arrived, the restaurant was already bustling. Families were seated, but most of the diners were students from the three schools in uniform.
The menu was diverse: Japanese set meals, Western-style steaks, and international pasta. Prices were cheap, and drinks were all-you-can-drink with any order.
Watanabe Tetsu ordered soba, Saito had ramen, and Kunii went all out—ramen, steak, and fries.
After a few bites, Saito asked, "Watanabe, how was it being alone with Rin Seino?"
"Huh???" Kunii's mouth was full of noodles; his words were muffled.
Men's conversations always revolved around this kind of topic.
Watanabe Tetsu twirled a bit of soba in the broth and slurped it. The taste was average—nowhere near as good as his mother's handmade noodles back home.
After swallowing, he finally answered the curious pair: "I got hated."
"You didn't do anything, did you?" Saito asked, surprised.
"Just did what any normal person would."
"Hm—" Kunii finally swallowed. "You acted? Braver than I thought! Even Rin Seino?"
As Watanabe Tetsu was about to explain, he spotted a familiar figure at the drink counter.
"I'll get the drinks," he said, picking up a cup.
"Pour me one too," Kunii said, having finished his soda in one go, handing the cup to Watanabe.
He carried two cups to the end of the line.
In front of him stood a female student with a model-like figure: a pert rear, slender waist, and boredly twirling her hair around her fingers.
"Tamamo-san, you eat here too?"
The greeting was soft, natural, and pleasant. Tamamo Homami instinctively turned her head.
A handsome boy, equally wearing the Shinokawa uniform—even if he weren't, Tamamo would recognize him.
Shinokawa had a reputation for producing good-looking top students, even those from poor rural families.
Tamamo disliked poor guys, but his looks were undeniable, and she smiled charmingly.
"What a coincidence, Watanabe."
"Glad to meet you! I was about to introduce myself, worried you might not know me," he said cheerfully.
Tamamo, violating school rules with transparent nail polish, touched her lips with her fingers. "How could that be? Watanabe, you're our school's big handsome guy. Everyone talks about you."
"Really? And you're the same among the boys," Watanabe replied.
"Eh? Really? What do they say about me?"
Most people are curious about how the opposite sex sees them—especially the attractive ones. Watanabe thought as he looked at Tamamo Homami.
Except Rin Seino, she wouldn't have the time or mind to care about the opinions of people she hated.
Just then, the person in front had finished getting their drink. Watanabe Tetsu lowered his voice and said in a melodious tone:
"We were discussing how Tamamo-san could sponsor herself with her pocket money—but we have no idea how much it would cost per month."