'Just like me, she longs for something genuine...'
'But while longing for something genuine, she also hides her true self away.'
Natsuki Subaru smiled as he watched Kikyo Kushida, who, having achieved her goal, quickly finished her meal and took her leave.
'You could be considered an unexpected gain from this reset, Kikyo Kushida.'
As his thoughts drifted, Natsuki Subaru stuffed the last bite of his meal into his mouth, chewed, and stood up to leave.
In Natsuki Subaru's view, Kikyo Kushida wasn't quite like most of the 'fakes'. He had no interest in watching or teasing a 'fake'. If he had to say, Natsuki Subaru thought Kikyo Kushida barely had a hint of being 'one of his kind'.
For Natsuki Subaru, today could be considered a day full of gains.
The 'genuine article', Hiyori Shiina, and 'one of my kind', Kikyo Kushida.
The existence of a 'genuine article' and 'one of my kind' gave Natsuki Subaru a tiny bit of anticipation for the life to come.
With a faint smile, Natsuki Subaru arrived at the academy's commercial street.
It was much as their homeroom teacher had described today; basically, any recreational or daily facility you could find on the outside, you could find a counterpart on this commercial street.
Natsuki Subaru easily purchased the commemorative coin he wanted from a convenience store.
The coin was made of silver and shimmered faintly under the light. Natsuki Subaru gave it a test toss; the feel was excellent.
Ignoring the long-haired girl beside him pretending to be calm while deftly shoplifting beer from a shelf, the white-haired person taking secret photos from a distance, and a few students fighting in what seemed to be a surveillance blind spot on the way back to the dorm, Natsuki Subaru returned to his room without a hitch.
'Night on the Galactic Railroad... huh?'
'Since she recommended it... I guess I'll make some time to take a look.'
...
The next day.
After the morning classes ended, the Year 1, Class D classroom was unusually noisy.
From yesterday's spending experience, everyone had confirmed the words of their homeroom teacher, Sae Chabashira. In this school, one hundred thousand points could indeed be used as one hundred thousand yen.
And on top of that, they would receive a full one hundred thousand yen in pocket money every month!
The vast majority of them could barely contain their joy, sharing their feelings with the friends around them.
'Hmm, it's about time.'
'If I dawdle any longer, this information might lose its value.'
Natsuki Subaru had no intention of peddling information in Year 1, Class D.
Although it had been less than two days, Natsuki Subaru had already reached a conclusion.
The information he gathered yesterday could never be sold in Year 1, Class D. While the class representative, Yosuke Hirata, was a capable and charismatic character, he couldn't unite the entire class at this stage.
He couldn't make decisions for the class.
Even if he could sell it, he probably wouldn't be able to squeeze much out of people who had already spent most of their monthly points in a single day.
And he'd most likely be guilt-tripped.
Natsuki Subaru had a small bit of anticipation for the life to come, so he really didn't want to reset just yet.
"Subaru-kun~"
Just as he left the classroom, Natsuki Subaru was stopped by Kikyo Kushida.
In the distance was the retreating figure of Kiyotaka Ayanokōji. It seemed Kikyo Kushida had just finished talking with him when she ran into Natsuki Subaru coming out of the classroom.
"What is it?"
"Have you already made a plan?"
Natsuki Subaru looked at the eager Kikyo Kushida grabbing his arm and smiled.
"A plan sounds a bit too deliberate!"
"It's like this, I just asked Ayanokōji-kun to help arrange an 'accidental' meeting with Horikita-san this afternoon."
Kikyo Kushida looked at Natsuki Subaru pitifully and pleaded, "So, Subaru-kun, do you have time after school to be my wingman?"
"With my number one friend's help, I'm sure I can successfully become friends with Horikita-san!"
"Of course."
The same faint, weary smile was always on Natsuki Subaru's face as he said, "Well then, Kikyo-san, would you like to have lunch with me now?"
"Sorry, I just made plans with a few of my other girlfriends."
"Next time, my number one friend~~~"
Eating together once in a while was fine, but if they always ate together, people might get the wrong idea. That would be a huge obstacle to Kikyo Kushida's goal of becoming friends with everyone in the school.
So, upon hearing Natsuki Subaru's invitation, Kikyo Kushida decisively let go of his hand.
"No problem."
Natsuki Subaru gave Kikyo Kushida an OK sign.
'She seems a little unhappy.'
Watching Kikyo Kushida leave, still maintaining her energetic demeanor, Natsuki Subaru could clearly sense that the shadow in her heart had grown a little larger.
Some of the... characters... in the class were already getting on her nerves.
It just hadn't reached the point where she couldn't control it yet, so she was firmly suppressing it.
Thinking of this, Natsuki Subaru glanced at the few people in the classroom still engrossed in their frantic discussions. One of them was Haruki Yamauchi, the very person who had inspired Subaru's coin-flipping urge the day before.
...
After finishing lunch, Natsuki Subaru began to wander around the first-year school building.
There wasn't much to see in Year 1, Class D. Natsuki Subaru went to Year 1, Class C, and before he even got close, his attention was captured by a huge commotion coming from inside.
'How disappointing.'
'It seems Year 1, Class C isn't a very good buyer.'
Natsuki Subaru looked at the chaotic situation in the Class C classroom, shook his head with slight regret, and then skipped past Year 1, Class C, heading toward Year 1, Class B.
Due to the school's 'meritocratic' considerations, the A, B, C, and D first-year classrooms weren't actually very close to each other; the issue of future competition had been fully considered from the start.
And compared to the chaos of Year 1, Class C and the disorder of Year 1, Class D, Year 1, Class B's performance was quite good.
Not only were the relationships between classmates harmonious, but an actual leader for the class had already emerged.
'Year 1, Class B is a good trading partner.'
Natsuki Subaru watched the figure in Year 1, Class B surrounded by classmates, looking thoughtful, before heading in the direction of Year 1, Class A.
Year 1, Class A, on the other hand, had a different situation.
The class as a whole seemed to be faintly divided into two small cliques. Natsuki Subaru didn't consider Year 1, Class A a suitable trading partner; their internal opinions couldn't be unified.
'How disappointing.'
'Next month, they might just become Year 1, Class B.'
Natsuki Subaru then prepared to turn and leave.
___
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