AFFECTION SYSTEM: CONQUER THE HEROINES

"You know why you are here, Kaneki-kun. Isn't it?"

"Yes"

I am sitting on the chair, in front of me is sitting, Kirisu sensei. There is a table between us, on which there are her teaching materials.

She has the same expression on her face, I mean she is frowning just as usual; she seems to be the type of woman who has no interest in anything. I mean anything. When my classmates tried to know about her she just gives cold glares at them...

But I think that her past plays a role here in her current personality... Maybe she has a dream which can't become reality or there is an unrequited love or something like that...

"So? What is your reason, or should I say 'excuse', for you taking a rest in my class?"

"Um sensei, sorry about that"

"No, you can't keep up in this school with that kind of attitude. Your score is not that high, to begin with, and now you are sleeping in the classes. More importantly, in 'my' class"

She especially said 'in my class', does that mean I can do that in any other class?

"No"

"Hai?"

"I said no. You can't sleep in any other classes also"

"Oh... I will not"

I immediately replied to her as I felt her aura changing into an angrier one, it's not like I felt intimidated by it. I know that mine is darker and intimidating.

"Good... Now you may leave"

"Yes"

I said this and got up from my seat, and then I bowed, showing my respect to her, and exited the room.

...

~sigh~

Huh. Now this is the part, where the teacher called a student and lectures him, is the normal thing I saw so far in this school.

In the last week or the first week of school, there are things that I can't understand. As far as I know, from the internet, there are different types of teachers in every school, as everyone has unique personalities. It's not that surprising but...

In this school, every teacher behaved the same, I mean no one tried to stop the chit-chat going on in class or some of their students just taking a nap in their class, just like me, or eating secretly in the class. Even though they noticed that they didn't do anything to correct it...

But today, I am quite contradictive about that. Because one of the teachers called me out here and told me to reflect on my actions in class, especially sleeping. Though she said that, her main reason was to 'not to take a nap in my class'... 

What a strange school or should I say this sensei??

When I came back to the class, I was very sure about the fact that there will be no one present, but there was someone and she is someone I know...

"Komi-san?"

"?!"

Yes, the girl who is sitting alone in the class is none other than Komi Shouko. She is standing near the window and seems to be looking at the crew of students going to their homes or any other places... When I called out to her, she flinched and turned her body toward me. What a cute reaction!

As I was waiting for her reply, she quickly went back to her seat, pulled out the notebook, and started writing...

'You surprised me there, Kaneki-kun'

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to do that."

'No no, don't apologize

"Oh well, if you say so"

From the day she became friends with me, she regularly talks with me, mainly about the school because I know it's not right to talk about her family... Not now, I guess...

After that we continue talking about the classes, we have today. She told me that she saw me resting back then, and she wanted to wake me up but she couldn't find the courage to do so... Oh what a good girl... I wanted to pat her and put her in my embrace... No... Shit, my big brother instincts just activated there...

But then

"Um... W-w-would y-y-you l-l-l-l-like t-to g-go h-ho-o-m-m-me t-t-toge-together?"

"Yes, I would love to."

Upon hearing her words, I suddenly blurted out the words I just thought. Well, my answer would be that even if I take a whole year to answer... Even if I had to go to the teacher, even if I had unwanted attention on me this whole day, I am feeling that's all worth it... Is this how a parent feels when their child first spoke...

No, it's not my parental instinct that suddenly got activated; it's my big brother instinct that activated... As I also have a small sister, not blood-related though, who calls me Onii-chan... She always--, oh shit I just dived into there. Let's not think about that now...

After we grabbed our respective bags, we left the class. As the evening approached, I decided not to go anywhere else like Karaoke or Arcade... These two places are the only places I can go as I don't know any other place...

We just walked silently on our way home... No one tried to say anything. I also got nothing to talk about, as we have already talked about the things, we usually talk about, things related to the school. She, even if wanted to, did not say anything...

And just like the silent atmosphere going around us, we reached the Komi-san's house.

"Um... T-t-thank y-y-you"

How cute...

"You don't have to thank me. I also enjoyed my walk with you, Komi-san."

[SHOUKO KOMI: +8 AFFECTION POINTS]

[HER IMAGE OF YOU CHANGED FROM [MY FRIEND?] TO [BEST FRIEND!]]

[SHOUKO KOMI [QUIET BEAUTY]

AFFECTION: 58 (BEST FRIEND!)]

Oh, now we are best friends, huh? Is it only decided by her, huh? Well, this system is out of this world, so I will believe this to be one of the system's works... I still don't know how this image of mine changed, but I know this much that everyone thinks differently of me. Well, let's think about that later...

"..."

She is blushing slightly and looking down. She is a beautiful girl. If she had enrolled in a co-ed school, then I know she will be gotten confessions from many boys, maybe even from her seniors, but if she will gaze at them with her usual eyes maybe there will be a different story for her...

But if anyone will became her friend or acquaintance and gets to know her, they will know how terrified she is about the thing that maybe the people around her will start to neglect her...

"Well, see you tomorrow, Komi-san"

"..."

She just nodded her head, saying 'yes' in a low voice. Then she entered her house, I heard her mother asking why her face is red... Good grief.

...

After some minutes, I also reached my apartment. There is not much of a distance between her house and my apartment. I think maybe that's also the work of the system, well whatever...

The system has been, from the start, trying to make heroines 'happy' and my task is to get them to fall in love with me while saving them from the difficulties they face in the future... It's quite troublesome as I am the only 'one' who can do this... Well, I have already thought about these things in these past days, so I am not that much resistible to it... But, still... I wanted to have a friend, more specifically a male friend, who must have a girlfriend. Because I don't want any other guy to fawn over one of my heroines... Yes, I don't want... If anyone will try to play some type of 'game' with them, let's just kill--, what? I just have these bad thoughts in my mind. Shit! This is all because of the system.

[I DIDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING THIS TIME]

...

[ARE YOU A TSUNDERE, USER?]

NO COMMENT.

[...]

...

At exactly 7:05 in the evening, I got a call from certain someone. And I know who is she, she is my...

"Hello?"

"Oh Ren, it's your older sister."

"Kazuki, how many times do---?"

"No, call me nee-san or I will cut the call..."

"Why would you do that? You know what I will do it by myself if I wanted to --"

"No, no... Please"

"Ok, so what happened? Is there anything you want to tell me about?"

"No, nothing happened. I just want to hear your voice..."

This girl. I know that she likes me, not as a family but as an opposite sex. I think I also like her but she shows her jealousy towards the women around me... And I don't know if she is my heroine or not if she is not... then I will do something about that...

"I see. I am happy to hear about that."

"Hehe, well then tell me about your day. How does your day go in school today?"

"Well, nothing particular happened"

Well, what I said is true. But if I told her that I walked home with a girl, she would come here, as fast as possible she can. I don't want her to get affected because of me, as she has, yet, to overcome her past...

"Oh, I see. Well then, let's talk later, okay?"

"Yes, Good Night..."

"Hm, Good Night..."

.....................

"Horikta-san?"

"?!"

I called out to the girl named, Horikita Suzune, who was staring at the ground for quite some time. Her eyes are somewhat looked frustrated, why though? I don't know.

But I noticed that for these past few days, she is not taking notes as she always does, she yawns very much, and one time, when the teacher called out to her to get the answer from her, she ignored it... I am quite concerned about it... Huh!

No, it's not about me concerned or not, it's about her.

"Ka..ne..ki-kun?"

She said my name, without hiding her exhaustion.

After some moment, she noticed how she called out my name. She started to get embarrassed and her face getting redder as the time passes by...

She finally composed herself, while I also took a seat next to her. I waited and saw her changing her expression from looking exhausted to the same expression, she always show.

"Ahem... So what is it, Kaneki-kun?"

"Well, it's just that you looked exhausted and frustrated. So, I just wanted to ask my 'friend' that is there any problem...? Maybe I can help with that."

"F-friend-d?"

"Yes... We are friends, right?"

"..."

She looked confused as to what to answer, huh. Well, I also didn't see her talk to any of our classmates. So, is she a loner who wants to do everything by herself, hmm? I am impressed. But even though she tries, she is still a high school girl she can't do everything on her own, not now, but might do so in the future.

As she still looked panicked, I decided not to talk about 'that' because she is still wary of me, which is good for her... So I have to build some trust between us and it could be done by just increasing her affection of her for me...

"Let's go eat ramen, shall we?"

"Eh?"

"See... There is a ramen stall, let's go there."

"But, I don't want to. I am not that hungry, so you --"

"Oh, don't lie Horikita-san. I know you didn't even open your lunch box today, so I know you are hungry. And you are just showing that you are not."

"You... Why did you know all about this? Don't tell me you are stalking me or anything like that."

She said while showing a teasing grin. And I also know that she is not good at hiding her problems. Well, that's why the system chose someone like me so that I can be that someone on whom she can depend, it applies to every heroine.

"Yes, I will become a bad friend if I don't even know whether my friend is eating or not..."

She got redder at my sudden statement, well I plan to make her embarrassed. I just have to simply use the 'friend' word while talking to her because she has no friends, so I will become her friend on whom she can depend and then she...

"Well... Alright..."

"Yes, that's the spirit!"

"You don't say that and it doesn't look good on your expressionless face"

"Oh... Got it"

.

In the park during the evening, there sits a pair of a boy and a girl at the stall. There are only two customers only and the owner of the shop sitting in that small stall. There is only 'slurping' sounds of eating ramen could be heard.

Yes, the boy is me and the girl is none other than Horikita-san. This happened because...

As we entered the empty stall, the owner, or the chef, just pointed to the empty seats to sit there. So we did that. Then he asked what we would like to order, as he shows us the menu which was written on the table. What a good idea, owner... We ordered normal ramen to eat, this is my first time eating ramen, and I want to eat it, I want to experience eating ramen for a long time... And today I will.

It takes him some time to prepare it, until then I wanted to talk with the girl, sitting beside me, but she took out some books to read in the remaining time... Well, it's alright. Because I know I will gain some affection points from her soon.

Now to the present, there are only 'slurping' sounds echoing in this small stall... I am trying my best not to produce any sound as it is not good to do, but if there will be a pin-drop silence, it's not that easy. But the girl beside me is just eating the ramen in a dignified way, well it's my first time and noodles always make a slurping sound even if it's ramen or normal noodles...

When we finished eating the ramen, I pay for it. Horikita-san tried to pay but I kept denying it... Don't worry it's our first time, so it's fine if I pay it and it's me who invited her out. So it's okay.

As we exited the stall, I am not sure whether I am satisfied or not. As I am satisfied because I get to eat ramen and it's tasty I also planned to ask about her problem in the meantime, but I didn't get succeeded in that... Tch.

While I was lost in my thought, I turned my face towards the girl who is standing beside me, not saying anything until now. I noticed that she is looking anywhere, so I also moved my gaze to see where she is looking. Then I noticed that there is also a Dango stall, which also seems to be empty of customers. Is this the work of the system???

"Horikita-san, do you want to eat Dango?"

[DANGO MEANS 'DUMPLINGS' 🍡]

I asked her.

"No... I don't..."

"Well, I wanted to...but if you don't want, then I will eat that later... Then shall --"

"You want to... Then it can't be h-helped..."

"Oh, let's go then..."

She is a tsundere. She truly is a tsundere, huh.

Then we make our way to the Dango stall. It looks like the owner noticed us, as we approach the shop. His frustrated face changed into a happy one...

As we reached there, he handed me the menu and did not give one to the Horikita-san...

"Welcome young man, order what you like. And you can order as much as you want for yourself and your 'girlfriend' there!"

"She is not my girlfriend. But I will gratefully accept your offer."

"Haha... I see. Sorry, young lady."

I don't know why I got the privilege to order as much as I want, but I will gratefully accept it.

I take a look at the menu, the owner provided me. And there are many types of Dango here.

Then I turned to the companion, to ask her order. I noticed that she is blushing lightly, I know why because the owner called her my girlfriend. I poked her shoulder lightly and asked what she wanted to order.

"I want five sticks of Hanami Dango."

"Okay... You heard it, sir... Please write my order also, four sticks of every item in this menu."

"Huh?"

"Well it's free, so why don't I get to try everything? Maybe I will become your 'regular'."

"Haha, very well. But you have to wait because it will take some time."

"Yes... Okay, but I want you to make my friend's order first..."

"Yes yes"

He pointed to the empty seats, which are organized just beside the stall. We sat down there. Until now we have been silent but I decide to break the silence.

"Horikita-san"

"Hmm?"

"Is there any problem you are facing which makes your face look this exhausted?"

"Kaneki-kun, just stop it. I am not in any problem and also why do you think that I will tell you"

Hmm, yes it is right. Why will she tell me about her worries...? But here I thought that maybe she will tell me as she is my heroine, if I gain some affection points from her then she will tell me... It seems the system will not help me in that area.

"Oh sorry, my bad... Oh looks your Hanami Dango is ready, huh?"

As I was apologizing, the owner called out to me and I stood up to go to him. I take the Hanami Dango sticks from his hand and gave it to Horikita-san, who seems to look somewhat happy after getting it.

"Thank you"

She whispered under her breath, but I heard that. Well, you are welcome.

"Young man... Just wait for a few minutes."

"Well, I am not in a hurry... So I will wait even if it takes you 5 hours, Sir."

"Haha..."

This shop owner is somewhat weird. I don't know why he just started to laugh every time, whenever I say something. Maybe that's why he has got no customers...

...

After a few minutes passed, he handed me my order. I took it from him and also tasted it a little bit... It's delicious. I thanked him and tried to compliment him, and then left the place.

Horikita-san left the place as soon as she gets her hands on her order, she said that she has some important work to do. So here I am alone walking towards the apartment, holding the bags of dumplings in both of my hands.

[SUZUNE HORIKITA: +10 AFFECTION POINTS]

[HER IMAGE OF YOU CHANGED FROM [GLOOMY GUY!] TO [FRIENDS?]]

Good Grief...