NOVEL NEXT Meeting With The Heroine Once Again
"Choco cornet bread and a can of coke? Are you sure about that?"
"Yeah. I noticed your wallet's running low, and I felt a bit guilty about ordering something expensive."
"Well, if that's what you want."
Kazama and I are having lunch on the rooftop after morning classes. The teachers' discussions tend to go in one ear and out the other. I've been subjected to this routine since my college days in my old world, and it seems I'm stuck with it even in this new realm. It would have been nice if my character were born into a wealthy family but alas, beggars can't be choosers.
Normally, the rooftop is off-limits, but if I recall correctly, in the game, Ryosuke manages to obtain a spare key to access it. I'm not sure if that event has unfolded here. Regardless, for now, we can use this area whenever we please.
"Thanks again for the free lunch, man. If you ever need help, feel free to call me anytime."
"Yeah, if that day ever comes." I reply, nibbling on my milk bread.
Kazama heads off to mingle with some girls from another class. I'm sure he'll find someone to entertain himself with later. Not that I really care. I resolved from the beginning to change the reputation of this body.
---
Afternoon arrives, and I don't have any particular plans. I suppose I'll just head home and contemplate what to do with this second life of mine. Prioritizing my academic status seems like a good start. In the game, Ryosuke always struggles with tests, often attending supplementary classes and barely scraping by. It's a cycle that repeats.
Returning to our classroom, I find myself assigned as a cleaner today, stationed outside the school, which isn't ideal, but I don't mind.
Entering the classroom, it's nearly empty save for one person: Emiko. She's diligently working on an assignment, as dedicated as ever.
"Um, good afternoon, Prez."
I attempt a greeting, but she doesn't respond. Understandable, I'm just an average guy with nothing noteworthy to boast about. Hm? On closer inspection, there's an English book beside her. She must be tackling the English homework the teacher assigned. She seems troubled.
"'It's a pity. I can't play chess. I wish blank'. I'm sure it's 'I could play chess' is the answer."
"Yeah, that's correct. How did I not know this? Thank you—"
As she turns back, she seems somewhat startled to see me.
"Amano-san... I didn't expect to see you here."
"Class is already over, you know? You can finish it at home." I suggested.
"I have cramming class tonight, so I won't have time later. Plus, the workload seems to be increasing these days."
Must be tough being a student council president, I think to myself.
"Still, I didn't realize class was already over. I need to finish this as soon as possible." she returns to her work, and I decide to do mine at home, is what I had in my mind but---
"Um, Amano-san." I was about to turn around when she whispers my name. I wondered whether she needed anything.
"Yes?"
"If you don't mind, could you help me with this a bit? You seem to know what you're doing," Emiko asks, looking at me. Well, this is an unexpected moment.
"Sure, I don't mind. I'm free anyway." I respond. It's not like I have anything important to do today, and I can't just leave her hanging when she's asking for help.
"Really? Then, I'll be counting on you."
"I'm finally done!"
"Good work, Prez. You're a quick learner, I must say."
She's an incredibly fast learner. In the game, they don't highlight the heroines' specialties, but they did mention them in their introductions. Witnessing one of the heroine's strengths firsthand makes me feel foolish.
"Thanks to your simple explanation, I finally understand. You'd make a great English tutor, you know?"
"Nah, I don't know. It's nothing big to brag about." As for my English skills, back in my old days, I interacted with a few exchange students who were fluent in English. Sometimes, I got dragged into their conversations, forcing me to learn the language. It did certainly paid off though.
"Oh, would you look at the time, it’s getting dark." Emiko remarks, glancing out the window. Indeed, the sky is darkening even though only an hour has passed.
"I should get going. I have cram class tonight." she says, gathering her belongings to leave the classroom.
"Yeah, of course. Let's go, then."
"Classes are so boooorring, you know? Spending half a day in school, and in the end, you can't even use some of what you learn in a job? I don’t really get it."
"Yeah, I wonder why."
"I'd rather play volleyball than just sit there, listening to topics you barely understand. But Papa won't let me play more if I don't get good grades, and the thought scares me."
"Nothing's scarier than not being able to play. I understand, Prez."
Emiko followed me as I was going to head home alone. We then chat about some random topics, tow which she is more talkative than normal today. Even more shocking is that she wants to walk with me. Her cram school is just a short walk from my apartment, which surprised her as I told her this, but I already knew that information. The game developers intentionally placed it there so that the heroine could visit Ryosuke’s house and engage in adult activities. Not this time, though. I'm not doing that here.
"Ah, sorry if I talk too much. I don’t usually get this opportunity."
"No, it's fine, Prez. I'm surprised you can talk so much. You always come off as the silent, hardworking type."
"My friends are in another class, so I can't talk much there. But for some reason, I feel at ease talking to you, Amano-san."
"Is that so? Then, if you want to talk more, I'm all ears, Prez."
"Thank you for the offer, Amano-san. And please, call me Kurokawa-san. It's embarrassing when you call me 'Prez' all the time."
"Sure thing, Prez."
"Mouu…" she pouts, hearing me call her that. She's really cute when she does that.
"Ah, here we are. My cram school." A tall building with 4 floors, sandwiched between other buildings, looms in front of us.
"Then, I'll be going from here, Prez."
"Wait a moment, Amano-san!" Kurokawa calls out.
"We still haven’t exchanged contacts." She shows her phone, and I show mine. A notification confirms the exchange. Afterward, she looks at me.
"Is something wrong, Prez?"
"No, it's just that you're the first guy I've exchanged contacts with, and I'm happy about it." she says, grinning.
"I'll be heading in now. See you tomorrow, Amano-san," she says before disappearing into her cram school.
"What a lively woman. I can't help but enjoy being with her." I thought as I continued my solo walking towards my apartment.