Ch.334Snow Country (3)

“Suzuki.”

I called Suzuki with a solemn voice.

“Shota…”

Suzuki looked at me with admiration in his eyes.

“When’s the group date?”

I asked Suzuki.

“Ah… three days from now. We’re supposed to gather three people from our side.”

Suzuki said.

I see. This is exactly like in the original story. This was a group date that Suzuki had managed to arrange after pulling every string he could.

“Okay. Then I’ll take the role of the facilitator.”

I said.

“Facilitator? Isn’t that a bit too formal?”

Suzuki replied.

Yare yare… how can someone be this clueless?

“LISTEN!!!”

I let out a loud, monstrous shout. Suzuki flinched at my outburst.

At first, many classmates would be startled by my shouting, but now they were all used to it. They just accepted it as normal.

“You’re underestimating group dates!”

I shouted loudly.

“Hey, I’m not underestimating anything…”

Suzuki mumbled while looking at me hesitantly.

“The facilitator’s role is crucial!! You’re a novice!! Don’t forget that!! If you go in unprepared, you’ll probably be the first to speak when the awkward atmosphere becomes unbearable!!”

I yelled.

Moreover, at group dates, people tend to have a strange pride that keeps them from speaking first. And though it’s a bit harsh to say, women hold the advantage in dating. Men have no choice but to put on a show to get women to open up.

Because of this, an unnecessary silence inevitably fills the air at the beginning.

“Ah… you’re right. I’ll be facing women I don’t know… I’ll probably get nervous and start rambling.”

Suzuki agreed.

“Exactly!! That’s where group dates go wrong!!”

I shouted loudly.

“Whoever speaks first ends up playing facilitator the whole time and goes home empty-handed!!”

I explained.

That’s right. The person who speaks first ends up having to make everyone introduce themselves, and while others engage in subtle exploration between the sexes, they get stuck handling trivial tasks like ordering food or booking the next venue. Once you take on that role, your chances of success are slim.

“Shota… you must have experience with group dates.”

“How does he know? I’m getting suspicious…”

I could feel the gazes of my girlfriends behind me, but somehow I needed to save this foolish soul while completing my communication task. Explanations… I’ll deal with those later.

“If you were incredibly handsome or charismatic, you might still catch someone’s interest despite being the facilitator… but that’s impossible for you!!! Suzuki!”

I revealed the harsh reality to Suzuki.

“Ugh…”

Suzuki seemed wounded for a moment.

“Suzuki!! This is war!! You need to coldly assess your own capabilities!! So what if you’re a bit lacking in charm!! Analyze your strengths dispassionately and formulate a strategy for victory!”

I encouraged Suzuki.

“True, you might be overlooked by the women at first impression. But humiliation is temporary. Victory is eternal. Right?”

I said to Suzuki.

“Shota… this guy’s mindset is alpha!! He’s a real man!!”

Suzuki approached me with tears of admiration.

Other boys had gathered around and started taking notes on what I was saying.

“I’m saying I’ll take on the disadvantageous role of facilitator. While I keep the enemies at bay, you prepare for your decisive move.”

I explained.

“I trust you…”

Suzuki had already become my disciple.

“Then let’s go gather our teammates.”

I said to Suzuki. Yes, I planned to handle all my communication targets at once.

“Yeah!! If it’s your selection, I can trust it!”

Suzuki followed me.

———

And I immediately headed to another classroom.

“Wait, Shota… wouldn’t it be better to pick someone from our class that we know?”

Suzuki was showing weakness again.

“Going with friends is the standard approach. But surprisingly, that has a lower success rate, Suzuki.”

I said with my arms crossed.

“W-why’s that?”

The ignorant soul threw another question at me.

“A group date is awkward no matter what. Unable to bear that awkwardness, people end up chatting with their close friends. Men talk with men, women with women. The closer you are to your friends, the more they become your escape. It’s better to go with people who barely know each other. Then they’ll make an effort to talk to the women, trying to connect somehow.”

That’s right. Once the conversation splits into two groups, it’s over. After that, it’s no longer a group date.

“Ah…!”

Suzuki understood on his own.

Honestly, my reasoning was half-forced, but it contained some truth. Once men and women start separating into groups at a group date, there’s no hope.

“I’ve already thought about the members.”

I said as I entered the neighboring classroom.

I headed toward a corner of the classroom.

“What’s this? There’s nobody here. It’s an empty seat.”

Suzuki asked.

“Look carefully.”

I encouraged Suzuki.

Though it seemed empty, there was a student sitting there. A student wearing a ninja-like mask. His presence was so faint, his aura completely concealed. You had to really focus to detect him.

“Y-you discovered me…”

The masked man looked at me with apparent amazement.

“Koga Satoshi from Class E. Right?”

I said with a smile.

He was from a branch of the famous Koga ninja family, but he had learned genuine ninja techniques passed down through generations. Why ninja families still exist… well, that’s just how this otaku world setting works. In otaku stories, ninjas are a dime a dozen. Foreigners love seeing ninjas.

Koga Satoshi was the most talented individual across both the main and branch families. He had perfectly mastered the Koga family’s ultimate technique of reducing his presence to zero.

However, Satoshi was born in the wrong era. This wasn’t a time when ninjas were needed. It was tragic that he was born in this peaceful modern society without any wars.

Because he constantly reduced his presence to zero, Satoshi had become the quintessential student with no presence.

Satoshi wanted to enjoy a bright youth and desperately wanted to experience romance. Helping Satoshi enjoy his youth was one of the player’s tasks.

“We’ve arranged a group date. Would you like to join?”

I asked Satoshi.

“A g-group date?! With strangers?”

Satoshi looked at me with surprised eyes.

“I-impossible… me!! Even if I go, I’ll get nervous and erase my presence!”

Satoshi said.

“I’m just… a loner anyway… I’ve been a loner all my life. If I go there, I’ll only face humiliation…”

Satoshi immediately activated his defense mechanism at the unexpected proposal. That’s actually normal. Of course you’d refuse if some stranger from another class made such a suggestion.

However, I had a secret weapon for persuasion.

Ding-!!

‘The Reincarnated Hero’s Persuasion trait activates. Your words are nonsense but carry persuasive power.’

Okay. I knew this would trigger. Let me spin some bullshit.

“True, you might face humiliation. You might do something awkward and create some dark history for yourself.”

I looked at Satoshi.

“But… you genuinely want to change, don’t you? Then stop thinking and just charge forward. This kind of group date is actually good. The first experience should be tough. It makes future challenges seem easier.”

“Such reckless…”

“If you rush forward without thinking… won’t the dark history and humiliation clinging to you be swept away by the wind? If you charge ahead recklessly and then take a careful look at yourself later, you’ll find yourself much cleaner than before. All that dark history and filth will have been blown away by the wind.”

Satoshi’s eyes widened at my words.

“Besides, the real fun of group dates comes after they fail, during the post-mortem. Even if you fail, I’ll be there to help you digest that failure like a side dish. What are you afraid of?”

I patted Satoshi’s shoulder.

Ding-!!

‘Persuasion successful’

As expected. The effect of my bullshit technique was excellent.

“I’ll do it. Arigiri Shota, was it? Just as the rumors say. I’ve heard you’re a samurai of this era with the demeanor of a hero. I’ll… follow you.”

Satoshi was immediately recruited. That’s fine with me, but… who keeps spreading these exaggerated rumors about me? Anyway.

“Shota… you’re really good with words. I’m… moved.”

Beside me, Suzuki was sniffling with tears. Yeah, even I have to admit I spun that bullshit well.

Anyway, I’ve secured one communication target.

“Good. Now we’re heading to Class C. The next member is there.”

I stated firmly. Almost like Jesus gathering his twelve disciples, I confidently walked forward.

“How did you know…”

Satoshi seemed puzzled by this.

“Don’t doubt me, Satoshi.”

I said with a benevolent expression.

“I’m sorry!! I spoke disrespectfully!!”

Satoshi immediately knelt down.

My girlfriends, concerned about me, were slowly approaching from a distance.

“Shota… it’s good that guy is so innocent.”

Eri said.

“Yeah… if he had bad intentions, wouldn’t he have become a cult leader by now?”

Umi said.

“For real. That bastard is surprisingly good at spinning bullshit.”

Taiga chuckled.

“If our Saito gets married… should we push him into politics?”

Kana seemed to be seriously considering my future. Hey now. I’m not doing politics. Why would I?

———-

The rumor that Arigiri Shota, the famous harem master in the neighborhood, was gathering members for a group date spread throughout the school immediately. The male students secretly hoped to be chosen as members for the group date. There seemed to be a strange expectation that they could escape their single status if they were with me.

However, I had already decided on the members. I opened the door to Class C.

There was a boy dressed in luxury brands, with a bored expression, fiddling with his phone. This was Yamamoto, my third communication target. All the students in Class C turned their attention to me. Yamamoto was pretending to be uninterested, but he seemed to be secretly hoping I would talk to him.

“Yamamoto.”

I gazed at Yamamoto with profound eyes.

“Follow me.”

I spoke like a prophet.

“The group date, right? Sure, why not.”

Yamamoto tried to sound cool, but the corner of his mouth twitched. He immediately followed me.

And so, I gathered all the warriors for the group date. I planned to complete all the communications at once and achieve full communication.