Chapter 140

‘Why did he go there first?’

I glanced at Allen in disbelief.

Diana and Amy, the third-year best friend duo.

A combination of an intellectual, bespectacled beauty and a cute, petite beauty.

They weren’t super-beauties like Hiresia or Regina, but they were undeniably attractive women.

But he went straight for them?

It was like a level 1 newbie going into a level 85 hunting ground without knowing anything.

‘Why are his standards so high?’

The usual approach is to gain experience gradually in a suitable place before tackling higher levels.

It’s true that everyone has their own preferences when it comes to who they’re attracted to, but that’s just a general principle.

Everyone knows that reality is different.

Everyone here has already been assigned a rough score.

From a man’s perspective and a woman’s perspective.

Of course, those scores aren’t fixed forever, but at this point, they wouldn’t change significantly unless someone drastically increased their appeal.

So, usually, people look for suitable partners.

That’s what I wanted for Allen.

But he’s going straight for the top.

…This is self-sabotage.

“Let’s go, go.”

Just as I was about to offer a helping hand to save Allen from getting rejected and becoming disheartened.

“Wait, hold on! What was that ridiculous nonsense you said earlier? What? You can clearly tell they won’t be easy to talk to? Where do you see that?!”

Amy, her face flushed with anger, retorted.

It was just a casual comment I made to stop Allen, but was it really that infuriating?

Well, they weren’t close anyway, so I could just ignore her.

“Hey, calm down, Amy. Everyone makes mistakes, right? junior?”

Diana interjected.

She winked at me.

That’s exactly it.

Diana when she meets someone interesting and intriguing.

Her instincts and curiosity as the head of the newspaper club were working perfectly.

It must be because of the mock battle.

Anyway, it would be rude not to accept her attempt to smooth things over.

“Yes, you’re right. I think I made a mistake. Now that I look closer, there’s a lady here who seems like she’d be easy to talk to.”

I chuckled and looked at Diana.

“What… what?!”

Amy, looking incredulous, flared up.

Diana intervened again.

“Amy, come on… anyone can tell that was a joke. If you get offended by everything, you’ll be seen as an insensitive senior.”

“Ugh? Suddenly, you’re taking his side?”

Diana met Amy’s reproachful gaze with a nonchalant smile and turned back to me.

“What do you think, junior? It’s fate, so how about a drink together?”

“What, what? Don’t say such nonsense!”

“What’s so nonsensical about it? Don’t stay sulky over a single mistake. As seniors and juniors of a prestigious academy, let’s have a drink and clear the air.”

Diana easily subdued Amy’s protest.

They were the same age, but they were like sisters.

Amy did have a childish side, after all.

‘Well, it wouldn’t be bad to kill some time here.’

With this combination, I wouldn’t attract suspicious glances from the heroines involved with me.

“Sure.”

I decided and sat next to Diana without hesitation.

“I told you, junior and I, we just click.”

Diana looked at me with a satisfied expression.

“Ugh.”

Amy looked disgusted, but she didn’t say anything else.

She seemed to have given up on her friend’s stubbornness.

“What are you doing, Allen? Why aren’t you sitting next to the senior?”

I said to Allen, who was standing awkwardly alone.

“Uh…? Uh, uh, uh?!”

Allen’s face flushed red in embarrassment.

I chuckled in disbelief.

“You came all the way to the seniors’ table alone, and now you’re acting shy? This is the kind of place where everyone mingles, regardless of gender. Right, Senior Diana?”

“Haha, of course, junior. Come on, you nameless junior, take a seat.”

“N-Nameless…?”

Allen’s eyes flickered in shock.

He must have thought he was somewhat famous after his performance in the mock battle.

But your tiny contribution was completely overshadowed by my performance, Riviera’s, and Elaine’s, Allen.

You’re the only one who didn’t get a solo article.

Work harder, okay?

Still, I jumped in to introduce him as a friend.

“Hey, the head of the newspaper club doesn’t even know this guy’s name. This is my friend, Allen Benesse, who did pretty well in the mock battle.”

“Oh, Allen? Sorry, sorry. I’ve never seen your face.”

“Oh, no… it’s fine… I understand…”

Allen scratched the back of his head and mumbled.

“Come on, stop stalling and sit down.”

Diana practically forced Allen to sit down.

Amy frowned.

Sorry, senior.

I understand how you feel… but he’s a good guy, really…

“Waiter, could you bring four glasses and some beer?”

Diana immediately ordered drinks and glasses.

And so, a bizarre drinking session with two guys and two girls began.

* * *

“What’s your secret? How did you improve your grades so drastically?”

“Hey, senior. That’s a trade secret. Sharing it would be a loss.”

“Of course, I understand. I understand, but could you just give me a little hint, like 5%?”

“5%? 5% is okay.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

Diana’s eyes sparkled as she took out a notebook.

I chuckled and said to her,

“Work hard, is that good enough?”

“Oh, really.”

Diana rolled her eyes and patted my shoulder.

She knows how to get physical during a drinking session…

“You’re so cold. Is that how you treat a comrade, junior?”

“Haha, I’m just being honest.”

“You’re such a smooth talker. Here, have a drink.”

Diana filled my glass with beer.

Anyway, our atmosphere wasn’t bad.

No, it was good.

The problem was over there.

Allen, who had been frozen like a statue, unable to speak properly.

And Amy, who was sulking, chewing on her baguette and sipping her drink.

They were the problem.

I had to be nosy for my poor friend’s sake.

“But, Senior Diana.”

“Hm? What is it? Are you finally willing to share your trade secret?”

“No, not that. It’s about my friend, Allen.”

Allen flinched reflexively when his name was mentioned.

“Oh, what?”

“He’s a good person, but he’s too shy. I want to boost his confidence, so could you give me an objective assessment from a woman’s perspective?”

Sometimes, it can be helpful to see your reality through the eyes of a third party.

It can be a catalyst for growth.

I was about to give Allen that prescription.

Diana would be the right person for this.

She was a master of analysis, being the head of the newspaper club.

“Hmm.”

Diana tilted her head and looked at Allen as if observing him.

Allen’s ears twitched like a rabbit’s as he waited for Diana’s words.

“Honestly, out of 100, he’s a 10. He’s too shy. And he stutters too much. It’s the worst kind of guy for girls.”

Bam!

Allen’s face turned pale, and he buried his head on the table.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry for being this kind of person… I’m sorry for being alive…”

…No, why are you making your last words so scary?

Don’t do that, man.

“I told you not to do that!”

Diana grabbed Allen’s head and lifted him up without hesitation.

This lady is cool.

Allen’s eyes fluttered in confusion.

“He’s a 10, but he has potential. He’s not ugly, he’s not short, and he’s fit. And he’s from the Benesse family, so his background is great. If he just fixes his flaws, he can easily meet nice girls and enjoy his academy life.”

Diana’s words continued without pause.

Allen’s eyes widened.

It was similar to what I had told him before the ball, but hearing it from a woman is different.

Especially from a woman who’s clearly high-level.

“If you understand, pour us a drink.”

“Y-Yes…? Oh, yes, yes…”

“Speak properly!”

“Yes!”

I could feel Allen’s mind clearing up.

You like the head of the newspaper club, senior?

We have something in common.

I smiled.

“Speaking of which, I’m curious about something.”

Diana looked at me with a suggestive gaze.

What kind of question is she about to ask?

“What is it?”

“Max, are you popular with girls?”

“Me? I don’t think so.”

I shrugged.

“There are so many people who dislike me, like Senior Baguette over there, both guys and girls.”

“Ugh, don’t call me Senior Baguette!”

Amy growled and raised her baguette menacingly.

That baguette is as hard as a rock.

It would hurt like hell if I got hit with it.

Anyway.

“Senior Baguette is Senior Baguette. She’s Senior Baguette.”

It rolls off the tongue, so she’s Senior Baguette now.

I don’t have to be careful, since I’m not going to hit on her anyway.

“Ugh, really!”

Amy was about to explode.

But.

“Pfft!”

Diana suddenly burst out laughing.

“P-Pfft…”

Allen was barely holding back his laughter.

Everyone was laughing at my words.

‘Come to think of it.’

The protagonist is still a first-year.

Amy hadn’t gotten the funny nickname “Blessing of the Baguette” yet.

So, everyone was trying to come up with a nickname for her, using “Baguette” somehow, but they were holding back.

I was the first to use “Baguette” so casually, so it’s understandable why they reacted like that.

“You, you…?”

Amy, especially, looked at Diana with shock, feeling betrayed.

“…Sorry, sorry. Yeah, I… pfft!”

“?!”

“I-It’s funny… it’s funny… pfft!”

“You bad girl!”

Amy finally snapped.

She hit Diana with her baguette.

I heard a “thwack” from her shoulder.

“Ow, I’m really sorry.”

The commotion subsided after a while.

Diana, who refreshed quickly, turned back to me as if nothing had happened.

“Sorry, where were we? Oh, right. There. So, you have a lot of people who dislike you, like Amy…?”

She almost said “Baguette” but quickly corrected herself when Amy glared at her.

Diana continued.

“Well… I think that’s the general vibe, but I see things differently.”

“What do you see differently?”

“After talking to you directly, I think you’re the type who’s popular with girls.”

Diana concluded, her eyes shining behind her glasses.

“Huh?”

…Why is Senior Baguette surprised instead of me?

Diana pushed her glasses up.

“Heh, reformed bad boys are traditionally a popular category, you know?”

What? Do you have those kinds of novels here too?

I hate that kind of male lead…

They always have a sob story and get a makeover, but if they have the ability to change, they shouldn’t have been bad in the first place.

But I possessed by this guy, so why do I feel so guilty…?

“And you have that arrogant, handsome look, and you’re rich. I could easily write a romance novel with you as the male lead.”

It really does have that vibe…

No, no, I’m just an extra in a male-oriented harem story!

“No, no… don’t take it that far.”

I waved my hands.

I suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

“Hoho, that’s just a side note. But the main thing is, you’re good with women. You’re confident in your attitude, and your eye contact is good. You can carry on a conversation naturally without awkwardness. That’s hard, especially with girls like me and Amy.”

…Don’t mind her calling herself a good girl.

It’s true.

Anyway, Diana’s analysis.

It’s a pretty sharp analysis, making me understand how women see me.

But she’s overdoing it…

If I were someone who easily gets flattered, I’d be full of myself.

“Yes, well… thank you for the compliment.”

I looked at Diana with a thoughtful expression.

She gave me a compliment, so should I give her some advice too?

“Senior.”

“Hm?”

“Your eyesight isn’t bad, right?”

“Well, I can see everything, why?”

“I think you’d look much prettier without those glasses.”

“What?”

Diana’s eyes widened, and I naturally reached out to her.

Then, I gently took off her glasses.

‘As expected.’

I smiled faintly, looking at Diana’s bare face.

One of the character reversals in the game.

Diana, who suddenly becomes a beautiful woman with a unique, melancholic gaze when she takes off her glasses.

Most players who call themselves Diana fans love that look.

“Wow.”

Allen, looking surprised, exclaimed in admiration.

It seems that’s her true form.

“What… what are you doing?!”

Diana blushed for the first time and tried to grab her glasses back.

“They’re confiscated for now.”

I smiled and hid her glasses behind my back playfully.

“Are you really going to do this? Don’t cross the line…”

“Let’s make a bet.”

“A bet?”

“If you get more than twice as many dance requests as last year, I win. Otherwise, you win.”

“Why should I accept that?”

“You’re curious, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

“You’re the head of the newspaper club.”

Diana hesitated at my words.

It must have hit the nail on the head.

I know quite a lot about her.

Diana sighed softly.

“Sigh, I don’t like my bare face in the first place.”

“Because you look sad?”

“Huh…?”

I got it right, and Diana’s eyes widened in surprise again.

“You know, why are you doing this?”

“That’s your perspective, senior. But I think men see things differently.”

“…Oh, I don’t know. Do what you want.”

(TLN: FMCS be like ‘Why am I hearing boss fight music ???’)

Diana gave up in the end.

She said that, but she was secretly curious.

Curious about the statistical outcome.

‘Well, this is good.’

It wouldn’t hurt to get closer to Diana, the head of the newspaper club.

She’s a significant heroine.

She would be helpful in many ways.

But I didn’t plan to pursue her further.

My love life is already exhausting enough.

Well, you never know.

…Like now.

“I’m glad to see you’re enjoying yourself.”

A familiar voice reached my ears.

“P-President?”

I saw Amy jump up in surprise.