A week had passed since then.
After days of careful observation and investigation, Ren Suzuki had gathered a wealth of useful information.
First was how to use the navigation system.
Aside from tracking the affection level of his target at key moments, it could also visualize his own stats in a simple panel:
[Knowledge: 4 Charm: 4 Strength: 1 Wealth: 1] (Maximum: 5)
"What kind of pretty boy stat panel is this?!"
That was Ren Suzuki's immediate reaction upon seeing the panel.
Sure, the high Knowledge and Charm scores reflected his academic prowess and good looks, but what was with those glaring "1s"?! Was the system seriously underestimating him?
...Well, thinking it over, he had never practiced martial arts or combat skills, so his lack of strength made sense. As for wealth, as a high schooler still living off his parents' allowance, financial independence was out of reach.
In the end, no matter how much it irked him, Ren could only admit the panel was...fair.
"Attributes, affection meters, target capture lists... Aside from not having a save/load function, this is basically a galgame system."
Tapping his watchband with his finger, Ren muttered to himself.
"There's no doubt someone who lives and breathes anime must have designed this system. It's so easy to understand."
Besides deciphering the system's "otaku DNA," Ren had also spent the past week gathering valuable intel on Hitori Gotoh.
"Her personality is just as I initially assessed. Because of her gloomy appearance and poor communication skills, no one wants to approach her. She always eats lunch alone in the stairwell corner, can't focus in class, and her quiz scores are downright miserable..."
To sum it up, even if she weren't his capture target, Hitori Gotoh was undeniably a pitiable girl who needed help.
If left alone, it wasn't just this class her entire high school life would likely be spent in darkness and isolation.
"She really reminds me..."
Memories from his past resurfaced.
He had once tried to "save" a girl just like this. But in the end...
...
"The past is the past. The present is now."
Ren shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside.
"I'm no longer the naive, clueless middle schooler I once was. This time... I'll approach this girl with maturity."
The intel-gathering phase was complete.
His strategy was more or less set.
What came next was the decisive step taking action, like an adult should.
At this moment, Ren Suzuki was fully resolved.
...
Ding, ding
The bell signaling the start of lunch break rang out, and the class sprang into coordinated motion like trained soldiers.
After a week, the class's social circles had more or less solidified.
Take, for example, the top-tier "apex predator" clique centered around Ren Suzuki himself
"We hitting the cafeteria today too?"
"Hmm, well I did bring lunch, but if you beg me sincerely, I could be convinced to join you."
"The food at the cafeteria is surprisingly good. You should try it at least once."
"Ugh... If Ren-kun is ordering from the cafeteria too, then I might be willing to go."
"Nah, I heard Suzuki treats cooking as a hobby. His skills are supposedly on par with the cafeteria chefs."
"Whoa, the guy's literally flawless..."
His cheerful, noisy clique buzzed around him as usual, drawing admiring and envious glances from classmates all around.
Ren Suzuki didn't dislike this lively, youthful atmosphere. But today, he had a reason to act solo.
"Sorry, everyone. I need to contact my family during lunch today, so I can't join you at the cafeteria."
He casually dropped an excuse they couldn't verify or interfere with.
Nobody doubted him. Other than a few girls showing faint disappointment, the group accepted it without question.
After all, Ren had often mentioned in past conversations that he had "parents who were constantly busy with work."
This excuse not only bought him free time during lunch but also provided a perfect fallback whenever he needed to slip away after school or on weekends.
"Fair enough. If we go too late, all the good seats will be taken."
"Yeah, true... Alright, see you later, Ren-kun."
"See you in a bit."
Ren waved them off with a bright smile and watched them leave the classroom.
With the clique gone, the other students began moving too some heading to the cafeteria, others staying behind.
As for his target Hitori Gotoh once the crowd had made their choices, she quietly picked up her lunch bag and silently slipped away.
But Ren didn't follow her immediately.
Instead, he calmly waited in his seat as time ticked by...
...Five minutes later...
"Yeah, this should be about right."
When he judged the timing perfect, Ren stood, grabbed his lunch box in one hand and his phone in the other, pretending to make a call as he left the classroom.
His destination was obvious. After a week of careful tracking, Hitori Gotoh's lunchtime routine was deeply engraved in his memory.
Though, to be fair, her "territory" was comically limited the classroom, the bathroom, and the stairwell. Tracking her was laughably easy.
Before long, Ren arrived at his destination.
There she was, as expected huddled in the corner under the stairwell, halfway through her lunch, looking absolutely petrified at the sight of him the uninvited guest.
"Ah... Sorry, Gotoh-san. I didn't expect you to be here too."
Wearing an apologetic smile, Ren slowly approached her and asked in a pleading tone:
"Um... would you mind if I hide out here for a bit?"
"Huh? Wha?! You mean... hide? Here?"
"Please. I just need a little space for a while. I promise I won't bother you while you're eating."
Ren pleaded sincerely:
"You can just pretend I don't exist, Gotoh-san. Of course, if you really don't want me here, I'll leave immediately."
"I... I..."
Faced with Ren Suzuki's unusually "humble" request, Hitori Gotoh looked utterly dumbfounded.
Countless thoughts spiraled in her mind, but in the end, all her nervousness and stammering left her barely able to squeeze out the simplest answer:
"P-please... go ahead..."
"Thank you so much."
Ren's face immediately lit up with a brilliant, radiant smile.
"Gotoh-san, you really are such a kind person."
"?!?!!?!"
[Capture Progress Updated. Current Progress: 45%]
[Please Keep Up the Good Work.]
And so, Ren Suzuki's capture officially began.