Today's lunch was the signature pork bone ramen.
Akira had always loved Japanese ramen, especially the rich broth paired with springy thin noodles.
The shopkeeper specially added tender fish cakes and crisp green spinach as toppings. The emerald spinach leaves, half-hidden in the rich soup, were a feast for the eyes.
Just as Akira was about to start eating, an uninvited guest sat down across from him.
"I'm not drinking it. Take it back." The purple-haired girl spoke abruptly.
Kamuro Masumi. At this moment, she pushed a bulging plastic bag toward him.
Through the translucent plastic, the neatly arranged beer cans inside were clearly visible.
Akira raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing her. "Are you perhaps complaining that the alcohol content is too low?"
"The point isn't the alcohol content at all!" Masumi's voice suddenly rose, causing a few people at the neighboring tables to glance over.
"I have something I want to ask you. Which class are you in? What's your name?" She leaned forward slightly. "Why do you know my class and name?"
Akira unhurriedly took a sip of soup before slowly replying, "First-year Class D, Shimizu Akira."
He paused. "As for why I know your information..." He shrugged. "Sakayanagi Arisu told me."
Strictly speaking, this wasn't a lie. After all, during their first meeting, that scheming Class A student had indeed inadvertently revealed Masumi's information.
"It was Sakayanagi-san?"
She certainly knew Sakayanagi Arisu. Yesterday, during the freshman orientation, the girl with the cane and the boy named Katsuragi Kohei had almost instantly become the focal point of the entire Class A.
'Why would Sakayanagi-san reveal my information to a Class D student?'
'And why, ultimately, is this person helping me?'
Masumi frowned slightly, her gaze scrutinizing Akira.
His nonchalant demeanor certainly didn't look like someone facing a girl he had a crush on.
'Could it be... I misunderstood?'
Perhaps he really just offered a helping hand out of goodwill?
"I owe you a favor," she said stiffly, her eyes drifting elsewhere.
"It was nothing. Don't worry about it," Akira waved his hand casually.
After all, buying beer was ultimately for the bet with Sakayanagi Arisu. Helping her out was just a byproduct.
"Give me your contact information." The girl ignored his response, pulling out her phone and fixing her gaze directly on him.
Akira was slightly taken aback, only then realizing that the person in front of him was a complete egoist.
After taking out his phone, he naturally added her as a friend.
"Using your real name as an ID? What a textbook example of a boring guy."
"It makes it less likely to get confused."
"If you have something important, you can ask me for help. But you only get one chance."
After saying this, she picked up her phone and turned to leave decisively.
Akira had to admit that Masumi was indeed a person full of contradictions. Despite having sharp thorns that pushed others away, she frankly admitted that she owed him a favor.
On the surface, she seemed to do as she pleased, but deep down, she unexpectedly adhered to her principles.
"This awkward honesty isn't bad."
He lowered his head and glanced at the newly added contact on his phone. Compared to insincere pleasantries, he actually appreciated this kind of sharp straightforwardness more.
However, his contact list only had two solitary names—Kamuro Masumi and Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Perhaps I should try to interact with my Class D classmates?"
While not resistant to socializing, he was always the type who would only initiate conversation when he met someone interesting.
On the second day of school, his friends list still only contained two names.
His gaze shifted downward, and the second piece of intelligence came into view:
[Intelligence 2: Ichinose Honami of first-year Class B—after just one day of school, her contact list has already surpassed three digits, including many upperclassmen.]
"Others already have hundreds of friends, huh..."
He gazed at the remaining bag of beer on the table. Dealing with these beers had indeed become a problem.
As a non-drinker, he pondered the most appropriate way to handle them.
Perhaps gifting them to an adult would be the best solution? For example, his homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, would be a suitable candidate.
As his thoughts drifted, he remembered another important matter—that upperclassman named Yamamura seemed to be hiding a secret.
Obtaining some information about the S-System for ten thousand private points seemed like a very worthwhile transaction, no matter how he looked at it.
"Student! You can't drink alcohol if you're not yet twenty years old~"
While he was lost in thought, a sweet voice came from his side.
The moment he turned around, what met his eyes was a beautiful girl with pink hair, who was looking at the beer on the table with concerned eyes.
Akira was slightly startled. The girl was actually the leading student from Class B.
"Actually, I don't drink, and I'm wondering how to deal with these beers."
"Really?" The girl's eyes lit up at his words. "Our homeroom teacher happens to really like drinking~ If you don't mind, why don't I take care of these beers for you?"
She tilted her head in thought, then added, "Oh, right, how much are these beers? I'll transfer the points to you."
"No need," Akira quickly waved his hand. "It would be a great help if you could take care of them."
"How can that be!" The girl shook her head firmly. "That's too unfair to you. At least let me help you with something in return!"
"But before that, please let me introduce myself!" The girl said with a smile. "My name is Ichinose Honami, from first-year Class B. Hello~"
Akira's pupils widened slightly, feeling a bit dazed for a moment.
Ichinose Honami?
The "social genius" from the intelligence report, whose social circle had surpassed three digits in just one day of school?
He composed himself and responded politely, "I'm Shimizu Akira from Class D. Nice to meet you."
"Eh? Class D!" Honami's eyes lit up. "What a coincidence! I know Kushida-san from your class. We just exchanged contact information yesterday!"
Akira couldn't help but give her another look.
On the second day of school, she's already connected with someone from Class D?
'This social power truly is terrifying.'
'Wait! This might be an excellent opportunity!'
Akira's eyes lit up slightly, and he seized the opportunity to say, "Then I'll trouble you, Ichinose-san! Actually, I was looking for an upperclassman in second-year Class D for something. Could you help me with an introduction?"
"Second-year Class D? No problem, leave it to me!~" Honami cheerfully patted her chest, a bright, sunflower-like smile blooming on her face.
'Could this person be the school's angel?'
Despite it being their first meeting, she not only voluntarily helped him with the troublesome beer but also readily agreed to introduce him to an upperclassman.
This unguarded kindness was something he hadn't felt in a long time.