"Sorry, I don't have much to offer you."
Shirai Mio placed a cup of plain water in front of Shiina Mashiro. Although the house she currently lived in was large and luxurious, everything that could've been used to entertain guests had already gone into Shiina Mashiro's stomach.
How the mighty have fallen, folks.
Shiina Mashiro gently shook her head and said, "The snacks were delicious."
"Mashiro, may I ask—where are you going to school right now?" Mio asked with some curiosity.
After all, Shiina Mashiro appearing here instead of at Sakurasou—she'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious.
"Sobu High School."
"???"
Although Mio had mentally prepared herself, hearing Shiina Mashiro actually say it still came as a surprise.
She couldn't help but say to the System, "This really wasn't your doing?"
"If I said this was just a coincidence, would the host believe me?"
"No." Mio answered without hesitation. As far as she was concerned, whether it was the System's fault or not, she could just treat it as the System's fault.
"Well, there you go."
As if remembering something, Mio said to Shiina Mashiro, "I remember there's supposed to be school today, right? Why didn't you go to class?"
"Just finished transfer procedures. Classes start tomorrow."
Hearing Shiina Mashiro's answer, surprise first appeared on Mio's face, which quickly turned to delight. She excitedly moved closer to Shiina Mashiro and said, "What a coincidence! I'm also a transfer student to Sobu High, and I only start classes tomorrow too."
An ordinary person hearing this news would probably be even more surprised than Mio, but Shiina Mashiro's expression remained exceptionally calm. However, whether due to her ability to read expressions or not, Mio still detected a trace of surprise on Shiina Mashiro's face.
Mio thoughtfully stroked her smooth chin. Although Shiina Mashiro appearing here had deviated from the original work, her personality seemed unchanged.
This was a good thing for her.
"Mashiro, there's something I'd like to ask you."
"Mm?" Shiina Mashiro tilted her head.
Mio pointed at herself with a completely serious expression. "Could you push me down on the sofa?"
Shiina Mashiro blinked, seemingly puzzled in her orange eyes, but she didn't ask why. She simply reached out and pushed Mio down onto the sofa. However, she seemed to lose her balance, and her whole body tumbled onto Mio as well.
In that instant, the world froze once more, and the System's voice rang out: "Task complete. Shiina Mashiro's affection rating for the host has increased by 10 points."
Again, three semi-transparent cards appeared.
[Shiina Mashiro's Painting Technique]
The host's painting skills will be enhanced to a certain degree. This card is part of the Shiina Mashiro series deck. Collecting a certain number of cards from the same series will provide additional bonuses.
[Shiina Mashiro's Photographic Memory]
The host's memory will be enhanced to a certain degree. This card is part of the Shiina Mashiro series deck.
[Reward Bonus Card]
This card can be used when a task begins. Upon task completion, you may select one additional reward option.
Although all three cards had excellent effects, Mio didn't focus on the cards. Instead, she couldn't help but say to the System, "Why did the affection rating increase so much?"
Last night when Yuigahama Yui picked her up, the affection only increased by 5 points. Yet Shiina Mashiro's simple push just now raised it by a full 10 points. No matter how you looked at it, something was off.
"The affection rating judgment is never wrong. The host should carefully consider whether the problem lies with herself."
"What problem could I possibly ha—"
Halfway through her sentence, Mio suddenly shut her mouth. Before transmigrating, she really liked Shiina Mashiro—her phone wallpaper had even been Shiina Mashiro. She seemed to have discovered where the problem lay.
Was this also within your calculations, System?
Since it was her own fault, Mio didn't waste more words with the System and focused on the rewards instead. All three cards had excellent effects, and she could use all of them. So she took quite some time choosing, ultimately selecting [Shiina Mashiro's Photographic Memory].
Enhanced memory would be quite useful to her—for instance, regarding those novels stored in her brain, with this ability she might remember more details.
After Mio made her choice, time began flowing again.
Shiina Mashiro, lying on top of Mio, slowly propped herself up. Her golden hair cascaded down, the tips brushing lightly across Mio's face—ticklish and fragrant.
Rather than getting up immediately, Shiina Mashiro maintained this intimate position, looking down at Mio from above. Her orange eyes seemed to be carefully observing something, and her usually expressionless face now held a rare trace of seriousness.
"Um, what's wrong?"
"Your face is beautiful. I want to look more." As Shiina Mashiro spoke, she reached out and placed her hand on Mio's face, as if sensing something.
In that moment, Mio felt her heartbeat quicken considerably.
Anyone who didn't know better would definitely think the two of them were flirting, right?
At the same time, the System's voice came through: "The host feels somewhat charmed. Shiina Mashiro's affection rating for the host has increased by 1 point."
"Tch." Although Mio wanted to argue, she couldn't, because she genuinely had felt a bit charmed just now.
This intimate position continued for several minutes before Shiina Mashiro finally got up and returned to her seat.
For some reason, Mio felt a small sense of loss in her heart. As for what she was feeling lost about, only she herself knew.
After readjusting her mood, Mio casually chatted with Shiina Mashiro again, as if nothing had just happened.
However, as they talked, Mio noticed Shiina Mashiro's eyelids beginning to droop. Before long, she'd fallen asleep right in front of her, leaning against the sofa.
Looking at Shiina Mashiro's adorable sleeping face, Mio smiled helplessly. They'd only just met for the first time, yet she was already sleeping in her home. Wasn't she worried about ulterior motives?
Mio touched her own cheek. It was probably because of her appearance.
Looking too good, or rather, having designed herself too well.
A soft, delicate-looking girl who seemed like she'd be fun to tease—how could she possibly have bad intentions?
...