Chapter 494. Has Your Lordship Not Heard the Tale of Yukinoshita?
"Hoh, now this is a high-level play."
Initially prepared for a grim and cruel fantasy world, the little pre-transmigration skit caused Hori Kyouko and Miyamura Izumi to double over in laughter.
The two clung to each other, laughing heartily. As practitioners of the "straight-ball" method, their disdain for these "stinky brats" and their extreme psychological tug-of-war was expressed to the fullest.
The ironic label of "high-level" highlighted that this veteran couple was treating the whole thing as a total joke.
In the eyes of Hori and Miyamura, who were seasoned veterans of romance, relationship "levels" could be divided into five tiers.
The highest tier was represented by Anastasia.
She could manufacture atmosphere out of thin air, with maxed-out EQ and initiative. She could create opportunities where none existed, and even if an accident left her on the verge of ruin, she could forcefully pull herself back. She knew when to press the advantage and when to stop, always increasing her odds of success. At any moment, she was capable of a "one-shot" confession to successfully deliver herself to her beloved.
Such a level was like a Grandmaster in the martial arts world—legendary, rare, and perhaps only three to five such people existed globally.
The second tier was like Rem. She could throw an irresistible "straight-ball" at the most opportune moment, knowing exactly what to do and when to do it to be endearing. Hori and Miyamura considered themselves part of this second tier, which was why they came together so smoothly.
The third tier was like Crusch—always capable of initiative and brave enough to take it, but lacking the EQ to time that "straight-ball" perfectly.
The fourth tier consisted of the timid ones. Occasionally they might take the initiative, but asking them to confess to their crush was an ordeal. They would agonize for an eternity and still might not make a decision.
The fifth tier was for the greenest of youths. They would blush for half a day just by looking at the person they liked, only daring to steal a single glance, and their brains would short-circuit for hours if they actually spoke, getting so nervous they'd bite their tongues. These people were essentially DOA (Dead on Arrival).
Emilia belonged to Tier 2.5, while Priscilla and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka were "Outsiders"—special cases that defied the tier list.
"As for Shirogane Miyuki and Shinomiya Kaguya, they are the weakest of the weak. Indisputably Tier 4."
Before their respective transmigrations, Hachiman Hikigaya and Yukino Yukinoshita also belonged to Tier 4.
Watching these four was enough to make Hori and Miyamura's scalps go numb. Since they liked each other and intended to date, they should have just set the concerns aside, established the relationship, and thrown the straight-ball. Whatever worries they had, a couple should discuss and solve them together; it's always better than one person suffering alone. But no—Shirogane and Shinomiya insisted on "Love is War," insisting on being reserved and passively waiting for the other to confess.
Hori and Miyamura glanced at each other, both filled with relief: "Fortunately, the person I like isn't as low-tier in love as Shirogane/Shinomiya, otherwise, it would be too miserable."
Perhaps Shirogane would eventually evolve into a brave "straight-baller" like Hachiman did, but for now, he was a total amateur.
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Hori and Miyamura's views were unknown to the public. For many, this "Love Brain Battle" was incredibly novel and felt like "high-class romance."
"Whoa! That's amazing!"
In the modern era of the Inuyasha world, inside a cafe, Kagome's three classmates—Yuka, Ayumi, and Eri—were gasping in genuine, non-ironic admiration.
They no longer cared what this sudden light screen was; their teenage gossip-loving hearts were captured by the plot.
As for Kousaka Kyousuke, Izumi Masamune, and Oreki Houtarou, they just watched with amused smiles.
To them, Shirogane and Shinomiya's scheming and plotting just to force a confession was incredibly silly, naive, and adorably stupid. Even they could see that relying on this method to force a confession was practically impossible.
If one of them ever did confess, it wouldn't be because they were cornered by a "brain battle," but due to some external factor.
Thanks to Anastasia, everyone had seen what a real high-level romantic exchange looked like, so they weren't easily fooled. If everyone had previously watched "The pre-transmigration Hachiman and Yukino's riddler-talk in the Service Club," they would have thought the Brain Battle was brilliant—because at least this was better than infinite riddles.
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In the Sengoku (Warring States) Period, Inuyasha's group went from being on high alert—worrying this was a new trick by Naraku—to being utterly baffled.
"What the heck is this?"
"Even if you ask me, I don't know! It looks like a TV, but how is that possible!?" Kagome and Inuyasha went back and forth, their confusion deepening.
Meanwhile, Naraku, Koga, Sesshomaru, Totosai, and various other demons and humans stared at the screen, wondering what its purpose was.
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Back at Shuchiin, in the Student Council room, the "fake-crying" Fujiwara Chika had recovered. She pointed one finger to the heavens and the other at her best friend Shinomiya Kaguya, her expression solemn.
"You must know shame! Know shame, Kaguya-san!"
"Huh?"
Shirogane Miyuki and Shinomiya Kaguya—who were both mortified that their secret crushes had been exposed and broadcast to four worlds—looked up from their hands in confusion.
"My goodness, think of Yukinoshita! Think of that 'Loser Dog' Yukinoshita!"
Seeing her friend hadn't caught on, Chika stamped her foot in frustration. "In the Emilia world arc, before Hachiman transmigrated, he also had a little history with Yukinoshita!
The lessons of the past are right before our eyes. Does Princess Kaguya not remember the 'Convenience Store Incident'?"
BOOM!
It was like a thunderclap. Kaguya's brain buzzed as everything became clear. Yukinoshita appeared for a few seconds and then was gone—not only did she lose the spot of "Main Wife," she couldn't even keep the spot of "Original Partner."
Her romantic meridians now fully opened, Kaguya was filled with grief and indignation. She immediately spun around and shouted at Shirogane Miyuki:
"No! I refuse to lose my position as the original partner and main wife! President, you absolutely cannot go around flirting with other women and getting a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh mistress!"
"That has nothing to do with me! I haven't even transmigrated yet!!"
They were panicked.
Kaguya was panicked, and Shirogane was panicked.
The two stared at each other, momentarily lost as to what to do.
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