Chapter 90: A Date Invitation from a Senpai
Morning classes proceeded in a state of delicate balance.
Chabashira Sae selectively ignored Kiryuin Fuuka, who was leaning against a student's desk in the back row, and focused on explaining the lesson. Most students also tried their best to pull their attention back to the blackboard, even though the corners of their eyes couldn't help but drift in that direction.
Kiryuin Fuuka truly did as she said and listened in quietly. However, her way of "auditing" was a bit unique—the vast majority of the time, her gaze was fixed on Katsuragi Keima.
From start to finish, Katsuragi Keima played his game; he didn't lift his head for even a single second.
'He's not listening at all' Kiryuin thought. Rather than finding it inappropriate, she found it increasingly interesting. In a strictly managed school like this, especially knowing the S-System's situation, one would need either to have completely given up or to have immense confidence to play games so brazenly.
Katsuragi Keima looked much more like the latter.
'By doing this while knowing the rules, he must be a point of concern for his other classmates. After all, this results in point deductions.
Like me, I'm hated by many people in my class.'
However, the others seemed to have grown accustomed to Keima doing this. Kiryuin had previously heard a rumor that he had even reached an agreement with the school just to play games. That was likely why the others didn't pay it much mind.
Nevertheless, several people's attention was still projected toward him. Her gaze occasionally swept over those who were clearly focused on this spot.
The red-haired girl with the flushed face who stole glances at Keima and then quickly looked away. The black-haired girl who looked cold but would inadvertently furrow her brows and look over here. And the blonde girl who seemed to be listening intently to the lecture but would cast her gaze over from time to time. Plus another girl with short amber hair.
Everyone's reaction was different, but the core seemed to revolve around the boy immersed in his own world.
'What kind of magic does he have? He doesn't seem to be the type who is keen on socializing.'
Kiryuin Fuuka's curiosity, far from fading, was like a lake into which a stone had been thrown, the ripples expanding outward. These girls with such different personalities were revolving around him, and even she—someone who couldn't be bothered by most things—couldn't help but want to observe him a little longer.
'Is it just because he's "special"? Perhaps it's more than that.'
Time passed amidst the sound of chalk on the blackboard, the steady explanation of the teacher, and the occasional sound of students flipping pages. When the bell finally rang, many people breathed a secret sigh of relief—the atmosphere of this class had been truly bizarre.
'Chabashira closed her lesson plan, looked at Kiryuin Fuuka who was still leaning in the same spot, said nothing, and left the classroom. As soon as the teacher left, the air in the room instantly became lively; whispers and gazes focused on the back row once again.
Katsuragi Keima remained unchanged from beginning to end, his attention still on his game console as if the start or end of class had nothing to do with him.
Kiryuin Fuuka stood up straight, stretched her shoulders which had grown stiff from leaning so long, and walked directly in front of Keima's desk, blocking part of the light hitting his screen.
Katsuragi Keima looked up, pushed his glasses, and looked at the smiling white-haired senpai, waiting for her to speak. His expression was calm—no irritation at being disturbed, no special expectation—as if he were simply waiting for an NPC to issue the next quest.
"Katsuragi-kouhai," Kiryuin Fuuka began, her voice carrying its signature laziness, but her red eyes seemed to flash with light. "Are you free this weekend?"
The question was direct and abrupt. Sakura Airi, who was eavesdropping nearby, instantly widened her eyes; Karuizawa Kei's movements in packing her bag stopped; even Horikita Suzune, who was about to stand up and leave, paused her steps.
Katsuragi Keima thought for a second—mainly performing a quick retrieval of his weekend gaming schedule.
"I am free from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM," he gave a precise time window.
Kiryuin Fuuka blinked, finding his way of answering—as if booking a conference room—quite novel.
"Excellent. Then tomorrow morning at 10:00, meet me at the school cafe."
"Is there something specific?" Keima asked.
"Nothing much, just strolling around," Kiryuin said noncommittally. "Or rather... a date."
"Pfft—!"
Karuizawa Kei, who was drinking water, suddenly choked and started coughing.
Sakura Airi covered her mouth, her eyes rounding.
Horikita Suzune's brow was tightly knit, her eyes full of the word "absurd."
Around them, students who could vaguely hear the conversation showed expressions of shock or a thirst for gossip.
Katsuragi Keima, however, didn't have much of a reaction, asking only for confirmation: "A date?"
"You can't really call it a date. I'm just purely curious. After all, I haven't spent much time with the opposite sex~" Kiryuin Fuuka said with a smile, leaning forward slightly. Her red eyes looked directly into Keima's behind his lenses, and her lips curled into a playful arc.
"I just think you're interesting and want to observe you more closely in an environment without the constraints of a classroom. Think of it as... satisfying my personal curiosity? Of course, you can also understand it as a... spontaneous invitation. You should cherish the opportunity; I'm not the type who actively invites others."
She confessed her motives—observation, interest, spontaneity. There was no ambiguity, no special ulterior motive; she simply thought it was interesting and wanted to do it. This directness and willful nature actually matched the impression she usually gave.
These words sent Katsuragi Keima into thought. Kiryuin Fuuka's behavior and logic couldn't be predicted by common sense at all.
However—this type of girl was not absent from games. This was an opportunity to further understand the other party's thoughts.
But he shouldn't agree directly at this moment. After all, Sakura Airi and the others were right there; if he agreed directly in front of them, it might lead to troublesome consequences. He decided to find a way to be non-committal for a moment.
"..."
"Don't worry, just a casual walk," Kiryuin Fuuka shrugged. "Maybe go to the game center? I heard you're good at games, I'd like to see for myself."
She made a suggestion that aligned with his interests, but it sounded more like a casual arrangement. Although it was a school, the entertainment facilities were quite complete, and a game center naturally existed.
"..."
"Then it's settled." Without waiting for Keima to speak, Kiryuin Fuuka smiled with satisfaction, as if she had completed a fun task. She straightened up and waved at Keima. "See you this weekend, Katsuragi-kouhai. Remember to be on time~"
But at that moment, Kiryuin seemed to think of something else. "Also, as your senpai, I'll give you a little warning. That Nagumo fellow seems to have noticed you too. It'll be interesting to see what happens next~"
After saying that, she turned around, her long white hair tracing an elegant arc as she leisurely left the classroom under the various gazes of the Class D students.
As soon as she left, the whispers in the room grew loud.
"A-A date?! Was that a date invitation just now?!"
"Kiryuin-senpai actively invited him?!"
"How is that Katsuragi guy so lucky?!"
"When did they get to know each other?!"
"The game center? Truly a gamer geek's way of dating..."
Sakura Airi bit her lip, looking at Keima's profile as he lowered his head to play his game again. Her heart was in a mess.
'A d-date... and the senpai invited him actively... they're going out alone this weekend...
No, no, no, no.'
Airi patted her cheeks to calm herself down. Although this senpai was tall, perfectly beautiful, had a nice voice, and was very confident, Keima-kun hadn't exactly agreed directly, right?
Karuizawa Kei pursed her lips, feeling a bit unpleasant in her heart, though she couldn't say why. Horikita Suzune packed her bag and walked past Keima with a blank expression.
Katsuragi Keima turned a deaf ear to the gossip around him. He just started playing his game—
But in reality, Keima's brain was already working at high speed.
'W-what's the situation?! This person doesn't follow any established rules at all. She didn't even plan to listen to my answer!'
Originally, Keima wanted to maneuver a bit and then contact her privately later when there was a chance. But now, he had no room to refuse in front of everyone. A series of chain reactions were coming! He could already feel countless gazes landing on him.
'But don't underestimate me! I am a God!'
The final bell rang, and the students left the classroom like a receding tide. Katsuragi Keima also packed his things, planning to return to the dorm to rest before heading to the library.
However, he hadn't walked far from the classroom when he heard a rapid, slightly flustered set of footsteps behind him, accompanied by a faint but familiar call:
"K-Keima-kun! Please wait!"
Katsuragi Keima stopped and turned around to see Sakura Airi running up to him. Because of the run, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and the fine strands of hair on her forehead were a bit messy. She stopped in front of him, panting slightly, her hands gripped nervously in front of her. Her eyes darted away, yet she tried her best to look at him.
"Airi, is something the matter?" Keima asked calmly. He could guess what she wanted to ask and had already set his expectations.
"Th-that..." Sakura Airi took a deep breath, as if gathering immense courage. She looked up directly into Keima's eyes—though she only managed to hold it for a second before drifting away again. "About... about what Kiryuin-senpai said this morning... the weekend thing... Keima-kun, are you... are you really going?"
She asked directly. Though her voice was still small, it was much clearer than usual. Her big eyes were filled with tension, unease, and a sliver of cautious expectation she might not have even noticed herself.
Katsuragi Keima looked at her, and the "event processor" in his brain began to run at high speed.
'If I break the appointment then, the Kiryuin Fuuka route might be difficult to continue. Just as she said, she almost never initiates invitations to boys. This is a rare opportunity; I can't give it up. There won't be such a good chance later.
If I choose to hide it from Sakura Airi or give a vague answer, I might avoid conflict in the short term, but there is a risk of being caught by accident or finding out through other channels later. At that time, it would lead to a plunge in trust, a massive drop in affection, and potentially trigger complex emotional reactions. The cost of handling that would be extremely high.'
The analysis of pros and cons was completed almost instantly. Keima pushed his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses calm and honest.
"Yes, I will go."
He gave a positive answer without any circumlocution.
Airi's body swayed imperceptibly, her face turned pale, and her fingers gripped her skirt. Although she was mentally prepared, hearing the confirmation with her own ears was still quite a shock.
"W-why...? That senpai... she clearly just..."
"Kiryuin-senpai's behavioral patterns are driven by strong personal interest and curiosity; they do not possess conventional social or emotional goals," Keima said slowly.
"After all, she is a senpai, and I should show a bit of respect. Moreover, I feel that if I break the appointment, it might be quite troublesome. This is also an opportunity for me to further understand the upperclassmen."
Sakura Airi furrowed her brows, seemingly trying to digest these words. "But... going out alone... and on the weekend... isn't that just..."
"It's just a simple stroll. Airi, did you have something you wanted to talk to me about that day?" Keima said. "If you have something, I can go talk to the senpai about changing the time."
Taking the initiative at this time allowed the control to return to him.
"I, I... no, I don't... I!"
These sudden words caught Airi completely off guard, her face turning bright red. But for some reason, her heart felt a little happy.
'If I had something to do... Keima-kun would cancel the thing with the senpai... Does this mean... in Keima-kun's heart, I am more important than that senpai?'
At the thought of this, Airi's face turned even redder, and her index fingers twirled around each other happily.
"K-Keima-kun, I-I'm fine! That day... have a good time that day!!"
After leaving this blessing, Sakura Airi ran off.
Katsuragi Keima breathed a long sigh of relief. Sakura Airi's affection hadn't dropped. Compared to heroines in games, she was still a bit different.
Keima shook his head and looked up at the sky.
Perhaps, reality wasn't so bad after all—
Maybe.
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