Kazuki spent the night tossing and turning, unable to shake the lingering tension from his encounter with Rina and Kenta. He knew he'd managed to complete the task, but the memory of how awkward it had been left a bitter taste in his mouth. If he was going to survive the system's demands, he needed a better strategy—one that wouldn't make him feel like he was walking on eggshells every time he approached a girl.
The following morning, Kazuki found himself at his desk, staring blankly at his notebook while the teacher droned on about equations he had no interest in. His mind was elsewhere, spinning with thoughts of how to approach Rina without making her uncomfortable. He'd already learned the hard way that forcing interactions wasn't the answer. If he wanted to get close to her, he needed to be subtle, patient—he needed to build a rapport.
He glanced over at Rina, who was sitting a few rows ahead of him. As usual, she was quiet and focused, her attention completely absorbed by the lesson. Kazuki admired her dedication; she was always one of the top students in their class. But that focus also made her difficult to approach. How could he get her to notice him without coming off as intrusive?
As the lesson continued, Kazuki started jotting down ideas in his notebook. He needed to find common ground—something they could talk about that wouldn't make her feel uncomfortable. He knew Rina wasn't the type to engage in small talk about trivial things. If he wanted to connect with her, he needed to be genuine.
After class, Kazuki lingered near the door, waiting for Rina to pack up her things. His heart raced as he rehearsed his lines in his head. He'd decided to start by asking her about the lesson—a simple, safe topic that wouldn't seem out of the ordinary.
When Rina finally stood up to leave, Kazuki took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Hey, Rina," he said, keeping his tone casual. "Do you have a minute?"
Rina looked up, her expression polite but cautious. "Yes?"
Kazuki felt his palms start to sweat, but he forced himself to stay calm. "I was just wondering if you understood that last part of the lesson. I'm a little confused about the equations, and I thought maybe you could help me out."
Rina blinked, clearly not expecting the request. "Oh, um... sure," she said, her tone hesitant. "What part are you confused about?"
Kazuki pulled out his notebook and pointed to a section where he'd deliberately left a few problems unsolved. "This part here," he said, even though he understood it perfectly well. "I can't seem to get the right answer."
Rina glanced at the page, her brow furrowing slightly. "Oh, I see. It's just a matter of simplifying the equation first. Here, let me show you." She stepped closer, taking the notebook from Kazuki and scribbling down a few calculations.
Kazuki watched her intently, not so much focusing on the equations but on her body language. She seemed a little more relaxed now, more at ease with the task of explaining something she was good at. He realized this might be the key to approaching her—getting her to open up by talking about things she was comfortable with.
"Thanks, Rina," Kazuki said when she finished explaining. "That makes a lot more sense now."
Rina handed the notebook back to him, her expression softening just a little. "You're welcome."
Kazuki smiled, feeling a small victory in her response. It wasn't much, but it was a start. "I'm glad I asked you. You're really good at this."
Rina blushed slightly at the compliment, and Kazuki could see that she wasn't used to receiving praise. "I just... study a lot," she murmured.
"Well, it shows," Kazuki said, his tone genuine. "Maybe we could study together sometime? You know, if you're not too busy."
Rina hesitated, her eyes searching his for any sign of ulterior motives. Kazuki held his breath, hoping she wouldn't see through his carefully crafted intentions.
"Maybe," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll think about it."
Kazuki nodded, not wanting to push her any further. "Sure, no pressure. Just let me know."
With that, Rina gave him a small nod and turned to leave. Kazuki watched her go, feeling both relieved and anxious. He'd made progress, but there was still a long way to go.
As he walked to his next class, Kazuki's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. "Smooth move, Romeo," Kenta said, suddenly appearing beside him. Kazuki jumped, not having noticed Kenta's approach.
"Kenta!" Kazuki exclaimed, his heart skipping a beat. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough," Kenta replied with a smirk. "So, you're trying to woo Rina with math, huh? Didn't take you for the academic type."
Kazuki frowned, feeling a bit defensive. "I'm not trying to woo her. I just... needed help with the lesson."
Kenta snorted, clearly not buying it. "Yeah, sure. And I'm the King of England. Come on, man, it's obvious you've got a thing for her."
Kazuki's face reddened, but he didn't bother denying it. "I just... want to get to know her better, that's all."
"Uh-huh," Kenta said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "And the best way to do that is through equations? Dude, you need a better plan."
Kazuki sighed, knowing Kenta wasn't entirely wrong. "Well, what do you suggest then?"
Kenta grinned, clearly pleased that Kazuki was asking for his advice. "First off, you gotta stop with the nerdy stuff. Girls like Rina need to feel comfortable around you, not like they're tutoring you all the time. You need to find a way to get close to her without making it about school."
Kazuki thought about that for a moment. "Like what?"
Kenta shrugged, his grin turning mischievous. "I dunno, maybe find out what she's into outside of class. You know, hobbies, interests, that kind of stuff. And then, make yourself part of that."
Kazuki frowned, unsure if that was something he could easily do. "But I don't really know much about her."
"Then you better start finding out," Kenta said, clapping Kazuki on the back. "Look, I'm no expert, but I do know one thing—girls don't just want to be impressed; they want to feel like you're on the same wavelength as them. So, if you can figure out what makes her tick, you've got a better chance of getting closer."
Kazuki mulled over Kenta's words, realizing that he had a point. If he wanted to build a real connection with Rina, he needed to understand her better. But that was easier said than done.
As they walked down the hallway, Kazuki noticed Rina standing near her locker, looking as though she was deep in thought. He knew this was his chance to approach her again, but he hesitated, unsure of what to say. He glanced at Kenta, who raised an eyebrow as if to say, "Well, what are you waiting for?"
Kazuki took a deep breath and approached Rina, trying to remember everything Kenta had just said. "Hey, Rina," he said, trying to sound casual.
Rina looked up, clearly surprised to see him again so soon. "Oh, hi."
Kazuki scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward. "I was wondering... what do you like to do outside of school? You know, when you're not studying."
Rina blinked, clearly not expecting the question. "Um... I like reading," she said, her voice hesitant. "And sometimes I draw, but I'm not very good at it."
Kazuki's eyes lit up. "Really? That's cool. What kind of books do you like to read?"
Rina seemed to relax a little at the change of topic. "Mostly fantasy and mystery. I like stories that take me to different worlds."
Kazuki smiled, feeling like he was finally getting somewhere. "I get that. It's nice to escape reality sometimes, right?"
Rina nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, exactly."
Kazuki was about to ask her more when Kenta suddenly cut in, leaning against the lockers with a smirk. "Fantasy, huh? You ever read 'The Sword of Avalon'? That's a pretty badass series."
Rina looked surprised, clearly not expecting Kenta to know anything about her interests. "I have, actually. It's one of my favorites."
Kenta grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "Told you I'm not just a pretty face, Kazuki."
Kazuki shot Kenta a look but didn't argue. Instead, he turned back to Rina. "That's awesome. Maybe you could recommend me some books sometime. I'm always looking for something new to read."
Rina seemed to consider this for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, I'd like that."
Kazuki felt a surge of relief. He'd managed to keep the conversation going, and Rina seemed to be warming up to him. Maybe this was the key—finding common ground that wasn't just about school.
As the three of them continued talking, Kazuki realized that Kenta's crude and often inappropriate suggestions, while annoying, did have some merit. Kenta had a way of breaking the ice, of making