What a twist! The loser heroine!

Yoshiki pursed his lips and wrote down some words on the paper.

Xiao Quan helped me a lot today; I need to thank her more next week.

[Finally, I waited until my older brother was saying goodbye to the two senior students at Toyobashi Station. Senior student Komari gave him a plush hat as a souvenir. My earlier guess was correct; Senior student Komari is a promising candidate.]

[Hime-senpai then gave a hair clip to her older brother.]

As Yoshiki wrote this, he glanced at the hair clip lying quietly on the table.

My older brother said it was a gift specifically for me. Perhaps it was for Himegami-senpai—

Yoshiki simplified the characters he was about to write into messy straight lines and then started writing again.

[My brother didn't give the two girls any gifts, which is consistent with his usual principles of friendship.]

In conclusion, continued observation is necessary.

Jia Shu stopped writing, closed "Observation Record of My Future Sister-in-Law," and tossed it into the drawer.

She got up and pushed open her bedroom door.

"Dong dong dong."

"Hmm? Yoshiki? What's wrong?"

My elder brother's voice, as always, is reassuring.

With a smile on his face, Yoshiki pushed open his elder brother's bedroom door.

She looked at her elder brother, who was gazing at her tenderly, and her smile grew even brighter.

"Brother, could you tell Yoshiki about today's trip?"

~Eighteenth Defeat~ Himegami Karen Wants to Be Friends

Monday, May 5, 2021, Sunny

Kazuhiko Nukumizu, a first-year high school student, is sitting on the platform waiting for the bus to go to school.

Looking back on her experiences this weekend, Wen Shui couldn't help but feel ashamed.

He had arranged to go out with other people for two consecutive days—such extensive social activity was unprecedented in his life, and moreover—

Why are all the girls asking me out?

Wen Shui, who is somewhat slow to grasp interpersonal skills, seemed to only realize the problem on Monday.

Although she gave up her plan to finish reading all the newly bought light novels over the weekend, Wenshui wasn't dissatisfied at all for being able to help Banami and Komari.

Other issues that arise from this... we'll address them as soon as the time is right.

The bus braked at the station, and with a beep from the pneumatic door mechanism, Wen Shui boarded the bus.

Ever since Himegami transferred here, everything around me seems to have changed.

[And speaking of which... we took the same line as Princess Hime yesterday, could it be...]

For no apparent reason, the boy turned his gaze to the right.

As expected, pink came into his view. Himegami Karen, with her signature vented hairstyle, was sitting in the back of the bus. Noticing that Onami was looking at her, Himegami smiled and quietly waved to Onami, a soft light seemingly emanating from her side.

Ah, it seems like background music has started playing automatically around us.

"They really are here. Do they want me to come over?"

Wen Shui looked around with some difficulty.

The bus wasn't crowded in the morning, but there were still a few students in Ishizuki uniforms sitting in small groups. Since Himegami was a new face with an outstandingly cute appearance, students would occasionally glance at her.

Sigh, whatever, this will do.

Having made up her mind, Wen Shui walked towards the empty space behind Ji Gong.

Seeing Wen Shui approaching, Ji Gong's face lit up with joy. She quickly moved to a seat by the window to make room for Wen Shui.

Unexpectedly, the blockhead pretended not to see her and walked straight to the back of the carriage.

Can this be tolerated? !

Just as Wen Shui was passing by Ji Gong, secretly relieved that no one had noticed, he immediately found his hand being grabbed and then an inescapable force pulled him back.

Wen Shui, who was inwardly groaning, spent a lot of effort to readjust her balance, and with a helpless expression, was dragged to the seat next to Ji Gong.

As soon as I sat down, Wen Shui silently cried out in my heart.

[Oh no! Princess Hime sat in this seat!!]

Feeling the faint warmth emanating from the seat, Wen Shui felt an awkward expression on her face.

But before he could even get a chance to fully appreciate it, he realized that because of this little incident, he had become the center of attention, and the students on the bus were practically melting him with their slightly jealous gazes.

Knowing he had to do everything he could to protect himself in this situation, Wen Shui immediately tried to keep a low profile. Unfortunately, his efforts to minimize his presence were largely ineffective against Himegami's powerful aura.

However, as if she knew what he was thinking, Himegami Karen didn't make any further moves, but simply sat quietly beside him. Only after the bus had passed three stops and the students' attention had wandered did they slowly open their bulging backpacks.

"Here you go," Princess Hime said softly.

A bento box was placed on hands that were warm in water, the white box still retaining warmth.

"I can't spend lunch break with you today." Himeko frowned, looking a little troubled. "I'm sorry, since I promised to spend time with my classmates."

Wen Shui quickly put Ji Gong's bento into her schoolbag.

"You don't need to apologize to me."

The bus moved silently forward, and Himegami looked expectantly out the window, a silence falling between them.

"Um, Princess Hime," Wen Shui said softly, breaking the silence.

"Ok?"

Wen Shui carefully considered the words.

"Today, I'm going to have a talk with you."

"Ah...Hanami? I remember she's that ○ guy's girlfriend, right?"

"It's Hakamada-kun, and he's not my girlfriend, just my childhood friend."

"Sigh~ I saw her clinging to that guy all last Friday, um... Hakamada-kun, I thought they were a couple." Himegami recalled, "But speaking of which, it seems like she's been avoiding me the whole time."

"Well, I can't explain the reason clearly right now." Wen Shui shook his head helplessly, recalling what Banami had said about "intuition": "Anyway, she plans to be friends with you."

Himegami glanced at the warm water and nodded, saying, "Okay."

Princess Himeko's tone became slightly more forceful.

"Although I don't know how Wenshui and Hanami-kun met—"

"But during lunch break today, I was planning to get along well with my classmates, so I'll make Banami my primary target this time."

After saying this, Princess Ji leaned back in her chair, glancing at Wen Shui out of the corner of her eye, and said nothing more.

Unaware of this, Wen Shui nodded inwardly. This way, Banami could finally have a proper chat with Himegami, saving her from being bothered by that strange delusion.

However, their quiet conversation just now attracted more strange looks from their classmates, which made Wen Shui feel troubled.

Ah, Himegami-san is really popular.

Thinking this, Wen Shuihe silently endured the scorching gazes. Fortunately, the bus was nearing its final stop, and the outlines of Shilu High School, hidden in the eucalyptus forest, were beginning to appear.

"Shilu High School Station, we have arrived. Shilu High School Station, we have arrived."

The pleasant arrival announcement sounded in Wen Shui's ears, and he and Ji Gong followed the students dressed in Shi Lu uniforms off the train. At first, Wen Shui had some wishful thinking, believing that as long as he pretended to be a passerby next to Ji Gong, he could blend into the background.

However, after walking a short distance from the school gate, the allure of Himegami Karen's extremely powerful stats became fully apparent.

"Look, that girl—"

"A girl I've never seen before—"

Wow, so beautiful!

"Hey, Yuuta, why aren't you leaving... Ah—"

This is terrible...

Kazuhiko Nukumizu, who happened to be standing right next to Karen Himegami, was immediately subjected to all-around attention and had no chance to become a background character. He could only stiffly move his body while making strange, robotic noises.

"I'm sorry, I'll have to leave now."

Looking at the lukewarm water, Princess Hime chuckled softly.

"Warm water, see you in the classroom."

Wen Shui didn't dare to react to Ji Gong's words, for fear that others would notice any interaction between him and Ji Gong.

After completely immersing himself in the crowd, he quickly blended into the flow of people, getting away from Himegami Karen, who was the focus of attention among many students.

"Phew... so much pressure." Walking along the white school wall, Wen Shuihe Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

He, who usually plays the role of a passerby, never imagined that one day he would be forced into this situation at the school gate.

After escaping the terrifying gaze caused by Himegami Karen, Wenshui's journey to class went smoothly. Apart from Komari Chika, who greeted him at the entrance of Class A every day, he didn't run into any other acquaintances.

Monday mornings are just as restless. Wen Shuihe knew this all too well.

The leisurely weekend has just passed, so how could the young high school students not linger there?

He put his schoolbag in the drawer, keeping an eye on his classmates' actions while waiting for their homeroom teacher, Ms. Gan Xia, to appear.

Looking around, Wenshui suddenly noticed that Hakamada Sosuke and Yanami Anna, who were usually inseparable as childhood friends, were now only sitting alone.

Just as he was wondering if the two of them had a fight, Hanami walked into the classroom with Himegami.

"Hime-kun, next time you encounter this situation, be sure to leave immediately and don't give any hope."

"Haha, I understand."

The brief conversation concluded the 12K duo, comprised of the two cutest girls in the class, who then parted ways and went to their respective seats.

Himegami Karen placed her bulging schoolbag on the table with a heavy thud.

Wen Shui knew that besides textbooks and lunch boxes, there were also some souvenirs brought back from Nagoya, which Princess had prepared to build good relationships with her classmates during lunch break.

[It cost quite a bit of money to gather enough for the whole class.] Wen Shui thought to herself.

Time passed, and with the end of the class meeting filled with strange philosophies by Teacher Gan Xia, a new week began for Wen Shui at Shi Lu High School.

After a weekend of respite, Wen Shui could clearly feel that her classmates' curiosity about Himegami was gradually fading. But that was good, as it saved her from being overwhelmed by their stares again.

At the same time, he also noticed that Himegami Karen did not make any advances towards him throughout the entire morning, seemingly out of consideration for his feelings.

During the three consecutive breaks, Himegami deviated from her usual practice of being cornered in her seat by classmates. She took the initiative, actively seeking out people to talk to. She made many friends in her class and even in neighboring classes, perfectly embodying the term "social butterfly."

Thanks to her, Wen Shui's seat was not occupied when he returned to the classroom during these few breaks, saving him the trouble of painstakingly deciphering the class announcements that he had already seen more than ten times.

With 30 seconds left before the last history class, Wen Shui returned to his seat. He rested his chin on his hand and looked at Ji Gong, who was talking to a few girls in the class who were dressed somewhat eccentrically.

[She can even have a good chat with girls who dress like 'gyarums' but are actually just clinging to a small group. No wonder she's called Himegami.]

She seemed to be adept at all topics, able to initiate and follow conversations with ease, easily becoming a core member of the chat.

However, even someone as socially adept as Karen Himegami seems to have her own weaknesses.

"Then, Princess Hime, please answer—"

"Yes!" Princess Hime raised her hand.

Today's teachers all seem to be taking good care of Himegami, a new face, and Ganxia, ​​who is in charge of the history class, is no exception.

What was the real name of the general who was once known as the "Sixth Heaven Demon King" during the Warring States period?

"It's Oda Nobunaga."

Princess Hime answered in this way, cleanly and concisely.

“That’s right, Himegami-san.”

Ganxia Gunami nodded, turned around, and continued writing on the blackboard. It seemed that she had prepared her lesson well today, which was commendable.

Wen Shui crumpled up the slip of paper with the four characters "Oda Nobunaga" written on it and stuffed it into the drawer.

"Thank you~" Himegami Karen's deliberately low voice came from behind her.

【This is the third time this morning, Himegami-san.】