[Randomly Selecting Blackmail Targets...]
[Targets Selected— Please Choose One:
1. Sakayanagi Arisu
2. Horikita Suzune
3. Hiyori Shiina ]
Ryuji's mouth stopped, the unchewed food rested in his mouth for a second before he chewed it and gulped it down. A sigh involuntarily escaped his lips as Horikita looked at him in puzzlement.
"Are you okay?" Horikita didn't understand why he was sighing like an old man all of a sudden.
Was he regretting spending so many points now?
I wonder how many points he's gotleft. Horikita hummed in amusement, I suppose if he humbles himself enough to ask for my help I'll lend him some points out of pity.
As these thoughts materialised, her lips curled up into a small smile as she chewed on the hefty sandwich she ordered. She looked forward to the scene of him begging her.
Horikita had no idea that the person sitting in front of her was planning something completely different, something supremely devious.
Unfortunately, even Ryuji didn't know what he was planning.
He silently pondered his options.
He looked at Horikita who was happily engrossed in her meal and paused. I'll choose after going back to my room.
To Ryuji, the second Blackmail was as important as the first Blackmail if not more because of the gift Adrian mentioned. He wondered if the gift might give him some kind of supernatural power. It wouldn't seem far-fetched considering Adrian was huddling between dimensions.
Maybe a fireball spell? Or maybe lightning control, that would be cool.
Whether one was of age 15 or 25, the allure of supernatural abilities always left mortals yearning and Ryuji was no different.
...
After paying the bill we headed back towards the dorms. It was a Friday evening and Yamamoto-kun didn't feel like going to the gym. How foolish, and this was just after declaring himself as someone with an impeccable work ethic.
I won't skip the gym now that I've maintained a good routine. This school might very well put importance on physical strength.
"Do you want me to accompany you and spot you?" He offered, scratching the back of his head. Looking at him I was tempted to agree. Having help in the gym would certainly be beneficial.
To be honest, we did decide to either have a rest day on Friday or Sunday so I couldn't fault him entirely for not wanting to attend today. Plus, it must've taken him a lot of brainpower in the earlier tests.
"No thanks,"
Though it could be said that we had become 'friends' (?) I wouldn't lower myself to ask for help for something as trivial as working out.
As for asking for help to advance the class... It was a matter of priority. The gym would never be as important as our class ranking.
"Alright, see you later then." Yamamoto-kun waved his hand lazily and walked away without hesitation. My lips twitched.
I watched him leave before heading towards Keyaki Mall. I climbed to the second floor and entered the gym after swiping my ID card. Changing my clothes to a casual gym attire I walked inside the hall.
The gym was fuller than usual and this made me feel a bit awkward. Since it was the third week of school, many of the first years had started the gym hoping to get a 'ripped' body like Yamamoto-kun usually clambered about.
But this influx of newcomers also brought me trouble. The stares towards me were much more pronounced than usual. It made me feel nauseated.
Was it because Yamamoto-kun wasn't with me? Did they think we were together or something? So now that Yamamoto-kun isn't here it's fine to just stare at me without regard? How absurd.
Shrugging the discomfort away I began my regular exercise.
After running for a bit and warming up, I wiped my sweat away and glanced around the gym. Why are they still staring at me? Shaking my head, I wondered if I should just ignore weight training for today.
All the equipment was occupied by the enthusiastic boys. One of them was even huffing and puffing loudly while bench-pressing 60kg. Not a bad amount but why do you keep sneaking peeks at me after letting out loud grunts?
Am I supposed to be impressed?
My entire enthusiasm for the gym suddenly cooled off and I decided to leave. I reasoned the workout wouldn't be as good without a spotter anyway.
I left the gym a bit frustrated.
Everyone seemed to enjoying their new school life quite a bit.
This isn't good.
It seems like most people in the school haven't realised the impending doom coming this month. Maybe I would've been out of the loop as well if not for Yamamoto-kun.
Feeling the gentle breeze hit my skin, which was warm from cardio, a cold chill ran down my body and I picked up my pace.
However, the convenience store at the side of the road made me pause for a few seconds. After thinking about it I decided to test it as well.
...
I filled the bathtub with warm water and stared at myself in the mirror.
I wouldn't claim to be some kind of pretty princess but I definitely don't accept that ranking.
There wasn't much content in the first year's forum in the first place. Finding the so-called Girl Ranking was effortless.
I opened it and began looking through the list.
First place was someone called Ichinose Honami. I think I saw her in Class B.
Second place was Kushida-san.
This made my lips twitch, but I ignored the discomfort.
Third place was someone called Sakayanagi Arisu... Wait.
Isn't she the one with the cane Yamamoto-kun and I saw earlier today?
Fourth place was someone called Hiyori Shiina.
Fifth place was Karuizawa-san.
Sixth place was Haruka Hasabe, she's from our class as well.
Seventh place was someone called Manabe Shiho.
And Eighth place was... me.
I didn't bother scrolling any further and set my phone aside on the table before looking at myself in the mirror.
I touched my skin and it felt soft.
After staring at myself blankly for a minute I snapped out of my daze.
What am I even doing?
It's not like I actually care about how good I look, do I? Yeah, it's just because I don't want to give that irritating guy something to brag about.
I picked up the small bag which contained the item I bought at the grocery store and stared at the small bottle in doubt. Had this 'retinol' really done so many wonders? Yamamoto-kun has been talking about it and it's endless benefits from the beginning of school.
Though I never said it explicitly the difference between Yamamoto-kun's skin from the first day to now is like the difference between the sun and the moon. It's almost scientifically impossible. How could someone's skin change so much in just three weeks? Shouldn't these active ingredients take months to work?
Maybe he's one of those hyper-responders?
I stared at the mirror with mixed feelings.
It's just skin care. Everyone should do it.
Let's aim for at least third place in the rankings just to wipe that grin off his face.
I mentally pumped myself.
To victory over Yamamoto annoying Ryuji!
...
Unaware of Horikita's mental struggles, Ryuji laid on his bed and stared at the ceiling with mixed feelings. Of course, he wasn't actually looking at the ceiling.
[Randomly Selecting Blackmail Targets...]
[Targets Selected— Please Choose One:
1. Sakayanagi Arisu
2. Horikita Suzune
3. Hiyori Shiina ]
He was a bit miffed that Kushida wasn't among the options. Was this System deliberately making it difficult for him? He wondered if Hiyori was in the same restaurant.
Then everything would make sense. The most likely targets had been close to me when the System triggered its selection. If its selection was proximity based then I could control who I wanted to Blackmail.
But there was one issue.
This System selection happened without any hint or clue. If he didn't even know when it would trigger the selection how should he control it effectively?
At best, he could stick to a target he really wanted to Blackmail immediately after a successful capture and wait till the selection was triggered.
Well that aside, he needed to pick his next target.
There was no chance he could manipulate Sakayanagi without it taking months. Plus, she was incredibly smart, a single mistake and Ryuji would find himself in jail. Moreover, he was scared about being forceful with her. With her crippled heart, it would be a miracle if she didn't just collapse from shock or even die due to his methods.
There was no way Ryuji would choose her right now so the options left were Horikita Suzune and Hiyori Shiina.
Ryuji frowned.
_____________________
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