Projection
[Hirata is like a typical good guy, a very reliable person, and Kushida is also someone with strong social skills.
The reason for this is that some of the students in the class group that Hirata set up were people Kushida kept adding.
Being able to do this means she not only gained the status of the group administrator but also managed to get everyone's contact information, which allowed her to add people.
Therefore, Kushida is also a potential "real winner" in life.]
Commentary
Komachi: eyes sparkling "Wow… Kushida-san's already the group admin?! She's scary-good at this."
Yui: awed "Ehh… she's like, super popular already! I'd never manage that on day one."
Yukino: cool tone "Of course. Social connections are a form of power. She understands that well."
Hiratsuka: snorts "And that's what Hachiman usually runs from. Figures he'd run right into it here."
Ichika (COTE): frowning "…Administrator, contacts, influence. She's moving pieces faster than most of us did."
Ichinose: softly impressed "She's amazing… it's not easy to organize people so quickly."
Ryuen: grins "Tch. That's no 'angel.' That's someone building a network to control others."
Sakayanagi: smiling slyly "Ara~ Already positioning herself as a winner. I do like ambition wrapped in sweetness."
Projection
[For someone like Hachiman, who tends to stay in the shadows, it's hard to deal with these kinds of people, but strangely enough, he finds there is no problem interacting with her.
Perhaps it's because... Kushida is looking at him with such soft, dewy eyes, almost pleadingly.
Her friendly aura seems to have completely bloomed.
It's hard to refuse.]
Commentary
Komachi: playfully nudging her brother "Onii-chan! She's got you wrapped around her little finger already."
Yui: blushing "T-those eyes… yeah, I'd fold instantly too."
Yukino: flat tone "Pathetic. He's letting charm bypass his caution."
Hachiman: deadpan "…Blame evolution. Big eyes and soft smiles are biological warfare."
Hiratsuka: chuckling "At least he knows he's weak to it."
Ichika: narrow-eyed "…She's good. Too good. Makes you think it's harmless."
Ichinose: gentle "Sometimes it really is harmless. Not everyone hides knives behind smiles."
Ryuen: grins cruelly "Keep telling yourself that, princess. People like her are always the most dangerous."
Sakayanagi: fan raised, amused "Ara… irresistible charm, hm? Let's see how long it lasts."
Projection
["By the way, Kushida, are you planning to go to the shopping street?" Hachiman asked.
"Mm-hmm, everyone went to the shopping street and found that the points can be used like money," Kushida nodded.
"I also went back to my dorm, and while the bedding and everything were prepared, there are still some daily necessities that need to be bought."]
Commentary
Komachi: smiling "Ahh, she's so normal about it. Just shopping for necessities."
Yui: relieved "That's… actually cute. Totally something a new student would say."
Yukino: analyzing "Practical. She's establishing normalcy, lowering suspicion."
Hiratsuka: humming thoughtfully "She's careful—always steering the tone toward ordinary things."
Ichika: arms crossed "…Textbook misdirection. The friendlier she sounds, the less you look deeper."
Ichinose: shakes her head gently "Or maybe she's just being herself. Not everything is strategy."
Ryuen: snorts "Keep thinking that. Normies always get blindsided."
Sakayanagi: smiling faintly "Ara~ domesticity as disarming camouflage. Quite effective."
Projection
[So, could he make this request?
"You want to make friends?" Kushida tilted her head.
"Is it really not possible?"
Hachiman knew it might be a bit bothersome to ask this suddenly.]
Commentary
Komachi: cheering "Say yes, Kushida! Onii-chan needs friends!"
Yui: leaning forward "Aw, she even tilted her head… so cute."
Yukino: skeptical "Too practiced. She's performing kindness."
Hachiman: muttering "…Head tilts are dangerous. They weaken men's defenses."
Hiratsuka: laughing "You're not wrong, but you're still falling for it."
Ichika: coldly "…Manipulative. She wants him to beg for it."
Ichinose: soft protest "Maybe she's just genuinely surprised."
Ryuen: snickering "Hah! She's making him crawl already."
Sakayanagi: playfully "Ara~ I'd give him the information just to see what he'd do with it."
Projection
["That is, will you become my friend?" Kushida said.
She looked at him with her sparkling eyes as she spoke.]
Commentary
Komachi: gasps, clapping hands "She's asking him directly! Onii-chan, say yes!"
Yui: blushing "T-that's… so bold! Right to the point!"
Yukino: calmly "She's testing him. A condition disguised as sincerity."
Hachiman: deadpan "…Friendship contract. Terms and conditions apply."
Hiratsuka: grins "Better than sulking alone. Take the damn deal."
Ichika: narrowing eyes "…She's binding him. Information for loyalty."
Ichinose: soft smile "Even if it is a condition, it's still kind. She's extending her hand."
Ryuen: laughs darkly "A leash is still a leash."
Sakayanagi: eyes gleaming "Ara~ she's clever. Friendship as currency. I approve."
Projection
["Although I do want to become friends with you, Kushida," Hachiman said, "I have somewhat high standards for friendship. I'm looking for a lifelong kind of friendship—where we help each other, confide in each other, and truly value one another. A friendship where we can help without hesitation when the other is in need."]
Commentary
Komachi: softly tearing up "Onii-chan… that's so pure. I didn't think you'd say it out loud."
Yui: eyes wide "Hikki… y-you actually said something so… serious."
Yukino: eyes softening slightly "…That is… a respectable standard."
Hachiman: grumbling "…And in our world, people laughed when I said things like this."
Hiratsuka: smiles faintly, proud "Not here, idiot. Here, maybe they'll actually listen."
Ichika: brows raised "…That's… intense. For someone so cynical, he's demanding the impossible."
Ichinose: smiling warmly "It's not impossible. It's just… rare. But it's beautiful."
Ryuen: snorts "Che. Idiot doesn't get it—this place eats idealists alive."
Sakayanagi: grinning behind her fan "Ara~ a boy who demands sincerity in a nest of liars. How charmingly doomed."
Projection
[Kushida gave him a cute expression.
Indeed.
How could it be so simple to find a true friend?]
Commentary
Komachi: soft sigh "Yeah… even I know it's not simple."
Yui: sad smile "But… it's what makes it worth it, right?"
Yukino: firmly "True friendship is rare, but not impossible."
Hachiman: quiet mutter "…Then I'll keep waiting for the impossible."
Hiratsuka: gruff affection "Stubborn fool. But that's why you're mine."
Ichika: low voice "…He's serious about it. That's what makes him dangerous here."
Ichinose: gently "Or what makes him inspiring."
Ryuen: scoffs "Inspiration doesn't win battles."
Sakayanagi: smiling softly "Perhaps not. But it does move pieces."
Projection
[But in reality, the conversation grew cold all of a sudden. The two had already walked out of the elevator and the first-floor lobby and were now outside the dormitory.
Kushida continued walking towards the shopping street, while Hachiman was heading towards the academic building.
"Did you forget something in the classroom, Hachiman?" Kushida asked.
"No, not really," Hachiman nodded. "I just want to explore the campus a bit. The school suddenly gave us such treatment, and the expenses are quite high. It feels a bit unreasonable."
"I asked Chabashira about it earlier, but it seems like the teachers have been given a gag order."
"So, I thought I'd try my luck with the upperclassmen."]
Commentary
Komachi: pouting "Onii-chan, you sound so suspicious all the time. Can't you just enjoy the campus for once?"
Yui: nervous laugh "Hehe… I mean, he's not wrong. It is weird, right?"
Yukino: nods slightly "Skepticism is justified. Unreasonable generosity always conceals strings."
Hachiman: muttering "…See? Yukinoshita gets it. Free equals expensive."
Hiratsuka: half-smile "At least you're asking questions instead of sulking."
Ichika (COTE): sharp tone "…Smart. Poking the seniors is how you get the truth. But risky."
Ichinose: frowning softly "It's… bold. Most of us were too shy to approach the upper years right away."
Ryuen: grins "Hah! Bold? It's survival. Better to know what's coming than walk blind."
Sakayanagi: fan lifted delicately "Ara~ testing the upperclassmen on day one. I do admire initiative."
Projection
["Oh."
I see.
Kushida nodded. Originally planning to go shopping at the street, she suddenly turned around and grabbed Hachiman's sleeve.
"Then, can you take me with you?"]
Commentary
Komachi: gasps, clutching her face "Ehhh?! She just grabbed his sleeve! So bold!"
Yui: blushing hard "T-that's like… straight out of a drama! So cute!"
Yukino: cool tone, but eyes narrowing slightly "That kind of gesture… is very calculated."
Hachiman: deadpan "…Calculated or not, I wasn't prepared for sleeve-grabbing DLC."
Hiratsuka: smirking knowingly "Heh. Girls like that will drag you whether you're ready or not."
Ichika: staring hard "…She's inserting herself. Subtle, but dangerous."
Ichinose: smiles warmly "Or maybe… she just doesn't want to walk alone. Is that really so bad?"
Ryuen: snorts, amused "Hah! Clingy types always hide claws. Bet on it."
Sakayanagi: eyes glittering behind her fan "Ara~ sleeve-grabbing, hm? Such a delicate trap disguised as innocence."