"Congratulations, Host. Task complete. The host's conquest rating with Kato Megumi has increased by 2 points. Please select your reward."
[Kato Megumi's Keen Insight]
Improves the host's observation skills. Part of the Kato Megumi series deck.
[Lucky Star]
Slightly increases the probability of triggering tasks. Selecting this multiple times will enhance the effect.
[Allowance]
The host will randomly receive between 100,000 to 1,000,000 yen in spending money. Single-use card, disappears after use.
Since Mio wasn't exactly hurting for money right now, she unhesitatingly chose [Kato Megumi's Keen Insight] as her task reward. As for [Lucky Star], she felt like that card would be more appropriate in the penalty deck.
After Mio made her selection, time resumed flowing.
She glanced at Kato Megumi's calm expression, then quietly lowered her hand. "That's good enough now. Thanks for your help."
"It was nothing."
While Mio was speaking, Kato Megumi noticed what seemed to be a flash of relief in her eyes.
If she remembered correctly, hadn't Mio said she wanted to practice kabedon for certain reasons? Why did it end so simply, and why did she look so relieved?
It felt like... someone was forcing her to practice kabedon.
But she hadn't seen Mio communicating with anyone, or even taking out her phone.
Just as Mio was about to tell Kato Megumi to head downstairs, she suddenly noticed someone standing at the classroom door.
And it was someone Mio knew very well.
It was Shiina Mashiro, who should've been at club activities.
The moment she saw Mashiro, Mio froze. She couldn't understand why Mashiro was here, and she weirdly felt like she'd just been caught red-handed.
After dispelling that strange feeling, Mio walked over. "Mashiro, what are you doing here? What about club activities?"
"Got lost." Mashiro said this while glancing at Kato Megumi standing behind Mio, seemingly thinking about something.
Hearing this, Mio's mouth twitched. She couldn't help but complain, "Didn't I take you there every day before? How'd you still get lost?"
"Probably... because Mio wasn't with me. If Mio was leading me, I definitely wouldn't get lost!" Mashiro said with unusual seriousness.
"Well yeah, if I'm leading you there's no way you'd get lost."
Mio smiled helplessly, then turned to Kato Megumi. "Kato-san, could you help me return the supplies to the classroom? I need to take her to the club. I'll be right back."
"Shirai-san doesn't need to push yourself. Leave the cleanup to me."
"I feel pretty bad about that. How about next time, I'll treat you to something good~"
Before Kato Megumi could refuse, Mio had already grabbed Mashiro's hand and left. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she felt like the blonde beauty was looking at her with a hint of... wariness?
Was it because of Shirai-san?
But they were both girls. She really couldn't understand what Mashiro had to be wary about. Unless she was worried about Mio being... stolen?
Though Shirai-san really was very pretty. Still, it shouldn't come to that, right?
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On the other side, the reason Mio left so quickly was because she knew Kato Megumi would definitely refuse her offer. So as long as she didn't give her a chance to refuse, problem solved.
As for why she did that...
Well, obviously to create more opportunities to interact with Kato Megumi and raise her affection—er, conquest rating. That way future Kato Megumi-related tasks would be easier to complete.
Yep, that's right. That's the reason.
The reasoning was perfectly sound. It absolutely wasn't because Kato Megumi was one of her favorite anime characters, so she was deliberately getting close to her.
Absolutely not!
Pushing aside her wandering thoughts, Mio began seriously teaching Mashiro how to navigate to the club. But she kept feeling like Mashiro seemed a bit distracted.
"Mashiro, what's wrong? Something on your mind?"
"It's nothing. I was just thinking that if Mio's with me, I'll never get lost."
"You know that having me around means you won't get lost, but what if one day I'm not here?"
Hearing Mio's words, Mashiro suddenly stopped walking, then looked at her with confusion. "Mio won't be here? Why?"
"Nobody can predict what'll happen in the future. Generally speaking, I'll always be by your side, but just in case, you should still learn how to take care of yourself, Mashiro."
Just as Mio's words fell, she felt Mashiro's grip on her hand tighten, and rare traces of panic appeared in her expression.
Seeing this, Mio squeezed Mashiro's hand. "Don't overthink it. I'm right here, aren't I?"
"Mm."
Mashiro responded softly. Just now, after hearing Mio's words, she'd instinctively imagined what it would feel like if Mio wasn't by her side.
Even without thinking deeply about it, she felt strangely anxious—like something was missing from her heart.
It was a feeling she'd never experienced before.
It felt terrible.
Taking Mashiro to the art club room, the club president didn't say much about their tardiness, simply explaining today's assignment to them.
But even though they were late, both Mio and Mashiro still finished the required artwork before club activities ended.
The club president looked at the two paintings in front of her. Mashiro was one thing—she was a genius artist, after all—but what was up with Shirai Mio?
When she'd first joined the club, she'd clearly been a newbie with only basic drawing skills. But it'd only been a short time, and she'd noticed Mio's art technique improving at a godlike speed.
Mio paid no attention to the president's intense stare, directly grabbing Mashiro's hand and leaving the club room.
Through the hallway windows, she could see the sky outside had become overcast at some point, with occasional rumbles of thunder. Rain could fall at any moment.
"Looks like it's about to rain. Let's hurry back."
"Mm."
Though they moved quickly, the rain had already started by the time they left the school.
Fortunately, Mio had a habit of carrying an umbrella, so they didn't need to worry about getting soaked. The only problem was the cold wind mixed with the rain—even with [Cold Resistance], Mio couldn't help but shiver.
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