"I don't believe it. Everyone always has a side they don't want others to know." Masumi expressed her disagreement.
For example, she had a habit of stealing things. Could that side ever see the light of day?
"I like stealing things." Tenya heard what the other party was thinking.
"Wh-what?!" Masumi's voice instantly rose by several octaves.
The other girls also cast incredulous glances.
"Eh, what?"
"I didn't mishear just now, did I?"
"Tenya-kun likes stealing things?"
"This isn't very good."
It was bad enough that he liked stealing things, but to openly admit it? Wasn't that self-incrimination?
"There's nothing wrong with it. It's just a personal hobby. You agree, don't you, Kamuro-san?" Tenya gestured with his hand and pulled out a pinkish-purple hair clip.
"Huh? That's my hair clip. When did—?!" Masumi instantly became shocked.
She, who prided herself as a "master thief," was actually stolen from one day, and she didn't even notice it at all. This was quite terrifying.
"Just now, oh, don't move." Tenya raised his hand and clipped the hair clip into Masumi's bangs on her forehead.
"You…!"
Seeing the handsome face of the other party drawing near, Masumi's heart inexplicably began to pound faster.
[Ding!]
[Detected Masumi's favorability: 66%]
[Points +200]
[Ding!]
[Detected Masumi's favorability: 88%]
[Points +400]
"He's also a heart thief." Hiyori's summary was perfectly accurate.
"Ichinose, I think you look especially cute in this hollow lace." Tenya pointed to an exquisite bra hanging on the shelf.
"Mmm. Even if you say that, I won't wear it for Yoshida-kun to see, okay?" Ichinose said playfully, her face flushed.
"Horikita, black stockings." Tenya reiterated.
"Why should I listen to you?" Suzune was unconvinced.
"Information." Tenya proposed the condition.
"…"
Suzune was silent for a moment, then gritted her teeth, picked up the black stockings, and walked towards the checkout counter.
"Shiina, gray stockings suit you better." Tenya suggested again.
"Yoshida-kun, I'm not interested in class battles." Hiyori was unmoved.
"Shiina, you misunderstood me. This is advice as a friend. As for information, I'll just give it to you." Tenya said.
"Thank you." Upon hearing this, Hiyori accepted it gladly.
"???"
Seeing this, Suzune, who had just finished paying and was holding the black stockings, was dumbfounded.
However, upon seeing Suzune's discomfiture, Kikyo was very happy.
"If Yoshida-kun likes me wearing skirts, then I'll buy them." Kikyo readily accepted.
"Why are you looking at me? I won't fall for your tricks."
Masumi stood aside, closing her eyes, as if saying, 'Out of sight, out of mind, what can you do to me?'
"Are you embarrassed? It's okay, I'll give it to you."
Tenya picked up a hair clip to pay for it, then smoothly put it on Masumi, the action was seamless.
"You, don't just give others gifts without permission!" Masumi instantly became flustered, her face flushed crimson.
"So, among all these girls, Yoshida-kun likes Kamuro-san?" Ichinose teased.
"Yes, I like Kamuro-san."
"And, all of you."
Tenya said with an honest expression.
"Greedy." Hiyori couldn't help but lightly poke his thick skin with her finger.
"An incomprehensible and absurd fellow." Suzune looked speechless.
"That's because you don't understand love." Tenya retorted.
"Yoshida-kun's view of love is unique." Kikyo smiled without warmth.
At this moment, her feelings were, for once, highly similar to Suzune's.
"Forget it. I don't want to talk about all this nonsense with you. What about the information you promised?" Suzune returned to the main topic.
"Alright, I'll tell you right away."
Tenya led the girls and continued walking down the street. They stopped when they arrived at a VR experience hall.
"The VR equipment is a bit lacking, but it can barely simulate a certain effect." Tenya nodded.
"An arcade? What do you mean by this? Are you playing a trick on us?" Suzune couldn't help herself this time.
"I've already told you the answer." Tenya stated truthfully.
"What is this supposed to be?" Suzune still didn't understand.
"Yoshida-kun means that the Christmas event is related to games?" Hiyori's eyes darted, keenly grasping the key point.
"See?! As expected of my Shiina, her brain is just so sharp!" Tenya gave a thumbs-up in praise.
"Eh, what?"
"I don't recall becoming Yoshida-kun's person." Hiyori retorted softly.
"…"
Suzune was speechless.
"They're actually making games the main Christmas event? Is this information truly reliable?" Masumi was still a bit skeptical.
"Or rather, this isn't an ordinary game, is it?" Ichinose's intelligence came online at this moment.
"As expected of my Ichinose, clever."
Tenya gave another thumbs up.
"...."
Ichinose didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but she couldn't be bothered to retort.
"What kind of game is it, specifically? Can students from both schools be online at the same time?" Kushida was full of curiosity.
"That's where Full Dive comes in." Tenya briefly introduced the Full Dive game.
After listening, the girls felt that it was profound yet incomprehensible.
"Huh?!"
Masumi suddenly realized that with Full Dive, there would be no physical limitations. Then Arisu, as Class A's strongest brain, might be able to unleash her maximum combat power. The representatives from the other classes obviously noticed this as well, and immediately felt a sense of unease.
"It's even more complex than expected. It seems our B Class also needs to prepare early." Ichinose's expression was solemn.
"We're controlling game characters, so Class C's delinquent faction is completely useless." Hiyori had a headache.
Class C's core members, led by Ryuen, were all accustomed to solving problems with force.
"Coincidentally, our D Class is best at playing games." Suzune smiled, which was rare.
The most laid-back class, on the contrary, had the most advantage—how ironic.
"Horikita, don't be happy too soon. Full Dive games are completely different from ordinary games. In a sense, Full Dive can be considered a world."
Tenya used himself as an example. The SAO incident back then caused a huge stir. Even those who didn't play games had heard a little about it.
"I'll listen to your advice." Suzune nodded, indicating she accepted the suggestion.
"So good. What a cute child." Tenya reached out and patted her head.
"Don't touch me casually." Suzune pushed his hand away.
...
The group date ended perfectly.
The representatives from each class, having received information from Tenya, went back to discuss their strategies.
The next day.
Members of each class began to gather at the VR experience hall, striving to improve their gaming skills as much as possible.
Surprisingly, Arisu, as Class A's backbone, did not go to practice gaming, but instead actively contacted Tenya.
"A solo date? It seems Sakayanagi-san is greedy." Tenya received her date invitation, which specifically stated it was to be a solo one.
Are you kidding me? How can you just ask me out whenever you want?
"Sakayanagi-san of Class A, huh? Unlike her delicate appearance, she seems to be a very aggressive girl." Yuki said in surprise, then cast a curious gaze at him.
"How are you going to respond?"
Tenya deliberately kept her in suspense. "What? Is Yuki very concerned?"
"Not at all. I'm not as idle as you." Yuki turned her head away, typing on her laptop, preparing materials for the activity.
"Compared to a mere Sakayanagi of Class A, Yuki in front of me is even more charming." Tenya kneaded her shoulders from behind.
"You hateful alien!" Yuki looked disgusted.
Actually, on average, Yuki's bust was not small. However, there were just too many heavy hitters in this Advanced Nurturing High School.
For example, Ichinose's F, Kushida's D, Suzune's D, Karuizawa and Hiyori were on par with her.
The remaining ones she could definitely beat were Mio's B and Arisu's A.
"No, Yuki, you've misunderstood me. I'm not that kind of shallow man." Tenya was serious.