Aito looked at the person sleeping beside him. No matter how noisy the classroom was, it seemed to have no effect on him. Isolated, far from everyone else.
His jet-black hair stood stiff, reinforcing his aura and making everyone even more afraid to approach. However, Aito had now made up his mind.
The class wasn't too crowded, but recess made everyone gather, chatting loudly here and there. Aito slipped back into the classroom, relieved that Junan was still there, his arms folded on the desk.
Stealing glances, Aito carefully took out the items he had brought in a plastic bag. A sandwich and a peach juice were slowly pushed towards the desk next to him.
As if he had just completed a super difficult mission, Aito exhaled in relief, pretending to look out the window as if nothing had happened. Though, occasionally, his eyes still darted to the same spot—his deskmate.
"Have you looked enough?" A voice made Aito jump in surprise, slightly pushing his chair back unintentionally to keep his distance.
"N-no, sorry ...." Aito quickly lowered his head, apologizing hastily.
Seeing him change so quickly, like a thief caught red-handed, Junan raised an eyebrow. His deskmate certainly didn't know how to give up.
"Didn't I already tell you not to leave things like this anymore?" Junan said, his eyes glancing at the lunch Aito had tried so hard to place.
"I ... I just, please eat it! Mayura's classmate, you need to take care of your health," Aito pleaded, blinking as he looked at his conversation partner.
Seeing that cold and indifferent face, his neck instinctively shrank, revealing his fair skin, reddened by the sunlight streaming through the window. Beads of sweat trickled down.
For some reason, Junan's mouth felt dry, and he diverted his attention. "Don't trouble yourself," he replied, leaving the classroom without taking anything.
He left so quickly that Aito didn't even have time to say what he was thinking. Looking back at the sandwich and peach juice still sitting there, he could only hope that Junan would accept them someday.
Aito had wanted to tell him that class was about to start, but Junan had already left.
Shortly after, the bell signaling the end of recess rang. Aito turned away from the back door, seeing the teacher already entering the class. It seemed Junan would be skipping again.
"System, do you know where Junan went?" Aito whispered anxiously, looking at the empty seat beside him. He felt like he still had a long way to go and wasn't even sure if he would succeed.
"Apologies, Host. The system's energy has not fully recovered after pulling the host in. Tracking the protagonist requires more energy. Please work harder, Host!" The mechanical response made Aito feel even worse.
The bar on the system window had barely moved to 8%, which Aito had just discovered recently. His initial intention of merely offering lunch had somehow caused the protagonist's affection rating to drop into the negatives.
It was truly difficult just to befriend him. He packed up his belongings after class ended.
Aito noticed two unfamiliar people entering the classroom, yet none of the other students seemed to acknowledge them. Confused by their sudden appearance, he watched as the two approached Junan's desk, picking up his bag and jacket before walking away.
"Hurry up, don't keep the boss waiting!" one of them urged, patting the shoulder of the person who grabbed the bag while holding the jacket from the chair.
Their brief conversation was barely audible to Aito. It seemed they were two of Junan's loyal followers mentioned in the novel. However, Aito didn't remember their names, as they were not mentioned again after high school ended and the second arc began.
. . .
Every afternoon, those two items would always appear on Junan's desk, naturally attracting the attention of the other students. They observed, as if wanting to say something, but Aito's innocent, delighted expression at being able to offer lunch to the protagonist was too blinding for them to interfere.
They decided to leave it as a matter between the two. Still, every day, several pairs of eyes stole glances just to see how the school delinquent would respond. Aito never gave up, and even after school ended, the food remained untouched on the desk.
He had no choice but to take it back home, though the next day, another lunch would still be there for the protagonist. Aito hadn't yet mustered the courage to invite Junan to eat together directly.
"Maruyama-kun, please take it. I don't mean anything by this, I just want us to be good seatmates ...."
After a week, Aito was frustrated. Not only had the affection rating failed to increase, but even his good intentions remained unacknowledged. For someone awkward at making friends, Aito truly felt dejected.
Looking at that small face, appearing so frustrated, his large eyes seemed to plead—like a puppy begging to be taken home.
His head felt heavy as he watched the little one refuse to give up. Junan grabbed his school bag, slinging it over his shoulder, leaving Aito's outstretched hand offering lunch hanging awkwardly.
Aito was certain he had failed again. Slowly, he withdrew his hand in disappointment.
Before he could fully retract it, a rough, calloused hand snatched the plastic bag and walked away without looking back. The sight left Aito bewildered, unable to react.
That ... was Junan? Junan actually took the lunch he offered?
A bright smile blossomed on his lips. Yes, he did it!
Ting! Affection Rating: 9%.
Two voices echoed in his head—one cheerful and the other speaking in a flat mechanical tone. System 13 celebrated its host's success after a week of hard work.
Unbeknownst to them, the event had been witnessed by several students who hadn't left yet. Like being struck by lightning, they couldn't believe their eyes. Maruyama Junan? The guy who would beat up anyone who accidentally bumped into him? That little one was incredibly lucky.
The hallway where he passed by, Maruyama Junan's steps looked inconspicuous, but the plastic bag he was carrying was quite unusual. Among those people, there was one person who noticed.
. . .