Suzuki's pale fingers gripped the edge of the sliding doors to classroom 2-C as her gaze fixed on the second year students happily eating their lunch and chatting. One of the rare benefits of being a wallflower was the ability to easily view her classmates' lives from the sidelines. Usually, she'd be hidden away under the staircase where she could play on her nintendo switch alone in peace.
Honestly she'd rather be at home with Yuuji playing video games in her bedroom than be anywhere else. He had been the only one to really understand her "unique" hobbies.
Well, originally her interest in videogames began when she was still an elementary schooler, before Yuuji had ever even met her. Back then she'd be taken to the local arcade on nights whilst her dad was out drinking with his work buddies. Living in a tiny one bedroom apartment, bullied for her quiet demeanor at school, too short to even reach the controls, she'd always be accompanied by her one and only friend throughout her childhood.
Her older brother by blood, Kyosuke Kazeno.
twelve years her senior, she was well aware that she was likely an unplanned child, possibly even the reason her mother left the picture. If not for her, would their father have been able to afford a bigger apartment? Or even just a bed for Kyosuke? Now that she herself was in highschool, she couldn't imagine having to share a futon on the floor with an elementary schooler, yet her older brother had never complained one bit.
Eventually her older brother grew up and began to date,Suzuki was just happy that he hadn't left her behind with their father. Before she knew it Kyosuke was engaged to a young woman named Mami Yamada, whom he had met in university.
Suzuki was unsure of how she'd fit into her brother's newlywed life, she'd heard Mami mention her younger brother at times but after years of her social interaction coming solely from online forums and videogames. Yet with only a few weeks until the wedding Suzuki felt like all the pieces were falling into place for her to finally live the life of a normal girl.
Then the crash happened.
Suzuki's lilac eyes flicked down to the school loafers Yuuji helped her reach from the tall locker this morning.
Just like how her big brother helped her reach the buttons on the arcade machines.
Feeling a new determination swelling in her she steeled herself. She wouldn't lose Yuuji,not when he had picked up the pieces of her after Kyosuke's death and made her whole again.
But is it right for me to feel this way? I know he sees me as nothing more than a little sister in law. If he sees me as family…wouldn't it be betraying him to try to keep him to myself?
Suzuki shook her head as if trying to shake away the thoughts.
Focus Suzuki! You'll cross that bridge when you get there!. First things first, deal with the immediate threat! I must find out who wrote the love letter to Yuuji!
With that, Suzuki set her sights on scanning over the class of students. If there was one game genre she knew like the back of her hand it was the titular dating sim! It was just a matter of putting her knowledge to the test to draw out the most likely suspects.
Obviously, Chihiro was the sporty childhood friend type, Kagari was the fiery tsundere, and Yukina was the elusive cool beauty of the school. If this were a dating sim she'd know exactly what routes and dialogue options would most efficiently lead her to winning their heart.
However, if it had been one of them to put the letter in the locker…why wait until now? Especially when they had all of last year to confess.
Therefore…there was a high likelihood that the culprit was some secret final boss! Like a hidden mystery character in a galgame that you can only unlock by playing through all the other routes!
Suzuki's eyes scanned across the classroom of second years. Picking out three in particular.
The first was one of two foreign exchange students at their school. Erica Martin, the blonde haired,blue eyed and brown skinned student from the US who had transferred over from Texas. Her cute face littered with freckles and her striking features definitely made her stand out from the usual crowd of Japanese high school students.
Hmm…according to my research she should fit the standard American exchange student trope! Is it possible for Yuuji to fall for her foreign charms?! No no, he doesn't like hamburgers or guns… and she only transferred this year, there's no way she'd have fallen in love so quickly-unless!
Suzuki's mind raced, what tv show was it?! The one that showed westerners greeting each other with a kiss? Could she have greeted Yuuji like that?! Aren't American women more promiscuous too?! In American movies highschoolers are almost always having intercourse, Could she have already laid claim to Yuuji in more ways than one?!
Calm down Suzuki calm down! S-Surely Yuuji isn't so easily swayed!
Suzuki narrowed her eyes in Erica's direction.
Hmph…I guess she is pretty…and tall….I thought American women were supposed to be fuller figured though.
Her eyes slowly drifted in the direction of the girl Erica was speaking to, shorter by comparison but just as blonde. Her eyes were a forest green, porcelain skin in both smoothness and complexion. Her gold hair tied into twintails similar to kagari's but with distinct curls almost resembling two drills.
"Ohohoho~ Erica you poor sweet thing, so blind and naive to Japanese culture. I can relate one some level, being an English rose on my mother's side…I suppose I have no choice but to take you under my wing."
Erica chuckled at her haughty attitude. "I guess you can teach me once you're able to figure out the train system without my help"
"Hmph, I won't need to use the train system anymore once my chauffeur returns from my accompanying my father on his business trip"
Suzuki realized exactly who it was now, the haughty girl was none other than Victoria Claire Van Penrose-Kanagi, aka the heiress to the Penrose Kanagi family fortune.
Could it be her? I doubt Yuuji would fall for such a stuck up girl, unless-what if she tries to buy Yuuji's affections?! Or make him take a job as her butler in order to get closer to him?! That was the main plot in a lot of eroge she played after all!
Suzuki shook her head.
No no…the classic himedere would never confess her affection in such an assuming way. It can't be her.
Suddenly Suzuki's eyes landed on a small girl in the back of the class. Her icy blue hair stopped just at her chin. Her teal jitome-style eyes focused exclusively on her bento in front of her. Despite the lively scene of everyone talking and laughing around her she seemed unstirred by any of it.
Shes…really cute…like a doll!
Suzuki blushed.
No no! I need to stay focused. It's possible she could've planted the letter after all! A classic short-haired kuudere like her could've written the letter! If anything she could easily have a leg up on the rest due to her overwhelming cuteness. Guys always want to take care and protect a cute emotionless girl like her! No wonder they're so popular in harem anime.
Suzuki frowned
Ugh, if only I was as cute or pretty as all the other girls in school…the only thing I have as my advantage is sharing a home and videogames with Yuuji. Even then, he'd probably think i'm super creepy if he knew I liked him-
"Can I help you?"
Suzuki jumped in surprise as the girl she was just watching suddenly appeared right in front of her to toss out her leftover food in the garbage can next to the doorframe Suzuki was currently peeking through.
"I-I-I…Uhm-Im s-Sorry!" Suzuki sputtered with a red flush on her face before quickly fleeing the scene.
Dammit dammit that was so embarrassing!
Suzuki chided herself
Im still not any closer to finding out who the love letter is from! I'll just have to make sure Yuuji doesn't show up to the confession spot this afternoon!