⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Unlocked!
I hurried after her, wondering if this was one of those classic NTR plotlines where she's being blackmailed by a middle-aged professor—
"Yeah, good work, Miss Tsumetai."
"No problem, Professor. It's just my duty as class representative."
"Phew..."
Thankfully, she'd simply returned to give her overtime-working homeroom professor a report on some paperwork.
"You know tomorrow kicks off the Hanami Festival period, right?"
"Yes, Professor."
The conversation drifting from the staff room was familiar territory for me.
Hanami—the flower-viewing festival.
This period features a massive event that can skyrocket Ren's affection levels.
And I planned to savor every bit of it.
"It'll be exhausting, but I'm counting on you to lead by example."
"Of course, Professor. Then..."
The real challenge was about to begin.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next day in class.
"So, for this Hanami Festival, Mid-tier Class has decided to perform a play."
The cultural festival straight out of every subculture story set in Japan!
Not to mention the obligatory theater production or band performance clichés.
"What, we're not kids anymore—doing a school play at the academy?"
"Any kissing scenes with the girls? If there are, count me in."
The delinquents in the back were spouting their garbage regardless of the other students' scowls.
Idiot bastards.
Didn't they learn anything after yesterday?
In a way, that kind of grit was impressive.
Tap tap—
Ignoring the delinquents' pathetic chatter like it was none of her business, the professor at the podium wrote the play's title on the blackboard with chalk.
[Romeo and Juliet]
A classic among classics.
The professor immediately began assigning roles.
"This role—"
"I'll take it!"
"Count Paris—"
"Me!"
The theater club kids jumped in first, snapping up all the popular parts.
Three roles left.
"Who'd be good for Juliet?"
The classroom fell silent in an instant.
No matter how eager someone was to show off their acting chops, volunteering confidently for the tragic heroine wasn't easy.
That's when someone raised their hand to make a suggestion.
"Professor, how about Miss Tsumetai?"
"Ooh!"
"Indeed... mm-hmm..."
The professor stroked his chin and nodded.
"A bit different from Juliet's image, but that could make for an interesting twist."
No sooner had the professor finished than the delinquents piped up again.
"Woo-hoo~ So Romeo gets to kiss her?"
"Think we could slip in some tongue?"
They're doing this on purpose...
I didn't need to turn around to know they were yapping right at the back of my head.
Still salty about yesterday, trying to provoke me.
Tch... Just come at me straight if you wanna fight.
Slimy bastards.
"Quiet down back there. I'll reject anyone not serious about this."
The professor, apparently passionate about the festival play, didn't hide his displeasure as he reined in the delinquents.
"Tch..."
Be grateful the professor stopped you.
"Then Juliet goes to Miss Tsumetai—"
Just as it was about to be decided without consulting the person in question, Ren spoke up.
"I'm truly sorry, but I'll have to decline."
"Huh...?"
The class, which had been buzzing with visions of a demure Juliet, plunged back into silence.
"Any particular reason, Miss Tsumetai?"
"...Physically, I can't handle performing with men. Sorry, Professor."
This would lead to Ren dropping out of the play altogether.
But I wasn't worried.
I knew the script.
Sure enough, a bright-eyed girl with a boyish vibe raised her hand with a cheerful smile.
"Romeo's the problem, right? I'll do it! I've played tons of male roles, so I'm used to it."
A brilliant solution from the Theater Club President—a game character with no route.
That's exactly why I hadn't rushed for Romeo.
"Oh—brilliant! What do you think, Miss Tsumetai? Same gender, so acting together should be fine?"
"If that's the case... yes. For the class... I'll do it."
Clap clap clap.
Everyone applauded like they'd cleared a major hurdle.
Ren's earlobes flushed faintly—whether from the admiring stares or her own embarrassment, only I knew that shy side of her, hidden from everyone else.
"Quiet now. Just one role left..."
[Tree 1]
The part no one wanted.
"I'll do it, Professor."
"Hm...? You transferred in mid-semester last year—you're still adjusting. No need to push yourself—"
"No, it's fine. Even as a transfer student, I joined as a Practical Committee member. I want to contribute to the class. I'll take it."
The professor and students' gazes shifted subtly at my unexpected volunteering.
Surprised expressions all around.
Especially Ren—her eyes were wider than usual.
She was a diligent college girl handling class rep duties.
To her, a newcomer stepping up without hesitation for the role everyone dreaded must've looked pretty good.
.
.
.
.
"Oh, my beloved... where have you gone, leaving me behind?"
For someone who'd never done theater before, Ren was incredibly good.
Even just script reading had real pull.
"Wow... Miss Tsumetai, you could join the theater club just like that."
Tell me about it.
How was she so talented at acting too?
Our Ren, alright.
The girl playing Romeo stared at her, entranced. If it'd been a guy, I might've been annoyed, but a girl? No issue.
As the girl-Romeo and I gawked at Ren, three or four theater club guys suddenly climbed onto the auditorium stage.
"Hi, seniors! We're the first-years from theater club. Mind partnering up for practice?"
Their eyes were pure—no ulterior motives. Probably some club tradition.
"No... that's..."
Ren's expression hardened instantly.
People chalked it up to man-hating or playing aloof, but really, it was fear. She kept up the icy demeanor to hide her vulnerable side.
Before she got any more uncomfortable, I hopped onstage to block the guys.
"Hold on—the president just said we're making an exception for this play."
"Eh? Really?"
"Yep~"
I shrugged, and they trudged off with disappointed looks.
A quick glance back—Ren was staring at me, confusion in her eyes.
Like she was wondering how I'd known she was in a bind and stepped in.
I gave her a casual nod and turned away.
But as I headed backstage, the costumed Theater Club President approached.
"Hey, Yuu-senpai, what was that? You said I called for an exception?"
I bowed my head in immediate apology.
"Saki-senpai, you know Miss Tsumetai isn't great around guys. They were crowding her, so I helped out. Sorry."
"Hmm~ I see...?"
She peered at my face, then flashed a sly grin.
"Yuu-senpai, are you the love-at-first-sight type...?"
True to her bubbly side-character vibe, she poked my ribs with her elbow, tone teasing.
"Ahaha, gotcha. Well, Ren-chan is super cute!"
Quick on the uptake and straightforward—not hating it.
"Anyway, don't sweat the white lie. I was gonna tell the first-years no practice with Ren-chan anyway."
I smiled back at her.
"Thanks, Saki-senpai. Take good care of Miss Tsumetai onstage, yeah?"
"No worries. Girl-to-girl, she'll be fine."
No real connection in the game, but she was growing on me.
If she ever needs a hand, I'd help out a few times.
"Gonna hit the bathroom quick, Saki-senpai."
"Huh? Oh, sure."
Practice went smoothly after that, and I headed straight to the temporary restroom next to the auditorium.
Another small event here to rack up some affection.
After a short wait, I spotted Ren heading over post-practice. I ducked into a corner.
Not to peep while she peed, obviously.
We'd be sharing true love soon enough—what's the point of something that sleazy?
"Ahem... Ah, ah."
A moment later, Ren's voice echoed from inside the temporary restroom.
"No, no issue. Alone... umm... Does that sound too rude...?"
What was she doing? Vocal warm-ups?
"Hm! Practice alone... ugh. That sounds too cocky."
Was she practicing her cool lines?
I'd thought she was a natural ice princess, but she was putting in secret effort to nail that perfect aloof tone.
No wonder her acting was spot-on.
Daily solo practice in the bathroom? Of course she was good!
Kuh...
This adorable side I'd never seen in the game.
Too cute—cute enough to trigger that aggressive cuteness urge. Was that a thing?
As I fought my own bulge-challenge, Ren wrapped up her curt-phrase drills and grabbed the door handle.
Click—
"Huh...?"
The auditorium-adjacent temporary restroom was rundown from years of neglect, with doors jamming often.
She noticed it was stuck trying to exit—her panicked voice followed.
Rattle rattle rattle!
"Why...?"
Voice thick with fear.
"O-open up..."
I timed it perfectly and approached the door.
Knock knock knock.
"Anyone in there? Mind if I use the bathroom?"
"!"
I heard her jolt, releasing the handle and stumbling back.
"Oh, someone's inside. Excuse me—I'll come back later—"
"W-wait! The d-door's stuck! Um, so—!"
Desperately clinging, afraid I'd vanish.
Insanely cute.
"Oh? Step back a bit."
I gripped the handle and heaved, but it was jammed tight. Still...
"Hup...!"
Crack!
Snap!
Creeeak—
Piece of cake.
What was hellish training for if not this?
"Eh...?"
The door that wouldn't budge an inch for her swung open effortlessly.
She stared, dumbfounded, at the veins bulging on my arm.
"Oh? Miss Tsumetai?"
Playing dumb and using her name snapped her out of it—she scurried past me in a fluster.
Makes sense—running into someone right after leaving the girls' room is embarrassing.
Just as I thought she'd leave without a word, she turned back with an awkward expression.
"Did you... hear anything?"
Meaning her mirror-cold-tone practice.
"Huh? Hear what? I just got here."
"Phew..."
She let out a blatant sigh of relief, not even hiding it.
Realizing she'd shown that side in front of someone, she startled and froze her face back to icy.
"Hm... I could've handled it myself, but... thanks anyway."
Word-for-word from her bathroom practice.
But contrary to her frosty look and voice, her ears were burning bright red.
"Then."
After her thanks, Ren bolted off somewhere.
"Heh heh."
A thank-you from Ren hits different every time.
Plus, I'd uncovered a new side of her invisible in the game.
Electric tingles raced down my spine.
❤️ HEROINE STATUS UPDATE ❤️[Heroine Tsumetai Ren: Relationship Change](UP!) [Relationship: Classmate]Likes and Dislikes Unlocked
Finally!
This is it.