Slip up

A few days have already passed by yet I couldn't come up with a plan on how to discreetly invite Inogashira. I was afraid of causing a scene in the classroom...

[That's just your insecurity acting up. If you couldn't come up with a plan on how to discreetly invite a girl out within a single day, your intelligence stat would most likely be below 1 point.]

A blue text appeared in front of my eyes as I was seated in my classroom, enduring the last period of today.

'Shut your trap' I casually thought while checking my stats that had met a decent improvement from the last time.

*----*

Kanji Ike

-Normal Stats:

Strength: 0.8 / 5

Endurance: 1.320 / 5

Agility: 1.120 / 5

Speed: 0.850 / 5

-Special Stats:

Intelligence: 3.8

Charm: 2.1

*----*

Intelligence increased naturally as one continued studying and broadening their scope of knowledge, however, the increase was quite minimal from the original value I started with.

My charm has probably seen the biggest improvement and I had a suspicion that my recent behavior had something to do with it.

Sprinting increased my speed moderately but long-distance jogging was more efficient for increasing my endurance. Stretching increased my agility the most however basically all exercises slightly increased my agility. Strength...basically increased by lifting weights but it was also quite helpful with raising my endurance, confirming my suspicion that the stat endurance wasn't only an indication of my stamina.

*RING*

"Hey, do you want to go to karaoke?"

After the last period ended, students quickly began making their plans for the rest of the day as they were getting ready to leave.

I sighed audibly and got up from my seat before approaching the person who could help me and who could also keep their mouth shut, unfortunately for me, I would have to defeat their guards to get to them.

"Let's go study for the midterms, Hirata-kun!" A few girls were urging Hirata to finally leave the classroom but somehow he noticed me approaching them so he stopped them.

"W-Wait a moment" As expected of him, they pouted at his response but upon seeing his bright smile, they just accepted it.

"Hey, Hirata-kun, could you spare me a moment, please?" I asked with a polite smile since I had no idea what kind of relationship we had. I did meet him a few times outside the school but our interactions were usually very brief.

"Grr" As expected, a few girls glared at me as if to tell me to fuck off, some of them even growled, what the fuck?

Easy, easy chihuahuas

"Of course! but what's up with that excessive politeness? You can always ask me anything, oh right! We are just about to go studying would you like to join our study group?!" Hirata's friendliness slightly shocked me, I knew he was nice to everyone but it truly seemed like we were getting along well, however, upon hearing her offer, girls' eyes evolved and started shooting death rays at me. On the other hand, I could also see Hirata's helpless smile as if he was the one asking for help here.

Sorry man, that's what you get for being too attractive. You have to accept both merits and demerits.

"I am sorry but I would rather just shamelessly ask for your help and avoid any study group. I hope you will still entertain my selfish request." I closed my eyes and apologized to him which made girls stop shooting at me and I could finally stop dodging the imaginary death rays. Although I did wonder whether Hirata had a similar mini-game where he had to dodge hearts instead of death rays...I would most likely take death rays any day.

"That's alright, I wouldn't want to force you or anything. Girls, can you please go ahead without me? I will catch up to you as soon as I will be done here."

"Aww, fine~" The girls finally felt but not before glaring at me for the last time.

"Phew, so...what is it, Ike-kun?"

"Yeah, about that...do you...by any chance- um, have Inogashira-san's number?" Despite coming here with a great resolve not to sound like a creep, I actually ended up sounding creepier than ever before. I just couldn't help but feel extremely weird asking this.

"Inogashira-san?" Hirata asked in a daze, thankfully there weren't many people who could eavesdrop on our conversation.

"Um...why do you need to know?" Hirata was most likely aware that it wasn't that hard to discover what I wanted but he still asked for my intentions and thankfully he didn't act as if I liked her either...that's exactly why I chose Hirata instead of Kushida who could have made a scene out of it.

"She helped me once when I had forgotten my cell phone and she paid for the things I wanted to buy at that time. I just wish to repay her kindness but I am not confident in approaching her when she is surrounded by her friends...you know how girls are, they might cause a big misunderstanding because of it." I explained honestly and Hirata nodded his head with a serious expression as he listened to me.

"I see, I completely understand you! I certainly received her number from Kushida-san not long ago. I have no problem giving it to you, though I still feel like your actions would have a bigger impact if you were to approach her personally." Hirata advised me with a kind smile while showing me Inogashira's number.

I quickly saved it and exchanged a few more words with Hirata before we went our separate ways.

As I left the classroom, I texted Inogashira if she could meet up with me at the cafe called Pallet, it was quite popular so I was slightly hesitant to go there in case of meeting someone from Class D but I knew I couldn't just stay away from places I wanted to visit forever even if the possibility was fairly high. I also obviously mentioned who was messaging her since she didn't have my number saved either.

When I received her positive answer, I released a sigh of relief and was about to go to our meeting point when I noticed someone I knew approaching me. The person I would like to avoid as much as possible.

"Hey Ike, I was thinking of studying together after school for the midterms. Wa-" Before Ayanokoji could finish, I intervened.

"Sorry, not interested. Why would I go in the first place if she can't even show enough sincerity by asking me herself?" I retorted and started walking away from him however his next question made me stop in my tracks.

"She?"

Shit! Me and my wide mouth, he didn't mention Horikita at all yet!

"...Isn't it only logical that this study group wasn't your plan originally?" I replied with a question without turning at him.

"You rarely hang out with the others but have close to no trouble speaking to Horikita-san and she doesn't talk to anyone but you. Your grades this time were even worse than mine so who would be teaching us idiots other than her who has close ties with you?" I finally turned at him and tried to explain it with the facts known to the public so as to not garner his attention. I couldn't say that I happened to overhear from Sudo or Yamauchi because if I were the first person he approached unlike in the original, I would be in very big trouble. He most likely already feels like I am hiding a lot but right now it should be nothing but a mere suspicion...

"I see, when you say it that way, it certainly seems like a logical deduction. Should I tell Horikita that you won't join unless she asks you herself then?" He seemed to accept my explanation but who knows what he is thinking in that head of his.

Hmm, telling him that I won't join even if she asks after talking about her sincerity would make it look bad, instead, I could use it to make it look like a matter of pride and he might even avoid using 'Kushida-strategy" on me.

"Yeah, you can tell her that" I nodded my head with a thoughtful expression but I was actually grinning inwardly.

'As if THAT Horikita would ever go out of her way to invite an idiot like me to her study group. She is too prideful for that haha. Maybe I really am a genius without being aware of it?!'

*Beep* While I was boosting my ego in my head only, a beeping sound from my phone notified me of a message.

[Where are you?]

?! Inogashira! I almost forgot about her! Fuck!

"Um, Ayanokoji-kun, I have to go now so feel free to relay my answer to Horikita-san later." I said goodbye to him before running to Inogashira. While I was still in the same corridor, I could feel Ayanokoji's gaze lingering on my back for some reason, though I had no time to think about it now.

.

.

*Phew* "Sorry that I am late even though I was the one who invited you!" I sincerely apologized to Inogashira who was actually smiling at me without a hint of annoyance.

*Chuckling* "No need to explain yourself, just catch your breath first" She covered her mouth with her small hand, trying to muffle her chuckling most likely to avoid offending me. She was still in her school uniform which honestly probably made her look quite plain since there were several more attractive girls around with better assets wearing school uniforms but at that time I most likely understood part of what people meant by saying Simple is Best.

"Let's go in, I want to return the favor from before. I just hope there will be a few seats open." I did say that but I couldn't deny that my actions weren't without any ulterior motive either.