Episode 2 - The Tutorial Heroine (2)

Naoya was completely stumped. Finding the Tutorial Heroine felt like an insurmountable challenge—physically exhausting and mentally draining. With countless girls in the world, the task seemed utterly futile.

"It's like searching for a needle in a haystack. It's absolutely impossible," he grumbled, running his fingers through his hair before gripping his head in frustration. "Seriously, where the hell do I find a girl with zero personality except for falling in love with the main protagonist?"

From behind the bathroom door, Hinako's voice cut through his frustration. "You look like you're struggling, Naoya-kun. Need a hand?" She appeared in the doorway, her body partially visible and dressed in outrageously scanty clothing compared to yesterday. With a toothbrush in her mouth, her speech was muffled and somewhat slurred.

Half of Hinako's body was barely concealed, with only underwear hiding her curves.

"Hinako-nee, could you not strut around half-naked while you're brushing your teeth?" Naoya asked, trying to keep his eyes from lingering.

"Huh? Why not?" Hinako responded, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "I don't think you're the kind of guy who'd jump a half-naked woman just brushing her teeth, Naoya-kun."

"Your trust in me is a bit unsettling. I'm still a man with a lot of urges, you know."

"I'm aware you've got urges," Hinako said, her tone light yet knowing. "But I don't think you're the type to let them overwhelm you." She tilted her head slightly and asked, "Anyway, enough about me. What's got you so worked up?"

Hinako slipped behind him, peering over his shoulder at the memo pad he was scribbling on, the toothbrush still wedged between her teeth.

Naoya quickly covered the pad. "I-Its nothing. It's not related to school, anyway."

"What is it, then?" she asked, tilting her head, her hair swaying with the movement. "Something to do with all those games you're always playing?"

"Something like that, yeah," Naoya admitted.

"Hmmm... I don't really get game mechanics since I haven't played any of the ones you do," she said, leaning in closer. Her breasts jiggled with the motion, and Naoya caught a glimpse of the bounce from the corner of his eye. Even from that angle, it was clear she wasn't wearing a bra.

His cheeks burned crimson as he noticed that.

"Geez... How is she this exposed around me? I know she's got feelings for me, and I understand she's being this open to grab my attention, but I didn't think she'd go this far..."

Naoya was mostly right, but Hinako being this open was just part of her nature. She only let herself be this vulnerable in spaces where she felt completely comfortable—her own house, Naoya's place, or their apartment. She'd never be this casual in someone else's home. Part of the reason she was so brazen was to provoke a reaction from Naoya. Unfortunately, her attempts were always in vain; he never seemed the least bit flustered.

"Maybe it's because we've spent so much time together and he's gotten used to my habits," she thought, a mix of frustration and resignation coloring her thoughts. "Seeing me like this doesn't even make him blink anymore. Not even my underwear seems to get a rise out of him. It's probably my fault that he only sees me as a sister and not as a woman."

If Yumi were here, she'd be utterly exasperated with the two of them, probably demanding they just admit their feelings and start dating already. She was well aware of the simmering attraction between Naoya and Hinako and, frustrated by their indecision, had taken to retreating to her own apartment most of the time to give them some space.

Naoya tried to divert his attention from Hinako's provocative display, his eyes clenching shut as he focused on other things. Her bare, jiggling breasts had become an irresistible distraction, making it hard for him to concentrate. Hinako, noticing that Naoya wasn't giving her any attention, pouted in mild annoyance before turning back to the bathroom to finish brushing her teeth.

"Uh, Hinako-nee..." Naoya said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What?" Hinako asked, her pout deepening as she looked over her shoulder.

Naoya's gaze remained fixed on the floor, struggling to keep his mind off the enticing sight of her half-naked form. "I don't think you can help me with this kind of situation," he said, his voice strained with embarrassment. "But I'm sure you could help me with something like math. That's my weak point. If you're free, of course."

Hinako's pout melted into a broad, playful grin, the toothbrush still sticking out between her teeth. Her smile was warm, yet mischievous, a glint in her eyes that suggested she knew exactly what she was doing.

"Of course, I'm always free for you, Naoya-kun~!" she said with a teasing lilt, suddenly dashing toward him. Her intent was clear as she reached out for a hug, but Naoya's reflexes kicked in, and he dodged her advance. The thought of her breasts pressing against his face was dangerously tempting, and he knew he'd struggle to hold back from pushing her down on the couch and making a move.

"You meanie~!" Hinako teased, her voice filled with mock indignation as she twirled back towards the bathroom, continuing her brushing routine with a playful flourish.

Naoya turned his focus back to brainstorming how he could start searching for the Tutorial Heroine.

"Not that the Tutorial Heroine should be my first priority," he muttered to himself, "but I doubt this game will be forgiving if I skip her. Finding her is proving to be near impossible."

It was already Saturday, and two entire days had slipped through his fingers with nothing achieved. Even though he had nearly a year to navigate this mess, time felt like it was slipping away too fast. He had to track down the Tutorial Heroine before he squandered even more days.

Monday arrived. Sunday was a lost cause, wasted with nothing to show for it. Maybe the Tutorial Heroine was hidden somewhere at school? Determined, he decided to go to school on Monday.

He scanned his classmates but couldn't spot anyone who looked like the Tutorial Heroine. The search was proving just as elusive as before.