People bring their own maids to the training camp

"..." Honami was silent for a few seconds. "So, Chihaya doesn't like me?"

"I like you, but not in a romantic way," Chihaya replied. "Okay, okay, I was just trying to lighten the mood—wasn't it Shiranami-kun who was actually trying to,?"

"Did you notice?"

"It's not quite right to say we discovered it, since we didn't initially consider the possibility of it being a girl. But since it's a girl, she must have been someone who has done something unusual recently."

"So, did Chihiro-chan do something strange?"

"Looks like you've been eating the bento box for nothing. Why would she suddenly suggest making a bento box out of nowhere? And why make one for you?"

"Uh......"

“Right? This was clearly premeditated!” Chihaya continued. “Sigh, this is indeed a tricky problem.”

"I didn't sleep very well last night. She asked me to meet her at a certain place this afternoon in her letter..."

"You don't have much time to think this afternoon." Chihaya picked up the letter Honami handed her; the neat handwriting on the letter was indeed Chihiro Shirahami's. "So you're definitely going to refuse, right?"

“I definitely can’t agree to that…” Honami said with a complicated expression. “But that child is too sensitive. If I refuse too bluntly, I’m worried that she will be discouraged and it will affect her studies. That’s why I hope to ask Chihaya for help.”

"Well, no matter how you look at it, even if you reject someone's confession in the most tactful way, the person being rejected will still experience emotional fluctuations, right?"

"Please help me, Miss Chizaki Hatsuaki QAQ"

"Even if you say that, there's nothing I can do. Rejecting a boy and rejecting a girl are two completely different things!"

"Is this kind of thing considered knowledge now?!" Honami's reaction was even stronger. "That's right, it seems that both boys and girls have had the experience of being rejected by Chihaya! So, what was your thought process back then, Onee-sama?"

"I don't even know the name of the girl who confessed to me. I don't feel guilty at all when I reject her. Besides, Xiao Ai kept teasing me, so I didn't feel guilty at all."

"After all, the situation is definitely different." Fanbo slumped onto the table and sighed deeply. "Aaaaaah! What am I going to do?!"

Honami Ichinose, unusually, let out a sound of collapse that was completely out of character; in 99% of people's eyes, Honami would never make such a sound.

Chihaya was originally in the 99%, but now that the facts are clear, he has no choice but to join the other 1%.

"I can't exactly have someone pretend to be my boyfriend, can I? But that wouldn't be good for that person either..."

"It's best not to have such thoughts, okay?" Chihaya quickly stopped Honami. "If he doesn't like you, it will affect other girls who like that guy, since girls are very 'territorial'; and if the guy you're dating has a crush on you, it will be even more troublesome, maybe even more troublesome than this one?"

“That’s true…” Fanbo became even more melancholy after hearing this, and the girl looked up at the ceiling at a 45-degree angle.

"I have a few suggestions, though they're not entirely well-thought-out, would you like to hear them, Fanbo?"

"Yes, yes, of course I want to listen!" Fanbo straightened his back immediately, causing everyone's hearts to tremble.

"The worst option is to say that you have a boyfriend outside of school, and then make up some information. Anyway, she can't be sure, and when she can be sure after graduation, you won't need to worry about this problem anymore."

"This flaw is too obvious, and I'm not very good at making things up." Fanbo looked troubled.

"Then listen to my best strategy—tell her that a student's duty is to study, and that the purpose of coming to this school is to succeed in the future. Therefore, dating under these circumstances is a waste of time and youth!"

"That's too rigid and dogmatic, and there's absolutely no persuasiveness in what I'm saying, is there?"

"So starting today, Honami will cosplay as Suzune a little. She's perfect for saying things like that."

"...Apologize to Horikita-kun!" Honami slumped back onto the table. "Strategist, your best strategy is too slow and your worst strategy is too hasty. Is there a middle strategy that's neither too hasty nor too slow?"

“Not necessarily.” Chihaya picked up the teapot and refilled Honami’s cup. “You can tell her that you have a goal you admire, and you hope to follow in that person’s footsteps and gradually become a better version of yourself.”

"This sounds like a combination of the best and worst strategies."

"Sincerity is the greatest weapon. Fanbo, instead of thinking about how to refuse in order to maintain the status quo, you should be frank and tell her your thoughts. If she really likes you, she should understand and respect your thoughts."

“Is that so…” Fanbo fell into deep thought.

"Of course, I have another last resort, which is to find someone to confess to you in advance, and then you tell that person in front of Bai Bo that you will not consider dating anyone for any reason during your entire high school years, thus implying to Bai Bo that you will not agree to the confession."

"Never mind, it wouldn't be fair to the classmate who was cooperating with me." Honami sighed. "Could Chihaya come with me this afternoon?"

124. AA system (split the bill)

Refusing to confess your feelings is a path that inevitably hurts the other person.

If Fanbo racked his brains to come up with a line to refuse, things might be a little better.

For example, you might say you want to focus on your studies right now, or that you already have someone you like. Or you might say you're already in a relationship. But no matter how you answer, the other person will definitely get hurt.

A lie would be even more hurtful, which is why Fanbo was unwilling to use either fabricating a boyfriend or pretending to confess beforehand. She is essentially a kind person, which is why she hopes to end this confession incident with no one getting hurt.

Although Chihaya had promised Honami to come along, she didn't show up at the confession scene. Instead, she sat down on a bench on the tree-lined avenue leading to the dormitory and waited.

About five minutes after the time agreed upon in the letter, a girl ran over with small, quick steps.

A thin layer of tears welled up in her eyes.

Clearly, this was Chihiro Shiranami, whose confession had failed, hence her eyes were filled with tears, and she didn't even notice Chihaya sitting on the bench.

About two minutes later, a listless Honami also walked over, and managed a weak smile when she saw Chihaya.

"Thank you for waiting for me, Chihaya."

"It's nothing." Chihaya shook her head. "It's Honami who's been working hard."

"It's really difficult to fall in love." Fanbo sighed. "It's wrong of me not to try to understand Chihiro's feelings and instead only to desperately try to find a way to escape without hurting her."

"This isn't your fault, Fanbo."

"Although she said things would be back to normal starting tomorrow... can we really get along like before?"

"That depends on the two of you," Chihaya said. "Maybe it's possible, but anyway, let's not overthink it."

"Sigh." Honami let out another deep sigh. "Really, I'm sorry to have made you laugh at Chihaya."

"We're friends, aren't we? Let's not talk like that—how about we have dinner in the room tonight? There'll be something delicious!"

"Really?"

"Of course, but the chef said today that Xiao Ai is not me."

"That sounds like something to look forward to," Honami said. "So, do we need to buy some ingredients? Let Hayasaka-san show off her cooking skills."

"Then... let's buy a steak?" Chihaya thought for a moment and gave an answer. "I have broccoli in my room, we can eat it with that, how about that?"

"Chihaya, you've really got a good plan. You're offering broccoli and I'll offer steak, right?" Honami chuckled. "Chihaya, you're practically freeloading."

"Can't I?" Chihaya winked at Honami. "Can't I just let Honami eat and drink for free?"

A beautiful girl's wink has an amazing effect!

"Sure, absolutely! All you can eat!" Fanbo patted his chest and assured him, "Let's go buy some steaks right now!"

"The boss is very generous," Chihaya chuckled. "I'll call Ai to let her know, otherwise she'll have to prepare something else. I can't let her just stir-fry the broccoli—then the steak won't be complete."

"What an incomplete dish! Broccoli is an indispensable part of a steak dinner, isn't it?"

“If possible, potatoes would also be acceptable.” Chihaya said while picking up her phone. “Is this Ai? Yes, it’s me. We have a special guest tonight. Yes, the special guest is treating us to steak, but we’re splitting the bill.”

"How come I didn't know it was split the bill?" Fanbo complained from the side.

"What? You're in charge of potatoes? That's great! I'll take care of the broccoli! That way, the three of us can make a perfect steak dinner!"

So that's how it works, splitting the bill! Fanbo was both amused and exasperated.

Chihaya hung up the phone very quickly.

"Alright, shall we head to the supermarket?"

"I feel like I've fallen into a trap. Is it too late to back out now?"

"Hehehe, it's too late! Ms. Fanbo, you didn't want the students in Class B to know that you broke your promise, did you?"

"...Chihaya, your imitation of a villain is not convincing at all; it has no deterrent effect whatsoever."

"Huh? I really tried my best to imitate the villains in movies and TV shows." Homura's comment made Chihaya very disappointed, it was obvious. "Last time, Haruka said that my imitation of the yakuza boss was very similar."

"Then why don't you imitate a yakuza boss?" Fanbo asked curiously. The contrast between the young lady imitating a yakuza boss would surely be very interesting.

"Yoru Shiku~" Chihaya recalled the tone she used when she imitated Hasebe and imitated it again, then looked expectantly at Honami, waiting for his evaluation.

"Hmm... Chihaya is so cute!" Honami hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile as she commented.

"Why is it cute?!"

"Perhaps it's because Chihaya simply doesn't have that decisive, ruthless quality?" Honami replied. "Why don't you try clicking your tongue?"

"Tongue-twisting?"

"Sorry, isn't this a bit too difficult?" Fanbo suddenly realized that clicking her tongue was a bit too inelegant for an elegant young lady. If Chihaya were to do such a thing, she probably wouldn't be able to get past that mental hurdle.

"That's not difficult. Has Fanbo forgotten that I'm of mixed race? I still know the trilled 'r' sound, but I can't think of any sentences in Japanese that would use it right now."

"Let's not!" Honami quickly stopped her. "Let's go buy some steak, shall we? Don't keep Hayasaka-kun waiting too long."

“Alright.” Chihaya nodded. “Next time I’ll try imitating other villains, like an old witch or something.”

"Your beautiful face can't imitate the old witch's voice at all!" Honami thought to herself, but she didn't say it aloud to dampen Chihaya's enthusiasm, since she found Chihaya quite interesting.

Fanbo understood to some extent that Chihaya had deliberately done this to make her laugh because she was feeling down, including the earlier splitting the bill.

It has to be said that after Chihaya's unconventional words of comfort, Honami felt much better.

As a popular figure, Honami naturally has many friends, but Chihaya is the one he feels most comfortable and at ease with.

As expected, Chihaya is my best friend!

If it were Chihaya who confessed to me, I might not be able to refuse her... Looking at Chihaya's profile, a rather unconventional thought suddenly flashed through Honami's mind.

No, no! Chihaya and I are both girls, this kind of thinking is inappropriate! Honami quickly shook this terrible thought out of her mind after realizing what she was thinking.

If Chihaya were a boy, I definitely wouldn't refuse, right? But as a girl, there's really no way I could refuse.

Fanbo even thought with some regret.

However, some things have already quietly taken root, waiting for the opportunity to sprout.

125. Couple's Water Bottles

After enjoying a delicious steak dinner in Hayasaka, Honami leaned back with his hands on the ground and let out a satisfied sigh.

“No wonder you guys don’t eat in the cafeteria for dinner. If I had cooking skills like that, I wouldn’t want to eat in the cafeteria either,” Fanbo said, patting his stomach, which wasn’t actually bulging. “Thank you for the treat.”

"Welcome back next time, Ichinose-kun, let's split the bill again!" Hayasaka said with a smile. "Next time we can make pork cutlet or chicken cutlet, whatever you want to eat!"