We go down to the first floor where we take a break from the intense confrontation.

  “I can’t believe that actually worked,” Madoka says in disbelief.

  “What did I tell you?” I respond in a smug manner, “I’d say Takashi almost sabotaged us though.”

  “It was drip,” Takashi replies in his defense.

  Now that the girls were gone, there was no need for any of these disguises, so we take them off. Shortly after, Masaru goes down from the escator and approaches us.

  “Masaru! Our hero and savior,” Katsuro chants.

  “Why didn’t any of you pick up your phones?” Masaru asks us, concealing a shade of anger.

  “There was no signal here,” I answer.

  I check my phone only to see that there was now a signal. Yup, that was definitely intentional.

  “There’s a signal right there,” Masaru points out.

  “Look, I’m not lying. It just happens that there is one right now. Why don’t we set aside all this for now and call it a day?”

  “Hmm, I guess…”

  “Hey, what about the subjugation pn? The pn to conquer Mari? Whatever happened to your progress? Inform us.”

  “Things are… progressing. I was able to exchange messages with her since she accepted my friend request just earlier.”

  I was baffled. Overjoyed. I did not expect my seeds of progress to be growing at such a rapid pace. But I could not let that show, I have to remain calm.

  “Great, great indeed,” I say.

  “No more market?” Takashi asks.

  “Yeah, we’ll have to come another time,” I respond, “But next time, we’ll put up a greater fight.”

  The day at the market was a success. Slowly but surely, we were conquering the arena.

  ...

  ..

  .

  May 24, 20XX

  8:01 AM

  Ring. Ring.

  The school bell rings.

  A normal day at css, except Kibe is not present yet again.

  “Is Kibe still sick?” Rin asks me.

  “Yeah, we’re afraid so,” I tell her.

  “I guess we still can’t uphold the challenge then.”

  “Yeah, I guess so.”

  “Can’t we start without him? We’re four and all for once which makes our standings fair. Why don’t we ask Kibe if he gives us the thumbs-up to this idea?” Mari suggests.

  “Good idea,” I praise, “Day by day, the rooftop gets lonelier. We need to settle this faster.”

  I take up my phone and contact him.

  I know how Kibe will respond. We went over this yesterday, but it’s best to go along with her suggestion so that she doesn’t get any suspicions.

  …

  ..

  .Ring. Ring.

  I was lying in bed when I hear my phone vibrating. I take a peek at the name of the caller and it read ‘Masaru’.

  “I see, so I figure it is time for me to present my acting… alrighty.”

  Recognizing that he was probably forced into this position by a fellow girl, I clear my throat then I pick up the phone. I gather a fake cough before eventually speaking my first words.

  “H-Hello? Who’s calling?” I ask with a weak and raspy voice.

  “Oh, Kibe, sorry to bother you, but we wanted to ask a question?”

  “O-Okay, what is it?”

  “So you know about the challenge for the rooftop right?”

  “Yes?”

  “Since you’re sick and all… we were wondering if it was fine for you if we begin without you especially since the numbers are fair.”

  I muster up two loud extensive coughs. I’m making sure the girls can overhear my acting.

  “Oh my, he sounds worse than I thought,” Mari worries.

  “P-Please… wait for me. I’ll get better soon, I promise,” I speak as I hung up from the phone.

  “Sounds convincing enough,” I tell myself.

  Go Masaru, conquer that red fg.

  ...

  ..

  .

  I keep my phone in my pocket, signaling the end of the call. Behind me were the girls, genuinely worried for Kibe, there I rey his message.

  “He wants us to wait for him.”

  “Oh, alright. I suppose we can do that at least,” Mari replies, “I do hope he gets well soon. Do tell him that once you get the chance.”

  Rin joins in, “Me too. Tell our condolences as a whole group.”

  “Will do,” I answer.

  They return to their seats. Just in time, the current subject teacher enters and so css begins.

  Okay, I have to talk with Chinen-san. I need to get closer to her. Maybe I’ll go eat lunch with her. Yeah! That’s a great idea! I’ll go invite her.

  ...

  ..

  .

  12:00 NN

  Ring. Ring.

  The school bell rings.

  I approach Mari who was about to eat lunch with her friend group.

  Rin and Ran squeal when they catch my presence.

  “AYIEEE!!!”

  “OH SHUT UP!” Mari yells with a blush.

  She faces me, visibly flushed.

  “What?”

  “Um… well, are you gonna eat your lunch?”

  “Obviously.”

  “Oh, okay. So… would you like to eat together? If you’re not busy that is. Feel free to decline my offer.”

  “I respectfully decline. I’m going to eat with my frie-”

  “Mari!” Ran calls out.

  She goes to her only to see Rin lying limply in her arms.

  “Uh, what do you two think you’re doing?” Mari questions, “You two better not be scheming something.”

  “It seems Rin had colpsed and had fallen right into my arms!”

  “Yeah, it seems so.”

  “Since our poor friend must be experiencing complications… I, the good friend she has, have a responsibility to take her to the Nurse’s Office.”

  “Oh wow, some good friend you are.”

  “Yes! And I think I need some help. Yuka! Can you be a dearie and help me carry out poor friend into the Nurse’s Office?” Ran requests.

  Yuka answers, “B-But she colpsed by hersel-”

  Ran winked, but Yuka was confused.

  “Just go along with it,” she whispers to her.

  “O-Oh, okay.”

  Yuka went on to carry the legs.

  “We are very sorry, Mari-chan,” Ran says.

  “Don’t be,” Mari replies.

  “We have to go and take care of her, so you can go eat with him.”

  Yuka and Ran go out the door carrying Rin. Once they were in the hallway, Ran took a little peek and said a few words, “And also, good luck!”

  Mari blushes because she was associated with him, not to mention how obviously scripted that py was. She was growing increasingly red by the second.

  “Uhh… Chinen-san, are you alright?” Masaru asks.

  “GRAGHHH!!!” Mari screams while scratching her head in frustration, which startles me a bit.

  “THOSE GIRLS!!!”

  “Chinen… san?”

  She looks at me, red as a tomato.

  “Eh?” I yelp.

  She grabs my hand and with her lunch dangling in her right hand, she pulled me outside with full force.

  “W-Woah, what’s going on?!”

  “C-Come with me.”

  She pulls me him to the staircase and we go up, up, and up.

  “Where are we going?” I query.

  “Rooftop.”

  “The rooftop? But didn’t we forbid each other from going there?”

  “We have one from each group, so it’s fine.”

  “I-If you say so.”

  I’m not about to argue with a girl who is obviously frustrated. Eventually, we reached the door to the rooftop. Mari lets go of my hand and she opens the door. Going headfirst, I follow her footsteps.

  “So… what did you call me here for?” I ask.

  Mari still red from embarrassment faces me with an angered expression.

  “YOU! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!”

  She says as she pointed at my chest. I was startled.

  “Wh-What do I- what do you mean?”

  “You know exactly what I mean. At first, you contacted me out of nowhere, you kept pestering me so I accepted it. Then, we ‘coincidentally’ meet at the mall. And now you’re asking me out for lunch?”

  “I mean… if you word it that way it sounds-”

  “You… You’re up to something, aren’t you?”

  “Huh?”

  “A-Are you trying to win me over? B-Because if it is, you better stop.”

  “N-No, no, no, nothing of the kind.”

  Only narrowly dismissing her accusation, I lower my head, so she could not get a good grasp of my face.

  “Then, what do you want from me?”

  “Friends. Is it wrong to be friends?”

  “Does that really expin and account for all events thus far?”

  “I can assure you that all of what happened were all because I wanted to be closer to you.”

  Mari blushes, growing even more red, to the point that it’s quite concerning.

  “I-Idiot! Do you hear what you’re saying right now?”

  I recall my words and also turn red after just realizing how embarrassing my decration was.

  “S-Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I want to spend time with you.”

  “Idiot. You’re making it worse.”

  “S-Sorry. I’m making this very cheesy and embarrassing, am I?”

  She sits down grumpily and eats her lunch. Seconds ter, I follow and sit opposite of her.

  Munch. Munch. Munch.

  It was really silent, but the atmosphere was really heavy.

  “Do you truly not have any hidden intentions?” Mari asks.

  I gulp being devoured by guilt, but manage to force an answer.

  “N-No.”

  “You promise you don’t intend to make me fall for you?”

  “I…”

  This is such a hard choice. I’m starting to question whether or not this is worth doing for a pce on the rooftop… but…

  “I promise,” he answer.

  “Okay… then I’ll be your friend.”

  "A-Alright... then..."

  "Y-You can call me Mari, from now on."

  ...

  ..

  .

  I was getting impatient in my room.

  “I know I don’t get to school, but this is kinda boring.”

  I’ve pretty much caught up to all my anime and manga at this point.

  Rolling in bed, to entertain myself… yet in vain. I’m holed up in here, rotting.

  “Will I have to stay in this pce being like this?”

  I feel like I’m missing something. Slow has never really been my forte. I’ve been roaring for progression. It’s like a disease.

  The fact that the Overruling Statement is pending at this very moment makes me uneasy. With a snap of a finger, it could all end.

  I scratch my head.

  “Surely, there must be a quick solution.”

  I suddenly had an idea. This spark made me clench my fist in anticipation.

  “That’s right. How can I forget the existence of the other protagonists? Especially that of Sci-fi.”

  I can ask Arisu a favor. She can make a love potion.

  “Yes! That will speed things up.”

  END OF EPISODE 31