After parting ways with Horikita, I returned to the spot where I had been hiding with Matsushita earlier. It seemed she had continued observing, as she was still there.

“He seemed like a pretty scary senior. Horikita’s brother.”

“You say that, but you weren’t scared at all. That was cool, Ayanokōji-kun.”

Matsushita laughed and lightly punched my chest with her fist. Being touched by a girl made me feel both pleased and slightly flustered by how suddenly the distance between us had closed.

Still, she saw something she shouldn’t have. Horikita’s brother’s strikes were sharp, and I had shown a certain level of reaction speed to dodge them. Martial artists like Horikita and her brother couldn’t be fooled, but maybe someone like Matsushita, who didn’t seem to have combat experience, could be handled somehow?

“Ayanokōji-kun, you’re actually amazing, aren’t you?”

Guess not.

“What do you mean amazing? I just got lucky.”

“That excuse is a bit much.”

“Yeah… even I think that sounds ridiculous.”

“The student council president said you’re actually good at studying too, right? Why don’t you try?”

Normally, I should deny what Horikita’s brother said here. But Matsushita no longer sees me as average. No matter how much I correct her, her evaluation of me won’t change.

So instead of denying it, I approached from another angle.

“Matsushita, you’re not going all out either. Probably for the same reason.”

At my casual remark, her smile froze for a moment. I intended it as a bit of a counter, but she clearly hadn’t expected it at all.

“…You really are amazing. You can even tell that?”

“Just a feeling. The way you speak—your vocabulary doesn’t quite match the other girls in your group. Probably to maintain your position in the class hierarchy, and to avoid disrupting the balance among the girls. Sounds tough, being a girl.”

“Ahaha… pointing that out is a bit lacking in tact.”

Perhaps she was irritated, as her smile showed a slight crack. That was a mistake. I probably shouldn’t have gone there.

I still have a lot to learn about communication.

“But you’re right. I don’t go all out because dealing with jealousy among girls is a hassle. And if people rely on me too much, it just wears me down.”

“I’m the same. You understand why I don’t go all out, right?”

If I put it that way, she couldn’t say anything if she also intended to hide her abilities.

But she still pressed on.

“Yeah, I get it. I understand how you feel, Ayanokōji-kun. But even so… I have a request.”

From the flow of the conversation, I already knew what that request was. Refusing would be easy, but I didn’t feel like doing that now.

“What request?”

“I want you to use your abilities so our class can rise to Class A.”

“So you want to reach Class A.”

I delayed my answer and confirmed her intent.

She clearly had a strong desire to reach Class A, even if not as intense as Horikita.

Normally, Matsushita doesn’t seem like the type to make direct requests like this. She hides her abilities, and those abilities are considerable. With most people, she would probably manipulate them through conversation.

But she must have realized early on that wouldn’t work on me. Even so, instead of giving up, she chose a direct approach—which didn’t seem like her usual self.

That means her feelings behind this were genuine.

“Yeah. I think everyone does, but I want to reach Class A too if I can. That’s why I enrolled here—to gain the privileges Class A has.”

“I understand that. But I have no intention of cooperating.”

“So you’re not interested in Class A?”

“That’s about right.”

“That’s strange. Everyone chooses this school because graduating from it guarantees their desired future. Isn’t that why you came here too?”

“No. My future is already decided. My father is strict. The school I attended before was deep in the mountains, and I wasn’t allowed to step outside. After graduating here, I’ll take the job my father has designated. So whether it’s Class A or D doesn’t matter to me.”

What awaits me after graduation is a position as an instructor in the White Room.

I don’t intend to reject it, but the idea that my entire life is bound to the White Room doesn’t sit well with me. That’s why I decided to spend these three years living as a normal student.

“I see… so you enrolled here as a form of rebellion against your father. This school doesn’t allow contact with the outside, but it also prevents outside interference. It’s the perfect environment. Your father must’ve strongly opposed it, right?”

“I enrolled in secret, without telling him.”

“What? You can do that? He’s your father, right? That would definitely be found out in my family.”

“He may value my abilities and the fact that I’m his son, but he might not care much about me personally.”

I casually voiced what that man might be thinking. Even as I said it, it felt unpleasant, but Matsushita looked at me with sympathy, struggling to find words.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t care about that man either. It goes both ways.”

“If you’re okay with it… then I’ll leave it at that. Still, I see. You came to this school seeking freedom. That’s why you’re not interested in Class A. I get that. But that doesn’t really explain why you hide your abilities, does it? If you want freedom, hiding your abilities sounds more restrictive, doesn’t it?”

She must’ve judged that pushing me toward Class A wouldn’t work. Now she shifted to removing my resistance toward using my abilities.

“It’s not restrictive. I just want to live as a normal student. I simply decided there’s no need to go all out.”

“Hiding your abilities and forcing yourself to act average isn’t normal. What does ‘normal’ even mean to you, Ayanokōji-kun?”

Her unexpected question made me pause and think.

A normal student. I had been trying to act like one without ever properly defining it.

“Well… average grades and physical ability. A decent number of friends. Hanging out after school, going on dates with a girlfriend. That’s what I read a normal student is like.”

“No, that’s wrong.”

“What?”

I hadn’t expected such a firm denial.

“Average grades and ability—that’s just being ordinary. That’s not the same as ‘normal.’ You can have ability and still normally hang out with friends or go on dates. You can read books in the library, join clubs, or even work part-time—well, not in this school though.”

I see. Her argument is that being “normal” is about actions, not ability.

It’s just a difference in perspective, but an interesting one. I signaled her to continue.

“If you become a regular in a club, does that mean you’re not normal? If you join the student council, are you no longer normal? I don’t think so. Everyone has their own individuality, and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying life normally while having that individuality. That’s what being ‘normal’ means. You came here to live freely without being bound by your father, right? Then wouldn’t it make more sense to stop hiding your abilities and just be yourself?”

“I see. But I’m not good at standing out too much.”

“If you don’t like being in the spotlight and want to hide your abilities, then I won’t force you. But someone who doesn’t stand out isn’t a ‘normal’ student—they’re just someone who fades into the background. You shouldn’t confuse the two.”

That might be true.

I hadn’t thought deeply about what a normal student really is, but talking with Matsushita gave me a new perspective. This is quite interesting.

“And if you’re someone who doesn’t stand out, it naturally becomes harder to make friends or get a girlfriend. That means you won’t get to experience the things you described as part of being a normal student.”

I see. As someone who has been acting inconspicuous, I don’t have anyone I can clearly call a friend. And of course, no girlfriend.

In that case, things like hanging out or going on dates drift further away.

Interestingly, Matsushita’s words were starting to change my perspective. If I learn communication skills, I could make friends and get a girlfriend without showing my abilities. But perhaps showing some ability and gaining attention would actually bring me closer to those “normal” experiences faster.

I rested my hand on my chin and thought.

As I started leaning toward her proposal, Matsushita must have sensed an opportunity.

Then she dropped a bombshell.

“If you’re willing to use your abilities, I’ll become your girlfriend.”

“…What?”

At my bewildered reaction, Matsushita’s face turned bright red, even her ears.

I probably should’ve reacted more smoothly to protect her dignity. That was a mistake.

“Sorry, that sounded arrogant. I just meant—you said you wanted to try going on a date, right? So I’d cooperate as your girlfriend… not in a weird way.”

She fanned her face with her hands.

If that’s the case, I might as well accept her help.

“I see. Then I’ll take you up on that.”

“Y-you’re accepting that so easily?”

“Was it a joke? Sorry, I took it seriously.”

“No, it’s not a joke… but are you really okay with that?”

By “okay,” she meant becoming a fake girlfriend.

And also about me using my abilities.

“Yeah, I don’t mind. Even if it’s just a fake relationship, I’d like to experience something like going on a date after school, like a normal student.”

“And about using your abilities?”

“You’re taking on the burden of acting as my girlfriend. I’ll pay the price. I can’t guarantee how far my abilities will go, though. Besides, your perspective was interesting. I want to try it.”

“I see… I see.”

Matsushita scratched her cheek shyly and smiled.

Then she held out her right hand to me.

“Then, once again… nice to meet you, boyfriend.”

“Yeah. Likewise.”

And so, I took Matsushita Chiaki’s hand.