So there I was, sitting with my legs politely folded under me (but still slouching) as I scanned the room searching for the source of a very sweet smell for lack of anything better to do. I didn’t see any perfume or incense. But the smell was so sweet and pleasant that it had to be coming from somewhere.
There was a bed with white sheets and a light-yellow terrycloth blanket. A pink pillow and a pair of soft, clearly well-loved pajamas on top. A little black oval table with nothing on it except a cutesy orange pen and a black lamp. A white dresser and bookcase. A stylish black desk. Pale pink carpeting. The only other things in the room were a couple of simple, warm-colored knickknacks that were vaguely cute and tidy-looking. She hadn’t had time to spray an air freshener or anything like that.
Maybe the fabric?
I could be convinced that the room had taken on the smell of her clothes, sheets, blanket, and carpet. But to achieve that, she would really have to be on top of cleaning and laundry and stuff. If I hadn’t seen the completely transformed Aoi Hinami of a little while ago, I’d have believed the perfect heroine was capable of this, but not anymore.
What was her problem anyway? She just said whatever the hell she wanted and made me say things I didn’t want to say. Usually, if you dragged a boy from your class who you hardly knew into your room against his will, that would be considered insanely ru… Wait a second, I’m in Aoi Hinami’s room!
I’d been vaguely aware of what was happening and tried to ignore it, but in truth, I was in deep trouble. I’d never been in a girl’s room before, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do. For the moment, I was just sitting on the floor. I’d probably already done ten things wrong.
The girl in question had left me there by myself, muttering a very mysterious “A better character, huh?” on her way out. She’d only been gone a few minutes, but I could already feel my mind trying to strangle me from the inside.
I’d managed to trick myself into staying calm by thinking about a variety of other topics, but I was about to break. Give me some peace already!
Thump, thump, thump. Someone was climbing the stairs, so this room must be on the second floor. I was panicking so badly I had actually forgotten I was on the second floor. Was Aoi Hinami back?
Click. The door to the room opened.
“…Uh, I’m just visiting.”
A girl I’d never seen before came in. Even I have enough communication skills—or should I say manners—to offer a proper greeting in this situation. Honestly, she wasn’t as pretty as Aoi Hinami, although there was a slight resemblance. Probably her older sister or something. I bet she was wondering why that perfect beautiful girl had let this dud into her room. I just hoped she didn’t feel the need to say so out loud.
“What do you think?” she said.
“About what?”
“A C-plus, maybe?”
“What’s a C-plus?”
“…You really have no experience with girls, do you?”
“Huh…?”
I didn’t even know her. What did I do to deserve that? The knack for sudden rude comments to super-geeks must run in the blood of the Hinami family.
“I’m not wearing makeup.”
“What?”
“It’s me, Aoi Hinami. I took off my makeup. How dumb are you?”
“…Ehhhh—?!”
I did notice a resemblance, but still, how could she look this different? I never got the impression she wore super-heavy makeup. In fact, it was the opposite—I thought she was the natural type. What was going on?
“You said my character was better than yours, right?”
“…? Yeah, and…?”
“Do you understand now?”
“…Understand what?”
“You’re so dumb, it’s almost criminal. Obviously, I mean that with a little effort, your appearance parameter can improve.”
“Oh.”
So that’s what she meant. I got what she was saying, but that still didn’t give her the right to lecture me.
“Even if you’re a low-tier character, you can improve yourself. Your face’s base stats aren’t an excuse for giving up on life.”
You sure about that?
“…That’s it? You brought me up here to lecture me with clichés?”
“Pretty much.”
“It’s really none of your business. I already told you, we’re different. First of all, I’m a guy, so I can’t wear makeup. Plus, our initial status is different. My facial structure is what it is. What can I do about it now? That’s just part of being bottom-tier… Anyway, I’m going home.”
I picked up my bag and stood up, less tense than before. Maybe because I’d just vented everything that was on my mind.
“You really don’t get it at all.”
“…What now?”
“What do you think the most important elements of a person’s appearance are? Tell me three.”
“I said I was leaving. Do I still have to play your little game?”
“Oh, so life isn’t the only thing you run from. You aren’t even up for a tiny little fight. You really are a sore loser.”
The insults kept coming. She had some nerve.
“Give it a rest already! Fine, if you insist, I’ll take your bait. Important elements of a person’s appearance. The face they’re born with, for one. What else? Their height and weight, I guess.”
“Wrong.”
Shot down.
“Okay, then what?”
“Your facial expression, build, and posture.”
I basically said build, didn’t I? “…What about your face itself?”
“Not a major issue.”
“Uh, I doubt that…”
How could your face not matter to your overall appearance? Obviously it did. My own life was proof.
“Then have a look at this.”
Aoi Hinami covered her face with both hands. She straightened up, then took her hands away like she was playing peek-a-boo. “How’s this for you?”
“…Uh, what just happened…?”
The girl in front of me was surprisingly pretty, as well as 50 or 60 percent friendlier-looking than before she hid her face. She looked like Aoi Hinami without her makeup on. Actually, shouldn’t she have looked like this before?