She should have a red face out of embarrassment.

She should be smiling out of joy because being with Han should be what she wants the most. It has always been like that.

However, contrary to my beliefs, Rachel looks uninterested.

"I appreciate your thoughts, C. I really do,"

Oh, crap. That is not a good reply.

Whenever I hear someone saying things similarly, I know already they think of the exact opposite. Not to mention, Rachel's facial features show nothing but a bitter expression.

Han's childhood friend bites her lower lip.

"But at the moment, there is nothing going on between Han and me."

It feels like she took all strength within her body to say so. If she is so uncomfortable with saying that, why keep trying?

She leaves me thinking she hates being with him.

"Th-that's right! C! You are m-mistaken! Rachel is like a sister to me, and I would not do anything to hurt that relationship." Han clarifies.

*Sigh* This is much, much more difficult than I thought. The guy was reaching an epiphany a few seconds before, and now it is back at square one.

Yet, I have gone so far already that there is no way for me to turn back anymore. I need to strike when the iron is still hot.

"Well, from my point of view, you two are like two peas in a pod. If you are looking for a girlfriend, Han, why don't you start looking at Rachel as a love interest?"

Rachel stays silent while the look on her face is still blank. Honestly, what is she really thinking?

"And for you, Rachel, don't you want to be with Han as his official girlfriend?" Not stopping there, I also fire my bullets at Rachel.

Since I am targeting her directly like this instead of just the protagonist, I will make a dash instantly at the sight of bad stuff.

"I agree with C." Next to me, Laura speaks up. "You two do look like you could make a great couple. What about you, Kurokawa? What's your opinion on this?"

"Han." Instead of answering the question, Kurokawa turns to the protagonist. "As I said, look no further than your line of sight. The one closest to you right now should be a suitable choice for your love life."

"B-but the person on my line of sight right now is C."

What the actual fuck?

"..."

"..."

"..."

Even the three girls are all dead silent!! Their faces are all blank.

This is not dense anymore, Han. This is pure stupidity!!

"Wait, hold on! I think I know what you mean. Maybe you also suggest I should think about R-Rachel in a more romantic way?"

Geez, man. I was *this* close to flipping the table.

"Yes! Please!" My voice is near the verge of breaking.

God helps us all!

"Before we continue, C, please take a moment to drink some water. You have been talking for a while already." Right when I am about to continue, Laura calls out to me. She must have noticed my voice becoming more and more agitated.

Phew. I really need to cool down a bit. Drinking a little water should help ease my mind from wanting to kick Han in the nuts.

If it was given by Rachel, I would have thought many times before receiving the thing. Thankfully, this was handed to me by my current girlfriend. There should be nothing wrong with it.

"Thanks, class rep."

Right when I am about to grab the glass, Laura takes a sip from it and then gives it back to me.

"Ah! Let me also have some, first! This is only for security. You never really know whether or not Rachel put anything weird in the water."

Ouch!

Rachel does not like that at all.

"She would not do such a thing to her friends. Laura, you are just joking around." Kurokawa chuckles.

Big doubt.

Strangely, even though Kurokawa is trying to clear the suspicion, I feel even more drawn toward it. The way she puts it is very counterintuitive. It is as if she is trying to stress even more so.

"That's right! Rachel would never do that!" Han steps up to defend his childhood sweetheart.

Never mind this guy. He is a simpleton anyway.

I will pay close attention since the class rep is correct about Rachel. What Laura said should be only a joke to her, but to me, I need to keep that thought in mind.

Even though it has been countless times, until today, I still have no idea where Rachel has been keeping the sleeping drug. Although I tried looking for them, I never found any trace. Because of that, I guess there is a 99% chance she always carries the pills.

To drug Han, she will have to use either foods or drinks.

Now the more important thing is if the water is indeed contaminated, how would we know?

Personally, I have no clue.

"The water tastes fine," Laura confirms the state of what she had. "Sorry for doubting you, Rachel."

The class rep pushes the glass of water back to me. At the same time, Laura takes a piece of fruit from the plate in front of me.

"C, take a sip. It's refreshing. Oh, and you should also try this apple."

That piece has a cute cut. It is peeled to look like a rabbit.

"I did that." Kurokawa raises her hand. "What do you think?"

You have good knife skills...You will be a good wife in the future...

Like hell am I going to say those cringe-worthy words! Besides, those kinds of sentences should not be coming from me.

"It's cute."

That is all I am going to tell her.

"Thanks." Kurokawa smiles happily.

Is it just me, or is the bookworm blooming? Her smile is beautiful so suddenly right after my compliment. It is weird how simple mundane praise can make her smile that gorgeously.

"Whoa..." From another seat, Han unconsciously gasp.

Immediately, I ask him.

"What do you want?"

"You are indeed the master! With just a small compliment and already made Kurokawa like that!" The protagonist looks at me with admiration.

"Hey! I don't know anything, okay! She is like that on her own without my influence."

"...I will follow you for the rest of my life." The guy is determined.

Do what you want, man...You are the boss...

I am not going to lie, but all this talking is taking a toll on me. My throat is burning.

Would you believe that? This is the first time ever I have had a dry throat!

"Here." Laura brings up the glass of water.

"Thanks."

*Gulp*

A cooling sensation travels from my mouth down my throat to my stomach. Just like how I was able to talk with my mouth, the act of drinking feels natural. Every muscle in my body somehow knows how to work together without any thought.

Even so, I feel a weird sense of being "whole" a little more, similar to an unfinished jigsaw puzzle with another piece perfectly put inside.

It is difficult to explain clearly since this is philosophical, so you all have to take my word for it.

"Here, Han. You should also have a drink." I hear Rachel's voice talking to her childhood friend.

"Oh! Thank you, Rachel!"

*Gulp gulp gulp*

Those are some loud gulping sounds.

"Are you done with the water, C?" Laura asks.

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Then it's time for you to have my rabbit-cut apple!!" Kurokawa enthusiastically looks at me.

Well, not her, to be precise, but her bangs. You all should know what I mean by that.

"Say ah!" The class rep brings up the fruit.

Of course, with so many people looking at me, there is no way for me to accept such an embarrassing thing.

"Can I decline the feeding?"

However, Laura gives me a knowing smile without answering.

"What do you think?"

It seems it is best that I accept my fate.

"Ah!"

"There you go."

*Nom*

Crunchy, sweet, not so tangy with an apple-y taste. It is delicious. The piece is very juicy. With every bite, I could feel my mouth being washed by its taste.

Especially when this is the first time I get to eat something, this is going to become a core memory.

Coincidentally, Han is also eating the same thing. The only difference between us is that he is eating on his own.

Rachel is not feeding him. Rather than focusing on her childhood sweetheart, she is just staring intensely at me.

*Yawn*

Eh?

I feel tired?

*Yawn*

Oh, Laura is also yawning. I guess she is also feeling drowsy.

Ugh. My vision is getting blurry.

(You can now buy me milk for me to make more cheese!!!