Classroom of the Elite, but Diary-Style Chapter 171 171: Picking the Worst Possible Option Right Awa

The scorching sun beat down, the air heavy and suffocating, sweat soaking through shirts.

As sumr approached, the weather had finally started to show its true power.

It might have co a bit earlier than expected, but to Asakusa Toru, this timing was perfect.

If it only got this hot during the uninhabited island exam, that would be a real problem.

If temperatures actually hit forty degrees, he'd just copy Ryuuen's plan—dump supplies to Class D and have the whole class forfeit.

With the previous agreents in place, a few added clauses would still ensure decent profits.

As for Class A's ranking?

He didn't care at all.

If Sakayanagi Arisu wanted it, she could take it back.

—If she could.

Toru had already heard that she used Class A's fall to B as an opportunity to strengthen her authority and suppress the Katsuragi faction, temporarily becoming the sole leader of the class.

But with her physical condition, even if she wanted to participate in the island exam, Toru doubted her father would allow it.

So when the ti ca, she'd probably be forced to withdraw.

All that talk, only to drop out before even stepping onto the field.

He casually mocked the little princess in his mind, then refocused.

After all, today's main character wasn't her.

It was the little mascot.

"Sorry to keep you waiting~!"

With a cheerful wave, Shiranami Chihiro appeared before him. "Thanks for taking the ti to co with , Asakusa-kun."

That's right.

The guy who had written "I'm going on a date" in his diary… was now actually on one.

…Well, not exactly a date.

Though technically, walking around together could count as one.

At first, Toru thought this was a group outing with Ichinose's circle.

After all, aside from being classmates, that was his only connection to Shiranami.

But she quickly clarified her intention—

Shopping for a gift.

Not for him.

For Ichinose Honami.

Her birthday was July 20th.

Toru thought starting over a month early was excessive, but Shiranami insisted it was just right.

After much hesitation, she chose him as her advisor over Kanzaki Ryuuji and Shibata Sou.

So here he was.

But…

Even though this was supposedly just for picking a gift, Shiranami had clearly put effort into her appearance.

Her signature short hair and hairpin were the sa, but her lips carried a faint gloss.

She had changed from her school uniform into a light, cute dress that highlighted her collarbones, the skirt softly flaring under her small bag.

Her makeup was subtle—not heavy, but definitely intentional.

Toru couldn't help but think—

Was she actually using this as an excuse to ask him out?

But Shiranami was supposed to like girls.

Switching targets now…

Well, it wasn't impossible.

Especially considering—

He had just received today's reward.

[Daily record complete. Evaluation: A. Drawing reward]

[Reward obtained: "Affinity Aura"][Category: Skill]

[Effect: Greatly increases others' initial favorability toward you]

[Note: "A kind expression, a friendly attitude, a lovable aura—yes, I'm an angel!"]

With this, even soone like Shiranami changing her feelings wasn't out of the question.

…Still, better to treat this as a normal outing.

Whatever feelings she had wouldn't matter until an actual confession.

No point overthinking sothing like that.

Better focus on the task.

Speaking of which—

Ichinose's birthday was next month.

Kushida's was in January.

Sakura's was in October.

And Shiranami's was in November.

Toru made a habit of rembering these things.

They ca in handy.

"What's wrong?"

Noticing his gaze, Shiranami leaned forward slightly, hands behind her back, subtly showing off her figure.

"Do I look good?"

"Pretty good," Toru replied, looking away.

Only then did she straighten up, smiling.

"Hehe, I spent quite a while picking this outfit. It'd be a waste if it didn't look good."

"Oh? Did your heart skip a beat? Even though you're so close to Honami, you still get flustered around other girls?"

Her words ca out surprisingly aggressive.

Just as Toru was about to respond, she imdiately retreated.

"Alright, alright, just kidding!"

She lightly patted his lower back and stepped ahead, turning around.

"Let's go. Don't forget—you're my advisor today."

Not a date.

She didn't say it, but her expression made it clear.

A perfect balance—advance and retreat.

Girls really were naturally good at this.

"An advisor, huh…"

Toru followed with his hands in his pockets, footsteps echoing softly.

"Just so you know, I've never picked a birthday gift for a girl."

He'd never even celebrated his own birthday properly.

For casual friends, he might rember dates and say "happy birthday."

For closer ones… gifts didn't really matter.

But honestly, before enrolling, he didn't have many close friends anyway.

"Don't worry!" Shiranami said brightly as she entered a small accessory shop.

"You definitely understand Honami better than I do."

She pushed open the door, the wind chi ringing softly as cool air washed over them.

The heat disappeared instantly.

She crouched down and picked up a hairpin.

"How about this?" she asked, holding it up. "It looks similar to mine—we could match."

It resembled the flower-shaped hairpin she wore, just in a color closer to Ichinose's hair.

For most girls, it would've been a great gift.

But for Ichinose—

"…I'll just say—you've got good taste," Toru replied, expression complicated.

Right out the gate, she picked the worst possible option.

Because of his interference, Ichinose hadn't developed trauma from the hairpin incident…

But that hairpin was still tied to painful mories involving her mother and sister.

He doubted she could completely move past it.

Even now, she never wore hair accessories.

"Eh… so is it good or bad?"

Pouting slightly, Shiranami put it back.

"…The hairpin itself is fine," Toru said, crouching down again.

"I think it would look good on her. But…"

He paused.

"She doesn't like wearing hair accessories."

He chose his words carefully, not revealing her personal past.

"Have you ever seen her wear one?"

"…Ah."

Shiranami blinked.

"Now that you ntion it… she always leaves her hair down."

"I thought she just liked that style because it suits her…"

If it was dislike, then it made sense.

"No hair accessories, huh…"

She thought for a mont, then nodded firmly.

"Got it!"

"Thanks, Asakusa-kun. I'm really glad I asked you to co."

Without him, she might've chosen the hairpin.

Ichinose would've accepted it with a smile—but only out of politeness.

"No problem."

Toru placed the hairpin back and stood up.

With that option gone, the choices narrowed significantly.

At least in this store.

Besides, small accessories felt a bit cheap anyway.

Shiranami stood up too, brushing off her skirt—then naturally grabbed his hand and pulled him out.

"Let's check the next place!"

They wandered from shop to shop—

From hot streets to air-conditioned malls, even passing random roadside stalls.

Browsing, thinking, discussing.

"So, what do you think is good?"

She suddenly asked, stopping.

They'd looked at plenty, but nothing felt right.

There was still a month left, but the lack of progress was frustrating.

"No—wait."

She turned to him.

"If it were you… what would you give Honami?"

Toru stopped as well.

The sun had already begun to set, the heat fading.

"If it were ?"

He thought for a mont, then shrugged.

"A gaphone."

"…Huh?"

"A gaphone?"

"Yeah, like the kind you shout into," he said casually.

"…I know what a gaphone is…"

Shiranami's expression turned strange.

"…But yeah, that does feel very 'you.'"

"But it's way too personal. It's not helpful at all."

She sighed.

"I want sothing that feels like it's from ."

She patted her cheeks and looked at the sky.

The sun was almost down.

"Ah—right."

She clasped her hands together.

"Thanks for helping all day. I'll treat you to dinner."

"You don't have another date, right?"

"…No."

That was true.

Kushida hadn't invited him.

It wasn't a library day.

And Sakura wouldn't ask him out.

Though… the phrasing "another date"…

"I'm surprisingly free," he replied.

"Then…"

She smiled brightly.

"How about Palette?"

Of course—

For girls, dessert cafés beat cafeterias every ti.

"Dessert for dinner?"

"What's wrong with that? I'm paying!"

"No complaints!"

She spun around, raising her hand dramatically.

"Destination—Palette!"

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