123. The expression she revealed.

For half a month straight, the favorability rating of Aoi Aoyama on Tsukasa Jingūji’s panel not only failed to rise but kept steadily declining.

The protagonist of a well-known manga once said that a bad impression and a good impression can transform into each other—it’s just that the right moment hasn’t arrived yet.

Therefore, Tsukasa Jingūji maintained a calm and steady mindset.

Pursuing a girl is not something one can rush; he always reminded himself that he was dealing with a living person. Focusing solely on the fluctuations of numbers rarely leads to any good outcome.

On a clear and sunny weekend morning, as Tsukasa Jingūji was about to leave, his mother called out to him.

In recent days, because of matters concerning Aoi Aoyama, he had occasionally returned home late. Given the precedent set by his older sister, Tsukasa Jingūji tried his best not to worry his mother.

But to complete the system’s tasks, he had little choice.

Taking the train to Shimokitazawa Station, as usual, Tsukasa Jingūji first stopped by a convenience store before heading to Aoi Aoyama’s apartment.

Climbing the iron staircase embedded outside, which creaked noisily underfoot, he reached the room furthest down on the second floor and gently knocked on the door.

The doorbell was merely decorative, or perhaps it had been broken for who knows how long. The main door itself bore slight dents here and there.

After a while, the door opened slightly, a security chain stretched between them. Tsukasa Jingūji smiled and lightly lifted the plastic bag in his hand.

Seeing that the visitor was Tsukasa Jingūji, the female teacher inside sighed softly, closed the door again, and then the sound of the chain being unlocked followed.

Once inside, Tsukasa Jingūji dutifully took out his textbook and pretended to study, occasionally feigning confusion over the meaning of the lesson.

If he could maintain this demeanor consistently, Aoi Aoyama probably wouldn’t resist him. Yet, from time to time, he uttered remarks that didn’t quite fit a student’s role, causing her to feel an embarrassing mix of indignation and the sensation of being teased by her pupil.

“Jingūji-san, I have to go out this afternoon, so I can’t teach you too late today.”

“Going out? Where? Should I come along—”

“No.”

Before he could finish, Aoi Aoyama decisively refused, her eyes resolute and unyielding.

After a brief pause, she softened.

“I don’t like boys who cling on too much. If you want me to like you, you’d better give up early today and go home.”

After half a month of interaction, she seemed to have found the right way to handle Tsukasa Jingūji.

What she didn’t realize was that even this so-called mastery was a flaw deliberately shown by Tsukasa Jingūji.

“…Got it.”

Tsukasa Jingūji put on a dejected expression, which, combined with his handsome face, few women could resist.

Aoi Aoyama propped her chin with one hand and patted Tsukasa Jingūji’s head with the other. His fluffy, smooth black hair felt surprisingly pleasant to the touch, so she ruffled it again.

“If you behave like a good boy, then the teacher will like you.”

“I feel like the teacher’s just humoring me. You’re not actually thinking I’m naïve and easy to fool, are you?”

“You easy to fool? I’ve never met someone as sharp as you. Who could possibly deceive you?”

“That would naturally be you, teacher. I believe whatever you say, and I’m willing to be fooled.”

“You talk too much. Where did you learn that?”

“Sincere words.”

“Yes, yes, yes. Finish this lesson quickly and then head home.”

Thus, nearing noon, Tsukasa Jingūji had to take his leave. After leaving the apartment, instead of heading to the station, he went to a nearby park and found a secluded spot from which he could observe the apartment, silently waiting.

More than twenty minutes later, Aoi Aoyama’s figure appeared in his line of sight as she left the apartment, heading somewhere unknown.

Tsukasa Jingūji opened his panel to confirm today’s tasks.

In fact, the Yellow Hair System granted him many functions. Besides bestowing incredible abilities directly to its user, it could also exchange various items and provide critical tips at important task milestones.

If he could seize the opportunity, he could significantly raise the target’s favorability in one go.

For example, the system panel currently indicated an event occurring in the future—specifically, one hour later.

This event would become a crucial point for Tsukasa Jingūji to increase favorability.

So far, many of his successful conquests had relied on these system prompts.

Though it was a bit like cheating, considering the penalties for failure, a bit of an advantage was justified.

Taking out a change of clothes from his bag—completely different from his morning attire—and wearing glasses for a simple disguise, Tsukasa Jingūji followed Aoi Aoyama from a distance, tailing her all the way.

He only knew that some kind of change would occur two hours later, but the system wouldn’t tell him what exactly. Therefore, his ability to adapt quickly would be especially vital.

If he mishandled it, a significant drop in favorability was also possible.

Following Aoi Aoyama onto the train, Tsukasa Jingūji kept his distance, often standing near the connection between carriages, watching silently.

After getting off at Sasazuka Station, the crowd thinned out sharply. Tsukasa Jingūji kept an eye on the distance between them while checking the time.

He saw her enter a convenience store and hid behind a lamppost at a street corner. Expecting her to buy something, he instead saw her standing for a long time in front of the ATM inside the store.

If he wasn’t mistaken, she was withdrawing money.

She went to several convenience stores in a row, buying nothing but withdrawing cash.

And judging by the multiple withdrawals, the total amount couldn’t be small.

Why go through such a roundabout way when she could have just gone to a bank?

He continued to follow her. As the critical moment approached, Tsukasa Jingūji trailed Aoi Aoyama into a quiet, deserted alley.

There were truly no pedestrians here; following her too obviously would be conspicuous, making it difficult for Tsukasa Jingūji to get close.

Pretending to buy a drink from a vending machine on the street, he noticed another passerby enter the distant corner and disappear.

Tsukasa Jingūji recognized the man—it was the same one who, on the night of a breakup with a former girlfriend, had furiously smashed the female teacher’s front door.

Having reached a conclusion in his heart, he sighed softly and stepped quietly into the alley, witnessing their conversation.

From a distance, Tsukasa Jingūji silently observed the female teacher’s expression, curious about what emotions would flash across her face in such a moment.

Would it be pleading? Resentment? Love?

None of those.

…It was despair.

(End of chapter)