SCIAW: Chapter 491/492

Chapter 491: Stories Are Meant to Be Sold for Money

As the most popular Student Council President among female students in Hakuo Academy, and also known as the Student Council President most trusted by students, Hinagiku's popularity at Hakuo Academy was beyond imagination.

This also meant Hinagiku's popularity there was not limited to the boys. Many in the girls' circle liked her as well.

For example, the girls who gave Hinagiku chocolates on Valentine's Day last year and this year, those were all honmei chocolates.

"Honmei…"

Only at this moment did Hinagiku realize that those chocolates carried special meaning and feelings.

She knew those chocolates were a sign of respect and gratitude from her juniors.

But she did not know that those chocolates also carried special affection.

"I thought you already knew."

Nagi truly thought Hinagiku knew. The attitudes and thoughts of those girls were quite obvious. It would be hard not to notice.

But precisely because of this, Nagi felt that Hinagiku knew.

Who knew she herself was completely unaware.

"I really didn't know…"

Hinagiku only felt now that she lacked awareness in this area.

She had truly never thought there was anything unusual about the chocolates girls gave her in the past, but now she realized that was the biggest problem.

"For girls, it should be fine."

"Mm, even if Miss Katsura is more masculine in some aspects than boys, the girls at Hakuo Academy still remember that Miss Katsura is a girl."

Upon being reminded by Ren, Hinagiku felt a heavy blow.

Especially that phrase, "more masculine in some aspects than boys," was that not just calling her a tomboy?

But the problem was, she was a girl.

There was nothing more insulting than describing a girl as masculine.

"Amamiya, after all, I am a girl…"

Ren smiled. He naturally knew what Katsura meant.

"Is it that bad? The feelings between girls do not have to be complicated. So-called liking can include admiration, and it can also simply be a romantic idea."

"Mm, I remember in the story your orientation was quite normal. And those girls who liked you actually supported your romance, even acting as cheerleaders."

"Romance… cheerleaders…"

These two words should not be combined. Hinagiku really did not want to understand how these two words went together.

After calming down, Hinagiku focused on the story.

"So, I ended up falling for the male protagonist in the story? Why? It cannot just be because of simple kindness, can it?"

"Mm… hard to say. Do you remember what I just said? Miss Katsura always appears in high places for inexplicable reasons."

"Ah…"

Hinagiku somewhat understood the meaning of this sentence. She knew this plot point. Next would be the male protagonist saving her from a high place.

"I remember the first time Miss Katsura and the male protagonist met was in such an atmosphere, only Miss Katsura stepped on the male protagonist's face and then successfully jumped down from the tree."

"…"

Everyone imagined the scene of Hinagiku jumping from the tree, stepping on the male protagonist's face, then landing successfully.

How to describe it? A bit cool, a bit unconventional.

"Both were sold by their parents, the gentle personality of the Japanese male protagonist, plus Miss Katsura often encountering trouble and him stumbling upon it, naturally led to more connections."

"In the past, Miss Katsura always displayed abilities equal to or surpassing those of her male peers at any time. And even such a Miss Katsura had times when she faced trouble, so…"

Ren paused here.

Hinagiku rubbed the bridge of her nose. The plot Ren spoke of, and the part he did not continue, was already clear enough.

"Unconsciously displaying an ability not inferior to mine in front of me, which constantly draws my attention to him, making me subconsciously develop some thoughts of concern for him."

"Hmm, I think I generally understand what is going on."

Hinagiku organized the information she knew, then made a subjective definition.

"The 'me' in the story must have developed a bit more concern for that person due to some previous actions. The real beginning of paying more attention to that person should have been after learning that he had the same experiences as me."

"Similar experiences create corresponding empathy, and then after learning about the other party's attitude toward those matters, recalling my past self, I gradually developed a sense of identification with that person, let down the basic defense line in my heart, and only then did the past concern turn into a very deep concern."

"During this stage, as the time of contact increased and more situations were understood, feelings also developed."

Hinagiku understood herself very well, and she also understood how stories between male and female protagonists develop, so she could deconstruct the general situations that would follow.

Similarly, she also simulated in her mind how she would act in such a situation.

Then she frowned, unwilling.

It was not because such a situation was unreasonable, but because it was too reasonable, and she herself would indeed gradually develop feelings of concern for that person in this process.

"If I did not know the situation at all, I would really develop some thoughts of concern for that person."

"Hmm, that is quite normal."

Ren found this quite normal.

"Perhaps there are certain differences between stories and reality, but there are always some similar situations. Especially certain personalities and ideas, as well as some reactions you would have."

"After all, stories also need a certain logical relationship."

"Ultimately, a story is just a story. Stories are often the most beautiful because unbeautiful stories do not sell."

Hinagiku was stunned, then she smiled.

"That is right, if it is not an interesting story, it will not sell."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 492: Another Extraordinary Ability!

After drinking the potion, all four fell into the initial awakening state of consuming the potion.

However, the state was not particularly bad.

Compared to ordinary people who truly step into the world of Beyonders for the first time, the situation of Sakuya and the other three was much better. They had, after all, awakened their spirituality through grace, and with Ren watching over them, they naturally would not experience the step of corruption.

"It feels different from grace."

For Hinagiku, returning to the Sequence 9 of Lawyer was a downgrade for her.

However, after returning to this stage, Hinagiku still gained a deeper understanding of the Lawyer.

That is, the rules as a Lawyer, or rather, the summary of acting.

A weak Lawyer needs to see through rules, abide by rules, and utilize rules to put themselves in a more advantageous position, thereby striking the target in a rule-based manner.

This cognition, stemming from the digestion of the potion, was not something grace could provide.

"The Lawyer potion has been digested."

Hinagiku could perceive that her understanding of rules had become more complete.

What a Lawyer does is utilize rules under certain rules to create better conditions for themselves.

She also gained a clearer understanding of Barbarians.

For those who adhere to rules, a Lawyer will use rules to confront them, but for those who do not adhere to rules, then a Lawyer needs to take off their suit, roll up their sleeves, and let the target see the strength of the muscles under the suit.

Since they do not follow ordinary rules, then they will follow the Lawyer's rules.

Ren could see Hinagiku's mental body growing, and through her spirituality, he could judge the increase in her abilities.

"Indeed, Miss Katsura also has high talent in this regard."

Even though she gave up grace for the potion, she still displayed extraordinary talent.

The potion taken orally could be digested in an instant.

Such a person could be called a genius no matter where they were.

It was just that Hinagiku felt a little regretful.

"It's just that my body has weakened. I can't use my physical abilities to fight Nagi now."

"Isn't that obvious?"

Nagi still remembered how her fight with Hinagiku using Element Power yesterday ended in a draw.

"So, next time we train, Nagi, remember not to use Element Power."

"Eh? Not use Element Power?"

"Wouldn't that just be pure physical confrontation?"

Nagi was still a bit hesitant about physical confrontation, after all, her pure physical fitness might not even be as good as Hinagiku's.

"No? Nagi is really competitive in this regard."

"Huh?"

Nagi turned her head and saw the helpless smile on Hinagiku's face. In an instant, her blood rushed to her head. How did it seem like she could not take a joke?

"Fine! If you don't use it, then don't. But if you lose then, you can't make excuses."

Looking at the excited Nagi, Hinagiku only nodded slightly.

"Of course."

Then the emotions on her face converged, like a face-changing trick, which left Nagi stunned.

"Wait! Did you use extraordinary abilities?"

Nagi reacted.

"Just according to the rules you set, utilizing your emotions and personality, I twisted some of your regulations to create some more suitable situations."

"…Didn't that mean you used it?"

"Of course, if you want to put it that way, I also used the Lawyer's extraordinary ability. I'm sorry, Nagi."

Nagi, who had just been angry due to her rising temper, heard this apology, and her anger instantly subsided a bit.

But after a moment's pause, she reacted again.

"…This is also an extraordinary ability, isn't it?!"

But this time, Nagi no longer had the same anger as before.

"Hinagiku, why are you still using me as a target for testing your abilities?"

Hinagiku had a brilliant and sincere smile on her face.

"Because Nagi will forgive me."

This brilliant smile caused Nagi's consciousness to briefly pause. That inexplicable feeling of heart-pounding came rushing with the smile, and at this point, even the last bit of anger was completely worn away.

"Ugh… this, this time it's fine. But you'd better remember, there can't be a next time."

Nagi, who met that pair of yellow-green eyes, even flinched a little, her gaze constantly darting away, and her words were soft and unassertive, making one want to bully her a few more times.

Of course, Hinagiku smiled and agreed, but she also understood in her heart that this was how the Lawyer's extraordinary ability was used.

The power of words is a sharp blade. As long as the topic is brought into one's own rhythm, then one can create an environment more favorable to oneself based on existing rules.

The Lawyer's inherent eloquence, affinity, and ability to twist and mislead are all means of using rules to one's advantage.

Of course, there was one thing Hinagiku said seriously.

"I'm sorry, Nagi."

The slow-witted Nagi only reacted from her previous dodging.

"…Damn it!"

This time, looking at Hinagiku, there was no longer that radiant smile that made it hard to look at her directly.

But the anger that had been used as a target had also dissipated.

"Don't use extraordinary abilities on me again, or I'll really get angry."

After complaining, she glared fiercely at Hinagiku.

Then her gaze, filled with complaint, looked at Ren.

Ren naturally noticed Nagi's gaze, then he raised his hand, and Nagi sat directly on his lap.

"I didn't warn you, are you angry?"

"What do you think?"

Nagi was not surprised by the change in her position, she just glanced back with a dead fish eye.

"Don't be angry, don't be angry."

Ren smiled, carefully holding Nagi who was sitting on his lap.

"I admit I had a bit of a 'watching the show' mentality just now, but I also knew that Miss Katsura definitely wouldn't cause too much of an impact on you. She was controlling it."

"And compared to others, isn't your relationship with Miss Katsura always pretty good? Miss Katsura chose you because she knew you were the only one she could test."

At these words, Nagi pouted, her eyes darting toward Hinagiku, only to see Hinagiku with her hands clasped together, looking at her apologetically.

"Hmph!"

With a soft snort, Nagi suddenly felt that her anger was not so great anymore.

However, she looked down at Ren's leg, and with clenched fists, she still knocked hard.

(To be continued.)