…
I guess I should give a normal introduction, yes, I think so.
"Uuuh, m-my name is E-eiran Solen..."
Great. I already started stuttering. First impact: failure.
I could feel some gazes cross. Curiosity, pity, maybe mockery. All that condensed in the span of an awkward pause.
"...I like to read, I guess. And... strategy games."
Why the hell did I say that? What kind of irrelevant fact is that? Who introduces themselves saying they like strategy games? What's next? Confessing I make theories about death before sleeping?
The silence stretched long enough for me to regret being born.
But the teacher just nodded without much interest.
"Thank you. You may sit down."
I felt an anvil lifted off me. I walked to my seat… better known as the «Magic Corner», where shy kids go to slowly disappear in the back of the classroom.
Wait.
Wouldn't it be better to change seats?
I mean… if I'm really going to stop being a «normal» kid to become a survivor, sitting in the most predictable corner of the room sounds like a bad tactical move. It's the first thing a secondary character would do before dying in the third episode.
I mean… I don't want to stand out, but I don't want to go unnoticed either.
After all… I don't want to die.
And if I think about it, wouldn't it be more logical to sit next to Elin?
Yes. Sounds logical. Cold, analytical.
After all, I have to conquer her, right?
The system was very clear about that.
Conquer Elin Mora.
«Try to be her friend from day 2».
This is day 1. But if I want any advantage, I need to establish position right away.
I'm sorry, my dear seat…
So many years together, in that corner where the world seemed farther away.
Where I could hide from the noise, from others, from myself.
Thank you for accompanying me.
For supporting my back when even I couldn't.
For letting me live as if I didn't exist.
But...
I can't lose sight of the objective.
If I have to sit next to her to survive, then that's what I'll do.
Even though my heart is pounding like it's about to burst…
I looked in the direction where she is sitting, analyzing every centimeter around her as if I were on a high-risk tactical mission.
PERFECT!
An empty seat right next to hers.
As if destiny itself were telling me:
"Go on, Eiran, this is your chance. Don't screw it up."
I gathered my courage and walked.
No turning back, I can't fail.
I need to do it.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Closer and closer to her. To the seat.
To the unknown.
And with every centimeter I approached, my feet felt heavier.
As if the floor were trying to hold me back.
"BE BRAVE, DAMMIT!" I repeated to myself again and again, like a desperate mantra.
The moment I was millimeters from the seat, I decided to glance sideways at the red-haired girl.
And that made me reaffirm something...
She was incredibly beautiful.
So fucking beautiful it took my breath away.
And that just made me more nervous than usual.
How the hell am I going to conquer this girl...?
NO! Don't think like that, Eiran! Crap, how can you think about that now!
Remember your motto: "Survive, regardless of the cost."
It's not a matter of wanting or not wanting to do it.
It's not about romance.
THIS IS ABOUT SURVIVING!
More determined than ever, I sat down next to her.
I could feel some stares drilling into my back.
And then the whispers came...
"What's wrong with that guy?"
"Why did he change direction so abruptly?"
"Is he crazy?"
Heh...
Single-celled idiots.
IT'S ALL PART OF A STRATEGY!
…
Now…
…
How the hell do you talk to a girl?
CRAP!
What good is making a strategy if I'm missing the most important part?
Am I an idiot?
Calm down. We're still in class. I can think about things to talk about…
——
End of class.
I thought of absolutely nothing.
Is this possible...?
HOW COULD I NOT THINK OF ANYTHING, DAMN IT?!
What do I tell her...?
About webtoons...?
No, no… she'll think I'm a weirdo.
The weather, maybe...?
What? Isn't there a more basic topic than that?!
What if I tell her let's be friends...?
Please… am I five years old? Besides… who becomes friends with a stranger...?
I looked again in Elin's direction.
And, to absolutely no one's surprise…
She was surrounded by a small group of friends.
I'm not lying if I say that practically half the class was around her.
I suppose it's somewhat justified.
Who wouldn't want to be friends with the pretty new girl?
Although, of course…
"Friend" isn't exactly the word the guys have in mind, right?
And that…
That makes everything even more complicated.
Because not only do I have to approach her.
I have to stand out among all of them.
And conquer her.
…
What crap.
This is literally a battle royale.
I had planned to talk to her when she was alone…
But it seems that's going to be impossible.
They're going to be stuck to her like parasites all day, aren't they?
If this continues...
I won't be able to survive.
I have to think of another plan. And fast. Before those idiots make her inaccessible forever.