Looking at the photo—Tanaka Masao drenched in sweat, exhausted to the point of being completely wiped out—Fujiwara Chika couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"That looks really tough."
As she spoke, she propped her chin up with both hands on the table and let out a sigh.
"I've actually tried dieting a few times myself, but they all ended in failure. How are your results, Tanaka-kouhai?"
"For me, I've lost about five kilograms in half a month."
"Five kilograms?!"
Hearing that number, Fujiwara Chika's eyes went wide.
"How did you do it? Teach me, hurry!"
Tanaka Masao pinched his chin and began explaining calmly.
"It's not really that hard. I wake up at seven every morning and run for an hour. After school in the afternoon, I train for another hour."
"Then every day's meals are boiled chicken breast, boiled broccoli, boiled—"
"And finally, a cup of fresh vegetable juice, and that's it."
The look of anticipation on Fujiwara Chika's face gradually stiffened… then twisted into agony.
She hurriedly stretched out a hand to stop him.
"S-Stop… stop talking."
She stared at Tanaka Masao with a look of sheer horror.
"How did you even manage to keep going through something that terrifying?"
Just imagining it made Fujiwara Chika shiver all over.
She felt like if it were her, she wouldn't even last a single day.
Suddenly, Fujiwara Chika realized something.
"Wait, Tanaka-kun—if you're dieting, why are you eating ramen right now?"
She looked puzzled, her gaze carrying a hint of teasing, as if saying:
[Tanaka-kouhai, don't tell me you couldn't stick with it—just like me.]
Seeing the teasing in her eyes, Tanaka Masao explained,
"Because once a week, I'm allowed a cheat meal where I don't have to restrict my diet."
"I see—so once a week you can eat whatever you want."
Fujiwara Chika nodded and thought about it for a moment.
Even then, she felt she still couldn't do it.
She patted Tanaka Masao on the shoulder and praised him sincerely.
"Tanaka-kouhai, that's amazing. Keep it up."
As she said that, she even gave him a thumbs-up.
"Thanks for the compliment."
After learning that Tanaka Masao was working so hard to lose weight, Fujiwara Chika's impression of him improved quite a bit.
Because Fujiwara Chika liked people who made an effort.
For example, in the original story, she really liked the hardworking type like Shirogane Miyuki.
But after witnessing all of his shocking shortcomings, that affection was completely worn down to dust by the despair of each devilish training session.
Instead, during her repeated special training sessions with Shirogane, she awakened a strange kind of maternal instinct.
And then there was that classic line she said to Shinomiya Kaguya—
[This child was raised by me.]
Fujiwara Chika lay sprawled on the table, her legs swinging, as she drifted into a delightful fantasy.
"Tanaka-kouhai, if you slim down, do you think you'll suddenly turn into a super handsome guy?"
Tanaka Masao shook his head.
"Even though I'd like to become super handsome too, the chances are probably pretty low."
[Of course, that's without any help from the system.]
"Hey, don't be so pessimistic. Believe in yourself. Isn't there a saying that every chubby person is a potential stock? Tanaka-kouhai, your foundation is really good."
Looking at Fujiwara Chika cheering him on, Tanaka Masao couldn't help but think of a certain phrase.
[Only girls know how good my foundation really is.]
[Could it be that I'm actually really handsome and charming?]
Fujiwara Chika was somehow boosting his confidence.
"Oh right, midterms are coming up soon. Tanaka-kouhai, have you been reviewing?"
"Of course. I've even cut back on exercise lately to make time for studying. Why do you ask all of a sudden, Fujiwara-senpai?"
"Heh heh heh~"
Fujiwara Chika showed a smug smile and said,
"Actually, I recently learned a really amazing review method. Want to hear it, Tanaka-kouhai?"
Tanaka Masao asked curiously,
"Oh? What method?"
He'd recently been crushed by Jahy's genius, so he was genuinely interested in any good study method.
"The best review method is…"
Fujiwara Chika deliberately dragged out her words, fully whetting Tanaka Masao's curiosity.
"Not reviewing at all!"
Looking at Fujiwara Chika's supremely confident smile, Tanaka Masao stared at her like she was an idiot.
"Fujiwara-senpai, how can you say something like that with such confidence?"
Seeing the distrust practically overflowing from Tanaka Masao, Fujiwara Chika grew indignant and began to argue her case with logic and reasoning.
"This is valuable experience I finally learned—from the first and second place students at Shuchiin Academy! (…casually mentioned when they were bored.)"
"As long as you listen carefully in class, cramming all night is completely unnecessary and just ruins your health."
"And exams are meant to let you see your true ability. Even if you force yourself to get good scores, you won't be able to see your real self."
"So going into exams naturally, without reviewing, is the best way."
After listening to Fujiwara Chika, Tanaka Masao more or less understood what was going on.
This was definitely a carefully fabricated lie by those two Student Council members, created to defeat each other.
The lie hadn't managed to fool its intended target—but it had successfully fooled Fujiwara Chika instead.
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke anyway.
"I don't know about Fujiwara-senpai, but I don't usually study seriously. If I don't cram at the last minute, I'm doomed."
"And sure, exams are meant to see your true ability—but if your ability is too low and your family finds out, they might cut your allowance."
Of course, something like getting his allowance reduced wouldn't actually happen to Tanaka Masao.
After all, he was already last in his grade—there was no room left to fall.
Ah, no—more accurately, his room for improvement was enormous.
Hearing Tanaka Masao's words, the previously confident Fujiwara Chika suddenly froze in place.
Because she suddenly remembered that she didn't really study seriously either.
And her allowance…
If she did badly on exams, she'd definitely get scolded by her mom—and then her allowance would be reduced.
[Nooooo!]
Fujiwara Chika couldn't bear to imagine the miserable days of having less pocket money.
"No, I need to hurry back and start reviewing!"
At this moment, Fujiwara Chika had completely forgotten the earlier brainwashing from Shirogane Miyuki and Shinomiya Kaguya. Her intelligence came back online—
and she finally decided to study.
Just then, Tanaka Masao finished his second bowl of ramen.
He actually still had room to eat more, but the ramen was a bit salty, and if he kept going, it would start to feel greasy.
"Perfect timing. I should head back too—it's getting late. I'll walk you back."
"Alright, let's head back quickly then."
Fujiwara Chika didn't refuse. She stood up, took a few coins out of her pocket—exactly enough for one bowl of ramen—so the owner wouldn't need to make change.
[Even prepared the exact change for ramen. Fujiwara Chika really is a pro.]
Tanaka Masao also took out money to pay, and they left.
Inside the ramen shop, the two remaining people watched their departing backs and silently wished them well.
[Do your best, kid.]