[Work experience 2]

That evening, a party was being held at a share house in Tokyo. 

The purpose of the party was to welcome the new residents. However, the party was hosted by the new residents, and it was also the new residents who were celebrating. Rose and Gabriella are the main celebrants. 

"What do you think? I've spent more effort than usual." 

" ...... You're very talented" 

The dining room table is lined with a wide variety of dishes. It's a far cry from the hot pot they had with Kurogal and Yukki at the celebration for Nishino's move in. More money has been spent, more time has been spent. The number of dishes is impressive and there are many more waiting to be cooked in the kitchen than on the table. 

"You look a little uncomfortable, though. "

"No, it's nothing serious. The food is wonderful."

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-I can't say that I was thinking about my old life.- Rose is aware of this, of course, but she remains silent. It seems to be a strategy to appeal to Nishino's conscience. On the other hand, Gabu-chan keeps her own pace and does not care. 

"I helped with the sauce. Please try it!" 

"Oh ... " 

"Also, I made the sauce for the salad from start to the end!"

" ...... "

She is very eager to recommend the dish to Nishino. He never dreamed that he would end up with Rose's body fluids in his food. The biggest victim of the party is Gabriella's stomach. The blonde Lolita's bodily fluids are being eaten away at the stomach of Gabu-chan.

"How is it?" 

"......Not bad." 

Nishino does his best to respond in a straightforward manner. 

For a man of his age, a meal at the table with the opposite sex should be an irreplaceable experience. However, it was hard to enjoy it when he is dealing with a fellow colleague. 

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If he had been the man he was last week, he would have refused to sit there. He would have refused the invitation last week, but for the fact that he almost killed Rose because of a misunderstanding.  But most of all, he knew. The blonde Lolita in front of him is a virgin. The excuse of being a colleague seems to be of dubious value, having saved the life of a friend and a pet. 

This is how the welcome party was organised. The group was arranged around Nishino, with Rose across the dining table and Gabriella next to him. Initially, Rose wanted to take the Gabriella's place, but due to her strength, she had to settle for the current arrangement.Rose is the lowest rank in the hierarchy of the house, despite all the talk of greatness. 

"There will be a dessert after the meal, so make sure you leave room for it!"

"That's quite impressive"

"Oh, your champagne is empty. Would you like a refill?"

"...... Oh, I'll definitely have some more"

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The futsumen nodded, and Rose gratefully poured the drink into the glass. It's not a cheap bottle, but it's the one she's prepared for the day. 

"I still want some music in the dining room. I'm so lonely without that."

She put the bottle back on the table and continued in a casual manner. It was a topic that had come up between them a few days before. It was a lonely night in a house in a quiet residential area, as Rose had said. 

"Quieter is better."

"Let's go and buy some speakers this weekend. You're not busy, are you? "

" ...... "

"Sister, I'll come with you."

"..... Suit yourself."

-If you tell them not to follow you, it is unlikely that they will listen to you. But it's not something you can do by force, either. I've had a lot of fights in the past, and each one has been painful, so I was reluctant to respond to Gabriella.-

There was no response from Nishino, by the way. 

"Nishino-kun?" 

Rose asked, trying to get a look at the him. 

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To which the futsumen replies with a slightly more serious expression. 

"Do you enjoy eating with me?" 

"Yes, it's fun" 

The reply was immediate. Nishino was at a loss for words. 

"Is that what you're worried about?"

"......" 

In the past, this would have been answered with a hint of sarcasm. At least that's what  the futsumen thought. The honest and positive response from someone with that kind of relationship only added to Nishino's embarrassment. The futsumen knew that flattery was the basis of her behaviour towards him. So he was confused when he heard her deny this. 

The reason for this was Rose's change of direction in her approach to Nishino. After the incident in the abandoned building, she switched her approach to the futsumen to a straightforward one. There are many reasons for this, the most important of which is the imminent date. There was also the appearance of a rival, Gabriella. 

The most important reason, however, is the change in Nishino himself. Immediately after realising that Rose had no experience of men, there was a distinct change in the way he treated her.

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It was easy for her to imagine that he was affected by the idea of her being a slut. So she thought, why not take advantage of it? Thanks to this, Rose's attitude towards Nishino was kind. 

"You're in a very good mood, sister. Did something good happen to you?"

"We're having a party, there's no reason to be in a bad mood." 

" Is that so? I'm sure there are plenty of reasons......." 

If there was a lapse that she could not recover from, Rose thought, she would take advantage of it, including Takeuchi's delusional comments that had caused it. As a result, her attitude towards Nishino had softened considerably over the previous few days. 

"..... Isn't it my power you're interested in?" 

At this point, Nishino asked Rose a question that went a step further. The question naturally raised the awareness of the person being asked. It was a turning point for Rose. 

"Well, that might have been the case in the beginning."

"What do you mean? "

"Well, I'm enjoying the peace and quiet, and it's not so bad after all."

" ...... "

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She's not going to say I like you. But Rose had come to the conclusion that such a comment would have a greater effect on the man in front of her. She concluded that a sense of companionship and the need to close the gaps was the most effective thing to do in the limited time available. 

It was a decision based on the experience she had gained over the last few months by repeatedly failing to approach Nishino from various angles, such as using her feminine charms or isolating him on campus. She had finally realised that it was impossible to break down Nishino's unnecessarily rigid mentality using the old methods.

And Rose's thinking was correct. 

"... I see." 

The tension was removed from Nishino's face. At the same time, his shoulders relaxed. This was a colleague. Normally, he would not have believed it so easily. However, since he had taken care of the kurogal, he also had some thoughts on the topic. In the past she has saved lives. However, when he saw the situation, Rose continued. 

"That's why I hope you'll avoid doing anything to disrupt this." 

"That's my line"

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It was as casual conversation. Rose smiled internally as she watched her counterpart's expression soften. Of course, this is a long way from the goal of making Nishino dependent on her both physically and mentally. However, she decided that, even if she had to push it, she should get through the 3 months of the agreement, and wait for the next opportunity. 

"...... " 

It was Gabriella who was not amused by this. She was as active as Rose in the rescue of the kurogal and Yukki. She should have been rewarded accordingly. But for some reason, for better or worse, the futsumen attention has been drawn to the blonde Lolita. 

"Are you sure you're telling the truth, sister?" 

"I'm going to stay quiet until he graduates, at least." 

Rose replied calmly.

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She's not lying. At least not at the moment. 

" ...Okay" 

The gold and silver lolitas stare at each other over the dining table. There is a hint of danger in the air, and Nishino is about to open his mouth.

"Hey, at least during the meal...... " 

Shortly afterwards, the sound of the front door of the house being opened echoed from downstairs. Everyone's attention turns to the corridor. The sound of someone walking up the stairs echoes. Rose and Gabriella are silent. Both Rose and Gabriella are nervous, having allowed strangers into their home in the past. Eventually the door to the dining room is opened. 

"Good evening, I came to visit you"

It was Francisca who emerged from the corridor. At the sight of her, Rose responded in a boring way. 

"Yeah, I knew it would be something like that anyway......." 

"Oh my goodness, that is such a lovely meal!"

Francisca smiled as she looked at the food on the dining table. There is a feast that Rose has taken the time to prepare. They are still untouched as far as the eye can see and are still steaming.

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For a crotchety old woman who is so busy that she eats only ready-made meals and convenience store bento, this is a very attractive meal. She knew from past interactions with Rose that she was a very good cook. 

"What can I do for you?" 

"I see there's one seat open, so I'll take it." 

" ...... " 

It seemed that she came to get some dinner. 

◇ ◆ ◇

The next day, the girls in Class 2A were acting a little strange. 

A few minutes before morning class, there were only half as many girls as usual in the classroom. Then, just before the bell rings, the girls start to come back. And so it goes at lunch time. Some of the more perceptive, higher caste boys have noticed some unusual behaviour from the girls. However, they don't call out to them to check. They knew that when the girls showed this kind of behavior, it would be a disaster if the boys got involved.

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What was odd was the absence of the chairwoman and Risa-chan from the group. The top caste group and the second caste group are Risa-chan's group and the chairwoman's group respectively. The bottom group, by the way, is the soloist Matsuura-san. Before the festival, Nishino would have been unconcerned about this. But these days, with their newfound youthfulness, the futsumen is interested to improve his classroom environment. He was quick to notice the changes in the girls and took the initiative to check on the situation. 

After school, at the end of the last class, Nishino leaves his seat. He went to the seat diagonally in front of him, under a girl who was quietly preparing to go home. 

"Matsuura-san, doesn't the girls seem out of the ordinary to you?" 

"...... Nishino-kun, why are you coming to me?" 

He asked Matsuura-san, of all people. It's not only the girls who are fed up with the choice, but also the boys. Especially the handsome guys in the top of the class are looking at him with reproach, wondering what you are doing. This is the kind of action that could cause a rift between girls and boys. 

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Takeuchi-kun, too, looked as if he wanted them to stop. And he's very serious about it, so it's not as easy as it sounds. 

"I thought that Matsuura-san, might know something about it. ...... " 

"I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I've been so clearly ignored." 

"A change in surroundings is also an opportunity to change your own position. If something is about to happen in this classroom, there is no way not to take advantage of it. I don't think the situation Matsuura-san is in is a good one. "

"Nishino, you're the one who's not making the most of the opportunity, aren't you?"

"I'll make the most of it eventually." 

" .........." 

It is true that he thinks that the isolation of his classmates is not good. However, from his point of view, it was none of his business. 

Matsuura, the kitchen knife, thought that her current position was not so bad. With her friendships wiped out and the cost of communicating with other girls reduced to zero, she is now free to enjoy her school life at her own pace. 

Matsuura is a shy person, and this suited him very well. 

"...... Chairwoman, Nishino-kun is starting to say strange things. Do something about it!"

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"So, why are you talking to me? What does it matter?" 

"Are you serious?" 

"Of course!" 

"It's because the chairwoman and Risa are having a bad day at school, isn't it? That's why the other girls are doing everything they can to make you feel better about yourself. If you're in charge of a group of good friends, can't you please get your act together?" 

"......"

Nishino is in trouble, but Matsuura-san is by no means immune. She points out things that no one talks about. The chairwoman was surprised by this. It was as if there were two more Nishinos, was the thought that crossed her mind just now. 

"That's between me and Risa, isn't it? It's not about the other girls." 

"Relationships aren't that simple, are they?" 

"Wha...... " 

Matsuura-san was a strong woman who had lost everything she had to protect. She wasn't afraid.

"Didn't you start a fight over Takeuchi-kun?" 

"No, that's not it! How can that be?"

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"There's a rumour? I heard that the three of you snuck out together at the exam party. And the work experience thing was pretty aggressive too, wasn't it? Isn't it possible that you're using Nishino-kun for your own purposes?" 

"Huh? Why would I do that" 

"Isn't it ?" 

" We were not the only ones there, Rose and Gabriella were also with us. Nothing has changed for me and Risa! And there is no connection between you and me, is there? Don't be so naive!" 

"Chairwoman, don't lose your temper" 

"....."

A tense atmosphere prevails between the two. 

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And there was always a flame near them. 

"If you're going to have a discussion, why don't you calm down a bit? If you take this attitude, you will not be able to reach an agreement. I heard that there is a new coffee shop near the school. Sometimes a change of location can lead to a more constructive discussion."

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It is Nishino. He asks them if they would like to go to a new coffee shop near the school. 

" ...... I'm going home" 

A pissed off chairwoman announces that she is going home. Matsuura-san, who won the discussion , felt happy in her heart. That's how the weekend went for the 2A class. 

◇ ◆ ◇

The next day, Saturday, Nishino went to Akihabara with Rose. Her intention was to buy some speakers for the dining room. But her real intention was to have a moment with the futsumen, because she was jealous of a date that Nishino and Gabriella had had in the same place. 

However, beside them is Gabriella. 

"Is there no one else to hang out with you on your days off?"

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"Isn't it the same with you?" 

If it had been the regular Rose, she would have let her opponent fall with all her might. But Gabriella was stronger than her. She is a blonde Lolita who has been beaten many times in the past. 

"...... Suit yourself!" 

"This is the second time I've been to this place." 

"Hmm......."

She is not happy because of this.

There is a strong relationship between the two sides that cannot be eliminated even if they wanted to. In addition, the other girl has been rather straightforward in expressing her feelings for Nishino. There was a good chance that a small incident would trigger the futsumen feelings towards her. 

"So, where are we going? " 

"Let's go to the big electronics shop near the station. It's the biggest one in the area and they have a better selection than most. They also have a restaurant upstairs, so you can eat there while shopping." 

"I'm pretty sure I've been there before with him."

Immediately after exiting the ticket gates, the three of them spoke to each other in the main area of the station. 

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Soon he started to get carried away and cynical. It was easy to see where this was going. So she thought. She was desperate. She wondered how she could keep Nishino and Gabriella apart. As soon as she had thought of it, her bright brain had a flash of inspiration.

"What is it, sister? You look as if you wanted to say something." 

"Aren't you afraid of him? The last time you saw me being tortured, you backed away to the corner of the room. Why did you even move in here?" 

"It's scary, yes. But I'm also curious." 

"Really?"

"I've discovered that I have a lot to learn from it!" 

" ...So" 

Rose thought, it's not good to go on like this. Gabriella's words are also a favourite phrase of Nishino. And the futsumen, who is starved of interaction with others, is extremely vulnerable to praise.

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Soon he started to get carried away and cynical. It was easy to see where this was going. So she thought. She was desperate. She wondered how she could keep Nishino and Gabriella apart. As soon as she had thought of it, her bright brain had a flash of inspiration.

"In that case, I have a suggestion for you.." 

"What is it?" 

"At the start of the week, our school is holding a work experience event. I wonder if you are aware that we are going to visit local businesses and organisations and work alongside adults in a variety of jobs. Do you know? " 

" I think the teacher said that. "

"Me and my friend are going to take part in it, but what about you?" 

"Oh, really?"

Gabriella's gaze turned to Nishino. The futsumen was a little surprised to hear Rose's words. They usually don't get along with each other in any way. Ever since they moved into the same house, they have been having small conflicts every day. That's why he didn't expect her to be so forthcoming. 

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"Would you like to join us? The school has already closed all the formalities, but I'm sure you can manage it. Fortunately, we know the people who will be hosting you, so we are sure they will agree." 

"..... Why sister is asking me out? I suspect something." 

"I'm not suspicious. I'd prefer not to invite you and have you complain later. The work experience takes place over several days and I could see you going to school on your own on the first day, noticing me and him away, and then storming in on the second day."

"........"

That's what Gabriella thinks to herself, and she's right. And no matter how suspicious she was, her opponent was Rose. However, it is not difficult for her to push through to the point where she cannot fight back. 

"All right, I'll join you." 

"Really? Then I'll get in touch with you," 

Rose responded with a gentle smile.

Seeing her smile so honestly made Nishino feel uneasy. However, according to a recent conversation, she likes her life at school. If this is true, she will not go out of her way to cause trouble. 

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So the futsumen decided to believe that she had changed her mind. He closed his mouth, which he had almost opened on the spur of the moment, and silently looked at the smiling Rose. 

"Oh, what's wrong? You look like you're about to say something." 

"No, it's nothing." 

"Nothing?" 

"It's just that we've asked for a lot of help. I think we should thank Takeuchi's parents and the people at the workplace for what they've done. I'm sorry that I'm the one who took the initiative to ask, but do you mind if I ask you to do it?" 

"Yes, I'd be happy to do that."

"...... Thank you."

Rose nodded her head in agreement. 

Normally, she would have made one of her comments. The fact that Nishino had just seen him helped him to forget the fears that had risen in his mind. It was a decision based on the events of last week, when a similar premature decision had led to a fiasco. 

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She laughs behind her pleasant face. It was a good idea to take this opportunity to hit Gabriella with the poisonous Takeuchi-kun and eliminate them all together. Gabriella may die, or Takeuchi-kun may die. And in any case, the fact that the two fought means that Nishino will stay away from Gabriella. The poison seem to be more useful than she thought, is the true intention whispered in her heart. 

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