Their Own Minds

After hearing Ren's words, Chika placed the board game in her hands.

Sorry, that's because of her low emotional intelligence.

She said she put the board game here to play together later, which basically amounts to giving the board game back to Rizu.

There was no intention to take it at all.

"It's okay."

Rizu agreed without hesitation.

"Okay, now you two have finished exchanging gifts."

Chika said cheerfully.

"Um."

Rizu also looked very pleased.

As she approached her side, Chika lowered her voice and whispered to Rizu: "Ogata-san, why did you choose a board game as a gift for him even though you know your idea is a bad one?"

"Because it's my own idea, unaffected by others' ideas." Rizu replied honestly.

"Is that so?"

She didn't consider this.

Rizu added: "Also, I'm still the same as before. I can't guess what others are thinking in their hearts."

"If giving a gift to Kamikawa is a reading comprehension question, then the correct answer is knowing Kamikawa's preferences or needs, and then giving that gift to him as a present."

Chika said with a hint of doubt: "Don't you know this?"

"Because that's what Kamikawa taught me."

After Rizu explained, she continued: "There are choices in reading comprehension questions, but there are no choices in giving a gift to Kamikawa."

"And I don't know what he wants or needs, so I can't give the correct answer."

"But even so, you should choose a more appropriate gift as your answer, right?"

Chika still didn't quite understand her logic.

After remaining silent for a long time, Rizu replied again: "Because I want to give him what I find most interesting."

"Sorry, just pretend I didn't ask that question."

Chika felt like she accidentally stumbled upon extra information.

"Oh, okay."

After staring at them both for a moment, Chika finally couldn't hold back her gossip and asked curiously: "Um... Ogata-san, do you like Kamikawa-kun?"

"Like? No."

Rizu said without hesitation.

"Then why do you want to give her something you find most interesting?" Chika didn't quite accept her explanation.

"Because I'm grateful to him, that's all."

Rizu couldn't explain her feelings.

"So you stayed silent for so long, aren't you embarrassed?"

"Just thinking of the right words to say."

"Damn, I was waiting for nothing."

Chika complained disappointedly.

"I didn't hear clearly what you just said." Rizu asked.

"Nothing was said."

Chika shook her head, not wanting to voice her misunderstanding.

······

"I feel so full."

After leaving Ogata's house and walking slowly alongside Ren, Chika sighed leisurely.

After leaving Rizu's room, she was greeted by Ogata's father.

Initially, she wanted to ask Ren to treat her to ramen for dinner, but she couldn't resist Ogata's father's enthusiasm.

So, she had to eat a large luxurious bowl of udon alone.

As for Ren, he didn't eat there because he had to go home for dinner.

Chika explained, "Kamikawa-kun, please postpone the ramen you have to pay for a few days. I can't eat it today."

"Yes."

Ren nodded.

After walking for a while, Chika remembered what had just happened and said with a smile, "I didn't expect, Kamikawa-kun, your emotional intelligence is quite high."

"Average level." Ren emphasized.

"Ordinary people wouldn't think to use that as a reason to return the board game you chose to Ogata-san." Chika commented.

"But your approach is still somewhat poor. You should not choose a birthday gift given by an uncle to Ogata-san. You should choose a more valuable board game and then return it to Ogata-san in that way."

"..."

After hearing her suggestion, Ren remained silent.

"Do you agree? Or was my guess wrong?"

Seeing his reaction, Chika was slightly unsure if his thoughts at the time really matched what he said.

"I actually didn't think about it too much." Ren explained.

"Then what were you thinking? Why did you choose that board game?"

Chika suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Because I wanted to try it."

"Try what?"

"Keep it a secret."

Things like this couldn't be told to Chika.

When she didn't get an accurate answer, Chika had no choice but to ask, "Then why did you say you put the board game in her house?"

"Because it's convenient. After I brought it home, no one played with me. If I wanted to find someone to play with, I had to bring it to Ogata-san. Instead of doing this, it's better to just leave it at her house."

Gabriel likes playing computer games, not board games, and most likely she wouldn't play.

Chika's mouth twitched slightly, not knowing what to say.

Was all of this made up by her own mind?

"So, do you really want to take the birthday gift given by an uncle to Ogata-san as a gift from her to you?" Chika looked at him with a very unfriendly look.

"No, I thought she would refuse."

"I didn't expect her to agree, did I?"

"Yes."

At that time, Ren was already prepared to be rejected, then chose the next board game, and then said the remaining words.

He just didn't expect Rizu to agree.

Then why did he choose that model when he knew he would be rejected?

It's because he wanted to experience rejection.

It's precisely because of that he chose to keep it a secret from Chika.

Remembering Rizu's words to herself, Chika sighed: "It seems like your status in her mind is quite high."

"Yes."

So much so that all his efforts failed.

"However, the minimum number of players for that board game is three. You're only two. What will you do when you play again?" Chika worried about this issue.

Ren didn't speak, just turned to look at her.