When I Started Capturing the Academy Princesses, Things Turned into a Battlefield - V1 Chapter 22: How to Capture a Princess

Chapter 22: How to Capture a Princess

The morning after I got advice from Non-Non.

I was on my way to the underclass students’ classroom.

As I walked, I kept replaying my experienced online wife’s advice in my head.

『Girls love surprises. That’s why first impressions matter most. I’ll teach you exactly what to do, so you better follow my instructions to the letter, Darling.』

And her method?

The plan was simple—yet insane.

Right after arriving at school, I was to march straight into the girl’s classroom, look her in the eyes, and say: “Good morning, kitten.”

Apparently, if I said it with my best cool-guy voice, it would raise the chances of success.

“…”

Let me just say this upfront—

Even I knew this plan was ridiculous and totally reckless.

But hey, understanding how girls think isn’t exactly easy for guys.

Take flashy playboys, for example.

From a guy’s perspective, they don’t seem like they should be popular at all.

They’re not exactly shining examples of loyalty or intelligence.

They flirt with every girl they see, hit on random strangers, and steal people’s girlfriends.

Total scumbags.

And yet—

For some reason, girls love them.

The fact that those guys are always surrounded by girls is proof enough.

Maybe it’s just because they’re good-looking, but either way—

Men and women clearly see things very differently.

Which is why…

There might actually be something to Non-Non’s advice.

Stuff like slamming your hand against the wall (kabedon) or lifting her chin (agokui)—

I never understood the appeal.

But apparently, girls find that kind of stuff romantic.

So maybe, just maybe…

Saying “Good morning, kitten” to a girl I barely know might actually work.

It was too late to chicken out now.

I made a promise to trust my net game wife.

No backing down.

Alright—let’s do this.

I reached the classroom and took one determined step inside.

“—Onii-chan!?”

The moment I stepped through the door, Ayane came jogging up to me.

This little demon acted like a sweet angel at school.

Total split personality.

At home, she was a gremlin.

But here?

She actually called me “Onii-chan.”

She hadn’t used that in years.

“Yo, Ayane.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve got some business to take care of. Now, if you’ll excuse me—let me through.”

“And what kind of business would that be?”

Ayane didn’t budge.

Her eyes were practically screaming, “Don’t you dare come any closer to this classroom.”

She planted herself right in front of the door like a human barricade, determined to keep me out.

Yeah… I knew exactly what she was thinking.

She didn’t want anyone in her class to know I was her brother.

Sure, she’d let it slip during the whole reconciliation mess, but she never mentioned what I looked like.

To someone like Ayane—who was aiming for Princess status—having a totally average-looking older brother probably didn’t help her image.

Normally, I would’ve backed off under the pressure.

But today’s me wasn’t the same pushover.

“Sorry, dear sister. But I’m going in.”

“Wha—?!”

I pushed past Ayane and walked straight into the classroom.

My target—

The girl sitting all the way in the back, by the window.

No one else was around her.

She sat there, resting her chin on one hand, gazing out the window with a bored expression.

There was no way to tell what she was thinking just by looking at her face.

Kanon Hikawa.

Ranked #2 in the Himegasaki Academy General Election.

The only first-year Princess.

The one who inherited the title Ice Princess from her older sister.

And the girl Ayane had unilaterally declared as her rival.

As for me, I’d only ever seen her from afar.

This was the first time I was actually getting close to her.

And yeah—she was cute.

No question.

Like her sister Arisa, her features were doll-like and flawlessly symmetrical—

But Kanon’s face had a slightly more youthful look.

She was also on the shorter side.

As for her chest… let’s just say she was in the same “tragically flat” category as Ayane.

Though to be fair, there wasn’t much difference between her and her sister there either.

Her most distinctive feature was her hairstyle.

A short bob with long bangs that covered one eye.

It wasn’t due to an injury or anything—purely fashion.

Apparently, the mysterious vibe it gave off made her really popular.

Personally, I couldn’t not see her as one of those anime heroines with the hidden eye thing.

“Hey, check it out. Looks like a senior.”

“Is he seriously trying to hit on a Princess?”

“For someone making a move like that, he looks… pretty normal.”

The moment I stepped closer to Kanon Hikawa, the lowerclassmen started whispering.

They must’ve figured out I was planning to talk to her.

The Hikawa sisters were known as impossible targets.

That was common knowledge at Himegasaki Academy.

Especially the younger one—

She was even more unapproachable than her sister.

She rarely spoke to anyone and always looked bored, gazing out the window.

Ironically, that whole “shut-in noble daughter” vibe just made her more popular.

“Wait, isn’t that Kanbara-san over there too?”

“I think I heard something about them being siblings?”

“Wait… you mean he’s the Princess-Prince’s—?”

I felt a presence behind me and turned around.

Ayane was standing right behind me—wearing a smile laced with barely hidden murder intent.

Don’t lose your nerve.

This was part of the plan.

Just stick to the script.

“Good morning, kitten.”

“…!!!”

Kanon Hikawa flinched hard.

She turned away from the window and looked at me.

She blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Again and again, as if trying to make sense of what she’d just heard.

“H-Hey! Onii-chan!”

Ayane rushed forward and yanked me by the arm, dragging me away with surprising force.

“Are you stupid or something?”

“I’m not stupid. You’re the one who told me to go win her over!”

“Yeah, and that just proves you’re stupid. You seriously thought you could have a normal conversation after opening with that line? Use your brain! Have you completely lost it from the summer heat?”

Like you’re one to talk about losing your mind.

“What even was that line? ‘Good morning, kitten’? Seriously? That’s not just outdated—it’s gross. Like, next-level creepy.”

Same thing, isn’t it?

“Doing that kind of thing at school? I could maybe understand if it was at home, but seriously, I can’t believe you. That was beyond ridiculous. Just go. Hurry up and disappear before you ruin my popularity.”

“…Can’t do that.”

“What?”

“Just watch quietly. This is how I win over the Ice Princess.”

I wasn’t backing down from something this small.

I ran Non-Non’s advice through my head again.

『Once you throw her off with that bold greeting, hit her with a lunch invite while she’s still confused. That’s when she’ll be totally hooked. Oh, and this part is super important—if she actually agrees, don’t go alone with her. Absolutely invite someone else too. If it’s just the two of you, she’ll get suspicious.』

According to my expert net-wife, this strategy was foolproof.

I stepped back in front of Kanon Hikawa.

As expected, she still looked extremely confused.

It was hard to read her face, but her eyes had been darting around ever since I spoke to her.

“Sorry for startling you earlier.”

“…”

“If you’re up for it… would you like to have lunch together?”

“……”

“Of course, just the two of us might be a bit much. So how about joining us with my sister Ayane here?”

I put on my best smile and pulled out the smoothest voice I could manage.

Kanon Hikawa, who had been frozen in confusion, suddenly looked up at me.

Then, she turned her gaze toward Ayane, who was clearly panicking beside me.

She glanced back and forth between us a few times—

Then, as if something clicked in her mind, her eyes widened slightly.

“…Welcome.”

She raised her thumb in a sharp thumbs-up.

“Wait… seriously?”

Ayane, completely forgetting to keep up her perfect act, stood there with her mouth hanging open.

To be honest, I was just as shocked.

Sure, I said I’d trust Non-Non’s advice—

But deep down, I didn’t think this method would actually work.

Turns out…

My wife might actually be a genius.