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All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends
Curse_Heian_Chef
Hello, I'd like to ask your opinion on "Yukima Azuma"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: I was here before... I taught him the things that couples do, but he used them to please other girls
Sawamura Eriri: It would be better if I wasn't a tsundere, saying one thing and doing another
Yukinoshita Yukino: He's the light in my life, I might not have been able to bear the darkness if I hadn't met him
Yukinoshita Haruno: The bastard who ran away after sleeping with me
Hoshino Ai: My only true love, my white moonlight
What's your relationship with him - ex-girlfriend
Sora Ginko: Oh, just a thieving cat
Kato Megumi: Just a thieving cat
Sagiri, Bocchi, Shinomiya Kaguya, Kirisu Mafuyu, Suou Yuki, Alya: A thieving cat!
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I do not own anything in this fanfiction
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The schedule is from Monday to Saturday 2 chapters a day and 1 on Sunday
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English is TOTALLY NOT my language,
So it's probably not very good, but I tried my best
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Raw:
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Chapter 1: Hello, My Ex-Girlfriend
At a private apartment near Shibuya Station, Tokyo.
The atmosphere was incredibly tense, as if the air had grown so heavy it was hard to breathe.
A real estate agent with two years of experience in the business was currently caught in a dilemma.
Today, she had received a request to rent a property.
The client was a breathtakingly beautiful young woman.
Following standard procedure, she took the client to view the apartment.
Along the way, the social atmosphere remained polite and formal.
That was until the stunning young woman stepped into the apartment and locked eyes with the landlord.
The air seemed to freeze instantly.
"Do you two know each other?" the real estate agent wiped the sweat from her forehead and cautiously asked.
That question finally shattered the suffocating silence.
The stagnant scene seemed to reboot itself.
The landlord set aside the contract in his hand and stood up.
"We do know each other," he said, accompanied by a faint smile.
The real estate agent felt that their relationship was far from just an acquaintance.
However, in an effort to close the deal and earn a generous commission,
the dedicated agent summoned all her courage and said:
"That's wonderful! If you two know each other, this will make things much more convenient. We can sit down and discuss the details of the contract..."
As she spoke, the agent forced a couple of awkward chuckles.
But before she could finish her sentence,
the beautiful womanthe prospective tenantimmediately interrupted:
"There's no need. Show me another place."
Her words were brief, her tone decisive.
The coldness embedded in them felt like the biting chill of a winter wind, almost sharp enough to sting the skin.
This, despite it being late spring, with warm and pleasant weather.
Even so, the real estate agent in the apartment couldn't help but shiver slightly, shrinking her neck a bit.
However, the landlord remained unaffected, his faint smile unwavering.
"Kasumigaoka-senpai is as decisive as ever."
"Tch!"
A dissatisfied click of the tongue echoed through the room, blending with the rhythmic clatter of shoes on the wooden floor.
Kasumigaoka-senpai, or more formally, Kasumigaoka Utaha.
This stunning young woman, her long legs accentuated by skin-tight black stockings, was trembling slightly.
Her black leather shoes tapped repeatedly against the wooden floor, producing a continuous clack-clack.
Anyone with a basic understanding of Kasumigaoka Utaha would know:
This was a small habit of hers, displayed whenever she was "in a bad mood" or "feeling uneasy."
However, compared to the deliberate way she fended off unfamiliar boys who approached her,
right now, Kasumigaoka Utaha was clearly flustered.
In a way, the landlord's ability to throw her off balance with just one sentence
could almost be considered a kind of talent.
After all, if Kasumigaoka Utaha were truly as decisive as he claimed,
she wouldn't have been so visibly shaken upon seeing him again.
Compared to discarding her meticulously crafted light novel drafts,
when it came to matters of the heart, Kasumigaoka Utaha had never been decisive.
In fact, she was far more hesitant and uncertain in love than most girls.
Crossing her arms over her chest, the white school uniform shirt she wore puffed slightly, outlining a prominent curve,
a trace of chilly air escaping with her movement.
"Speaking of decisiveness, who could possibly be more decisive than you? Isn't that right, ex-boyfriend-kun?"
The real estate agent immediately fell silent.
Though she had somewhat guessed as much earlier, now it was finally confirmed.
As expected, this tension in the air was the unmistakable flavor of ex-lovers unexpectedly crossing paths.
To be honest, was it possible that a goddess-like beauty such as this could also feel indignant over a breakup?
The real estate agent discreetly glanced at the landlord.
Just then, a warm summer breeze brushed past the clouds outside, allowing sunlight to stream into the room through the window behind him.
Under the pale morning glow, his disheveled hair swayed gently in the breeze.
His jade-like fair skin shimmered in the sunlight, his brows like a sword and eyes gleamed like starsan unearthly, rare treasure.
The real estate agent found herself unable to look away.
Ah, so he was a stunningly handsome young man, on par with, or even surpassing her beauty.
Well, that explained everything.
Realizing this, she had the sudden urge to bite her handkerchief.
Youth, love... it all belonged to you Riajuu types.
As if that wasn't enough,
you even have the nerve to make life difficult for a working-class soul like me!
"So annoying! The Riajuu should explode!!!"
Meanwhile, the landlordwhom Kasumigaoka Utaha had just jabbed at with her wordsseemed completely unbothered.
In fact, he even appeared more cheerful, his grin widening.
"Hello there, my ex-girlfriends!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha's elegant brows twitched slightly, furrowing into a frown.
"Tch!"
Clicking her tongue once more, she turned away, refusing to look at him any longer. Her gaze shifted to the real estate agent instead.
"I want another apartment."
Her words carried an icy finality, as if they could freeze everything in the room.
The real estate agent lowered her head slightly, avoiding Kasumigaoka Utaha's piercing stare.
"Kuhum..." Clearing her throat softly, the agent spoke in a low voice:
"Apologies, Kasumigaoka-san, but at the moment, this may be the only apartment that meets your requirements."
Summoning all her courage to say this, she immediately felt the surrounding atmosphere grow even colder.
Hastily, she added:
"You see, Kasumigaoka-san, this is the Shibuya area. Private apartments for rent here are extremely rare"
After all, this was Tokyospecifically, a prime location near Shibuya Station.
High population density, sky-high property prices, and scarce housing supply made finding a suitable place entirely unsurprising.
Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't an unreasonable person, so she quickly accepted this reality.
However, the steady clack-clack of her shoes against the wooden floor resumed.
Having come to terms with the situation,
she now faced a difficult choice.
Was it more intolerable to rent her ex-boyfriend's apartment?
Or would it be worse to settle for a place farther from Toyosaki Academy,
or one that wasn't a private apartment and came with subpar conditions?
Kasumigaoka Utaha was a night owl, so minimizing her commute time was essential.
Additionally, given her tendency to lose track of time while writing light novels, she strongly preferred independent apartments.
Truth be told, this apartment was perfect for her needs.
But
What about the ex-boyfriend?
As she mulled over her dilemma, Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze involuntarily drifted toward the landlord.
Seeing the smile on his face,
an inexplicable anger flared up from deep within her.
Was that provocation?
It was definitely provocation!
"I'll take this apartment!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha gritted her teeth as she made her decision.
"I'll take this apartment!"
As soon as Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke,
the real estate agent hastily rummaged through her bag, frantically pulling out the rental contract.
This cursed placeshe couldn't bear to stay another minute.
"Alright, per the agreement, rent is paid quarterly in advance; the deposit is equivalent to one month's rent; and the brokerage fee is half a month's rent. Utility costs like water, electricity, gas, and large garbage disposal fees are to be negotiated between you two. The details are all in the contract. Please review it carefully, and if there are no issues, sign it!"
A rapid-fire stream of words burst forth from the agent's mouth like a machine gun.
She had likely summoned every ounce of speaking speed she had ever possessed in her life.
"I'll wait outside for you two. Let me know when it's done!"
With that, the agent bolted out of the apartment as if fleeing for her life.
The apartment was left with just the two of them, and silence descended once more.
Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly skimmed through the contract in her hands.
Finding no apparent issues, she pulled out a pen and signed her name at the bottom of the page.
Her signature was elegant and aesthetically pleasing
a perfect reflection of her character.
Once she finished signing, she casually tossed the contract toward the boy.
Yukima Azuma.
That was the name left behind on the contract by the boy.
The kanji portion of his name had an artistic flair,
but the katakana part
Well, it could only be described as somewhat unpolished.
"Eager to have me move into your apartment, are you, Yukima-kun? My dear ex-boyfriend?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke with a faint smile.
"That's right, Kasumigaoka-senpai,"
Yukima Azuma replied with a gentle nod.
His candidness left no room for the sarcastic remarks Kasumigaoka had prepared to unleash.
She had expected him to try and explain himself, perhaps even stammer out a few awkward excuses.
But once again, after their breakup, Yukima Azuma managed to catch her off guard, leaving her with no room to maneuver.
Yukima called the real estate agent waiting outside back into the apartment.
Handing over one of the three copies of the contract, he also settled the brokerage fee on the spot.
The agent, contract in hand, swiftly departed like a gust of wind, eager to escape the tense atmosphere.
After escorting the agent out, Yukima casually picked up the large red suitcase left near the entrance.
To be honest, it was quite heavy.
But heavy luggage from a woman wasn't exactly surprising.
He shut the front door and lifted the suitcase effortlessly, heading toward the staircase.
"Kasumigaoka-senpai, follow me. The room you rented is on the second floor. I'll give you a quick tour."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze instinctively fell on her suitcase.
Her lips parted slightly,
but in the end, she said nothing.
She merely followed Yukima Azuma in silence.
His action of carrying her suitcase seemed so natural, so seamless, and so logical
as if it were something he was meant to do.
To the point where Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't feel the urge to protest at all.
Yukima Azuma's two-story apartment had a fairly straightforward layout.
Each floor featured an independent bathroom and an open space.
The open area on the ground floor served as a living room, while the second floor resembled a reading room, with two enormous bookshelves neatly arranged.
The kitchen was located only on the first floor.
The two made their way up the stairs.
As they passed between the bookshelves, Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't help but let her gaze linger on the books.
In the corner of one bookshelf near the desk,
The book titled "The Metronome in Love" sat silently on the shelf.
That section of the shelf was particularly clean, clearly having been frequently browsed through.
This made Kasumigaoka Utaha involuntarily recall some memories.
The first time she met Yukima Azuma,
this young man was not passionate about literature.
It wasn't until she gave him "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" by Haruki Murakami that
Yukima Azuma began to visit the bookstore regularly.
Every time he came, they were almost always together.
Among the numerous books on these shelves, one-fifth were books that she, Kasumigaoka Utaha, had introduced to Yukima Azuma.
Moreover, one-third were books they had bought together.
Right at the beginning of the bookshelf, in the first section,
Kasumigaoka Utaha saw "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World".
The book she had given him.
Her gaze burned as if scalded; as soon as it touched the cover, she immediately withdrew it.
Kasumigaoka Utaha unconsciously placed her left hand on her chest.
This couldn't be helped.
The traces she had left on him were so obvious and visible.
Anyone who saw them would undoubtedly feel a stir in their heart.
"This is your senpai room. The mattress and blankets are new, so feel free to use them."
Yukima Azuma stopped at the room to the left of the hallway.
Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly shifted her gaze away, shaking off the thoughts in her mind.
"Oh, then where's my ex-boyfriend-kun room? Is it across from this one? After all, it's convenient for a late-night raid."
To cover up her awkwardness, Kasumigaoka Utaha blurted out a random remark... or rather, a teasing one.
"My room is on the first floor." Yukima Azuma pointed down to the floor below.
"All the room keys are in the drawer in the room, there is a master key and a spare key. I don't have a copy. This has been stated in the contract, so you can rest assured, Senpai."
He said it seriously.
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't know what else to say.
But she didn't forget to use sarcasm.
"You really don't seem like a high school boy at all. Could it be that my ex-boyfriend actually has some unspeakable secret?"
Yukima Azuma simply smiled.
That smile, in Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes, seemed to say:
"Senpai, didn't you already know if there's some unspeakable secret?"
She grabbed her suitcase.
Kasumigaoka Utaha entered the room and slammed the door shut.
She sat on the bed with the white sheet.
She hugged herself, her long legs clad in black stockings trembling uncontrollably.
This is so frustrating!
How did this guy become so 'sly' like this?
In the past, just a little teasing would make him blush and feel embarrassed.
Thud...
Kasumigaoka Utaha collapsed onto the soft bed.
"What am I even thinking? It's as if I'm some kind of ex-wife who can't let go of the past."
She waved her hand, casting those thoughts aside, and took out her tablet.
Kasumigaoka Utaha began to write.
The light novel she had left unfinished for the past few days suddenly sparked some new inspiration.
Chapter 3: Yukima Azuma
With a loud "bang,"
The door to the room slammed shut, sending a gust of wind that messed up Yukima Azuma's hair.
Seeing this, the corners of Yukima Azuma's mouth couldn't help but curl into a smile.
"The tenant is my ex-girlfriend. What a coincidence, this could be turned into a light novel."
Muttering to himself like that, Yukima Azuma turned around and went downstairs.
Just like their previous conversations,
Yukima Azuma and Kasumigaoka Utaha had once been in a romantic relationship.
About three years ago.
At that time, Kasumigaoka Utaha had not yet debuted as a light novel author.
Well, to be more precise, her novel The Metronome in Love was still just an unfinished manuscript back then.
It was during their time together that her first book was completed.
Unfortunately, their relationship wasn't as enduring as in the novels.
After some conflicts, there were no coincidences that helped them reconcile, nor were there any challenges they overcame together to make amends.
One day, after an argument, they broke up.
By the way,
Yukima Azuma is a person who has experienced travel and reincarnation.
He was born in this world as a child.
As he grew, the memories of his previous life gradually returned.
Therefore, before they started dating, Yukima Azuma had actually "known" about Kasumigaoka Utaha.
To be more accurate, it was because he "knew" Kasumigaoka Utaha, the genius young novelist who would eventually become a star, that Yukima Azuma was able to pursue her.
But!
Yukima Azuma wanted to say:
Loving a 2D girl isn't at all like he had imagined.
The incredible beauty of Kasumigaoka Utaha is indisputable, and her long, slender legs are hard to resist.
But her arrogance and "black tongue" are also very real.
In a light novel, this might seem like a cute characteristic of the character.
But in real-life love, it may not be as good.
Additionally, Yukima Azuma had little experience with romance at that time.
They broke up due to personality clashes and a few minor conflicts.
After the breakup,
Yukima Azuma temporarily left Tokyo due to family reasons and moved to Chiba.
It was as if he disappeared.
So, this was the first time they had met again after their breakup.
Seeing Kasumigaoka Utaha again, Yukima Azuma truly felt overjoyed.
After three years of growing up, Yukima Azuma had learned how to handle conflicts in relationships.
As for how he matured...
Romantic experience certainly cannot be gained just through words.
So... Yukima Azuma didn't just have Kasumigaoka Utaha as his ex-girlfriend...
But that's a story for another time.
Back to Yukima Azuma.
The name "Yukima" is not a famous one.
But if the surname "Yukinoshita" is mentioned, many people would likely recognize it.
The relationship between these two surnames can be likened to the relationship between "Shinomiya" and "Shijo" in a family.
Though it might not be entirely accurate to call them "main family" and "branch family," there are certain similarities.
In short, they both belong to a large family.
However, the "Yukinoshita" family, in just the past dozen years, has suddenly grown very powerful.
Not only has it surpassed social classes, but it has also become a prestigious and well-known family.
As a result, the large family where the "Yukinoshita" name originated, other families within this clan have become secondary branches.
This is how society works in Japan.
The person with the biggest fist is the one who's right.
In terms of hierarchy, it's just a sense of satisfaction when bringing down others.
Three years ago, the reason Yukima Azuma returned to Chiba was because the "Yukima" family encountered a major crisis.
The crisis was so severe that the entire "Yukima" family was left with just Yukima Azuma.
At that time, when he returned to Chiba, Yukima Azuma could be said to have been surrounded by wolves.
In the end, Yukima Azuma sold most of the real estate assets to "relatives."
With decisions and actions far beyond his age, he took a large sum of money and left Chiba.
Most of the money was used to buy a villa apartment in Tokyo.
The remainder was used to sustain his life.
Because he didn't have much money, Yukima Azuma had to rent out the apartment.
However... this year, Yukima Azuma began to receive money from various sources.
He planned to go to the real estate agency in the next few days and remove the rental notice for the house.
As a result, unexpectedly, in the past few days, Kasumigaoka Utaha had been shown the property by the agency.
It's what you could call "a coincidence so big it could be written into a light novel."
And there's one more important thing about Yukima Azuma.
That is...
A year ago, Yukima Azuma finally received the "benefit" that people like him, those who are reincarnated, get.
Though a little late, it's better than nothing.
As Yukima Azuma went downstairs, put on his sneakers, and prepared for his morning jog, he opened his system panel.
[Host: Yukima Azuma]
Physical: 6
Intelligence: 8
Attractiveness: 8
Skills: Language Proficiency (lv6), Literature (lv5), Cooking (lv5), Programming (lv4), Shogi (lv7)
Human limits.
Regarding skills, level 0 means no knowledge, levels 1 to 3 are beginner, levels 4 to 6 are mastery, levels 7 to 9 are advanced, and level 10 is peak, which is the highest level.
This panel represents Yukima Azuma's entire capability.
Under each skill, there is a progress bar.
As long as he diligently practices the corresponding skills, the proficiency will increase.
When the progress bar is full, the skill level will rise.
It doesn't seem like a very powerful ability.
But if you think about it, any skill that can reach its peak simply through practice could definitely be considered cheating.
By the way, since Yukima Azuma discovered that physical training could gradually improve his stamina, he hasn't missed a single morning workout.
The high score for attractiveness on this panel clearly comes from the genetics of the Yukima family.
The high intelligence score seems to be due to the combination of his soul after reincarnation.
How to increase intelligence and attractiveness?
Yukima Azuma still hasn't figured that out.
It could also be because these two stats are so high that Yukima Azuma's experiments haven't been enough to change them yet.
As for the list of skills, the highest level skill is "shogi."
This skill comes from...
'Ringringring~...'
The phone rang.
Just as Yukima Azuma stepped outside, he pulled out his phone.
The screen displayed the caller's name: "Ginko."
Chapter 4: Sora Ginko is My Senior Sister
Seeing the call from "Ginko" displayed on the screen, Yukima Azuma immediately answered.
"Ginko..."
"Saturday, come to the Chiba Shogi Club for practice."
Her voice sounded like she was not accepting any objections.
"Okay, starting from 9 AM, right?"
"..."
"..."
There was a long silence on the other end, and then a soft sound:
"Huh?"
Her voice was gentle, sounding soft enough to imagine the bewildered expression on her face.
Then, as if to confirm:
"Saturday, come to the Chiba Shogi Club for practice."
She repeated what she had just said, but this time her tone was a little more enthusiastic.
"I heard you. I'll be there on time, Ginko."
Yukima Azuma responded kindly, without any irritation.
"Umu!"
Then, the call ended.
Although it was just a brief word, it was clear that the person on the other end seemed very happy.
Ginko, or more accurately, Sora Ginko.
A 14-year-old genius Shogi player, called "The Snow White of Naniwa," and an idol in the Shogi world.
She is a two-time champion, holding the top two titles of the six major Japanese women's Shogi tournaments, "Queen" and "Women's Throne."
As a second-dan professional player, she possesses both skill and fame, and is a true genius.
And she is Yukima Azuma's senior sister.
When he was young, before his memories fully awakened, Yukima Azuma chose Shogi among other disciplines like Go, calligraphy, and painting.
At that time, the Yukima family still existed.
Thanks to that, Yukima Azuma was accepted as a disciple by Kiyotaki Ksuke, a professional Shogi player, and became a junior to Sora Ginko.
By the way, thanks to his high intelligence, Yukima Azuma was once a famous genius in the Shogi world.
"The youngest professional Shogi player," "fifth-dan professional Shogi player," and "a true genius of Shogi"...
These were the titles that used to be associated with Yukima Azuma.
However, after the fall of the Yukima family, Yukima Azuma no longer pursued the pinnacle of Shogi.
The complete awakening of his memories, coupled with the family crisis, had significantly changed Yukima Azuma's goals and principles of action three years ago.
For the past three years, Yukima Azuma's primary goal had been "to make money."
First, he needed money.
Only then could he climb the social ladder.
Therefore, Yukima Azuma had to put Shogi on hold.
Although Shogi, a popular game in the country, also offered substantial prize money from tournaments, it was...
Unfortunately...
Three years ago, a player holding the title of "Meijin" had been shaking up the Shogi world, as if "slaughtering" all his opponents!
At that time, Yukima Azuma had tried to challenge this "Meijin."
And he was easily crushed.
According to the skill level estimated from the system's board, that "Meijin," the strongest in Shogi history, had a Shogi skill around level 9.
To defeat him with certainty, Yukima Azuma would likely have to raise his Shogi skill to the maximum level, meaning reaching the peak.
At that time, when the system hadn't awakened yet, Yukima Azuma didn't hesitate to give up on Shogi and turned to other ways to make money.
In the past three years, Yukima Azuma hadn't participated in any official Shogi tournaments.
Only occasionally, when Sora Ginko came to visit, would the two play Shogi privately.
During these three years, Sora Ginko consistently invited Yukima Azuma to the Shogi club once a week to study Shogi.
Yukima Azuma refused, and Sora Ginko never asked why.
Perhaps this is why, when Yukima Azuma agreed to go to the club, Sora Ginko was so surprised, and couldn't hide the excitement in her voice.
As for the reason why Yukima Azuma suddenly agreed to go to the club?
It's simple.
He had earned a bit of money, and that allowed him to have more time and energy to focus on other things.
More importantly, the "Meijin" who had once shaken the Shogi world...
Had now won the title of "Eternal" in all tournaments except "Ryuou."
In accordance with the rules, the person in question was not allowed to participate in the most recent "Ryuou" match.
In the recent major tournaments, it seemed that they hadn't participated, possibly preparing to take a break and then return next year to win the "Ryuou" tournament comprehensively.
If that happens, it will be an unprecedented achievement: seven eternal crowns and hundreds of other major titles.
And when that "Meijin" is no longer around...
The current Shogi world...
How should one describe it?
Hmm...
It's full of "mediocre" opponents.
While reflecting on Shogi, Yukima Azuma quickly finished his morning run.
When the message "Slight increase in Physical" appeared in his field of vision, Yukima Azuma gradually slowed down and eventually stopped.
He had run about ten kilometers.
Far from Shibuya Station, nearing the Gakushuin-shita area.
He remembered that his refrigerator at home seemed to be empty.
Yukima Azuma figured out the direction and decided to stop by a nearby supermarket to buy some ingredients.
From now on, his apartment wouldn't be just his ownKasumigaoka Utaha would also be staying.
It could be predicted that the food consumption would definitely increase.
Even though Kasumigaoka Utaha hadn't mentioned anything about "eating for free," Yukima Azuma knew he had to be well-prepared.
Although this was the Academy district, due to the spring break, the streets were quite empty.
Turning a corner, a spring breeze blew by, carrying the final coolness of the season, along with the pink cherry blossom petals falling like rain.
Having just exercised, Yukima Azuma squinted slightly, enjoying this natural gift.
The saying "When faced with trouble, one can ask the spring breeze" seemed fitting here.
A gentle spring breeze like this surely possessed a special power to sweep away worries and clear the knots in one's heart.
However, it seemed that the power of the spring breeze was not limited to that.
In his field of vision, a white object was floating in the wind.
Yukima Azuma blinked in surprise, instinctively catching the object that was drifting towards him in the spring breeze.
In his hand, the soft texture and faint floral scent immediately filled his senses.
It was a white beret.
As he looked more closely at the item, Yukima Azuma experienced a strange sense of familiarity.
It felt as if this spring breeze, this white beret, were carrying with them two words:
"Encounter."
He lifted his gaze.
Across the corner of the street was a long slope leading upwards.
With vague memories of the area, Yukima Azuma recalled that this slope was named...
"Detective Hill."
Amid the cherry blossom rain, Yukima Azuma saw, standing at the top of Detective Hill, a young girl bathed in golden sunlight. She gently brushed her bangs behind her ear, her movements graceful and serene.
Chapter 5: Seeing Through the Spring Breeze: "Encounter"
The falling speed of cherry blossoms is 5 cm per second.
This makes a rain of cherry blossoms last for quite a long time.
However, at this moment, Yukima Azuma had no time to appreciate this beautiful rain of blossoms.
He stood still, his eyes fixed on the scene ahead. After a long gaze, he could finally see two words resonating within the spring breeze: "Encounter."
At the top of Detective Hill, the girl stood there.
Her pristine white dress gently swayed in the wind, and the white beret lay neatly in her hands.
From above, her gaze met Yukima Azuma's. Her right hand lightly held the hem of her dress, while her left hand tucked stray bangs neatly behind her forehead.
Under the spring sunlight, she looked as though she had stepped out of a painting.
This was the beginning of a love story in a light novel.
Not a metaphor, but in the literal sense.
Yukima Azuma recognized the girl standing atop the hill, both in memory and in reality.
Kato Megumia beautiful heroine with no particularly outstanding traits.
Even without distinctive highlights, just interacting with and understanding her would make anyone unconsciously fall for her.
She didn't need stereotypical cuteness; she herself was the embodiment of the most unique charm.
From beside him, a "Wow!" of amazement suddenly rang out.
Honestly, it was a bit unpleasant to heara voice resembling that of a fanatical nerd.
Turning his head in the direction of the sound, Yukima Azuma saw a bespectacled boy on a bicycle.
The name seemed to be Aki Tomoya.
Flipping through his memory, Yukima Azuma quickly confirmed the boy's identity.
At this moment, Aki Tomoya was staring blankly at the hilltop, as if turned to stone. The expressions on his face shifted incessantly, clearly revealing that he was deeply engrossed in some sort of fantasy from which he could not extricate himself.
Truth be told, Yukima Azuma harbored no affection for Aki Tomoya.
The reason was simple.
Yukima Azuma had once been involved with Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Even though Yukima Azuma's presence had all but eliminated any chance of Aki Tomoya having a connection with Kasumigaoka Utaha, the irritation remained.
And so...
Yukima Azuma walked over to Aki Tomoya and gave a light kick to the rear wheel of his bicycle.
There was no need to use much force.
Aki Tomoya immediately lost his balance, and the bicycle wobbled back into motion.
Amid a cacophony of yelps, the bicycle with Aki Tomoya aboard staggered off toward the opposite side of the road.
On the far side of Detective Hill was a downward slope. Before long, Aki Tomoya's figure had completely vanished from sight.
Yukima Azuma let a satisfied smile cross his face.
At that moment, Kat Megumi descended from the top of Detective Hill.
"Yukima-san, you're really mean," she said softly.
Her voice was gentle, devoid of obvious emotion, like a feather drifting through the air. Yet, it was incredibly pleasant to the ear.
Yukima Azuma turned around and saw Kat Megumi standing there.
He placed the beret he had been holding onto her head.
Adjusting its position carefully, he tilted his head slightly to ensure it sat neatly and snugly.
Once finished, Yukima Azuma stepped back two paces, his gaze akin to admiring an eternal masterpiece.
"Kato-san, you look so adorable today. This outfit suits you perfectly."
"Thank you, Yukima-san, but I'm just an ordinary person. Compliments like that don't really serve any purpose."
"No, no, I truly mean it."
"Thank you. That makes me happy."
"Oh, so the first thanks is for me returning your hat, right?"
"Yukima-san, where were you headed?"
"I was planning to go grocery shopping. My fridge at home is completely empty."
"Really? What a coincidence. I was about to buy some ingredients too."
The two of them walked up Detective Hill together, chatting as they went.
Neither mentioned the less-than-pleasant manner in which Aki Tomoya had been "sent off" moments earlier.
Kat Megumi showed no sign of reproach or discomfort regarding Yukima Azuma's rather "aggressive" behavior toward the stranger.
In her mind, there was only one simple thought:
'If Yukima-san did that, there must be a reason behind it.'
Interestingly enough, Yukima Azuma and Kat Megumi had been classmates during the last six months of middle school.
After transferring from Tokyo to Chiba and then back to Tokyo, Yukima Azuma had coincidentally been placed in Kat Megumi's class.
Thanks to memories that had "taken the lead," Yukima Azuma quickly recognized Kat Megumi's existencesomeone who often went unnoticed in the classroom.
From that point on, the two became friends.
In group activities or home economics classes, Yukima Azuma always chose Megumi as his partner.
Before Yukima's arrival, Kat Megumi usually completed assignments alone or was randomly assigned to groups.
.....
After a shopping trip, Yukima Azuma and Kat Megumi pushed a shared cart to the checkout counter.
When it was their turn, Megumi took the items from the cart while Yukima handed them over to the cashier.
"Huh, what's this?"
Kat Megumi picked up a bag of coffee beans, blinking curiously.
Yukima Azuma took it from her and asked casually:
"Is there something wrong?"
"If I remember correctly, Yukima-san is more of a tea person and almost never drinks coffee," Megumi replied.
"I'm surprised you noticed that much. I thought I'd try making homemade coffee this time."
Hearing this, Kat Megumi stared at the bag of coffee beans for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.
After checking out, the two walked out of the supermarket together.
Kat Megumi's home was nearby.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma had to head in a different direction to catch the train.
So, at the supermarket entrance, they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
After walking a few steps, Kat Megumi turned back briefly, glancing at the bag of coffee beans in Yukima Azuma's hand, tilting her head slightly.
.....
On the train, Yukima Azuma stretched a bit and took his phone out of his pocket.
Scrolling briefly through a shopping website, he quickly selected a DIY coffee machine.
After spending a fair amount of money, he even opted for express shipping.
He currently had enough funds, so splurging a bit wasn't an issue.
Besides, this was a necessary purchase.
Japan wasn't all that big. With expedited shipping, the coffee machine arrived at Yukima Azuma's apartment almost at the same time he did.
Receiving the coffee machine, he carried the package into his apartment.
At that moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha was on the first floor.
She seemed to be downstairs getting some water.
The two made eye contact.
Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly turned away, though her gaze flickered briefly toward the large box in Yukima Azuma's hands.
"What did he buy?"
Chapter 6: Mastering Cooking, Yet Kasumigaoka Utaha Feels Sad
Her eyes lingered on the large package.
Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a surge of curiosity: "What did he buy?"
But almost immediately, she dismissed the thought.
"What he buys has nothing to do with me."
With that in mind, Kasumigaoka Utaha quickened her pace to get her water.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma wasn't in a hurry. He slowly set the package aside.
He had no intention of opening it right away.
Instead, he pulled out a pair of white slippers from the shopping bag and placed them neatly on the shoe rack by the door.
Kasumigaoka Utaha noticed this scene.
Her fingers tightened around her insulated tumbler.
"Why is he doing these things now? What's the point?"
After filling her tumbler, Kasumigaoka Utaha turned quickly toward the stairs.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma unexpectedly called out to her.
"Kasumigaoka-senpai."
"What is it?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha turned back to look at Yukima Azuma, her elegant eyebrows deliberately furrowed.
Her expression clearly said, "Don't talk to me."
Yukima Azuma didn't seem to mind.
Or rather, he understood her well enough not to let such small gestures affect him.
That was simply who she was.
Like a hedgehog, she would prick those who approached her before deciding whether to interact.
"Would you like to have lunch, Kasumigaoka-senpai? I can make some for youfree of charge."
Yukima Azuma's tone was casual.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at him for a moment, her gaze icy.
Then she turned away and continued up the stairs.
"Not interested," came her cold voice from above.
.....
Back in her room, Kasumigaoka Utaha sat by the bed, her eyebrows now furrowed in earnest.
"Since when did he learn to cook? He didn't know a thing beforehe used to rely on me to make egg-fried rice just to get by."
Memories of the past began to resurface.
Yukima Azuma, living alone in Tokyo, surviving on nutrient-poor convenience store meals or simply ordering takeout.
After they started dating, Kasumigaoka Utaha would occasionally visit his rented apartment to cook him simple dishes.
About three times a week.
Although Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't a culinary expert or the epitome of a "perfect Japanese woman," she had consistently scored well in cooking classes and was proficient in preparing basic dishes.
Whenever Yukima Azuma ate her egg-fried rice, curry, or grilled mackerel, he would often lift his head, staring intently at Kasumigaoka Utaha without blinking, his mouth full of food.
His eyes, as if speaking on their own, radiated admiration and silent praise.
Now, thinking about that same boy, who had just casually asked if she wanted him to "whip up" a portion for her, Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation.
After all, what she heard was simply a casual offer.
Perhaps it was her "ex-boyfriend lens" distorting things.
.....
The morning passed quickly.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had just finished tidying her room and arranging her belongings in the corners.
Even though Yukima Azuma had clearly done a thorough cleaning beforehand, some dust inevitably kicked up after her efforts.
She opened her window and door, planning to let the dust settle before cleaning again.
But as soon as she opened her door, she heard noises from downstairsthe rhythmic thud-thud of a knife on a cutting board and the sizzle-sizzle of a pan on the stove.
From the sound alone, she could sense how skilled the cook had become.
And then, almost immediately, the rich aroma of food wafted into her room, carried by the air.
Japanese cuisine typically focuses on stews or raw dishes.
The smell of stir-fried food, however, offered a tantalizing richness, its enticing aroma a stark contrast to the subtler scents of traditional Japanese fare.
"Grrrr"
Her stomach growled audibly, betraying her hunger.
It couldn't be helpedshe had been busy all morning.
Hearing the activity downstairs and smelling the aroma floating upward only soured her mood further.
Because cooking was a skill Yukima Azuma had picked up after they parted ways.
And this fact gnawed at Kasumigaoka Utaha, stirring a storm of thoughts.
She wondered for whom he was cooking now, for whom he had learned to cook.
Did he ever cut his fingers while learning, needing to wrap them in bandages?
Did he ever place a carefully prepared dish in front of someone else, while nervously hiding his bandaged hands behind his back?
"Bang!"
The door slammed shut.
Kasumigaoka Utaha angrily opened her suitcase and took out a pineapple pastry she had prepared earlier.
It was one of her favorite snacks.
She had specifically brought it for lunch on her moving day.
But now, as she bit into it, she found it utterly tasteless.
.....
Yukima Azuma set the food on the table, having prepared a single portion.
He knew Kasumigaoka Utaha all too well.
In a situation like this, no matter how hungry she might be, her pride would never allow her to come downstairs to eat with him.
Making two portions would have been a waste.
After finishing his meal, Yukima Azuma returned to his room. He took out a seven-inch boardit was a shogi board.
With a club meeting scheduled for Saturday, he decided to hone his skills with some shogi puzzle books.
The afternoon passed quickly.
As usual, Yukima Azuma cooked dinner for himself.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Kasumigaoka Utaha typed furiously away at her manuscript. Occasionally, she glanced at the clock.
Noticing it was well past dinnertime, she began tapping her foot impatiently.
"Not even a word about dinner."
Even though she would have refused the offer had he asked, the fact that he didn't even ask irked her for no reason.
"Guess I'll have to order takeout," she muttered to herself and resumed typing.
What she forgot, however, was that once she got into the rhythm of writing, she would completely lose track of time.
By the time she finished a small section and paused, she glanced at the clock again.
It was already past 1 a.m.
As she emerged from her focused state, the gnawing sensation of hunger hit her with full force.
Her stomach began to grumble audibly, making her curl up on her bed with a sigh.
At 1 a.m. in Japan, ordering takeout was almost impossible.
And she had only bought one pineapple pastry.
"Am I seriously going to have to starve until morning?"
The thought sent a pang through her stomach.
She reluctantly got up, deciding to head downstairs to check the fridge for any ingredients.
"No other choice. I'll just have to endure tonight and buy fresh groceries tomorrow morning to stock the fridge."
Chapter 7: And So Kasumigaoka Utaha Fled in Panic
Kasumigaoka Utaha groped her way down the staircase in the dark.
Trying her best to tread lightly.
'It would be embarrassing if I woke him up.'
With this thought in mind, she slowly made her way toward the kitchen.
However, just as she reached the middle of the living room...
"Click!"
The sound of a switch being flipped echoed, followed by the sudden illumination of the living room. The fluorescent light made her squint.
After adjusting to the abrupt brightness, Kasumigaoka Utaha turned her gaze toward the switch.
Standing near the kitchen area of the living room was Yukima Azuma.
Seeing this scene, Kasumigaoka Utaha said nothing, hurriedly turned around, and prepared to leave.
But as soon as she turned, she heard hurried footsteps from behind. A hand instantly grasped her wrist.
It was a long, warm hand.
The fingers gripped her wrist firmly, leaving behind a lingering sensation.
The warmth from the point of contact caused Kasumigaoka Utaha's body to stiffen slightly.
She tried to maintain a composed expression as she turned back to look.
"What are you doing?"
She frowned.
Her voice and gaze were as cold as the northern wind, enough to make others shiver.
But no matter how icy her expression appeared,
Anyone who knew Kasumigaoka Utaha well would understand that if she wasn't smirking coldly and delivering sarcastic remarks, then she wasn't actually annoyed or angry.
This seemingly indifferent demeanor was, in fact, panic.
For this reason, Yukima Azuma wasn't fazed. He continued to firmly hold onto Kasumigaoka Utaha's wrist.
After a brief struggle, Kasumigaoka Utaha once again felt the sharp pain in her stomach. Her body involuntarily went limp.
Seizing the moment, Yukima Azuma guided her to sit on a chair in the living room.
Then he turned and walked into the kitchen.
Kasumigaoka Utaha watched Yukima Azuma's retreating figure, her gaze complicated.
It wasn't long before Yukima Azuma returned from the kitchen.
In his hands were a cup of coffee and a small dish.
"Senpai, I tried making hand-brewed coffee. Could you help me taste it?"
He asked gently.
Those seemingly insignificant words felt like a powerful wave crashing against Kasumigaoka Utaha's heart.
The emotions suppressed in her heart suddenly surged forth.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the delivery box by the door.
The box, originally sealed, had now been opened, and its contents had been removed.
Judging by the size and shape of the foam pieces inside, she could easily guess what it was.
Moreover, putting aside the matter of the coffee machine...
How could Kasumigaoka Utaha not know that Yukima Azuma didn't drink coffee?
It was only herdue to writing light novels, losing track of time, and staying up latewho regularly drank coffee.
On the small dish were two sugar cubes.
Kasumigaoka Utaha always added two sugar cubes to her coffee.
Not more, not less.
No matter how many psychological filters she tried to apply, she couldn't view the hand-brewed coffee before her as something Yukima Azuma had made "by chance."
This gesture, no matter how prideful she was, could not be ignored.
She dropped the two sugar cubes into the cup.
Kasumigaoka Utaha cradled the cup with both hands and sipped the coffee in small mouthfuls.
Seeing her begin to drink, Yukima Azuma let out a relieved sigh and turned back toward the kitchen.
Before long, the sounds of a knife chopping vegetables and a lighter clicking echoed from the kitchen.
Kasumigaoka Utaha continued sipping the coffee.
Warmth spread from her hands through her entire body.
'Why is it this good?'
She couldn't help but wonder.
It wasn't her fault; after all, she usually drank canned coffee or instant coffee.
Even if Yukima Azuma wasn't a hand-brew coffee expert,
The flavor of this coffee was clearly a cut above the cheap, industrial types she often consumed.
'Better than the coffee at cafs When did he learn to do this?'
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't realize that this impression was merely her own illusion.
Even with the assistance of his cooking skill, the coffee Yukima Azuma brewed was only on par with the average quality of the coffee she'd had at local cafs.
Seemingly after only a few sips,
Yukima Azuma reappeared in front of Kasumigaoka Utaha.
He placed a steaming bowl of noodles on the table before her. In the bowl were slices of grilled meat and a variety of well-prepared vegetables.
He then brought out a few small dishes of side items he had prepared earlier and set them beside the bowl.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was at a loss for words and could only "resign" herself, picking up the chopsticks and eating the noodles in small bites.
The food was unexpectedly delicious.
The side dishes, she couldn't even name them.
But she ate them all.
Her gaze became a bit hazy.
Perhaps it was the steam rising from the bowl of noodles.
Through the mist, the image of the young man sitting across from her resembled the days gone by.
At this moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt as though three years had passed, and nothing had changed between them.
However, no matter how slowly she ate, the bowl of noodles eventually emptied.
Kasumigaoka Utaha silently cleared the bowls and chopsticks, taking them to the kitchen.
The sound of running water echoed.
A moment later, the sound of water stopped.
Yukima Azuma stood outside the kitchen, waiting for her.
When Kasumigaoka Utaha finished washing the dishes and stepped out, Yukima Azuma smiled gently and said,
"Good night, senpai!"
"Good night..." Kasumigaoka Utaha replied, before hurriedly leaving.
She couldn't help but run away.
Kasumigaoka Utaha feared that if she didn't leave immediately, she wouldn't be able to control her emotions. She wouldn't be able to stop herself and would end up lowering her pride, apologizing to the young man before her, and begging him to return to her.
...
Watching Kasumigaoka Utaha rush off, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but smile slyly.
Tonight, she had changed from her academy uniform into a dark blue sleepwear set.
Her perfect figure was wonderfully accentuated, her curves mesmerizing.
Her long black hair, silky as ever, was simply styled with a white headband, enhancing her beauty like a work of art.
Her long, slender legs were still covered by black stockings, but the short sleepwear, shorter than her school skirt, easily revealed her "Zettai Ryouiki," drawing everyone's attention.
It was truly a perfect figure; if it were stretched a little longer, it would have been excessive, and if shortened just a little, it would have been lacking. Even if captured by chance in a photograph, it would undoubtedly be stunning, possibly making for a beautiful wallpaper.
Only when Kasumigaoka Utaha changed into her sleepwear did Yukima Azuma have the time to admire her beauty.
But... it wasn't too late!
Watching Kasumigaoka Utaha's figure disappear down the stairs, Yukima Azuma turned around and headed to his room.
Time to sleep!
Chapter 8: The Protagonist of a Light Novel is a Reflection of the Author
The next morning.
Despite having said "Good night,"
Kasumigaoka, dressed neatly, still showed faint dark circles under her eyes.
Her skin was always beautiful, one might even say it was natural, so even a slight dark circle like that showed how irregular her sleeping habits were.
She hugged her tablet.
Today, Kasumigaoka was headed to Fujikawa Shoten.
Even though she had stayed up late, she had finally completed the fourth volume of The Metronome in Love, the project that had been delayed for so long... thanks to someone.
Before leaving the house, she walked past the entrance.
She noticed the white slippers on the shoe rack, still with their price tags on.
Size 37.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at the slippers for a moment before striding out of the apartment.
.....
At the caf on the ground floor of Fujikawa Shoten,
Machida Sonoko had already ordered two cups of coffee and was waiting.
Kasumi Utako-sensei, or Kasumigaoka Utaha, had delayed the fourth volume for quite a while.
This made Machida Sonoko worry whether Kasumi Utako would be able to complete the manuscript before the deadline.
Or perhaps they'd have to push the release date back.
Unexpectedly, early this morning, Kasumi Utako suddenly reported that the new volume was complete.
This news made Machida Sonoko so happy that she could hardly believe it.
But at the same time, she also felt a vague sense of unease.
The history of The Metronome in Love's release had been tumultuous.
When Kasumi Utako first brought the manuscript for the first volume to meet her,
Machida Sonoko, a veteran editor, had the feeling of "being enlightened."
It was a work that, at a glance, anyone would feel could sell very well.
While it might not become a "masterpiece," it would surely make a splash in the market.
After its release, reality proved that Machida Sonoko's judgment was correct.
Volume 1 sold a total of over 1.3 million copies.
At this rate,
The Metronome in Love could publish 10 volumes, the average length of a light novel series, and wrap up.
The total sales could surpass 10 million copies.
It would become one of the best-selling works on the rankings.
However,
Volume 2 ended in a disastrous failure.
The sales were only around 200,000 copies.
Despite the continued support from the strong promotion of Volume 1.
This nearly caused The Metronome in Love to be halted mid-way.
In the end, though it persevered,
Volume 3 ended up as a mediocre work.
It no longer had the same impressive impact as Volume 1.
If this continued, Volume 5 would probably have to end hastily,
Becoming the typical example of a rushed, unsatisfying conclusion.
Though for a new author, this was still an incredible achievement.
Machida Sonoko, however, felt that Kasumi Utako could absolutely do more than just this.
As she pondered,
The caf door opened.
Machida Sonoko quickly composed herself and waved at Kasumigaoka Utaha entering.
"Shi-chan, over here!"
Kasumigaoka sat down across from Machida Sonoko and pushed the printed manuscript for Volume 4 toward her.
Then she rested her hands on her cheeks, clearly a bit tired.
"I've told you before, don't call me that."
Seeing that Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed down,
Machida Sonoko stopped teasing.
"Alright, alright, Kasumi Utako-sensei, let me take a look at the manuscript..."
She fully focused on reviewing the manuscript.
Before even flipping through the first page,
Machida Sonoko couldn't help but widen her eyes.
She quickly flipped to the next page.
Her initial concerns almost disappeared.
The manuscript for this volume made her feel once again like the first time they had mether perspective was being expanded.
The only sound between them was the rustling of the pages being turned.
About half an hour later, after flipping through the last page, Machida Sonoko closed the manuscript.
"Wonderful, Kasumi Utako-sensei! This volume will definitely turn the tides for the work!"
Upon hearing such praise,
Kasumigaoka Utaha only traced circles on the table with her finger, not showing the joy that one might expect.
The coffee in front of her had barely been touched.
She only took a sip and then couldn't continue drinking.
Compared to the cup of coffee she had last night, the difference was so stark that she couldn't swallow anymore.
Machida Sonoko, oblivious to Kasumigaoka Utaha's distant state, excitedly said,
"Kasumi Utako-sensei, have you recently met someone who makes your heart flutter?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha's finger paused for a moment as she traced circles on the table, then she looked up.
"Why do you say that?"
Machida Sonoko pointed to the manuscript in her hands.
"A common issue for new authors is that the first protagonist is often a reflection of themselves, an extension of the author."
"In this volume, 'Sayuka' in your work seems to have come alive, making the reader feel deeply moved."
"This situation often indicates that the author's own emotions have been reflected in the work, meaning there is 'sincerity' in it!"
Upon hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha instinctively placed her hand over her chest.
'Is it that obvious?'
...
After discussing the issues related to the release,
Volume 4 would be released early next month.
Fujikawa Shoten would allocate some promotional resources and organize a launch event.
They hoped that the excellence of this volume could shift public opinion about the work.
Kasumigaoka Utaha returned to her apartment.
As she entered,
Her eyes once again fell on the white slippers on the shoe rack.
After a moment,
She took off her black leather shoes and neatly placed them on the step next to Yukima Azuma's shoes.
Then she took the white slippers, peeled off the tag, and slipped them on.
They fit perfectly.
"Kasumigaoka-senpai, you're back! Can you help me bring out the dishes?"
The call from the kitchen echoed.
Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly walked toward the kitchen, her steps slightly hurried.
From the kitchen, she brought out some dishes that looked very appetizing.
Today, Yukima Azuma had made stir-fried green peppers with meat, Mapo tofu, and tempura shrimp.
Both their appearance and aroma were irresistible.
As she brought the dishes out, Kasumigaoka Utaha secretly grabbed a piece of tempura shrimp and popped it into her mouth.
The tempura coating was crispy, and the shrimp inside was fresh and juicy.
If it weren't for Kasumigaoka Utaha's strong self-control,
When Yukima Azuma came to the table, there would likely be no tempura shrimp left.
Watching Yukima Azuma in the kitchen, skillfully cleaning up,
The corners of Kasumigaoka Utaha's mouth couldn't help but curl up.
Renting this place had truly been a wonderful decision.
The time ahead was still long.
Knock knock knock...
The sound of knocking echoed from the entrance.
Kasumigaoka, who rarely wakes up early, raised an eyebrow.
Yukima Azuma had gone out for a run this morning.
She had gotten used to his routine over the past few days.
But if it was Yukima Azuma coming back, he should have used his key to open the door.
Could he have forgotten his key? It would be very unusual for him to do something so careless.
As she thought this, Kasumigaoka walked toward the entrance.
Other than this possibility, she couldn't think of any other reason.
And at this early hour, who would visit this apartment?
Could it be a beautiful silver-haired woman coming to visit?
With a click, Kasumigaoka opened the front door.
"Forget even a key? How useless..."
Her sharp words were cut short.
Standing outside the door was a small, beautiful girl with silver hair.
At this moment, she was holding a folding fan, gently tapping it against her neck, looking somewhat impatient.
But she stopped for a moment,
Clearly encountering an unexpected situation.
Her eyes widened.
Sora Ginko stared at the woman who appeared in the apartment.
"Tch!"
The sound of tongue clicking was clearly a sign of dissatisfaction.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression also slightly changed.
"Why... why is this 'fat' girl here?"
"What are you doing here?"
Both of them spoke up to question each other.
Then, they stood facing each other at the entrance.
Sora Ginko glared at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was not afraid, crossing her arms, sneering, and looking back at her.
After a long silence, Sora Ginko averted her gaze, said nothing, and stepped into the apartment.
Kasumigaoka Utaha did not stop her.
After all, she currently had no authority to stop Sora Ginko.
Moreover, if she really blocked her at the door,
When Yukima Azuma came back, she would be in the wrong and would be at a disadvantage.
Still, even though she couldn't stop Sora Ginko from entering, Kasumigaoka Utaha had other ways to retaliate.
"The disposable slippers are on the bottom shelf of the shoe cabinet, please feel free to use them."
Kasumigaoka Utaha said with a smile, then turned away, her footsteps on the white slippers making a clicking sound.
"Tch!"
Sora Ginko clicked her tongue again.
She looked at the disposable slippers on the bottom shelf of the shoe cabinet.
Then, she took off her small leather shoes.
Her slender toes, covered by black socks, directly touched the wooden floor.
The floor of the apartment was very clean; Yukima Azuma often hired someone to clean it regularly, so walking barefoot on the floor was not an issue.
.....
The two sat facing each other in the living room, a cold air spreading between them.
They had known each other for a long time.
After all, one was Yukima Azuma's ex-girlfriend, and the other is a senior sister who studied shogi together since childhood.
But their relationship now...
Looking at the situation right now, it was clear they were enemies.
In fact, it hadn't been like this from the beginning.
When Kasumigaoka Utaha was still Yukima Azuma's girlfriend, Sora Ginko didn't like her, but she wouldn't say anything too harsh.
And Kasumigaoka Utaha, as the girlfriend, had treated her boyfriend's senior sister with a certain level of respect.
However, three years ago, when Kasumigaoka Utaha and Yukima Azuma broke up,
Their relationship could never return to what it had been.
Sora Ginko thought that, as Yukima Azuma's ex-girlfriend, no matter how dissatisfied she might be,
At the time of the incident at Yukima's house,
Kasumigaoka Utaha shouldn't have broken up with him and abandoned him like that.
Even if they broke up, she should have waited for a better time.
But Kasumigaoka Utaha had no idea about what had happened at Yukima's house.
The two of them, because of clashing personalities and lack of experience in love,
Had ended up breaking up.
However, as soon as they broke up, Kasumigaoka Utaha had thought about reconciling.
But when she turned back, she found that Yukima Azuma seemed to have disappeared from the world.
He transferred schools from Tokyo, the apartment was abandoned, and he couldn't be reached.
When contacting Sora Ginko, who had been the intermediary, she only received a rude attitude.
Thus, their relationship had been severed from that point on.
"What's a person like you doing here? You abandoned him three years ago, now you're back?"
Sora Ginko gritted her teeth, her gaze full of indescribable emotions.
Clearly, the person before her had done something unforgivable at that time,
Yet now, just a moment later, she had returned to live in Yukima Azuma's apartment.
And this had never been mentioned to her.
Sora Ginko felt betrayed.
"What? What are you talking about? There's no reason for that at all."
How could she say that I abandoned him?
Kasumigaoka Utaha felt that Sora Ginko's words didn't make sense at all.
Fortunately, the verbal sparring didn't last long.
The sound of a door opening from the hallway was heard.
Yukima Azuma stepped into the apartment, seeing the small pair of women's leather shoes by the door, and raised an eyebrow.
"Kasumigaoka-senpai's friend?"
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
Was this a joke?
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't have friends.
With her hedgehog-like personality, who could get close without getting pricked?
If it had to be said, maybe Eriri.
But if Eriri came all the way here, it would be a strange thing indeed.
"I can tell you're thinking something rude, Yukima-kun," Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke up, her tone displeased.
"It's nothing."
Yukima Azuma looked up and saw Kasumigaoka Utaha and Sora Ginko.
Today, Sora Ginko was just as usual, wearing a dark blue sailor uniform.
There was a red silk scarf on her chest, accentuating the cuteness of the sailor outfit.
The most striking feature was the black choker around her neck.
Sora Ginko's neck was already flawless, and this choker highlighted her beauty even more.
With short silver hair and a delicate face, she was indeed a petite, beautiful girl.
It was just that the disdainful look she had now slightly ruined the atmosphere...
Hmm? Or maybe that look just adds to the excitement?
"Ginko, good morning. Did you come to Tokyo just to go to the Shogi club with me?"
Yukima Azuma said with a cheerful smile, his face full of surprise.
Seeing Yukima Azuma pleased by her appearance, Sora Ginko's cold gaze seemed to soften just a little.
Today was Saturday.
Yukima Azuma planned to go for a run in the morning, take a shower, and then board the Shinkansen to Chiba.
The distance from Tokyo to Chiba wasn't far, and taking the Shinkansen only took a little time.
So, even though it was early in the morning, there was no need to rush.
However, Yukima Azuma hadn't expected Sora Ginko to travel all the way from Chiba to Tokyo.
Was she afraid that he might make a promise and then "abandon" her?
Sora Ginko observed Yukima Azuma, who seemed happy just because of her arrival.
Her cold face was no longer as serious as before.
However, she still didn't seem friendly towards him.
She cast a glance at Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was standing next to him.
Having known each other for many years, Yukima Azuma naturally understood what Sora Ginko meant.
She was asking about Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Ginko, this is Kasumigaoka-senpai. Senpai, this is Sora Ginko, my Shogi senior sister. You two must have met before."
Yukima Azuma acted as the mediator and introduced them.
"Kasumigaoka-senpai is my current tenant. She just moved in recently. Ginko, you know that I rent out an apartment."
"Ginko is here to take me to the shogi club in Chiba. There's an official match today, and I plan to participate."
After hearing Yukima Azuma's explanation, Sora Ginko let out a small sigh of relief.
Although she didn't like the idea of this "fat girl" living in Yukima Azuma's house, as long as they didn't suddenly rekindle their relationship without informing her, Sora Ginko could accept it.
When Yukima Azuma spoke, Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze wavered slightly.
Shogi, huh?
Of course, she knew Yukima Azuma played shogi, and he had even been a prodigy in the shogi world before.
But three years ago, suddenly...
However, now he was starting again with shogi. Could there be a special meaning behind it?
Anyway, Kasumigaoka Utaha was genuinely pleased that Yukima Azuma was willing to explain things to her.
Yukima Azuma didn't really need to explain any of this to her.
In just a few short sentences, the two seemed to have settled things between them.
Yukima Azuma went into the bathroom and quickly showered.
Afterward, he changed into clothes he had already prepared and went to the door with Sora Ginko.
"I'm heading out."
Suddenly, Yukima Azuma turned back and said to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Kasumigaoka Utaha nearly reacted instinctively: "Safe travels."
When she realized what she had just said, Yukima Azuma and Sora Ginko had already left the apartment.
Her ears turned slightly red.
"I'm heading out" and "Safe travels."
These were common phrases exchanged in Japan when someone was leavingpart of the customary communication in the culture.
(note: ittekimasu, itterasshai)
And these words were typically spoken only by family or those with close relationships.
"That was calculated ahead of time."
Kasumigaoka Utaha mumbled to herself.
...
After stepping outside, Yukima Azuma felt a bit of tension in the air.
"Tch!"
Sora Ginko shook her head in dissatisfaction.
"Hey, Ginko, are there any tough opponents in this official match?" Yukima Azuma directly changed the subject.
Although he knew Yukima Azuma was trying to change the topic, Sora Ginko reluctantly continued the conversation.
"Yeah, there's one guy who's pretty difficult."
Sora Ginko continued, showing her concern and worry about Yukima Azuma returning to shogi after three years.
"The opponent in this official match is someone with a range of skill from beginner to professional level," she looked into Yukima Azuma's eyes and continued.
"There's one person who's especially tough to handle, the strongest one in this match."
"That person is Yamato Kajin, eight-dan, the strongest in this match. He's been training under 'Meijin.'"
"Eight-dan?" Yukima Azuma exclaimed, his voice showing surprise.
In the world of shogi, players are clearly ranked.
Ignoring amateur levels, players must attend training sessions to pass exams, and after that, join a training association to enter the professional world of shogi.
Ranks in the training association range from F1, F2, up to S, and to move up in rank, players must continuously participate in matches and accumulate win/loss points.
Among them, ranks from C1 and above have the right to take the exam for the Promotion Association.
The Promotion Association is where truly professional players are trained.
Even the lowest rank in the Promotion Association is rank 6, which must be stronger than C1 in the Training Association.
Once in the Promotion Association, players must accumulate win/loss points through official matches to level up.
From rank 6 to rank 1, then beginner level, level 2, level 3, and the highest level, level 4.
Sora Ginko was currently at level 2 in the Promotion Association.
And only when a player reaches level 4 in the Promotion Association are they considered a professional player, which is equivalent to achieving a 4th professional rank.
As for Yamato Kajin, he was already at eight-dan.
He was nearly at the peak of the shogi world, belonging to an extremely rare group.
Not to mention, this opponent was also studying under "Meijin."
Sora Ginko looked at Yukima Azuma's expression but couldn't read anything from it.
With her thoughts spinning, Sora Ginko suddenly grabbed the hem of Yukima Azuma's shirt, causing him to bend down slightly.
To Yukima Azuma's surprise, she extended her arms and wrapped them around his neck.
"It's alright! You're the strongest shogi player I've ever met"
"I'm sure if you were still active in the shogi world, you would have surpassed eight-dan long ago!"
"With you, no matter who the opponent is, you would win!"
"Stand proud, you are strongest!"
Yukima Azuma blinked at her words.
In reality, he wasn't worried or scared at all.
As long as he didn't face 'Meijin,' he was confident against any other opponent.
The previous exclamation was just admiration for the strict ranking system in shogi.
However, he couldn't say that now, or else Sora Ginko's feelings would become a joke.
Yukima Azuma gently returned the embrace.
Her small frame gave him an oddly tender feeling.
"Nah, with your encouragement, even 'Meijin,' I would win to prove it to you!" Yukima Azuma said.
Upon hearing this, Sora Ginko face immediately flushed red.
She pushed Yukima Azuma away, lowered her head, and quickly walked off.
"Go, go... you'll be late if you don't!" she muttered.
From behind, the girl's ears had also turned a soft shade of pink.
--------------------------------
I'm not sure if the author meant it that way but I made it a jjk reference
At the Shogi Club in Chiba.
This is the largest Shogi club in Chiba Prefecture and also the venue for workshops organized by the government. The official match will be held here.
As soon as they arrived outside the club's gate, someone waved and called out to the two.
"Azuma, Ginko, over here!"
A girl with long brown hair and a full figure was waving her hand.
Kiyotaki Keika.
She is Yukima Azuma's senior and also the daughter of Master Kiyotaki Kousuke, who taught Yukima Azuma. She is 24 years old and has the gentle appearance of a traditional Japanese woman.
Next to her is Kiyotaki Kousuke, a famous Shogi master who has now retired.
Both of them are clearly not participants in the official competition.
They are here to cheer on Yukima Azuma.
"Hello, Keika-san, Master."
Yukima Azuma greeted the two.
Kiyotaki Keika has not yet become a professional female Shogi player, while Kiyotaki Kousuke is a legend in the Shogi world and has now retired.
"Hello, Master."
Sora Ginko greeted Kiyotaki Kousuke and quickly ran into the club.
Seeing this, Kiyotaki Keika smiled.
"Ginko couldn't wait anymore, she went to Tokyo to pick you up by herself. What happened, did something happen on the way?"
Sora Ginko's state was clearly quite embarrassed.
Yukima Azuma explained what had happened on the way to Kiyotaki Keika and Kiyotaki Kousuke.
After hearing the story, Kiyotaki Keika couldn't help but rub her face and smile like a mother.
"Azuma has really grown up, hasn't he?"
As someone who has watched Yukima Azuma grow up, how could Kiyotaki Keika not understand Sora Ginko's feelings for Yukima Azuma?
The thing is, Sora Ginko has a bit of pride, and Yukima Azuma used to be a bit straightforward.
But now, what about now?
Insert Gif: "Mother's Smile"
"Alright, let's go in. This is the long-awaited official exam, what are your thoughts? Don't get me wrong, I'm not worried about you at all."
Kiyotaki Kousuke said this.
Although he said so, as a mentor, if he truly wasn't worried, he wouldn't have come to the Shogi hall.
"I can only do my best."
Yukima Azuma humbly replied.
...
After the three entered the Shogi hall, they split up. Two of them went to the spectator area, while one headed to the competition area.
"Azuma has really grown up a lot."
Kiyotaki Keika muttered to herself.
As someone who had witnessed Yukima Azuma grow, she was the one who understood best the incredible talent Yukima Azuma had in Shogi.
He truly is a monster. When he first joined the training program, he was able to compete against and defeat members of the top league without any concessions.
Before becoming a professional player, Yukima Azuma had never lost a match, except during his learning phase and in training matches with professional players.
Winning against stronger opponents was an everyday occurrence, and defeating peers his age was entirely easy.
After becoming a professional player, Yukima Azuma only lost once when facing the "Meijin" in a match.
So, is losing to the "Meijin" something to be ashamed of?
In the entire Shogi world, who has never lost to the "Meijin"?
Those who have never lost might not even have the qualifications.
A monster like him, even with a three-year hiatus, wouldn't need to "try his best" for ordinary official matches.
So, when Yukima Azuma said that, it could only mean he was worried about someone.
Kiyotaki Keika, now 24, still hadn't become a professional female Shogi player.
If Yukima Azuma were a little more arrogant, he might unintentionally hurt Kiyotaki Keika.
He truly has grown up, and this growth is so incredible it's hard to believe.
.....
The official match is a win-based series.
Players will be paired randomly for each round, and after each round, they'll be eliminated based on the number of wins and losses.
For higher-ranking title matches, the format is single-elimination.
As soon as Yukima Azuma entered the hall, many eyes were drawn to him.
Whether they were official Shogi staff, competitors in the official match, Shogi reporters, or spectators along the sidelines, all were focused on him.
This was unavoidable.
Yukima Azuma was once the most talked-about undefeated prodigy in the Shogi world.
After losing to the "Meijin," this was the first time in three years that he had participated in an official match again.
"Hey, that guy is..."
"That's right, the Shogi monster from three years ago."
"After losing to the 'Meijin,' he disappeared, and now he's showing up again."
"A three-year hiatus, even a genius might fade into the crowd."
Whispers filled the air.
Sitting in the spectator area, Sora Ginko heard these words, and her face darkened with a terrifying expression.
But the one being talked about paid them no mind at all.
After the draw for opponents, Yukima Azuma sat down opposite a young man in his twenties.
Those who had risen from the basic ranks of the top league, aside from the true geniuses, rarely had faces that were too young.
"Hello, I'm Kawai Kenichi, a beginner. Please be gentle with me."
"Yukima Azuma, 5th dan. Please take care of me."
After bowing to each other, the game began.
Kawai Kenichi actually only had a slight hope for luck.
Although he had drawn a 5th dan opponent from the start, he had heard stories about Yukima Azuma.
Three years without playing Shogi.
He was sure he had completely lost touch with the Shogi world by now.
In this field, it's like a boat sailing upstream if you don't progress, you fall behind.
No matter how much of a genius someone is, three years is enough to make them fade into obscurity.
That should have been the case.
However...
Just after nine moves,
Kawai Kenichi, a beginner, had his mentality completely shattered.
After only nine moves, he was already in a disadvantageous position.
The person sitting across from him did not hide his aggressive intentions.
The claws of the monster easily tore apart his defense.
The sense of overwhelming pressure was almost tangible, hitting him hard.
There was no hope of winning.
Kawai Kenichi had never felt this way before.
Even when playing against his master, the feeling of pressure had never been this intense.
The sound of pieces falling onto the board echoed constantly.
Almost every time Kawai Kenichi made a move, he immediately heard his opponent's pieces respond.
'Does this monster not even need to think?'
Kawai Kenichi briefly doubted in his mind.
Forty-seven moves.
When the rook in Yukima Azuma's hand landed on the board,
"I've lost."
Kawai Kenichi helplessly bowed his head.
A series of astonished gasps filled the hall.
Shogi is a game where victory and defeat are usually hard to determine. Even when there is a significant difference in skill, it typically takes 90 to 120 moves to decide the outcome.
Let alone in high-level matches, where sometimes players can compete for an entire day and night.
A victory in less than 50 moves? That was nothing short of a massacre.
"The winner, Yukima Azuma, 5th dan."
With the referee's decision, a wave of admiration and astonishment swept through the Shogi hall.
The players at the surrounding tables almost all stopped and stared in disbelief.
Is it over already?
It can't be!
Most of their games had only just begun to shift.
In fact, most of them had only made a few opening moves and hadn't even really started their matches yet.
It's already over?
Isn't that a bit too surprising?
The players at two nearby tables couldn't contain their curiosity, standing up and looking toward Yukima Azuma game.
And then, their eyes turned to fear.
It was truly a disaster.
A completely one-sided slaughter.
The brutal scene was so overwhelming that it was hard to look at!
The surrounding players looked at Kawai Kenichi with pity in their eyes.
If they had to endure a match like that, they probably wouldn't be able to eat or drink for at least three days.
Kawai Kenichi: "No, it's seven days!"
Kawai Kenichi: "You don't understand what I've been through."
The two of them bowed to each other.
Kawai Kenichi, dazed, walked toward the resting room, his steps unsteady.
Yukima Azuma stood up, smiling at the audience.
Sora Ginko saw this.
She covered her face with both hands.
She was worried again for this monster.
As for the other spectators, when they saw Yukima Azuma's smile, they fell silent.
How should they put it?
The feeling was that the smile was accompanied by blood at the corner of his mouth.
Not everyone who came to the hall to watch the official match was a professional player, but at the very least, they had some understanding of Shogi.
Therefore, the way Yukima Azuma openly displayed his ruthless intentions on the board made many people feel a chill.
After all, no one would say things like "outdated among the crowd" anymore.
The official tournament would last for about a month and a half, which wasn't a short period.
The subsequent matches were scheduled every two or three days, or sometimes just once a week.
Only the opening match used a special format with three consecutive games for a direct elimination.
Yukima Azuma waited a while in the resting room, until his opponent in the next round had just finished their first game.
Then came the third round.
In the next two games, Yukima Azuma, with an average of 80 moves per game, easily completed the first day of the tournament.
When the screen on the left side of the hall, which displayed the list of winning players, showed Yukima Azuma's name,
There were still players who hadn't even finished their first game.
"Too strong..."
"This is just absurd!"
"Is this the value of the 'undefeated genius'?"
Whispers filled the hall.
Yukima Azuma left the competition area.
Sora Ginko quickly moved from the spectator section to join him.
"Let's go, Ginko, we're heading home. I wonder what Keika-san will cook for us today?"
Yukima Azuma had a slightly eager look on his face.
After the official matches, by tradition, he would go to his master's house for dinner.
However, Sora Ginko wasn't pleased and raised her hand.
She lightly tapped Yukima Azuma on the head with the fan she was holding.
"Idiot, after the official match ends, there's also an interview!"
Since this was a public tournament, Shogi also needed media coverage and viewership. Therefore, post-match interviews were inevitable.
"That stuff doesn't matter, let's go, let's go," Yukima Azuma didn't care, waving his hand dismissively.
Sora Ginko stared at him.
"I'm really worried about this guy; there must be something wrong with my head."
This thought briefly crossed her mind.
In the end, Yukima Azuma couldn't escape.
He was dragged by Sora Ginko up to the third floor, where the Shogi Federation's resting area was, to wait for the end of the official match.
"It's been a while, Yukima Azuma, 5th dan."
In the resting room, someone had already been waiting.
"This is the place, long time no see, president."
Yukima Azuma politely responded.
The person sitting across from him was a young man.
Tsukimitsu Seiichi, 9th dan, currently the of the Shogi Federation, holder of the "Eternal Meijin" title, and a living legend in the Shogi world.
If he hadn't gone blind at the age of 20, this person might have set many more records.
The so-called "Heaven is jealous of geniuses."
When Yukima Azuma suddenly entered the professional Shogi world and reached 4th dan, the president had personally visited him.
The two of them had a pleasant conversation.
"I'm glad to hear news of you again."
"Thanks to everyone's help, I was finally able to return here."
"The past doesn't matter. As long as you can sit here, that's enough."
"Yes."
If it were someone else, Yukima Azuma would definitely not have tolerated speaking in a tone that resembled that of a senior.
However, in Japanese society, the hierarchy and respect between ranks are very strict.
Yukima Azuma, though, didn't really care about that.
But President Tsukimitsu was different.
When Yukima Azuma's family had fallen into hardship, he had left the Shogi world. Somehow, President Tsukimitsu had learned about it and had offered him substantial help.
Thus, even though Yukima Azuma had been away from the Shogi world for three years, he still held Tsukimitsu in great respect and always sent greetings during holidays and festivals.
"Alright, you always seem so tense when you see me. Drink some tea."
Tsukimitsu smiled helplessly, his hand gently sliding over the table before pushing a cup of tea toward Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma picked up the cup and took a sip.
After a brief wait, the first day of the official tournament finally came to an end.
As one of the winners in the intense first round, Yukima Azuma had to attend an interview.
"Well then, President Tsukimitsu, I'll excuse myself."
"Go ahead, go ahead, it's fine."
After Yukima Azuma left, Tsukimitsu finally showed a smile, as though a heavy burden had been lifted.
"President?"
Tsukimitsu assistant helped him stand up, a little confused by his attitude, and gently asked.
"As long as he can return, that's enough." Tsukimitsu gazed blankly at the door. "A person like him stopping there would be a huge loss for the entire Shogi world."
Upon hearing this, the assistant was slightly surprised.
She had just watched Yukima Azuma match, and it was indeed very impressive.
But such praise seemed a bit excessive.
In Tsukimitsu words, even the "Meijin" had never received such exaggerated compliments.
Chapter 13: Date With Me
The sound of camera shutters and flashing lights had not stopped since Yukima Azuma stepped onto the stage.
The competitors who had just exited the stage, all of whom were also winners of the first round, looked at the scene with a hint of regret.
Though they were all victors in this official tournament, why was he the only one stirring up such a spectacle?
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma was no longer fazed by it.
He was a prodigy who had garnered immense attention in the past, and now, after a three-year hiatus, he was back.
With his level of fame, it would be strange if these reporters didn't seize the opportunity.
Once Yukima Azuma signaled that the reporters could start asking questions, one immediately spoke up:
"Yukima-san, this is your first official tournament in three years. How do you feel about it?"
"Honestly, no matter the time, shogi always excites me."
"With differing opinions from the public, may I ask: was your victory in just 47 moves in the first round meant as a response to criticism?"
"I simply did my best."
"What are Yukima-san's expectations for this tournament?"
"Victory, of course. The flame of triumph burns in the heart of every shogi player."
"..."
After several rounds of questions, the reporters exchanged glances and chuckled helplessly.
They had come here hoping to draw a shocking statement from this young prodigyperhaps something "remarkable" born out of youthful impulsiveness.
However, the person on stage now...
He seemed far too shrewd.
Not only was he completely composed, but his answers were airtight.
Still...
His fame alone was sufficient. Completing their task was enough.
The reporters, who had been brimming with enthusiasm, now lowered their expectations.
Just then, a voice called out from the back of the crowd:
"Yukima!"
All eyes turned toward the source.
There stood a blonde girl, seemingly around the same age as Yukima Azuma. Her slightly crumpled black-and-white shirt gave the impression that she had hurriedly left her home.
If one were to describe her most striking features, it would likely be her golden eyes shaped like lightning bolts and her peculiar shark-like fang.
This girl seemed extremely anxious.
It felt as though she wanted to throw herself into the arms of a lover.
This caused the attending reporters to sense something unusual, like the smell of blood drawing a shark's attention.
Many cameras turned their focus toward the girl.
"Sainokami... Ika, I believe that's your name. What's the matter?"
In contrast to the girl's eagerness, Yukima Azuma appeared rather indifferent.
"After hearing about you, Yukima, I rushed over immediately!"
Sainokami Ika was undeterred by Yukima Azuma's cold demeanor.
Instead, she responded with a radiant smile.
"You must be the one holding the title of 'Queen,' correct..."
"Big news, big news!"
The murmurs spread rapidly among the reporters.
The title of "Queen" is reserved for female shogi players, equivalent to titles like "Queen" or "Women's Throne" held by someone like Sora Ginko.
Currently, Sainokami Ika was the reigning holder of this title.
Speaking of which, Japan's peculiar formality in titles always stood out.
"I heard Yukima Azuma would be making a comeback, and I was genuinely thrilled." Even though Yukima Azuma didn't respond, Sainokami Ika kept talking, seemingly to herself.
"Hey, date me! That way, we can play shogi forever!"
"Nobody else matters. As long as I have Yukima Azuma, nothing else is important!"
What could one say about this?
Her declaration was, without a doubt, a bit precarious.
It could easily be classified as an emotional 'landmine.'
Standing on the stage, Yukima Azuma felt the fiery gaze from across the room.
It was Sora Ginko's stare.
Consequently, Yukima Azuma immediately suppressed even the faintest trace of a polite smile.
"I must decline. After all, we aren't even friends."
"A confession like that makes me uncomfortable. Please don't do it again."
With that, Yukima Azuma stepped off the stage and exited through the players' pathway on the other side.
Sainokami Ika had been decisively rejected, yet the smile on her face didn't fade.
Her golden, lightning-shaped eyes followed Yukima Azuma's figure until he disappeared.
.....
After leaving the hall.
Not long after, Sora Ginko caught up.
"What was that all about?"
Sora Ginko's voice was soft, like a kitten's gentle pawing, carrying a teasing itchiness.
Of course, if Yukima Azuma's attitude earlier had been even slightly ambiguous, Sora Ginko wouldn't be asking so calmly.
In that case, she might have stormed over, grabbed his collar, and delivered a sharp kick on the spot.
But since Yukima Azuma had firmly rejected Sainokami Ika in front of everyone, leaving no room for misinterpretation, Sora Ginko wasn't worried.
Now, she was only asking because she was paying attention to Yukima Azuma.
"When I advanced to the second rank in the prize competitions, I once played against Sainokami Ika," Yukima Azuma began.
"After losing, she suddenly latched onto me, and the very first thing she said was a confession."
"Even after being rejected, she didn't mind and kept finding ways to play shogi with me."
"To be honest, just now was the third time I've rejected her confession."
Sainokami Ika was the kind of person who completely embodied selfishness.
She only cared about getting stronger at shogi.
Aside from that, nothing else mattered to her.
Her talent among female shogi players was exceptionally rare.
That's why, after just one game, she recognized Yukima Azuma's extraordinary abilities.
And from that moment, she became attached to him without hesitation.
She wanted to grow stronger through playing with him.
And to achieve this goal, she was willing to sacrifice anythingeven herself.
"Tsk!" Sora Ginko clicked her tongue quietly. "That sneaky cat burglar."
The folding fan in her hand opened and shut repeatedly, an unconscious habit of hers whenever she was irritated.
Yukima Azuma reached out and ruffled Sora Ginko's silvery hair, gently soothing her mood.
Sora Ginko instinctively closed her eyes to enjoy the moment but quickly caught herself, pulling away with a haughty air.
"Not secretly pleased by being confessed to, are you?"
"Not at all."
"Firmly rejected her, unlike a piece hovering indecisively on the board?"
"Firmly rejected."
"Alright... let's go. Master's house. Sister Keika already finished cooking."
After asking her questions, Sora Ginko turned away and walked lightly ahead, a small smile playing at her lips, her ears faintly tinged with red.
Chapter 14: A Pain Worse Than Jealousy is Having No Right to Be Jealous
Kasumigaoka Utaha had been unable to sleep since early morning, even though she had stayed up quite late the previous night.
She wanted coffee, but the canned coffee from the vending machine outside was simply unpalatable.
So, Kasumigaoka Utaha decided to try brewing coffee herself.
The result...
"Disastrous" was perhaps the only word that could describe it.
She wasted some coffee beans.
The manual coffee grinder had to be meticulously cleaned as well.
Kasumigaoka Utaha pulled a Fukuzawa Yukichi bill from her wallet and placed it under the bag of coffee beans.
Of course, she didn't actually need to use that much money.
After fumbling around for a while and giving up, Kasumigaoka Utaha sat down, exhausted, and scrolled through news on her phone.
By noon, Yukima Azuma had already prepared a meal and stored it in the fridge, ready to be microwaved.
For some reason, Kasumigaoka Utaha let the afternoon slip by before finally taking the plate out of the microwave.
She couldn't help but marvel at Yukima Azuma's thoughtfulness.
After all, the Yukima Azuma she had known before wasn't the kind of person to be this meticulous.
There had been a few minor tantrums over this in the past.
However, even though Yukima Azuma wasn't naturally detail-oriented at first, he had his own strengths.
You could call it a talent for learning quickly or a willingness to recognize mistakes and correct them.
In their relationship, whenever Kasumigaoka Utaha pointed out small issues, Yukima Azuma wasn't like those rigid "patriarchal types." Instead, he would silently adjust and improve.
By the end of their time together, Kasumigaoka Utaha had come to understand this clearly.
Still, the "thoughtfulness" of the current Yukima Azuma took her by surprise.
Around 1 p.m., news related to shogi suddenly started appearing in her feed.
Among the updates, a few pieces of information quickly caught her eye and climbed to the top of the trending section.
They were all related to the official matches in Chiba.
Kasumigaoka Utaha clicked on the news as soon as it appeared.
She was the type of person who knew only a little about shogi.
Most of her understanding of shogi had come from Yukima Azuma's explanations during their time together.
But when it came to wins and losses, promotions or demotions, those were things she could comprehend immediately.
When Kasumigaoka Utaha saw Yukima Azuma's name on the promotion list, she let out a soft sigh of relief.
"Success is good..." she murmured, then realized her emotions were somewhat unusual.
It wasn't just simple joy at Yukima Azuma's promotion.
The breakup three years ago and Yukima Azuma's withdrawal from the shogi world at the same time...
Now, with his return to the shogi scene and his achievement of success, it felt as though their breakup might have had a different ending.
This connection was entirely unfounded, yet Kasumigaoka Utaha's intuition compelled her to link the two events together.
Stretching slightly, she prepared to put her phone away and head upstairs to nap.
But just as she was about to close the news page, her eye caught a headline.
Her finger, poised to exit the screen, froze.
Instead, she clicked on the article.
"A Genius Reborn After Three Years! The Shogi Queen's Passionate Confession!"
That was the headline.
Beneath it, the word "Confession" blazed in bold, fiery red-orange letters.
Upon entering the article, two images immediately appeared beneath the headline.
The first photo showed Yukima Azuma standing on stage, holding a microphone and smiling calmly.
The second photo captured Sainokami Ika bursting into the hall, her eyes alight with excitement as her lips formed his name, her expression brimming with fervor.
The scene exuded a strong sense of "romance."
'The aloof, intellectual young man offering a smile only to the passionate, determined young woman.'
That was the vibe it seemed to convey.
Both possessed striking appearances.
Even if this had been categorized as a social news piece, it would still have stirred excitement among uninformed readers.
Not to mention that this was within the shogi world.
Both of them were professional playersYukima Azuma and the Queen of Shogi herself.
Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a black line form across her brow.
She tapped her foot lightly, her long legs clad in black stockings creating a rhythmic sound against the wooden floor.
Her fingers pressed firmly on the screen as she slowly scrolled down to read the rest of the article.
The detailed report elaborated on Yukima Azuma's outstanding performance in the official match.
It also highlighted Yukima Azuma's illustrious past achievements.
The majority of the article, however, was dedicated to describing the Queen of Shogi's dramatic entry into the hall.
It painted a vivid picture of her disheveled attire and urgency, her sole intent being to meet Yukima Azuma, the 5-dan player.
It recounted the interaction between the stage and audience and even included a verbatim quote of the Queen of Shogi's words.
"Hey, date me. As long as I have Azuma, nothing else matters."
The passionate confession of the Queen of Shogi...
Upon reading such a description, Kasumigaoka Utaha's fingers clenched so tightly that a cracking sound could be heard.
After a series of lengthy paragraphs that seemed to be excerpts from a youthful romance novel, finally, at the end of the article,
in an inconspicuous spot,
in small font, it stated:
"Unfortunately, Yukima 5-dan has temporarily declined."
And there was no further information.
The comment section below the article had turned into a battleground of "dog food" (public displays of affection).
Clearly, not many people paid attention to the final note.
Kasumigaoka Utaha turned off her phone screen.
Even her breathing became heavier.
It took three deep breaths before she gradually calmed down.
But once calm, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a faint pain in her stomach.
Not a physical pain.
It suddenly dawned on her that she had neither the reason nor the right to be angry.
If it had been before...
She could have easily unleashed a tirade of sharp words at Yukima Azuma the moment he returned.
She might even have harshly interrogated him about where exactly that "thieving cat" had appeared from.
But now...
On what grounds could she do that?
The moment she realized this,
Kasumigaoka Utaha felt even more unsettled than witnessing Yukima Azuma being confessed to.
"Could it be that compared to jealousy, what's more painful is the lack of the right to feel jealous?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha muttered softly.
The sound of a key turning in the lock came from the entrance.
"I'm back (Tadaima)."
The boy's voice echoed from a distance.
Kasumigaoka slowly walked toward the doorway.
Seeing the boy changing into his house slippers, she softly greeted:
"Welcome home (Okairi)."
Yukima Azuma looked up, blinking a few times in surprise.
"I thought Kasumigaoka-senpai would completely ignore me."
After all, before heading out, he had slyly teased her a bit.
"As a senpai, I naturally possess the grace to forgive the mischief of my juniors."
Kasumigaoka Utaha crossed her arms over her chest and smiled.
Chapter 15: The Ex-Girlfriend and Her Mother
"Kasumigaoka-senpai, come down and eat!"
"I heard you, I heard you. Stop shouting so loud. If it's not good, don't blame me for stepping all over you!"
Following that was the sound of brisk footsteps descending the stairs.
Recently, Yukima Azuma hadn't needed to call her as much.
Most of the time, when it was mealtime, Kasumigaoka would naturally appear at the dining table.
Only when she was deeply engrossed in her writing did Yukima Azuma have to actively remind her.
However, while her body was enthusiastic, her mouth never softened.
Clearly, lately, Kasumigaoka had been eating nothing but Yukima Azuma's cooking.
Even her previously beloved pineapple buns hadn't been touched in ages.
"Here's the money for next month's meals."
Kasumigaoka pushed a thick wad of cash toward Yukima Azuma.
It was quite a significant amount, even exceeding what was needed for food expenses.
"Just leave it there," Yukima Azuma replied casually, not even glancing at it. "This afternoon, I'll be heading to Osaka for an official tournament. Dinner is already in the fridge."
Kasumigaoka merely responded with an "oh."
"I'll bring back a souvenir for you, Senpai."
Noticing a hint of disappointment in Kasumigaoka's eyes, Yukima Azuma chuckled softly, his tone gentle.
At that moment, Kasumigaoka realized her feelings had been seen through. She huffed lightly, but the expectation in her eyes was impossible to conceal.
"I'm off now."
"Safe travels."
The official tournament in Osaka didn't have much to note.
This time, his opponent was a professional fourth-dan player.
There was still a noticeable gap in skill levels between them.
Yukima Azuma steadily guided the game into the endgame phase and then secured an easy victory.
In the endgame, differences in skill become especially apparent.
With this win, Yukima Azuma had re-established a winning streak in official tournaments, extending it to seven consecutive matches.
"With just one more win, I can be promoted to sixth-dan."
Walking out of the shogi club, Yukima Azuma calculated his win-loss record.
In official tournaments, the number of wins and losses is the most critical factor for a professional shogi player's promotion.
A high win rate makes it easier to accumulate the necessary victories for advancement.
Securing a winning streak accelerates the process even further.
In fact, Sora Ginko wasn't wrong.
If Yukima Azuma hadn't temporarily left the world of shogi three years ago, his current ranking would probably be 8th dan, or even 9th dan.
"If I continue this winning streak, and win the official tournament this time, I could be promoted to seventh-dan."
"Then, I'll participate in the Ryuou title tournament. If I win the Ryuou title, I'll be promoted to eighth-dan."
"A few years from now, if I win the Ryuou title five times in a row, I'll become the youngest player to achieve the 'Eisei Ryuou' (eternal dragon king) title and be promoted to ninth-dan."
"Ah... If everything goes smoothly, that would be great."
Yukima Azuma chuckled softly and shook his head.
It felt as though he had been over-simplifying things.
Up until achieving the "Ryuou" title, the challenge might not be too difficult.
But becoming "Eisei Ryuou" would definitely mean facing off against the "Meijin."
How long it would take to hone shogi skills to the peak level of 10 was still uncertain.
After all, thinking about these things now seemed too early.
Yukima Azuma turned and entered the largest shopping mall in Osaka.
He hadn't forgotten that he needed to buy a souvenir for Kasumigaoka.
"Cat ears?"
A girl passed by him, wearing a soft headband with cat ears.
This made Yukima Azuma pause for a moment.
The style seemed somewhat familiar.
After a moment of thought, Yukima Azuma suddenly remembered.
"Ah, it's Koshian."
The "cat ears" character was trending online, and the original art post by the creator had over ten million views.
It was a hugely popular anime character recently.
In other words...
Yukima Azuma's gaze shifted to the entrance area of the mall.
Quickly, he spotted a poster advertising a "mangaka" event.
Clearly, today was a coincidence; Osaka was hosting a big anime event at this mall.
They might have rented out a section or an entire floor of the mall for it.
'Should I go to the event and buy a bunny cosplay set as a souvenir for Kasumigaoka-senpai?'
This thought flashed through Yukima Azuma's mind.
However, he immediately dismissed it.
If he really did that, he'd definitely be ruthlessly stepped on when he got home.
So, it would be better to find something else...
As Yukima Azuma was about to continue walking, a voice called out from behind:
"Ah, is that Yukima-kun?"
The familiar voice made Yukima Azuma pause.
This voice was very familiar.
With his sharp memory, Yukima Azuma quickly connected the sound to a face in his mind.
As soon as he turned around, a polite and proper smile, typical of a senior, appeared on his face.
Behind him were two small, adorable "girls."
On the left was a girl with blonde hair in two braids, but she was wearing a rather plain green sports outfit. Her delicate face showed clear surprise, her mouth slightly open, revealing a cute little fang.
On the right was a "girl" with purple hair, also in two braids, but her attire was completely different, refined with a traditional kimono. At that moment, she was resting her left hand on her cheek, making a onee-san expression straight out of an anime.
The two of them had remarkably similar facial features, looking almost like sisters.
"Sayuri-obasan, hello, it's been a long time."
Yukima Azuma slightly bowed in greeting.
Sawamura Spencer Eriri and Sawamura Sayuri.
His ex-girlfriend and the mother of his ex-girlfriend.
"Yukima-kun, you're being too polite. Eriri, what are you standing there for? Say hello!"
Sayuri smiled, waved gently, and gave Eriri a light pat on the back, nudging her forward a step.
"Eh!? Mom!"
Eriri cried out in surprise.
But quickly, she shut her mouth and lowered her voice.
Turning her head to look at Yukima Azuma, Eriri's face showed a complex expression, but internally, she was a tangled mess of emotions.
She wanted to say something, but couldn't figure out what.
After all, if Eriri had been able to handle the reunion openly, to greet him properly...
Then they wouldn't have ended things the way they did.
So, it was Yukima Azuma who spoke first.
"It's been a long time, Sawamura-san."
"Ha!?"
Just like with Kasumigaoka earlier,
One simple sentence from Yukima Azuma shattered Eriri's defenses precisely, causing the blonde girl with twintail, typically tsundere, to immediately "explode."
-------------------------------
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Chapter 16: Eriri Nigerudayo!
"It's been a long time, Sawamura-san."
"Huh!?"
Eriri widened her eyes, staring at the person in front of her.
She s
Three seconds later...
Eriri gritted her teeth,
"Ehh! Eriri!"
Sayuri watched her daughter run off and immediately called out loudly.
But unfortunately, Eriri had no intention of looking back.
Clearly, she was in a state where nothing could get through to her.
Seeing this, Sayuri turned to Yukima Azuma, apologizing.
"Sorry, Yukima-kun."
Then, she lifted the hem of her kimono, preparing to chase after Eriri.
Yukima Azuma quickly raised a hand to stop her.
"Sayuri-obasan, it's not convenient for you to run in a kimono. Let me go after her instead."
Hearing this, Sayuri casually lowered the hem of her kimono.
In reality, she had already planned to do that.
Had Yukima Azuma not stopped her, she was ready to perform the "stumble and fall" act.
After all, with her wooden geta sandals, the act would have been perfectly believable!
"Then, please take care of Eriri for me, Yukima-kun!"
Sayuri spoke in a light, easygoing tone.
Yukima Azuma nodded, then quickly ran after Eriri.
Sayuri watched his figure grow smaller in the distance, resting her hand on her cheek and smiling softly.
"Ara ara..."
.....
Eriri kept her head down, running desperately forward.
Sawamura Spencer Eriri was a true otaku.
She loved watching anime, playing 2D games, and was even an 18+ doujinshi artist.
During the entire spring break, Eriri didn't step out of the house once.
She spent her days holed up in her room, sometimes drawing doujinshi, sometimes watching anime, or playing games.
But today was different.
Today, at the shopping center in Osaka, there was a big anime event.
Although Eriri had no intention of attending the exhibition, her mother, Sayuri, invited her to walk around the event with her.
As an otaku, and given her mother's invitation, Eriri reluctantly agreed.
The event itself wasn't very interesting.
Even though it was a big event, it wasn't well-known and couldn't compare to the grand-scale events like Winter Comiket that she had attended.
Eriri even felt a bit regretful for leaving the house.
But...
When she was about to leave the event and head home, she suddenly stopped in the middle of the plaza street.
Her gaze pierced through the crowd, landing on a familiar figure.
It felt like a dream, both real and surreal.
As if she were sinking into a marvelous dream.
Eriri stood still, unable to speak.
Noticing her silence, Sayuri looked in the same direction as her daughter and softly called out.
When that figure turned around, Eriri felt incredibly lucky to have left the house today.
'This is a fateful encounter! If I miss this, I'll regret it for the rest of my life!'
The thought flashed through Eriri's mind.
Since their parting, nearly every moment, she had incessantly thought of that figure.
Even in her dreams, she would meet that person again.
But...
"It's been a long time, Sawamura-san."
Those words shattered all of Eriri's illusions, tearing apart her beautiful dream of a reunion into tiny fragments.
'What the hell is this! Back then, I told him to call me Sawamura, but he wouldn't! He kept yelling "Eriri, Eriri" without stopping!'
Tears, transparent and silent, fell behind Eriri.
They hit the ground, shattering into sparkling pieces, like shattered glass.
Her dreams of a reunion...
...were completely destroyed by the words "Sawamura-san."
Since getting to know Yukima Azuma, he had never called her by her last name.
Even though she had repeatedly opposed it, trying to correct him, he stubbornly insisted on calling her "Eriri, Eriri" without ceasing.
Gradually, Eriri became used to it, no longer complaining.
But now, the unfamiliar address blurred the sense of familiarity she had once felt.
Since the day they parted, Eriri had realized, for the first time in a painful and clear way...
...that she and Yukima Azuma had truly broken up.
And so, her heart shattered.
That simple phrase was like a shout before an avalanche, like the last straw that broke the camel's back.
And so, Eriri ran away.
The young girl lowered her head and fled, unaware of the person walking in the opposite direction.
Then, "bump," the two collided.
"Sorry, sorry."
Eriri immediately apologized reflexively.
Although she often acted arrogant, as a true Oujou-sama, Eriri had been raised with good manners.
However, having good manners wasn't always a good thing.
"Hey, do you know what you're doing? Are you blind, you idiot!"
The harsh, mean words reached Eriri's ears.
She froze, rooted to the spot.
Clearly, she had apologized immediately, and the other person hadn't even fallen.
So why were they saying things like that?
Eriri lifted her sparkling eyes and looked up.
In front of her stood two girls who were a bit taller than her, wearing short skirts and jackets tied loosely at the waist, with red-dyed hair and expressions that were clearly intended to look displeased.
Unpleasant!
Just from a glance, it was obvious they were the real-life "Gyaru" type.
In reality, it was nothing like the characters in light novels.
In novels, characters like them could be cute, both bad and good at the same time.
But in real life, they just made others want to avoid them, feeling uneasy and bothered.
"What's with your expression? It's so annoying!"
"Bakayarou! Did you hit your head or something?!"
Clearly, the two girls recognized that Eriri was easy to bully and pushed even further.
"You... what do you want? My boyfriend is nearby, and he'll be here soon!"
Out of worry, Eriri blurted out.
She had read online that when dealing with troublemakers, the best way to make them back off was to make them feel intimidated.
The two girls indeed hesitated for a moment, their expressions sour and annoyed.
After exchanging glances for a while, one of them extended her hand in front of Eriri.
Seeing Eriri flustered, the girl looked up and said:
"I wasn't planning on letting you off so easily, but I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you go. Pay a few thousand yen, and next time, be more careful where you walk!"
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 17: This is 'Complaining with the Mouth, but Honest in Action'
When she heard that all she needed to do was compensate a few thousand yen,
Eiri-ri, truly nave, took her wallet out of her bag.
For someone like Oujou-sama, who came from a wealthy family,
A few thousand yen wasn't anything significant.
If everything could be solved with just a few thousand yen, Eriri would sincerely be willing to do so.
However, as soon as she opened her wallet,
The 10,000-yen bills inside caused the two gyaru to freeze.
While Eriri was still flustered because she didn't have any small change,
One of the delinquents grabbed her wrist.
"Hey, I've changed my mind. My shoulder hurts a bit, a few thousand yen isn't enough, give me everything!"
She said that.
The audacity of the words was so extreme that even Eriri realized she was being extorted.
What should I do? Should I give it to them?
If I give it, will they keep pushing their luck and continue extorting me?
But if I don't give it, I'll definitely get beaten...
Eriri's eyes filled with tears once again.
Why did she have to go through something like this?
When the two delinquents saw that Eriri didn't immediately let go of her wallet,
After a bit of tugging,
One of them suddenly swung a fist, intending to hit her and take her wallet.
Instinctively, Eriri tightly shut her eyes, her body trembling slightly.
She was so afraid of pain.
"tsk!"
In the pitch-black world behind her closed eyelids, a familiar voice rang out from behind.
Along with it was a soft click of the tongue, filled with anger, and the sound of hurried footsteps drawing closer.
The pain she had anticipated didn't come.
Instead, a loud slap echoed right in front of her.
Carefully, Eriri cracked open her eyes just a little.
The sight that met her eyes was the gyaru who had just swung her fist.
Now, she was clutching her arm, her body swaying to one side.
It was clear that her arm had just taken a heavy blow.
In the corner of Eriri's field of vision,
A figure of a young man stood tall.
At that moment, all the anxiety in her heart disappeared completely.
Eriri felt more at ease than ever before.
Just like before,
As long as she could see that familiar back,
Nothing else mattered anymore.
Because he was the one who could make her feel that safe.
"What are you doing!? Want to die!?"
The gyaru girl whose hand had been slapped away yelled at Yukima Azuma.
The hand she had just extended toward Eriri now had a large, reddened mark across its back.
Yukima Azuma coldly stared at the two girls.
Most of the time, this young man gave off a sense of calmness and politeness.
But when his eyes narrowed slightly and he wiped the usual smile off his face, his entire aura transformed, exuding a terrifying, invisible pressure.
He didn't even bother to respond.
He just stood there silently, staring.
Ten seconds passed.
The aggressive demeanor of the two delinquents completely evaporated.
"Apologize to her."
Yukima Azuma's voice was like a command, carrying an unyielding force that brooked no disobedience.
The two delinquents instinctively wanted to resist.
But just as they opened their mouths to curse,
A chilling sensation raced up their spines and settled at the nape of their necks.
The boy standing before them seemed to have transformed into a venomous snake, poised to devour its prey, its imagined tongue flicking menacingly near their throats.
"S-sorry!"
The two girls bowed their heads in fright, apologizing.
"Get lost."
Yukima Azuma ordered.
Immediately, the two fled, stumbling and falling as they ran, their appearance utterly pathetic.
Watching their retreating, miserable figures, the anger in Yukima Azuma's chest subsided somewhat.
The oppressive atmosphere dissipated along with it.
Ever since he reached his current level in shogi a mastery often referred to as "transcendent skill" Yukima Azuma had realized he could project the aura he used on the shogi board into real life.
...Even if it was just a little.
It was like the air of someone holding ultimate authority, ready to overwhelm everything.
Someone standing at the peak, stepping over countless players to become an undefeated genius.
That aura, even in small doses, was enough to leave two high school girls utterly defenseless.
"You..." Eriri was about to ask, "Why did you follow me?" But her gaze lowered for a moment, and she froze. The question immediately changed: "You're injured!"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma calmed down, reining in his emotions.
Then, following Eriri's gaze, he looked down.
On the back of his right hand, fresh blood flowed in thin rivulets.
The dark red drops gathered at his fingertips before falling to the ground, forming stark crimson spots.
Yukima Azuma lightly waved his hand, as if dismissing the injury.
He felt nothing in particular.
It must have been from earlier, when he slapped away the gyaru girl's hand and her nails accidentally scratched him.
The wound didn't seem too deep.
Seeing Yukima Azuma disregard the injury, Eriri immediately tensed up.
Instinctively, she stepped forward and grabbed his hand.
"Don't move!" Eriri said, pulling out a bandage from her bag.
After rinsing the wound with mineral water, she carefully applied the bandage to the injury.
When she finished, she let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew... ehh!?"
Realizing what she had just done, Eriri's face flushed bright red.
"This... this is just because you helped me! It's just a simple thank-you! Don't get any ideas!"
Her words came out in her familiar tsundere style.
Yukima Azuma didn't respond.
Even though he could now fully grasp the meaning behind tsundere remarks,
When it came to Eriri, Yukima Azuma preferred not to engage.
After all, it was for this very reason that they had broken up.
"Let's go grab something to eat," Yukima Azuma said.
"Huh? Why should I eat with you? That's so ridiculous..."
Before she could finish her sentence, her stomach let out a loud grrr.
This time, Eriri's face turned completely red.
Her delicate features, from her flushed cheeks to her ears, resembled a Christmas apple.
Yukima Azuma chuckled softly.
Eriri was just like thatnormally, she wouldn't easily go out.
She probably only attended a manga exhibition.
Judging by the timing, she must have just left the venue and hadn't had dinner yet.
And for this frail "otaku" girl, after spending the entire day exploring the exhibition, claiming she wasn't hungry would've been absurd.
At this moment, simply bringing up the topic of food would inevitably cause her body to betray her, no matter how much she tried to deny it.
Just like what happened now.
This was exactly the classic example of "complaining with the mouth, but honest in action"!
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 18: Eriri Slowly Understands Everything!
"Guru-guru..."
Eriri's delicate face turned crimson, and for a moment, she had no idea how to explain herself.
In the end, she slumped to the ground, clutching her stomach.
"Let's go, let's grab something to eat first."
Yukima Azuma didn't tease her; he simply waved his hand lightly.
If he poked fun at her now, this twin-tailed tsundere would definitely explode.
"I..."
Eriri hesitated slightly.
Conceding so easily didn't sit right with her.
After all, he had just called her "Sawamura-san" earlier.
But if she refused...
The memory of his back shielding her moments ago,
His actions and those incredibly cool words...
Eriri couldn't find a good reason to say no.
Besides, she was really hungry.
As Eriri continued to deliberate,
Yukima Azuma pulled out his phone.
"Oh, right." Yukima Azuma began dialing, casually muttering as if by accident: "I should let Sayuri-obasan know first."
Hearing this, Eriri's eyes widened immediately.
"Huh!?"
She felt utterly incredulous.
Then she could only watch helplessly as Yukima Azuma made the call.
What's more, the call quickly connected, and her mother's voice came through the line.
Eriri gritted her teeth softly.
This guy!
He had clearly blocked all her attempts to contact him,
And yet he still had her mother's number saved? How outrageous!
While Eriri simmered in frustration,
Yukima Azuma finished his conversation.
"Let's go. Sayuri-obasan's already back home, and it seems like she doesn't plan on cooking for you tonight."
Hearing this, Eriri felt even more dejected.
"What did you say to my mom, anyway?"
Eriri turned her face away, asking in a questioning tone.
Faced with her inquiry, Yukima Azuma's expression turned a little strange.
But Eriri didn't notice.
"I told her I found you. She said she knew and told me to make sure you got home safely."
Eriri let out a huff of frustration.
'Seriously, Mom, how could you just leave your daughter in the care of some random high school guy? Show a little more concern!'
Though she thought that,
The word "random" was really just her venting.
In reality, Sayuri and Yukima Azuma were quite close.
Sayuri entrusted Eriri to Yukima Azuma with complete confidence.
This was evident from Sayuri's actions in the past.
When Eriri and Yukima Azuma had broken up,
Sayuri had been upset for quite some time.
Now, with this reunion, Sayuri seemed all too eager to play the role of a "helpful accomplice."
For example...
"Sayuri-obasan also said that it's fine if you don't come home tonight, as long as you stay safe."
"And she even prepared some 'gear' for you. It's in the inner pocket of your sports jacket."
Yukima Azuma said, his expression turning increasingly odd.
Hearing this, a series of question marks filled Eriri's mind.
What do you mean it's fine if I don't come home!?
It's NOT fine!
"Honestly, what nonsense is my mom saying? Even if she's carefree, she should worry about her daughter a little!"
While complaining, Eriri's curiosity got the better of her, and she unzipped her sports jacket.
The 'gear' that Sayuri had mentioned piqued her interest.
'What could possibly be in here? And when did Mom even put it in?'
Eriri reached into the inner pocket, and sure enough, there was something inside.
She wore this sports jacket regularly.
Sayuri hadn't touched it recently.
Which meant that this 'gear' had been prepared quite some time ago.
What on earth could it be?
'A credit card? Or maybe a contact lens case?'
Eriri speculated while reaching into the pocket to retrieve the item.
But before her hand was even halfway out, Yukima Azuma swiftly stopped her.
"What are you doing?" Eriri glared at Yukima Azuma, her expression a mix of confusion and annoyance.
With a serious face, Yukima Azuma responded, "Young lady, ahead lies nothing but the abyss."
Given Sayuri's personality, Yukima Azuma had more or less guessed what the 'gear' could be.
So...
Eriri, stunned by his ominous warning, froze mid-action. Her hand remained stuck in the pocket.
Left with no other choice, she glanced down inside the jacket to take a look herself.
The moment her eyes landed on the so-called 'gear,'
A giant question mark popped up over Eriri's head.
And then, as if a geyser had erupted, imaginary steam whooshed out from her blonde hair.
In her hand was a small box containing... condoms.
The sheer embarrassment was overwhelming.
Eriri's otaku-brained mind immediately went into system crash mode.
Seeing her reaction, Yukima Azuma knew his prediction had been spot on.
Thankfully, he had stopped her in time, preventing her from fully taking it out.
Otherwise, with this level of mortification, Eriri might have crossed some emotional threshold and burst into tears right there on the spot.
Yukima Azuma gently removed her hand from the pocket and zipped up her jacket to cover it again.
Then, without a word, he began leading her toward a nearby family restaurant.
Eriri, still in crash mode, followed him like a lifeless doll being tugged along.
It wasn't until they reached the restaurant's entrance that she finally snapped out of it.
'Who am I? Where am I? How did I get here?'
As these disoriented thoughts filled her head, Eriri suddenly realized that Yukima Azuma had let go of her wrist.
The warm sensation on her skin vanished in an instant.
Eriri felt a little disappointed, even wanting to reach out and grab his hand again.
"Why are you zoning out? Come on in."
Yukima Azuma's call snapped Eriri back to reality.
She looked up and saw him holding the restaurant door open, signaling for her to enter.
Her heart, which had been frozen by the way he had called her "Sawamura-san," melted completely in that moment.
They chose a seat at a corner table, as Eriri usually felt a little shy when eating out.
Yukima Azuma casually pulled out her chair, waited for her to sit, then gently pushed it back, keeping just the right amount of distance.
He called the server, ordered a bowl of scrambled eggs on rice with a sweet flavor, and asked for extra tomato sauce.
As he did this, Eriri's eyes started to shine brighter and brighter.
'What's going on? Clearly, he still cares about me!'
If there was no one around right now, Eriri would probably be standing with her hands on her hips, head held high in smug satisfaction.
"Sawamura-san, aren't you going to eat?"
Yukima Azuma's voice brought her out of her daydreams.
Eriri shot him a furious glare.
This guy!
Every little thing he did showed how much he cared, yet he kept calling her "Sawamura" over and over again.
He was totally a tsundere!
Eriri: I'm starting to understand everything now!
--------------------------------------------
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Eriri: I'm starting to understand everything now!
Clearly, every little gesture is screaming: "I like you."
But the words used are so distant and formal.
This is the legendary tsundere, isn't it?
The corner of Eriri's mouth curled into a proud smile.
Umu, I'm so smart!
And then, she got a tap on the forehead.
Yukima Azuma withdrew his hand, looking at Eriri, who was holding her forehead and raising an eyebrow.
"I get the feeling you're thinking something really rude, so I had to tap you."
"Haven't you already tapped me!? You're supposed to say that before tapping me! No, you're not allowed to tap me!"
Eriri bared her small fangs, as if trying to intimidate him.
Eriri is super aggressive.jpg
Looking at Eriri's expression, Yukima Azuma knew exactly what she was thinking.
A tsundere thinking someone else is a tsundere.
In reality, Yukima Azuma was just "taming" her.
Getting back together with Eriri was actually very simple.
The flower that represents Sawamura Spencer Eriri is the lily.
The meaning of this flower is: Pure love, dignity, and a harmonious soul.
Eriri is the type of person who, once she likes someone, will almost never change her feelings.
Even though she's a tsundere, all she needs is a little coaxing.
However, if you just do that, it won't mean anything.
Because Eriri always says one thing and thinks something else, being in a relationship with her is truly exhausting.
If they just got back together without any changes, they would just repeat the same mistakes as before.
If they've broken up, they should at least be more mature about it.
Yukima Azuma decided to "tame" Eriri, so that she would change her stubborn tsundere ways a little.
At the very least, Eriri needed to learn to be more proactive in love.
As for how to tame a tsundere?
The most important thing is to know how to pull and push.
Pull a little, push a little, and magic will happen!
Keep the relationship in a state of being half-close, half-distant, so that the tsundere feels bittersweet but not too bitter to lose all hope.
"Nom-nom, where did you go to high school?"
"Finish your food before talking!"
"Where did you go to high school?"
"Toyosaki Private School."
Hearing that, Eriri's heart was suddenly filled with joy.
She was also attending Toyosaki Private School.
Does that mean, after this spring break...
She and he would be able to go to school together?
Moreover, Toyosaki Private School didn't sort classes based on academic performance.
This meant:
"There's a chance we'll be in the same class!"
Just the thought of it made Eriri feel incredibly happy.
Fortunately, Toyosaki didn't divide classes by performance.
If they did, there's no way they'd be in the same class.
Eriri's Japanese literature score was just average, her math wasn't any better, and her English was a complete disaster.
It's clear that Eriri is half-Japanese, half-British.
Yet her English grades never seem to pass average.
It felt like the British blood running through her veins was crying out in agony!
By the way, Yukima Azuma had always scored perfect marks in both math and English since he was young.
His Japanese literature scores were a bit low at first, but in the past two years, he had achieved excellent results.
After all, he was a reincarnate.
In his previous life, he had completed a master's degree.
Revising middle school and high school work wasn't difficult for him.
.....
By the time they finished dinner, the sky had turned completely dark.
They walked together to the train station.
As Eriri looked at Yukima Azuma waiting for the train with her, her eyes sparkled with joy.
When they were still together, Yukima Azuma had lived in a neighborhood near her house.
But then he suddenly moved away.
Even now, Eriri had no idea where Yukima Azuma was living.
Since they were riding the same train... asking him casually shouldn't be that weird, right?
"Hey, by the way, where are you getting off?"
"Shibuya Station."
Eriri softly said, "Oh."
Shibuya Station was quite far from her house, about ten kilometers away.
At least it was in the same direction.
When the train arrived at the station, both of them got on.
Since it was rush hour in the evening, there were no seats available on the train.
In fact, the train car was very crowded, a little stuffy even.
Eriri is 158 cm tall.
Although she can reach the hanging handrails,
it's actually a bit difficult, requiring her to straighten her body and stretch her arm out.
She had to maintain a very tiring posture.
About 20 minutes passed,
and Eriri felt that her arms and legs were completely sore.
Just then, the train jerked suddenly.
"Oh my god!"
With a sudden exclamation,
Eriri lost her balance and tilted to one side.
If she had fallen to the floor, it would have been painful, but that wasn't the worst part.
The most embarrassing thing would have been falling into a stranger's armsit would have been extremely awkward.
But that didn't happen.
Eriri felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist.
From the point of contact, a warm sensation gradually spread throughout her body.
This feeling was very familiar to Eriri.
She just hadn't felt it for a long time.
"Hey, your hand..."
Eriri whispered, her cheeks flushing.
Yukima Azuma used his arm to hold her, gently guiding her to a corner of the train car.
It was a spot where Eriri wouldn't be pushed around by the crowd.
But to keep her balance, she could only hold onto Yukima Azuma's arm.
"I've been wanting to ask this since earlier, what does 'hey' mean? Isn't that kind of rude?"
Yukima Azuma let go of Eriri and gently tapped her forehead with his finger.
"Ah!" Eriri raised her hand to cover her forehead. "I told you not to tap me!"
After a brief moment of resistance,
Eriri finally paid attention to Yukima Azuma's question.
As for the form of address...
Eriri wanted to call him "Azuma" like she used to.
Because that was how she called him, and using each other's names would make things feel more intimate.
But!
"Sawamura-san," he called her that.
Every time she thought about it, Eriri got angry.
"Yukima-kun, is that okay?"
Eriri said, carefully watching Yukima Azuma's expression.
She wanted to see some sign of disappointment on his face.
However, much to her disappointment,
Yukima Azuma didn't change his expression at all.
Eriri felt a bit let down.
'Doesn't he care about me?'
While she was thinking this, the train jerked again.
Eriri suddenly leaned against Yukima Azuma's arm, which was pressed against the wall of the train car.
Yukima Azuma's arm and the train wall formed a small safe space.
Eriri was inside it, feeling incredibly at ease.
'Isn't he the kind of person who's a "tsundere"?'
'Shibuya Station! Shibuya Station has arrived! Passengers disembarking at Shibuya Station, please prepare!'
The announcement echoed through the train car.
Eriri glanced at Yukima Azuma with slight disappointment.
She noticed that Yukima Azuma still hadn't moved.
Outside the train window, she could see the statue of the loyal dog Hachiko.
'Why isn't he getting off the train?'
Eriri's big eyes blinked rapidly.
Until the train doors closed and the train started moving again, Yukima Azuma still hadn't made a move.
"You're going to miss your stop," Eriri whispered.
"Why didn't you remind me sooner, before the doors closed?" Yukima Azuma responded.
"Umm..." Eriri didn't want the person in front of her to leave, but she couldn't say that out loud. "I'm not obligated to remind you!"
Because she was being prideful.
Immediately, Yukima Azuma tapped Eriri's forehead with his finger again.
"Ah! You tapped me again!"
Three times was more than enough. Eriri got angry and slapped her golden hair against Yukima Azuma.
She did it while making a sound, 'WRYYYYYY.'
Her silky smooth hair brushed against him, not painful, just a little itchy.
Yukima Azuma enjoyed it for a moment, then grabbed Eriri's small head and casually said:
"I promised Sayuri-obasan that I would take care of you, so I'm walking you home. It's getting late, and it might be dangerous for you to go alone."
"Hum!" Although Eriri still made a humph sound, she was incredibly happy inside.
'Gakuin Shita Station! Gakuin Shita Station has arrived! Passengers disembarking at Gakuin Shita Station, please prepare!'
The loudspeaker announcement came again.
Both of them got off the train.
Outside the station, it was already pitch black.
The orange streetlights couldn't fully light the path.
So, Eriri unconsciously stepped a little closer to Yukima Azuma.
They turned a corner.
Both of them came to a slope.
The place where dreams begin: Detective hill.
Eriri's house was at the end of Detective hill.
In the past, the two of them often took walks here after dinner.
Now, everything felt as though it had changed.
...
They reached the front door of Eriri house.
As Eriri pressed the doorbell,
Yukima Azuma waved his hand, preparing to leave.
The result was that the large door to Eriri house entrance nearly opened immediately.
Sayuri appeared at the entrance.
"Oh, you're back! Did you forget something?"
As she spoke, Sayuri tapped her forehead.
"Right, I forgot. Here's Eriri ID."
Eriri immediately snatched the ID from Sayuri's hand.
She opened her mouth, showing her small fang, and glared at Sayuri with a slightly aggressive expression.
Eriri is super scary.jpg.
"What are you talking about, Mom! Why would I need my ID! Just go home!"
The ID was, of course, for opening her dorm room.
Sayuri glanced at Yukima Azuma with a somewhat reproachful look.
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.
Was she blaming him for bringing Eriri home?
Sayuri, it seemed, wanted him to take Eriri out to "eat" her and not return home tonight.
"Yukima-kun, come inside and sit for a while."
Sayuri invited.
"No, no, I've safely brought Sawamura-san here, if I don't leave now, the train will stop running."
Yukima Azuma waved his hand to decline.
Today was enough.
Taming Eriri wouldn't be successful if rushed.
Sayuri didn't insist further.
Although she wanted to connect these two,
she knew it wasn't the right time for them to just meet again and immediately kiss.
"Sawamura-san, goodbye."
Yukima Azuma waved.
Eriri ground her teeth.
This guy!
"Hmph, Yukima-kun, goodbye!"
Eriri emphasized the four words "Yukima-kun" very clearly.
...
Back at his apartment,
Yukima Azuma helplessly shook his head.
Because of the unexpected encounter with Eriri,
everything had gone off track and disrupted his original plans.
The promise to bring a gift to Kasumigaoka Utaha was now off the table.
However, a mature Yukima Azuma naturally had backup plans to handle unexpected situations.
Yukima Azuma opened the mailbox outside his apartment.
He took out a small gift box from inside.
This was the gift he had prepared for Kasumigaoka Utaha.
It wasn't meant to be given just yet; the timing wasn't set.
It could be for her birthday, or for Christmashe had just prepared it in advance.
Now, it was the perfect time to give it.
"I'm home!"
"Welcome home."
As soon as he opened the apartment door, Yukima Azuma saw Kasumigaoka Utaha sitting on the living room sofa.
It was clear she had been waiting for him.
Under the fluorescent light, Kasumigaoka Utaha lazily leaned against the sofa.
Her long black hair flowed naturally beside her, so soft it made one want to touch it.
Her red wine-colored eyes were slightly open, looking tired but trying not to fall asleep.
She looked like a wife waiting for her husband to come home.
Seeing this scene,
Could someone who didn't bring a gift even speak?
After changing into slippers, Yukima Azuma entered the living room and handed the small gift box towards Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately opened her red wine-colored eyes wide.
Her long, white hand quickly took the gift box.
"Can I open it?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha asked, but in reality, her hands had already started unwrapping the gift.
The question was merely a formality.
Unlike the reserved manner typical of Japanese people when receiving gifts, who often wait to open them later,
Utaha wanted to open it right then and there.
When the wrapping was removed,
Inside were two white silk-like bands.
"What is this?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha asked, slightly surprised.
"This is a wrist guard, officially called a wrap-around wristband."
Yukima Azuma said, then took one of the bands, gently pulling Kasumigaoka Utaha's hand closer.
Her fingers were long and slender, her wrist delicate, with such pale skin that the veins were visible. It was truly perfect.
This was a work of art, making one want to test their "hand control."
Yukima Azuma slid his fingers over Kasumigaoka Utaha's, wrapping the band around her thumb.
He could feel the warmth from her fingers and the slight tingling sensation as he passed over her palm.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's heartbeat began to quicken.
--------------------------------------------
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She could feel the temperature from the tips of her fingers.
Kasumigaoka Utaha heartbeat started to accelerate.
The sound of 'thump-thump' in the quiet living room tonight was quite loud.
Anyway, Kasumigaoka Utaha could hear it very clearly.
Yukima Azuma wrapped a bandage around the thumb of Kasumigaoka Utaha, then wrapped it two more times around her wrist.
Finally, he secured it.
Then, he let go of Kasumigaoka Utaha hand and showed her the bandaged wrist.
She could feel Yukima Azuma hand letting go.
Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a little lost.
If only time could last a little longer.
Or rather if they could just hold hands, it would be nice to keep holding them.
She brushed away the feeling of disappointment in her heart.
Kasumigaoka Utaha began to admire the pristine wrist guard on her hand.
"This can protect the wrist, especially when doing meticulous tasks; it can reduce the strain on the wrist."
"Kasumigaoka-senpai is a light novel author, so you often have to type, right? Typing so much, your wrist must hurt a little, huh?"
"At first, it shouldn't be too serious, but if you're not careful, it could lead to tendinitis, and that would be really serious."
Yukima Azuma explained the function of the wrist guard.
Listening to Yukima Azuma's words, Kasumigaoka Utaha gently traced the pristine wrist guard with the fingers of her other hand.
She did occasionally feel some pain in her hand.
But, she didn't pay much attention to it.
But Yukima Azuma gave her this gift.
So, the joy of the gift was surpassed by the happiness she felt.
It was the feeling of joy in her heart when she sensed the care from someone else.
Kasumigaoka Utaha extended her other hand in front of Yukima Azuma.
To hide her embarrassment, she casually said:
"I thought ex-boyfriend-kun would only bring takoyaki as a gift."
Changing the way she addressed him to a teasing tone was a sign of their close relationship.
Because Kasumigaoka Utaha never teased people she didn't care about.
"If it weren't someone close, I would definitely bring takoyaki from Takomasa."
Yukima Azuma took the remaining bandage, this time wrapping her hand very slowly.
"But if I brought that for senpai, I'd definitely get scolded."
"Am I someone so stingy in ex-boyfriend-kun eyes?"
"So, that means I won't get scolded, right?"
"Yeah, senpai will forgive my kouhai-kun silly actions, and at most, I'll just step on you once."
"Isn't that worse?"
"Oh, is there a problem if I step on you?"
"Absolutely not!"
Though the movement was slow, the length of the bandage was limited.
With each word, the bandage was being firmly secured together.
Kasumigaoka Utaha raised her hand, looking at the pristine wrist guard on her wrist, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily curved up.
Under the light, her long hands, like a piece of art, were even more beautiful with the bandage adorning them.
"Take a picture for me."
Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly said, pointing at her phone on the table.
Yukima Azuma picked up Kasumigaoka Utaha's phone.
"Give it to me, I'll unlock it for you"
Before Kasumigaoka Utaha could finish her sentence, she heard the 'click' of the phone unlocking.
Her words stopped, and her heartbeat sped up again.
'This time, it only took one try to unlock, and he didn't even ask!'
The password for Kasumigaoka Utaha's phone was the day they met.
Yukima Azuma moved behind Kasumigaoka Utaha, extending his hand over her shoulder.
He found a suitable angle with her hands raised, then pressed the shutter button.
After receiving the phone back, Kasumigaoka Utaha stood up.
She walked up the stairs, but before leaving, she turned back.
"I really like the gift. I'll give it back to my ex-boyfriend-kun, but it took some time to choose the gift, so I'm not sure when I'll give it."
Yukima Azuma smiled and nodded.
"I'll always be looking forward to senpai gift."
Kasumigaoka Utaha hurried up the stairs, heading back to her room.
Until then, her heartbeat still hadn't slowed down.
She looked at the pristine wrist guard on her hand.
How should she put it?
It felt like no matter how many times she looked at it, she never got tired of it.
After admiring it for a while, Kasumigaoka Utaha finally opened her phone.
She went to Twitter and directly uploaded the photo that Yukima Azuma had just taken to her Twitter account.
The caption was simply the two words "Wrist Guard."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's Twitter account had been verified as the official account of "Kasumi Utako."
As a talented light novel author, the name "Kasumi Utako" on Twitter already had quite a few fans.
Only a short time after the post, the likes and comments began to increase rapidly.
[Such beautiful hands, I'm dying!]
[May I ask, should I send my tongue over or will Kasumi Utako-sensei send her hands over?]
[Wow, I searched for something like this because it's so beautiful, but this is so expensive!]
[Eh? How much is it?]
[I can only say, humans can't afford this price! Attached image of shopping software.jpg]
[Wow, okay, never mind then!]
[Am I the only one wondering, who took this picture?]
[Watson, you discovered the blind spot!]
[Right, Kasumi Utako-sensei has both hands in the picture, could it be... her tongue?]
[Damn it, what do you mean by tongue! Ridiculous! Clearly, someone must be holding Kasumi Utako-sensei while taking the photo!]
[No way! I don't believe it! I wish Kasumi Utako-sensei would say otherwise!]
[What the hell is wrong with you, it could just be a female friend taking the picture!]
Since Kasumigaoka Utaha rarely posted on Twitter before, her account mostly had posts related to her books.
She didn't even have a single personal photo.
As a beautiful novelist, this image was mainly spread through her real-life interactions and book signings.
So, even though it was just a photo of a hand, the level of discussion was extremely high.
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't care about the comments.
She didn't pay attention to these things.
She just wanted to show off a little.
It was a bit like a child who had just gotten their favorite toy.
In short, she just wanted to show off!
At the end of the month.
Only three days left until the spring break ends.
The tasks that needed to be completed during the break must have already been finished by now.
As for the unfinished ones, it's unlikely they'll be completed in the remaining three days of the holiday.
It's like a pause in the middle of a rock song.
A brief moment of stillness and stop.
Then, the hurried melodies will come again.
Yukima Azuma went out to buy something.
The next match in the official Go tournament would be the day after the new semester begins.
This was an important match that would determine whether Yukima Azuma could reach 6-dan.
At the same time, it was a very noteworthy part of the entire official tournament.
Because this time, the opponent was Yamato Kajin, a 8-dan player.
However, Yukima Azuma wasn't too concerned about it.
Recently, he had also looked over some of Yamato Kajin games.
The impression was that both of their Go skills were quite similar.
Not a difficult opponent to defeat.
Moreover, even if he lost, it didn't matter.
In future official matches, if he won two more games, he could still reach 6-dan.
The tournament would count the total number of wins, so losing a match wouldn't necessarily end his chances of winning the championship.
Yukima Azuma was even more focused on the upcoming school year.
Going to Toyosaki Private School, the school that had existed in Yukima Azuma's memories from his past life.
His mood was somewhat ambiguous.
It felt as though something was about to happen.
A strange feeling between a light novel and reality.
Also, there was another noteworthy thing.
It was about the game that Yukima Azuma had created.
Yes, that's right, Yukima Azuma had made a game.
After leaving the world of Go and seeking another way to make money, Yukima Azuma chose to create a game.
After teaching himself programming and accumulating skills, Yukima Azuma had reached the 4th level of programming.
Level 4, which was the basic level of becoming a professional programmer.
Through Yukima Azuma's experiments, this was the threshold of skills when entering the 'professional' field.
Of course, having only reached level 4 meant he was considered a professional, but there were still limits.
With his level 4 programming skills, Yukima Azuma had created a special game called "Sheep of a Sheep."
(origin: ... I searched Google, it's a Chinese game I've never heard of)
It was an extremely easy-to-play match-3 game.
"Sheep of a Sheep" was the ideal product for making quick money.
Easy to play, easy to make, with cute visuals and viral spread.
The first few levels could be passed without lifting a finger, but as you progressed, even using cheats might not guarantee success.
If you failed, players had to watch ads to revive.
With these features,
In the first month after its release, thanks to ad revenue, Yukima Azuma earned 43 million yen his first earnings. This was the reason Yukima Azuma had recently not been short on money, as mentioned earlier.
Of course, the game had its drawbacks. It was easy to become popular but also easy to get bored with.
By the second month in the Japanese market, the revenue began to decrease.
However, Yukima Azuma had anticipated this. Given Japan's small population, this was not his ultimate goal.
After getting the initial capital, Yukima Azuma quickly connected with international game stores and social media platforms.
He uploaded the game to global platforms, hoping to attract attention from players worldwide.
The following week would mark the calculation of the first month's revenue from international markets.
That number would be the one Yukima Azuma truly anticipated.
Once he obtained that amount, he would have enough capital to execute his next plans.
In short, as stated before, Yukima Azuma wanted to make money, make a lot of money, and then elevate his social standing.
The scene of people from Yukima Azuma "family" after the past incident, coming to claim their share of the family wealth, was something he never wanted to experience again.
In a society like Japan, where social class and hierarchy are very harsh, if you don't rise to a high position, no matter how harmless you are, someone will come along and step on you.
"Bitch, when I succeed, I'll return twice the humiliation you caused me!"
Yukima Azuma muttered to himself.
At this moment, he walked past a park.
Yukima Azuma had passed by, but then he turned back.
The park was very quiet at the moment, and there was no one active.
A girl with long pink hair sat alone on a swing.
Because the girl had her head down, her face wasn't clearly visible.
If he had to find a feature, it might be her incredibly outdated outfit.
She wore a pink sports top on top, and a pleated skirt, but under the skirt were sports pants.
Who wears a pleated skirt but puts sports pants underneath it?!
Yukima Azuma stared for a while, feeling very familiar.
But after a moment, he couldn't remember who she was.
However, Yukima Azuma was not someone who would dwell on things.
He decided to approach her.
Because if it felt familiar, he might as well go over and strike up a conversation.
If he wasn't sure whether he knew her, simply asking her name would give him a clue.
If not, he could ask for her contact info, chat for a few days, and get to know her.
...
The girl name was Gotoh Hitori.
True to her name.
Gotoh Hitori was always alone.
Because of her shy personality, she didn't know how to make friends.
In elementary school, just a little slip-up, and she had become the "forgotten corner" of the class.
Without friends, she didn't know how to interact with others.
And without the ability to communicate, she couldn't make friends.
Gotoh Hitori fell into a vicious cycle.
Then, in the blink of an eye, she graduated elementary school, moved on to high school, but still couldn't make any friends.
Gradually, Gotoh Hitori developed a communication disorder.
By now, after graduating high school,
Gotoh Hitori remained invisible, unnoticed by anyone.
How does an introvert make friends?
The recommended approach on the internet was: wait for an extrovert to come and help.
And today,
Some extroverted person had noticed Gotoh Hitori and decided to help her.
By the way,
To make friends, Gotoh Hitori had taught herself how to play the guitar, and after years of practice, her skills had become quite impressive.
She was a guitar blogger with 30,000 followers online.
Unfortunately, she didn't have a place to showcase her talent.
Even though she had graduated middle school, she had never once participated in a performance at a school festival.
She had sworn that during this spring break, she would definitely form a band at high school.
But clearly, that wasn't going to happen.
--------------------------------------------
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If you want to read the advanced chapters that I have translated in advance and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n patreon.com/curse_heian_chef
For various personal and environmental reasons,
Gotoh Hitori had become someone incapable of normal communication with othersa "super introvert."
Her personality gradually grew more isolated, with a tendency to develop into an otaku.
She spent all day holed up in her room, playing the guitar.
Gotoh Hitori mother could no longer stand by and watch.
As a result, today, Gotoh Hitori was pushed out of the house to run errands at the supermarket.
On the way, she noticed an empty park with not a soul in sight.
She looked at the vacant swing.
It felt like a place meant for lonely people like her to gather.
For some reason, she ran over and sat on the swing.
"I don't want to go to school anymore; I can't survive anyway."
"It feels like the internet is the place where I truly belong..."
In her mind, she tortured herself, thinking about all sorts of nonsense.
As a result, because she kept her head down, she completely failed to notice someone approaching.
By the time she realized
"Hello."
Gotoh Hitori was startled and leaned back, nearly falling off the swing.
Yukima Azuma was crouched in front of Gotoh Hitori, at a rather close distance.
It couldn't be helped.
Gotoh Hitori had been bowing her head the whole time.
If one wanted to see her face, there was no other way.
Even so, it was still impossible to see her fully.
Gotoh Hitori hair was far too long.
Her pink bangs even covered her eyes.
Thus, Yukima Azuma still couldn't figure out why the girl in front of her felt so familiar.
"Hello, my name is Yukima Azuma. I live nearby. I've never seen you before; can we be friends?"
Yukima Azuma smiled gently.
This move was incredibly effective.
Perhaps due to the Yuki family genetics, Yukima Azuma had an 8/10 appearancenot just empty words.
To the point that, even with a cold demeanor, countless people would push and shove to get close.
Adding that friendly smile
Even someone as cold as a block of ice would easily melt before him!
Gotoh Hitori eyes widened.
"Ehh? Ehh!? What!?"
Struggling to keep her balance and avoid falling, Gotoh Hitori had no time to process why Yukima Azuma had suddenly approached and started a conversation.
'Sunlight! This is actual sunlight! Such a dazzling presence, like sunshine! I'm melting!'
These were the only thoughts running through her mind at the moment.
To the point where she forgot to respond entirely.
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow.
Oh?
So, there are people immune to this move?
"Did I bother you by starting a conversation? Sorry, I just wanted to be friends with you."
Yukima Azuma slightly bowed his head, wearing an apologetic expression.
Gotoh Hitori was nearly blinded.
The light from the person in front of herthe "light of an extrovert"was blindingly intense.
It was stronger than all the "popular people" she had ever met at school combined.
'Friends?'
'Ehh, ehh, ehh!?'
'Gotoh Hitori! Say something! Your potential friend is about to leave!'
'This is bad! It's been too long since I've spoken to anyone! I can't make a sound anymore!'
Gotoh Hitori could only let out a faint noise from her throat: "a...aa."
Yukima Azuma observed the girl in front of him, lightly stroking his chin with a finger.
After a moment of looking at her
He suddenly clapped his hands together.
"Ah, I see! It's not that you dislike me; you're just too nervous to speak."
Gotoh Hitori: !
'Telepathy!? How does he know that!'
"You're thinking, 'How did I know,' right?"
'It really is telepathy! Crab, carrot, watermelon!'
"You've probably started thinking of random abstract words now, haven't you?"
Gotoh Hitori eyes went even wider.
Yukima Azuma smiled faintly.
But this time, it wasn't a gentle or apologetic smile.
Instead, That's the famous smile of Saki Nikaido and Satanichia
It was a grin filled with amusement, as if he had stumbled upon something entertaining.
This girl was so easy to read; nearly every thought she had seemed written plainly on her face.
And her demeanorit was obvious she was the type of person who could be teased at will.
"Alright then, hand me your phone first."
Yukima Azuma extended a hand toward Gotoh Hitori.
"Uh" Reflexively, Gotoh Hitori obeyed, handing over her phone before quietly asking, "Why?"
Taking the phone, Yukima Azuma opened Gotoh Hitori Line app.
First, he added himself to her contacts, then casually edited his name in the notes section.
"Your last name is Gotoh, but what's your full name?"
"Hitori..."
"Oh, then from now on, I'll call you 'Bocchi'."
"Eh? Why call me that"
"Because Hitori means 'alone,' so the nickname 'Bocchi' is easy to remember, right?"
"It's not..."
Gotoh Hitori wanted to point out that she wasn't questioning the meaning of the nickname.
She was wondering why she needed a nickname in the first place.
And why he was using her phone without permission.
Of course, questions like this couldn't possibly be voiced by someone like Bocchi.
If they could, she wouldn't be Bocchi anymore.
"My name is Yukima Azuma. From now on, just call me Azuma-kun, okay?"
"A..."
"Okay!"
"Yes! Yes! Azuma-kun!"
Yukima Azuma gave a satisfied smile.
Gotoh Hitori trembled slightly.
'I I was just threatened, wasn't I! That was definitely a threat, wasn't it!'
'What do I do now? Is he going to force me to work at a hostess bar to make money?'
'Is this the end of my life from today onward?'
Bocchi quivered internally.
'Pull yourself together, Gotoh Hitori! You've got to fight back!'
"From now on, we're friends."
"Yes!"
Gotoh Hitori offered no resistance at all.
Yukima Azuma stood up, looking pleased, and took a step back.
Just as Gotoh Hitori felt relieved by the increased distance, she heard
"Bocchi, now stand here and brush your hair aside."
"Face me and say, 'Nice to meet you, please take care of me.'"
Gotoh Hitori's eyes widened in shock.
"Eh?"
This was clearly too much to handle.
But what Yukima Azuma wanted to do was precisely to push her limits.
"Listen, Bocchi, you know this is a 'friend request,' right? You wouldn't want to let me down, would you?"
With a face on the verge of tears, Gotoh Hitori stepped to the spot Yukima Azuma had indicated.
'Is this what friendship is like? This feels less like a "friend request" and more like a "master command"!'
Chapter 24: Bocchi: It's Over! I'm Becoming a Pet!
With a face on the verge of tears,
Gotoh Hitori stood in the spot Yukima Azuma had pointed to.
Her gaze briefly lifted but quickly darted away.
For Gotoh Hitori, who suffered from communication anxiety, such face-to-face interactions were almost more excruciating than punishment.
If this continued, she would undoubtedly pass out.
At this moment, she desperately needed someone to push her forward.
"Hurry up! Do it!"
Yukima Azuma commanded in a firm tone.
"Y-yes!" Gotoh Hitori trembled, hesitantly raising her hand to brush aside her bangs. "It's... it's... so hard..."
She swept her bangs away from her eyes.
Revealed beneath her hair was an undeniably cute face.
Especially her sapphire-blue eyes, which were breathtakingly beautiful and impossible to look away from.
There was no doubt about itGotoh Hitori was a beautiful girl.
If only her gaze didn't dart around and her pupils didn't tremble, she would look even more stunning.
"N-nice to... meet you! I... I hope for your... guidance in the future!"
Finally, with a shaky, stammering voice, Gotoh Hitori managed to get through the phrase.
Then, as she nervously awaited Yukima Azuma's next command,
Yukima Azuma took a step forward and hugged her.
Gotoh Hitori immediately froze, turning as stiff as a log.
Thankfully, Yukima Azuma didn't give her time to overthink.
"Bocchi, you were amazing! Saying that so clearlyyou did great! Amazing! Truly amazing!"
Hearing the praise, Gotoh Hitori felt as if she were floating on air.
"Hehe... it's nothing special, really."
Yukima Azuma let her go and gently patted her long pink hair.
Noticing Bocchi elated state, Yukima Azuma asked casually:
"Gotoh Hitori, you're a first-year at Shuka High, right? Are you starting there after spring break?"
"Y-yes, Shuka High, first year this year."
"Shuka High, huh? That's pretty far away. Bocchi, you don't live around here?"
"N-no, not really. Actually, I live in that building over there. I just wanted to go to a school where no one knows me."
"Do you have any hobbies?"
"Guitar!"
"When's your birthday?"
"February 21."
"What are your measurements from top to bottom?"
"90, 61, 86."
"I see. A D-cup, huh? Wouldn't have guessed."
"Uh... huh!?"
When Gotoh Hitori finally came to her senses, she realized she had just answered a series of unbelievable questions.
She had divulged every detail about herself without restraint.
Quickly, she pulled away from Yukima Azuma's gentle hug and head pats.
Once again, Bocchi was trembling.
'Devil! He's definitely a devil!'
Yukima Azuma rubbed his hands together, savoring the lingering sensation of Bocchi's soft hair.
"From now on, we're friends. Remember to meet me next Saturday."
Gotoh Hitori's eyes widened in shock.
'It's over! My life is over! I'm about to become someone's pet!'
'Quick, refuse! Gotoh Hitori, refuse and then run away as fast as you can!'
Bocchi fell once more into a spiral of internal conflict.
"Shuka High, huh? Oh right, my house is actually in that direction too. We live pretty close, actually!"
Yukima Azuma's tone was casual, almost as if he had just remembered.
"Y-yes! I'll be there on time next Saturday!"
Bocchi had abandoned all attempts at resistance.
.....
Waving goodbye, Yukima Azuma left the park in a cheerful mood.
"Bocchi, huh."
He smirked to himself, clearly amused.
"She seems interesting. Let's nurture her for now and see how it goes."
.....
It wasn't until Yukima Azuma's figure had completely disappeared from sight that Gotoh Hitori snapped out of it.
She plopped down onto the swing, her body swaying lightly along with its motion.
"It's over... it's over! I'm about to become someone's pet!"
Her mind flashed back to a web novel she had read before, one with a protagonist trapped in a similarly dark situation.
Her life suddenly felt bleak and hopeless.
She pulled out her phone.
Gotoh Hitori decided it was time to leave her last will and testament.
The thought of being played with, discarded like an old rag, and eventually dying filled her with despair.
But as she opened her phone, the first thing that appeared was the Line app.
The chat with Yukima Azuma.
The contact was labeled "Azuma-kun."
And on the screen was a single message:
[Bocchi, from today onward, we're friends.]
Gotoh Hitori heart, which had been shrouded in darkness, suddenly felt illuminated by a beam of light.
"Could it be... I finally have a friend I can actually call by name?"
She recalled Yukima Azuma's handsome face, his most striking feature being the way he crouched in front of her, his starry eyes locking onto hers.
"Those sharp eyebrows and eyes like stars"this phrase seemed tailor-made for someone like him.
Add to that his height of over 1.8 meters, impeccable fashion sense, and warm voice, and Yukima Azuma truly was the epitome of perfection from every angle.
A clean-cut, dashing prince.
As she thought about it, Bocchi began to rationalize.
'Maybe... being toyed with by someone like him isn't so bad?'
"As long as the game isn't too bizarre... it might even be acceptable?"
Bocchi mumbled her thoughts aloud.
Immediately, she lowered her head in embarrassment.
Yukima Azuma undeniable charm, combined with his borderline overbearing yet intriguing actions, left a lingering impression in her mind.
Once a person starts seeing things clearly, they often become more accepting of certain situations.
After all, aren't limits just things meant to be surpassed?
"Hey, sis, what are you doing here? Daydreaming again?"
As Bocchi swayed aimlessly in the park, a sweet, clear voice interrupted her thoughts.
"F-Futari! What are you doing here?"
Bocchi scrambled to her feet, startled.
The voice belonged to Gotoh Futari, her younger sister with short, bubblegum-pink hair.
"I came because you were taking too long. Mom told me to check on you."
Futari answered, tilting her head slightly.
"Oh, I was just... just talking with a friend, so it took some extra time."
Bocchi hurried to provide an explanation that wasn't entirely untrue but still avoided raising suspicion.
However
"A friend from your imagination?"
Futari tilted her head again, the adorable gesture hitting Bocchi's heart like an arrow.
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 25: Back-to-School Season
The back-to-school season!
Finally, the time has come.
After finishing his morning jog today, Yukima Azuma just needed a quick rinse before promptly dressing up neatly.
The uniform of Toyosaki Gakuen consisted of a white shirt paired with dark navy-blue trousers.
For autumn attire, it included a deep navy-blue vest.
Additionally, apart from the regular uniform, there was a pure black formal suit reserved for special occasions.
All uniforms were custom-tailored, specially made based on the measurements of each student.
As a result, they fit exceptionally well, feeling natural and looking sharp.
After all, this was a renowned private academy for the elite.
One of the top three high schools in Japan.
Ranked alongside Shuchi'in Gakuen and Hyakkaou Gakuen, it was a super-prestigious school.
This was a place where society's important talents were cultivateda cradle for training politicians, lawyers, and doctors.
When Yukima Azuma finished adjusting his hairstyle and stepped out of his room, he saw Kasumigaoka Utaha waiting by the door.
Wearing the same uniform, Kasumigaoka-senpai paired it with a pleated skirt and black stockings.
JK girls (Joshi Kousei, Schoolgirls) usually divided themselves into three factions:
The black stockings faction, the white socks faction, and the no-socks faction.
Black stockings were incredibly alluring, white socks represented purity and innocence, while bare legs were extraordinarily captivating.
Yukima Azuma adored all three factions.
However, it seemed Kasumigaoka-senpai was firmly a member of the black stockings faction.
"Let's go, ex-boyfriend-kun," Kasumigaoka Utaha said with a smile.
Walking to school together wasn't a common practice in Japan.
In the context of a "don't bother others" society, walking to school together was considered an intimate act.
Ordinary friends of the opposite sex, even if sharing the same route, would typically walk apartone ahead, one behind.
Usually, only couples, same-gender friends, childhood friends, or opposite-sex friends caught in the ambiguous stage between friendship and romance would walk to school together.
Nevertheless, Kasumigaoka Utaha extended the invitation.
Kasumigaoka Utaha knew what she wanted, and she didn't wait passively but took the initiative.
Her feelings for him had quickly grown intense.
So, she would never deceive herself.
Instead, she would face her emotions seriously and act on them.
Facing Kasumigaoka Utaha's bold approach, Yukima Azuma's response was:
"Ok."
The two walked side by side toward Toyosaki Gakuen.
Along the way, passing Toyosaki students occasionally glanced at them with astonishment.
This was hardly surprising.
After all, Kasumigaoka Utaha was highly renowned at Toyosaki Gakuen.
Even during the school's promotional campaign last year, she was invited to feature prominently.
Her reputation as a "cold goddess" had spread far and wide.
So, when a young man suddenly appeared beside this cold goddess, it naturally drew attention.
That attention reached its peak on the cherry blossom-lined path leading to the school gate.
"Hey isn't that Kasumigaoka-senpai? And she's walking with a guy!?"
"Who is he? I've never seen him before!"
"Could he be a new student? Not even enrolled yet and already close to Kasumigaoka?"
"Maybe he's her younger brother or something."
"Do they even look alike? Stop deluding yourself!"
Soft whispers buzzed around them.
Yukima Azuma remained calm in the face of it all.
His composure slightly irked Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Yukima-kun, how does it feel to be the center of attention?" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked lightly.
Since they were at school, she refrained from calling him "ex-boyfriend-kun." If anyone overheard, it would certainly cause trouble for Yukima Azuma.
Well, walking together was already troublesome, but these two situations carried different implications.
"Senpai, I'm used to it. Did you forget? I used to live like this, didn't I?"
"Since senpai always shines brightly, being noticed when walking beside you is unavoidable."
Yukima Azuma calm reply left Kasumigaoka Utaha both pleased and slightly melancholic.
She was pleased because Yukima Azuma thought she shone brightly, yet melancholic as it reminded her of the past.
...
The two parted ways at the school gate.
Kasumigaoka Utaha headed directly to her class to check in.
As for Yukima Azuma, he needed to check the class assignment board first.
Afterward, he would go to Toyosaki Gakuen's main hall to attend the opening ceremony.
After parting ways, Yukima Azuma suddenly caught a faint fragrance in the air, reminiscent of tuberosepure and soothing, evoking a sense of relaxation.
Amidst the fluttering cherry blossoms, the scent stood out distinctly.
"Does Toyosaki Gakuen have tuberoses planted?"
He wondered while turning toward the direction of the scent.
Then, his gaze met a pair of eyes that resembled tuberoses.
"Ah, not tuberoses, but a girl like tuberoses."
Yukima Azuma waved at Katou Megumi, a smile forming on his face.
"Good morning, Katou-san."
"Good morning, Yukima-san," came her gentle reply.
Her voice, still soft and emotionless, was incredibly pleasant to hear.
It seemed to carry a subtle magic that uplifted the listener's mood.
"Katou-san, since when did you notice me?"
"Just now."
"Really, just now?"
"Yes, I thought Yukima-san wouldn't see me until you got to the main hall."
Katou Megumi lightly twirled a strand of her hair.
The girl with the bob haircut no longer glanced at Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was walking away.
"Well, although Katou-san is adorable, your presence feels rather faint."
"Even if you call me adorable, I don't enjoy hearing what comes after," she replied.
As expected, Katou Megumi was sensitive about her seemingly low presence.
"But today, I noticed you right away because of a gentle, pleasant scent like tuberoses," Yukima Azuma said, stepping a bit closer to Katou Megumi.
He leaned in slightly to sniff the air near her.
However, this time, he no longer detected the faint, pleasant fragrance reminiscent of tuberoses.
Katou Megumi gently pushed Yukima Azuma away.
"Yukima-san! Even I would get embarrassed by that!"
Her face turned slightly red. While her emotions remained subtle, she looked undeniably cute.
Then, she raised her hand and gently sniffed herself.
"The scent of tuberoses? But I don't use any products with that fragrance."
-----------------
Today I played soccer until late afternoon, so there's only 1 chapter. Sorry.
Mainly because from chapter 56 onwards, each chapter increases from 1k words to 2k5 -> 3k words, so it takes more time than usual.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can. I would be very happy about that.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n patreon.com/curse_heian_chef
Chapter 26: The Scent of Tuberoses, The Eyes of Tuberoses
"Recently, I haven't changed my body wash, so Yukima-san must have smelled it wrong," Katou Megumi said.
"Then, could it be Katou-san's natural scent?"
"Yukima-san, you're saying strange things again!"
"Let's go check the class assignment board."
"Okay!"
At this moment, the class assignment board was crowded with people.
New students were eagerly searching for their names.
Yukima Azuma and Katou Megumi coordinated effortlessly, starting from opposite ends of the list.
Their eyes scanned quickly.
The first few lists yielded no results.
Just as Yukima Azuma was about to check the next list,
Katou Megumi softly called his name from the other side.
Yukima Azuma walked over.
At the very bottom of the list, under Class 1-E, the first name stood out clearlyit was his own.
The class lists seemed to be ordered by entrance exam scores.
Yukima Azuma's gaze continued downward.
Soon, he spotted the name Katou Megumi.
They were in the same class.
When Yukima Azuma tilted his head to look at Katou Megumi, he was immediately greeted by a gentle smile on her beautiful face.
Katou Megumi, who rarely showed emotions, conveyed a great deal of joy with just a small smile.
Yukima Azuma looked further down.
Aki Tomoya.
Seeing this name, Yukima Azuma involuntarily frowned.
He ignored what wasn't worth his attention.
Quickly, his eyes caught another name.
Sakamura Spencer Eriri.
Due to its length, "Eriri" stood out prominently among the three- or four-character names on the list, making it easy to spot.
Yukima Azuma scanned the crowd.
In no time, he spotted Eriri in a corner, laughing gleefully.
Without hesitation, he took action.
Yukima Azuma pulled out his phone, opened the camera, and aimed it at Eriri.
Click!
Under the morning sunlight, the golden glow illuminated the golden-haired girl. Her delicate white blouse and her adorable face, paired with a smile that could melt hearts, made for a perfect picture.
"Yep, this one's going straight into the meme bank," Yukima Azuma thought as he effortlessly added the caption "Hehe, silly" beneath the photo.
The crowd flowed from the school gate toward the announcement board and then moved en masse toward the main hall.
Yukima Azuma and Katou Megumi followed the current.
Perhaps due to her faint presence, the bustling freshmen occasionally passed right between them, some nearly colliding with Katou Megumi.
Thanks to her well-practiced skill of avoiding obstacles, Katou Megumi navigated the crowd gracefully without bumping into anyone.
Even so, it was inevitable that the two gradually drifted apart.
Realizing this, Yukima Azuma immediately reached out and pulled Katou Megumi closer.
"Hold onto my shirt; I'll lead. That way, we won't get separated," he said.
Katou Megumi softly murmured an "Okay."
She reached out, grasping the back hem of Yukima Azuma's shirt, her gaze flickering slightly.
Together, they made their way to the main hall and took their seats.
"I wonder who this year's freshman representative will be," Katou Megumi mused softly after letting go of Yukima Azuma's shirt.
Her gentle voice seemed to carry a hint of embarrassment.
"Are you that curious, Katou-san?" Yukima Azuma teased with a sly expression.
"Calling it curiosity is a bit much," Katou Megumi said, lightly twirling her finger. "But I do think the person must be quite outstanding. You see, the freshman representative is always the top scorer in the entrance exam. To get the highest score at Toyosaki is really impressive, don't you think?"
Yukima Azuma stroked his chin lightly. "It's nothing special."
Hearing this, Katou Megumi immediately caught on to something.
She turned her gaze to Yukima Azuma, staring at him without blinking.
Yukima Azuma nodded plainly.
"Yep, I'm this year's freshman representative."
"How cheeky," Katou Megumi said, playfully reaching out to gently punch Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
.....
The principal of Toyosaki Gakuen, a bald old man, stepped onto the stage next.
He began a rather pompous speech.
Thankfully, he kept it to the promised five minutes.
Afterward, Yukima Azuma was called to the stage.
Standing on stage, Yukima Azuma faced the gazes of thousands of incoming freshmen.
He delivered the opening speech he had prepared in advancea standard one.
Was he nervous? Not in the slightest.
Having lived through two lifetimes, Yukima Azuma had experienced countless situations of varying scales.
Just his inherent composure alone, coupled with the strategic mindset he honed through Go, rendered the stares of thousands nothing more than a fleeting breeze.
.....
Below the stage:
Katou Megumi, with eyes as gentle as jasmine, gazed unwaveringly at the boy in the spotlight.
Eriri looked up at the stage, her mouth agape in awe, her ocean-blue eyes glimmering with admiration.
Aki Tomoya fixed his gaze on the stage, recalling the pre-enrollment intel he had gathered, his mind buzzing with calculations.
Thus began the stage named Toyosaki.
.....
Class 1-E
"Yukima-san, that speech was really impressive!"
"Top scorer in the entrance exam? That's incredible!"
"Yukima-san, do you have a girlfriend?"
A crowd quickly gathered around Yukima Azuma, most of them girls.
After all, he was not only the most academically accomplished but also one of the most charismatic guys in the academy.
Moreover, with the semester just starting, this was the perfect time for new connections.
Those with even a sliver of extroversion naturally sought to get acquainted with him.
As the crowd began to swell, more people, attracted by the commotion, joined in.
Thus, a social vortex had formed around Yukima Azuma.
To the barrage of compliments and introductory chatter, Yukima Azuma responded with a calm and polite smile, acknowledging each person.
Maintaining good relationships in high school is a tricky endeavor.
Teenagers are often sensitive, and their friendships are less dictated by practical gains.
Yet, once relationships are managed well, they can bring significant convenience.
Influence without sacrificing benefits is a luxury unattainable in the professional world.
.....
Meanwhile, Eriri had entered the classroom long ago.
Assigned to the same class, her anticipation grew stronger.
However, seeing more and more peopleespecially girlsflocking around Yukima Azuma made her increasingly tense.
Her hand clutched a handkerchief so tightly that she nearly tore it apart with her teeth.
-----------------------------
Yahallo~, my dear handsome and beautiful readers.
Today is a new week. So please throw me your Power Stone, give me a chance to promote this book to more readers.
()*:(`)() Thanks you~
"Hey, Satou-san, can I switch seats with you?"
Yukima Azuma clasped his hands together in front of his chest, making a request.
Satou, who had just been called, hesitated for a moment but quickly nodded.
The social status gap between the two was too large.
Even though he could refuse, doing so would likely result in receiving cold, indifferent stares from the other classmates.
"Alright, but why?" Satou asked, curious.
Yukima Azuma gestured toward Eriri's seat with a glance.
Everyone followed his gaze and immediately understood the situation.
After all, she was an ultra-beauty.
In fact, many people had already been paying attention to Eriri for a long time.
"So Yukima-san likes that type?" a female student murmured softly.
Actually, if you want to become the center of attention in class, it's best not to make your romantic interests public too early.
Once you clearly have someone you like, it creates a kind of barrier.
Others of the opposite gender who want to approach might feel like they're being inappropriate.
To some extent, this affects social relationships.
If the female students heard that Yukima Azuma liked Eriri, nine times out of ten, they would automatically withdraw and keep their distance.
After all, the rival was Eriri, an ultra-beauty.
Competing would be beyond their ability.
It's like a moth flying into the flamethere's only one outcome: death.
Yukima Azuma placed his finger on his lips, signaling for silence.
Then he said:
"Keep it quiet, and don't tell Eriri."
"I've known Eriri since elementary school, and I've watched her grow up."
"Her mother also asked me to look after her, so... you all understand now."
The people around him immediately snapped to attention, their expressions full of realization.
Most of the female students even let out a sigh of relief, as though a weight had been lifted off their shoulders.
Yukima Azuma's explanation, to the ears of the female students, sounded like a purely brotherly relationship looking after his little sister.
Common understanding among the female students: once a guy labels a girl as "little sister," it's the equivalent of being removed from the competition.
Therefore, the girls who liked Yukima Azuma not only didn't resent Eriri but also actively tried to build a good relationship with her.
However, for the male students, these words seemed to confirm the close relationship between Yukima Azuma and Eriri.
If they were realistic, they would give up on pursuing Eriri.
Clearly, they were childhood friends, a perfect matchso what right would a "nobody" have to oppose that?
This was the art of rhetoric.
Although Yukima Azuma words were all true, he managed to guide others' thoughts in the direction he desired.
"Don't tell her, okay?" Yukima Azuma added, then grabbed his belongings and walked toward Eriri.
At this point, Eriri was seething with anger.
The jealousy in her heart had long since exploded.
Seeing Yukima Azuma approach, she snorted and turned her head away.
Yukima Azuma said nothing further.
After switching seats, his new position was right next to Eriri.
If Toyosaki's rule of individual desks hadn't been in place, they would have been sitting together as desk partners by now.
Moreover, the desk behind this spot belonged to Katou Megumi.
When Katou Megumi saw Yukima Azuma moving his things, she blinked and absentmindedly played with her hair.
Eriri, sitting there without hearing Yukima Azuma say anything, grew even more irritated.
She turned her head, wanting to see where Yukima Azuma had gone.
But as soon as she looked, her eyes met Yukima Azuma's gaze at an extremely close distance.
Seeing Yukima Azuma sitting calmly in the "partner" position next to her, Eriri's eyes widened.
"Hey! Why did you move here?!"
Eriri bared her small fangs, asking in a low voice:
"Why did you switch seats and come here?"
In truth, her anger had mostly dissipated by now.
She even felt a little sweet in her heart.
Eriri was the kind of girl who: as long as the person she liked showed a little bit of care, she would be so happy that she forgot everything else.
"What's it to you?" Yukima Azuma replied coldly.
He couldn't afford to show Eriri any more sweetness at this point.
Eriri snorted lightly, but didn't take it to heart.
In her mind, she had already categorized Yukima Azuma as a "tsundere."
Clearly, he had taken the initiative to move closer, yet he was speaking so coldly. Wasn't this the definition of a tsundere?
kettttttttt!
The classroom door was opened, and a person stepped in, tapping on the podium, producing a resounding sound.
Class 1-E immediately fell silent.
It was a woman with long pink hair, exuding the aura of an older sister.
Her office attire, black stockings, figure, and beauty were enough to rival Kasumigaoka Utaha.
However, her face seemed to be covered with a thick layer of ice, her cold expression sending a chill down one's spine.
"I am your homeroom teacher, Kirisu Mafuyu."
She turned and wrote her name on the board.
"I hope we can get along well."
Upon hearing this, the mood of the students in the class varied.
Having a beautiful homeroom teacherthis was definitely good news.
However, even though Kirisu Mafuyu said she hoped they would "get along," her tone was so cold that it seemed to push everyone away.
Sitting in the first two rows, some students could even feel a cold breeze blowing straight into their faces.
"Since Toyosaki Academy doesn't implement a class-changing system, unless something unexpected happens, I will be your homeroom teacher for the next three years."
"To start our three years together on a good note, and to help you all get to know each other, please introduce yourselves one by one."
"Starting from this side." Kirisu Mafuyu raised her hand and pointed at the student seated at the farthest end near the wall, making a gesture to invite them to speak.
The first student by the wall stood up.
"I'm Satou Kazuma, from Kurenosato Middle School. My hobbies are eating, sleeping, and playing games. I look forward to everyone's support."
"I'm Kunimi Yuuma. My hobby and specialty is basketball. If anyone is interested, feel free to reach out to discuss the basketball club."
"My name is..."
The introductions proceeded smoothly in order.
It quickly came to Eriri turn.
"I'm Sawamura Spencer Eriri. My mother is Japanese, and my father is British. My hair color is natural. My hobbies and specialty are drawing. I look forward to everyone's support."
The information about Eriri mixed heritage caused a small stir in the class.
Additionally, her graceful mannerisms made it inevitable for others to label her as a noble lady.
Thanks to the foundation Yukima Azuma had built, combined with Eriri own excellence, her charm in the class instantly skyrocketed.
-----------------------------
Yahallo~, my dear handsome and beautiful readers.
Today is a new week. So please throw me your Power Stone, give me a chance to promote this book to more readers.
()*:(`)() Thanks you~
Chapter 28: After class, come to my office!
"I am Katou Megumi. I like sweets, cooking, and shopping. I look forward to everyone support."
Her tone was gentle, and her self-introduction was as ordinary as it could be.
It truly didn't leave a lasting impression on anyone.
Almost immediately after Katou Megumi sat down, most of the class had forgotten her name.
Everyone's gaze quickly shifted to the next person.
Yukima Azuma stood up.
"I am Yukima Azuma."
Then, he sat back down.
Kirisu Mafuyu shot him a glare.
She stared at him for about two seconds, realizing Yukima Azuma had no intention of standing up to add anything. She kept her cold expression and tapped her hand on the podium.
"Yukima-kun, you know the drill. After class, come to my office for a bit."
The class went silent for a moment before some of the students couldn't help but laugh.
Introducing oneself in Japan is truly an important ritual during school days.
If you do it poorly or inappropriately, it's easy to make it hard for others to approach you.
Take Yukima Azuma self-introduction, for example.
Normally, it would definitely lead to isolation.
However, before the introductions began, 70% of the class had already talked to Yukima Azuma, 80% had some initial impression of him, and 90% knew his name.
So even though he didn't finish a proper sentence, the atmosphere in the class remained light-hearted.
Everyone just thought Yukima Azuma was teasing, and that was funny.
Rather than thinking, "This guy is definitely a weirdo, gross, stay away," the class's reaction to Yukima Azuma was completely the opposite.
On the other hand, when it was Aki Tomoya's turn:
"Hi everyone, I'm Aki Tomoya, a true otaku. My favorite anime is Jujutsu Kaisen, and my favorite game is Doki Doki Literature Club!."
"During the spring break, I experienced a moment that made my heart race, and since then, I've had a dream: to create the best galgame in the world."
"If anyone is interested in galgames, feel free to talk to me. I plan to start a club, and after graduation, I want to establish a company to develop galgames."
Aki Tomoya spoke with great enthusiasm and fluency.
However, the moment the word "otaku" slipped from his mouth, the students sitting nearby began subtly pulling their chairs away, trying to maintain their distance.
The way everyone looked at Aki Tomoya initially showed contempt, but it slowly turned to avoidance, tinged with disgust.
Nobody knew who he was.
He just blurted out about topics from the lowest tier of the social food chainotaku culture.
How could they possibly look down on him without looking down on the handsome guy who just gave a proper introduction?
Kirisu Mafuyu furrowed her brows, a few dark veins appearing on her forehead.
Seeing that Aki Tomoya showed no signs of stopping, she finally couldn't take it anymore and quietly interrupted:
"Alright, sit down, next person!"
Aki Tomoya was about to say more, but when he saw Kirisu Mafuyu's cold gaze, he reluctantly sat down, completely ignoring the contemptuous stares from the others around him.
Yukima Azuma glanced to his right, where Eriri was sitting.
He noticed that this "Eriri Otaku" was trying to lower her head as much as possible.
It was clear that she was very afraid of others knowing that she was acquainted with Aki Tomoya.
In fact, Eriri did know him.
Eriri and Aki Tomoya had gone to the same elementary school.
The two of them became friends due to their shared love for otaku culture.
However, because Aki Tomoya was too enthusiastic about publicly promoting otaku culture, both of them became targets of bullying.
Eriri couldn't handle the isolation and harassment, so she transferred to Yukima Azuma's school.
Yukima Azuma helped Eriri get through that difficult time, assisting her in rebuilding her social connections.
As a result, the two gradually became a couple.
Although the detailed story would be discussed more later, this was the general overview.
Currently, Eriri still kept her passion for otaku culture private, but outwardly she presented herself as a prominent "Oujou-sama."
She enjoyed both sides of her life: the normal social interactions and the vibrant otaku world. For her, these two aspects didn't conflict, unless someone intentionally made them clash.
.....
The awkward atmosphere caused by Aki Tomoya's introduction quickly faded when a lively red-haired girl stepped up.
"I'm Kita Ikuyo! I want to be friends with everyone! Call me Kita-chan! I love music and traveling, and I look forward to everyone's support!"
Her clear, vibrant voice, combined with her cute appearance, brightened the mood in the classroom.
Kita Ikuyo was the perfect "ray of sunshine," making everyone feel comfortable when interacting with her.
The introductions continued smoothly and quickly wrapped up.
.....
The first class didn't contain much important content.
As soon as the bell rang for the break, Kirisu Mafuyu gestured for Yukima Azuma.
The class erupted in laughter.
Everyone had probably guessed that the "troublemaker" would be called to the office.
Yukima Azuma lowered his head, his face showing that he had accepted his fate, and followed Kirisu Mafuyu out of the classroom.
As soon as they left the classroom, Yukima Azuma returned to his normal state.
The two walked together to the teacher's office.
"Oh, Kirisu-sensei, bringing a student to the office so early in the morning?"
A middle-aged female teacher teased.
Kirisu Mafuyu rubbed her head, looking tired, and replied:
"Yes, it's a problem student."
"Eh? Is it me?" Yukima Azuma pointed at himself.
This sight made all the teachers in the office laugh.
Kirisu Mafuyu gently tapped Yukima Azuma's head.
"Stop joking, come here!" She pointed to her seat.
Yukima Azuma obediently walked over.
"Honestly, I'm worried about you."
Kirisu Mafuyu shook her head, helpless.
She had been worried that Yukima Azuma might become isolated.
After all, the way he introduced himself wasn't a major issue.
But looking at the atmosphere, it was clear she didn't need to worry about that.
As an adult, Kirisu Mafuyu ability to read the room was much better than the students'.
On the other hand, there was someone else she was concerned about.
Kirisu Mafuyu furrowed her brows as she thought about that person.
It could be considered hopeless.
After talking so much about otaku culture, being isolated was inevitable.
The best she could do was to pay attention and make sure the other students didn't bully him.
The real reason she called Yukima Azuma to the office, however, was something else.
"Would you like to be the class president?"
Kirisu Mafuyu looked at Yukima Azuma and asked.
With his appearance, ability, and popularity in the class, if he became class president, it would certainly relieve her of a lot of work.
But Yukima Azuma immediately shook his head.
-----------------------------
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Yukima Azuma almost immediately shook his head to decline.
Kirisu Mafuyu raised one eyebrow.
"What's the reason?"
"I have something to do. By the way, Kirisu-sensei, I'd like to take the day off tomorrow."
Kirisu Mafuyu raised her hand as if she wanted to pull Yukima Azuma's ear.
But Yukima Azuma swiftly dodged.
"How dare you run away! Talking nonsense! What could you possibly need to take a day off for the second day after the start of school?"
Kirisu Mafuyu was so angry that her face turned bright red.
Yukima Azuma quickly gestured for her to calm down.
Then he pointed at the phone she had placed on the table.
"Anyway, Sensei, try using your phone and search my name online."
Upon hearing this request, Kirisu Mafuyu furrowed her brow.
Although it sounded unbelievable, she didn't criticize him immediately. Instead, she picked up her phone and began searching.
What surprised her was that when she typed 'Yukima Azuma' into the search bar, a series of related keywords appeared underneath.
Such as 'Shogi God Yukima Azuma', 'Yukima Azuma wins seven consecutive matches in an official tournament', 'Yukima Azuma receives confession from the Queen of Shogi', etc.
Kirisu Mafuyu clicked on the first search result.
Quickly, a series of results popped up.
The first one was an article about his biography.
It detailed most of Yukima Azuma's achievements in the world of shogi, along with several classic matches and records of his confrontations.
In addition to the text, there were a few photos.
All of them were pictures of Yukima Azuma participating in interviews after leveling up in tournaments.
After looking through this information, Kirisu Mafuyu's gaze toward Yukima Azuma completely changed.
The boy before her could no longer be considered an ordinary student.
His title as a professional shogi player made Yukima Azuma seem half outside the school's domain.
Typically, professional shogi players like Yukima Azuma would no longer attend school.
They would graduate from middle school or even drop out.
Since he was clearly a shogi genius, his career path would be far better, so why waste time in school?
Of course, Yukima Azuma's academic performance was a different matter.
"So, tomorrow you're going... to compete?" Kirisu Mafuyu asked.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
"Tomorrow there's an official match that affects my promotion to a 6-dan player. It's quite important."
"Okay, fine, I'll give you the day off. I'll just hand you the leave request form directly."
After receiving an answer, Kirisu Mafuyu immediately agreed without much thought. She even took a leave request form from her drawer and handed it to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma took the leave form.
Although he had expected it, he was still a little surprised when Kirisu Mafuyu took it this far.
Kirisu Mafuyu.
Yukima Azuma had known this teacher from his previous life.
Before becoming a teacher, Kirisu Mafuyu was a competitive figure skater.
She had won many awards at major competitions.
But due to a fleeting emotional reason, she gave up that talent and later regretted it.
As a result, in her subsequent educational career, she adopted the principle:
"A teacher should guide students down the path of developing their talents."
Yukima Azuma clearly had a talent for shogi, so Kirisu Mafuyu naturally supported him.
"In the future, if you need time off for a match, just send me a message on Line."
"Keep this leave form. After your break, fill it out and submit it when you return to school."
"If you're behind on assignments, you can come to me, and I'll help you catch up."
"Occasionally borrow notes from your friends. You also have a talent for studies, so don't waste it."
Kirisu Mafuyu carefully instructed Yukima Azuma in a long list of things.
Finally, she patted Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment and nodded.
Then he smiled at Kirisu Mafuyu and said:
"Sensei, if you have time, come watch my match."
As long as the concern is genuine, Yukima Azuma would always respond kindly and not forget.
Kirisu Mafuyu nodded, as if agreeing.
After exchanging Line accounts, she sent Yukima Azuma off.
.....
Then it was back to regular classes, after-school break, lunch, and heading home.
Yukima Azuma lightly picked up his backpack and prepared to go home.
Though he could start attending a club today, Yukima Azuma wasn't interested in any club at the moment.
In fact, he thought he might go back to practicing shogi or have a meal with Kasumigaoka Utaha.
But someone blocked Yukima Azuma's path.
Looking at the person, Yukima Azuma frowned.
"Aki-kun, what's going on?"
Aki Tomoya was standing in front of Yukima Azuma, holding a stack of papers.
How should I put this?
His attitude was like that of a terrible salesperson.
Have you ever encountered those people at a shopping mall, holding a can of 'white shoe spray' and always ready to spray you twice?
Aki Tomoya was even worse than that.
"Yukima-kun, let's finish the greatest visual novel game in the world together!"
Yukima Azuma felt somewhat helpless.
At first, he thought Aki Tomoya was coming to him about the incident with the bike being kicked over.
Although at that time Aki Tomoya had been completely dazed, not even realizing someone had kicked over his bike.
But what if he had seen it by accident?
Looking back now, it seemed unlikely.
But the current situation was even more troublesome than just being provoked.
"Why are you looking for me? I mean, why should I help you?"
Yukima Azuma crossed his arms in front of his chest, his hand lightly tapping on his arm repeatedly.
Anyone with even a little bit of common sense would clearly see that this was not the attitude for further discussion.
But clearly, Aki Tomoya was not someone with that kind of sense.
"Yukima-kun, you know programming, right? I've seen that a small game has become very popular recently, and the creator is you."
"Among the people I know, you're the only one who can program a game. Please help me, let's finish the greatest visual novel game together!"
Aki Tomoya bowed at a 90-degree angle.
Yukima Azuma narrowed his eyes.
This kid, he's even more shameless than I imagined.
The name of the creator of the game had been deliberately hidden by Yukima Azuma in a corner of the game's settings.
Almost no one noticed it within the game.
Aki Tomoya wasn't particularly enthusiastic about match-3 type games either.
"You've investigated me, haven't you?"
Yukima Azuma concluded.
Upon hearing this, Aki Tomoya fell silent for a moment.
He had definitely done his research.
During the spring break, Aki Tomoya met the main girl he was infatuated with.
Although he didn't understand why, his bicycle suddenly lost control and veered off course.
But the feeling from that moment had deeply embedded itself in his mind.
Creating the greatest visual novel game, recreating that moment when his heart fluttered, and developing the best heroine.
Aki Tomoya was willing to do anything to make this happen.
And to create the game, he needed support.
The script and images were already being thought of.
Perhaps the music could be handled by someone else.
But programming was the major issue.
Though he could outsource it, Aki Tomoya didn't have enough money to pay a programmer.
So, Aki Tomoya could only target "people he knew."
Compared to discovering the name of the game creator in the settings, searching through the student records in the class list was far easier.
Because of this, Yukima Azuma felt that Aki Tomoya's shamelessness was beyond imagination.
"Since you've investigated my profile, you must already know."
"Aside from being the creator of the game, I'm also a professional shogi player."
"Though information about official tournaments isn't that prominent, it's still news. It's certainly easier to look up than student records in the class list."
"So, you want me to take time away from my shogi career to help you program a game?"
"On what basis? Just because you say so? Or do you have a reasonable salary offer?"
"Aki Tomoya, you really are an extremely selfish person. It's disgusting."
Yukima Azuma's words were unrelenting, somewhat different from his usual style.
In fact, the last sentence wasn't fully expressed.
"You are indeed an extremely selfish person, but sorry, I'm the same. So you disgust me."
That was the exact way he intended to say it.
Yukima Azuma was actually an even more extreme selfish person than Aki Tomoya.
The two had conflicting interests.
Therefore, Yukima Azuma despised the person in front of him intensely.
Aki Tomoya was left speechless, his face practically showing no way to hide his embarrassment.
Tsk, honestly.
If it had been someone else, they would have definitely covered their face and run away.
But Aki Tomoya's face wasn't any less shameless than his actions.
Seeing that Aki Tomoya was still stammering and unable to speak, Yukima Azuma lost interest in continuing to waste time with him.
He decided to walk around Aki Tomoya and prepare to leave.
Just as they were about to pass each other, Aki Tomoya, as if grabbing a lifeline, suddenly shouted:
"We can split the profits! The game we create will definitely sell well, and by then, the share of the revenue will be enough to pay you, Yukima-kun, right?"
At this point, Yukima Azuma only found it laughable.
How many people are in the game industry?
How many games are released worldwide every year?
And out of those, how many can actually be considered 'best-selling'?
A game made by a school club is definitely going to be a big hit?
Even miHoYo wouldn't dare to exaggerate like this.
Seeing that Yukima Azuma had no intention of stopping, Aki Tomoya had to reveal his final trump card.
"What I'm saying isn't a fantasy! The script for the game will be handled by 'Kasumi-sensei.'"
"She's the genius light novel author who wrote The Metronome in Love."
"And the visuals will be done by 'Kashiwagi Eri-sensei!'"
"With these two backing us, our game club will definitely succeed!"
Yukima Azuma stopped.
Seeing this, Aki Tomoya felt hope.
He began to talk more about the game's prospects, thinking that he had convinced him.
However, he didn't notice the cold smile slowly forming on Yukima Azuma's face as they passed each other.
"Sorry, let me confirm again, you said that 'Kasumi-sensei' and 'Kashiwagi Eri-sensei' have already joined your club, right?"
Yukima Azuma's tone had become calm, no longer as cold as before.
"Yes!"
Aki Tomoya nodded without hesitation.
Yukima Azuma turned back, resting his chin on his hand as if deep in thought.
"Hmm, you convinced me. I'll join. Be sure to call me when there are club activities."
After two seconds, Yukima Azuma gave this response.
Then, he waved goodbye and left Toyosaki.
...
Looking at Yukima Azuma leave, Aki Tomoya clenched his fists.
Everything is "going smoothly!"
He calculated the time and then made his way to the clubroom at the back of the school building.
At this point, quite some time had passed after school ended.
Most of the clubs had dispersed.
This included the art club.
In front of the shoe cabinet, Eriri was changing her shoes alone.
"Eriri!"
Aki Tomoya called out to the blonde girl with two braids.
Eriri stiffened at the sound.
Then, she frowned and turned to look at Aki Tomoya.
"Haven't I told you already? Don't talk to me at school!"
After witnessing Aki Tomoya's self-sabotaging introduction in the morning class, Eriri immediately sent a warning message to him on Line. She absolutely didn't allow him to speak to her at school.
"Ah, I forgot, but I have something important to tell you."
Aki Tomoya scratched his head.
Upon hearing this, Eriri took a cautious step back.
"Anyway, just take a look at this first!"
Aki Tomoya handed a stack of papers to Eriri.
Having been friends since elementary school, Eriri took the papers.
The first page: "Flash Girl Plan!"
The second page: "Create the greatest galgame!"
The third page: Blank.
Flipping through a few more pages, the result remained the same.
Eriri looked at the papers with a "Are you kidding me?" expression, then glanced back at Aki Tomoya.
"Huh?"
--------------------------------------------
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"Huh? Show me what this means?"
Eriri furrowed her brows.
"This is a plan! Let's create the greatest galgame together!" Aki Tomoya said excitedly.
"In the end, how did you come up with such a ridiculous and stupid idea? Please, tell me," Eriri said.
"Very good! Last week, I met the fated heroine, just like the opening scene of an anime, the intro to a game."
"Oh, then why don't you go find her and confess to her?"
"Huh? Do I have to confess to someone in the real world?"
Eriri felt a sharp pain in her head.
The person in front of her had always had a very twisted way of thinking.
Perhaps that's why something happened when they were kids.
If it weren't for Yukima, maybe she would still be...
But then, after reconsidering, Eriri felt even more troubled.
"So what? What good is it for you to drag me into your little fantasy?"
"Because among the people I know, only you, Eriri, could be the artist for this game!"
"Even if you say that," Eriri pointed to the plan with just two lines of text. "How could we make a game with something like this?"
"A... this..." Aki Tomoya fumbled.
He certainly knew this pile of paper couldn't be called a plan, and in fact, there was nothing to argue about.
Aki Tomoya thought for a long time, then finally tried to force the words out of his mouth.
"As long as there's passion, we'll definitely make it, right? This plan, only I can complete it!"
Upon hearing this, Eriri didn't say a word. She immediately crumpled the "plan" in her hand into a ball.
With a dramatic cry from Aki Tomoya, she threw it forcefully at his head.
"A meaningless idea. I'm leaving."
"Don't! I'll definitely come up with a proper plan by the end of this week!"
"And our team is ready, we just need you, Eriri, to be the artist!"
"Kasumi-sensei is doing the script, Yukima is doing the programming, and with you doing the art, we can definitely make this game!"
Eriri's feet stopped.
Of course, it wasn't because she believed Aki Tomoya's promise about the game plan.
It was just because she heard Yukima Azuma's name.
If she joined the club with him...
Her chances of meeting him would increase.
Maybe the feeling could be healed.
"Fine, since you said so, I'll reluctantly join. But if there's no game plan by the end of this week, I'm out," Eriri said, with a slight reluctance.
.....
On the other side, Yukima Azuma had arrived back at his apartment.
He opened the door and saw the small shoes of Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Both of them were members of the "Go home" club.
Since there was no one to stop them after school, Utaha naturally arrived home earlier than Yukima.
"I'm home," Yukima greeted as usual.
"Welcome home," Kasumigaoka Utaha responded, sitting leisurely in the living room with her legs crossed. Her long legs, adorned with black stockings, gently swayed, and the white slippers she wore lightly wobbled back and forth.
"Let's have seafood porridge tonight. Senpai, come here and help me prepare the ingredients. Oh, there's something I want to ask you," Yukima said, getting straight to the point.
This was Yukima Azuma's way of workingdirect and efficient.
When in doubt, the first thing to do is to seek the truth, not to create unnecessary negative thoughts.
If there's something to ask, ask clearly, don't let personal emotions lead the way, and don't jump to conclusions based on subjective feelings.
And even if anger flares up, he would never let it show until the truth is revealed.
He would also never lash out at the people around him or take his frustrations out on unrelated matters because of his personal feelings.
No one is obligated to bear the unnecessary gloom of someone else.
Not even those who love you the most.
If Yukima Azuma had returned today and appeared tense, with an angry expression, shouting at Kasumigaoka Utaha and losing control of his emotions, even though Kasumigaoka Utaha wouldn't know what was going on, she would certainly try to comfort him.
Perhaps later, they would realize it was all a misunderstanding, resolve the conflict, and make up.
But doing that would certainly harm Kasumigaoka Utaha's emotional well-being.
Yukima Azuma would never do that.
He skillfully used a knife to cut a North Atlantic lobster in half.
Yukima Azuma expertly removed the lobster's intestine, peeled off the shell, and placed it on a plate to set aside.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stood beside him, rinsing the rice for Yukima Azuma, assisting him.
"Senpai, today Aki Tomoya invited you to join his club, and you agreed, right?"
Yukima Azuma asked with a casual tone.
Kasumigaoka Utaha paused for a moment.
She looked at Yukima Azuma.
"It's true, Aki-kun came to find me during lunch break and invited me to join his game club," she replied.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
"So, although it seems a bit out of line, why did you agree to join?"
"Aki Tomoya's plan is terrible, and the club he mentioned seems like a waste of time," she said.
"With your personality, I figured you wouldn't get involved in such nonsense."
Kasumigaoka Utaha placed the ingredients down and grabbed a paper towel to wipe her hands.
Then, she grabbed Yukima Azuma's hands, stopping his actions, and set the knife aside.
Next, she cupped Yukima Azuma's face with both hands, forcing him to look directly at her.
"So, is your ex-boyfriend-kun jealous, actually?" she teased, grinning mischievously.
Yukima Azuma stared into Kasumigaoka Utaha's bright red eyes.
He could see the affection in her gaze, slowly spreading like warmth.
"Yeah, it feels awful, I'm so angry I can barely breathe, I almost cried," Yukima Azuma admitted calmly.
Kasumigaoka Utaha blinked in surprise, then gently held his face.
'What's this? Didn't this change nothing?'
Since their reunion, Yukima Azuma's overly mature actions and demeanor had always made Kasumigaoka Utaha feel uneasy.
She felt that the foolish, childish boy who would get jealous for her, making her heart flutter, had completely disappeared.
But now, looking back, it seemed like that boy had simply grown up.
--------------------------------------------
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Kasumigaoka Utaha pinched Yukima Azuma's face.
Inside, it felt as if she had just taken a bite of sweet honey, a delightful sensation that spread from her heart to the tips of her fingers and toes.
'Really, all that worry before was completely unnecessary.'
She told herself.
Yukima Azuma tilted his head and looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha in confusion.
Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately melted at his gesture, the tilt of his head.
If this were in the past, she definitely would have hugged him tightly and given him a hard pinch on the cheek.
Although it might not be entirely appropriate now, Kasumigaoka Utaha still used both hands to gently hold his face, lightly massaging it.
Feeling sufficiently satisfied, she finally released her hands from Yukima Azuma.
She stared directly into his eyes.
With a serious expression, Kasumigaoka Utaha said:
"Such a club that's clearly untrustworthy, without any special reason, I will absolutely not join."
"Although I know Aki-kun, and he's helped me before, that's all."
"I might help him out of gratitude with some task, but writing the script for a game based on a plan that only has two lines? That's definitely not something I would do."
Upon hearing Kasumigaoka Utaha's words, Yukima Azuma blinked a few times.
"So why did you..."
Kasumigaoka Utaha gently pushed her index finger to the center of Yukima Azuma's forehead.
"Because that guy told me that in his club, you would be in charge of programming the game."
"I reluctantly accepted the invitation to that untrustworthy club because of you."
"You're such an idiot. What the hell are you even jealous about? Seriously, high school boys only have their heads full of nonsense."
Yukima Azuma took a deep breath.
He covered his face.
So that's how it is.
Yukima Azuma only felt a wave of embarrassment rising in his chest, as if his intelligence had been insulted.
Such a small trick, he should've figured it out the first time.
It could only be said that he got confused because he cared too much.
His thoughts were distorted because of the memories from his past life in his head.
What was all this about the choice of the door to destiny, or the convergence of timelines...
But upon thinking about it more, how could any of that really happen?
After all, how many connections had he and she truly shared?
How could the timeline change in such a way as to erase everything from the past?
So, in the end, Aki Tomoya was just a fraud.
To put it simply, he was deceiving both sides.
Before Yukima Azuma joined, he used Azuma's name to invite Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri.
Then, he reversed it, using their joining to pull Yukima Azuma in.
"Did he really dare to do that?" Yukima Azuma smirked maliciously.
Kasumigaoka Utaha realized something was wrong too.
She immediately became cold.
"Want to back out? If you do, I'll back out too. As for repaying the favor, I'll find another opportunity," Kasumigaoka Utaha said.
Repaying a favor was one thing.
But ultimately, what really mattered was thisKasumigaoka Utaha didn't need to think twice to answer this internal question.
"No need. On the contrary, I want to end this now."
Yukima Azuma drew a kitchen knife and twirled it in his hand.
"You can use this script to repay that favor."
"Quietly backing off after being deceived is not my style."
"Since it's come this far, I should give a little back. It's only natural."
"Anyway, let Aki Tomoya hold on to that unrealistic dream and drown in the nameless sea on his pursuit."
The sharp kitchen knife skillfully sliced through the fish, removing the innards, cleaning the scales.
With Yukima Azuma's skill, the fish was quickly deboned and neatly arranged.
Watching his swift and efficient movements, Kasumigaoka Utaha had some thoughts.
"Ex-boyfriend-kun, it seems like you've become more extreme during our time apart?"
Yukima Azuma paused for a moment, his hand still resting on the clay pot.
Had he become extreme?
The answer was definitely yes.
After all, it was for survival.
To escape the trap of being surrounded like a wolf three years ago.
To avoid being devoured to the point of leaving nothing but scraps of bone.
Yukima Azuma had changed to adapt.
"Yes, there's a bit of truth to that. After all, humans aren't immutable. Growing up does come at a cost, i just adapt" Yukima Azuma replied.
"By the way, what happened after we broke up?" Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed to be asking, yet it felt like she was speaking to herself.
'After we broke up, he gave up shogi. What exactly happened?'
'What forced him to change and become who he is now?' Kasumigaoka Utaha thought.
With the Yukima Azuma she saw now, the one who could smile and say, "Let him drown in his illusions," Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't feel scared; she only felt sorrow.
What had really happened?
"If you want to know, I can tell you," Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
Of course, it was a somewhat awkward smile.
Talking about a dark past was fine, but...
The fact that he had multiple girlfriends over the past two years...
He decided not to share that part with Kasumigaoka Utaha for now.
"No need. If I hear it from you, it might lose its meaning. I'll investigate on my own," Kasumigaoka Utaha responded with a thoughtful look.
...
Flowers bloom in pairs, each person on their own branch.
"I'm home!"
"Welcome home... eh? Eriri, did something good happen today?"
Sayuri quickly noticed her daughter's cheerful mood.
It was obvious that something had happened.
Ah, it was worth it for her to make the special trip to Toyosaki.
Transferring her daughter from class 1-B to class 1-E... this...
"Something good? I guess you could say that," Eriri replied, in a genuinely good mood.
After all, she would now be able to participate in club activities with Yukima Azuma.
However, she definitely couldn't tell her mother about this.
But even if Eriri was shy, Sayuri wasn't shy to ask.
"Is it related to Yukima-kun?"
A single question from Sayuri left Eriri flustered.
"W-What! How did you think it had anything to do with him! Seriously!"
--------------------------------------------
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"Wha... what! Why do you think it's related to that person! Seriously!"
Eriri proudly turned her face away.
Sayuri smiled more cheerfully.
Yeah, it really is related to Yukima-kun.
This answer is so obvious!
No way to deny it!
Oh, by the way...
"So, if it's not related to Yukima-kun, could it be related to Aki-kun?"
She asked while still smiling.
But this time, Sayuri's smile didn't come from her heart.
Speaking of Aki Tomoya,
Eriri instinctively furrowed her brows.
"No, no way, mom, really! I'm going to my room!"
After saying that, Eriri ran upstairs.
Sayuri rubbed her face with her left hand, seemingly deep in thought.
Looking at her daughter's reaction,
It seemed there was indeed something going on.
So, should I have been more decisive back then and moved that person out of class 1-E?
Thinking of this, Sayuri shook her head again.
It should be fine.
After all, Yukima-kun is there.
With Yukima-kun's skills and intentions, that person shouldn't be able to mess things up.
When it comes to relationships, it's always better to decide quickly rather than drag things out.
Regarding Yukima Azuma and Aki Tomoya,
Sayuri could say she understood both very well.
In elementary school, Eriri had been victim in a bullying incident.
Sayuri noticed something unusual and immediately intervened.
She thoroughly investigated the cause of the incident and decisively transferred Eriri to a different school.
But the transfer wasn't the end of the matter; it was only a significant turning point.
The reason Eriri is an otaku is mainly because of Sayuri's influence.
After all, Sayuri is an otaku herself.
Therefore, regarding Aki Tomoya's identity as an otaku,
Sayuri didn't have the aversion that most parents would feel.
But after the bullying incident, Sayuri started to see Aki Tomoya differently.
Although the main reason Eriri was bullied was because of her otaku interests,
the process of it happening was very thought-provoking.
Aki Tomoya had been an avid fan of otaku culture since he was young.
Because of this, he "evangelized" those around him.
In other words, he promoted otaku culture.
But it was the kind of promotion where he didn't understand the situation at all.
Naturally, he was disliked by his elementary school classmates.
As for Eriri, she shared the same otaku interests,
but in fact, she and Aki Tomoya were different.
Eriri's interest in otaku culture was more about personal enjoyment.
Even though she participated in doujinshi activities out of passion, she kept them completely separate from her everyday life.
However, Aki Tomoya dragged Eriri into the mess.
Because in school, he freely discussed otaku culture with Eriri.
This led to Eriri being disliked as well and eventually being bullied.
After thoroughly investigating the cause of the incident, Sayuri understood it very clearly.
Aki Tomoya was the type of person who, for the things he wanted to do, was enthusiastic enough to go to any lengths.
When he was in elementary school, Aki Tomoya might not have had any deep thoughts.
But his instincts led him to drag Eriri into this situation.
Because Eriri was a brilliant young lady.
Unlike ordinary people, she was the daughter of a diplomat, a true young lady, and her presence was a resource.
Just by letting others know that Eriri was an otaku,
people couldn't help but think, "Even that young lady is an otaku, maybe otaku aren't so bad after all."
This was something Sayuri couldn't accept.
As part of Japan's upper class, those who truly hold power and wealth,
Sayuri had one thing she couldn't allow to be touched: her daughter, Eriri.
Eriri might not excel in school, might not have anything in her hands,
as long as she's happy, that's enough for Sayuri.
That's Sayuri's heart.
If this had happened in high school,
Sayuri probably would have acted against Aki Tomoya.
But since it was elementary school, an unintentional action from an elementary school student, Sayuri reluctantly let it slide.
In fact, after transferring Eriri to a new school,
Sayuri had worried for a long time.
She feared that Eriri wouldn't be able to overcome the shadow of being bullied.
And there was the influence of Aki Tomoya.
Eriri had always been the type of person with simple thoughts.
Her feelings for someone could easily be something she would hold onto forever.
Fortunately... after transferring schools, someone else appeared in Eriri's sight.
In fact, when Sayuri first met Yukima Azuma,
she had some rather extreme thoughts.
"Whoever it is, as long as they take my daughter into their hands, even if they abandon her later, it's fine!"
Sayuri even had such thoughts.
In Sayuri's view, having romantic experience as early as possible was ideal.
As long as Eriri could escape the shadow of Aki Tomoya, that would be enough.
It would be better for her heart to embrace many people than to be consumed by just one.
But the appearance of Yukima Azuma really surprised Sayuri.
Only a week after transferring,
Eriri was smiling again.
Sayuri subtly inquired and found out that it was Yukima Azuma who helped her integrate into the class.
It was hard to imagine an elementary school student being able to easily break through the social barriers in class.
He pulled Eriri in, even elevating her to the position of a "goddess."
His ability to transcend his age made Sayuri very curious about Yukima Azuma.
When the two officially confirmed their relationship, which was during middle school,
Sayuri conducted a thorough investigation into Yukima Azuma.
What she discovered once again surprised her.
"The Yukima family" had disappeared.
For a child who hadn't even entered middle school yet, the first reaction to such a situation would likely be devastation.
But that boy,
returned to Chiba alone from Tokyo.
Then, he took care of everything in his family.
Afterward, he took whatever he could carry and moved back to Tokyo.
Just by looking at the documents, Sayuri could imagine the scene of wolves closing in.
Other branches of the family, like "uncles" and "aunts," would rush in, wearing ominous smiles.
A group of adults surrounding a child, all wanting to sink their teeth into the boy.
Just thinking about it sent a chill down her spine.
-------------------------------
Trans p.s: Honestly, I'm confused. The main character is currently 15-16, but previously, due to a family incident, they moved to Chiba 3 years ago. So, the main character started dating Utaha at 12-13????? and Utaha like 14-15???
In the scene where numerous people wanted to carve out a piece of flesh from his body,
Young Yukima Azuma calmly held a kitchen knife and faced each of them one by one.
In the end, he secured the greatest benefit for himself.
Though he had to sacrifice a shop that could not be reclaimed, the custody rights remained under the name "Yukinoshita."
He took whatever he could carry and safely withdrew from Chiba.
Sayuri wondered, if it had been her as a child, she certainly wouldn't have been able to do something like that.
But Yukima Azuma, just a middle school student, displayed the intelligence, charisma, and decisiveness that even people of Sayuri's age rarely had.
Learning about this,
Sayuri began to reassess the relationship between her daughter Eriri and Yukima Azuma.
If she were younger,
Sayuri certainly wouldn't have let go of this person, using all kinds of methods to hold onto him.
She wouldn't have let him slip away.
But Eriri is not Sayuri.
When it comes to choosing a son-in-law, what's more important than ability is whether he can make Eriri happy.
And after thinking it through carefully,
Sayuri realized that,
Yukima Azuma treated Eriri so well that nothing could compare.
So much so, that Sayuri started to suspect whether Yukima Azuma might be after her family's fortune.
That could already be called "indulgence."
His heart and soul were entirely devoted to Eriri.
Sometimes, Eriri's arrogance even made Sayuri feel it was unbearable.
But Yukima Azuma was very patient when dealing with her.
After some time of observation,
Sayuri's feelings began to change a bit.
In the end, she decided to match the two kids together.
But that foolish daughter of hers dared to let him go!?
After the two broke up, this was the first time Sayuri felt dissatisfied with Eriri.
How could she let go of a man like that!?
Moreover, she broke up because of her arrogance!
Sayuri nearly had a blood pressure spike.
So, theoretically, Sayuri should maintain a completely neutral attitude towards Eriri's emotions.
She should let Eriri's wishes take priority.
But theory is just theory.
In reality, Sayuri had shown so much favoritism toward Yukima Azuma that it couldn't have been any more biased.
If not because they broke up, she would have already gone to fetch her son-in-law back.
Even according to Eriri's own wishes,
Yukima Azuma was someone Sayuri should support.
Let repeat that.
The flower symbolizing Eriri is the lily.
The language of lilies is: pure love, solemnity, and a harmonious heart.
With Eriri's pure personality, once she has chosen someone as her lover, she would never change her heart!
.....
The next morning, at Yukima's house.
"Please come in."
Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled brightly and handed the "guest" a pair of disposable slippers.
Yukima Azuma stood behind, gently rubbing his forehead.
He hadn't thought things through.
Sora Ginko stood at the door, her sharp gaze staring directly at Yukima Azuma behind Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Just like last time.
She took off her small leather shoes and directly stepped barefoot onto the wooden floor.
As her cute sailor uniform skirt swayed,
her small feet, clad in black stockings, were placed onto Yukima Azuma's feet.
"Ah, Ginko, your feet..."
Yukima Azuma gently reminded her.
Sora Ginko applied a little more pressure.
Her delicate toes pressed firmly into Yukima Azuma's instep.
"Do you have a problem?"
"No, it's a great honor to be stepped on by you, big sister!"
Yukima Azuma decisively put himself in a weaker position.
Now, angering this silver-haired girl would surely make her furious.
"Hmph!" Sora Ginko snorted lightly before lifting her foot.
Today was the official competition day.
A match that would decide whether Yukima Azuma could rank up to 6-dan.
And his opponent was the one who had severed every sword, ranking at eight.
Clearly, Sora Ginko wasn't at ease, so she once again traveled from Chiba to Tokyo.
"Alright, senpai, we're off."
Yukima Azuma finished preparing and waved goodbye to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Mm, good luck in the official match," Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled in response.
Today, she was rarely in direct confrontation with Sora Ginko.
Until they left, Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze lingered on Sora Ginko for a moment.
If she wanted to know about Yukima Azuma's past, asking Sora Ginko was definitely the best choice.
After all, since Yukima Azuma was young, the two had been close through shogi.
Even though they had a senpai-kouhai relationship, Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at them and felt as though they were family.
Even though Yukima Azuma had temporarily withdrawn from the shogi world, Sora Ginko would surely always stay by his side.
However, getting Sora Ginko to honestly reveal information
It seemed that would require more effort.
.....
The official competition was held in Ishikawa Prefecture.
It was quite far from Tokyo.
But fortunately, the Shinkansen trains in Japan were quite convenient, and the country wasn't that large.
With a little bit of early rising, they could reach the place.
Yukima Azuma didn't even skip his morning run today.
On the train, Sora Ginko and Yukima Azuma sat next to each other.
She hesitated several times, as if wanting to speak but then stopping.
Yukima Azuma noticed, but he waited for Sora Ginko to speak on her own.
Suddenly, Yukima Azuma felt a soft, cool sensation from his hand.
Just as he was about to look down, he heard Sora Ginko's hurried voice:
"Don't look!"
Immediately, Yukima Azuma understood what that feeling was.
It could be said, no surprise, it was Sora Ginko.
Not only was her aura cold, but even her small hand was cold to the touch.
Yukima Azuma turned his hand, gently grasping the small hand she had extended to him.
Honestly, in the heat of this summer, Sora Ginko's cool hand felt incredibly pleasant.
"Mmm" Sora Ginko let out a small sound unexpectedly.
Her small hand squirmed a little.
Yukima Azuma applied a little more pressure, and immediately, her hand stopped resisting, lying obediently in his.
Sora Ginko's hand was truly small, just like its owner.
When held, it felt soft, as if it had no bones, and the smooth skin seemed like it could almost drip water.
Yukima Azuma couldn't help himself and playfully teased a little.
Immediately, he felt his foot stomped on.
Yukima Azuma had no choice but to obediently fall silent.
After all, one must savor their meals slowly.
For Sora Ginko, this arrogant girl, the act of taking the initiative to hold hands was already a big step forward.
--------------------------------------------
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Her face turned red as if she had just applied a layer of blush.
Sora Ginko tried to calm the turmoil inside her.
She made an effort to keep her voice steady.
It took a long time before she finally spoke:
"Are you confident today?"
If it were any other player, Sora Ginko wouldn't be this worried.
But Yamato Kajin was a professional player, someone who had been trained by the "Meijin" before.
Sora Ginko truly couldn't help but worry.
After all, the last time, Yukima Azuma was defeated by the "Meijin," and immediately withdrew from the shogi world.
It had been three years.
Only recently had she returned here.
Sensing Sora Ginko's concern, Yukima Azuma gently brushed his fingers through hers, then tightly interlaced their hands.
Sora Ginko went completely stiff.
"Nah, don't worry, I'd win! After all, I am the strongest!" Yukima Azuma said with a light smile.
Although it seemed like he was joking a bit,
He was truly confident.
On his status, his shogi skill progress was close to maxing out at level 7.
Yesterday, Yukima Azuma had reviewed many of Yamato Kajin's games, so he had a good understanding of his opponent.
At first, he had planned to seamlessly raise his shogi skill from level 7 to level 8.
Unfortunately, in the end, he fell just short on the last step.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Sora Ginko nodded slightly, not saying anything further.
The two of them, with their fingers still interlocked, gazed out the window as the scene outside quickly passed by.
.....
Ishikawa.
The official match was taking place at a large inn.
The shogi association's reporters had arrived early, waiting outside the inn.
Seeing the reporters from a distance, Sora Ginko snapped back to her senses and quickly pulled her hand away.
Yukima Azuma was led to a room inside the inn.
The cameras had already been set up in advance.
Due to the attention Yukima Azuma attracted, as well as Yamato Kajin's remarkable skills, this official match had garnered a lot of interest.
Sora Ginko was left in a different room, where she could watch the match through the live broadcast screen.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma's opponent, Yamato Kajin, a 8-dan, had already seated himself at the 7-tatami room.
Yukima Azuma did not rush to sit down.
His gaze was directed toward one of the walls in the room.
On it, four phrases were displayed.
These phrases were written entirely in Kanji, with no Katakana.
They were as follows: "Human law is earth," "Earth law is heaven," "Heaven law is the way," "The way law is nature."
The calligraphy style of the writing demonstrated a deep cultural foundation.
Seeing a piece of work at this level in Japan made Yukima Azuma quite surprised.
"Excuse me, Yukima 5-dan, is something wrong?"
The female commentator and referee standing nearby asked.
Yukima Azuma gently shook his head and smiled, replying:
"I just feel that the owner of this inn has very good taste."
After that, he sat down at the 7-tatami board.
"Yukima-kun, finally, we meet. I've been waiting for this match for so long, so long."
Yamato Kajin, an 8-dan, was a young man in his twenties.
Sitting before the board, his eyes were shining with expectation as he looked at Yukima Azuma.
"Mm, I'm looking forward to it too. After all, this is the match that determines promotion."
Yukima Azuma replied calmly.
"I see. I wonder what kind of match you'll show me today, Yukima-kun?"
"Ah, by the way, Meijin will be watching today's match as well."
Yamato Kajin smiled with hidden meaning.
Yukima Azuma glanced at him.
So, this was the strategy"to induce worry" from the start.
As an 8-dan, facing a 5-dan, and trying to play psychological tricks like this.
One could only say that Yamato Kajin, as an 8-dan, was really eager to win, even if it meant using any means necessary.
Yukima Azuma said nothing further.
(trans: I have no knowledge of shogi, so I'm unsure about the accuracy of these parts, all by chatgpt)
The official game time had arrived.
The two bowed to each other with the words "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu," and the match began.
For the first move, Yukima Azuma moved his kakugyou (the bishop, a standard piece in shogi).
It was quite a traditional start, following the Ai-gakari opening.
The first few moves were all standard, with nothing noteworthy.
By the fifth move, Yukima Azuma placed his hisha (rook) in the center of the board.
The rook.
It is at the core of most mainstream shogi strategies.
"Is it furi-bisha (moving the rook)?" Yamato Kajin remarked. "Yukima-kun rarely uses the rook this way, it's really exciting!"
Yamato Kajin licked the corner of his mouth, his eyes sparkling.
The rook is central to many shogi strategies, and it is divided into two schools of thought.
I-bisha (fixed rook): Seeks a balance between offense and defense, characterized by keeping the rook's position fixed and not moving it during conflicts. Furi-bisha (moving rook): Seeks flexibility and diversity, characterized by moving the rook to engage in battles and adjusting the strategy through its position, creating a stronger attack.
Both are considered mainstream strategies, but players who use furi-bisha are relatively fewer.
The reason is that, compared to the i-bisha, which emphasizes defense and maintaining a fixed position to coordinate strategies, furi-bisha requires an exceptional ability to read the board. Without it, even a small mistake can lead to a chain collapse.
Both Yamato Kajin and Meijin were rare players known as "ryou-danshu" (dual masters) in the shogi world, meaning they were skilled in both i-bisha and furi-bisha.
Becoming a ryou-danshu is not easy.
Most players specialize in just one school of thought, or even a specific variation of i-bisha or furi-bisha.
Mastering both strategies requires a tremendous amount of time studying the game.
That's why, when Yamato Kajin saw Yukima Azuma using furi-bisha, he couldn't help but admire him.
However, Yukima Azuma showed no reaction to this admiration.
Or rather, he didn't think it was anything special.
Because, ever since he received the system, Yukima Azuma, a genius who had been praised by the entire shogi community, had completely become an "abnormal" player.
Shogi skill level 7.
Shogi skill level 7 meant that, whether it was furi-bisha or i-bisha, or even more obscure and complex schools of thought,
Whether it was a classic strategy like Ai-gakari (hanging pawns), or rare plays like hitote kawasonkaku (a move that sacrifices a piece),
Yukima Azuma had mastered them all at level 7!
Meaning he had reached a level of transcendence!
Seeing that Yukima Azuma was completely unmoved by his comments, Yamato Kajin's eyes flashed with sharpness.
He then picked up his silver general piece.
"Although I find Yukima-kun's furi-bisha very interesting, unfortunately, during a recent study session with Meijin, we figured out how to counter it."
"Even though Yukima-kun rarely uses furi-bisha, when you do, it's always very strong. I can't help but be cautious!"
With that, he placed his silver general in a surprising position.
It was an unconventional move, specifically aimed at countering Yukima Azuma's furi-bisha.
Yukima Azuma could only smile wryly.
The psychological tricks weren't going to stop, huh?
By the way, why isn't talking during a shogi game forbidden?
(trans: I'm not sure about the accuracy of this chapter)
"Click," "click," "click."
The sound of the chess pieces being placed echoed continuously.
On the shogi board, the battle was unfolding fiercely.
Yamato Kajin's earlier words were not just psychological tactics. He had truly studied Yukima Azuma's furi-bisha along with Meijin.
No, it would be more accurate to say that they had studied all of Yukima Azuma's moves.
From the potential moves, the sequence of moves, to the player's signature strategies.
Although Yamato Kajin did not understand why Meijin was particularly interested in Yukima Azuma, a genius who had just returned after a long absence,
With Meijin involved in the study,
The ability to break down the game had reached a terrifying level.
Today, Yukima Azuma brought a sharp killing intent like a storm.
His furi-bisha moves were rarely seen, even extremely extreme.
It was as if he was ready to abandon everything just to press forward with the attack.
If it were anyone else, they might have been caught off guard and unable to respond in time.
But...
"Such a pity, this sequence of moves, Meijin and I have studied it thoroughly."
"And in that study, we've come to a conclusion."
"I-bisha is guaranteed to win."
Yamato Kajin said, simultaneously placing a piece on the board.
This move not only neutralized Yukima Azuma's attack but also created a subtle pressure on his sharp rook, which was like a sword.
After placing the piece, Yamato Kajin lifted his head to look at Yukima Azuma.
Yamato Kajin wanted to observe any changes on Yukima Azuma's face.
However, Yukima Azuma's expression remained completely unchanged.
In fact, he even...
"You talk too much. You'd be better off focusing on the game," Yukima Azuma said, his face clearly showing impatience. "Talking too much will just make you lose faster."
Yamato Kajin froze, then lightly chuckled to himself.
Even when cornered like this, Yukima Azuma still had such a sharp tongue.
.....
In the adjacent waiting room.
The central TV in the room was broadcasting the match live.
Shogi matches were broadcast with move-by-move analysis to help viewers understand more easily.
Even though the audience might have basic knowledge of shogi, keeping up with the level of professional players was still no easy task.
In addition to the move analysis, there was a real-time win/loss probability chart, calculated by a computer.
Currently, Yukima Azuma's win probability is only 27%.
Sora Ginko sat in the waiting room, her hands clenched into tight fists, the knuckles turning white from the pressure.
If he loses this game, will he suffer a huge shock?
Will he collapse?
The worry was clearly visible on Sora Ginko's face.
"It seems tough now, after all, he's up against an 8-dan."
"Don't say that. The strength of that 'monster' can't be judged by the statistics alone. It's just that Yamato Kajin has Meijin backing him up, it's not fair!"
Sigh, "Only a monster can beat a monster. With Meijin's research, Yukima 5-dan is probably powerless against it."
The professional players around were discussing non-stop.
Sora Ginko wanted to loudly refute their words.
But she couldn't see any possibility of Yukima Azuma winning.
Even though she was a female player with two major titles,
Even though Sora Ginko was exceptionally talented,
Right now, she was just a Reiwaikai Ni-dan (Second Dan in the Prize Association).
Her vision wasn't wide enough to see through the game.
She even lagged behind some of the professional players present here.
She didn't know how to argue back.
"No way!"
Suddenly, a voice rang out in the room.
The professional players, who had been discussing, were all stunned.
Unconsciously, they turned towards the source of the voice.
They saw a little girl with brown hair.
She looked about nine years old, clearly still in elementary school.
She wore a light white long dress and a beret, her style was incredibly cute.
What caught everyone's attention most were her eyes.
The pale blue background was dotted with faint purple light, shimmering like the dawn.
"No way! There's still a way to turn this around!"
The little girl shouted, her voice full of determination.
"Who is that girl?"
"Ah... I think she's the daughter of the innkeeper."
"Could she be a child studying shogi too?"
"Maybe, but I've never heard of her."
The professional players recognized the girl.
She was the daughter of the family that owned the inn, the main sponsor for this tournament.
However, their opinions about a young elementary student who had never been known in the shogi world were hard to take seriously.
After all, turning the game around at this point...
At this point, the game had nearly reached a deadlock.
Yukima Azuma's win probability was down to just 7%.
Typically, when the win rate drops below a certain number, both players start preparing for the endgame.
They begin to rearrange the board neatly before conceding.
Sora Ginko watched the little girl for a while, and then her gaze returned to the board.
She began to search for any possible moves, looking for a way out.
Her gray-blue eyes seemed to activate, turning a sharp icy blue.
In her intense focus on reading the position, suddenly, Sora Ginko's pupils shrank.
...
On the board,
Yamato Kajin had placed his Knight, nearly capturing Yukima Azuma's Rook.
The essence of "Furibisha - Flying Rook" lies in the movement of the Rook. Once the Rook is trapped, it almost guarantees the opponent's loss.
'So this is how it ends.'
Yamato Kajin thought to himself.
Although Meijin had paid special attention to Yukima Azuma, which made him more cautious, the outcome seemed unchanged.
At most, there would be a bit of resistance...
As he thought this, Yamato Kajin saw Yukima Azuma place a piece on the board.
It was the Rook.
The Rook was placed within the range of the Knight's attack.
"What's this? Are you giving up? If that's the case, you might as well just resign; at least it would make the game look a bit better," Yamato Kajin couldn't help but say.
He looked up at Yukima Azuma.
But Yukima Azuma's expression remained as cold and impatient as ever.
"If you have time to advise others, why not focus more on the game?"
"I've told you, constantly talking will only make you lose faster!"
Hearing this, Yamato Kajin furrowed his brows.
What exactly is this guy saying?
Instinctively, after capturing Yukima Azuma's Rook, Yamato Kajin took another glance at the board.
With a quick glance, sweat started to bead on his forehead and run down his spine.
Suddenly, Yamato Kajin stood up, his eyes locked on the board, completely speechless.
--------------------------------------------
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Yamato Kajin stared intently at the chessboard, completely stunned.
Such a thing could actually happen.
And moreover, it happened right before his eyes.
He was so shocked that he couldn't utter a word.
Yukima Azuma did not rush to make his move.
Instead, he leisurely used his remaining time in the game.
Not to think.
But just to make his opponent realize how big of a mistake he had made.
The person in front of him liked to use tricks outside of the game.
Then he would use those same tricks to break his opponent's mindset.
The i-bisha tacticonce the Hisha piece is lost, the situation becomes completely clear.
A Kakugy piece, appearing out of nowhere, was now in front of Yamato Kajin.
It turned out that Yukima Azuma's Hisha piece was merely bait to be sacrificed from the start.
The real killing blow.
Yukima Azuma held the Kakugy piece in front of Yamato Kajin and placed it down on the last row.
The sound of the piece hitting the board rang out crisply, like a declaration that the game was over.
When Kakugy reached the last row, the conditions for "promotion" were also fulfilled.
The Kakugy piece was flipped over to reveal its other side.
After Kakugy was promoted to Ryma,
It became the sharp blade that would end the game.
It was inevitable, within two moves,
The promoted Kakugy piece would checkmate Yamato Kajin.
The so-called "The Marquis Devours the Dragon" was as simple as that.
"I... have lost."
Yamato Kajin lowered his head and placed the surrender piece.
"Thank you for the lesson."
Yukima Azuma, as usual, ended the match.
In his view, the system board popped up.
[Notification: Your Shogi skill has reached maximum experience.]
Shogi (Lv7) has leveled up to Shogi (Lv8).
Yukima Azuma closed the system board.
The "aura" in his body surged continuously.
Yukima Azuma could clearly feel that the "aura" he was holding was steadily growing stronger.
Even though he had left the chessboard, the momentum continued to rise.
He forced himself to suppress the turbulence in his body.
Yukima Azuma prepared to leave.
"How could you play a game like this? You've been studying Shogi for less than ten years, and haven't participated in a tournament for three years. How can you play like this?"
Yamato Kajin's question rang in his ears.
Yukima Azuma turned his head to look at the chessboard.
"There's nothing impressive about it."
Honestly speaking, there was nothing impressive at all.
It was just about the movement of the pieces.
Using Hisha as bait to attract attention, leading Yamato Kajin's focus and positioning step by step.
When the moment that seemed most important arrived, he moved the other pieces.
When Yamato Kajin's gaze was too focused on Hisha,
The piece movement had already been completed in silence, and the Kakugy piece naturally appeared at the necessary position.
Although piece movement is a high-level technique that is difficult to master in Shogi,
With the system, any skill related to Shogi was elevated to an extraordinary level.
So, really, there was nothing remarkable about it.
.....
As soon as he stepped out the door,
Reporters rushed over.
"Congratulations, Yukima 5-dan! No, now we should call you Yukima 6-dan!"
"Defeating Yamato Kajin 8-dan, Yukima 6-dan has a very high chance of winning the official tournament championship this time!"
"If he wins the championship, Yukima 6-dan will likely become the youngest 7-dan in history!"
"Unbelievable, Yukima 6-dan, did you plan this game from the start?"
Yukima Azuma raised his hand, signaling for the reporters surrounding him to remain calm.
After choosing to answer a few questions,
Yukima Azuma's gaze caught Sora Ginko, who was waiting off to the side.
He then said, "That's enough for now," and left the circle of reporters.
Amidst the relentless questions, Yukima Azuma quickly ran toward Sora Ginko.
"Let's go, if we stay here any longer, they'll keep asking all sorts of things."
Yukima Azuma said, then grabbed Sora Ginko's hand.
Sora Ginko looked at the spirited young man in front of her, her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively ran after him.
The two strolled around Ishikawa for a bit, then headed back.
After all, they still had to go to school tomorrow.
For Yukima Azuma, even though the official tournament hadn't ended,
This match had actually already determined the outcome of the entire tournament.
The strongest opponent in the tournament,
Yamato Kajin 8-dan,
In this match, had fought evenly with Yukima Azuma when he was at Shogi level 7, but ultimately lost by one move.
This meant that,
With his Shogi skills at level 8,
Yukima Azuma could easily overwhelm Yamato Kajin.
As long as no major mistakes were made in the remaining matches,
The balance of victory and defeat between the two would be irreversible.
Therefore, this match had effectively won him the crown of the official tournament.
.....
The next day.
Toyosaki.
"Yukima-san, the application for establishing the club has been submitted to the school. The first meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday, after school, in the multimedia room," Aki Tomoya announced.
Yukima Azuma nodded slightly, signaling that he understood.
Friday.
Before that day comes, it might be a good idea to prepare a little.
"Hey, where did you go yesterday?"
Eriri's question pulled Yukima Azuma out of his thoughts.
Hearing the tone of the girl with the golden twintails, Yukima Azuma was a bit taken aback.
Then he realized.
It seemed that she didn't know he had participated in the Shogi tournament.
Which made sense.
When he was dating Eriri,
Yukima Azuma had stopped all activities related to Shogi.
Moreover, during their time together, he had spoiled her so much that he almost never gave her a chance to learn more about him.
Thinking about this,
Yukima Azuma suddenly realized that Eriri actually knew very little about him.
What kind of ex-girlfriend was that!?
Her really didn't deserve he.
"Are you concerned about me, Sawamura-san?"
Yukima Azuma smiled with a knowing expression and asked in return.
Hearing this, Eriri's face immediately turned red, and she turned away, flustered.
"Wh-what... who cares about you! What you do has nothing to do with me!"
Hearing her familiar tsundere reaction,
Yukima Azuma chuckled.
As expected, things turned out like this.
"If it has nothing to do with Sawamura-san, then I won't tell Sawamura-san anything."
Eriri: !
She spun around angrily, showing her little fang.
What do you mean it has nothing to do with her?
Just because she said it didn't, does that make it true?
Can't you argue back a little?
Clearly, you weren't here yesterday, and I was really worried about you!
Eriri puffed out her cheeks in anger.
"The whole class, today we have a physical fitness test. Go change into sportswear, let's start!"
Kirisu Mafuyu entered the classroom, lightly tapping the blackboard to announce to the class.
"The whole class, today we have a physical fitness test. Go change into sportswear, let's start!"
Kirisu Mafuyu tapped the blackboard, announcing the test.
"Sawamura-san, let's go together."
A voice rang out from beside him.
Yukima Azuma turned around to look in the direction of the voice.
It was a beautiful girl with long, fiery red hair.
What was her name again?
Ah, it seems like...
"Um! Kita-san, I'll be right there!"
Eriri responded, a bit flustered.
After all, she had just argued with Yukima Azuma, and her pouty, sulking expression made her look like she was being playful.
After gathering her things,
Eriri turned to huff at Yukima Azuma,
Like a little kitten giving a challenge.
Then, she quickly ran over to Kita Ikuyo.
Yukima Azuma watched the scene with a somewhat thoughtful look in his eyes.
Has Eriri made a friend?
"Yukima-san, your expression right now is like 'that child is the one I raised day by day.'"
From behind, Kato Megumi's soft yet meaningful voice rang out.
Teased in the right spot, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but smile.
"That's right, that child is one I've raised since she was little. Finally, she can make friends on her own."
If Eriri still couldn't make friends by now, that would be a real worry.
Yukima Azuma would be in real trouble.
Since elementary school, he had been guiding Eriri on how to interact with others.
Although there was a break during middle school,
At least she should have made some progress by now.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Kato Megumi nodded slightly, as though contemplating something.
When she regained her focus,
She found that Yukima Azuma had extended his hand in front of her.
"Let's go, together."
Kato Megumi reflexively placed her hand on his.
After being pulled up, she suddenly realized something.
"Together? But the physical fitness test is separated by gender. Are you planning to sneak into the girls' changing room to... spy?"
Yukima Azuma pulled Kato Megumi up and immediately let go of her hand, playfully flicking her forehead.
"What are you talking about? Don't you get what I mean?"
Of course, Kato Megumi knew what Yukima Azuma meant.
But even someone as composed as Kato Megumi can also joke sometimes.
The physical fitness test began.
In addition to the usual measurements like height, weight, and chest circumference,
The rest were physical exercises.
"Male students will do sit-ups, female students will do the forward bend. Then switch. Each group of two will record each other's results!"
The teacher in charge of the test announced.
Kato Megumi sat on the mat, feeling awkward.
No one had paired up with her.
Even the teacher seemed to have forgotten about her existence.
From experience, in this situation, she would do the test on her own and then randomly write down a reasonable number on the sheet.
After all, no one would actually check it.
But this time...
Kato Megumi quietly waited.
In less than two minutes, she heard quick footsteps approaching.
"Kato-san, let's start. I'll help you record the numbers."
Yukima Azuma said, sitting down next to her.
Hearing this, Kato Megumi bent over, extending her arms forward. More importantly, she wanted to hide the expression on her face.
Yukima Azuma carefully wrote down the data on Kato Megumi's physical test sheet.
When she sat up, he handed her his sheet.
"While no one's paying attention, I finished so I can help you with your leg stretches."
Yukima Azuma said, urging her.
Kato Megumi nodded slightly, not sure if it was from her previous movement, but her cheeks turned slightly red.
Receiving the test sheet from Yukima Azuma, her gaze involuntarily flicked over the data on it.
Kato Megumi's eyes accidentally scanned the numbers above.
"So... he has such high scores? And his sit-up count... ninety... that's amazing."
In her eyes was a great sense of admiration.
Meanwhile, over on the other side.
"Where did that guy go?"
Eriri glanced at the boys' area but couldn't find anyone on the mats.
"Sawamura-san, what's wrong?"
Kita Ikuyo asked curiously.
In response, Eriri immediately shook her head.
"Nothing... just spotted a lazy, clumsy guy!"
After speaking, she sat down on the mat and began the forward bend exercise.
She had to be the shining princess of this school.
She couldn't be like some people, with no motivation, running off as soon as the physical test started to be lazy.
In Eriri's impression, Yukima Azuma was also clumsy with sports, just like her.
Skipping the physical test was completely normal.
"Sawamura-san said, was it Yukima-kun?" Kita asked curiously while recording the data.
Eriri nodded.
Kita blinked.
Yukima-san is clumsy with sports?
When she passed by earlier, she had seen Yukima Azuma doing sit-ups so fast it almost created a blur.
It didn't seem like someone who couldn't exercise at all.
It felt like there was something strange between Sawamura-san and Yukima-san...
After the sit-up test, they moved on to the side jump, standing long jump, ball throw, and 50-meter dash.
Along with that was the dreaded "disaster" physical test for boys running 1000 meters and girls running 800 meters.
Eriri gave her best effort to achieve a good result.
In Japanese schools, not only academic achievements but also physical abilities, club participation, and so on were important criteria in evaluating a person.
Being labeled as "clumsy in sports" would make it hard to avoid teasing in the future.
To protect her image at school, Eriri was determined to give it her all.
She had even practiced during the spring break.
Although... it was just "three days of fishing, two days of sunbathing."
"Kita, seven seconds nine-three."
"Sawamura, eight seconds three flat."
"After a break, go to the starting line and wait."
After running her hardest, Eriri bent over with her hands on her knees, panting.
Her golden ponytail swayed with each breath.
"That was tough, Sawamura-san. Do you want some water?"
Kita Ikuyo brought two unopened bottles of mineral water.
At this point, Eriri could barely breathe and gently shook her head to decline.
She was focused on catching her breath.
She felt that if she drank water and rested, she wouldn't want to keep moving.
After catching her breath and feeling steady again,
The two of them walked together to the starting line.
When the whistle blew, Eriri, along with the crowd, lined up and began to run.
"At least... at least i can't fall behind..."
Eriri thought to herself.
--------------------------------------------
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"At least... at least I can't fall behind..."
With this belief in mind, Eriri pushed herself to maintain a steady pace for one and a half laps.
But just before reaching the final straightaway, Kita Ikuyo, the person she had been trailing, suddenly began to accelerate.
Clearly, Kita had saved her energy and was preparing for a burst of speed here.
Eriri, on the other hand, could no longer continue.
There was no way she could speed up.
Her steps slowed even further.
"Hang in there! Sawamura-san, keep going!"
Kita Ikuyo, who had finished the race earlier, turned around to cheer for Eriri.
But Eriri's running had become staggered.
Luckily, she managed to push herself across the finish line.
After two steps of slowing down, Eriri began to decelerate and finally came to a stop.
Her chest felt like it was on fire, with each breath feeling like it was being pulled from her body.
At last, it was over.
Just as Eriri was thinking this, a sudden, unbearable pain shot up from her legs.
"Ah!"
Eriri screamed in pain and, unable to stay on her feet, she collapsed forward.
"Sawamura-san!"
Noticing something was wrong, Kita Ikuyo rushed toward her.
But with the distance between them, it was clear that Kita wouldn't be able to reach her in time.
The pain overwhelmed Eriri, sweat pouring down her face. As the ground rapidly approached, she shut her eyes, overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness and pain.
And at that very moment...
A gentle force, from her slender waist, caught her and halted the feeling of weightlessness.
Eriri cautiously opened her eyes.
She saw, standing beside her, someone she hadn't noticed before.
It was just like the time in Osaka.
No, actually, it felt just like all the other times before.
The feeling of helplessness in her heart seemed to ignite in an instant.
Large tears rolled down from the corners of Eriri's eyes.
Her turquoise eyes, now brimming with moisture, made her look vulnerable, evoking a deep sense of sympathy.
"Sawamura-san, are you alright? Thank you, Yukima-kun!"
Kita Ikuyo rushed over, her face full of concern for Eriri.
Eriri wanted to respond, but a sharp pain shot through her leg.
The words she intended to speak turned into a sobbing gasp instead.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma immediately lifted Eriri into his arms.
This action immediately caused Kita Ikuyo to gasp in surprise.
Eriri, with a trembling and clear voice, protested:
"What... what are you doing? (sobbing) Let me go... let me go!"
Yukima Azuma paid no attention to her protests.
In a mix of embarrassment and anger, Eriri immediately opened her mouth and bit down on Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
"Ah!"
Yukima Azuma hissed in pain, realizing just how hard she had bitten him.
Enduring the pain, Yukima Azuma quickly made his way to a corner of the athletic field.
There, they would be out of the view of others who were still completing the physical tests.
Amid the pain and embarrassment, Eriri's mind was completely in turmoil.
Her face, usually composed, was flushed red, with sweat and tears mixing, trailing down her cheeks. She looked like a doll that had been toyed with until it was broken.
'What is Yukima doing? Has his animal instincts kicked in? What is he going to do here...?'
'No, no, this can't happen here! Such important memories can't happen here!'
The more she cried, the more Eriri felt helpless, and the harder she bit.
Until the metallic taste of blood spread in her mouth.
Yukima Azuma carefully set Eriri down in a corner of the stadium.
Kita Ikuyo followed closely behind.
"Uhm, Yukima-san..."
"Eriri's leg cramped up, help me hold her shoulder still, don't let her move," Yukima Azuma quickly instructed.
"Yes!" In a panic, Kita Ikuyo instinctively followed his orders.
She rushed to the back of Eriri and held her still as she lay on the ground.
Yukima Azuma gently lifted Eriri's left leg, which was still cramping.
He untied her sneaker laces and swiftly removed her white sports shoes.
Eriri began to squirm uncontrollably. struggle like a fish out of water, struggling helplessly
Having just exercised, her white athletic socks were now damp with sweat, sticking to her skin.
When Yukima Azuma took off her sneakers, Eriri felt so embarrassed that she wanted to die.
The girl's embarrassment made Eriri almost regain her strength, almost escaping from the grip of Kita Ikuyo.
Yukima Azuma grabbed Eriri's long, white toes, stretched her leg out, and forcefully pulled her toes upward.
"Ah~!"
A soft moan escaped from the girl who was struggling.
It was a sound that could immediately create a rosy atmosphere, causing the listener to blush and their heart to race.
After making such a sound.
Eriri had completely lost the strength to resist.
Her whole body felt like a dried fish, lying still on the ground, seemingly surrendering herself completely to someone else.
Go on, monster, try facing me.
However, after giving up her resistance.
Eriri gradually regained her sanity, quickly realizing that the intense pain in her legs was rapidly subsiding.
Soon, the pain completely disappeared.
Only a slight muscle fatigue remained.
At this point, Yukima Azuma finally let go of Eriri's small feet.
Even though she had just been active, Eriri's body wasn't the type to sweat much, so her white socks weren't drenched.
Through the white socks, her long and soft toes could be seen.
One could also see the faint blue veins on the top of her feet.
Overall, they looked like a finely crafted piece of art, making people want to cherish and play with them.
Uhm, a strange feeling is about to awaken!
Seeing that Eriri still had her leg raised and not moving.
Yukima Azuma reached out and scratched the sole of her foot.
"Puhahaha! What are you doing?!"
Eriri startled and sat up.
When she saw Eriri glaring at her, Yukima Azuma rolled her eyes.
"You had a cramp in your leg, didn't you hear? Aren't you feeling better now? Why are you still holding your leg up huh!"
While speaking, Yukima Azuma raised her hand, intending to point at Eriri's leg.
But just as he raised her hand, Yukima Azuma suddenly felt a sharp pain in her shoulder.
When he turned to look back.
Yukima Azuma saw a large patch of blood spreading on her shoulder.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but feel helpless.
Is this girl a dog?
Being called that by Yukima Azuma, Eriri began to react.
It seemed Yukima Azuma had said she had a cramp.
So... was he just helping her with the cramp earlier?
The way he twisted her toes, Eriri had seen it in sports anime.
When Eriri realized what had happened, her eyes showed a clear sense of guilt.
Chapter 40: Kato Megumi: You... take off your shirt!
Realizing that Yukima Azuma had only been helping her with the cramp earlier, Eriri now felt full of regret.
Especially when her gaze accidentally shifted slightly.
When she saw Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
Her feelings of regret surged even more.
It was the wound she had bitten earlier.
Clearly, Yukima Azuma had come to help her, even though the process was a bit messy, but she shouldn't have hurt him.
"I'm sorry..."
Eriri wanted to apologize.
But as soon as the words came to her lips, she couldn't bring herself to say them.
It was truly her foolish pride.
"Alright, I'm leaving now."
Yukima Azuma didn't wait for Eriri to gather enough courage, just waved and walked away.
Seeing Yukima Azuma leave.
Eriri opened her mouth, but in the end, said nothing.
At this moment, her heart was filled only with a bitter feeling.
"Yukima-san, why were you still at the sports field earlier?"
Kita Ikuyo's words caught Eriri's attention.
"Kita-san, what are you talking about? Aren't we in the physical education test?"
In response to Eriri's confusion,
Kita Ikuyo pointed towards the sports field.
"But the boys have already finished their outdoor exercises, right? Look, there are no traces of them on the field anymore."
Eriri looked around.
Only a few girls remained, running on the track.
In that moment, Eriri felt like a part of her heart was lost.
That feeling was indescribable.
"Sawamura-san, are you okay? Do you need some water... Uh, where's the water?"
Noticing that Eriri wasn't okay, Kita Ikuyo tried to comfort her.
However, Eriri just shook her head, staring blankly at the track.
So, that person, could it be that they were specifically watching over her on the sports field?
Could that person have already noticed that she was trying so hard to get good results?
Tears welled up in Eriri's eyes.
Because there were still people around, she did her best not to cry.
Thinking about it, it made sense.
Earlier, that person had called her "Eriri."
'Eriri has a cramp, come help me...'
He had said that.
In her panic, he hadn't noticed anything else, just called her Eriri.
Eriri placed her hand on her chest.
The feeling of "I have to do something" spread within Eriri's chest.
"Kita-san, can you go with me to the nurse's office?"
.....
On the other side.
Yukima Azuma quickly returned to the edge of the sports field.
Kato Megumi had clearly been waiting there for a long time.
"Yukima-san, where did you just go...?"
Kato Megumi asked softly, but her sentence trailed off halfway.
"Ah, sorry, there was a bit of a situation earlier. Anyway, do you want some water?"
Yukima Azuma offered her the bottle of water he had brought with him.
But Kato Megumi didn't respond.
Following Kato Megumi's gaze, Yukima Azuma looked down at his shoulder.
"Ah, this? It was just a little mishap... but it's nothing serious."
Yukima Azuma tried to explain.
However, when Kato Megumi stared at him like that, he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.
Although Kato Megumi's expression didn't change.
Yukima Azuma felt that her calm eyes were now looking at him as if very sternly.
Kato Megumi looked at Yukima Azuma for a moment.
Then, she grabbed his arm and dragged him off the sports field.
"Come with me, I have a first aid kit in my bag in the classroom."
"But what about your 800-meter result, Kato-san?"
"What about it? Just fill in a number on the board, no one will notice anyway."
"Then... is Kato-san mad?"
"You imagined it."
She was definitely mad.
Realizing this,
Yukima Azuma obediently let Kato Megumi pull him back to the classroom.
At this point, the classroom was empty.
Kato Megumi pushed Yukima Azuma down onto her seat.
Yukima Azuma looked at this girl, seeing her take out a small white first aid kit from her bag.
"Take off your shirt."
Her voice was gentle, but unusually heavy.
Yukima Azuma really wanted to ask Kato Megumi, "Aren't you embarrassed?"
But under her stern gaze, he obediently took off his shirt.
Under the school sports jacket was a fairly well-proportioned body.
When wearing a white shirt, it was almost impossible to see.
But when it was taken off, the clear, sharp lines appeared before their eyes.
After all, Yukima Azuma had been training continuously for over a year.
Although he didn't have overly impressive muscles, he still had a fresh, fit look, the kind of handsome that everyone liked.
It was the "looks skinny in clothes, but has muscles when the shirt is off" kind of physique.
Kato Megumi paused for a moment, seemingly unable to take her eyes off him.
While the fitness data could give some clues,
actually seeing it, really...
Kato Megumi's bobbed hair gently swayed, and her small ears turned slightly red.
The atmosphere in the classroom became a little "tense".
"Impressive"
After a brief moment of admiration, Kato Megumi forced herself to shift her gaze to Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
Kato Megumi took out a bottle of alcohol and a cotton swab from the first aid kit.
"It might hurt a little, try to endure it," she said, then began wiping the blood off Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
After using the alcohol to clean most of the blood,
the wound on Yukima Azuma's shoulder finally became visible.
It was four small scratches.
The wound wasn't very deep.
It looked as if it had been slightly scratched by the cat's sharp teeth.
Looking at the wound,
Kato Megumi showed a look of confusion.
Yukima Azuma smiled awkwardly.
Luckily, Kato Megumi didn't continue to ask questions.
After disinfecting, she applied a hemostatic ointment and finally placed a band-aid over the wound.
"Oh, thank you so much, Kato-san. To repay you, can I let you touch it?"
Yukima Azuma pointed to his abs.
He was trying to make a joke to break the somewhat awkward atmosphere.
The result...
"Eh, can I? Well, then I won't be polite."
Kato Megumi said, and since she was looking down, Yukima Azuma didn't see the expression in her eyes.
The girl extended her small hand and touched Yukima Azuma's abs.
How did it feel?
Both of them could distinctly feel the friction, both feeling a little embarrassed with their hearts racing.
Suddenly, a loud noise came from the classroom door.
Both of them jumped in alarm.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n patreon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
"Kita-san, could you come with me to the infirmary for a bit?"
Eriri and Kita Ikuyo went to the infirmary together.
Eriri asked the nurse about the necessary medications to treat the bite wound.
After that, under the nurse's somewhat puzzled gaze, Eriri took a large bag of medicine.
She carried the bag and went back to the schoolyard to look for Yukima Azuma.
However, unable to find him in the schoolyard, Eriri headed to the gymnasium where the boys were.
There was no one there either.
Finally, Eriri decided to go to the classroom.
As she approached the classroom door, she looked through the window and saw a familiar figure.
She was preparing to gather all her courage to enter the classroom and start a conversation.
But just then, another figure stood up.
Katou Megumi had just stood up after bending down to search for something in her bag, so Eriri didn't recognize her immediately.
And at that moment...
'Who is she?'
A sudden thought appeared in Eriri's mind.
Because Katou Megumi had such a faint presence, Eriri didn't even recognize this classmate.
Looking at the unfamiliar girl standing next to Yukima Azuma, Eriri's heart tightened.
Not knowing what to do, she saw Yukima Azuma had taken off his jacket.
Eriri:!!!
As a doujinshi artist, she was well-known in the community, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei.
Immediately, hundreds of R18-themed stories featuring school settings flashed through her mind.
Among them, empty classrooms were the prime location for "activities."
With a flood of R18 data rushing in, Eriri's mind temporarily "froze," entering a state of suspended activity.
Beside her, Kita Ikuyo, who had been following her, had also covered her face with her hand, her fair white skin turning bright red between her fingers.
Luckily, the situation didn't unfold like the limited stories they imagined.
It was simply washing the wound, applying medicine, and bandaging it.
However, the location of the wound required her to remove her shirt.
After dispelling those unpleasant thoughts, Eriri only felt a bitter sensation rise from her throat, spreading through her mouth.
What had she even done?
Yukima Azuma had noticed she was trying to appear strong, so he stayed behind on the schoolyard.
When she nearly collapsed from a muscle cramp, he rushed over and supported her.
He even cared about her dignity, taking her to a place where no one could see to treat her.
He didn't mock her after she had been exhausted from physical activity...
And she, not only did she not thank him, but she also bit him.
She didn't even have the courage to stop him.
As a result, the wound she caused had to be treated by other girl.
Eriri couldn't even imagine being in that situation.
Just thinking about it made her heart want to break.
What confused her even more was...
She suddenly realized.
This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
Back in the day, when they were in love.
Things like that were almost routine.
It was nothing surprising...
Nothing surprising that he had left her from the start.
Eriri realized that the person who had loved her deeply, whose heart always longed to be with her, had eventually chosen to leave.
Eriri clenched her fists.
Her nails almost dug into her skin, leaving deep marks on the palm of her hand.
Large drops of tears, as big as raindrops, uncontrollably rolled down and fell to the ground, shattering into shining fragments.
In her blurry vision,
Eriri saw the other girl reach out toward Yukima Azuma.
'Hurry up, Eriri, Azuma is going to be taken away!'
A desperate scream echoed in Eriri's heart.
But at the same time, another voice spoke, full of sarcasm.
'What right do you have to stop him, Eriri? He's been hurt too much by you, you've already broken up, right?'
Both voices were Eriri's.
In the end, Eriri, unable to hesitate any longer, unable to bear the thought of Yukima Azuma being taken away,
She ran to the door of the classroom, slamming into it.
A loud noise rang out.
Then, she turned and ran away.
"Ehh, Sawamura-san!"
Kita Ikuyo hurriedly chased after her.
Her feelings were really complicated right now, as if she had just witnessed an unbelievable love triangle.
In the classroom, Yukima Azuma and Katou Megumi were startled.
Then they heard Kita Ikuyo calling out.
Katou Megumi withdrew her hand.
Her face slowly turned bright red.
Yukima Azuma grabbed the nearby jacket and put it back on.
"Won't you go after her?"
Katou Megumi softly asked.
"If I chase after her now... it feels like I'll just repeat the mistake. It's better to let her think things through on her own."
Yukima Azuma made that decision.
Katou Megumi, upon hearing this, seemed to think for a moment.
....
The physical education test ended.
to the next class, Eriri seat was empty.
Yukima Azuma asked Kirisu Mafuyu.
The answer was that Eriri had asked for sick leave and went home.
.....
At the Sawamura house.
Sawamura Sayuri saw Eriri running home with red eyes and a flushed forehead. Her gaze gradually became dangerous.
Eriri, who wanted to rush upstairs to cry, was stopped in the living room.
Sayuri quickly pulled Eriri into her embrace.
She gently stroked Eriri's hair.
In the past, at this moment, Eriri would have cried loudly out of frustration.
But this time, Eriri's tears slowly stopped, leaving only quiet sobs.
Noticing the change in her daughter, Sayuri asked:
"Eriri, what happened? Tell me, sweetheart."
Eriri choked up, feeling a strong desire to tell her mother everything.
However, after fully calming down, she spoke:
"Mom, I... I've done some things wrong, hurt someone. What should I do to make it right?"
Sayuri was momentarily stunned upon hearing this.
Then, she immediately asked:
"Is it someone really important to you, Eriri?"
Eriri placed her hand on her chest.
She could feel the emotions deep within.
She nodded seriously.
"Someone very important to me, as important as you, Mom."
Sayuri was truly surprised.
She understood her daughter the best.
Sayuri knew well how proud Eriri was.
And now, Eriri was facing her emotions, ready to confront her own heart.
Chapter 42: Aren't We Friends?
There are many things that parents can't teach their children.
For example, how to face their own inner selves and confront their emotions.
Eriri, in the past, with her tsundere personality, was never able to do this.
As soon as her sensitive inner self was touched,
Eriri would immediately use her tsundere facade as a shield, isolating everyone, even herself.
But Eriri, like this...
Today, she...
"A person very important to Eriri, as important as me."
After the surprise, Sayuri couldn't help but smile.
If only Eriri could mature sooner.
Otherwise, when she enters society in the future, she might be deceived by bad men to the point where she loses herself.
Then she might throw away her inheritance at some shady club and end up freezing to death on the streets, for example.
Sayuri truly didn't want to see Eriri's future turn out like that.
So...
She had to push her daughter a little.
"Because they are important, Eriri should apologize properly."
Eriri blinked a few times, her blue eyes filled with confusion, as if she couldn't believe what her mother had just said.
"Is that all?"
"Yes, because Eriri is so cute, the other person will surely forgive her."
"But what about the past mistakes?"
"Mistakes made in the past, no matter how much you try to make up for them, cannot be changed. So, look forward, work on improving, and fill the bad memories with better ones."
Eriri nodded thoughtfully, though it wasn't clear how much she had taken in.
After the serious conversation between mother and daughter, Sayuri suddenly smiled mischievously.
"Someone as important as me... Eriri, you're really ungrateful!"
Sayuri wrapped her arms around her daughter's waist, poking her gently in the side.
Eriri's sad face immediately disappeared, replaced by a burst of laughter as she struggled to escape her mother's embrace.
.....
Toyonosaki Academy
After school.
Yukima Azuma took out his phone and immediately received a notification from LINE.
Opening it, he was surprised to see the message was from Sayuri.
[Yukima-kun, please come to my house for dinner this weekend.]
Though the message seemed ordinary, Yukima Azuma felt a bit of hostility in those words.
It seemed this wasn't an invitation he could refuse.
Thinking about it, if Eriri had run home looking so upset, it was strange that Sayuri hadn't come to find him.
But, things that need to be faced must be faced.
[Yes, I will trouble you, Sayuri-obasan.]
Yukima Azuma replied.
They exchanged a few more polite words, finally settling on a time for Saturday evening.
Yukima Azuma put his phone away and, alongside Kato Megumi, walked out of the school gate.
Today was the day Yukima Azuma had planned to buy his usual cooking ingredients. While chatting, Megumi mentioned she also needed to go to the supermarket for some groceries, so they decided to go together.
Looking over at the girl beside him, graceful as a blooming wisteria flower, Yukima Azuma felt a sense of lightness and comfort when he was with Megumi.
Megumi's company always had a natural, almost uncanny ability to soothe one's heart, like a sip of hot cocoa on a cold winter day.
However, Yukima Azuma understood that, no matter how well two people got along, occasional bumps were inevitable.
If things always went smoothly, it was certain that one of them was always yielding to the other.
"Yukima-kun's gaze, it's rare to see you look so directly at me like that," Megumi remarked, noticing his gaze and teasing him lightly.
Yukima Azuma, embarrassed, quickly turned his eyes away.
"Ah, that's right, I still haven't thanked Kato-san for helping me bandage the wound."
"That's a bit annoying, you know," Megumi replied with a playful smirk.
"Huh?! Why's that?"
"Aren't we friends? There's no need to thank each other for things like that. Or...?"
"Stop, stop! Of course, we're friends!" Yukima Azuma quickly interjected, flustered.
It was rare for Yukima Azuma to feel unsure of how to respond.
They both arrived at the supermarket near the school station, the same place they had visited during the spring break, to buy the cooking ingredients.
Afterward, they headed toward the station.
But halfway there, they stopped in a narrow alley.
The sound echoed, a little pitiful yet full of life.
"Nyan~ nyan~ nyan!"
Both Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi looked toward the source of the sound.
It was a small cardboard box placed at the end of the alley, and inside was a tiny gray kitten curled up.
Its fur was matted and unkempt from lack of care, but its eyestwo different colorsstood out the most.
One eye was golden, and the other was a pale blue.
"Looks like it's been abandoned, doesn't it?" Yukima Azuma remarked.
"Seems like it," Megumi replied softly.
"Do you want to adopt it?" he asked.
"My house probably isn't an option. My mom's allergic to animal fur," Kato Megumi said, her expression tinged with a little sadness.
"Then I guess the only option left is to take it to an animal rescue center," Yukima Azuma sighed.
"My house has a tenant. It would be a bit irresponsible to suddenly adopt a stray cat," he added.
This time, Kato Megumi didn't respond.
"Do you know of any animal rescue centers nearby, Kato-san?" Yukima Azuma asked.
Megumi seemed to be thinking for a moment, hesitating to answer.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma took out his phone to search for one.
"I think there's one nearby. Let me take you there," Megumi said, standing up.
Yukima Azuma nodded and carefully picked up the box containing the kitten.
The kitten seemed to sense the movement, curling further into the corner of the box.
Yukima Azuma gently reached into the box and stroked the kitten's matted fur to calm it.
Seeing this, Kato Megumi suddenly reached out her hand and gently touched the kitten.
"If you scare it, it might jump out of the box and run away," Kato Megumi warned.
He turned to look at Kato Megumi, slightly puzzled.
Over the time they'd known each other, Megumi had always been so cautious and thoughtful. It was rare for her to do anything that might cause trouble.
"Yeah, it could run away," she said, poking a different part of the kitten's body.
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow at the scene.
The kitten didn't run away. It merely flicked its tail, brushing it lightly against Megumi's fingers.
Together, they carried the kitten to the nearest animal rescue center.
-------
hmm, I checked my library and saw that a lot of the translated stories had been taken down, which made me a bit scared.
--------------------------------------------
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If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
The two of them carried the cat and walked to the wild animal rescue center.
The staff there immediately approached them. After listening to the situation, they began preparing to take the cat.
"Ah, have you two considered adopting it?"
Before taking the cat, the staff asked.
Yukima Azuma gently shook his head.
"I really want to, but for practical reasons, I don't think it will be possible."
Hearing that, the staff just responded with an "oh" and said nothing more.
Yukima Azuma looked at the cat in the box.
Its eyes were two different colors, one yellow, the other light blue, shining with a rare beauty.
"Can I visit it later? I feel a connection with it, and I can also donate some cat food."
Yukima Azuma asked.
The staff looked a bit stunned at first, then immediately shook their head.
"I'm afraid not. If you want to do it, do so now; there may not be another chance."
This made Yukima Azuma furrow his brows.
"What do you mean there won't be another chance?"
"We'll post its information on the adoption website. If someone adopts it within the given time, it will be taken away. But if no one adopts it by the deadline, on the next euthanasia day, Tuesday or Friday, it will be put down."
Upon hearing this, Yukima Azuma looked at the cat in the box again.
Its two-colored eyes, even in this situation, still glimmered with captivating beauty.
"Take me to do the adoption procedures."
Yukima Azuma said softly.
The staff immediately smiled upon hearing this.
"Please follow me. Do you have your ID with you?"
"Yes."
"If you adopt, you'll need to get at least one vaccination."
"Do all the necessary tests and vaccinations. Is there a service to bathe cats here? I'm not professional enough to bathe it clean in this condition."
"Yes, after you fill out the form, we'll give it a bath."
"Also, prepare some essentials for me like food, a litter box, and cat litter."
"Yes, you're such a kind person."
After filling out the form, the staff joyfully took the cat inside.
A guy who was willing to spend money on a stray cat like this was likely to be a good owner, not just acting on impulse.
Even though she worked here, she didn't want to see any cats die by euthanasia.
While waiting for the cat to be bathed and checked, Yukima Azuma turned his gaze toward the side, where Kato Megumi was standing.
Kato Megumi avoided his gaze, feeling a bit guilty.
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently pinched her cheek.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought Yukima-san already knew..."
"If you were worried, you should have told me directly," Yukima Azuma said, pulling her cheek a bit harder. "Aren't we friends?"
The words Yukima Azuma had just used to question him were now thrown back at her, word for word.
Even a calm and composed girl like Kato Megumi couldn't avoid looking away at this moment.
Yukima Azuma felt both annoyed and amused.
What Kato Megumi had done earlier, poking at the cat, was clearly an attempt to scare it into running away.
That way, it wouldn't be taken to the rescue center and face euthanasia.
Yukima Azuma didn't know the regulations of rescue centers in Japan, but Kato Megumi must have known very well.
Yet, she kept it all to herself, not saying a word.
And still had the nerve to ask, "Aren't we friends?"
Thinking back on it made Yukima Azuma laugh.
"Taking a stray cat to a rescue center is the right thing to do. If I had said anything, it would have made Yukima-kun feel awkward, like adding more moral burden," Kato Megumi explained when she saw his anger.
In response, Yukima Azuma raised his other hand and pinched both of her cheeks.
"That's why I said, aren't we friends? From now on, just call me by my name!"
Kato Megumi's cheeks were stretched out, and she stammered:
"Az... Azuma-san..."
Yukima Azuma released her.
"Hey, Kato Megumi, please try to be consistent next time, both in your demands for others and for yourself, okay?"
"Don't be so strict with yourself like a saint, while being lenient and lowering standards for others."
Kato Megumi seemed like she wanted to say something in response.
But when her eyes met Yukima Azuma's, she lowered her head and quietly mumbled, almost indistinguishably:
"Got it... Azuma-san."
The wait wasn't short.
Finally, the staff came out, holding a small cat, completely white like snow.
"It's been bathed, nails trimmed, and dewormed both inside and out. These services are all free of charge."
"The vaccination, however, does have a fee. From now on, you'll need to bring it in once a month for three months, and after that, just once a year."
"The cat care supplies have been prepared over there. If there's anything you don't need, you can return it."
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Compared to thinking about the cost, Yukima Azuma's attention was entirely focused on the cat.
The little cat, which had initially appeared grey, now had fur as white as snow.
It was hard to believe.
If it weren't for the staff's certainty, Yukima Azuma might have suspected that the cat had been swapped for another.
He gently cradled the cat.
Yukima Azuma felt like he was holding a puff of cloud.
The soft fur of the cat fluffed up, emitting warmth, and its eyes, with their two colors of golden yellow and light blue, were still breathtakingly beautiful.
The tiny pink paws of the cat pressed against Yukima Azuma's arm, and the sensation was incredibly soft.
"I didn't expect this little one to be a shiyu-shouhyou-ren."
Yukima Azuma sighed in awe.
Kato Megumi tilted her head, curious.
"Shiyu-shouhyou-ren?"
"Yeah, it's a term in Chinese culture used to describe cats that are completely snow-white with eyes of two different colors like this."
"Sounds really sophisticated. Are there any other names?"
"There's a whole naming system. For example, if the body is black but the paws are white, it's called 'Twilight Spring, Searching for Plum Blossoms'; if the back is completely black, with a white belly and paws, it's called 'Black Cloud, White Snow on the Belly'"
(*t/n: i think so...?*)
"Sounds like poetry."
"Yeah, it does."
Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi looked at each other and laughed.
Holding the cat in his arms, they both walked out of the rescue station.
"I think I'll take a taxi back to the apartment. This little one can't take the subway."
Yukima Azuma said as he looked down at the cat, curled up in his arms.
"Let me help. After all, I was the one who found it with you. Now that Azuma-san has adopted it, I should take some responsibility too."
Kato Megumi raised her small hand, looking serious.
Chapter 44: Kato Megumi: I'll Take Responsibility!
Since she said she would take responsibility, Kato Megumi followed Yukima Azuma back to his home.
The process left Yukima Azuma quite surprised.
He pulled out his keys and opened the large door of the apartment.
"Sorry for the trouble," Kato Megumi said as she stepped into the foyer.
Yukima Azuma glanced down the hallway toward the living room, and upon seeing that there were no small shoes belonging to Kasumigaoka-senpai, he suddenly remembered.
Earlier, Kasumigaoka Utaha had mentioned that she would be busy with work, promoting her fourth book at the Fushikawa publishing house. She would be home late and might not even have dinner here.
"It looks like Azuma-san's tenant isn't home?"
Kato Megumi looked into the empty living room, her gaze finally resting on the coffee machine in the kitchen.
"Yeah, that person has work today and won't be back until later."
Yukima Azuma replied truthfully.
He took a new pair of cherry blossom-colored slippers from the shoe cabinet.
Luckily, after the incident with Sora Ginko stepping on his slippers, Yukima Azuma had prepared some new pairs, and now was the time they came in handy.
Kato Megumi took the slippers and smiled softly.
She placed the pure white cat on the floor.
The cat cautiously looked around. Once it sensed no danger, it began sniffing around.
Kato Megumi and Yukima Azuma then found an empty room on the first floor.
After preparing essentials like a cat bed, climbing toys, and a litter box, Yukima Azuma continued with his tasks.
Once the litter was in place, he started to feel anxious.
"How do I teach it to use the litter box? If it goes everywhere it'll be such a hassle."
He thought about Kasumigaoka Utaha's likely annoyed expression and felt a headache coming on.
"Hmm, it's not difficult," Kato Megumi said, stepping out of the room and bringing the cat back inside.
She placed it in the litter box.
Then, Kato Megumi took a cup of water from a corner of the room and poured it over the litter.
She continued by gently taking the cat's two small paws and started digging in the litter.
After just a few scoops, the cat instinctively began covering its waste.
Seeing this, Kato Megumi let go of its paws and clapped her hands together.
"Cats have an instinct to bury their waste to hide the scent and avoid detection by enemies. It's in their naturejust a little stimulation, and they do it right away."
Yukima Azuma clapped his hands in praise.
"Megumi-san, you're really good at this."
"It's nothing special. I just watched a few videos on YouTube to learn," Kato Megumi said, watching as the cat finished burying its waste and jumped out of the litter box.
She then took a toy wand from the new cat playset, opened the packaging, and handed it to the cat.
"You need to create a reward-and-punishment system. That way, it's easier to train a cat."
"Should we give it a name?" Kato Megumi asked, offering the cat some food as she looked up at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
"Do you have any ideas, Megumi-san?"
"Since it's your adopted cat, Azuma-san, I think you should name it."
"Hmm..." Yukima Azuma looked at the cat and thought for a moment. "How about Shiratamaru?"
And so, the name Shiratamaru was decided.
"Shiratamaru, be a good cat," Kato Megumi called its name and gently scratched its chin.
Shiratamaru clearly wasn't used to its name yet.
However, it let out a happy "grr-grr" sound when Kato Megumi scratched it.
After settling everything for Shiratamaru, Yukima Azuma glanced at the clock and couldn't help but exclaim.
"It's late, past dinner time already."
It was inevitable; after class, they had to go to the animal rescue station, then wait for the cat to be bathed. It had taken up a lot of time.
"Stay and have dinner with me," Yukima Azuma suggested.
"Sure, is there anything I can help with?" Kato Megumi asked.
"Do you know how to cook, Megumi-san?"
"Just a little."
They both walked into the kitchen.
Kato Megumi's "just a little" was clearly very modest.
Although she was only assisting, her handling of the ingredients was swift and efficient, and the quality was excellent.
Sometimes, as soon as Yukima Azuma reached for something, she knew exactly which seasoning to hand him without needing to be told.
Though it was their first time working together, they were in perfect sync.
Before long, a full meal, full of flavor, was set on the table.
"Azuma-san, you're really good at cooking. And you're great at Chinese dishes, too," Kato Megumi said, admiring the spread on the table.
Yukima Azuma glanced at his cooking skill chart and saw he had reached level 6 in cooking. He nodded.
"Well, it seems that way. Actually, I'm not very familiar with some traditional Japanese dishes. I prefer Chinese food more."
"I can't drink coffee either. I only like tea."
Kato Megumi's unexpected comment almost made Yukima Azuma choke.
His gaze shifted toward the manual coffee maker beside him.
He once again felt that familiar sense of not knowing how to respond, just like before.
Kato Megumi... really is impressive!
.....
After finishing their meal, they both went back into the kitchen to wash the dishes.
To be honest, Yukima Azuma hadn't washed dishes in quite a while.
Since Kasumigaoka Utaha moved in, Yukima Azuma did all the cooking while Kasumigaoka Utaha took care of the dishes.
"It's getting late, I should be heading back," Kato Megumi said.
"Aren't you staying overnight?" Yukima Azuma asked.
"It feels a little... strange, staying over at Azuma-san's house for the first time," Kato Megumi replied.
"I was just asking out of courtesy. Don't refuse so seriously! No matter how many times you come, staying overnight at a boy's house still seems a little" he trailed off.
"Well... if it's with you, Azuma-san, I guess it wouldn't be a problem," she added, her voice trailing off slightly.
Upon hearing Kato Megumi's murmured response, Yukima Azuma wasn't sure how to reply.
But before she left, Yukima Azuma reached out and handed Kato Megumi something.
Kato Megumi took it, her jasmine-like eyes glinting slightly.
"Could this be...?"
"Yes, it's the key to the apartment. I might need to ask for your help sometimes."
Yukima Azuma had only just realized how busy he had been lately as they ate.
"Actually, I'm still a professional player, and sometimes I have to go compete. I might not be able to take care of Shiratamaru, so I may need your help looking after it occasionally."
"Also, with the club... tomorrow I might have to stay late for club activities. Could you come by to feed Shiratamaru?"
Kato Megumi listened and nodded thoughtfully.
"I see. So, that's why you asked for time off yesterday?"
"Are you paying that much attention to these things?" Yukima Azuma asked, a little surprised.
"Yes, Azuma-kun, don't worry. I told you, I'll take responsibility," Kato Megumi affirmed.
------------
Happy new year, Wishing you a healthy and a good new start.
P/S: My country uses Lunar New Year so I forgot about it
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Chapter 45: White Album
At nine o'clock in the evening.
"I'm back."
Kasumigaoka opened the large door of the Yukima household, announcing her return.
"Welcome home."
Yukima Azuma was sitting in the living room, his head bowed down doing something.
Kasumigaoka Utaha took her white slippers from the shoe rack.
Just as she was about to change into them,
Her gaze fell on a corner of the room where a pair of cherry pink slippers had been unboxed.
"Did Sora Ginko come by today?" Kasumigaoka asked, looking towards the living room.
Yukima Azuma raised his head. "No, why do you ask?"
She stared at the pair of slippers for a moment.
Kasumigaoka Utaha changed into her slippers and walked towards the living room.
She had only made it halfway there,
When suddenly, she felt something soft rush at her feet.
Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a startled sound, hurriedly looking down.
At that moment, she saw a small creature resembling a white gem clinging to her leg, its head tilted up to look at her.
Its bright eyes, one in each color, gazed into hers.
At that very instant, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt her heart begin to melt.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, senpai. On my way home, I picked this little one up."
"If I brought it to a rescue center, it might be put into eternal sleep."
"So I had no choice but to bring it back. Since it was an emergency, I didn't ask for your permission. I'm really sorry."
Yukima Azuma clasped his hands together in an apologetic gesture.
Kasumigaoka Utaha reached out and lifted the white gem-like creature from the ground.
She gently stroked its fluffy white fur.
Kasumigaoka Utaha unconsciously smiled.
"This time, I'll let it slide. I'll forgive you, ex-boyfriend-kun. Does this little one have a name?"
"Shiratamaru."
"Hmm... not bad."
And so, as Kasumigaoka playfully called "Shiratamaru," she teased the kitten with her fingertips.
For a moment, she forgot all about the cherry pink slippers.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma breathed a sigh of relief, bowing his head again to continue his work.
After playing with Shiratamaru for a while,
Kasumigaoka Utaha let it go and sat down beside Yukima Azuma.
She curiously looked at the laptop screen in front of him.
It was a document page.
Notes and story developments filled the screen.
"This is...?"
Kasumigaoka stared at the story plot Yukima Azuma was writing, her eyes lighting up as she asked.
"This is the plan. Aren't we planning to start a game club?"
"If we've decided to do it, then naturally we have to take it seriously and aim for perfection."
"This is what senpai taught me. I'm not like certain people who scribble a few lines in their plan and then hope the script and visuals will automatically turn into a game."
Yukima Azuma replied.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Kasumigaoka Utaha was momentarily stunned.
Then she quickly reacted.
This guy... What was that about 'senpai taught me'?
Clearly, he was mocking her perfectionism.
Thinking this, Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a soft snort.
But this ex-boyfriend of hers really held grudges.
To make Aki Tomoya "sink into the depths," he was truly putting in every effort.
Even so, his seriousness was undeniably captivating.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma reached the final part of his work.
Once he finished the draft,
Yukima Azuma pushed the laptop toward Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Senpai, take a look."
Kasumigaoka Utaha, of course, didn't refuse; she had already been extremely curious about what kind of literary work Yukima Azuma could produce.
Flipping to the first page, she saw the title of the plan:
White Album.
Fifteen minutes later, Kasumigaoka Utaha had finished reading the entire plan.
When she looked up, her gaze toward Yukima Azuma carried a subtle, indescribable expression.
"Well? It's decent, right?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't know what to say for a moment.
Decent?
This plan was far beyond just "decent."
From the perspective of a light novel author, this was completely a story that could make someone's heart tremble.
Shewho the world often referred to as a genius light novel authorcouldn't find a single point that needed revision in this story.
All that remained was to write the script, flesh out the details, and add a few side story branches.
Moreover, as a project plan, it was already perfect down to the finest detail.
With a plan like this, if it were introduced to the market, there would surely be countless people willingly throwing money in to invest.
A work of this caliber.
And yet, it was Yukima Azuma, someone who had never written any literary work before, who managed to create this in just a single day?
"Ex-boyfriend-kun, have you ever thought about giving up shogi and becoming a light novel author?"
Finally, Kasumigaoka Utaha voiced this question.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Well, it depends on the situation."
Recently, his literary skills had reached a level of proficiency, advancing to level six.
Although he hadn't yet reached the realm of mastery,
His writing skills were definitely sufficient for debuting as a light novel author.
Moreover, in his mind, there were countless stories that didn't yet exist in this world.
Becoming a light novel author might not be such a bad path.
Hmm, so, depending on the situation.
"Using a work of this level just to hurt someone is such a waste of talent. Can you be any more petty?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha pushed the laptop aside, sounding somewhat helpless.
"Well, who told that guy to mess with something he shouldn't have touched?"
Yukima Azuma smiled faintly.
Hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha once again thought back to the conversation earlier, in the kitchen.
The corners of her mouth lifted unconsciously.
"Do whatever you want."
Saying this, Kasumigaoka Utaha went off to cuddle Shiratamaru.
Yukima Azuma closed the laptop, putting it into his backpack in preparation for any necessary situations tomorrow.
...
The next day.
"I have something to say to you. Come here."
Eriri, just back from her leave, stopped Yukima Azuma early in the morning and said this.
Yukima Azuma was stunned for a moment, then followed the golden twintails, walking toward a secluded corner of the school building.
As Eriri walked ahead, her golden twin ponytails bounced, giving an irresistible urge to reach out and grab them.
Even though she was only wearing the school uniform, the youthful energy of the girl was clearly apparent.
Beneath her pleated skirt, the "zettai ryoiki" made it impossible not to think impure thoughts, while the black stockings created alluring curves along her legs.
In fact, if one ignored the chest area, Eriri's body was quite perfect.
While Yukima Azuma's thoughts wandered,
Eriri stopped suddenly.
Yukima Azuma almost bumped into her, but luckily he stopped just in time, only brushing her arm.
However, in the past, even the slightest touch would cause Eriri to blush and run off in embarrassment.
Now, she turned around and grabbed Yukima Azuma's wrist.
This made Yukima Azuma freeze in place, stunned.
Chapter 46: Eriri: Kato Megumi Really Is a Good Person
In a secluded corner of the school building.
Eriri firmly gripped Yukima Azuma's wrist.
After a moment of daze, Yukima Azuma's gaze fell on Eriri's exposed earlobes peeking out from her hair.
They were flushed red.
For some reason, Yukima Azuma felt a sense of relief.
This was still the Eriri he knewnothing had changed.
Only today, she must have summoned unimaginable courage to do something that even surprised him.
Thinking this, Yukima Azuma gently reached out and stroked Eriri's golden hair.
He felt the softness atop her head.
Eriri, who had prepared a mountain of things to say, suddenly forgot everything.
For a moment, her mind went completely blank.
'Say something! Say anything, Eriri!'
Her heart urged her.
Unlike the hesitation from before,
This time, Eriri followed the call of her heart.
She threw herself into Yukima Azuma's arms.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I I was so stubborn before! I'm sorry!"
Halfway through, her voice choked up.
Yukima Azuma could clearly feel the uniform on his chest becoming wet.
Feeling Eriri's resolve as she tried to overcome her own obstinate nature,
Yukima Azuma wrapped her slender frame tightly in his arms.
She cried for a long while.
Her tears left a large damp patch on Yukima Azuma's uniform.
When Eriri finally stopped sobbing, she looked up at him.
"Azuma, can you forgive me?"
Her entire heart felt as though it were suspended mid-air,
As if awaiting judgment.
Eriri was terrified that Yukima Azuma would say something cold and hurtful.
No matter how tightly his arms held her, she feared it was all just an illusion.
She had finally realized how deeply she had hurt Yukima Azuma in the past, relying on his love to inflict wounds on him.
"With such a heartfelt apology, how could I refuse you?"
Yukima Azuma smiled softly.
Eriri's eyes widened.
In those deep blue irises, the image of the boy reflected clearly, her gaze brimming with pure joy.
"Ayaya, Eriri, you're really cheating hereyou know perfectly well that I can't refuse any of your requests as long as you cry."
Yukima Azuma leaned down and whispered gently into her ear.
His breath brushed past Eriri's earlobe.
Her slender body trembled slightly.
Eriri had finally apologized, so of course, Yukima Azuma was willing to start their story over again.
Any progress from this tsundere girl was precious.
And this time, it wasn't just a little progress
It was a monumental step forward.
After that, Yukima Azuma took Eriri to wash her face.
He carefully wiped the lingering tears off her cheeks.
"By the way, I'm planning to form a game club, Eriri. Would you like to join?"
Right at the classroom door, Yukima Azuma suddenly asked.
Eriri froze, memories of unpleasant experiences flashed briefly through her mind.
But when she looked at the boy in front of her,
Those unhappy memories quickly melted away.
"What's this? If you want to invite me, at least be more serious about it!"
Eriri muttered softly.
She had changed a little, but not too much.
"Eriri-sama, for my game club, the person to draw the character designs can only be you. Please, lend me your talents!"
Of course, Yukima Azuma didn't hesitate to shower her with praise.
Eriri had taken the initiative to compromise this much
Saying a few sweet words was no big deal, right?
Hearing Yukima Azuma say "can only be you",
Eriri's face instantly turned red.
"Alright, I'll join!"
Eriri nodded and agreed.
After that, the two of them returned to the classroom.
When she sat down,
Eriri cupped her face in her hands, her joy so apparent that anyone could see it.
Her little head with the two golden twintails practically radiated sunflowers.
'Azuma, Azuma, Azuma, hehehe, he called me Eriri again! Can only be you. Can only be you. Can only be you. No one but me. No one but me!! No one but me!!!!! Hehehe~!'
While her heart was filled with sweet happiness
"Azuma-kun, good morning."
Eriri: !!
Eriri's eyes widened as she turned to look at the girl who greeted Yukima Azuma.
Although they had only met yesterday,
This time, when Eriri focused on her carefully,
It felt like she had no significant impressions of this girl in her mind
Almost as if they were meeting for the first time.
However, those things weren't important.
Just now, what did that girl call Yukima Azuma?
Eriri felt she must have misheard.
"Good morning, Megumi-san."
Yukima Azuma replied naturally, making Eriri realize that it was certainly not an illusion.
Kato Megumi placed her bag on the table and asked naturally:
"How is Shiratamaru doing? Is it adapting well at home?"
"Mm, it doesn't seem to have any resistance. It looks like it's also learned how to use the litter box."
"Oh, then Shiratamaru is really smart. It usually takes a long time to learn that."
"I also think Shiratamaru is very smart. No wonder it's the pet that bonded with me."
"Azuma-kun, don't praise yourself like that in front of other girls, okay? You'll be hated."
"Of course, I know that."
Eriri suddenly stood up abruptly.
Finally, she managed to capture both of their attention.
At this moment, Eriri was completely dumbfounded, her eyes slightly red, looking very skeptical.
"Wait a minute, can you two stop for a second?! Who is Shiratamaru?!"
There were so many things to complain about in that conversation earlier.
But if she had to pinpoint what stood out the most, it was definitely the part about "Shiratamaru."
"Ah... Shiratamaru is the cat that Megumi-san and I picked up yesterday on the way home after school."
"I've adopted it now. I named it Shiratamaru. It's really cute. Eriri, do you want to see it?"
Yukima Azuma spoke while pulling out his phone.
Eriri: o.0
Eriri was completely shocked.
Adopting a cat together or whatever...
How much had she missed after going home yesterday?!
Eriri suspected she hadn't just skipped a day of school but an entire semester.
These two were progressing at a pace she could hardly believe!
"Do you want to see it?"
Since Eriri was still standing there in a daze, Yukima Azuma asked again, having already taken out his phone.
Eriri really wanted to firmly refuse.
But curiosity still pushed her to take Yukima Azuma's phone.
Shiratamaru's tiny, pearl-white figure was shown, stretching its tiny paws out from a cat shelf.
Its mismatched eyesone green, one goldshimmered like twinkling lights.
Eriri felt like her heart had just been struck by Cupid's arrow.
Too cute!
Eriri, the cat lover, almost broke into tears.
Why did she skip school yesterday?!
"Eriri, if you like, you can come over to my house to play with Shiratamaru sometime."
Yukima Azuma said.
"Really?"
"Of course, Megumi-san also agrees, right?"
Yukima Azuma glanced at Kato Megumi.
"Mm, Shiratamaru will surely like you too, Sawamura-san."
Kato Megumi was never the type to make things difficult for others.
"That's amazing! I'll definitely come. Azuma, you're such a good person!"
"Remember, it's Megumi-san."
"Mm, Kato-san, let's be good friends!"
In the midst of Eriri's tearful excitement, she also sensed something off.
But she was certain that agreeing to go cuddle a cat was the right thing to do, and Kato-san was definitely a good person!
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Chapter 47: The First Club Activity
And so, the after-school bell finally rang.
"Well then, I'll head off first, Sawamura-san. Goodbye!"
Kita Ikuyo waved and said goodbye to Eriri.
Although she originally belonged to the "go home" group, Kita seemed quite busy lately.
"I'll also take my leave. Sawamura-san, Azuma-san, goodbye."
Kato Megumi, who had become friends with Eriri, also bid farewell.
"I'll leave it to you, Megumi-san."
Yukima Azuma waved back in response.
Eriri looked at Yukima Azuma with a resentful gaze.
"Leave it to you"? What was that supposed to mean? That kind of phrasing really made one pay attention.
What exactly was being entrusted here?
Had she only missed one day?
Then why had the relationship between those two progressed so quickly?!
Clearly, all three of them were friends.
Yet, sometimes Eriri felt there was a sad wall separating her from the other two.
Just thinking about it made Eriri puff her cheeks in frustration.
"Eriri, let's go too, to the multimedia room."
Yukima Azuma called out to her.
Being called "Eriri," the blonde girl with twin tails obediently followed him.
At the corner of the classroom, Aki Tomoya's eyes widened in shock.
He felt that between himself and the two people walking ahead, there was not just one wall, but many layers of them.
Moreoverthe multimedia room?
His club application had been rejected due to insufficient members.
But rumor had it that a game development club had recently been established at school.
A bad premonition suddenly arose in Aki Tomoya's heart.
He quickly stepped in front of the two and asked:
"Yukima-san and Sawamura-san, did you know each other before this?"
Eriri frowned in irritation.
Yukima Azuma glanced calmly at the person asking the question and replied in a composed voice:
"Yeah, Eriri and I were classmates in elementary and middle school. You could say we're childhood friends."
After speaking, he even smiled.
That fresh, prince-like smile stung Aki Tomoya's soul a little.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Childhood friends?
"Yukima-san, you're joking, right? Why don't I remember that..."
Before Aki Tomoya could finish his words, he immediately fell silent.
Because Eriri, standing beside him, was clearly on the verge of exploding.
Tomoya still remembered the threat Eriri made last time about reporting to Sayuri.
"Huh? What did Aki-kun just say?" Yukima Azuma pretended not to have heard clearly.
Then, without missing a beat, he continued, "Oh, right. Eriri transferred to my elementary school rather unexpectedly. If you think about it, I guess she's the 'transfer student' type, right?"
Eriri's heart raced at Yukima Azuma's words.
"Transfer student", that was one of the highest-ranking types of heroines in otaku debates. (*t/n: it is true?*)
On the other side, Aki Tomoya looked gloomy.
So this was something that happened after Eriri transferred.
Up until now, he still couldn't get over the "betrayal" he felt from Eriri.
Moreover, after transferring, it seemed like Eriri had been doing just fine.
This only further wounded Aki Tomoya's already fragile pride.
After Yukima Azuma finished speaking, he didn't bother to pay any more attention to Aki Tomoya.
If it were just him here, things might have been more comfortable.
Just now, things had almost escalated into a heated argument.
But after all, Eriri was still here.
Sawamura Spencer Eriri the sweet, somewhat nave girl who didn't quite understand the ways of the world, and who Sayuri had protected since childhood.
Yukima Azuma was prepared to take on Sayuri's role.
To continue protecting Eriri like this.
.....
At the multimedia room on the fifth floor.
The club's activity location was not the club room behind the classroom building.
It was right in the main building.
The reason was that, for a game development club, the multimedia equipment available here would better support their activities.
When the multimedia room door opened, the first thing they were greeted with was a sharply sarcastic voice from a senior.
"Did you all fall into a sewer on your way here? Could you be any slower? Honestly!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha was sitting in the second-to-last row of the classroom.
She had her legs crossed, looking like she had been waiting for quite some time.
"Tch, Kasumigaoka Utaha, didn't you just finish class yourself?"
Eriri bared her small fang, challenging her.
These two had known each other for a while, but their personalities didn't match, so every time they met, they ended up arguing.
"Have you still not learned that calling someone by their full name is impolite, Sawamura Spencer Eriri-san?"
"Huh? For a woman who wears black stockings and is "overweight" like you, what's the point of being polite?"
"Sigh, as expected," Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed, "You're always so narrow-minded. It's my fault for arguing with you."
"Even though you apologized, it still feels so sarcastic"
Eriri was in the middle of speaking when she noticed Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze land on her chest.
At that moment, she understood what the term "narrow-minded" that Kasumigaoka had just mentioned meant.
Immediately, Eriri was furious and nearly lunged at her.
Yukima Azuma only needed to reach out and grab the back of Eriri's uniform collar, gently pulling her back as if she were picking up Shiratamaru.
"Azuma! Don't pick me up like a kitten!"
Eriri turned around, growling with frustration at Yukima Azuma.
Her small fang looked rather fierce.
Eriri is so scary.
"Azuma?" Kasumigaoka Utaha repeated, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Sensing that the situation was about to escalate, Yukima Azuma quickly raised a hand to stop it.
"Today is the club activity session, could you two please hold off for a bit? At least until the activity is over?"
Thanks to Yukima Azuma's words, the two of them reluctantly stopped, temporarily lowering their weapons.
Azuma took his laptop from his bag and connected it to the multimedia equipment in the room.
Then, he projected his plan onto the screen.
"Anyway, as the club president, this is the plan I've prepared. Please have a look and give feedback."
Kasumigaoka Utaha, though she had already seen it once, pretended as if it was her first time seeing the plan.
It seemed Yukima Azuma had made some edits to the plan.
Moreover, the story of White Album was truly moving.
Reading it through again more seriously wasn't an issue.
As for Eriri, her eyes were now bright, completely absorbed in the plan.
Now this was a real plan!
Not one of those with just a couple of lines.
This was like "burning paper money for the dead to deceive the spirits"!
Moreover this was really amazing!
The first time she read the story of White Album,
Eriri couldn't help but be drawn in.
Although she wasn't a light novel writer,
Eriri was a veteran otaku.
The number of galgames she had played was countless.
Because of that, her ability to evaluate games was definitely on par with Kasumigaoka's.
In fact, when it came to evaluating romantic games,
Eriri might be a bit better.
Just by glancing at a few pages of this plan,
Eriri could tell.
This was definitely going to be a blockbuster game that would shake the market!
Chapter 48: 'Think, Eriri, think!'
After both of them had read through the planor rather, the story of White Albumover half an hour had passed.
When they reached the last page and saw that the rest of the pages were blank, Eriri immediately shouted out loud.
"Where's the rest? The next part of the story! There's definitely more, right? Hurry up and give it to me!"
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma could only helplessly rub his forehead.
Indeed, there was a White Album 2.
But...
"Eriri, this is just the plan for a game. Right now, it's still just ideas, coldly sitting on the multimedia device."
"As the previous part, it hasn't even been released yet, and you're already asking about the next part. Don't you think that's a bit too much?"
After hearing this, Eriri finally realized that she had been a bit hasty.
The plan was so complete that she couldn't help but treat it as if she were enjoying a real game.
After all, as an illustrator, she could automatically visualize the images in her mind from the words.
"Sure enough, the saying 'big boobs, small brain' is just a rumor. Either way, Sawamura-san, this doesn't make you any smarter."
Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly took the opportunity to make a jab.
"You proud of yourself, wearing black stockings? Wait a few years, when everything starts sagging, let's see how you cry then!"
Eriri ground her teeth together in frustration.
"At least having something to sag is better than having nothing to sag."
Kasumigaoka Utaha shrugged nonchalantly.
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Yukima Azuma flopped onto the podium.
"Neither of you feel sorry for me?"
"My masterpiece, the one I poured my heart into, is right here, and all you two do is argue. I'm really about to cry!"
Seeing Yukima Azuma's exaggerated expression, as if he were on the verge of tears, both girls couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, alright, I'll take the time to write a detailed script. With the completeness of this work, I shouldn't have any trouble writing the script," Kasumigaoka Utaha said, her tone softer.
"Then I'll leave it to you, senpai! But remember, don't overwork yourself. Even if you're staying up late, you need to know your limits!" Yukima Azuma reminded seriously.
Kasumigaoka, upon hearing that, instinctively touched the wrist protector in her pocket.
Her eyes briefly flickered with tenderness and affection.
"And I'll start on the character designs soon. Though I'm still busy with other things, I'll make sure to set aside time for this," she added.
Eriri quickly spoke up, her voice a bit hurried.
For a tsundere like Eriri, to say something like that was truly remarkable.
"Thanks, Eriri. I'll be counting on you. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to come to me and we can discuss it," Yukima Azuma replied with a smile.
Hearing those words, the corners of Eriri's mouth involuntarily curled into a soft smile.
....
Outside Toyonozaki Academy.
"Alright, see you tomorrow, Eriri."
Yukima Azuma said goodbye to Eriri. He had to go to the station to catch a bus, while Eriri's house was near the station next to the academy, at the end of the detective slope. The two of them headed in opposite directions.
"Hehe, see you tomorrow!" Eriri waved and smiled foolishly to herself.
The story should have ended here.
Until:
"Let's go home together."
Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly hooked her arm around Yukima Azuma's and even said it loudly.
Eriri, who had just turned to leave, immediately spun around and rushed to pull them apart.
"Wait! Hold on a second! What are you two doing? 'Going home together?' Huh? Did I just isekai by a truck-sama?"
Eriri squeezed between them, acting as a shield to prevent Kasumigaoka from continuing her deadly verbal attacks.
Stuck between the two, Eriri's mind was filled with questions.
"Oh, Sawamura-san doesn't know yet? I'm living with Azuma," Kasumigaoka Utaha said calmly, smiling with a mysterious air, her hand gently brushing her cheek.
"How should I know that!" Eriri yelled, her voice shrill. "Wait a minute, why are you acting all shy about it!"
"Didn't Azuma tell you, Sawamura-san? Looks like you two aren't that close after all," Kasumigaoka replied, a playful tone in her voice.
"You're the one who's not close! Your whole family isn't close!" Eriri retorted. "Azuma is my childhood friend!"
"Oh? Your childhood friend? But I've never heard him mention you," Kasumigaoka teased, her smile widening.
"That's what I should be asking! I'm his childhood friend, but I've never seen you hanging out with Azuma!" Eriri shot back.
Seeing the two of them about to argue even more fiercely, Yukima Azuma placed his hands gently on both of their heads.
Whether it was the long black straight hair or the golden twintails, the soft, silky feeling was transmitted through his palms.
Surprisingly, this action worked.
Both of them immediately stopped arguing.
Each of them stood on one side, and without saying a word, both stepped on Yukima Azuma foot.
"Alright, everyone calm down a bit." Yukima Azuma sighed, speaking with a tone of helplessness. "Let me introduce you two again."
"Kasumigaoka-senpai, we met through literature before, and now she's renting the second floor of my house, a tenant."
"Eriri, a classmate since elementary school, middle school, and now high school, and my childhood friend."
After hearing Yukima Azuma's explanation, Eriri's almost explosive emotions finally settled down.
However, her gaze toward Kasumigaoka was still full of suspicion.
After all, the idea of high school students living together sounded quite inappropriate.
In Eriri's mind, thoughts of a doujinshi about "living together outside school" started to take shape.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, on the other hand, gave Yukima Azuma a side glance.
She felt as if Yukima was hiding something, something unspoken.
Just like how he hadn't made her true identity clear.
So, this tsundere twintail girl had actually appeared before her...?
What had started as a relaxed, carefree time living at Yukima's house suddenly made Kasumigaoka Utaha feel tense.
"Sawamura-san, hello. Sawamura-san, goodbye. Alright, let's go home," Kasumigaoka Utaha said.
Eriri: !
She watched the two of them heading toward the train station.
After a moment of hesitation, Eriri immediately ran after them.
"I'm coming too!"
Hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha showed a look of surprise.
"Sawamura-san really plans to actively go to a male student's house and throw herself into his arms? How depraved!"
Although she had matured somewhat, Eriri's tsundere nature couldn't handle words like that.
Her snow-white face immediately turned bright red.
Even though Kasumigaoka Utaha's words weren't particularly rude,
Eriri couldn't help but imagine all sorts of scenarios, in all sorts of places.
'Think, Eriri, think!'
'Ah! Got it!'
Eriri's eyes lit up.
"Shiratamaru!" Eriri nodded. "That's right, I'm going to meet Shiratamaru, this has nothing to do with Kasumigaoka-san!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha squinted slightly.
This reason was certainly something she couldn't argue against.
So, something must have happened when she went to Fushikawa Publishing House yesterday.
The image of the cherry blossom-colored slippers flashed in her mind again.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Kasumigaoka closed her eyes.
So, the time she came to Fushikawa yesterday was when the "thief" arrived!
Just in such a short time!
She recalled the cherry blossom-colored slippers at home had been opened.
Kasumigaoka's gaze shifted to Yukima Azuma, seemingly filled with sorrow.
Yukima Azuma smiled awkwardly.
How should he put it?
The current scene seemed rather striking.
But in reality, the bigger event was still ahead.
So, Eriri used "Shiratamaru" as an excuse.
The three of them walked together along the road to Yukima's house.
None of them spoke along the way.
Until they reached the door.
Yukima Azuma took out the key while swallowing a gulp.
The big event was about to come!
He opened the hallway door.
On the doorstep, Shiratamaru was sitting obediently waiting.
Unlike most adopted cats.
Shiratamaru had a very friendly personality.
Its mother must have been a house cat, and under her guidance, Shiratamaru had adapted very well to living with humans.
It was just unclear why it had been abandoned.
When Eriri saw Shiratamaru, fluffy and round like a tennis ball, she immediately lost interest in confronting Kasumigaoka.
She sat down directly and reached out her hand towards Shiratamaru.
Her mouth emitted the sound "Nyan nyan."
Shiratamaru was attracted, coming towards Eriri and trying to touch the tip of her finger with one of its paws.
When it confirmed there was no danger, Shiratamaru climbed onto Eriri's hand.
As she stroked its soft, pure white fur, Eriri's eyes lit up.
Kasumigaoka also looked towards Shiratamaru for a moment.
But soon, her gaze shifted to the side.
At the bottom of the hallway steps, a pair of women's leather shoes had been placed.
And the cherry blossom-colored slippers on the shoe rack were nowhere to be found.
A bad feeling began to rise in her heart.
"Welcome home."
Accompanied by a gentle sound, a cute girl who resembled a fresh flower appeared.
Kato Megumi stepped out of the kitchen, still wearing an apron.
If she hadn't been in her Toyosaki uniform, one might have thought she was a gentle and capable wife.
Eriri stopped her playful actions with Shiratamaru, and her whole body immediately froze in a daze.
Kasumigaoka's long, beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
So, the "thief" was here.
"Well, I'm back, Megumi-san. What are you doing in the kitchen?"
Yukima Azuma changed her slippers and walked towards the kitchen.
"Since I wasn't sure when Azuma-san would be home, I made some food, just in case."
Kato Megumi answered naturally.
"Oh, thank you. I'll take care of the rest."
"Okay, then I'll take off the apron for you."
"Mm, go sit in the living room for a bit. You can go home after dinner."
Upon hearing this conversation,
Kasumigaoka and Eriri exchanged glances.
Both of them clearly had the same thought.
"Why are you two so familiar with each other?!"
"Sawamura-san, Kasumigaoka-senpai, hello. I'm Kato Megumi. Azuma-san asked me to feed Shiratamaru."
Somehow, Kato Megumi had appeared next to them.
They almost jumped in surprise.
Upon a closer look, they realized that Kato Megumi was actually a very beautiful girl.
Though at first glance, she didn't leave a strong impression, it became apparent upon closer inspection and getting to know her a little that Kato Megumi was just as cute as the two of them.
It even made one think: "Wow, how come such a cute girl isn't standing out?"
"Kato... right? Do you know me?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha changed her slippers and began to inquire.
"Probably, after all, Kasumigaoka-senpai is very famous at Toyosaki, it would be strange if I didn't know you."
"But I was really a bit surprised just now. I didn't expect Azuma-san's tenant to be the legendary Kasumigaoka-senpai."
Kato Megumi responded sincerely.
The so-called "legend."
Although Kasumigaoka was used to being praised by others,
She couldn't feel displeased by the words of the cute girl in front of her.
Kasumigaoka immediately understood.
The girl named Kato Megumi was a threat far beyond Eriri.
Every action and gesture of hers made it impossible for others to be on guard.
This gentle, soft-spoken girl appeared harmless,
But in reality, she was the most dangerous kind of person.
Once she grasped the fearsome nature of Kato Megumi, Kasumigaoka looked at her ally who was on the same side as her.
What was Eriri doing?
Ah, Eriri was petting the cat.
Kasumigaoka unconsciously raised her hand to rub her forehead.
She had truly been wrong to place her hope in Eriri.
....
Dinner was quickly finished.
Since she was the one receiving the task, there weren't many options to choose from.
So, that evening, the four of them ate curry, grilled mackerel, and miso soup.
After the meal, Shiratamaru was lying in Kato Megumi's lap.
Its front paws walked along Kato Megumi's legs.
The soft pink paw pads felt like they were massaging.
Watching the close interaction between the person and the cat, Eriri finally realized the danger.
"Oh, it's already 9 o'clock. Azuma-san, Sawamura-san, Kasumigaoka-senpai, I'll be go home now."
Kato Megumi took out her phone, checked the time, and stood up.
Although she said "Oh," her tone remained as gentle as a breeze.
"I should be going too."
Eriri, feeling a little reluctant, stood up as well.
Both their homes were near the lower station of the academy, so it was conveniently on the way.
The trains had stopped running.
So, Eriri called a taxi.
Yukima Azuma discreetly slipped taxi fare into Kato Megumi's coat pocket.
After all, it was he who had asked her to help.
It would be inappropriate to make Kato Megumi pay for the taxi.
Taxi fares in Tokyo were known to be some of the most expensive in the world.
Moreover, Kato Megumi's family situation wasn't one where she could spend freely.
As a result, the taxi had barely gone a short distance when
Yukima Azuma received a message from Kato Megumi on Line.
Megumi: "Azuma-san, why did you slip money into my pocket? I don't want to receive it."
Azuma: "It's taxi fare!"
Megumi: "If it's taxi fare, I can pay for it myself."
Azuma: "Anyway, I asked Megumi-san to come help, and if I let you pay for the taxi... my heart won't be at ease!"
Azuma: (Attached with expression image: Not at ease .jpg)
Kato Megumi put her phone away.
Sitting in the taxi, she smiled contentedly.
It was truly a smile.
The corners of her mouth only lifted slightly.
The moment she touched the money in her pocket, she felt a bit annoyed.
Because the amount was a little large.
She couldn't help but think that maybe Yukima Azuma had given her the money to thank her for helping take care of Shiratamaru.
If that was the case, wasn't it like he was paying her for her services?
Emotionally, she felt a little uncomfortable with that idea.
But Yukima Azuma had explained that it was just taxi fare.
Kato Megumi felt happy again.
Because Yukima Azuma had noticed the little things about her.
At first, she thought that after paying for the fare, she would have to be a bit more frugal in the next few days.
Though she wouldn't complain about it.
Moreover, the fact that he paid attention to her made Kato Megumi genuinely happy.
.....
The next day.
Morning class.
Looking at the empty seat.
Kato Megumi blinked.
As soon as class ended, Eriri immediately ran over to Kato Megumi's seat.
"Azuma, that guy seems to have taken another leave. Kato-san, do you know what's going on?"
Eriri asked with some concern.
How should she respond?
Her feelings were complex.
Eriri wanted to find out about Yukima Azuma's situation, but she didn't want Kato Megumi to know the truth.
Otherwise, wouldn't it just bring Kato Megumi and Yukima Azuma closer together than she was?
"Huh? Even though Sawamura-san asked like that, I don't know anything," Kato Megumi replied.
"We went home together yesterday, and if Sawamura-san doesn't know, then of course, I don't either..."
Kato Megumi shrugged.
Eriri sighed in relief. "I see."
If Yukima Azuma hadn't told her where he was going but had told Kato Megumi, Eriri felt she would have been upset enough to cry.
However, before she could fully relax, Kato Megumi phone in the desk drawer suddenly buzzed.
With a questioning look from Eriri, Kato Megumi pulled out her phone. "It's a message from Azuma-san."
Eriri immediately froze, as if turned to stone.
It was as if a little ghost with braided hair was floating out of her mouth.
Kato Megumi read the message, then turned the LINE screen toward Eriri.
It only had one sentence:
"Megumi, I'm busy today, won't be home. Please take care of Shiratamaru!"
After reading it, Eriri snapped out of her daze.
It wasn't anything especially important he was asking for.
He was just asking Kato Megumi to take care of Shiratamaru.
Her mood lightened a little.
"Seriously, what is he up to?"
.....
Where had Yukima Azuma gone, and what was he doing?
This week had been really busy.
After the official matches, club activities, and many other things,
The revenue from the overseas game sales had finally been deposited into his account.
Thanks to his memories from his past life and successful guide books, Yukima Azuma had chosen to collaborate directly with the largest social media applications in each country to release the game.
His game was a small-scale one that could operate as a mini-game directly on apps.
The business model was designed as follows: the game was free to play, with no paid items, only earning money through ads.
The game had a unique design: the early levels were easy to play and addictive, but later levels became so difficult that they were "impossible," even with cheating.
Players who failed could share the game with friends or watch ads to revive or receive supporting items.
With this tightly-knit mechanism, the game quickly spread like a "virus."
Money from advertisers poured in continuously.
The net revenue from overseas in the first month had finally reached 70 million Chinese Yuan.
The figures were calculated in Chinese currency because the majority of the net profits came from China.
With its large population and vast land, China was the ideal market for this monetization model.
When converted to Japanese Yen, the total amount reached 1.5 billion Yen.
This capital was enough for Yukima Azuma to begin his next plan.
Today, he had taken a leave from school, bringing along the visa he had prepared in advance, ready to go abroad.
Destination: Wall Street.
In Japan, a place plagued by the rigidity of social hierarchies and a hierarchical superior-subordinate relationship harder than stone in a public restroom, if one wanted to operate 1.5 billion yen here, it was inevitable that this politician would "bite a chunk" and that director would "take a cut."
The best way to deal with these rigid "noble" figures in their thirties and forties was to break the rules they had established.
Find a cooperative partner who's easy to talk to on Wall Street.
Yukima Azuma planned to operate investment projects outside of Japan.
When necessary, he would inject money into the domestic market from abroad.
Once he stepped outside these established rules and started engaging in equal dialogue, those wanting to "take a bite" would have to reconsider whether their teeth would break.
However, while the plan was good, finding a like-minded partner was not easy.
As soon as he got off the plane,
Yukima Azuma saw a white man with cunning eyes standing in the arrival area, holding a sign with his name "Yukima Azuma," swaying back and forth.
Before he could get closer,
The man noticed Yukima Azuma and immediately ran toward him.
"Hey, you must be Yukima Azuma, right?"
"Yeah, you're Paul, right?"
The two exchanged in English without any obstacles.
After all, Yukima Azuma's language skills had reached level 6.
Just a little more, and he would be a master.
With these language skills, Yukima Azuma could communicate fluently in almost any language, except for a few specific ones.
Especially the UN's common languages, he was proficient in all of them.
Honestly, if he couldn't continue down this path later... perhaps becoming a translator would be an option.
"Let's go, buddy, I'll take you out to celebrate. I didn't expect you to be so young."
Paul extended his arm as if to throw it around Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
Yukima Azuma quickly pushed his hand away.
"No, I don't have much time. I've already tipped enough, go to work."
Hearing this, Paul helplessly shrugged and gestured, "Ok ok, you are the boss, I'll do as you say."
At the same time, he secretly sighed in his heart, not expecting this young man to be so hard to fool.
He had planned to trick him a bit, but it seemed like that wouldn't be possible now.
Luckily, the fee he paid was pretty generous.
So, it was best to just do the work properly.
With Paul's sharp eyes, he could tell who was easy to deal with and who was best not to provoke.
--------------------------------------------
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Paul, the person Yukima Azuma had contacted earlier, was a guide at Wall Street.
Although he had a slightly cunning appearance, with a look that suggested he wasn't the type to work seriously, in fact, Paul worked at a headhunter company in the investment banking industry.
Although he wasn't a well-known figure, when it came to talented individuals or influential people on Wall Street, Paul was the one who understood them the most.
The person Yukima Azuma was looking for a partner with needed Paul to be the guide.
The agreement between the two was that Yukima Azuma would pay the fee, and Paul would help Yukima Azuma connect with quality investors.
Whether it would succeed or not, Paul didn't care.
As long as the connections were made, he would get paid.
With this type of arrangement, Yukima Azuma was also happy to agree.
Spending a little money would be much faster than him wasting time like a headless fly, fumbling around looking for opportunities on Wall Street.
The plane landed early in the morning, and by the time they got to the airport, it was already noon.
However, right after that, the whole afternoon, Paul led Yukima Azuma to meet with three famous investors.
The result was that all of them failed.
Among them, two people showed contempt as soon as they saw Yukima Azuma.
Whether it was because of his age or his skin color, it wasn't clear what the reason was, but the look of disdain was undeniable.
The conversation that followed didn't go smoothly.
Yukima Azuma also didn't choose such people to be his partners.
The remaining investor was somewhat more positive toward Yukima Azuma, but this person demanded too much power.
In summary, the other party's point was that they would take money from Yukima Azuma for venture investments, but wouldn't accept any direction from Yukima Azuma.
The two objectives couldn't align, so they had to part ways.
An exhausting afternoon, but the result was all for nothing.
...
"Boss, let's go eat something, even fast food is fine," Paul complained.
Yukima Azuma could only nod in agreement, preparing to settle the dinner.
However, as they were walking through a square, he stopped.
"What's that over there?"
Yukima Azuma pointed at the crowd of people passing by and the colorful posters and asked.
Paul looked up and casually replied, "Ah, it's some kind of Film Market Festival or something. The name's something like that. Basically, it's where people bring money to directors just to throw it away."
It was clear that Paul had previously failed at investing in the film industry, which explained his attitude.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma's eyes flashed with interest.
"Let's go in and take a look."
"Boss, don't! Let's eat first!"
Although Paul sighed, in the end, he followed Yukima Azuma into the square.
Inside the square, there were banners advertising films everywhere.
Some of the display booths also featured short films and plot summaries.
Yukima Azuma looked around.
The current world, compared to Yukima Azuma's past life, seemed like a parallel world.
There were many famous works that had never been created before.
But there were also works that Yukima Azuma had heard of in his past life, still existing in this world.
There were also great works that Yukima Azuma had never heard of.
But aside from these small differences, the historical trajectory of both worlds was identical.
This meant that, as someone who had been reincarnated, Yukima Azuma had a vision that surpassed time by several decades.
His ability to predict the future was more accurate than anyone else in this world.
Therefore, investing in films could indeed be a good choice.
Aside from the works that had already appeared, Yukima Azuma knew exactly what people in this era truly wanted to watch.
In other words, in the current historical context, he knew what people were pursuing spiritually.
With such a superior vision for investment, it would be incredibly difficult to lose money.
While thinking, Yukima Azuma's gaze stopped on a large poster.
Under the poster, the words read:
"Titanic"
Yukima Azuma looked at the poster, raising an eyebrow.
It seemed that, although he hadn't found a partner on this trip, it wasn't entirely useless.
At this moment, a conversation from a nearby group reached his ears.
"Investing in Titanic? But there are a lot of people in the industry who don't support it..."
"I remember this time I have full control over the investment, right?"
"Have you actually looked at the list of actors? Leonardo DiCaprio? The female lead I've never even heard of! No big stars at all!"
"'Titanic,' the story of the luxurious ship carrying the billionaires sinking into the sea, isn't that very interesting?"
"You're crazy."
"Silence and follow my lead."
The conversation was in Japanese.
On one side was a beautiful blonde woman, and on the other was her assistant, who seemed quite frustrated.
Under the cold gaze of the blonde woman, the assistant left angrily.
Perhaps to deal with investment issues.
Yukima Azuma looked at the blonde woman leaning against the railing alone.
Suddenly, he felt there was an appropriate opportunity.
The sensation was like a shogi piece being placed on the board, completely changing the situation.
"Paul, do you know her?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
"Let me see... Oh, what a coincidence, I do know her. She's a new investor here, and she's actually from the same hometown as you," Paul said as he took out his phone to search for information.
Seeing Paul struggle to find any information, Yukima Azuma waved his hand to stop him.
Then, he directly approached the blonde woman.
"Hello, miss, I am Yukima Azuma."
He walked up to her and extended his hand.
Seeing Yukima Azuma's hand hanging in the air, the woman showed no intention of shaking it. She didn't even react, simply ignoring him.
Yukima Azuma wasn't angry, though. He kept his hand extended and continued speaking:
"Sorry for overhearing your conversation with your assistant, but it seems like you and your assistant don't quite get along."
"So, miss, have you thought about changing jobs? You could work for me, build your own team, and at least it would be more comfortable, wouldn't it?"
This remark finally caught the woman's attention.
She turned around, beginning to actually observe the young man.
Her gaze lingered for a moment on his youthful face.
Despite her years of experience and not judging people based on appearances, she had to admit that this young man was handsome enough to make others take notice.
"Are you Japanese?"
The woman spoke calmly, her face showing no emotion.
"Yes," Yukima Azuma nodded.
"Yukima Azuma... that's your name, right? If you want to invite me, what's the name of your company?"
The woman's gaze flickered slightly. She was trying to recall if there were any famous families or tycoons in Japan with the surname Yukima.
After finding no result, she began to focus more on the person in front of her.
"It's a bit difficult to say, but I haven't actually established a company yet. However, if you join, you'll be the first founder," Yukima Azuma smiled.
The woman sighed, seemingly blaming herself for overthinking.
"Young man, I'm no longer someone who can afford to waste time casually."
"My family has a daughter around your age, and to raise her, I need to make a lot of money."
"You said you want to invite me, so how much salary can you offer? What's the registered capital of your company?"
Yukima Azuma blinked.
"I can give you company shares. How about 5%?"
Hearing this, the woman smiled faintly, her fingers brushing lightly against her cheek.
"Haiz, in the end, I'm no longer the same as when I was young. People don't value me anymore."
After sighing, she waved her hand.
"Young man, your conditions are very tempting, but I won't work for a company with less than a million in registered capital."
"But my company will never have less than a million in registered capital."
"What I'm talking about is one million U.S. dollars."
"I'm saying the same thing. My registered capital is ten times that amount."
Hearing this, the woman began to carefully scrutinize Yukima Azuma again. She was sure that there were no famous families in Japan with the surname 'Yukima' in her database.
"Miss, my arm is getting tired. Could you help me a little?" Yukima Azuma smiled, still holding his hand up.
After a moment of silence, the woman took Yukima Azuma's hand, which had been held up for a while.
"I'm Hayasaka Nao. Perhaps I can't switch jobs, but we can negotiate regarding the shares."
Yukima Azuma felt the soft, carefully nurtured hand, like that of a young woman.
"Alright, Nao-san."
So, the two of them went to a caf.
Paul received his payment from Yukima Azuma and went off to enjoy a good meal.
As for Hayasaka Nao assistant, she had been dismissed by her.
The two sat in a corner of the caf.
Yukima Azuma ordered two donuts and a mocha.
Hayasaka Nao ordered an iced Americano and a piece of cake.
As soon as they sat down, they began introducing themselves again.
Then, Yukima Azuma casually asked while nibbling on his donut:
"So, Nao-chan, you're an official of the Shinomiya family, right? How could you be short on money?"
"This can't be disclosed," she replied.
"Could it be that you not respected anymore?" Yukima Azuma asked lightly.
"..."
His words caused Hayasaka Nao to fall into silence.
In fact, after both had introduced themselves in detail, Yukima Azuma was finally able to recall information about the woman from his memories of his previous life.
The daughter of the previous generation of the Hayasaka family had half Irish blood.
After the Hayasaka family collapsed, it was absorbed by the Shinomiya family and became one of its branches.
Initially, she was a trusted person in the eyes of the younger generation of the Shinomiya family.
However, now it seemed that due to a "betrayal" from the main family, their relationship had soured.
This woman, Hayasaka Nao, although theoretically a pillar of the Shinomiya family, had been pushed aside.
Her daughter was now working as a maid for the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family.
This was all the information Yukima Azuma had.
While not complete, it was certainly enough for him to have the upper hand in this negotiation.
"Yukima Azuma-san, what kind of company are you planning to establish?" Hayasaka Nao shifted the topic.
"A venture capital firm," Yukima Azuma replied.
With his "ability to see the future", he felt that not pursuing venture capital would be a waste.
"May I ask, Yukima-san, what is your area of focus in venture capital?"
"Investing in everything."
"This answer sounds a bit..."
"The latest investment... you and I have the same vision, Nao-san, and that's Titanic."
"I'm not asking for the reason, but how much do you plan to invest, Yukima-san?"
"Put everything in!"
"Are you investing in the import quota or..."
"Of course, I'm investing in production. If not, how can we share the box office revenue?"
The conversation quickly came to an end.
Then, the two of them began enjoying their coffee and desserts.
When both had nearly finished their last sip of coffee simultaneously, Yukima Azuma took out the contract he had prepared earlier from his bag.
In the section for conditions, he filled in "5% initial equity," as they had agreed earlier.
He then placed the pen and the contract in front of Hayasaka Nao.
"Sign it, Nao-san. You definitely won't regret your decision today."
"With such certainty in your tone, who taught you that?"
Hayasaka Nao sighed, took the contract, and signed her name on it.
There was no other choice for her; being 'exiled' had forced her to grasp every opportunity she could.
Otherwise, she would end up like the Hayasaka family nowwithout a future, forever at the mercy of others.
Thus, Hayasaka Nao officially became Yukima Azuma's subordinate.
In making this decision, Hayasaka Nao primarily relied on her intuition.
The young man before her didn't come from any prestigious family or conglomerate.
He was someone who suddenly appeared, with a charisma and vision so remarkable it was almost unbelievable.
Even she had never met anyone like him before.
Among those her age, even those nurtured by Shinomiya, their abilities likely didn't compare to his.
As for the older individuals, although they had experience, they were only concerned with maintaining their positions, lacking the courage to explore new territories.
If there was anyone who resembled him, it would be Shinomiya Gan'an, the current head of the Shinomiya family, who destroyed the Hayasaka family and rebuilt it from scratch.
In Hayasaka Nao's eyes, this young man was like a younger version of the Shinomiya head.
Therefore, she had no reason not to seize this opportunity.
She could only hope that the future, as he had described, would not make her regret her decision.
At an airport somewhere in the United States.
"Nao-san, are you really not coming back with me?"
Yukima Azuma asked with a smile.
Hayasaka Nao glanced at him in sheer frustration.
She was originally sent abroad by the Shinomiya Group.
How could she easily return to Japan?
If she did, it was highly likely that the old men in the leadership of the Shinomiya Group would hold her accountable.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma had offloaded all the work onto her.
If she went back to Japan, what would the company do? What about the investments?
In short, Yukima Azuma was just speaking insincerely.
Who told her to make this boss wait for half a day the first time they met, to the point that his arm became sore?
A little retaliation was nothing to blame her for.
Seeing Hayasaka Nao's helpless expression, Yukima Azuma smiled with amusement.
"Anyway, all of our hard work depends on Nao-san, thank you so much, really."
"If you're not satisfied, feel free to take some money from the company's account to enjoy yourself, I'll pretend I didn't see anything."
Waving goodbye, Yukima Azuma boarded the plane.
Watching Yukima Azuma's figure disappear as he walked to the boarding area, Hayasaka Nao's expression slowly faded away, returning to the cold demeanor of a beautiful woman with an impassive face that Yukima Azuma had first encountered.
Her next task was to establish a company, then negotiate the film investment deals.
If she didn't act quickly, she might miss out on "Titanic."
The time was tight, and the task was heavy.
Fortunately, Hayasaka Nao was used to being busy under pressure and strict deadlines.
The time she worked at Shinomiya House was even more pressured.
Those were the days when, no matter how hard she tried, she might still fail to do everything perfectly.
Moreover, it was a busyness that she never received the proper recognition for.
No matter how well Hayasaka worked, the higher-ups at Shinomiya House would never give her the reward she deserved.
At most, they would throw her some leftover scraps.
They even expected her to be grateful for it.
Compared to before, the current busyness made Hayasaka Nao feel a bit of happiness.
Although Yukima Azuma had yet to prove himself, at least he had truly given her a glimmer of hope.
...
The plane flew for several more hours before landing.
Yukima Azuma slept soundly in the first-class cabin, not feeling any back pain or tiredness.
Departing on a Wednesday morning, by the time he returned to Japan, it was already Friday evening.
Yukima Azuma grabbed a taxi outside the airport and headed back to his apartment.
"The school is on break for now, but Kirisu-sensei attitude looks like she wants to devour the students alive."
"Monday will definitely be a tough day. Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. I wonder how Shiratamaru is doing."
"With Megumi taking care of things, there shouldn't be any problems..."
Muttering to himself, Yukima Azuma opened the door to his apartment.
What greeted his eyes was not the pitch-black darkness he had expected.
The light at the entrance was still on.
"Did senpai leave this light on for me?"
Looking at the staircase bathed in the light, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but smile.
In truth, he was someone who greatly disliked being alone.
Especially after being reborn to this world, every time he was by himself, there were times when he felt abandoned by the entire world.
This feeling had been the most intense when Yukima Azuma's memories were first restored.
Fortunately, during that time, he met Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Using "available information," he shamelessly pursued and successfully won the affections of the genius senpai who wrote light novels.
Then came Eriri.
And then...
As Yukima Azuma's thoughts wandered, he looked down and saw three pairs of small leather shoes neatly arranged at the entrance.
Yukima Azuma: ?
After changing into indoor slippers, he quietly stepped into the living room.
On the sofa, three girls were lying asleep in disarray.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was lying on her side on the armrest of the sofa, her nightgown slightly rolled up.
Her long, slender legs wrapped in black tights were visible under the light, creating an irresistibly beautiful sight.
Those legs were full and perfectly shaped, and indeed, very long.
Yukima Azuma thought to himself, Senpai's legs are probably longer than my entire lifespan.
Eriri, on the other hand, was lying in a way that didn't resemble the elegant posture of a proper Oujou-sama at all, right next to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Her head was resting on Kasumigaoka's lap, and she appeared to be drooling slightly...
Her signature golden hair was not tied up but spread out naturally, giving off a very relaxed atmosphere.
Her white shirt was worn crookedly, exposing her delicate collarbones above and her soft, small belly below.
That adorable little belly was even rising and falling with Eriri's breath.
On the other side, in the corner of the sofa...
Kato Megumi was lying with her head tilted, knees drawn up, in a very obedient sleeping position.
But due to gravity, her pleated skirt had slid up to her stomach, revealing a scene that wasn't very appropriate.
Shiratamaru was curled up into a ball, peacefully sleeping on top of her.
Looking at the three of them, Yukima Azuma felt his heart soften.
While Yukima Azuma was torn between carrying all three of them into the bedroom or simply covering them with a blanket,
Kato Megumi, who seemed to be peacefully sleeping in the corner of the sofa, slowly opened her sleepy eyes.
The two of them looked at each other for a second.
Kato Megumi lowered her head to look at her outfit.
Then, she quietly pulled her pleated skirt back into place.
She smoothed out the creases of her skirt and adjusted her collar before standing up and softly speaking to Yukima Azuma:
"Welcome home."
Her face was slightly flushed, becoming even more noticeable under the light.
"Thanks for your hard work." Yukima Azuma responded softly. "Go sleep in the room."
Kato Megumi shook her head.
"No need. I don't want to bother Azuma-san. I'll just go home."
"Don't say that. Besides, do you know what time it is?"
"But..."
"This isn't the first time you've been to my house, right? So it's fine."
"Um..."
"Come on, let me prepare a room for you. There are fresh sheets and blankets, feel free to use them."
"Okay."
In the end, Kato Megumi was persuaded.
She quietly followed behind Yukima Azuma, taking small steps towards an empty room on the first floor.
In Yukima's apartment, there were many empty rooms.
Yukima Azuma also had someone come in regularly to clean.
So, all he had to do was grab the fresh bedding from the closet, and the room was ready to go.
Kato Megumi took the bedding, her small face almost buried in it.
"Thank you, Azuma-san."
"Sleep well, and have sweet dreams."
"You too, Azuma-san. Sleep well."
After Yukima Azuma closed the door,
Kato Megumi hugged the blanket and pillow tightly, burying her small head into them.
The small ears sticking out were tinted with a light pink color.
------
Yahallo~, my gourmet readers, it's me Curse Chef.
I'm cooking a new book called "Why is my Isekai in the Slice of Life anime was become a Horror Story?".
So, I just uploaded it and already have 14k words, you can come and enjoy and help me with a collection and review, that will help me a lot.
Thank you very much, have a nice day.
And here is the introduction:
Went i go to buy sausages and eggs to cook noodles, but unfortunately accidentally met Truck-kun and was given a some "heavy kiss".
Isekai into an Anime World, my parents are dead, I have money and a house
Although I don't have a little sister, but this is clearly a Slice of Life story with a harem protagonist, right?
There's definitely going to be some interesting situations with girls surrounding me, right?
[Welcome to "The Sacrifice Game." I hope you witness the end in true terror.]
Wait a minute,
This script is all wrong!
The voices from the dead, the creatures crawling out of the dark cellar, the paper puppets asking for directions, the creepy villages at night, the eyes staring at me from under the bed...
Weird rules weaving blood and slaughter, no escape, only facing endless nightmares to find a slim chance of survival.
In that case, surrounded by these horrors, please give me a system, preferably a sign-in type system that's OP from the start!
Thinking this, I discovered I had gained the ability to return after death.
Well, that's some help, but does this mean I have to keep trying and failing with my life on the line? I don't want that! I don't want to be a character like Subaru! Someone, please save me!
Then I looked back and saw the girls who were imprisoned with me: Shinomiya Kaguya, Shijo Maki, Fujiwara Chika, Gotoh Hitori, Yotsuya Miko...
Damn it! No way am I letting these beautiful girls sacrifice themselves here! I have to create a happy world, no tentacles and madness allowed!
Chapter 54: Eriri: Alright, let's go to sleep!
After settling Kato Megumi, Yukima Azuma returned to the living room.
Looking at the two still deeply asleep, Yukima Azuma first reached out to support Eriri's small head.
He gently moved her off Kasumigaoka Utaha's lap.
Eriri was sleeping deeply, and to be honest, she didn't look very peaceful while doing so.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma wasn't mistaken earlier.
Eriri had drooled.
There was a wet spot on the black tights of Kasumigaoka.
Yukima Azuma wiped the drool from the corner of Eriri's mouth and then set her aside.
With one arm around Kasumigaoka's neck and the other under her knee, Yukima Azuma calmly picked up Kasumigaoka Utaha in a princess carry.
He then headed upstairs.
It seemed that Kasumigaoka could feel the movement of her body.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
But as her head tilted and rested on Yukima Azuma's chest, her brows slowly relaxed.
Yukima Azuma carried Kasumigaoka Utaha into her room on the second floor.
He placed her on the bed.
He grabbed the blanket beside her.
But when he noticed the wet patch on Kasumigaoka's tights, he hesitated for a moment.
After thinking for a long time, Yukima Azuma concluded that, compared to letting him see her bare feet, Kasumigaoka-senpai would probably have more difficulty accepting the fact that she was sleeping with Eriri's drool on her legs.
So, he moved his hand closer to Kasumigaoka's waist.
Kasumigaoka Utaha: !
Actually, by the time Yukima Azuma reached the top of the stairs, Kasumigaoka Utaha had already woken up.
She hadn't been in a deep sleep.
Though it wasn't like a breeze could wake her up, she did feel some movement when her body was lifted and moved.
However, when she caught the familiar scent, Kasumigaoka immediately realized that it was Yukima Azuma carrying her.
So, she decided to continue pretending to sleep and kept her eyes closed.
Perhaps she wanted to offer this moment as a "gift" to Yukima Azuma.
After all, since they had reunited, Yukima Azuma had been very considerate and gentle with her.
Although people often criticize protagonists in light novels for being perfect, overbearing types, when she was genuinely treated with tenderness, it made her heart feel sweet.
As a result, while Kasumigaoka thought she was "giving a gift" to Yukima Azuma,
She suddenly felt that her black tights were about to be taken off!
At that moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha's heart was beating faster than ever.
It felt as though her heart was about to leap out of her throat.
At the same time, a fierce inner struggle began to take place in her mind.
'What is happening???'
Should she sit up immediately and scold him with harsh words?
While emotionally, she could accept it,
But this situation was really far from what she had imagined for their first time.
Throughout their relationship, even though they had tried many things, due to their young age, they hadn't crossed that final line.
And now...
Kasumigaoka Utaha hoped that her first time would come when their feelings for each other had reached some kind of milestone, a natural progression, not like this...
After a fierce internal struggle,
Kasumigaoka finally kept her eyes closed.
She decided that after everything was over, she would definitely give Yukima Azuma a serious lecture.
At the very least, they should do everything over again, just like before.
Only then would she forgive this idiot.
While Kasumigaoka was thinking this,
The black tights gradually slid off the tips of her toes.
Kasumigaoka squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for whatever would happen next.
The result...
The warmth of the blanket spread over her.
Then, the door to the room made a soft sound, opened, and closed again.
Kasumigaoka waited for a long while.
Then, she suddenly opened her eyes.
There was no one in the room anymore.
She quickly lifted the blanket.
Looking at her smooth, long, slender, and full legs, she had to admit they were a work of art"legs that could play all year long."
Kasumigaoka fell into deep thought.
She felt that the current situation was even more frustrating than the actual event itself.
As a beautiful girl, Kasumigaoka felt that her allure had been dismissed.
Feeling angry and dissatisfied, Kasumigaoka decided she would "get back" at Yukima Azuma tomorrow morning.
....
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma, holding Kasumigaoka black tights, was walking downstairs.
He entered the bathroom, folded the tights, and placed them in the laundry basket.
It was better to let Kasumigaoka wash them herself.
He felt it wouldn't be quite right for him to wash them.
After leaving the bathroom,
Yukima Azuma looked toward the last person left on the sofa.
Aho - Baka - Tsundere - Arrogant as hell - Eriri.
Yukima Azuma picked Eriri up in a horizontal position.
Yukima Azuma found an empty room on the second floor and threw her onto the bed.
Then he turned around and went to the closet to get a blanket.
As Yukima Azuma carried the blanket and approached Eriri...
He was just about to cover her with the blanket when...
Eriri drowsily opened her eyes.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma stopped, preparing to explain the current situation to Eriri.
After all, with Eriri's personality...
If he didn't explain the situation clearly right away, Eriri might just get angry on the spot.
However, what Yukima Azuma didn't expect was...
Eriri, after waking up with drowsy eyes, didn't scream or lose control.
Instead, she groggily, slowly crawled out of bed.
Under Yukima Azuma's astonished gaze, Eriri reached out both her hands and grabbed his arm.
Immediately, without caring for anything, she pulled Yukima Azuma onto the bed.
Surprised by this action, Yukima Azuma was really pulled down onto the bed by Eriri.
"Hey, Eriri..."
"Don't say anything, let's just sleep."
Eriri said with an unprecedented firm tone.
Then, like an octopus, she tightly wrapped herself around Yukima Azuma.
Her delicate arms wrapped around Yukima Azuma's neck.
While her long legs, covered in white socks, wrapped around one of Yukima Azuma's thighs.
Eriri's light breath brushed against Yukima Azuma's cheek.
She even lightly kissed his cheek.
Yukima Azuma opened his eyes, staring at the familiar ceiling.
This ceiling, for some reason, felt strangely unfamiliar.
Who am I? Where am I? Who is kissing me?
Eriri?
Are you kidding me!?
Yukima Azuma moved slightly, trying to escape.
As a result, Eriri immediately tightened her long, slender legs around him, locking him in place and preventing any movement.
Yukima Azuma tried to think.
Yukima Azuma couldn't think.
Yukima Azuma gave up on thinking.
A soft, warm body in his arms, and Eriri's soft hands serving as his pillow.
Yukima Azuma closed his eyes and decided to just enjoy it for now.
Chapter 55: Kasumigaoka: "How many times have you 'used' my tights?"
The next morning.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting its light on Eriri's beautiful face.
Feeling the change in the light.
Eriri's long lashes fluttered slightly a few times.
Then, she slowly opened her jade-colored eyes.
She squinted after adjusting to the sunlight.
Eriri drowsily looked around.
As a result, right next to her was...
The face of the boy who was sleeping soundly.
His smooth, fair skin, just like hers.
His straight nose, red lips, eyebrows sharp like a sword, and eyelids twitching.
The person she had been longing for day and night, so close that she could feel his breath.
Eriri's eyes widened, her mouth slightly parted.
A silent scream, like that of a mole, rang in her head.
The pink hue, like the color of a sunset, quickly spread across Eriri's fair face.
As her whole face turned bright red.
The redness even spread from her neck, gradually covering her collarbones.
Eriri's jade-colored eyes were now trembling violently.
Her little head couldn't process what was happening for a while.
Anime-style steam rose from her head.
After a moment, Eriri gradually began to accept the current situation.
She was currently holding Yukima Azuma tightly.
Her arms were wrapped around his neck.
Her legs were tightly gripping his waist.
She was lying very close to him, like someone longing for something.
She and Yukima Azuma had slept together.
Why?
Was it a "Night raid"?!
Eriri felt her body, realizing that nothing was out of the ordinary, and her pleated skirt was still intact.
She let out a small sigh of relief, but couldn't avoid feeling a little disappointed.
Suddenly, she remembered last night.
She drowsily recalled waking up once.
In the dream, she saw Yukima Azuma.
Eriri had dreamed of Yukima Azuma many times.
Especially in the months after they broke up.
Eriri had almost dreamt of Yukima Azuma every night.
Every morning when she woke up, her pillow would be soaked with tears.
So, she had gotten used to dreaming of him.
Last night, just like every other time.
After dreaming of Yukima Azuma.
Eriri had pulled him toward herself, hugging him tightly and enjoying the feeling of security in the dream.
However, this time felt different.
This time, it was very real, the sensation was intense, the taste was very clear, and the feeling of security was also very strong.
So... it wasn't a dream!?
Eriri's eyes narrowed.
'First, pull your hand away, get out of bed, and run away.'
'If anyone asks later, just say he was dreaming, and it'll be fine!'
"Right, this is fine!"
Eriri told herself, impressed by her clever idea.
"Fine with what?"
The pleasant voice of the boy sounded beside her.
Eriri froze and looked back.
She saw Yukima Azuma, who had apparently woken up at some point.
He was staring at her intensely, not blinking, the corner of his mouth curling into a sly smile.
Then, chaos ensued.
Yukima Azuma was kicked off the bed, angrily standing beside it, adjusting his collar and sleeves.
Eriri clutched the blanket, covering her face, leaving only her eyes exposed.
"You... you..."
"Don't try to blame me, I recorded your actions from last night."
Yukima Azuma said.
Although the truth was, he hadn't recorded anything.
But by saying it like that, Eriri wouldn't dare check.
Her entire body felt like it was on fire, immediately feeling guilty.
"Did you treat me like a pillow? Did you sleep well last night?"
"No... not well, my arm is numb!"
Eriri tried to argue.
In reality, she slept very well.
It was the best night of sleep she'd had in the past two years.
"Even if you say that, I still have to collect payment for using my body as a pillow."
"You... you really took advantage of me!"
"Oh? So Eriri plans to go back on her word? Fine, I wasn't planning to gossip in class anyway, at most I'll just complain to Kasumigaoka-senpai."
"Don't talk to that fat woman in black tights! You... what conditions do you have, just tell me!"
"In that case, sign here."
Yukima Azuma pulled out a piece of paper from somewhere.
Eriri took the piece of paper and looked at it.
She saw the words "All-Purpose Ticket" written on it.
When she flipped it over, she discovered there were small letters on the back.
[This ticket can only be used by 'Yukima Azuma' on 'Eriri'. After use, 'Eriri' must fulfill one wish of 'Yukima Azuma'. Both parties must sign: (blank line)]
After reading the small text, Eriri raised her head and glared at Yukima Azuma.
"You... you don't plan to make some lewd request with this, do you?"
Yukima Azuma smiled with a knowing look.
"That's not something Eriri needs to worry about."
"No, no way!"
"Senpai! Senpai..."
Eriri immediately jumped out of bed, rushed toward Yukima Azuma, and covered his mouth.
"I'll sign! I'll sign! Forget everything that happened last night! Delete the video!"
After speaking, she quickly signed her name on the back of the All-Purpose Ticket.
When handing it back to Yukima Azuma, she gave him a quick glance, revealing her small fang, looking very menacing.
....
Yukima Azuma carefully put the All-Purpose Ticket away.
Then, he opened the door and sneaked out.
Just as Yukima Azuma closed the door, Kato Megumi came out of the bathroom.
She looked like she had just finished washing her face.
Yukima Azuma observed this scene, wondering whether he should buy a few more personal hygiene items for guests, like toothbrushes or face towels.
Also, similar to house slippers.
Ah, by the way, Eriri chose a pair of blue slippers, the same color as her eyes.
"Good morning, Azuma-san."
"Good morning, Megumi."
"Good morning, you young pervert, come here to me."
The voice of Kasumigaoka Utaha echoed down from the stairs.
Kato Megumi blinked.
Her expression seemed to say, "I wonder what kind of perverted thing Azuma-san is up to?"
Yukima Azuma immediately shook his head.
He stood in the position Kasumigaoka had designated.
Kasumigaoka also walked down from the stairs.
She sat on the sofa, crossing her legs to one side, unusually not wearing any socks or tights.
Her white, smooth legs, long and silky, were directed toward Yukima Azuma, her toes gently curling.
"Speak, you young pervert, what did you do last night after stealing my tights?"
"Did you 'use' them? How many times? Or were you planning to wash them and give them back to me so I can wear them to satisfy your desires?"
"Or, did you not wash them, leaving traces, and then wore them yourself, like that would satisfy you?"
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 56: Kato Megumi: Are the little white tights okay?
(Yorokobe, gourmet readers, from now on, the chapter length is doubled. So, give me your stone now, muahahahaha! ^.^)
"Have you used them already? How many times? After you're done using them, would it satisfy your desires more if I wear them again?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha asked at lightning speed, like a truck driver speeding on the highway.
Her words came at Yukima Azuma like wheels skimming over his face.
What was even scarier was that, beside them, Kato Megumi was whispering to herself:
"So, Azuma-san has this kind of preference, huh? Should I wear a pair of tights then?"
She lowered her head, looking at the little white ankle socks. "Or, maybe the little white ones would work too?"
Yukima Azuma twitched his lips slightly.
"Megumi-san, you're spoiling me like this. I'm happy, but I'm not that kind of pervert."
"Besides, if you really encountered that kind of pervert, please call the police right away and don't become an accomplice to crime!"
Kato Megumi heard this and tilted her head to the side.
Yukima Azuma then looked back at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Senpai, I didn't do that. Although high school boys sometimes get impulsive..."
"My thoughts are still healthy, and I'm not at the point where I would do something disgusting like that."
Kasumigaoka Utaha laughed coldly after hearing this, and slightly lifted her white slippers with her toes.
"Oh, so what did you do with my tights?"
"Nothing."
"Then why did you take off my tights?"
"Because yesterday Eriri spat on them, and I thought Senpai wouldn't want Eriri's saliva on your comforter."
Kasumigaoka Utaha:?
Eriri, just stepping out of the room:?
"I have proof here." Yukima Azuma said, then took out his phone and opened a picture. "Senpai, take a look."
Kasumigaoka Utaha, Kato Megumi, and Eriri all looked at it together.
The three of them saw the scene from yesterday, when Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri were sleeping on the sofa.
The saliva marks sparkling under the light.
"Sawamura Spencer Eriri!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha lunged toward her.
She really couldn't hold it in anymore.
"It was an accident! Aaaah!"
Eriri hugged her head and ran around frantically.
Kato Megumi hugged Shiratamaru, a little scared, and retreated toward the wall, standing with Yukima Azuma watching.
"Hey, Azuma-san really doesn't have this kind of preference, right?"
"Why do you ask like that?"
"Because sometimes I feel like Azuma-kun's gaze lingers on Senpai's tights and Sawamura-san's white socks."
"Whether they're black socks, white socks, or nothing at all, I judge them fairly. It's mainly because everyone's legs are so beautiful, and I've also looked at Megumi-san legs."
"Saying something like that without feeling embarrassed? Really shameless. Azuma-san, don't say this kind of thing to other girls, or they'll think you're a pervert."
"I obviously know that already. Megumi-san, don't spoil me too much. If you can't stand it, just scold me. If needed, slap me, okay?"
"Slap... that sounds a bit hard to do."
"Then grab my waist. Just a little force and it will really hurt. It can remind me."
"Oh, I get it now."
....
The noisy morning passed in silence.
After Eriri and Kato Megumi finished breakfast, they left.
After all, it was a night spent not at home. Even though she had reported back yesterday, it was still better to go home early to reassure her family.
Well maybe Sayuri was quite reassured.
Reassured in a way that she didn't want her daughter to come home.
Kasumigaoka Utaha went to the Fujikawa Publishing House again.
Her book would be on sale next Tuesday.
The book signing event was on the same day.
Recently, she had been a bit busier than usual, which was normal.
Yukima Azuma had a little free time this morning.
He had an appointment with "Little Lonely" around noon.
"Ah, better send her a reminder, so she doesn't come too early or run away."
Yukima Azuma muttered to himself as he took out his phone.
Azuma: [Bocchi, remember to be on time at the meeting place.]
Azuma: [Even though I said on time, don't come too early. If you get sunburned, I'll be really bothered.]
Azuma: [If I don't meet you, I might cry out of sadness.]
Bocchi: [I understand. I'll definitely be on time at the meeting place. Sorry for bothering you, I really feel very anxious. Please forgive my stupidity and uselessness. Please don't worry about this. If I don't, I'd rather die a thousand times to atone for it.]
Looking at the long messages.
Yukima Azuma helplessly shook his head and chuckled.
This was really typical of Hitori Bocchi.
He didn't reply and closed the LINE app.
No other way, if he replied, Bocchi would definitely send another long apology.
Who knew, she might even want to commit suicide to atone for her mistakes.
Just then, a message popped up.
It was from Hayasaka Nao.
Nao: [The company has completed the formalities, as you said, the name is Laplace.]
Nao: [If you want to do something domestically, go by yourself, rent an office, and establish a subsidiary.]
Nao: [If you want to recruit people, you can start now. Don't rely on me, my personal matters are also in a mess here.]
Nao: [I'm handling the investment issue. If there's nothing else, don't send me messages. If these messages are fine, don't reply.]
Yukima Azuma didn't respond.
He just shook his head, feeling a bit emotional.
"Indeed, Nao-san, very efficient in her work."
Then, his eyes lingered on the word "recruit people."
In Japan, one has to be a business owner.
If not, based on the investment funds available, one might not be able to spend it all.
It seemed that establishing a subsidiary and recruiting staff should be incorporated into the plan.
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment, then seeing he had nothing else to do, he took out his laptop.
He opened the recruitment software and registered his information there.
The company's name was directly filled in as "Laplace."
The review process was very quick.
Although Laplace had not conducted any transactions yet, the registered capital was still there.
The staff member reviewing the application looked at the actual registered capital and quickly gave the green light without hesitation.
Moving the mouse, Yukima Azuma glanced through the list of applications in the software.
Honestly speaking, there were far too many "random applicants."
But on the other hand, if someone truly had talent, they probably wouldn't need to be filtered through this crowd.
Looking at so many applications from unqualified people, Yukima Azuma decided to scroll to the end of the list.
After all, he still had to check out what the people at the end of the list were like.
However, when he actually reached the last page, his attention was immediately drawn to a name on one of the profiles.
His mouse unconsciously moved and stopped at this profile.
With a complicated feeling, Yukima Azuma opened the profile of someone at the end of the list.
The name was Yukinoshita Yukino.
The profile opened.
It was brief, but it was impressive.
Yukinoshita Yukino, female, 22 years old.
She attended the Toyosaki private high school.
She went to the University of Tokyo, majoring in Financial Management, graduating last year.
Below were a series of awards and accomplishments Yukinoshita Yukino had achieved during high school and university.
As a new graduate from last year, she didn't have many standout internship experiences.
But was that really a problem?
Clearly, no.
She was an excellent graduate from the Financial Management department at the University of Tokyo.
Although her grades weren't at the top of the class, she was definitely among the top-tier students, rare to find.
Someone like this, shouldn't she have been snatched up by big companies while still in school?
Why, after a year, was she still being sifted through the crowd in the talent market?
Moreover, her profile was placed at the very end of the list.
Was there something wrong with the staff member reviewing the profiles?
Yukima Azuma gently tapped his fingers on the desk.
The likelihood that the staff member had a problem with their mind wasn't high.
The reason might be more likely:
"Could it be intentional?"
Yukima Azuma shook his head and decided not to think about it anymore.
Anyway, he might as well give the recruitment a try.
At least, he should try hiring someone.
.....
Fujikawa Publishing House
"Ah, Shi-chan, you're here!"
Machida Sonoko popped her head out from behind her desk and waved at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"I told you not to call me that."
Kasumigaoka Utaha said helplessly as she walked towards Machida Sonoko.
As she walked through the office, passing by the desks, Kasumigaoka Utaha accidentally bumped into a woman with long straight black hair, giving off a professional air.
In that moment, Kasumigaoka instinctively glanced back.
The tall woman, carrying a box of miscellaneous items, was heading toward the elevator.
Though it was just a fleeting glance,
Her beauty left a deep impression on Kasumigaoka Utaha.
It was the kind of beauty that made one feel unattainable, only to admire from afar, like snow.
She seemed vaguely familiar.
"Kasumi-sensei, what's wrong?"
Machida Sonoko called out, bringing Kasumigaoka Utaha back to reality.
Machida Sonoko then followed Kasumigaoka's gaze.
She had just caught sight of the woman's back as she entered the elevator.
"Kasumi-sensei, were you paying attention to her? Is this what they call the 'spiritual connection between beautiful women'?"
"I just felt like she looked familiar."
"Is that so? She's a new intern editor, but she's already been fired. I think her name is... Yukinoshita."
"Yukinoshita." Kasumigaoka Utaha repeated the name, quickly remembering where she had heard it before.
It wasn't surprising that she felt that woman seemed familiar.
She was a former outstanding student from the Toyosaki private school.
More importantly, like Kasumigaoka Utaha, she had also participated in the school's promotional video shoots in previous years.
It must be Yukinoshita Yukino.
It had to be this name.
"So, it turns out she's my senpai."
"I see."
"Can I ask why she was fired?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha inquired.
That Yukinoshita girl must have been very capable; otherwise, she wouldn't have been the face of the Toyosaki school advertisement back then.
Machida Sonoko's expression turned slightly awkward at this.
"She's really talented, her literary skills at Fujikawa are definitely top-tier."
"But, as an editor, she really lacked compassion when dealing with the authors who submitted manuscripts."
"Lacked compassion?" Kasumigaoka Utaha repeated slowly.
"Yeah, she criticized the authors' problems with sharp, ruthless words."
"A few new authors who had submitted were criticized to the point that they gave up, no longer wanting to pursue light novel writing."
"Even though those works did have some issues, for a new author, they were still quite good."
After saying this, Machida Sonoko raised her hand in a gesture of helplessness.
Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned again.
"It's reasonable to point out issues with problematic works. They should have been grateful."
"Not everyone is like Kasumi-sensei, a genius."
Machida Sonoko added, mumbling:
"Not everyone is a perfectionist."
"Editor Machida, did you say something?" Kasumigaoka Utaha flashed a dangerous smile.
Machida Sonoko quickly waved her hands, signaling that she hadn't said anything.
However, the conversation didn't end there.
Sonoko peeked into the editor-in-chief's office.
Seeing that no one was inside, she waved Kasumigaoka Utaha over and whispered in her ear:
"Here's a little rumor, don't tell anyone, but apparently Yukinoshita-san has offended someone."
"Although her communication skills had some issues, her work ability was really outstanding, she didn't deserve to be fired."
"But, according to the editor-in-chief's instructions, it looks like they had to let her go."
"Before this, she had already been fired by seven or eight companies."
After hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha instinctively turned around.
She looked towards the elevator.
The elevator had already descended to the first floor.
The person must have already left some time ago.
She withdrew her gaze, deciding not to think about it anymore.
Although she felt indignant, there was nothing she could do.
Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't an idealist, so she wouldn't let herself get caught up in a mess because of someone else's fate.
Instead of dwelling on the misfortune of others, she should focus on the upcoming book signing event.
...
Meanwhile, under the Fujikawa building.
The bright summer sunlight of the first season hung high in the sky.
Holding her belongings, Yukinoshita Yukino stood on the concrete ground, unwillingly turning to look back at the Fujikawa publishing house.
But after staring for a while, she could only turn helplessly and walk towards the train station.
Her posture, once always upright and her head held high, could no longer bear the weight of life's pressure, and she lowered her head.
Yukinoshita Yukino.
The second daughter of the Yukinoshita family.
A true genius.
Even without having to study hard, she could consistently top the rankings throughout her high school years.
When she got into university, it was called "the year of Yukinoshita."
The national university entrance exam, with an absolute leading score, she was accepted into the University of Tokyo.
It wasn't that she didn't get into the University of Tokyo's School of Medicine, known as the gathering place of monsters.
It's just that Yukinoshita chose the Finance department instead.
A person as brilliant as that should have shone brightly when entering society.
This needs to be repeated once again:
In this society of Japan, where the class system is clearly divided.
No matter how dazzling a genius is, in this world of clear class division, they will be somewhat lowered.
If you don't bend, you can't live well, you can only live with difficulty.
And Yukinoshita Yukino should not have to endure this.
After all, she is the second daughter of the Yukinoshita family.
It could even be said that she is one of the people who benefit from the fixed class system.
But the condition to enjoy this is:
She must obey the arrangements of her family.
Because the Yukinoshita family must marry into a family of equal status.
Even if the husband she must marry is someone she has never met.
What's worse, this person is a scoundrel who is said to have turned women into playthings, having harmed countless women.
Still, she is forced to comply.
Yukinoshita Yukino could not accept this.
So she ran away.
Leaving the Yukinoshita family's house in Chiba.
She went to Tokyo alone.
She wanted to live freely in this place.
But looking back now, true freedom was a luxurious and expensive commodity.
.....
She boarded the Shinkansen back to her rented apartment.
It was a small room on the outskirts of Tokyo, where it took her an hour and thirty minutes to commute to the city center every day.
The space was cramped, there was no natural light, the soundproofing was nearly nonexistent, and sometimes the water or electricity would go out.
She closed the rusty iron door behind her.
Leaning against the door, Yukinoshita hugged a cardboard box and slowly slid down to the floor.
Tears flowed uncontrollably, dropping one by one.
They ran down her flawless, pale cheek, silently falling to the ground without a sound.
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't even have the right to cry out loud.
Because her sobs would echo far.
Perhaps they would disturb the rest of those around her.
Her neighbor was a single woman, who, after divorcing her husband, raised her young child on her own.
The child was probably still asleep.
That mother had to struggle desperately to make a living.
Yukinoshita Yukino felt that she shouldn't disturb them any further.
But the more she thought like that,
The more the feeling of humiliation in her heart became harder to suppress.
She closed her eyes tightly, curling herself into a ball.
In her mind, images from many years ago resurfaced.
The boy from that year, the one who gave her courage.
That spring, when she returned to the Yukinoshita family's main house.
A stranger boy was sitting in front of her mother.
Facing the mother she had always feared, the teenager wasn't afraid at all. In fact, he was a little arrogant, speaking loudly and confidently.
The memory of his face had faded.
But the words from that day still echoed in her ears.
"Want to borrow the Yukinoshita family's reputation? Who do you think you are, dreaming such nonsense?"
The teenager: "Borrow? Am I not paying? The stock transfer agreement and store transfer contract are right here."
"How ridiculous. Do you even know what the Yukinoshita name represents in terms of status?"
The teenager: "To put it bluntly, it's that you don't have enough money. You flaunt your status as if you were once the Prime Minister."
"Hmph, you're right about not having enough money. And I also find you repulsive. What can you do to me?"
The teenager: "Fine. I'll go to another real estate company in Chiba and see if they're interested in Yukinoshita's shares."
The teenager: "At most, I'll take the money and disappear. That should give you quite a headache, huh? Wait until they drag you into the shareholders' meeting for a 'debate'~"
"The shares you hold, the Yukinoshita family has the right of first refusal."
The teenager: "Fine, I'll prioritize you. Thirty billion, do you want it? If not, I'll sell it to your rivals. They'll definitely buy. After they buy, I'll play two rounds of golf with them, and after hitting a hole-in-one, I'll even give them a red envelope."
"You!"
The teenager: "What about me?"
"Hmph, fine, you're good. Give me the contract, the Yukinoshita family will adopt you."
That afternoon, under the cloudy sky,
The teenager took the contract and then raised his middle finger.
"I don't need the Yukinoshita name, you keep it and play with it yourself."
"Some birds are born destined not to be caged. Each of their feathers shines with the light of freedom."
The teenager walked past Yukinoshita Yukino that afternoon.
Even though the clouds were thick and there was no sunlight,
A golden light seemed to emanate from behind the teenager.
That brilliant light had led Yukinoshita Yukino to escape after graduating from the University of Tokyo.
But now,
The last flickers of golden light in her soul were gradually fading away.
The inability to fit into society, being fired multiple times from jobs, rsums sinking like stones into a deep ocean, rent due soon, and a tight financial situation that barely allows her to afford discounted lunch boxes.
One thing after another, these struggles slowly wore Yukino down.
They forced her to return to that gilded cage.
Ding!
In the dimly lit rented room, even during the day, a clear reminder sound echoed.
Yukinoshita quickly wiped the tears from her face.
She pulled out her phone, her eyes still blurred with tears, staring at the screen.
"Hello, Miss Yukinoshita Yukino, our company, Laplace, has reviewed your rsum. For a talent like you, Miss Yukinoshita, we are always eager to collaborate.
We would like to discuss possible opportunities with you. May I ask when would be a good time for us to meet and talk?"
Seeing the message pop up on her screen, Yukinoshita Yukino hurriedly unlocked her phone, checking the message urgently.
Like someone drowning, clinging to a lifeline, she feared it might just be an advertisement from some unknown app.
After carefully checking and confirming that it was from a job application platform where she had submitted her rsum, and that Laplace was indeed a legitimate company recognized online, Yukinoshita Yukino gripped her phone tightly in her hands, nearly bursting out in a joyous exclamation.
This message was like a ray of light breaking through the darkness of her world.
It made her reach out, desperate to seize the future that could be hers.
.....
Midday, the sun shining brightly.
"Finally... finally, I've arrived. What the hell am I doing here?!"
Gotoh Hitori crouched next to a pile of sand in the park, holding her head in her hands, lost in thought.
This week had been an extremely difficult one for Gotoh Hitori.
At the end of spring break, she had experienced something she never dared imagine.
A super handsome, high-class guy had struck up a conversation with her.
The two of them became friends and could even call each other by name!
Gotoh Hitori wanted to describe her experience like that.
However, the reality was far from it.
The other person was too cruel, completely exploiting her personality.
Just after one meeting, their relationship had quickly escalated to the point of "master and pet."
Moreover, that person had asked to meet again.
Bocchi was filled with anxiety and unease.
In a restless state, Gotoh Hitori entered her first day of high school.
She deliberately chose a high school far away from home.
After enrolling, no one knew who she was.
However, this didn't mark the beginning of a new chapter.
During middle school, Gotoh Hitori had been unable to make friends due to communication barriers.
And this, even in high school, showed no signs of improving.
As a result, as expected,
A week after school started, Gotoh Hitori still hadn't made a single friend.
In an attempt to make friends, Gotoh Hitori brought her guitar to school.
She hoped someone would notice the prominent instrument and strike up a conversation with her.
However, despite trying, Gotoh Hitori remained all alone.
"Listen to my song: 'I quietly died in the corner of the room because no one cared.'"
Reflecting on the events of the first week after school started, Bocchi took out her guitar from behind her and began to play and sing by herself.
Yes, she had brought her guitar.
It could be said that she was completely immersed in her own world.
With dark, somber lyrics, she sang through the entire song.
Finally, she ended the performance with a strong strum of the strings.
Bocchi, as usual, bowed in all directions out of habit.
She acted as if she had just completed a major performance.
Usually, these self-performed moments were only faced with empty air, and of course, no one would respond.
But today...
A round of applause rang out from one side.
Bocchi froze in shock, her whole body stiffened, and she slowly turned her head.
Yukima Azuma was standing there, smiling in admiration, clapping his hands non-stop.
"Please, please... please forget what just happened!"
Bocchi felt as if her entire life had just collapsed.
What was she supposed to do when a social anxiety sufferer like her had her "self-destructive moment" witnessed by someone else?
"How could I forget? Bocchi played so well, really reached the level of a professional guitarist."
Yukima Azuma praised her seriously.
Although he wasn't highly skilled in music, at least he had a basic ability to appreciate it.
If he had to quantify Bocchi's guitar skills, Yukima Azuma guessed it would be somewhere between lv5 and lv6.
That was true professional level, even standing out among professionals.
Bocchi covered her face with her hands.
Though the praise made her genuinely happy, being complimented for a "self-destructive" moment felt no different from being publicly shamed.
'No... that's not right. Azuma-kun was just complimenting my guitar skills!'
Bocchi reassured herself in her mind.
Her confidence instantly surged.
Seeing that Gotoh Hitori seemed to have regained her spirits, Yukima Azuma extended his hand toward her.
"Let's go."
However...
"Wan?" (jp dog sound) Gotoh Hitori suddenly lunged forward, pressing the tips of both her hands against Yukima Azuma's hand.
She looked just like a puppy at that moment.
No, she had even made a sound like that, so she definitely was a "puppy."
"Bocchi, so you actually have a hobby like this? Well, I don't mind it anyway."
Yukima Azuma mimicked Kato Megumi's tone as he spoke.
"I... I just wanted to show absolute obedience to you. But earlier, when you said 'let's go,' where exactly are we going?"
Bocchi tried to explain her actions.
"We're friends, right? What do friends usually do on the weekends?"
"Um... get tattoos, pierce their tongues, something like that?"
"Let's go with something a little more normal."
"Uh... eat out?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Go shopping?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Watch a movie?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Rent a room?"
"Bocchi, do you want to be 'friends' with me that way? I'm fine with that."
Bocchi's face immediately turned bright red, and she tried to bury her face deep into the collar of her hoodie to hide her embarrassment.
'What did I just say!?'
'And... Azuma-kun is way too kind!'
...
"Let's go."
Yukima Azuma proactively took Bocchi's hand and led her forward.
There was no other way; if he didn't take charge, Bocchi would probably cling to him in the park all day.
Bocchi, holding hands with him, didn't react as strongly as he had expected.
For her, the biggest issue wasn't the difference between men and women, but the difference between someone with social anxiety like her and... the rest of humanity.
Yukima Azuma was the first person to cross that barrier and stand in front of her.
As a result, she had no idea what the proper distance should be between friends, or between men and women.
'Since we're friends, holding hands is normal, right?'
'Yeah, Hitori, show some spirit, don't be so shy.'
'Come to think of it, Azuma-kun is really handsome, and his style is on point. Compared to him, I'm just hopelessly uncool.'
'I've got dark circles under my eyes, my back is hunched, and I probably smell bad. After all, I spend all day hiding in the cupboard.'
'Ah, but I think I still smell like insect repellent. Meanwhile, Azuma-kun smells so nice, I really like it!'
Bocchi noticed Yukima Azuma wasn't looking back at her, so she secretly leaned forward to get closer.
A pleasant scent drifted by.
"Bocchi."
"Yes!"
The moment he called her, Bocchi immediately pulled back to maintain some distance, turning her head away as if nothing had happened.
"Being around crowds might be hard for you, huh?"
"If you feel uncomfortable because of people staring, you can get closer to me. You can think of me as your shield."
Upon hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Bocchi turned around in a daze.
Then she saw Azuma-kun smiling at her, a smile full of trust.
'An angel! Azuma-kun is definitely an angel!'
For the first time, someone cared about the issue of being watched by others, something that caused her so much pain.
Gotoh Hitori felt like she might burst into tears at any moment.
Even if Yukima Azuma asked her to kneel and swear lifelong loyalty right now, Hitori would do it without hesitation.
--------------------------------------------
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Gotoh Hitori, who had been completely led by Yukima Azuma in every sense, had completely forgotten her initial resistance when invited to go out.
On the contrary, at this moment, she felt an unmatched sense of security when she was with Azuma.
The reason for this sense of security was perhaps something Bocchi didn't consciously realize, but Azuma understood it very well.
Due to her social anxiety, Bocchi was extremely afraid of bothering others and receiving disgusted looks.
She was always careful and cautious when doing anything, which made her feel pressured and distressed all the time.
But when she was in front of Yukima Azuma...
How should she put it?
Gotoh Hitori had almost exposed her lowest limits.
Azuma ignored the awkward behaviors caused by her social anxiety and continued to treat her normally.
Because of this, Bocchi unconsciously considered Yukima Azuma as a safe zone.
That feeling was akin to the mindset of letting go:
'After all, he already knows I'm a hopeless person like this, so pretending anymore doesn't make sense!'
Although Bocchi didn't consciously think this way, her body acted as though it did.
....
In Tokyo, in the Ginza district, on a busy street.
Facing the bustling crowd, Gotoh Hitori instinctively pressed herself against Yukima Azuma, almost wanting to bury her face in his back.
It was her first time truly strolling around, and Bocchi now saw Azuma as her only lifeline.
"Shall we pass by the fashion store first, then go eat Chinese food, Bocchi?"
"Uh, sure..."
Although she wasn't sure she heard everything, she immediately responded affirmatively.
Gotoh Hitori's mouth was faster than her brain.
Only after responding did she start to think about why they were going to the fashion store first.
'Does Azuma-kun want to buy clothes? Is that where this is going?'
In her mind, she pictured Yukima Azuma changing clothes, while she waited outside the fitting room.
When the curtain was pulled back...
She would compliment him.
Such a scene...
It seemed like something she had seen in youth films before.
Recalling the times she had been hurt by the youth dramas on TV.
Gotoh Hitori felt a little joy in her heart.
Perhaps when she looked back at that scene in the future, she wouldn't feel pain in her heart anymore.
'Alright, I must definitely compliment Azuma-kun enthusiastically.'
'Should I search online for some compliments to use?'
As Gotoh Hitori was thinking this,
Yukima Azuma had already pulled her into a women's fashion store, and before she could even process what was happening, she was pushed forward.
Immediately, a store employee appeared before them in the blink of an eye.
Aaaaaahhh!
Inside, Gotoh Hitori was screaming. She had never liked shopping, and one of the reasons was because of the store employees.
Just a glance,
Even for just a millisecond...
The other person would definitely appear right in front of her and start talking, a terrifying creature.
Bocchi completely couldn't handle it.
"Please help her become even cuter."
Yukima Azuma said.
Bocchi: A!?
"Yes, please wait a moment."
The saleswoman smiled brightly.
She loved customers like this.
Saying that kind of thing meant they probably didn't care about the price, and if they tried on something nice, they'd buy it right away.
Unlike high school girls,
Who tried on a bunch of clothes but didn't buy anything, and didn't even bother to hang the clothes back where they were.
*Saleswoman feeling resentful +1.*
"Wait... wait a minute... Azuma-kun! I... I... I... I... I... I... I... I... I... I... I... oyster... crab... fish!"
Bocchi clung to Yukima Azuma's arm, softly calling out with a pleading voice, gradually turning into strange words.
At this point, she no longer cared about the distance between her and Azuma.
It could only be said that, compared to the saleswoman and the new clothes, Azuma was much easier to accept.
Her head was almost shaking nonstop like a wind chime.
However, her objections were very faint.
Even if Yukima Azuma heard her,
He pretended like he didn't hear anything.
Paying attention to Bocchi's thoughts here would definitely be a negative point.
That was the path to a bad ending.
"These are the outfits. I'm not sure what style you prefer, but I've prepared two popular sets, you can try them on."
The saleswoman handed clothes to Bocchi.
She wanted to lead Bocchi to the fitting room.
Yukima Azuma took the clothes from her.
"I'll handle it, she's a little shy."
Hearing that, the saleswoman nodded.
Watching the two of them walk toward the fitting room, she couldn't help but smile gently.
So sweet, so sweet!
If only I also had a considerate, handsome, and wealthy boyfriend like that.
Even if he wasn't that considerate, it would still be great.
After smiling for a moment, the saleswoman's smile faded.
*Saleswoman sighing +1.*
...
She was pushed into the fitting room.
Bocchi gently held the clothes, continuing to shake her head incessantly.
Yukima Azuma didn't hesitate, reaching out to press her head down.
"Go change! Hey, Bocchi, you know, this is a favor from a friend!"
Bocchi's eyes widened.
Master Order version 2.0.
However, even though she realized that Yukima Azuma was giving her a forceful order,
She didn't want her friend to feel disappointed,
So Bocchi slowly pulled the fitting room curtain closed.
She reached up to unzip her hoodie.
'There's only a thin curtain, so Azuma-kun can definitely hear me changing...'
Just as this thought crossed Bocchi's mind,
She suddenly heard, from outside the curtain, the sound of a famous band playing guitar.
It was surely a song from a chart-topping playlist.
Bocchi had just listened to that song not long ago.
As she began to relax a little,
The initial thoughts she had returned to her mind unexpectedly.
'Wait, can Azuma-kun really read my thoughts?'
The music masked the faint sounds from inside the fitting room.
Yukima Azuma had waited a long time.
Long enough that the saleswoman had continuously glanced over here, as if wondering if something unusual was happening.
Finally, after a long wait, the fitting room curtain slowly opened.
Bocchi appeared before Yukima Azuma, no longer in her simple pink tracksuit.
Instead, she wore a black and white look like maid-style dress with puffy sleeves, looking incredibly cute.
She even had a small white round hat on her head.
"That really suits you! So cute!"
The saleswoman standing beside her complimented, then quickly left.
She was quite perceptive, clearly noticing that the customer didn't want to interact with others.
But a compliment was still necessary; it was part of her professional duty.
Bocchi, startled, looked like a dead fish.
Yukima Azuma still said nothing.
Bocchi felt extremely tense inside.
Humiliated, she felt like she wanted to die.
Indeed, cute outfits like this didn't suit me, a country bumpkin like me...
With a death-wish kind of mindset, Bocchi decided to pull the curtain back to change into her old clothes.
With the thought that it didn't matter if she died, she finally looked up, planning to sneak a glance at Yukima Azuma's expression.
And the result, when her gaze lifted...
The expression Bocchi had expecteddisgustdidn't appear at all.
So, how should she describe this expression?
It seemed like... he was just stunned?
As soon as this thought appeared, Bocchi immediately berated herself in her mind.
She was sure she must have a broken brain to come up with such self-loving thoughts.
"I'm sorry, I spaced out for a bit, but it's really Bocchi, you're just too cute."
Finally, after a long silence, Yukima Azuma's voice rang out.
But it came at just the right moment.
Bocchi's heart stirred wildly.
If he had complimented her immediately, she would have just thought it was out of politeness.
But now, Bocchi actually believed that maybe, just maybe, she could be cuteat least, she believed it by 1%.
"Try on another one, I'm sure it'll suit you perfectly!"
"Uh... okay!"
She pulled the curtain back.
This time, Bocchi moved much faster.
The second outfit was a black mermaid-style dress, like something you'd wear to a formal ball.
Compared to the first one, which was cute, this one leaned more towards a seductive style.
It emphasized her curves and enhanced her aura.
The saleswoman had clearly put a lot of effort into selecting a variety of outfits and trying out all kinds of styles.
After changing, Bocchi felt a sense of regret.
She bravely looked into the mirror.
It was way too alluring.
When she wore sports clothes, it wasn't as obvious, but the tight-fitting dress revealed everything she usually hid under the loose athletic wear.
Bocchi wasn't lying about her measurements.
D-cup was just D-cup.
Bocchi trembled as she pulled the curtain back.
For the second time, her gaze was like a dead fish.
"So beautiful, thank you for your hospitality."
This time, the response came quickly.
Before Bocchi could even react, the fitting room curtain was pulled back from the outside.
Then, her phone began to buzz.
Yukima Azuma: [You look great, really great, but Bocchi's body is too beautiful. You'd better not wear outfits like that out in public!]
She looked at the message.
For the first time, Bocchi felt embarrassed because she was a girl, not because of her social anxiety.
But at the same time, she felt happy.
After all, she only wore baggy sports clothes because she wasn't confident.
Being complimented here, it could be said, had touched the heart of this young girl.
She crouched down, hugging her face for a moment.
Bocchi was about to change clothes.
However...
"Huh... huh!? Wait, huh huh huh!?"
Bocchi reached behind her, trying to unzip the mermaid dress.
However, the zipper at the back seemed to be stuck.
No matter how hard she tried, it wouldn't budge.
And because she was trying to pull the zipper from behind, Bocchi's arm suddenly cramped up.
The sharp pain made her pull her arm back, slamming it against the fitting room wall.
A heavy sound echoed, followed by Bocchi's muffled groan of pain.
"Bocchi, are you okay?"
A voice called from outside the room.
Bocchi wanted to reply, but the pain was so intense that she couldn't make a sound.
So...
The fitting room curtain was pulled open slightly.
Yukima Azuma quickly squeezed in.
Bocchi crouched on the floor, staring at the teenager who appeared in the cramped space, her eyes wide in shock.
Yukima Azuma glanced at her for a moment and immediately understood what had happened.
He pulled her hand and checked it quickly.
Luckily, there were no injuries.
He continued to massage her arm along the veins.
Before long, the cramp in Bocchi's arm eased.
Although, by now, due to her embarrassment, Bocchi didn't even feel the pain anymore.
"So the zipper of the dress won't go down, right?"
"Ah... yeah... sorry, red bean, sweet honey!"
"Bocchi, you don't need to apologize. Just turn around, I'll help you."
"Huh!?"
Hearing this, Bocchi's eyes widened, her mouth slightly open.
Is... is this really appropriate?
Because they were friends, helping each other change clothes was perfectly normal, right?
But is this really normal?
Bocchi mind began to overload...
Chapter 59: Since we are friends, I guess kissing is normal, right!?
In the cramped dressing room.
Bocchi felt like she was suffocating, her head spinning.
Of course, that was just an illusion. A small space surrounded by curtains couldn't possibly lack oxygen.
Bocchi obediently stood still, trying to press her body against the wall in front of her.
Suddenly, she felt a warm sensation at the back of her neck.
Bocchi, who had never had any physical contact except with her parents,
trembled uncontrollably.
The warm sensation at the back of her neck quickly disappeared.
Bocchi realized that her earlier movement had caused Yukima Azuma to let go of her.
She intended to apologize.
But at that moment, her waist was gripped by the person standing behind her.
The apology she had meant to say was now only a soft moan, like a little kitten.
"Unn~..."
The sound was indeed a bit ambiguous.
Especially in this situation, in a dressing room like this, it could easily provoke the other person.
Although Yukima Azuma couldn't see Gotoh Hitori's face right now,
he could imagine her expression.
Because the back of Gotoh Hitori's neck had turned a soft pink.
Of course, his earlier action wasn't meant for anything inappropriate.
He had only held Bocchi in place so she wouldn't move around.
Once again, he reached out and pulled the zipper of the mermaid dress down.
This time, Yukima Azuma smoothly pulled the zipper of the dress down.
Immediately, Bocchi's smooth, pale back appeared in front of him.
Beneath the light pink hair, the sight was mesmerizing, making one almost swallow their saliva.
Yukima Azuma silently admired it for a moment.
But he did nothing more.
He simply gently pulled Bocchi's hand, asking her to cover her back for the time being.
Then, he gently pulled one corner of the curtain and stepped out.
The sound of the curtain faintly echoed behind him.
Gotoh Hitori froze.
After waiting for a long while, there was still no movement from behind.
Only then did she slowly turn around.
She saw that no one was behind her anymore.
Bocchi leaned against the wall, her legs weak, slowly sliding down to sit on the floor.
What had just happened was truly more than Bocchi could handle, someone who had never had a single friend.
This close contact with another person,
was a first for Bocchi.
No, almost everything Bocchi did with Yukima Azuma today was a first for her.
Bocchi sat on the floor, trying to calm herself down for a long while.
Finally, she slowly stood up.
"If I keep Azuma-kun waiting too long, he'll hate me! I need to change quickly!"
"That just now... it was just a normal favor between friends, right?"
Bocchi tried to convince herself in her mind.
She took off the mermaid dress,
then reached to grab the clothes from the basket.
But...
"No... I can't find it!?"
Bocchi panicked as she looked into the basket.
She searched everywhere, from left to right, top to bottom, flipping the dressing room upside down, but still couldn't find her pink sports outfit.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Bocchi was in big trouble!
...
The truth was, when Yukima Azuma stepped out earlier, he had casually taken her sports outfit with him.
He had already been thinking about how to deal with the pink sports outfit that lowered her charm and appearance.
And at that moment, Bocchi's zipper got stuck, causing her pain in her hand.
The opportunity for Yukima Azuma to act had presented itself.
Of course, he wasn't going to miss it.
In the dressing room,
Bocchi was frantic, like an fish on a hot pan.
She wanted to call Yukima Azuma.
But after what had just happened,
her face was still bright red.
No matter what, she couldn't bring herself to call out to him.
After a while of hesitation,
she reluctantly reached for the black and white dress.
Once changed,
Bocchi pulled back the curtain.
"Azuma-kun..."
She was about to ask him about her sports outfit,
but before she could speak,
her hand was grabbed by Yukima Azuma.
A saleswoman walked over.
Bocchi immediately switched to "silent mode."
"Please wrap this one up for me, and she can just keep the other one on."
"And this one, please put it in a bag along with the mermaid dress from the dressing room. Thank you."
Yukima Azuma pointed to the mermaid dress in the dressing room, then handed Bocchi's pink sports outfit to the sales assistant.
Bocchi: !
Bocchi: Noooo!
Bocchi: Watermelon! Strawberry! Mango! Oishi!
After the saleswoman left,
Bocchi hurriedly tugged at the corner of Yukima Azuma's shirt, pointing to the pink sports outfit that had just been taken away, wanting to say something.
However, before she could speak,
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently pushed aside the long hair that covered her forehead.
This time, Yukima Azuma took the initiative.
Bocchi was completely unaccustomed to having her whole face exposed like this.
Her gaze immediately became vacant.
"Bocchi is really cute. If you just fixed your hair a bit to show your eyes, it would be perfect."
Bocchi: Aaaaa nooo!
"But today, Bocchi has already changed a lot."
"If you change too quickly, you might not get used to it."
"So, let's put off the haircut for later."
"This time, we'll just change the clothes first."
Yukima Azuma spoke in a soft tone.
Bocchi swallowed nervously.
'Angel! He's an angel! Azuma-kun is truly my angel!'
She completely forgot her initial purpose.
Indeed, human psychology tends to accept something in between two extremes.
For example, if you say the room is too dark and needs a window to be opened,
most people would probably disagree.
But if you suggest removing the entire roof, they'd immediately agree to open the window.
Compared to cutting her hair,
wearing this dress felt much easier for Bocchi to accept.
"Everything is packed, sir. Please come over here to pay."
The sales assistant brought over the POS machine.
Gotoh Hitori was stunned to realize,
this was Ginza.
Buying clothes here...
Looking at the dress she was wearing, the soft material, the beautiful design,
Gotoh Hitori had no concrete idea about the price, only vaguely knowing that it was definitely not cheap.
Would the money she had be enough?
Even though she had brought along her savings, the money her mother called her "wedding fund."
Just as Bocchi gathered her courage, ready to peek at the price on the POS machine,
Yukima Azuma gently placed his hand over her eyes.
For a moment, confused in the darkness, Gotoh Hitori only heard the sound of a card being swiped.
"Thank you for your purchase. If you have any questions, feel free to come by the store again."
When the light returned,
Gotoh Hitori saw Yukima Azuma casually crumpling the receipt into a ball.
"Azuma-kun..."
Gotoh Hitori anxiously wanted to say something.
But Yukima Azuma simply picked up the two bags and then took her hand, leading her out of the store.
"Let's go, according to the plan, we'll have Chinese food."
"Yes... yes!"
Bocchi nodded.
After all, she was definitely going to pay him back when they ate.
She thought to herself.
...
However...
When they received the menu,
Bocchi was stunned to find,
why was there no price listed on the menu at this restaurant!?
"Umm... how about you choose, Azuma-kun?"
Bocchi nervously handed the menu back to Yukima Azuma.
"Okay. Is there anything you can't eat, Bocchi?"
Yukima Azuma took the menu back, asking further,
"Really, nothing at all?"
Bocchi instinctively shook her head.
She didn't want to cause any trouble for others.
That had always been her ingrained mentality.
And because of this, Bocchi had endured quite a lot of hardship.
It was always the kind of thing where she had to "bite the bullet," silently shedding tears later and thinking, "If only I had been brave enough to speak up back then."
"Really nothing at all?" Yukima Azuma leaned in closer.
Bocchi instinctively leaned back, nearly falling off her chair.
Just as she was about to shake her head again,
"If you don't tell me, later you'll have to tell the waiter yourself," Yukima Azuma said calmly.
Bocchi immediately stiffened and quickly gave in.
It was clearly easier to tell Azuma than to face a stranger, the waiter.
"Well... I can't eat celery, and chrysanthemum leaves are a bit hard... but actually, it's fine."
"What about bell peppers?"
"Yes, I can eat bell peppers."
"How about bean sprouts?"
"Uh..."
"Alright, I understand."
After a brief Q&A,
Yukima Azuma called the waiter over, ensuring that the dishes would be free from the ingredients Bocchi couldn't eat.
He even instructed the staff to avoid certain ingredients in specific dishes.
When the food was served, Bocchi saw only the dishes she loved.
In that moment, she was so touched she almost cried.
Before, at class gatherings (where everyone had to attend), Bocchi had never really enjoyed a meal or felt full.
But she always had to pay her share like everyone else.
Each time they went out to eat, for Bocchi, it was a heavy blow both physically and mentally.
But this time,
For the first time, Bocchi felt the joy of eating out.
"Bocchi, you can eat first. I'll be right back, I need to use the restroom."
"Y-yes!"
Yukima Azuma left the table for a while, then quickly returned.
After the meal, Bocchi rubbed her stomach, savoring the full feeling.
She was so touched that she almost burst into tears.
To repay Yukima Azuma,
Bocchi gathered all her courage and, as they were leaving the restaurant, ran ahead of him.
"Umm... I, I want to pay... pay..."
Standing at the payment counter by the exit, Bocchi stuttered, unable to get the words out.
The staff behind the counter listened for a while, finally understanding her intention.
"You want to pay, right?"
"Yes, that's right!" Bocchi nodded vigorously.
The staff gestured to Yukima Azuma.
"The customer over there already paid, ma'am."
Bocchi froze, her eyes wide in surprise.
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently patted her head.
Her soft, light pink hair brushed against his fingers.
"Azuma-kun!"
Bocchi wanted to say something, but her mind was in such a mess that she couldn't express herself.
"Alright, alright, I know what you're going to say. I can read your mind."
Yukima Azuma smiled.
Bocchi really wanted to say that she didn't even know what she was trying to say herself.
"Let's go, the movie's about to start."
Yukima Azuma held up his phone, changing the subject.
Seeing the movie tickets already purchased on Yukima Azuma's phone, Bocchi had no idea what to say next.
....
At the Ginza cinema.
While waiting in line to pick up the tickets, Yukima Azuma curiously asked:
"Have you ever been to the movies before, Bocchi?"
"I have, but only watched DVDs on the TV at home."
"What about the cinema?"
"Never..."
How could she possibly come to a place filled with youthful energy and a popular hangout spot for couples on dates?
Bocchi silently thought to herself.
After getting the tickets, Yukima Azuma also bought two bags of popcorn and cola.
The two of them entered the cinema.
The movie Yukima Azuma chose was about a band's journey in pursuing their dreams.
Not because he thought Bocchi would prefer this theme,
but because the other films showing at the same time weren't suitable:
Two were about youthful romance.
One was about office romance.
The last one was a thriller-mystery, where the victim was a girl who lived alone, an otaku.
He felt that if they watched that one, Bocchi might just dead inside in the theater.
Compared to the other movies, the band movie was much friendlier.
...
In the last row, in the corner of the theater.
The two of them settled into their seats.
Since it was a movie about a band, and not during peak hours, the cinema was somewhat empty.
Sitting in the corner, Bocchi felt incredibly at ease.
But at the same time, a sense of guilt crept in.
As a super introvert with severe social anxiety, Bocchi had extremely sensitive thoughts, sometimes to the point where it became bothersome even for herself.
Even for something trivial and insignificant, she could spiral into self-doubt.
How could she not realize that Yukima Azuma had clearly chosen this spot with her in mind, to make her feel more comfortable?
Today, Yukima Azuma had been considerate toward her countless times, to the point where Bocchi felt uncomfortable.
Luckily, they were just friends.
If they were in a romantic relationship, Bocchi would definitely blame herself, thinking she wasn't a worthy girlfriend.
She might even feel guilty to the point where she'd vanish into ashes, blown away by the wind.
"Don't think too much, eat the popcorn."
At just the right moment, Yukima Azuma gently tapped Bocchi on the head, then handed her the popcorn.
Hugging the box, Bocchi, like a little squirrel, picked at the popcorn and popped it into her mouth, chewing without a care, her cheeks puffed with food.
It wasn't until Yukima Azuma tapped her again that Bocchi snapped back to reality.
The movie had started.
Bocchi tried to focus on the film, but couldn't help but keep glancing at the person sitting beside her.
In the dark theater, the dim light from the screen reflected on the boy's face.
Unlike in the sunlight, he radiated a different kind of charm now, one that made people want to pull him in immediately.
Bocchi looked at their hands, which were holding tightly together the entire time.
It was only then that she suddenly realized.
When she realized this, Bocchi wanted to bury her face in her hands and scream, but she couldn't.
Sensing the shift in the girl beside him, Yukima Azuma turned to look at Bocchi.
At that moment, he noticed some popcorn crumbs at the corner of her mouth.
So, he gently reached out.
Bocchi felt Yukima Azuma's hand touch her cheek.
She instinctively closed her eyes.
Huh!? Could it be...?'
'It must be! It's happeningkissing in the dark theater!'
But... was this really okay? After all, Yukima Azuma and she were just friends.
'Surely, as friends, kissing is fine, right? ... No, wait! How can this be okay!?'
Her heart was full of internal conflict, but she still kept her eyes shut, waiting.
A long moment passed, but her lips didn't feel anything.
Bocchi carefully opened her eyes.
Yukima Azuma was almost only a breath away from her.
Then, right in her gaze, Yukima Azuma gently kissed her.
Soft, very soft.
This was the first kiss, and the taste on her lips was popcorn, quite tasty.
It felt like eating chewy cotton candy, melting away but with time to experience it first.
After a long while, Yukima Azuma finally released Bocchi.
She was gasping, her chest rising and falling.
Because it was her first time kissing, she had unconsciously held her breath, almost passing out from lack of oxygen.
Although she had been released, her whole body still felt dizzy.
It took a long while before Gotoh Hitori's breath gradually returned to normal.
But she absolutely didn't dare to raise her head to look at Yukima Azuma.
Because she felt that her body was a bit off because of what had just happened.
However, even though she didn't look, Yukima Azuma lifted her chin.
"Bocchi, the reason I touched your face earlier was because the corner of your mouth had popcorn crumbs."
Yukima Azuma said as he took out the piece of popcorn that he had just held in his hand to show her.
Gotoh Hitori, after hearing that, first widened her eyes, then her gaze was full of embarrassment, and tears immediately filled her eyes. She wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
"But because Bocchi is so cute, I couldn't help but kiss you."
Yukima Azuma continued.
He purposely waited for Gotoh Hitori to open her eyes before kissing her, so she could understand the difference between a deliberate action and one purely driven by attraction.
"If Bocchi didn't like it, I'm sorry."
"No"
Gotoh Hitori unconsciously shook her head.
She always thought that others weren't wrong, and that all mistakes were her own.
And although the feeling earlier was very strange, she really didn't dislike it.
"So, Bocchi liked that?"
"Ah"
"So you didn't like it? I'm sorry."
"No I liked it."
"Then let's do it again."
"Ah? Wait"
Yukima Azuma stopped her words with a kiss.
Gotoh Hitori started rubbing her two legs together.
Since they were friends, kissing should be a normal thing, right? Right?
Bocchi was sure it was like that.
--------------------------------------------
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Drip...
The sound of water running from the faucet in the bathroom continued to echo.
Hiding in the last stall of the women's restroom.
Gotou Hitori felt like her whole body was covered in a layer of gray.
They were kissing, then she suddenly ran into the restroom like this.
Indeed, my life is over now...
Her tiny soul, much like Bocchi, seemed to fly out from her mouth.
But, can't really blame!
Bocchi just couldn't take it anymore.
It felt like if she didn't run away, it would... be the end.
"Suppose I could reincarnate, please let me come back as a panda in my next life."
Gotou Hitori put her hands together, not sure which god she was praying to.
After a long moment, she had to face reality.
After Bocchi fixed her underwear situation.
She cautiously stuck her head out of the bathroom stall.
Wanting to see what Yukima Azuma was doing.
Had he angrily left?
Or was he standing outside with an angry face, waiting to judge her, the criminal who ran away in the middle of a kiss?
Just like the times before.
The scenario Bocchi imagined didn't happen.
Yukima Azuma was quietly standing outside the restroom.
When he saw Bocchi poke her head out, he waved at her.
Bocchi lowered her head, taking small steps to Yukima Azuma's side.
Yukima Azuma, as if nothing had happened, casually took her hand.
This made Bocchi feel a little more at ease.
"Ah... earlier..."
Bocchi was about to apologize.
Yukima Azuma's voice immediately drowned out her words.
"Let's watch this next time."
Bocchi heard that, looked up, and followed Yukima Azuma's hand as he pointed.
It was an advertisement for a movie that hadn't been released yet.
The movie Yukima Azuma pointed to had a large poster featuring a young couple embracing on a large ship.
It seemed to be a romance film.
The title of the movie was Titanic.
"Okay."
Bocchi nodded, agreeing right away.
Unlike before, when she felt pressured to agree because of societal expectations.
This time, she truly wanted to watch the movie with Yukima Azuma, so she nodded in agreement.
Her voice was 3% more confident than before.
The brief scene that had just occurred in the theater was quickly forgotten.
Yukima Azuma looked at the Titanic poster, his eyes full of anticipation.
Movies participating in the film festival were carefully prepared products, with their release dates already set.
Laplace Corporation had invested 10 million USD into Titanic, equivalent to 1.5 billion yen.
It was expected to receive a 3.5% share of the box office revenue.
The share percentage might seem small.
If this amount were invested in another movie, it would almost be enough to own the entire movie's rights.
However, when Titanic's box office revenue was announced,
This tiny share would really show its true value.
....
As they left the theater, the sky had turned dark.
The sun had set, and the sunset dyed the distant clouds a brilliant orange.
"Uh... are you really okay?"
Walking on the way home, Bocchi suddenly asked.
"Huh? What are you talking about, Bocchi?"
Yukima Azuma stopped and seriously faced Bocchi's question.
"A lot of things..." Bocchi lowered her head, speaking softly but seriously.
"That was expensive, right?" She tugged at the hem of her skirt.
"Even the food was expensive, there weren't any prices on the menu," she said, gripping the hem tightly.
"And all the things you do for someone like me, there's probably no benefit for you, Azuma-kun."
"On the street, people might say that holding my hand makes you look less valuable."
"I look ordinary, I have dark circles under my eyes, I slouch, and I smell like insecticide."
"I can't talk to others well, I'm so gloomy, and taking care of me must be a hassle, right?"
"Is it really okay to be friends with someone like me?"
Bocchi's words were a little scattered.
But her point came across clearly.
If it were any other time, getting Bocchi to say so much would have been harder than getting her into the University of Tokyo.
But now, for Yukima Azuma,
Bocchi tried her best to voice all the worries in her heart.
And the answer she got was:
"It's fine."
"But..." Bocchi looked up.
Her gaze met Yukima Azuma's unwavering one.
"No one is born knowing how to socialize or how to dress; you can learn it gradually."
"Bocchi's past life, not being able to make friends, not having the chance to accumulate experience, that was just by chance."
"Bocchi is very cute. If you have dark circles, don't stay up late; if you slouch, pay attention to fixing it."
"Standing next to you will never lower my value. I don't care about what others think."
"As for money and attention, don't you care about me? If I ran into trouble, would you help me?"
Hearing Yukima Azuma's question,
Bocchi tried to shake her head.
If Yukima Azuma were to face difficulties,
No matter how hard it was, she would surely try her best to help him.
"That's right, it's all about give and take. As long as Bocchi doesn't take my sacrifices for granted, there won't be any problems."
Yukima Azuma said, giving a slight smile.
At that moment, Bocchi truly broke down crying.
She cried loudly.
In Bocchi's heart, Yukima Azuma had been elevated from an angel to a deity.
No, it was even higher than a deity.
If Yukima Azuma started a cult,
Bocchi would definitely be a devoted follower.
.....
After Bocchi cried all her tears from being moved,
Their conversation dynamic had changed a lot.
When Bocchi spoke, she stuttered much less, and sometimes even looked into Yukima Azuma's eyes.
This couldn't be called just progress anymore.
It was a giant leap.
"Azuma-kun, is it really true that i can just learn how to socialize?"
"Yes, just talk to me more, try making a few friends, and you'll learn it quickly."
"Ah, really? I'll give it a try!"
"Best to find girls who share the same interests as you. If any boys come to hit on you..."
"What should I do?"
"You must firmly reject them."
Yukima Azuma revealed a smile that could be called somewhat intimidating.
Bocchi tried to nod.
Even though Bocchi didn't know how to reject someone,
When she remembered the intimidating smile she saw today,
She thought she could summon up the courage and do it successfully.
"As for money, I still feel a bit guilty, please take this."
Bocchi said, handing Yukima Azuma a small piggy bank.
"This is the wedding fund my mother saved for me."
Yukima Azuma didn't refuse and accepted it immediately.
"I'll take good care of it and use it at the right time."
In fact,
Compared to the money,
Yukima Azuma was more curious about where Bocchi had pulled out such a large piggy bank from.
As they approached the Gotoh family home,
Bocchi reluctantly let go of his hand.
"Azuma-kun, see you next time."
"Yeah, if you need anything, just contact me through Line. We're friends, so if there's trouble, you can talk to me."
As they were waving goodbye to each other,
Yukima Azuma suddenly felt a weight on his leg.
He looked down.
There, he saw a short-haired, pink-haired loli.
This girl resembled Bocchi by about seventy to eighty percent.
With the same hair color, it was almost instantly obvious that they were related.
"Hey, big brother! Hi, I'm Gotoh Futari, you're my sister's friend, right?"
Gotoh Futari hugged Yukima Azuma's leg, smiling energetically as she asked.
"That's right, I'm a friend of Hitori, and Futari is Hitori's little sister, right?"
Yukima Azuma picked up Gotoh Futari and responded.
As he held the little girl, Yukima Azuma noticed she was accompanied by a Shiba Inu dog.
"This is JimiHen."
"I see."
Seeing the two of them chatting happily,
Gotoh Hitori felt her heart get struck by an arrow.
Is this the social ability of an elementary school student and a dog? I completely can't fit in!
Gotoh Hitori thought to herself, wanting to quickly send her little sister back home.
However, she then heard Gotoh Futari shout into the house:
"Mom and Dad! My big sister brought her boyfriend home!"
Gotoh Hitori:?
Yukima Azuma:?
The front door almost immediately swung open.
Both of Gotoh's parents rushed out from inside the house.
They had been worried about Gotoh Hitori all day.
After all, Gotoh Hitori suddenly said she was going out with a friend.
It sounded very suspicious.
They were sure that Gotoh Hitori was talking about an imaginary friend.
But her going out was so unusual.
Gotoh Hitori hadn't returned, and they started to worry that their daughter might have been kidnapped.
So, when Gotoh Futari shouted,
The couple, passing through the hallway, rushed out.
When they came outside, they saw the young man standing next to their eldest daughter.
Both of them were stunned.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Gotoh, I'm Yukima Azuma, a friend of Gotoh Hitori."
Yukima Azuma spoke first.
"Ah, ah, Yukima-kun, hello, hello, would you like to come in and sit for a bit?"
Mrs. Gotoh quickly smiled and said in a soft tone:
"Sorry for the trouble, but I have something to do, I'll visit formally next time, please forgive me."
Yukima Azuma had to visit Sawamura's house as well, so it was best to politely refuse this time.
Mr. and Mrs. Gotoh immediately showed understanding.
Before leaving, Mr. Gotoh leaned closer and whispered to Yukima Azuma:
"Uh, Yukima-kun, you're not the kind of friend who's paid to be friends with my daughter, are you?"
Although his voice was very quiet, Gotoh Hitori still heard it.
Being suspected of hiring a friend by her father,
Gotoh Hitori felt like her heart was pierced by another 10 imaginary arrows.
Emotional damage!!!
'No matter what, I can't...'
Thinking about this, Gotoh Hitori suddenly started to reflect more carefully on her own personality.
'Well, it seems like I really could do this.'
So, it's fine.
"Really, it's not like that. My house is just over there. I happened to meet Hitori-san last Saturday, and it seemed like we got along, so we became friends."
Yukima Azuma smiled as he explained.
When Mr. Gotoh heard the teenager's detailed answer and saw his handsome face,
If he were really a hired friend, it would definitely cost a lot of money.
Mr. Gotoh trusted this explanation.
After bidding farewell to the Gotoh family, Yukima Azuma left.
Mrs. Gotoh watched Yukima Azuma's figure as he walked away, then turned back to look at her eldest daughter's white dress
She had bought Gotoh Hitori many outfits.
There were all kinds of styles.
Among them were light, cute dresses like this one.
But Gotoh Hitori had never worn any of them.
She always wore that pink sports outfit all day.
So...
Mrs. Gotoh thought to herself and nodded.
Got it!
Next time when Yukima Azuma visits, she will definitely ask a bit about his future plans.
...
The next stop on the trip.
The Detective Hill slope.
The Sawamura family home.
As soon as Yukima Azuma knocked on the door,
It opened immediately.
Yukima Azuma was slightly surprised.
Do parents everywhere stand by the door, watching everyone like this?
It's like the aunties in the neighborhood who immediately run off to watch drama and spread rumors everywhere, like a camera powered by rice. (t/n: I just want to complain a little)
"What's on your mind, Yukima-kun?"
"Sorry, I got a little distracted. Sayuri-obasan, I came to visit, here's a gift, please accept it."
Yukima Azuma said as he handed over the box of fruit he bought on his way.
"Ara ara, you didn't have to bring a gift, just come right in."
Sayuri took the box of fruit.
She really didn't care much for little gifts like this.
After all, the Sawamura family was wealthy.
But Yukima Azuma bringing a gift when visiting showed his attitude.
She really liked that.
As soon as Yukima Azuma stepped inside, he smelled a sweet fragrance.
Sayuri went to the kitchen and brought out a plate of cookies.
"Eriri, she's in the room at the end of the upstairs hallway, probably still drawing."
"Yukima-kun, you can go upstairs to find her. We'll have cookies together, I need to watch the pot in the kitchen."
Yukima Azuma offered to help, but Sayuri shook her head.
Then, Yukima Azuma took the cookies and went upstairs.
At the end of the hallway, there was a room with a sign that read "Eriri."
Yukima Azuma paused for a moment, then thought to himself whether he should get a similar nameplate for himself. He felt that he'd definitely need it someday.
He knocked on the door.
From inside, Eriri's voice called out.
"Mom, you can come in, just leave the cookies on the table, I'm a little busy right now."
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow before entering the room.
Inside, Eriri was sitting in a chair.
She was wearing a green sports outfit, large black-rimmed glasses, and her hair was tied in a simple ponytail falling behind her.
At home, Eriri didn't act like a rich young ladyshe wore whatever was comfortable.
Yukima Azuma thought to himself that he'd seen far too many sports outfits today.
On the long table in front of Eriri, there were scattered sheets of sketch paper everywhere.
She was focused on a graphics tablet in front of her, drawing rapidly.
Well, perhaps it was more accurate to say she was drawing with great enthusiasm.
Yukima Azuma glanced over.
The tablet Eriri was using appeared to be a new Wacom "Intuos Pro" model.
The price seemed to be around...
500,000 yen?
Yukima Azuma remembered it being somewhere around that range.
And Eriri seemed to have quite a few of them.
Although Yukima Azuma already knew that Eriri was a "True Oujou-sama".
At this moment, he couldn't help but think:
"Maybe I should just stop trying. I could just marry Eriri and live off her to climb the social ladder."
Despite that, Yukima Azuma looked at the table full of drafts.
The scene before him was filled with pictures that needed to be blurred.
And among them, most of the pictures had 'artistic' content.
Yukima Azuma fell into a state of contemplation.
Let's just say, he was looking with a critical eye.
This clavicle, this chest, these legs, this...
You look a like an upright person, but inside you are a pervert in the wardrobe!
....
A long while passed without hearing any movement.
Finally, Eriri looked up suspiciously.
Through her large black-rimmed glasses, her eyes met Yukima Azuma's critical gaze.
After a moment of stunned silence,
Eriri widened her eyes, mouth agape, letting out a shrill scream that could pierce eardrums.
"Ahhhh! What are you doing in my room!? Don't look!"
As she screamed, Eriri quickly started gathering the papers on the table.
However, she wasn't in the habit of cleaning up her desk.
The reference drafts were carelessly scattered everywhere.
It was clear she couldn't tidy everything up in such a short amount of time.
As for hiding...
Unless Eriri bent over the desk, she probably couldn't cover everything completely.
"Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, please calm down."
Yukima Azuma advised.
Hearing that, Eriri seemed to have steam rising from her head, dropped the paper she was holding on the table, and decided to give up.
Yukima Azuma had known for a long time that Eriri was drawing doujinshi.
Not only was it in he past life, but even during their time as a couple, they had entered each other's rooms before.
Although Eriri had been very careful to tidy up her room back then, Yukima Azuma, confident in his observational skills, had naturally picked up on her weaknesses.
After Eriri was forced to admit her secret, their relationship became even more passionate.
Eriri laid back on the chair, not caring about anything anymore.
Yukima Azuma handed her the cookies, casually taking the number-one graphics tablet with him.
As for Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, her drawing skills had improved significantly compared to before.
However, when it came to the story...
Let's just say, it was hard to describe.
"You, how did you end up at my house? You still haven't answered me!"
Eriri asked, biting into a cookie in frustration.
"You, why are you at my house? You haven't answered me yet!"
Eriri angrily bit into the cookie.
It felt like she was turning the cookie into something else.
"I'm just visiting." Yukima Azuma replied matter-of-factly, then tapped on the digital drawing tablet. "The storyline is terrible!"
"Then why did you come?" Eriri looked at the digital drawing tablet with regret. "A storyline doesn't matter, as long as the art is good."
"Sayuri-obasan invited me, don't you know?"
Yukima Azuma put the digital tablet down.
He casually pulled out a few sheets of rough sketches.
Then, he imitated Eriri's drawing style to divide the storyboard panels.
"I've never heard about this!"
Eriri said angrily.
Clearly, Sayuri had decided this on her own.
It caught Eriri off guard.
But despite saying that, when she met Yukima Azuma, Eriri still felt happy.
Watching Yukima Azuma work, she curiously leaned in, sticking her head out to see the content on the rough sketch.
Yukima Azuma didn't draw the panels.
He simply drew the speech bubbles in appropriate spots and filled in the dialogue.
Eriri watched for a while, her cheeks heating up.
Even though it was just a written storyline, it was enough to make her blush and her heart race.
Especially since Yukima Azuma had a good literary background.
The power of words was even stronger.
Eriri covered her face with her hand, wanting to question Yukima Azuma about why he wrote such "terrible" things in a girl's bedroom.
But she had just drawn that "terrible" storyline in her own bedroom.
She had no right to question him.
Moreover
She slightly opened her hand, peeking between her ring and middle fingers
Eriri secretly looked at the progression of the storyline on the rough sketch.
Even without images, just reading through the lines, she could imagine the corresponding scenes in her mind.
Compared to the stiff storylines on her digital tablet, this was far more captivating.
"Anyway, let's do this. The rest might not need a storyline anymore."
Yukima Azuma finished arranging the completed rough sketches and handed them to Eriri.
Eriri shyly accepted them.
She was really embarrassed.
But because the storyline wasn't good, her work had been stalled for a long time.
With this storyline to support her, the next part of her work would be much easier.
Moreover, this was a storyline written by Yukima Azuma.
At this moment...
Knock knock.
The door to the room was knocked on.
Sayuri opened the door.
"You can come downstairs to eat now... Ah, am I disturbing you two?"
Although the two weren't doing anything unusual, just a moment ago, Eriri had nearly pressed her entire body against the back of Yukima Azuma in order to see the rough sketches.
Moreover, due to the content on the paper, her cheeks had turned bright red.
If it weren't for the clothes still on their bodies, it would have looked no different than doing something inappropriate for children.
Huh?
So, the situation right now... is it actually after they've "finished" already?
"Mom, why did you come in without waiting for me to answer!"
"Azuma, get out too, I need to change!"
Eriri, embarrassed, buried her face behind the rough sketch.
She hurriedly pushed Yukima Azuma and Sayuri out of the room.
....
Bang!
The room door was closed.
"Ah, Yukima-kun, did you use protection earlier?"
"Sayuri-obasan, please don't joke like that."
"Alright, alright, Yukima-kun, you seem a bit too mature already, it's not funny. How about sukiyaki for dinner?"
"Mm, I don't have a problem with that, thank you for the invitation."
Once they finished speaking, they both headed downstairs to prepare the hot pot and ingredients.
Sukiyaki was actually a traditional Japanese hot pot dish.
The main ingredient was beef.
The seasoning was Japanese sweet soy sauce.
As for the flavor, it was quite pleasant.
The only thing is, according to traditional habits, it can be hard to he accept.
Because most Japanese people, when eating sukiyaki, dip it in raw eggs.
Those are eggs without bacteria.
"Yukima-kun seems to have never liked raw food since he was little, whether it's tamagoyaki or sashimi," Sayuri commented when she saw Yukima Azuma set the raw egg aside.
"Mm, I'm a bit picky about this," he replied.
"Like the eating habits of Chinese people, most of your daily meals are Chinese food, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Could it be that you're actually someone who isekai over from China? That's why you're so mature!"
"Sayuri-obasan, I think you've watched too many Isekai anime."
Facing the suspicion of being a reborn, Yukima Azuma responded without changing his expression.
Sayuri's teasing had been something Yukima Azuma had often heard since he was a child.
Since Sayuri was an otaku, her imagination was quite vivid.
When he was younger, Sayuri even teased him by saying he was a biological robot who had infiltrated Japan.
Click click click.
While chatting, Eriri hurriedly ran down the stairs.
At this point, Eriri had changed into a different outfit.
Her black glasses had been replaced with contact lenses.
The sportswear had been swapped for a bright orange spaghetti-strap dress, with a white blouse underneath and a large red bow tied around her neck.
Eriri always aimed for a cute yet slightly elegant style.
And she truly looked great in this outfit.
Every time she appeared, she never failed to surprise others.
"Ara ara..."
Seeing her daughter, Sayuri couldn't help but smile warmly, gently brushing her face.
After all, her daughter had been so lazy about makeup when attending manga exhibitions.
Yet today, just because Yukima Azuma was visiting, she had completely changed her appearance.
Even wearing disposable contact lenses.
The contrast was clear.
The girl's thoughts were so obvious.
....
Everyone had gathered.
Sayuri opened the meat box.
The dry ice at the bottom, from the cracks in the bamboo, released thin wisps of white smoke.
The premium Wagyu beef, surrounded by mist, was so red and white that it made one's mouth water.
The ingredients were extremely luxurious.
But Eriri clearly seemed accustomed to these things.
Yukima Azuma glanced at Eriri, who seemed relatively indifferent.
Previously, he had thought that if he wasn't careful, being around Eriri would definitely create a lot of pressure.
This girl ate only high-end things, and her pocket money was probably more than the salary of an average worker.
Moreover, she had been raised with this lifestyle, and had become accustomed to seeing such things as normal.
Her perspective was almost completely different from that of an ordinary person.
This easily made normal boys feel intimidated and created a gap that felt like an insurmountable chasm.
Fortunately, Yukima Azuma wasn't an ordinary guy.
So, he didn't feel hurt by his self-esteem during puberty when facing situations like this.
.....
Dinner time passed very quickly.
The atmosphere at the dining table was joyful, thanks to Yukima Azuma, and both the host and the guest were satisfied.
Sayuri took the pot back toward the kitchen.
Yukima Azuma followed behind.
"Let me help wash the dishes, otherwise, I'd feel guilty just eating."
Sayuri glanced at him.
The face of this young man didn't show any sign of guilt.
Nevertheless, Sayuri really liked this trait about him.
"It's fine, Yukima-kun, go out and watch TV with Eriri. That's more important than washing the dishes."
Sayuri gestured towards the sofa in the living room, where Eriri was occasionally glancing this way.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
However, before heading back to the living room, Yukima Azuma looked around Sawamura kitchen.
There were expensive knives and cooking utensils, everything was well-equipped.
But he felt like something was missing.
"Washing dishes after every meal is such a hassle," Yukima Azuma suddenly said.
Sayuri was momentarily stunned, not quite understanding Yukima Azuma's meaning.
But she continued on:
"It is a hassle. Many people don't like cooking because they actually hate the process of cleaning up the kitchenware, not because they're uninterested in cooking."
Yukima Azuma nodded in agreement.
"If there were a machine that could automatically wash the dishes, Sayuri-obasan, would you buy it?"
"Just put the dishes in, and then take them out, all clean."
Sayuri thought for a moment after hearing that.
"Like a washing machine?"
"Exactly like a washing machine, but it would probably be even more convenient."
"For me, as long as the price isn't too expensive, I'd definitely buy it."
"Really? Thank you, Sayuri-obasan."
Yukima Azuma thanked her and left the kitchen.
Sayuri glanced at the kitchen utensils in the sink, then looked over towards Yukima Azuma in the living room.
This young man seemed to have quite a good idea.
Was he in Wall Street because of this?
Sayuri, of course, knew about Yukima Azuma going abroad.
Though curious, Sayuri clearly didn't want to invade his privacy, so she naturally didn't ask.
Otherwise, it might make her seem like she was investigating Yukima Azuma.
That could make him feel uncomfortable.
...Although, she had been doing exactly that.
But now, looking back, the reason for him going abroad seemed clearer.
...
On the sofa.
Eriri was secretly glancing into the kitchen.
She wanted to know what Yukima Azuma had been talking to her mother about.
When she saw Yukima Azuma walking out of the kitchen, she immediately sat up straight.
Her expression showed she wasn't looking at anything else.
Yukima Azuma sat down beside her.
"What are you watching?"
"Ah, just a TV show"
Eriri wasn't actually watching TV, so she could only give a vague answer.
Yukima Azuma looked up at the TV screen.
The program currently playing was a horror show.
The name was "Super Horror," also called "True Horror."
The full name seemed to be "If They Really Exist, You're Doomed," a super scary story.
The main theme of the show featured two hosts: an old man and a young girl, who told terrifying stories and showed eerie pictures.
The old man was responsible for creating the atmosphere.
The girl was responsible for acting scared and being cute.
The stories were mostly of the quality you'd expect from third-rate horror novels.
The pictures looked like they had been photoshopped.
However, occasionally, the show would feature a horror story that became a hit.
So, the show was quite popular.
It was even broadcast during prime time in the evening.
"So, Eriri likes this kind of show, huh?" Yukima Azuma said with a slight smile.
Hearing this, Eriri finally looked at the TV.
At that moment, the show was about to show a picture.
A blurry photo of a camping trip was zoomed in on.
Through the gap in the tent, a faint ghostly face appeared.
"Ah!"
Eriri, completely unprepared, screamed in fright.
Her body curled up on the sofa, her small face looking a little pale.
Yukima Azuma, standing beside her, watched and smiled silently.
Eriri wasn't good at handling this kind of horror.
She had been like that since she was little.
The TV show had paused on the horror segment, and it was clear Eriri had completely stopped paying attention.
But despite that, seeing Eriri frightened like this was quite cute.
She was already small, and when she curled up, it made people want to protect her.
But before anyone could protect her...
"Hey? Eriri, are you okay? Don't tell me you scary?~"
"Then why were you say you still watching it~?" Yukima Azuma asked, his tone full of suspicion.
Eriri, hearing this, quickly put her hands down.
She straightened up on the sofa.
"I... I, of course, like this show! It's very interesting, not scary at all."
"It's just that you were talking to me earlier, and I wasn't paying attention, so I got scared, that's all!"
Eriri was really good at talking big.
If she didn't, she wouldn't be able to explain herself.
She definitely couldn't admit that she was actually peeking into the kitchen just now.
Although she might have adjusted her words a bit, Eriri's proud nature remained unchanged.
Her body was soft, but her words were as tough as ever.
"Is that so? Well then, let's continue watching."
Yukima Azuma smiled with an ambiguous expression.
"Go ahead and watch! Just don't get so scared that you're too afraid to go home later!"
Eriri replied in a playful tone.
And so, the program continued.
After a series of horrifying images and a commercial break, the show Super Horror reached its most important segment.
This was the storytelling part.
Today's story was about a young woman working in an office, living alone.
After working late into the night, she began to feel like someone was following her on her way home.
She ran desperately back to her house, locked the door tightly, and peered through the peephole. But there was no one outside.
Relieved, she went to turn on the lights inside.
But to her shock, neither the chandelier on the ceiling nor the desk lamp on the table would turn on.
In the midst of her panic, the refrigerator suddenly opened by itself.
In the cold, dim light, a ghostly, grayish-white figure crawled out from the inside of the fridge.
Then... aaaah!
The story unfolded like that.
Yukima Azuma, having watched all kinds of horror movies from his past life and even enjoying horror games, found this simple and somewhat clichd horror story to be nothing special.
Naturally, he didn't react.
But Eriri...
The girl who had never really been exposed to horror stories since childhood...
Just a little darkness, and she wouldn't dare walk through narrow alleys alone.
When the story reached its middle part, she curled up next to Yukima Azuma.
"A Azuma, if you're scared, you can hug me," Eriri said.
Yukima Azuma didn't call her out on it. He simply wrapped his arms around the girl.
From that point on, Eriri spent most of the time covering her face, only peeking at the screen through the gaps between her fingers.
In truth, it would have been better for her to cover her ears, not her eyes.
Fortunately, the program ended right after the story.
Eriri curled up in Yukima Azuma's arms, desperately seeking a sense of safety.
And then...
Click!
The sound of a photo being taken came from beside them.
Eriri jumped in surprise and quickly looked over.
To her shock, she saw her mother, holding a phone, smiling brightly as she snapped a picture.
Eriri froze for a moment.
And then, she realized the position she was in with Yukima Azuma...
It could no longer be called a "suggestive" situation.
It was a little too much.
As Kashiwagi Eri-sensei would say, this was probably the "riding position" in legend.
There was no other choice. Eriri quickly turned away, unable to look at the TV anymore.
"Mom! Delete it quickly!"
She jumped off Yukima Azuma and rushed toward Sayuri.
Sayuri, with her experience dealing with her daughter after teasing her for many years, easily avoided Eriri's attack. She pressed her hand on Eriri's head, keeping her from charging forward.
"I got a nice picture, thanks for the hospitality."
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaa! Delete it now!"
The two of them played around for a while.
Time passed quickly.
Yukima Azuma looked at his watch and stood up, preparing to leave.
"Thanks again for the hospitality, but it's getting late, I should go now."
When Eriri heard Yukima Azuma was about to leave, her face showed a hint of regret.
As for Sayuri...
Sayuri touch her face with one hand, making a confused expression.
Seeing that, Yukima Azuma immediately understood, Sayuri definitely had something planned.
Sure enough.
"Yukima-kun, I was about to tell you, it's raining outside, and it's a heavy rain."
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma was surprised and hurried to the living room, heading to the balcony.
At this point, he finally heard the loud sound of rain pouring.
Eriri's villa was really too big.
In the living room, the sound of rain outside couldn't be heard at all.
Now, the rain was very heavy, and the water had begun to pool on the ground.
Yukima Azuma took out his phone to check.
As a result, even the trains had stopped running due to the heavy rain.
If he called a taxi, who knew how long he would have to wait.
The distance was about ten kilometers, which wasn't too far.
But to get home comfortably, it seemed the only option was to ask Sayuri to drive him home.
Yukima Azuma recalled Sayuri's driving skills.
...Well, forget about it.
Normally, Eriri would have a driver, but that driver probably had finished work at this late hour.
As for Yukima Azuma driving himself, it wasn't impossible.
Unfortunately, at now, he was still too young and didn't have a driver's license.
Looking back at Sayuri.
Yukima Azuma felt that Sayuri was doing this on purpose.
She had intentionally invited him to dinner tonight.
"With this heavy rain, it's dangerous to go home, Yukima-kun, why not stay here? My house has plenty of rooms."
--------------------------------------------
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"In this heavy rain, it's too dangerous to go home. Yukima-kun, why don't you stay here? My house has plenty of rooms," Sayuri suggested.
Yukima Azuma could hear the cheerful laugh hidden behind her calm tone.
"Then I'll be a bother."
Given the situation, Yukima Azuma didn't hesitate and decided to stay.
Sayuri smiled and went upstairs to prepare a guest room.
Yukima Azuma turned back and sat next to Eriri.
"Today, I'm troubling Eriri and Sayuri-obasan again."
Eriri glanced sideways, her hand brushing through her blonde hair.
"Ah, it's fine. I can't let you go outside in this heavy rain, but just this time, alright?"
As usual, her words didn't match her feelings.
But it was still cute.
On the TV, after the commercials, the news program started.
[Recently, a space probe has detected a comet rapidly approaching Earth.]
[It is predicted that this comet, named Charlotte, will only pass by Earth.]
[At its closest, it will be visible with the naked eye in the skies of Hokkaido.]
[A coincidence that astronomers are calling a rare celestial event that happens once in a thousand years.]
[The specific time that the Charlotte comet will pass by Earth is expected to be on July 1st.]
[Maybe by then, we can all marvel at this natural wonder together.]
Both Eriri and Yukima Azuma were captivated by this news.
Yukima Azuma felt that this event seemed strangely familiar.
He tried to recall his memories, but couldn't find any useful information.
Meanwhile, Eriri's eyes lit up.
She looked at Yukima Azuma, hoping he would say something.
Sensing her gaze from beside him, Yukima Azuma snapped out of his thoughts.
Looking back, he saw the expectant look in Eriri's eyes.
Yukima Azuma paused for a moment and then realized.
Just as Eriri began to feel disappointed, he spoke.
"Eriri, this July, let's go see the comet together."
Hearing this, she immediately forgot her usual arrogance and nodded.
"Okay, okay!"
Then she realized.
She was about to say something like, "It's not that I want to go with you, but since you invited me, I don't mind going with you a little, hum." Something typical Tsundere.
The atmosphere in the living room was full of joy.
At this moment, Sayuri came downstairs and informed both of them that the room had been prepared.
It was getting late, so the two of them went upstairs.
Just as they reached the door of the room, Yukima Azuma's phone suddenly rang.
He took out the phone and saw that it was a call from Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Yukima Azuma answered without any intention of avoiding Eriri's gaze.
Eriri, like a small dog, secretly crept closer to Yukima Azuma, wanting to overhear the conversation.
As soon as Yukima Azuma took out his phone, she caught a glimpse of the note on the screen.
She immediately recognized it was a call from the woman with black hair, black stockings, and fat, who was living with Yukima Azuma.
That girl, calling Azuma at this late hourwhat does she want?
Eriri grumbled to herself, tilting her ear to listen.
"Moshi Moshi, may I ask where you booked the 'hostess service'? Give me the address, and I'll report it to the police," came Kasumigaoka Utaha's mocking voice from the other end of the line.
Eriri was fuming with anger.
Azuma didn't book any hostess service!
Besides, if it were a hostess service, wouldn't she be the one involved?
Ah ah ah, no! This whole thing isn't even real!
"Senpai, I was just about to call you. Due to the heavy rain tonight, I might not be able to go home."
Yukima Azuma, accustomed to Kasumigaoka's sarcastic tone, simply stated the truth.
"Then where are you planning to stay tonight?"
Kasumigaoka's voice carried a hint of displeasure, accompanied by some clattering noises.
She must be tapping her long legs in her black stockings on the floor again.
"Eriri mother, Sayuri-obasan, invited me as a guest, so I'm currently at Eriri's house."
Yukima Azuma truthfully responded.
There was no point in lying here, it would be easily exposed.
There was silence on the other end for a moment.
Just as Eriri was about to smirk in triumph, she heard
"At Sawamura's house? Well, that's fine then. Don't forget to bring breakfast tomorrow."
And with that, the call was abruptly ended.
Eriri: ?
Although Kasumigaoka didn't say anything rude, Eriri felt deeply disrespected.
And, in fact, she was.
When Kasumigaoka Utaha first heard that Yukima Azuma wouldn't be coming home tonight, she had been somewhat worried.
But when she heard that he was at Eriri's house, she immediately stopped worrying, her mood lightened, and she hung up.
If Yukima Azuma had said he was staying at Kato Megumi's place, Kasumigaoka Utaha would have definitely called and talked with him all night.
But Eriri
Kasumigaoka Utaha thought of Eriri's Tsundere personality.
Immediately, she was at ease.
After all, one night was nothing to worry about.
.....
"Well then, good night, Eriri."
Waving, Yukima Azuma entered the guest room that Sayuri had prepared.
This guest room was opposite Eriri's room.
If both doors were opened, they could see each other's beds.
Eriri angrily turned back to her room.
She sat down on the chair.
Taking out her contact lenses, she replaced them with her black-framed glasses.
Grabbing her drawing tablet, she initially planned to continue drawing.
But as she looked at the plotline she had drawn earlier, her gaze unintentionally drifted to the side, where Yukima Azuma had left his draft.
Comparing the two, the difference was truly glaring.
After all, she was a well-known Doujinshi artist with impressive drawing skills, but sometimes she still got criticized online for her weak storylines.
At first, Eriri had been quite angry about that.
But now, looking at the plot that Yukima Azuma had written
Although both were for H-manga, Eriri had to admit
Her storyline seemed... a little lacking...
After thinking for a while, Eriri finally decided to take the draft that Yukima Azuma had left behind.
She turned the page on her drawing tablet to the first one.
Starting from scratch, she began to revise her work.
This work was going to be submitted to Comiket in the summer.
It really was better to perfect it a bit more.
She revised it based on the storyline H-manga Yukima Azuma had written for her .
Eriri worked much faster than before.
Before long, the earlier part of the plot had been completely fixed.
The scenes further along were already clear in her mind.
"At this rate... I might finish tonight!"
Eriri realized this and couldn't help but feel astonished.
She was an author who often missed deadlines.
Every time she had to submit something, she almost always worked late into the night just to meet the deadline.
But this time
She still had half the time left.
And she was about to finish it!?
Moreover, the quality of this work could be said to be the best of her career.
After the surprise, Eriri decided to finish it right away, aiming to set a new record for herself.
However, just as she was about to start drawing
Eriri suddenly felt something was off.
Why did the chair feel so damp today?
After thinking for a moment, Eriri felt as though an exclamation mark appeared above her head.
Then...
Ah ah ah aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
She silently screamed like a little squirrel.
Eriri couldn't believe it. While drawing Doujinshi, her body had reacted like this.
In the past, whenever she drew manga, she had never encountered this situation.
Not even when she used her own body as a reference had she experienced anything like this.
Aaaaaaaaaa, why is this happening!?
Eriri jumped to the side, carefully searching for the cause.
The chair was still her chair.
The desk was still her desk.
The manga was still her manga.
So, what's different?
Eriri's gaze stopped on the draft beside her.
Does that mean her body reacted because of the storyline Yukima Azuma wrote?
When she thought about this possibility...
Eriri felt embarrassed and twisted on the floor.
Screaming, squirming, crawling in the darkness.
She rolled around for a while.
With a flushed face, Eriri went to the wardrobe.
She grabbed a bath towel and, feeling embarrassed, went into the bathroom.
Eriri's villa had a shared bathroom for the whole family and private bathrooms in each room.
She was rich, no need to elaborate!
She folded her clothes.
Eriri looked at her soaked underwear.
Her mood became a bit chaotic.
She turned on the shower.
Just rinsed off quickly.
Then, she slipped into the bathtub.
Soaking in the warm water, the girl seemed to have found a bit of peace.
After some time, she finished her bath.
Wrapping herself in the towel, Eriri opened the bathroom door, about to change her clothes.
But just then
A lightning bolt tore through the night sky outside the window.
In that moment, the powerful light made the outside world seem as bright as day.
Eriri was startled and instinctively looked out the window.
Immediately
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A loud thunderclap roared.
At the same time, the lights in the room suddenly went out.
The whole room was plunged into thick darkness, and she couldn't see anything.
"Ah ah ah!"
Eriri screamed in fear, her legs going weak, and she collapsed to the floor.
She wasn't a brave person.
She had always been afraid of the dark, and at night, she always had to leave a small nightlight on by her bed.
On top of that, she had just watched a horror program earlier tonight.
The rain was still pouring outside, with thunder and lightning roaring.
All of these factors combined.
Now, Eriri's courage had almost dropped to negative levels.
"Eriri, are you okay?"
Yukima Azuma's voice called out from outside, accompanied by the sound of knocking.
"Umm..."
Eriri tried to respond, but her voice was already full of tears.
Then, another lightning bolt flashed outside the window.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The loud thunder completely shattered Eriri's psychological defenses.
"God! Help me! Azuma! Help me!"
Eriri cried out in fear, sobbing uncontrollably.
The door to the room opened.
Yukima Azuma entered the dim room, trying to find his bearings in the darkness.
He saw a figure curled up on the floor.
Azuma quickly moved toward her and pulled her into his arms.
"It's okay, Eriri. I'm here, it's okay."
Azuma gently patted her back, soothing her with soft words.
However...
This feeling?
Azuma realized something didn't seem quite right.
But at this moment, Eriri had completely thrown herself into his arms, crying her eyes out.
She didn't give Azuma any time to think.
"Azuma! Huhuhu! I'm so scared!"
The girl buried her head in the crook of his neck.
Large teardrops rolled down his chest.
Her arms were tightly wrapped around him, using a lot of strength.
Azuma patiently patted her back, gently comforting her emotions.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
Suddenly, the lights in the room flickered back on.
"There was thunder just now, and the circuit breaker for the villa tripped for a bit. It's fixed now. Are you two alright?"
Sayuri's voice came from outside the room.
Azuma was about to answer that everything was fine.
Then, at that moment, he saw 'something white' right in front of him.
Only then did he understand why something felt off earlier.
Because right now, Eriri was completely 'defenseless'.
The only towel she had on her body had been crushed between their bodies, now a crumpled mess, offering no protection at all.
Eriri clearly hadn't realized this.
Even though the lights had come back on, Eriri still clung to Yukima Azuma, unable to completely shake off the fear she'd just experienced.
Outside, footsteps grew closer.
Azuma scanned the room, trying to figure out how to handle the situation.
Unfortunately, the closest clothes were probably in the wardrobe.
The only thing that could cover her might be the blanket.
But then, thinking about it, it didn't really matter much whether she covered up or not.
In the end, Azuma decided to stop trying.
The door to the room was opened by Sayuri, who had intended to check on the two.
But when she saw the scene inside, she froze.
Then, as if rewinding time, she smoothly closed the door again.
Footsteps sounded as they quickly moved away, only to return almost immediately.
This time, the door opened just a crack.
Something was thrown inside.
Azuma tried to turn his head to look.
And then, he saw a box of condoms lying silently on the floor.
He couldn't help but mutter, "Just like Sayuri!"
The "matchmaking mom" scenario, which seemed like something straight out of anime, was now playing out in real life.
Under the clear light, Eriri's emotions gradually calmed down.
And as the fear faded, her reason returned.
Finally, Eriri realized the awkward situation between them.
"You! You... you... you!"
She stammered but couldn't form a full sentence.
Eriri didn't even know what more to say.
This scene reminded her of the time back on the schoolyard.
It was so embarrassing she wanted to find a hole to bury herself in.
But Azuma had come to help her again.
The only difference was that Eriri had control over her emotions now. She didn't rush to bash her forehead into Azuma's in hopes of making him forget everything like before.
"You... close your eyes."
Eriri's voice was still choked, as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
"I've closed them. I won't open them," Azuma responded.
He understood well that now wasn't the time to tease Eriri further.
If he did, he might truly traumatize this tsundere girl.
"U... umu... hug me up, please."
Eriri whispered softly in Azuma's ear.
Azuma kept his eyes closed, gently picking Eriri up and standing up.
"Go straight... stop, now turn a little to the right, a bit more, keep going... alright!"
Finally, they reached the bed.
Eriri quickly crawled under the covers.
"Can I open my eyes now?"
Azuma asked.
"Umu... you can open them."
Eriri curled herself up completely under the blanket, leaving only her emerald-green eyes visible, shining with a hint of shyness as she peeked out.
Azuma opened his eyes and saw that Eriri was completely hidden under the blanket, understanding that her level of embarrassment had hit its peak for the day.
He was about to say goodbye and leave.
"Well then, I'll go first"
"No!"
Unexpectedly, before Azuma could finish his sentence, Eriri cut him off with a loud cry.
Her emerald eyes were clearly starting to fill with tears.
"Stay, don't leave me, please?"
Eriri's voice was so soft, almost a whisper.
Seeing her like this, Azuma stood frozen, feeling his heart melt.
Gone was her tsundere shell, and what remained was a tender, vulnerable side of a girl, so alluring it made his heart race.
Very cute!!!
"But... are you sure you're okay?"
Azuma carefully considered his words, unwilling to tease her further in this situation.
"Bottom drawer of the wardrobe, there's my stuff."
Eriri's voice came from beneath the covers, still slightly choked.
Azuma walked over to her wardrobe.
The wardrobe was spacious, filled with all sorts of dresses, each different in style.
There were even a few evening gowns, all tailored perfectly to Eriri's measurements, clearly custom-made.
He pulled open the bottom drawer, and a series of pink, white, and blue clothes printed with small bear patterns appeared in front of him.
Azuma chose the simplest one, a plain-colored set.
He also grabbed another set of pajamas from the wardrobe and brought them over to the blanket.
Azuma gently touched the edge of the blanket, where Eriri was hiding.
"I'll wait in the bathroom, I won't leave, don't worry."
With that, Azuma left the room for a moment.
From under the covers, the "blanket monster" reached out and grabbed the cute clothes he had brought.
A faint rustling sound followed, and then the room fell silent.
A long while later, Eriri's voice finally came from under the blanket.
"You... can come back now."
Azuma walked over.
Eriri had crawled out from under the covers, but her pale face was still flushed.
Her long lashes held a few remaining tears, sparkling like tiny stars.
Eriri moved to the edge of the bed.
Then she turned her face away, avoiding eye contact.
If it were an invitation to sleep together with Yukima Azuma, with her personality, she definitely wouldn't be able to say it.
But tonight, if Yukima Azuma leaves...
Eriri might not be able to sleep at all, and might even cry several times.
Yukima Azuma sat down on the other side of the bed.
Eriri's bed had a feminine style with soft pink hues.
The bedsheet was adorned with cute cherry blossom patterns.
As soon as he sat down, the first sensation was softness.
So soft that it felt as if it could swallow he whole.
But it still provided a supportive feeling.
Yukima Azuma lay down next to Eriri, leaving a moderate gap between them.
Eriri also lay down.
She tried to close her eyes to hide her embarrassment.
But as soon as she closed her eyes, terrifying grayish-white images appeared in the darkness before her.
For Eriri, someone who never watches horror shows or movies...
The terror of this night was truly unbearable, and the aftereffects were still overwhelming.
She could only open her eyes, a sense of unease rising in her heart.
Yukima Azuma vaguely sensed the fragrance from the person beside him.
The fragrance from Eriri, always gentle and sweet.
It was like the smell of ripe pears, sweet and inviting, making one want to take a bite.
At this moment, the fragrance seemed to waver.
Thinking back, he had asked before; others seemed unable to sense this scent.
Yukima Azuma thought about it.
The same had happened when he was with Kato Megumi.
The faint fragrance of Tuberoses flowers, which no one but him could smell.
But it really existed.
Otherwise, Yukima Azuma wouldn't have been able to quickly find the girl with such a subtle presence, like a Ninja.
While he was thinking, Yukima Azuma reached out his hand.
Quickly, he touched the soft hand of the girl, then held it tightly.
Eriri only slightly shuddered, then made no further reaction.
Normally, she would resist a little.
But at this moment, Eriri's ability to defend herself was truly too low.
Yukima Azuma playfully toyed with Eriri's small hand.
He quickly noticed that her palm was slightly cold.
Tonight, she must have been so scared that she couldn't handle it.
Yukima Azuma regretted teasing her, making her watch the entire horror program.
His finger gently stroked her small hand, then slipped between her fingers.
The two of them intertwined their ten fingers tightly.
Eriri's fingers opened and closed.
Repeating this a few times, she finally made up her mind and tightly grasped Yukima Azuma's hand.
(t/n: I feel like this part is so lewd)
Feeling the warmth of his hand transmit to hers.
Eriri slowly closed her eyes.
The frightening things no longer appeared.
Her emotions fluctuated many times.
At this moment, Eriri was extremely tired.
When she felt reassured, she immediately let go of all her defenses.
Her breathing gradually became steady and calm.
In less than five minutes, the girl had fallen into a deep sleep.
Tonight, the heavy rain slammed against the window.
Tonight, the thunder roared, rumbling without stopping.
But none of it could intrude into the girl's dream.
In her dream, there was only the soft bed and the handsome boy.
.....
The next day.
The morning light shone through the window, illuminating the room.
Perhaps due to the heavy rain the night before, the sky today was unusually clear, almost without a cloud in sight.
This made the morning sunlight appear even more radiant than usual.
Sensing the change in light, Eriri's cute eyebrows slightly twitched.
Then, she slowly opened her eyes.
Just like last time.
The boy was still right in front of her.
Eriri shifted her hand slightly.
Mmm, it's numb.
She shifted her foot.
Mmm, it's wrapped too tightly.
She was once again curled around him like the time she slept at Yukima Azuma's house, her whole body like an octopus, tightly holding onto him.
Eriri looked at the boy's profile and fell into deep thought.
Was her sleeping position really that bad?
No, anyway, it's his fault.
Hugging him really felt comfortable.
More comfortable than any pillow in the world.
So she couldn't really blame herself, right?
Perhaps these thoughts in her mind were being sensed.
Eriri saw Yukima Azuma slowly open his eyes.
Their gazes met.
"Good morning, Eriri."
"Um... umu... Good... good morning, Azuma."
There's a saying, "The first time is awkward, but the second time feels familiar."
This time sleeping with Yukima Azuma, Eriri seemed to feel a bit calmer.
Though she still couldn't escape the embarrassment.
But this time, she didn't get angry the moment she woke up.
Letting go of Yukima Azuma, Eriri kicked him off the edge of the bed.
Yukima Azuma got up, stretched, and then looked at Eriri with a reproachful gaze.
"Are you just going to use me and then throw me away?"
"Hmph, so what if it's true! You did your job as my pillow, now get out!"
Eriri arrogantly said, even throwing a haughty look at him.
Her small fang looked rather fierce.
Yukima Azuma shot her a glance before heading toward the door.
Just as Eriri breathed a sigh of relief...
Yukima Azuma picked up an object near the door, casually tossing it straight at her head.
Then he opened the door and ran away.
Eriri, who was hurt, held her head, looking at the object Yukima Azuma had thrown to examine it.
When she clearly saw what it was...
Eriri's whole body immediately became unsettled.
"A... aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
The morning's prelude was marked by Eriri embarrassed scream.
...
"Didn't you have breakfast before you left?"
Sayuri, Eriri's mother, heard her daughter's scream and smiled, asking Yukima Azuma.
"No, no, my family has a cat, it's waiting for me to come home and feed it," Yukima Azuma replied.
"A cat, huh?" Sayuri's gaze was full of meaning.
Yukima Azuma nodded firmly, then said his goodbyes and ran off... again.
.....
Not taking a taxi, as soon as Yukima Azuma stepped out of Eriri's house, he started jogging.
Consider it a morning workout.
When passing by a convenience store,
Yukima Azuma stopped to buy a pack of dumpling wrappers.
Although Kasumigaoka had told him to bring breakfast,
If he only bought prepared food, that senpai with long legs and black stockings would definitely not be pleased.
To make up for it, Yukima Azuma decided to show off his skills by making wontons for breakfast.
Although homemade wontons wrappers would taste better,
Making them in the morning might not be in time.
When he reached the entrance of the apartment complex,
A notification appeared in his view: "Stamina increased slightly."
Yukima Azuma was used to this, so he slowly stopped.
However, this time, something seemed different.
After the "Stamina increased slightly" message,
Another notification appeared:
"Through a complex training process, your stamina has improved. Stamina increased by one point."
Seeing this message appear in his view,
Yukima Azuma was surprised and pleased.
He opened the attribute panel to check.
[Owner: Yukima Azuma]
Stamina: 6 7
Intelligence: 8
Charm: 8
Skills:
Fluent in languages (Lv6)
Literature (Lv6)
Cooking (Lv6)
Programming (Lv4)
Shogi (Lv8)
Notes: Skills below level 4 (beginner level) have been hidden and do not appear on the panel.
Looking at the stamina value increasing from 6 to 7,
Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
He gently clenched his fist,
...But he didn't feel like he could punch through the planet.
When he grabbed the doorknob,
...He didn't accidentally pull it off the door.
But Yukima Azuma did feel that his breathing after the long run had become lighter.
His stamina was gradually recovering.
Whether it was his cardiovascular ability, core strength, or endurance, all had noticeably improved.
After sensing the change in his stamina,
Yukima Azuma's gaze shifted to the line "Shogi Lv8."
Since his match with Yamato Kajin last time, when this skill leveled up,
Yukima Azuma always felt an invisible aura rising from his body whenever he played.
If he didn't consciously suppress it,
This aura was strong enough to directly affect his opponent's physical state.
This had gone beyond just using an aura to mentally suppress others.
Yukima Azuma felt that this skill might not be as simple as he once thought.
Or maybe...
Any skill that reaches the level of "Mastery" would begin to show special transformations?
Currently, Yukima Azuma only had the shogi skill at this level,
So he couldn't make a firm conclusion.
However, the progress bars for the skills "Cooking" and "Literature" had surpassed two-thirds.
Grasping the doorknob of the apartment,
Yukima Azuma put thoughts of skills aside for the moment.
When he opened the door,
He called out loudly into the house:
"I'm home!"
Immediately, a response came from the living room.
But it wasn't the usual greeting.
Instead, it was:
"Does the two-side braided blonde hair feel good? Does Ex-boyfriend-kun still remember the way home? I thought my Ex-boyfriend-kun would never want to come back."
Facing Kasumigaoka's sharp and mocking words,
Yukima Azuma could only smile awkwardly in response.
A girl's jealousy was unavoidable.
And one couldn't be too harsh.
Otherwise, it would only hurt the girl's heart.
If she was jealous, all that was needed was to comfort her.
"How could that be? I came back quickly because I didn't want Kasumigaoka-senpai to be hungry."
Yukima Azuma displayed a responsible and determined demeanor.
Kasumigaoka Utaha snorted lightly, clearly appeased by his words.
"Where's my breakfast?"
"I was afraid store-bought food might not be good for your health, so let me make it myself for you, senpai."
"Sounds good, but will it taste good?"
"Haha, I'll make wontons, my specialty. Have you ever had them, senpai?"
"Wontons? If they taste bad, you'll be washing the dishes."
"I promise they'll taste great!"
"Umu."
See? It's not that hard to comfort her.
Yukima Azuma grabbed the packet of dumpling wrappers and headed to the kitchen.
He took out pork, fresh shrimp, and lotus root from the fridge.
With practiced movements, he began preparing the filling.
Although the dumpling wrappers were a bit difficult to handle,
There was no better alternative, as the supermarket didn't have anything better.
Fortunately, with his Lv6 cooking skill, Yukima Azuma could make up for the wrapper's flaws with his expertise.
Before long, a pile of wontons with neat folds appeared on the cutting board.
Yukima Azuma made a little extra,
To freeze and use for late-night meals later.
Just as Yukima Azuma was about to place the pot on the stove to boil water,
A knock came from the entrance.
Yukima Azuma paused his work.
He looked towards the entrance.
On a Sunday morning like this, who could be visiting?
It couldn't be Eriri.
She had to go to school tomorrow, and whether she would even be interested in someone else was unclear.
Sora Ginko?
Maybe, but the chances were low.
There hadn't been any noteworthy tournaments recently.
Sora Ginko traveling from Chiba to Tokyo wasn't exactly easy.
Kato Megumi?
Yukima Azuma didn't smell the familiar scent of tuberoses flowers.
While still in doubt,
Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly walked down the hallway and opened the door forcefully.
But to her surprise, there was no one there.
Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced around in confusion.
Until
"Hello, may I ask if this is the home of Yukima Azuma-sensei?"
A soft, gentle voice called from below.
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked down.
She saw a cute little girl with long brown hair, wearing a small red backpack, holding a large white bunny bag, standing at the door.
Kasumigaoka Utaha froze for a moment.
Her initially cold demeanor softened.
"Yes, this is the home of Yukima Azuma. Who are you looking for, little girl?"
She couldn't help it.
No matter how cold Kasumigaoka Utaha was to others,
In front of this cute little girl, who looked like she was in the first or second grade of elementary school,
Her attitude softened.
The little girl was wearing a blue and white dress, with a small white beret on her head.
Her long brown hair was tied into two pigtails at the back of her head, with one strand of hair (an ahoge) sticking out from the beret like a strange little tail.
The large bunny bag she was carrying was almost as big as she was.
Facing this adorable child, even Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't keep up her cold demeanor.
"Uh... I'm looking for Yukima-sensei!"
The little girl hesitated but spoke very seriously.
"Come on in," Kasumigaoka Utaha invited the little girl inside.
She then turned to call into the kitchen: "Yukima-kun, someone's here to see you."
If it weren't for the little girl behind her,
Kasumigaoka Utaha would have surely shouted: "Azuma! Your illegitimate child is here to see you!"
Yukima Azuma finished washing his hands.
He removed his apron and stepped out of the kitchen.
Seeing the cute little girl following Kasumigaoka Utaha,
He couldn't help but be surprised.
In his memory, he had never met this adorable girl.
With Yukima Azuma's memory, if he had ever interacted with someone, even if a long time had passed, he wouldn't forget them.
"I'm Yukima Azuma, may I ask who you are?"
Despite the girl's young age, he still maintained his manners.
Yukima Azuma asked seriously.
Since the moment she saw Yukima Azuma, the little girl's eyes seemed to be sparkling.
"Sensei! Please accept me as your disciple!"
With a burst of energy, she shouted enthusiastically.
As soon as she finished speaking, the little girl immediately kneeled on the floor in a seiza position.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, witnessing this scene, raised an eyebrow and glanced at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma found this situation very familiar.
"Accept a disciple? Even though you say that, I still don't understand what's going on."
"Anyway, please stand up first. Let's talk and discuss the matter of accepting a disciple later."
Yukima Azuma extended his hand toward the kneeling girl.
When the girl saw his hand reaching out, the light in her eyes flickered several times, shining even brighter.
Her tiny hands rested on Yukima Azuma's hand.
Yukima Azuma pulled her up.
"First of all, what's your name? You know me, but I don't know you. Please introduce yourself."
"Oh, I'm sorry for being rude. My name is Hintsuru Ai, I'm the daughter of the Hinatsuru family."
Hintsuru Ai introduced herself.
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment.
It didn't take long for him to remember.
The motel where he had fought with Yamato Kajin was owned by the Hinatsuru family.
The reason he remembered so quickly was because the decor of the Hinatsuru motel matched Yukima Azuma's tastes perfectly.
The calligraphy painting with the four Kanji characters.
Once he realized her identity, Yukima Azuma understood what Hintsuru Ai meant when she spoke about wanting to be accepted as a disciple.
He recalled the memories of this cute little girl.
Hinatsuru Ai.
A very talented little girl in the game of shogi.
She is the only daughter of the Hinatsuru family, one of the largest hot spring hotel chains in Japan.
Moreover, she is the only child in the Hinatsuru family.
A girl with a future that will undoubtedly inherit the enormous wealth of the family.
"At the hotel, I watched your shogi match, Sensei. You were amazing!"
"The way you battled, every step and every decisive move, it really made my heart flutter."
"That's why, no matter what, I want to learn shogi, I want to be your disciple."
"Sensei, please accept me!"
Hinatsuru Ai became more and more excited as she spoke.
In the end, she grabbed Yukima Azuma's hand, her eyes filled with hope.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma thought for a moment.
"Well... since you're here, you probably haven't had breakfast yet, right? Let's have breakfast first, and then we can talk."
Yukima Azuma gestured for Hinatsuru Ai to sit in the living room.
"I can help! My family owns a hotel, and I've been learning to cook since I was little!"
The moment she heard about breakfast, Hinatsuru Ai immediately became enthusiastic.
Yukima Azuma gently patted the ahoge on her head.
"You don't need to, the food is almost done, just need to heat it up."
Hinatsuru Ai nodded obediently and sat down at the table in the living room.
Yukima Azuma went into the kitchen.
It seemed like there wouldn't be much left of the wontons this time.
Kasumigaoka Utaha followed him into the kitchen.
"Are you really planning to take that little girl as your disciple?" Kasumigaoka Utaha whispered in Yukima Azuma's ear.
"Well, let's see what her talent is first. If it's good, it wouldn't hurt to accept her," Yukima Azuma expressed his thoughts.
Kasumigaoka Utaha peeked her head out, looking at the little girl in the living room with her hopeful gaze.
It felt like this wasn't a good thing.
But the girl was so young, there shouldn't be any problems, right?
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
The dumplings were dropped into the pot.
Normally, it's best to use a special soup base to cook them, for the best flavor.
But Yukima Azuma had still been at Sawamura house last night.
He really didn't have time to prepare.
This time, he could only make do.
But even though it was rushed,
When each dumpling, plump and glossy, was laid out in front of the two of them, neither could help but have their mouths water.
"Please give it a try, this is my masterpiece~."
Yukima Azuma looked very proud.
Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at him.
Then she scooped up a dumpling with a spoon.
Her small mouth blew on it a few times.
Then she bit into it.
It was still a little hot, so Kasumigaoka Utaha kept blowing on it.
The soup inside the dumpling burst out, landing on her tongue, and the fresh, sweet flavor made her senses explode.
At first, she thought this "masterpiece" was just a way to flatter her.
But now, looking back,
Perhaps this really was his masterpiece.
Kasumigaoka Utaha even thought: if I ate like this every morning, I might never get tired of it.
And then she wondered, what if I can't eat it anymore in the future?
However, compared to those thoughts,
Kasumigaoka Utaha squinted slightly, savoring the wonderful taste before her and the joy that the person who created this dish brought her.
"Have you ever made this for someone else?"
"Never."
Yukima Azuma wasn't lying.
His cooking skills had only started to develop in the past year.
Dumplings were his favorite dish, so in the process of honing his skills, he had practiced most with this dish.
It was just a shame that, during this time, no girl had come to his house in the mornings.
So, this was really the first time Yukima Azuma had cooked dumplings for someone else.
Upon hearing Yukima Azuma's clear and decisive answer,
Kasumigaoka Utaha squinted again, then took another bite of the dumpling.
It tasted even better.
However, most things aren't as perfect as we hope.
"This is amazing! So delicious! This is the best thing I've ever eaten!"
"Sensei, you're so talented! Sensei! I want to learn how to make this too!"
Hinatsuru Ai, after swallowing a dumpling, started speaking non-stop with her small mouth.
Her admiring gaze was almost brighter than the morning sunlight outside the window.
The tiny ahoge on her head was quickly wiggling.
Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed.
She should have kicked this girl out from the start.
Should have waited until breakfast was finished before letting her in.
....
After breakfast,
Yukima Azuma led Hinatsuru Ai to the room where the shogi board was kept.
The little loli sat easily on the cushion.
Her sitting posture was very proper.
Yukima Azuma brought over a shogi box.
Inside was the shogi set gifted by President Tsukimitsu.
Compared to regular sets, this one was made from rare green wood.
The characters carved on it were also done by skilled artisans by hand.
This set, according to rumors, was quite valuable.
Moreover, it had collectible value.
It was a limited edition shogi set from the Japan Shogi Association.
Hinatsuru Ai took the set in her hands and immediately felt the difference.
She picked up a rook piece and began fiddling with it non-stop.
Kasumigaoka Utaha also came closer, standing by to observe.
Even though she didn't understand shogi,
She understood Yukima Azuma.
Just by looking at his reactions,
Kasumigaoka Utaha could guess what kind of person this little loli actually was.
(t/n: ahhhhh, is shogi time, I'm not even sure which part is right or wrong to correct, so don't overthink it)
Yukima Azuma sat down and set up the pieces.
However, the pieces were not fully arranged yet.
When the skill levels between the two players are vastly different, they apply a handicap to balance the game.
The simplest method is to give a handicap at the start.
Then, give up the left rook.
Next, give up the bishop.
Typically, this is also a common method in training matches.
Starting with a handicap plus giving up two pieces.
If the difference is still too large,
Then the handicap will extend to giving up: the promoted rook, bishop, two rooks, two knights, two silver generals, and two gold generals.
Of course, usually, four pieces is the limit.
Anything beyond that is simply an adult playing with a child who doesn't understand.
At this point, Yukima Azuma chose to give up three pieces.
The left rook, the bishop, and especially the promoted rook.
Upon seeing Yukima Azuma's arrangement, Hinatsuru Ai's gaze darkened slightly.
She wanted to play a fair game of shogi with Yukima Azuma.
But giving up three pieces really made her feel disrespected.
"Ai! When playing shogi, you must focus, not be distracted! You must completely ignore everything outside the board!"
Yukima Azuma's stern voice made Hinatsuru Ai shudder.
She immediately started to calm herself down.
No longer thinking about anything else.
She focused entirely on the board.
With the movement of the bishop,
The game began.
Hinatsuru Ai used the bishop's vertical opening.
Well, to be more precise, that was the only opening she knew.
She hadn't had formal lessons.
She had only taught herself by reading books.
She admired Yukima Azuma's style of play, which is why she wanted to learn shogi.
So, what she knew was simply the vertical bishop opening that Yukima Azuma used in his game against Yamato Kajin.
Yukima Azuma also moved his bishop.
In this game, he would not hold back at all.
The three-piece handicap was truly to test Hinatsuru Ai's skills.
Yukima Azuma's shogi skill level 8 swept across the board like a gust of wind.
By the 30th move, Yukima Azuma had nearly equalized the position despite the handicap.
By the 40th move, Hinatsuru Ai found herself at a disadvantage.
By the 60th move, the game quickly entered its final phase.
Hinatsuru Ai's eyes were filled with tears.
She stared intently at the board.
Trying to find a glimmer of hope to turn the tide.
She didn't know when it happened,
But the light in her ocean-blue eyes had turned a faint shade of purple.
"This... this... this... this is it!"
Hinatsuru Ai moved a silver piece into a key position.
This move could almost reverse the entire game.
Without this move, the game would end in the next ten moves.
And after this move...
"I lost."
Hinatsuru Ai cried as she conceded the game.
Finally, the game had stretched to the 111th move.
If it had been someone just starting out or at level 1 or 2, they probably wouldn't have been able to last this long.
Yukima Azuma looked toward Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, of course, understood his meaning.
At this point, she couldn't deny Hinatsuru Ai's talent.
She could tell that Yukima Azuma hadn't held back at all.
A grade school child.
To resist this much against Yukima Azuma, there could be no other reason besides talent.
However,
"There are plenty of talented kids out there, do you plan on taking them all as disciples?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha snorted, speaking.
Upon hearing this, Yukima Azuma only sighed.
"Ai, how about we play another game? Is that okay?"
"Umu! I'm fine!"
Hinatsuru Ai wiped the tears from her eyes and said seriously.
"This time, it might hurt a bit, can you handle it?"
"It's fine, sensei, you don't need to worry about me!"
Yukima Azuma reached out and patted the little loli's head.
"Let's fight."
The board was reset.
Hinatsuru Ai once again held the bishop piece in her hand.
However, before she could make a move, she shuddered.
From the other side of the board, an overwhelming pressure surged toward her.
The pressure felt as if it could materialize, stabbing into her fragile heart.
Her breath became rapid.
Hinatsuru Ai couldn't even bring herself to lift her head to look at the opponent across from the board.
It was terrifyingwas this the presence of sensei? It felt... like she could barely breathe.
Hinatsuru Ai clenched her fists, gritted her teeth, and then placed the piece down.
The game began.
Unlike before,
This time, every time she placed a piece,
Immediately, from across the board, a "clink!" rang out, and her opponent's piece would fall to the table.
Though there was no clock set by the side,
Under this pressure, Hinatsuru Ai had no choice but to think faster.
Each move, though carefully considered, was immediately countered in the blink of an eye.
The sense of despair was incomparable to before.
Her breath became increasingly difficult.
This was a tactic rarely used in professional matches.
Because if one can anticipate the opponent's moves, just making the right move at the right moment can create psychological pressure on them.
This strategy can break the mentality of a player.
It felt like someone was choking her.
And with the added pressure Yukima Azuma was emitting,
It felt like he was pushing Hinatsuru Ai to the brink of collapse.
Tears, she didn't even know when they started, began to fall, one by one.
Hinatsuru Ai's small body felt like it was on a tiny boat in the middle of a storm.
She tightened her shirt in front of her chest, gripping it so hard it twisted.
Such a tragic scene.
Even Kasumigaoka Utaha, who stood beside, could no longer watch.
When she was about to step forward, wanting to say something to Yukima Azuma,
Yukima Azuma raised his hand under the table, signaling for her not to approach.
Kasumigaoka Utaha paused for a moment, then shifted her gaze back to the small figure, observing more closely.
Under this pressure, even though Hinatsuru Ai was clearly suffering to the extreme,
Her ocean-blue eyes, tinged with a faint shade of purple, remained fixed on the board.
In those eyes, there was pain, but no sign of surrender or defeat.
This time, Hinatsuru Ai persisted until the 130th move.
At the moment of conceding the game,
Yukima Azuma immediately withdrew his overwhelming presence.
He stepped across the board and caught Hinatsuru Ai, who was about to fall.
"Are you okay?"
"I... I'm fine. I can still... keep playing."
Hinatsuru Ai was like a resilient bamboo, not bending even when the storm rages.
"Let's call it a day for now. You should rest first, and we can talk about the disciple thing later."
"Sensei, did I... pass the test?"
"Mm, you passed."
Yukima Azuma picked up Hinatsuru Ai and laid her down on the couch in the living room to rest.
...
After leaving the room,
Yukima Azuma looked toward Kasumigaoka Utaha.
His gaze seemed to say: "That's how it is, after all."
Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed.
What else could she say?
The child, not only did she possess exceptional talent, but also the courage and perseverance to keep walking down this path.
A heart as resilient as her, almost like a unique magic, helped her overcome every obstacle without fear.
"Do as you wish, just teach her properly if you're going to."
After saying that, Kasumigaoka Utaha left.
Yukima Azuma watched her figure, shaking his head and chuckling softly.
So, even senpai is a little tsundere, huh?
It made sense thoughif she weren't, she wouldn't have become friends with Eriri.
He walked out of the kitchen, grabbed a few ice cubes from the fridge,
And brought a glass of ice water into Hinatsuru Ai's room.
As for taking her as a disciple,
Yukima Azuma had his own thoughts on the matter.
This, in truth, did hold certain benefits for him.
Aside from Hinatsuru Ai's background,
If we focus just on her,
The two games that Yukima Azuma had played with Hinatsuru Ai had actually boosted his shogi skill progress slightly.
Although compared to the long, drawn-out progress bar, this increase was insignificant,
It was still far more than any self-training Yukima Azuma had done.
He had realized long ago
That skill development needed practice.
Learning from masters of high caliber or competing against prodigies with superior talent,
Both could significantly accelerate skill growth beyond what normal practice could achieve.
And as for shogi,
In terms of learning, it was clear that there wasn't much left for him to learn.
Even Meijin himself no longer had the qualifications to teach Yukima Azuma.
As for prodigies,
Those who stand out in the shogi world are naturally prodigies themselves.
But when it came to innate talent, Hinatsuru Ai, just in terms of raw ability, was already more outstanding than even many professional players.
So, in terms of improving his shogi skills,
Looking at the big picture, taking Hinatsuru Ai as a disciple and frequently playing games with her might very well be the best option.
So, is this a little loli?
Nuh-uh, this is an experience package!
However... even though Yukima Azuma agreed and Hinatsuru Ai agreed,
That still wasn't enough.
After all, she was the pampered young lady of a prestigious family.
.....
Two hours later, Hinatsuru Ai had recovered.
Although during the game, Yukima Azuma had only used a small fraction of his aura
Perhaps just a tiny fraction compared to what he had used to scare the gyaru girls before, it was still somewhat harsh for an elementary school child.
Anyway, it was good that she had recovered.
Once she had regained her composure
The first thing Hinatsuru Ai did was sit up straight in front of Yukima Azuma, her face waiting for judgment.
Yukima Azuma reached out to pat her head, gently brushing her cute ahoge.
"You don't need to be so tense. Did I scare you earlier? Sorry about that."
Enjoying the feeling of being patted on the head, Hinatsuru Ai quickly shook her head after hearing Yukima Azuma words.
"It's fine, sensei! You don't need to apologize! I'm completely okay!"
Since Hinatsuru Ai said so, Yukima Azuma didn't continue discussing it.
"Well then, let's get down to business."
Yukima Azuma sat down across from Hinatsuru Ai.
Hinatsuru Ai sat up straight, looking serious.
Goku Gokuri (*JP Glup*.)
"You have a lot of potential, and you have a resilient heart. Your talent is more than enough."
When she heard Yukima Azuma's evaluation, Hinatsuru Ai immediately became so happy she almost jumped up.
"But!"
Yukima Azuma suddenly shifted his tone, pulling her back from her excitement.
"When you came to me today, did you discuss it with your parents first?"
Hearing Yukima Azuma's question, Hinatsuru Ai glanced to the side, a little embarrassed.
"Because... mom didn't agree... so... so..."
"Ah, so you sneaked out, right?"
Yukima Azuma continued, causing Hinatsuru Ai's ahoge to droop. She nodded as if admitting her fault.
"Well, even though your ability is sufficient, I can't accept you as a disciple right away."
Hearing Yukima Azuma say this, Hinatsuru Ai immediately lifted her head, ready to defend herself.
However, Yukima Azuma raised his hand to signal her to calm down.
"Regardless, your family's opinion is important. Family ties must be respected."
"Therefore, I'll take you home first, and then you need to sincerely apologize to your parents."
"As for becoming my disciple, if you can get permission from them, I'll definitely accept you."
Yukima Azuma promised.
Hinatsuru Ai's ahoge, which had been drooping, immediately perked up when she heard Yukima Azuma's promise.
Now it started spinning like a Hopter from Doraemon. (t/n: Takekoputa) (t/n: is that the named, right?)
"I'll talk to your parents, but if we go now, they will probably refuse."
"Therefore, let's leave it for after I win the Ryuou title. I will definitely achieve that title."
"After I get the Ryuou title, I'll have your parents reconsider, and then I'll definitely be able to convince them."
"At that point, I'll officially accept you as my disciple. Is that okay?"
Yukima Azuma asked with a smile.
Hinatsuru Ai, at that moment, continuously nodded rapidly, so much so that her "Doraemon Hopter" seemed to be pulling her up into the air.
"Then it's settled!"
"Okay! Sensei, we have to pinky swear!"
"Sure, pinky swear."
"So, sensei, what will we do next?"
"Of course, we're going to take you home. What do you think?"
"Umu!"
...
So, Yukima Azuma, holding Hinatsuru Ai's large bunny bag with one hand and her hand with the other, was ready to head to Ishikawa Prefecture.
However, before that, Yukima Azuma took Hinatsuru Ai to a shogi club in Chiba, where his master lived. It was an opportunity for her to get familiar with the place.
While she wasn't officially his disciple yet, she could come to the shogi club to learn in the meantime.
As for Yukima Azuma, aside from using this place to gain experience... I mean, to guide Hinatsuru Ai, he could also learn from his own master.
Although Yukima Azuma was very strong, he still had certain shortcomings when it came to teaching disciples.
Nonetheless, Yukima Azuma success in shogi was largely due to his innate talent and the help of the system.
Hinatsuru Ai visiting the dojo in Chiba, where Yukima Azuma master, Kiyotaki Kousuke, lived, would also help her in her training. This would be very beneficial to her development.
(T/N: Ayo, 2900 words, and when I finished translating the chapter, I remembered Ai should call the MC Shishou, she do it in anime... i think...so, i'll do that in the next chapter.)
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Monday.
Another school day.
Yukima Azuma had just entered the classroom.
The classmates were about to gather around to ask Yukima Azuma what he had been up to during the days he had taken off.
But Kirisu Mafuyu rushed over.
"You, come here right now!"
Standing right at the classroom door, Kirisu Mafuyu's expression looked extremely scary.
"Sensei, it's not even time for morning class yet. If you're angry, at least wait until it's over!"
Yukima Azuma put on a sorrowful face.
The whole class, which was already frightened, couldn't help but laugh when they heard Yukima Azuma's words.
Even Eriri, who always sat next to Yukima Azuma and usually appeared indifferent, turned her head to stifle a laugh.
"Stop talking back! Is it because I've been too lenient with you, or are you just at that rebellious age? Come with me to the office right now!"
Kirisu Mafuyu was really angry.
She had given him a leave of absence in good faith.
But this guy...
It had only been one week since the semester started.
And he had only come to class for two days.
If she didn't discipline him properly, next time she saw him, it might not be until next month!
Yukima Azuma could only sulk and leave the classroom, following Kirisu Mafuyu to the office.
"Well, here we go again, early in the morning,"
The teacher who had seen Yukima Azuma being led to the office last week smiled and said.
"Kirisu-sensei is really understanding, sacrificing her break time just for a problem student like you."
Yukima Azuma covered his face, pretending to be extremely guilty.
"If you had known, you would have studied properly!"
Kirisu Mafuyu didn't say much, grabbing his ear and pulling him back to his seat.
The atmosphere in the office was cheerful.
Sitting down at her desk, Kirisu Mafuyu opened a drawer, pulled out a stack of assignments, and tossed them on the table.
Clearly, she had prepared them in advance.
"Now do all of these assignments for me!"
"Ehh? What about morning class?"
"You still remember there's a morning class?"
"I mean you, Kirisu-sensei."
"I've asked another teacher to cover the class!"
Upon hearing that, Yukima Azuma immediately understood that he wouldn't be getting out of doing these assignments today.
He casually grabbed an empty chair from the nearby desk.
He received a sharp glare from Kirisu Mafuyu.
Yukima Azuma quietly sat down and began working on the assignments on the desk.
These assignments were from various subjects.
Language, math, Englishevery subject was included.
The range of the questions was fairly narrow, seemingly focusing on the content from the past few lessons.
Yukima Azuma immediately realized these were all topics that had been covered in the past week.
This set of assignments was probably put together by Kirisu Mafuyu herself.
She was probably worried that he wouldn't be able to keep up with the pace after missing school.
Thinking of that, Yukima Azuma increased his writing speed.
It didn't take long.
"Kirisu-sensei, I'm done."
Kirisu Mafuyu was drinking water.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's voice, she almost spat her tea in his face.
She coughed a few times, then took out her phone to check the time.
Less than five minutes had passed.
Her anger, already high, was growing even more.
This guy, not only did he skip school, but even the pile of assignments she had worked hard to prepare was done carelessly.
She snatched the assignments from him, looking dissatisfied.
Kirisu Mafuyu leaned down to check them.
At first, she thought Yukima Azuma had just filled in a few answers randomly.
After all, how else could he have completed the pile she expected to take half an hour in less than five minutes?
However, after just two glances, Kirisu Mafuyu realized something.
It seemed that all of Yukima Azuma's answers were correct.
She pulled out the answer key to compare.
Result: Every single subject in the pile, Yukima Azuma had answered correctly.
In an instant, Kirisu Mafuyu felt a bit helpless.
She couldn't deny ithe truly was a genius, the top scorer in the entrance exam.
Even skipping school, it seemed that exams were still a breeze for him.
Maybe she should just let him be, after all, he was a genius.
This thought crossed her mind for just a moment.
Kirisu Mafuyu immediately shook her head, pushing the thought out of her mind.
How could she think like that? She was a teacher!
Still, she couldn't let him get too smug about it.
Kirisu Mafuyu took out the previous year's final exams for all the subjects from her drawer.
These were the tests she had carefully prepared, and the questions earlier had been taken from here.
"Finish this lot too!"
Kirisu Mafuyu was determined to take the wind out of his sails.
...
And so, by the time the morning class ended...
"Kirisu-sensei, if there's nothing else, may I leave now?" Yukima Azuma asked, his expression drained of energy, reluctantly speaking.
It was quite amusing. Not to mention the final exams for the 10th grade. (t/n: first year high school)
Even if Kirisu Mafuyu brought out the graduation exam papers, Yukima Azuma could still solve them with ease.
Being a reincarnated person with an intelligence index of 8, it would be a joke to be stumped by high school exams!
Kirisu Mafuyu turned away from the stack of tests.
Her voice was weak:
"Wait, don't go yet. I have a few questions for you. What did you do last Thursday and Friday? I checked your official match schedule, and you didn't have any games on those days."
Yukima Azuma scratched his head.
He hadn't expected Kirisu Mafuyu to even check his match schedule.
A regular teacher wouldn't be this meticulous.
"I went abroad to discuss work for the company,"
Yukima Azuma finally said hesitantly.
He felt like if he lied here, Kirisu Mafuyu would keep pressing for more answers.
"Huh? Company?"
A big question mark seemed to appear above Kirisu Mafuyu's head.
Was she even educating a student at this point?
"It's from the game I worked on before, just earned a little extra money,"
Yukima Azuma explained briefly.
"Kirisu-sensei, I'm sure you know that the current economic situation in Japan isn't great."
"If I leave that money in my account, there's a high chance it will lose value."
"So, I went abroad to find an investor I agreed with, started a company, and in short, had to invest the money."
Kirisu Mafuyu was at a loss for words.
What was she supposed to say?
A student sitting in her office, discussing the country's economic situation with herit really felt absurd.
"Sighhh~, Alright, fine, as long as you know what you're doing."
Kirisu Mafuyu's tone sounded like a parent out of touch with the times, facing a child who had already found success in their career.
"Yes, if Kirisu-sensei encounters any trouble, just let me know, I'll help."
Yukima Azuma turned the situation around, speaking as though he were the superior.
After all, Kirisu Mafuyu had already shown this much concern for him.
Despite her stubbornness and clumsy approach as a teacher, Yukima Azuma was still willing to help her out with any troubles in her life, given the care she had shown him.
"Umu, alright... Wait?"
Kirisu Mafuyu responded instinctively.
Halfway through her sentence, she realized something was off.
How could a teacher ask a student to solve her problems!?
"It's time for class, I'll go ahead!"
Yukima Azuma quickly made his exit as the situation seemed to take a turn for the worse.
"Ahhhhhh! You delinquent student! Vengeance will be mine!!"
In the office, Kirisu Mafuyu shouted in frustration.
...
Back in the classroom.
The math class had begun.
The math teacher for class 1E, seeing Yukima Azuma return after a few days of absence, didn't seem interested in making things difficult for him.
He had been in the office earlier too.
He saw that Yukima Azuma had finished the entire semester's exam in the blink of an eye.
As long as he didn't disturb the other students during class, the teacher wouldn't bother, even if he was dozing off.
Geniuses had privileges.
Yukima Azuma sat down at his desk.
Before he could even open his math book, a crumpled piece of paper flew onto his desk.
Curious, Yukima Azuma opened the piece of paper.
Just by the handwriting, he knew it was from Kato Megumi.
[Did Azuma-san get scolded? Kirisu-sensei looks really angry.] (Megumi)
Just reading those words, Yukima Azuma could almost hear Kato Megumi's gentle voice in his head.
[Got scolded, but managed to cover it up somehow.] (Azuma)
Yukima Azuma wrote back, then tossed the paper back.
And so, the two began passing notes to each other.
[Well, there's no other way around it, it's Azuma-san's fault for not studying properly.] (Megumi)
[Wait, is Megumi mad too?] (Azuma)
[In cooking class on Friday, I had to do everything by myself.] (Megumi)
[I'm really sorry!] (Azuma)
[Just kidding, I'm not mad. You probably had something important to do when you took those days off, I understand.] (Megumi)
[Wow, Megumi-sama, you're truly an angel!] (Azuma)
[Compliments won't do you any good.] (Megumi)
[As long as Megumi-sama is happy, that's the greatest benefit for me.] (Azuma)
[Feels like Azuma-san is the male lead in one of those trashy light novels about predator-like boys.] (Megumi)
[Emotional damage!] (Azuma)
[Just kidding~.] (Megumi)
Suddenly, a piece of paper rolled over from Eriri seat.
[You two, focus on your studies! Stop passing notes and teasing each other!] (Eriri)
[How about we go shopping after school?] (Azuma)
[Sure, but didn't Azuma-san have a club activity?] (Megumi)
[Grrrrrr! You two! There's a limit!] (Eriri)
[The club activities are fine, so I can take a break! Also, Eriri, aren't you going out after school?] (Azuma)
[They got suspended... So that's why.] (Megumi)
[That's how you invite someone? I'll deduct points! But... but since you begged like that, I can't really say no!] (Tsundere Eriri)
A piece of paper rolled to the math teacher's feet as he was walking down the aisle to check on students.
Eriri's eyes went wide.
Her whole body seemed to turn into black-and-white sketches.
The math teacher picked up the paper, glanced at Yukima Azuma.
In the end, he didn't say anything. He just placed the paper back on Azuma's desk as he walked by.
The bell for the end of the period rang.
"Uwawah, I thought I was going to die!"
Eriri sighed in relief while rubbing her "smooth" chest.
"It's all your fault, Eriri! You even messed up throwing a piece of paper! Noob, practice more!"
Yukima Azuma teased.
Eriri immediately bared her teeth, looking like she wanted to bite him.
"Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm going to find Kita-chan to hang out."
With that, Eriri ran off to find Kita Ikuyo.
However, today, Kita Ikuyo seemed a bit distracted.
...
After school.
Eriri seemed uneasy.
"Sawamura-san, what's going on?"
Kato Megumi asked softly.
"I don't know, but I feel like Kita-chan has something on her mind lately. When we talk, she seems... absent."
Eriri sighed, expressing her concern.
After saying this, she realized.
She probably shouldn't have confided in Kato Megumi about this.
Though they were friends, they weren't yet close enough to talk about things like this.
"If that's the case, why don't we follow her and see what happens?"
Yukima Azuma pointed to Kita Ikuyo, who was heading out of the school gate.
"Eh? Won't that be a bit rude?"
Eriri hesitated.
"Which is more important, friends or manners?"
Yukima Azuma's question made Eriri drop her hesitation.
So, the three of them quietly followed Kita Ikuyo...
After school, Kita Ikuyo didn't head home.
Instead, she went toward Shimokitazawa.
Shimokitazawa was a bustling commercial street.
It was filled with many 100-yen stores and bars.
Since Kita Ikuyo was a standout student, it wasn't unusual for her to be walking down this street.
But walking alone did seem a little odd.
Normally, one would go shopping with friends, right?
The three of them silently trailed behind.
They weren't hiding their presence, yet it seemed that Kita Ikuyo didn't notice them at all.
Azuma wonder if it was because of Kato Megumi presence or not.
They watched as Kita Ikuyo entered a music store, spoke briefly with the owner.
Then, she came out with a large instrument bag on her back.
It looked like either a guitar or bass.
It didn't seem like a new purchase; she probably had left it at the store before and came to pick it up after school.
"So Kita-san knows how to play an instrument."
Kato Megumi glanced at Eriri.
Eriri looked a bit puzzled.
"Is that so? Why didn't I know about this?"
Yukima Azuma remained silent, having almost figured everything out already.
While the three of them quietly whispered and speculated, Kita Ikuyo, with the instrument bag on her back, turned a corner and disappeared from their sight.
When the three of them chased after her, they couldn't find her anymore.
She must have gone into one of the shops on the street.
Eventually, they had to give up.
They'd talk to Kita Ikuyo directly tomorrow.
"So, what do we do now?" Eriri asked helplessly.
Yukima Azuma pointed to a nearby crepe shop.
"Since we're here, let's eat something, drink something, and walk around a bit. By the way, weren't we planning to go shopping earlier?"
With that, the three of them entered the crepe shop.
...
The time spent strolling around was really enjoyable.
Kato Megumi clearly loved shopping.
She had once introduced herself as someone who liked shopping.
It's just too bad that, aside from Yukima Azuma, no one remembered that. (t/n: poor Megumi)
Eriri wasn't very interested in shopping.
But whenever Yukima Azuma teased her a little bit, her tsundere attitude made the atmosphere much more lively.
However, after the lesson from that rainy night, Yukima Azuma started to hold back, not teasing Eriri too much.
"This is a fortune-telling shop. Let's check it out!"
Eriri pointed at the fortune-telling shop by the street and called out to the other two.
Yukima Azuma looked over.
It was a shop decorated in an astrological style.
With purple decor, the inside of the store was quite dim.
The sign outside read:
"Fortune-teller, banishing evil spirits."
"Free consultations, no taboos."
"Fortune in wealth, love, careerall included."
The sign pretty much said it all.
It was clear from the start that this was a shop run by third-rate scammers who played psychological tricks.
However, it seemed like teen girls really believed in this kind of thing.
Yukima Azuma looked over at Kato Megumi.
He noticed that Kato Megumi seemed interested.
Even though she didn't believe in it, Yukima Azuma wasn't the type to ruin the mood.
The three of them walked toward the fortune-telling shop.
The shopkeeper was an old woman in a robe.
In front of her, there was a crystal ball.
By the door stood two high school girls.
Yukima Azuma recognized their uniforms.
What a coincidence.
They were wearing the uniform of Shuka High School, Bocchi school.
"Excuse me, do you have any strong bracelets for banishing evil spirits?"
"A kind that won't break easily."
As they neared the shop, the voices of the two girls could be heard.
"Oh, what a cute customer! I just got a strong bracelet that's been enchanted here."
The old woman said, then reached under the counter to pull out a bracelet that looked fairly decent.
As for the claim that it had been enchanted...
Yukima Azuma had heard that line too many times already.
But this time, there seemed to be something different.
As the three of them got closer to the store, the black-haired girl just happened to put on the bracelet.
In just one second, there was a sudden "bang."
The bracelet immediately shattered, with pieces flying everywhere.
The scene unfolded so quickly.
Yukima Azuma reacted instantly, standing in front of Eriri and Kato Megumi.
He raised his hand and caught the pieces of the bracelet that were flying toward him.
Looking at the pieces in his hand, Yukima Azuma's expression darkened.
He couldn't imagine what kind of force or impact this bracelet had endured to break apart like that.
Had the fortune-teller mixed in some kind of explosive with the rubber band!?
"Are you okay?"
Yukima Azuma turned and asked.
"I'm fine. What just happened?"
Eriri shook her head.
"Azuma-san, you're amazing."
Kato Megumi was impressed.
Seeing that the two girls were fine, Yukima Azuma turned his gaze toward the fortune-teller.
She was just trying to create some mysterious effect without thinking about safety, right!?
However, it seemed the fortune-teller wasn't paying attention to them.
"It looks like the rubber band had aged. I'm sorry, I'll get another bracelet."
The fortune-teller said to the black-haired girl, then turned to go into the back of the shop.
Yukima Azuma gave a side-eye and turned away.
There was no way the rubber band could have broken apart like bullets.
But as he was complaining internally, Yukima Azuma suddenly caught a whiff of a foul odor.
The smell wasn't strong, but it was extremely unpleasant.
Yukima Azuma tried to locate the source of the smell.
It came from behind the two girls from Shuka High, where there seemed to be nothing at all.
Yukima Azuma furrowed his brows.
The smell of decay spread little by little.
Looking at the empty space behind the two high school girls Shuka.
Yukima Azuma frowned.
It seemed the girl with black hair sensed Yukima Azuma's gaze.
The girl turned around and looked in this direction.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma clearly saw the girl's face.
A dignified pretty face, with long straight black hair, and a gentle expression that spoke without words.
What was most striking was her eyes.
They were gold amber-colored eyes.
As beautiful as precious gems.
Whether it was an illusion or not, Yukima Azuma felt that within those amber eyes, there seemed to be a light that moved slowly.
After a moment of staring at each other, the girl silently turned back.
At this point, the fortune teller also came out from the room behind the shop.
"Girl, have you noticed anything strange lately?"
The fortune teller asked without any preamble.
"No."
The girl quickly answered.
"Has anything bizarre happened?"
"No."
This time, the girl didn't even let the fortune teller finish speaking.
After that strange conversation.
The fortune teller placed an old red wooden box on the table.
The lid of the box had a strange seal with peculiar characters.
The fortune teller used a knife to cut open the seal.
With both hands, she solemnly opened the box.
"Don't worry, girl, this is the real deal, excellent quality."
The moment the box lid opened.
Light reflected from within.
It was as if inside was not a string of bracelets.
But a box full of diamonds.
The unnatural refraction truly made the onlooker feel like they could barely keep their eyes open.
"This contains a power, completely different from the bracelet I showed you earlier."
"I won't take any money from you."
"Try wearing it."
The fortune teller urged.
"Is it really okay?"
The girl seemed a little hesitant.
"Yeah, of course, thanks to you, I've come to my senses."
The fortune teller nodded.
Another strange conversation ensued.
Then, the girl picked up the exquisitely crafted bracelet, with an excessive degree of refraction, and put it on her wrist.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
Immediately, with a "boom,"
the bracelet shattered once again like bullets being fired.
Yukima Azuma had prepared in advance.
He quickly extended his hand and caught it.
The bracelet, the beads flying toward Yukima Azuma, were all neatly caught in his hand.
His hand speed was so fast it amazed anyone watching.
The fortune teller was hit in the face by two of the bracelet beads and staggered backward.
The scene was one of continuous chaos.
The other high school girl from Shuka rushed to help the fortune teller.
The girl with amber eyes stood still, frozen in place.
Her eyes seemed filled with helplessness.
When the girl sighed, with a face that seemed to accept her fate, she turned around and found Yukima Azuma staring directly at the back of her.
Realizing this, the girl with amber eyes suddenly shivered.
Her previously emotionless face now revealed a hint of surprise and excitement.
...
Yotsuya Miko.
That was the girl's name.
Not long ago, she was just an ordinary girl.
Average grades, otherwise, she wouldn't be attending Shuka High School.
Her appearance could be described as cute, but not to the point of being able to debut in the entertainment industry, and she wasn't good at showing emotions.
Born into a regular family in Japan.
Both her parents were average office workers.
If nothing unexpected had happened,
Yotsuya Miko's life would have continued on the normal path.
She would finish high school, and if she kept herself together and had good grades, she would continue on to university.
If not, after graduating from high school, she would start working, becoming an office worker.
When it was time to marry, her family would urge her to do so.
If she was lucky, she would meet a good partner, have children, and live day by day.
If she was unlucky, she would go through a few failed marriages, ending up in ruins, and continue eventually marry someone randomly and live day by day.
This was the life pattern of most Japanese people.
But Yotsuya Miko's life was no longer like that.
One day during the spring break this year.
Yotsuya Miko's life changed completely.
Her amber eyes, one day, suddenly gained the ability to see things that ordinary people could not.
Monsters, spirits, ghosts, youkai... things that only existed in horror stories.
They suddenly invaded her life.
Within her line of sight.
In a dark alley, terrifying shadows were devouring souls.
On the pile of trash outside her door, arms and legs that had fallen off rose up like ghostly limbs.
In her bathroom, unknown creatures were banging on the mirror.
In her refrigerator, when she opened it, there was always a head, smile back at her.
When she slept, a ghost combed its hair while staring at her without blinking.
Every strange monster that passed in front of her.
They opened their mouths, tearing apart their bodies, twisting their limbs and forms, staring at Yotsuya Miko, roaring toward her.
Surely, she could see them, right?
Luckily, it seemed that as long as she didn't look at these monsters, they wouldn't have any effect on her.
When she realized this, Yotsuya Mikothe girl who could see these creatureswas forced to pretend to be a normal person who saw nothing.
Day after day.
Day after day.
She lived in fear, with a heart burdened by emotions she couldn't share with anyone.
Although she still existed in this world,
Everyone around her seemed distant, like they didn't exist.
Between them, there was a wall of sorrow.
Yotsuya Miko could only live in solitude.
However, today seemed different.
Today, Yotsuya Miko reached the second turning point in her life.
Together with her friend Yurikawa Hana, Yotsuya Miko went to a neighborhood to buy sweets.
When crossing a narrow alley,
A terrifying monster blocked her path.
It was a humanoid creature about three meters tall, holding a large knife, constantly shouting that it was very itchy.
As she passed by it,
The string of beads Yotsuya Miko had bought online immediately shattered.
At that moment, Yotsuya Miko realized,
The monster in this dark alley was perhaps even scarier than anything she had encountered before.
Pretending nothing had happened, Yotsuya Miko quickly pulled her friend, Yurikawa Hana, out of the alley.
However, unexpectedly, the monster continued to chase them.
In the panic of running away,
Yurikawa Hana pointed to an fortune-telling shop by the roadside.
Fortune-telling, exorcism, everything without limits.
That's what seemed to be written on the sign.
In a state of desperation,
Yotsuya Miko entered the astrology shop.
What surprised her was...
Inside the shop, the old fortune-telling seemed truly extraordinary.
In her words, it seemed like she understood the world that Yotsuya Miko could see.
And then, a cherished string of beads, which appeared special, was handed to her by the old fortune-telled.
Perhaps, if she wore this, she could avoid those things!
Yotsuya Miko hoped so in her heart, and felt such joy that she felt like a bird about to escape from its cage.
But often, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
When the beads were worn around her wrist, Yotsuya Miko heard an anxious sound from the monster behind her.
Its body began to crack, and gigantic eyes appeared on its form.
"It itches so much!"
A roar rang out, like a giant wave crashing down.
That special string of beads.
Just three seconds after being put on,
It shattered, spreading everywhere, just like the ordinary beads before it.
It looked special, but in the end, it met the same fate as the old beads.
Yotsuya Miko silently fell into despair.
Gods, Buddhas, and similar beings seemed unable to save her.
Perhaps for the rest of her life, she could only live each day silently, pretending not to see.
As Yotsuya Miko prepared to accept her fate, she turned around and realized.
Behind her, it seemed another customer had entered the astrology shop.
Among them was a young man with short black hair and sharp eyes, like someone straight out of a manga, who was now looking behind her.
No, more precisely,
He was looking at the monster that was rampaging behind her.
In that moment, Yotsuya Miko's heart skipped a beat.
Could he see it too?
In this world, wasn't she the only one who was alone?
But immediately, the fear overtook the joy.
Although the monster continued scratching furiously, it then turned its head, its gaze fixated on the young man.
The young man's eyes did not leave it, not even a bit.
"Can you see me?"
"Itches!"
"Can you see me?!"
"Itches!!"
The mournful roar, like nails scratching a blackboard, made the hair on the young man's forehead fly.
"Don't..."
Yotsuya Miko wanted to speak up to stop him.
But she didn't know what to do.
If this continues, they would die!
How could she make him understand?
He needed to be like her, not looking, but not letting the monster notice something was wrong?
Yotsuya Miko struggled to think.
However, the situation didn't give her the chance to think further.
The monster, its gigantic eyes on its body began to swell, spinning wildly.
The huge knife, as heavy as its body, was lifted.
And a direct slash aimed at the young man.
Yotsuya Miko felt utter despair.
...
And so, time returned to the present.
Yukima Azuma looked behind the girl with amber eyes.
The smell of decay grew stronger, assaulting his senses.
In contrast to the distinctive fragrance of the two girls beside him,
Yukima Azuma felt a slight sense of nausea.
So, even though he couldn't quite grasp what was happening,
He whispered calmly, "Get Lost!"
The aura of Shogi lv8 manifested fully on Yukima Azuma for the first time.
The air pressure around him clearly dropped.
The sunlight in the sky seemed to be obscured by dark clouds for a moment.
The genius who had once been undefeated, standing atop the corpses of countless players.
The one who had fallen into hell but crawled out of it with one hand.
Throughout Heaven and Earth, He Alone The Honored One.
Even those two whispered words seemed to carry the power to cover the sky.
A wind.
A strong gust of wind rose from beneath Yukima Azuma.
The smell of decay instantly disappeared.
He took a deep breath.
The gentle fragrance of tuberoses and the sweet scent of pears filled his nose.
The discomfort immediately vanished.
Yukima Azuma's mood lifted once more.
Yotsuya Miko stood there, dazed.
Her amber eyes were wide open, but her pupils were slowly shrinking.
What did she see?
Just now, in her vision,
The terrifying monster was rampaging.
The very monster that even the extraordinary beads were easily crushed by.
The giant knife was swung toward the young man.
But it was held in place by the soft whisper of "Get Lost."
Yotsuya Miko could only see that after the young man whispered, it seemed as though an invisible hand pressed the monster into the ground.
The massive knife cracked under pressure, eventually breaking into three pieces.
The terrifying monster lay face down, struggling to scream, but only causing its body to contort further.
Finally, with a series of horrifying sounds of bones cracking,
Its body shattered into black smoke, swept away by the strong wind, leaving no trace behind.
This was the first time Yotsuya Miko understood.
It turned out that even such bizarre creatures could die.
And die in a way that was utterly astonishing.
Yurikawa Hana quickly ran in front of her friend, shielding Yotsuya Miko behind her.
"What are you talking about?!"
Kato Megumi grabbed Yukima Azuma's sleeve.
"Yukima-san, what's going on?"
Eriri hid behind Yukima Azuma, sticking her head out.
She clearly still didn't understand what was happening but sneered at Yurikawa Hana.
"It's fine, don't worry."
Yukima Azuma said, gently patting Kato Megumi and Eriri little head, signaling for them to stay calm.
"Hana, I'm fine! Don't worry so much!"
Yotsuya Miko urgently pulled her friend closer.
"Huh? But just now, you"
"I'm fine, really, and actually, I'm really grateful to him."
"Huh? Huh huhhhhh!?"
Yurikawa Hana was slightly stunned.
So her friend actually liked this kind of "play" after all?
Could it be that she was an M?
Yurikawa Hana shook her head, trying to clear the weird thoughts from her mind.
No, it must be a misunderstanding.
Maybe her friend was just worried that there would be some conflict between her and the guy.
While thinking this, Yurikawa Hana saw her friend, Yotsuya Miko, take out her phone and approach the young man.
"Excuse me, could I exchange contact information? Please!"
The girl clasped her hands together.
There was clearly no sadness at all.
Her face was expressionless, but somehow, a charming smile appeared.
She looked like a girl in love.
Yurikawa Hana felt like she had been struck by lightning.
Oh no, her friend really seemed to be that type of person!
The kind who would feel excited by humiliation and torment!
Yurikawa Hana had misunderstood.
....
On the other side,
Eriri, who had no idea when, had already run out from behind Yukima Azuma.
Like a protective mother hen, she cautiously eyed Yotsuya Miko.
"You, why does you want to exchange contact information with Azuma?"
This person, still happy after being scolded?
There was no doubt about it!
She was definitely an "M"!
Eriri had reached enlightenment, Weird knowledge added
How could someone like this be allowed to get close to Yukima Azuma!
"Alright."
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment, then took out his phone.
His arm reached over Eriri's head, scanning Yotsuya Miko's QR code.
Eriri: !?
Stabbed in the back, Eriri turned around in embarrassment to look at Yukima Azuma.
She was about to open her mouth to give him a "talking-to."
This time, she had no psychological burden whatsoever.
This guy.
Clearly, she was protecting him from those weird women approaching him.
And yet, he couldn't resist even the slightest temptation.
Who else would she bite if not he?!
Yukima Azuma had already been prepared for this.
He raised his hand, blocking Eriri's forehead.
Baka Eriri.
She got the contact information.
Yotsuya Miko was so overjoyed she almost wanted to jump.
However, she was the type of person who rarely expressed her emotions.
So outwardly, she didn't show any expression at all.
"Well, we'll take our leave now. We'll contact you later on LINE,"
Yotsuya Miko bowed to Yukima Azuma.
Clearly, Yotsuya Miko had seen Yukima Azuma as her savior.
After that, Yotsuya Miko and Yurikawa Hana left.
....
On the way back,
Seeing the slight smile on her usually expressionless friend's face,
Yurikawa Hana thought for a moment before softly speaking:
"Umm Miko."
"Huh? What's up, Hana?"
"Even... even though everyone has their own preferences, I still recommend that you see a doctor."
"Huh?"
Yotsuya Miko: ?
.....
Shimokitazawa.
Eriri turned her head away, no longer paying attention to Yukima Azuma.
What's so great about people with weird tastes like that, anyway?!
As she was getting frustrated, she accidentally saw a red-haired figure running away.
"Ah! It's Kita-chan!"
Eriri pointed toward it and shouted.
Clearly, it was Kita Ikuyo.
Eriri didn't even notice which store she had run out of.
Now she was carrying a musical instrument case, looking like she was running away.
There was no way they could catch up now.
Unless Yukima Azuma abandoned the two girls and chased after her.
So, the three of them had to just watch Kita Ikuyo leave.
"Tomorrow, I'm definitely going to ask Kita-chan what's going on!"
Eriri was determined.
At that moment, Kato Megumi had approached Yukima Azuma.
"What happened earlier?"
Kato Megumi whispered.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
--------------------------------------------
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Kato Megumi leaned in close to Yukima Azuma and softly asked:
"Something happened just now, didn't it?"
Yukima Azuma quietly nodded.
"I'm not sure what exactly happened."
"Is that why Azuma-san added more contact information?"
"Megumi... Has anyone ever told you that you'd make a great detective?"
"No, but many people say I'd be better suited to being an assassin." (TL note: Kato "Hassan" Megumi)
"Have you 'handled' them yet?"
"Of course not, what are you talking about, Azuma-san?"
Kato Megumi lightly poked Yukima Azuma's side.
She remembered that Yukima Azuma had once told her not to spoil him too much.
If it felt like it was too much, she should just pinch his side.
So, after being teased, she gave him a few light pokes in retaliation.
....
The sky began to darken.
The three of them wrapped up their shopping trip and parted ways at the train station.
When they got home to the apartment,
as soon as the door opened, Shiratamaru rushed out.
Yukima Azuma quickly grabbed it and lifted it up.
It had been a few days since he had adopted Shiratamaru.
At first, it was just a small ball of white fluff, about the size of a palm.
Recently, it seemed to have gotten much rounder.
Perhaps the time spent wandering before had affected its growth.
Now that it was being fed properly, it looked like a round ball.
Mofu-mofu
At this rate, Shiratamaru's size would definitely be no small matter in the future.
After sitting down on the couch with the cat in his arms, Yukima Azuma barely had time to relax when his phone rang.
He took out his phone and saw a message from the amber-eyed girl he had just added to his contacts.
She had likely just returned home and immediately sent him a message.
Miko: [Hello, I'm Yotsuya Miko. Sorry to disturb you suddenly.]
Miko: [May I ask if you would accept me as your disciple?]
Yukima Azuma looked at the message, a little deja-vu.
He felt that she might have misunderstood something.
Sure enough, Yotsuya Miko had misunderstood.
She had seen Yukima Azuma as some kind of reclusive, powerful exorcist.
Having to see strange spirits wandering around every day,
while pretending not to notice them,
Yotsuya Miko truly couldn't bear it any longer.
Azuma: [This is Yukima Azuma. As for accepting a disciple it's not impossible.]
Azuma: [But this needs to be considered based on talent.]
Yotsuya Miko read Yukima Azuma's reply and immediately felt a deep respect.
As expected from a reclusive master.
Accepting a disciple must involve careful selection from thousands of people.
But she was one of the few who could see those 'things'.
In terms of talent, she probably met the standards.
Swallowing nervously, Yotsuya Miko sent her reply.
Miko: [I understand! May I ask how I can test if I meet the qualifications?]
Azuma: [For now, solve this shogi position first.]
Azuma: [Image of a shogi endgame position.jpg.]
Yotsuya Miko stared at the extremely difficult shogi position in front of her, falling into deep thought.
Huh?
Why is solving a shogi position being used to test my talent?
Is this to check for enlightenment or spiritual affinity or something?
Staring at the shogi position, Yotsuya Miko tried to think for a long time.
But in the end, she had to give up.
Miko: [I... can't solve this. How does this relate to my talent?]
Azuma: [Of course it's related. If you can't even solve such a basic position, then maybe you don't have the talent.]
Miko: [Huh? But this position is really difficult.]
Azuma: [Really? But my elementary school student disciple solved it in three seconds.]
Miko: [?]
Yotsuya Miko began to doubt herself.
Are there really elementary school children like that in the world?
Hinatsuru Ai: [Umu, there are!]
As Yotsuya Miko was still confused, her phone rang again.
Azuma: [Now that I think about it, why did you suddenly want to become my disciple?]
Miko: [To be honest, because I can't bear it any longer.]
Azuma: [How does that relate to wanting to become my disciple?]
Miko: [I want to learn those methods from you.]
Azuma: [But I'm a professional shogi player.]
Miko: [?]
Azuma: [?]
A giant question mark appeared in Yotsuya Miko's mind.
Aren't you the one saying this?
Are you speaking Japanese?
Why don't I understand anything?
Now you say you're a professional shogi player.
But how can a professional shogi player use just two words to make evil spirits disappear like mist!?
Miko: [But... how can you do such things?]
Azuma: [To be honest, I still don't really understand what you mean by 'such things.']
Miko: [I... I can't say it.]
Yotsuya Miko's home was not peaceful either.
She worried that if she typed on her phone, the spirits hiding somewhere would see it.
Then the fact that she could see them would be exposed.
Azuma: [Alright then, let me explain my understanding.]
Azuma: [When I met you, I smelled a rotting stench coming from behind you.]
Azuma: [That might not be the smell from my normal senses, but rather from my sixth sense, and it might be related to what you mentioned.]
Azuma: [As for why I can do that, maybe it's because I've trained to a point of mastery in a certain field.]
Azuma: [Isn't there a legend that says, if someone trains to an extraordinary level in a field and creates heroic miracles, they can become a Heroic Spirit?]
Azuma: [I guess I've met a similar condition, and right now, I'm trying to create a miracle.]
Looking at the explanations Yukima Azuma sent, Yotsuya Miko felt completely stunned.
It was as if her problem was the fear of being robbed while walking at night, and Yukima Azuma simply told her that all she needed to do was become a billionaire.
That way, when walking at night, she could hire a hundred and eighty bodyguards to protect her.
Or simply drive, but it would have to be an armored vehicle, or even drive a plane or a tank.
The real issue had been solved,
but the solution was so difficult that it seemed almost impossible.
It was so difficult that Yotsuya Miko felt like crying.
She sent a message on Line, clinging to her last shred of hope.
Miko: [May I ask, if I encounter a problem I can't solve, could I ask for your help?]
Miko: [I'm willing to pay... though I don't have much money right now, I could take on a part-time job.]
After sending the message, Yotsuya Miko silently prayed in her heart.
But in truth, she no longer had any real expectations.
There was no reason for the other party to get involved in her troubles.
Who would want to get involved in the troublesome things she was seeing?
Even if someone could solve them, they would probably find them too bothersome and steer clear.
Just as Yotsuya Miko was about to sigh in frustration,
a message from Yukima Azuma appeared.
Azuma: [Alright, sure, and you don't need to pay.]
Azuma: [On the contrary, I'm very curious about your abilities. Perhaps I'll also need your help with some things, and I hope you won't refuse then.]
Yukima Azuma's straightforward reply stunned Yotsuya Miko for a moment.
Soon after, she felt like she had just survived a crisis.
Before, she had been like someone drowning with nothing to cling to.
She could only hold her breath, watching herself slowly sink to the bottom of the water.
But now, she had a reed in her hand.
It might not be an all-powerful magic lamp, able to pull her directly out of the water.
It might not even come in handy in a moment of crisis.
But the mere existence of Yukima Azuma was Yotsuya Miko only lifeline.
Even if she never had to ask Yukima Azuma for anything in the future,
But, just knowing Yukima Azuma existed was a huge spiritual comfort for Yotsuya Miko.
At least from now on, the world she saw would no longer feel so lonely.
As for the condition attached to Yukima Azuma agreement,
for Yotsuya Miko, it felt like there were no conditions at all.
Her eyes couldn't be turned off.
If Yukima Azuma needed her to do something, she would help without hesitation.
...
On the other side,
Yukima Azuma put his phone down and gently scratched under Shiratamaru's chin.
Shiratamaru purred continuously, clearly very satisfied with its owner's technique. (servant :v)
As for Yotsuya Miko,
after their conversation, Yukima Azuma began to recall things related to this girl.
She was someone with the ability of true "clairvoyance." (t/n: I'm not sure if "clairvoyance" is the best term here.)
Or it could be called "yin-yang eyes" instead.
Her level of clairvoyance
was probably the strongest in all of humanity.
She could see all kinds of strange creatures, regardless of their strength, morality, or any other nature.
Of course, this also brought her a lot of trouble.
In the original timeline of this world,
the girl, in a moment when there was no way out, ran to an abandoned temple.
There, she formed a pact with a fox spirit, similar to a mountain god.
This mountain god would help her three times.
In return, after her death, she would become a Shikigami or servant of that god.
Yotsuya Miko had used up the three times the mountain god had promised her.
As for whether she would become the servant of the mountain god afterward,
Yukima Azuma was unsure.
Perhaps her future life still held some chances for change, but that couldn't be confirmed.
This was all Yukima Azuma knew.
The appearance of Yotsuya Miko had caused a slight shift in Yukima Azuma's worldview.
However, for the time being, it didn't seem like a major issue.
When Yukima Azuma discovered that his shogi skills had reached a level of "divine mastery," producing special transformations,
he had once considered the possibility that supernatural phenomena might exist in this world.
Now, it could be confirmed.
They did exist.
But it was likely nothing like the Holy Grail War,
where anything could lead to a "gas explosion" in the city.
Therefore, there was no need to panic.
The main focus now should be on mastering his shogi skills.
Yukima Azuma's statement about "becoming a Heroic Spirit" wasn't just a fabrication.
After all, he was currently making steady progress toward the title of "Eternal Ryuou."
A remarkable career by any standard.
By then, his shogi skills might reach their peak level.
Even a level 8 game was already terrifying.
When he surpassed this level and entered an absolute peak state, what would happen then?
At that point, how powerful would Yukima Azuma be in controlling the board?
It could be said that he was on the verge of becoming a Demi-Heroic Spirit.
As Yukima Azuma was stroking Shiratamaru and lost in thought, the sound of a door opening from the hallway was heard.
"I'm home."
The voice of Kasumigaoka Utaha echoed.
"Welcome home."
Yukima Azuma stood up and walked into the hallway to greet her.
Shiratamaru also jumped down from Yukima Azuma's lap, running over to Kasumigaoka Utaha feet, gently rubbing against her long legs wrapped in black stockings.
Kasumigaoka Utaha changed her shoes and handed Yukima Azuma a light novel wrapped very neatly.
Yukima Azuma received it and took a glance.
To his surprise, it was Volume 4 of The Metronome in Love, beautifully printed and bound, but still not officially on sale.
"Wow, it's the new work from senpai! I've been looking forward to this one!"
"By the way, does it have your signature? I'd love a signed copy!"
Yukima Azuma hugged the book, laughing as he spoke.
Kasumigaoka Utaha gave Yukima Azuma a sidelong glance.
"No signature. You should be grateful for getting the book early!"
"If you want a signature, come to the signing event tomorrow after school and line up."
Yukima Azuma immediately understood the implied meaning in her words.
He nodded eagerly.
"I promise I'll be there!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha, satisfied, waved him off.
The preparation for the signing event was essentially done.
All that was left was to attend the event tomorrow at the right time.
Now, she needed to focus on Yukima Azuma's work.
She had to finish the game script quickly.
She couldn't let her work speed be surpassed by some blonde girl.
...
A quiet night passed.
The next day.
Toyosaki High School.
"Yesterday, I saw you carrying a guitar case, running off from Shimokitazawa!"
"Spill the beans, Kita-chan, what on earth have you been up to recently?"
Eriri cornered Kita Ikuyo against the wall, her tone fierce as she questioned her.
Yukima Azuma, observing Eriri's strong stance, nodded in approval.
Eriri was definitely doing better than she did in middle school.
When it's time to be strong, you have to be strong.
Otherwise, one day, her tsundere personality might cause a big problem.
Trapped in the corner with no room left to make excuses, Kita Ikuyo sighed and began to tell the whole truth.
She explained that one day, while strolling with friends in Shimokitazawa, she had heard a musical performance at an art gallery.
There, she became deeply impressed by a female bassist.
Coincidentally, that artist's band was looking for a guitarist and a lead vocalist.
Confident in her singing ability, Kita Ikuyo had boldly signed up.
After joining the band, she had lied to the two older members, claiming that she knew how to play the guitar.
In reality, Kita Ikuyo didn't know how to play at all.
Since then, she had rushed to a music store and spent two months' worth of her pocket money to buy a guitar.
Unfortunately, no matter how much she practiced, she couldn't play a single complete guitar song.
Every time she strummed the strings, the sound was always muffled and broken.
During the band's rehearsals, Kita Ikuyo began making excuses to avoid playing, only participating as the lead singer.
However, the more they practiced, the more helpless she felt, as the band kept pushing her to join in.
Under the pressure from both sides, Kita Ikuyo had been feeling stressed and weighed down.
Yesterday, when Yukima Azuma and the others saw Kita Ikuyo running away with her guitar case, it was because she couldn't bear the pressure anymore and had fled from the band.
After hearing Kita Ikuyo's story, Eriri immediately tried to comfort her.
As Yukima Azuma, who had been listening attentively, sat there, a strange realization suddenly hit him.
"Kita-san, the 'brrr brrrrr' sound you're talking about, isn't that the sound of a bass?"
Kita Ikuyo paused for a moment, then quickly waved her hand.
"Yukima-san, don't comfort me. I know the difference between a bass and a guitar."
As she spoke, Kita Ikuyo pulled out a photo from her phone.
"See, the bass has only four strings, and this one has six strings, so it must be a guitar!"
Yukima Azuma glanced at the photo.
"Kita-san, you know, there's actually a type of bass called a six-string bass."
Kita Ikuyo froze, the smile on her face instantly fading.
Yukima Azuma pointed to the photo.
"That's a six-string bass, or a multi-string bass."
"When you bought it, didn't you ask the store staff for advice, or did you just pick it out yourself?"
Kita Ikuyo was stunned, nodding slightly.
A small girl seemed to crumble in that moment.
That was the guitar she had spent two months' worth of pocket money on, along with her New Year's red envelope savings!
"Kita-chan! Kita-chan! Hang in there, don't let your soul fade away!"
Eriri shook her friend, who seemed like she soul was come out her mouth.
"Leave the bass to me, and you can borrow some money from me. With that, you could buy a new guitar. You can pay me back little by little later."
"I also have a friend who plays guitar really well. I could introduce you to her for lessons."
Yukima Azuma gently patted Kita Ikuyo's head.
Kita Ikuyo immediately snapped out of soul flies away.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, she was so moved that she almost burst into tears.
"But that wouldn't be right, Yukima-san, do you even play bass? Buying it and not being able to use it is a waste."
"Besides, introducing friends... that would take a lot of effort, and I feel like I would owe you too much!"
Kita Ikuyo wasn't the type to easily accept help from others.
Even from friends, she always maintained the principle of not taking advantage of others' kindness.
Yukima Azuma waved his hand.
"I'm doing this for Eriri. If you're grateful, thank Eriri instead."
At that moment, Eriri, who had been a bit envious, suddenly felt her heart touched upon hearing those words.
Just then, the two of them looked at her.
It was clear to see that Eriri's fair face gradually turned a soft pink.
Seeing Eriri's flushed face, Yukima Azuma smiled slightly.
In truth, he had his own thoughts.
Bocchi really needed to make more friends to improve her personality.
Kita Ikuyo, a kind and approachable girl, was definitely a great choice.
As for the bass, it would definitely be useful in the future. Buying one almost new at resale price wasn't really a loss.
After school.
Yukima Azuma and Kasumigaoka Utaha took the train to Akihabara together.
"Now that you mention it, senpai, why didn't you just go directly to the book signing today instead of coming to school?"
Yukima Azuma exclaimed.
"I'm an excellent student, both academically and morally, unlike ex-boyfriend-kun, who's always skipping school."
Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a soft huff, then sharply responded.
"Even though you're an excellent student, you still sleep in class, huh?"
"I know everything the teachers are talking about, so what's wrong with sleeping?"
"Fair enough."
"What I said is, of course, reasonable. So, ex-boyfriend-kun, have you finished reading my light novel yet?"
After asking, Kasumigaoka Utaha stared intently at Yukima Azuma.
The inspiration for the fourth volume completely came from the person in front of her.
In the first two volumes, the female lead had no soul.
In this volume, she had regained her soul.
But how would he perceive that "soul"?
Would he still be rigid and unable to understand like before?
"I've read it, but... how should I say it? I'm not sure how to evaluate your novel, senpai."
Yukima Azuma looked thoughtful.
When Kasumigaoka Utaha heard Yukima Azuma's response, her brows furrowed slightly.
But Yukima Azuma didn't stop; he continued speaking.
"However, I can still describe my impression a little."
Yukima Azuma looked straight at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
He gazed into her wine-colored eyes.
Yukima Azuma pointed at his chest.
"When I read your novel, senpai, my heart couldn't help but beat faster, and the images described in the book came to mind."
"The image of the female lead, Sayaka, seemed so close to me, she was both beautiful and proud, and full of perfectionism."
"Sayaka's love was both intense and subtle, though she never spoke it, it moved people more than a thousand words could."
"Reading it once, you can only finish the story, but reading it a second time allows you to understand the motivation behind the female lead, Sayaka's actions."
"And only after reading it the third time can people begin to appreciate the perfection of you, senpai, the brilliant novelist who wrote this."
When Kasumigaoka Utaha heard Yukima Azuma say this...
Her brows slightly relaxed.
Her small mouth opened slightly.
Her eyes began to tremble a bit.
It was all correct.
Everything Yukima Azuma said was exactly what she had hoped for in her heart.
It even exceeded her expectations.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had only hoped Yukima Azuma would feel that the female lead in her work had charm.
Perhaps she had also hoped Yukima Azuma would understand the motivation behind the female lead.
Because the first character she wrote, Sayaka, was an extension of herself.
And Yukima Azuma not only understood everything.
Through the story, his gaze even turned towards her.
Looking into Yukima Azuma's eyes, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt like she was on the verge of tears.
"So... so... do you like Sayaka? Even though she... is a bit clumsy, and has... a few flaws."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's words were cut off before she could finish.
"Senpai, what are you saying?"
Yukima Azuma blinked.
"Since the first time I saw the manuscript for this book, I've already fallen in love with Sayaka, the female lead."
"Whether she was shining brightly in the first volume, or when she faced failure in the second, or even when she lived a normal life in the third volume."
"Or now, when she shines brightly again, I've loved her from the start to the end, and that hasn't changed even for a single day."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's words got stuck in her throat.
....
When they got off the train,
Kasumigaoka Utaha lightly kicked Yukima Azuma's calf.
Then she ran into the bookstore's restroom to fix her makeup.
Yukima Azuma smiled and looked at the long line of people waiting outside the store.
Clearly, the publicity campaign by Fujikawa Publishing had been very successful.
The signing event hadn't even started yet, and the line of people was already stretching to the other side of the street.
It was definitely impossible to line up from the beginning.
Yukima Azuma could only try to sneak in.
Fortunately, it seemed like Kasumigaoka Utaha had already informed the staff beforehand.
No one stopped Yukima Azuma.
Sitting behind the signing table, Machida Sonoko was watching Yukima Azuma carefully, as he appeared to be acting suspicious.
It must be him, right?
The male lead in Kasumi Utako-sensei heart.
'Umu... if we consider his looks, he does seem like a good match for Kasumi-sensei.'
Thinking this, Machida Sonoko immediately shook her head.
'No, no!'
'What am I thinking? This guy is the one who caused Kasumi-sensei to fall into a slump in the last two volumes. He could be a terrible man!'
'I need to be more careful, seriously, I'm the editor, I have to be responsible for the author!'
Machida Sonoko thought.
However... What kind of editor would care about the author's private matters like this!
And from this, it was clear that
In reality, Machida Sonoko and Kasumigaoka Utaha, while being editor and author in name,
Had a more friendly relationship in private.
Once Yukima Azuma had entered the store,
He quickly asked an employee for a protective vest.
At least he should disguise himself a little.
Otherwise, with such a striking appearance, standing near the signing event would make it way too easy for him to attract attention.
After putting on the vest,
Yukima Azuma saw Kasumigaoka Utaha walking out of the store.
The two of them locked eyes.
Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at Yukima Azuma.
Her eyes were still slightly red.
It was all because of this guy.
Sitting down behind the signing table.
"Shi-chan, you finally made it, shall we begin? Wait, what's up with your eyes?"
Machida Sonoko noticed something was off.
Kasumigaoka Utaha waved her hand.
"It's fine, let's start the signing event."
Machida Sonoko suddenly turned around, glaring at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma: ???
Caught in a glare without understanding why, Yukima Azuma scratched his head, confused.
...
The signing event began.
The atmosphere was quite harmonious.
After all, this was the fourth volume of the light novel series.
Most of the people attending were loyal fans of Kasumi Utako-sensei.
Though The Metronome in Love had gone through a less successful period, the writing style still had no flaws.
Kasumigaoka Utaha truly deserved the title of a genius light novel author.
Only a few readers had sent letters of complaint.
Moreover, Kasumigaoka Utaha was a beautiful woman.
Naturally, everyone was cheerful and friendly.
Yukima Azuma stood beside, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
At first, when Kasumigaoka Utaha had not yet become a light novel author,
She had not been overly confident in herself.
It was simply her perfectionism that pushed her to be extremely strict with her work.
And it seemed that, in just a moment,
The girl who had never debuted before was now handling large signing events with ease.
This was the child he had seen grow day by day! (Chika: Umu umu!)
Just as Yukima Azuma was reflecting on this,
A faint, unpleasant smell began to spread.
Yukima Azuma immediately snapped out of his thoughts, frowning and looking toward the source of the smell.
Quickly, Yukima Azuma saw, in the crowd,
A person, head lowered, clutching a book, their eyes darting back and forth.
Summer had arrived, yet this person was still wearing a thick fabric mask.
Unless they had an allergy or some other special reason,
Wearing such a mask in weather like this, with short sleeves, clearly indicated that they were either a fool or had some ulterior motive.
Moreover, this person was also wearing a backpack on their chest.
While some people in the crowd wore backpacks like that to avoid disturbing others behind them,
This person was different.
Their backpack was slightly open, and one hand was inside it.
Yukima Azuma kept his expression neutral and quietly moved aside.
He signaled two staff members to prepare to maintain order.
Then, Yukima Azuma slowly approached one side of the signing table.
The protective vest he had been wearing had been discarded at some point.
Kasumigaoka Utaha naturally noticed Yukima Azuma approaching.
She shot him a questioning glance.
Yukima Azuma gestured for her to continue with the event.
Kasumigaoka Utaha resumed signing books for fans.
After each fan thanked her and left,
It was finally the turn of the suspicious individual.
"Kasumi-sensei, I really love your book."
The person stuttered as they handed the book over to her.
What was strange was that the person handed the book in a way that gripped the middle of it.
Just as Kasumigaoka Utaha was about to accept the book,
Yukima Azuma suddenly stepped forward to the signing table.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The loud clapping echoed, causing the entire event to fall into silence.
Yukima Azuma clapped as he spoke:
"Congratulations! You are the 100th reader to attend this signing event, and also the luckiest reader of today's event!"
His words stirred a bit of excitement in the crowd.
Some people were envious of the luck of the person in front,
While others wondered why it was already the 100th reader and the line still hadn't reached their turn.
The person in question, suddenly put in the spotlight, appeared not joyful at all but instead panicked.
Yukima Azuma reached out and grabbed the book the person had offered.
The moment he touched it, Yukima Azuma felt the weight of the book was off.
"Next, just answer one very simple question, and you'll receive a special edition of the new book."
"So, may I ask, what is the title of the first chapter in The Metronome in Love by Kasumi-sensei?"
Yukima Azuma smiled and asked, while touching the middle of the book.
The sensation was definitely wrong.
There was a hollowed-out section.
He could feel something uneven inside the book.
It was clear that the book had been hollowed out in a spot,
And something was placed inside it.
The person's eyes were filled with an unmistakable panic, and they kept staring at the book in Yukima Azuma's hand.
"I don't know! Give the book back to me, I need to leave!"
Though the question was simple and not answering it wouldn't have affected the signing,
This person screamed like that.
Yukima Azuma sneered coldly, then gripped the book tightly and threw it forcefully at the wall next to him, where no one was standing.
The book hit the wall, and immediately, the sound of breaking glass was heard.
When it hit the floor, the pages of the book opened, and a sticky, milky-white liquid spilled out from between the pages. (t/n: ughhh, that's not what I think, is it?)
The crowd in line gasped in horror as the plot was revealed.
The criminal turned and immediately tried to flee.
Yukima Azuma quickly acted, using one hand to brace himself and swiftly jumping over the signing table.
The physical strength from his intense training not only provided him with superior strength and stamina but also agility.
To prevent the crowd from witnessing the horrifying scene, Yukima Azuma didn't use excessive force but simply delivered a swift kick to the criminal's thigh.
The person, who had only run a few steps, immediately collapsed to the ground.
Yukima Azuma stepped forward, preparing to twist the criminal's arm behind his back and pin him to the ground.
Perhaps feeling there was no way out, the criminal turned his back to Yukima Azuma and suddenly threw something towards him.
Yukima Azuma barely had time to tilt his head slightly.
The heavy object grazed across his forehead, causing his head to uncontrollably tilt back for a moment.
Without missing a beat, Yukima Azuma continued with his actions.
He kicked the criminal to the ground, twisted his arm behind his back, causing him to feel sharp pain with any movement.
At the same time, he pressed his knee into the criminal's neck.
Of course, Yukima Azuma didn't use too much force, knowing that applying too much could be life-threatening.
The whole event happened in the blink of an eye.
Those around them could only take a few steps back in shock.
The staff, who had been warned earlier, rushed over to assist.
They maintained order among the crowd while using nylon ropes to securely bind the criminal, fully subdued by Yukima Azuma.
"Azuma!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha cried out, rushing over.
Only then did Yukima Azuma turn and check what had hit him.
As he had suspected, it was a handheld camera.
His vision suddenly became blurry and tinted red.
Under Kasumigaoka Utaha's concerned gaze, Yukima Azuma realized he had been injured.
He touched his forehead.
The sticky sensation was evident.
Although he had tilted his head to avoid it, he hadn't been quick enough, and the camera still grazed his forehead.
However, it wasn't anything serious just a superficial scratch.
There was no dizziness or discomfort.
In fact, the camera hadn't hit him directly but merely scraped across his forehead.
Yukima Azuma held up his hand to stop Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was rushing towards him.
In a low voice, he said:
"It's fine, continue with the signing. We'll talk about it when it's over."
Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately shook her head, wanting to refuse.
He had been hurt!
How could she continue the signing as if nothing had happened?
"If the signing is interrupted, then everything I've done will have been in vain, won't it?"
"Senpai, I like you. I like Sayaka too. Neither of you can face any more setbacks."
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Kasumigaoka Utaha bit her lip, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
She wasn't sure how she managed to suppress her emotions.
Biting her lip, she tried to push her feelings down, sitting back behind the signing table.
Yukima Azuma pulled a few pieces of paper from his pocket and wiped the blood from his forehead hastily.
Afterward, he pressed one of the sheets to the wound.
Once he finished tending to it, he turned back to face the confused crowd.
"Please, everyone, don't panic. I apologize for the small incident," Yukima Azuma said, his voice steady and calm. "But the staff will handle the situation quickly, and the signing event will continue. I hope this doesn't disrupt your excitement."
"To make the signing process smoother, please turn to the page where you'd like the signature, and place the book on the table. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation."
Yukima Azuma's appearance once again worked its magic.
Seeing the handsome young man injured, the crowd didn't step back. Instead, they clapped in appreciation for his swift action.
Following the staff's instructions, they continued to line up and the signing event resumed.
Yukima Azuma moved to the back to attend to his wound.
Kasumigaoka Utaha watched him go, her gaze gradually drifting toward him.
"I'll go help and check on him," Machida Sonoko said, patting Kasumigaoka Utaha's shoulder before quickly moving to the back.
Kasumigaoka Utaha hurriedly turned back, her attention now focused on the book in front of her.
Though the situation was a bit difficult, the readers understood and sympathized after the incident.
As the others came forward, they didn't blame Kasumigaoka Utaha's demeanor. Instead, they offered words of comfort.
But as those words reached her ears, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt her heart ache even more.
The scattered books were collected.
The broken camera, discarded nearby, was also taken away.
If Kasumigaoka Utaha still didn't understand what had happened, she would not be a genius but rather foolish.
Had she opened the book as usual, and if that liquid had splashed out and stained her, and then the man pulled out the camera and filmed it, as a talented girl and a famous light novel author, she would have been bombarded on social media with filthy comments, which would destroy her writing career.
Her life would have been plunged into darkness.
That was the nature of the internetif there were no images, people would fabricate stories. If there were images, everything would turn into horrifying narratives.
Yukima Azuma had saved her.
Even injured, he prioritized her signing event over his own wound.
Kasumigaoka Utaha wished she could rush to him now, care for his injury, and hold him tightly.
But he had told her to continue.
Kasumigaoka Utaha could only stand still, completing the signing process.
No matter how much her heart hurt, she could only endure with patience now.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was experiencing the longest signing event of her life.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Yukima Azuma sat down at the table in the store's office, holding his forehead with his hand.
The staff quickly ran off to get a mirror, medical supplies, and other necessary items.
Yukima Azuma took the mirror and glanced at himself briefly.
As expected.
The problem wasn't serious.
It was just a small scratch that had torn the skin.
All it needed was to be disinfected with some alcohol, and then a band-aid could fix it.
"Do you need to go to the hospital?"
A staff member asked.
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
"No need."
He then picked up the alcohol bottle beside him, poured some onto a cotton ball, and began wiping the blood and the wound on his forehead.
The sight made the nearby staff members grimace.
Machida Sonoko just happened to run in.
Upon seeing Yukima Azuma's actions, her face couldn't help but scrunch up.
She rushed over, snatched the items from Yukima Azuma's hands.
Then, she carefully began treating the wound for him.
Trying to be as gentle as possible with her movements.
After cleaning the wound, she applied medicine to stop the bleeding and aid in recovery.
Finally, she placed a large band-aid on it.
After everything was done,
Machida Sonoko, just like Yukima Azuma, sat on the table next to him.
"Thank you."
"But excuse me, who are you?"
Yukima Azuma had been somewhat curious about the identity of the grown woman in front of him.
"I am Machida Sonoko, the person in charge of Kasumi"
Before she could finish her sentence, Yukima Azuma cut in.
"You're the editor of senpai, right? I've often heard her mention you. Thank you so much for taking care of senpai all these years."
Machida Sonoko froze for a moment.
Then, she helplessly held her forehead.
Wasn't that her line?
"I should be the one thanking you. I've been with Kasumi-sensei for a long time."
"This signing event is very important for Kasumi-sensei. If anything goes wrong, it could all fall apart."
Fujikawa Publishing House had invested a lot of resources to promote Kasumigaoka and Volume 4 of The Metronome in Love.
Its famous had increased significantly.
If everything went smoothly, with the quality of Volume 4, it would definitely exceed expectations.
But if something went wrong...
That huge amount of attention could turn into a double-edged sword.
Yukima Azuma was not only Kasumigaoka's benefactor, but also the benefactor of Fujikawa Publishing House.
"To be honest, when I read the manuscript for The Metronome in Love, I once scolded you as a scumbag."
Leaning against the wall, Machida Sonoko looked up at the ceiling.
Yukima Azuma could only smile bitterly.
Volume 2 of The Metronome in Love was full of resentment that Kasumigaoka had poured into it.
Anyone who didn't know the background and read it would think they had come across a terrible man.
"At that time, I even felt sorry for Kasumi-sensei, as if you had deceived her."
"But now I understand, you really are someone worthy, someone good enough to make Kasumi-sensei always remember and never forget."
"So, after thanking you, I also need to apologize to you."
Machida Sonoko bowed her head and apologized to Yukima Azuma.
"Instead, did senpai ever badmouth me? Honestly answer, I'll let it go if that's the case."
Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
Machida Sonoko froze for a moment, then understood.
Yukima Azuma was offering her an out in this situation.
"I wouldn't go around tattling."
Machida Sonoko snorted lightly.
But after glancing at Yukima Azuma, she added:
"But in return, I'll keep an eye on Kasumi-sensei and make sure no one else gets too close to her."
This was an unexpected delight for Yukima Azuma.
Although Kasumigaoka Utaha always kept her distance from others,
Because of her beauty,
She inevitably attracted the attention of unscrupulous people, which, in fact, caused Kasumigaoka Utaha a lot of headaches.
Machida Sonoko's willingness to help was truly a good thing.
While they were talking, the office door suddenly swung open.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stormed in.
At some point, time had quietly passed, and the signing event had come to an end.
Seeing this, Machida Sonoko immediately made a decisive move to step outside.
She didn't want to become the "third wheel" for the two of them.
As Kasumigaoka's editor and close friend, she fully approved of this couple.
Lock him down!
....
The office door closed.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stormed in with an imposing presence.
Her wine-red eyes were misty with tears.
Her pale, slender hands were clenched tightly, not loosening.
Even her body was trembling slightly.
She clearly looked extremely angry.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma immediately panicked.
"Senpai... I"
He was about to explain a few things.
But Kasumigaoka Utaha rushed forward.
She bit down hard on Yukima Azuma's lip.
Cutting off any words he was about to say.
Feeling the softness and moisture from her lips,
Yukima Azuma's eyes widened.
Was he being forcibly kissed!?
Not only that...
Kasumigaoka Utaha still pushed Yukima Azuma back strongly, causing him to fall onto the table.
Both of them lay down on the long table.
The kiss lasted for a long time.
The kiss lasted so long that Yukima Azuma had a "reaction" like a high school boy.
Something raising but not the shield hero.
Kasumigaoka Utaha only stopped when the oxygen in her lungs was completely gone.
She lifted her head, breathing heavily.
That sound... definitely had some lewd.
In the confined space of the office, the atmosphere became filled with a pink hue.
"Are you... okay?"
After barely being able to speak, Kasumigaoka Utaha softly asked.
"Shouldn't you ask that before forcing a kiss?"
Yukima Azuma said with a mix of helplessness and amusement.
If you were worried about me, why did you rush in and kiss me first?
"You clearly look fine, and on top of that, you're worried about the autograph session!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha gritted her teeth, speaking in a tone full of resentment.
Yukima Azuma wrapped his arm around Kasumigaoka's neck, pulling her closer.
This positionher on top and him belowseemed a little odd, but when the person on top was a strong senpai like Kasumigaoka, it felt entirely appropriate.
"Because I know, senpai loves literature and values her role as a light novel author."
"So, the autograph session is important, because it's the work senpai loves."
"If it weren't like that, I would have been crying and causing a scene, begging senpai to stay with me and not go anywhere."
Yukima Azuma pointed to the wound on his forehead.
"It really hurts!"
Upon hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha paused for a moment.
Since their separation, he had changed so much.
He had gone from not knowing how to cook to becoming a skilled chef.
His literary talent had advanced further.
His ability to "read the air" had reached a new level.
Even the skill he once lackedunderstanding the psychology of girlshe now mastered frighteningly well.
But there was one thing that hadn't changed.
That was the care and respect he always gave her.
Caring about everything about her.
Respecting everything she loved and chose.
This was why, back then, she couldn't help but fall for the young man with an appearance only somewhat "acceptable".
She had been enamored with him all this time.
She had once written works full of resentment after he left.
And she had once regained her ability to breathe life into characters upon meeting him again.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had long been in love with the man before her, a love that was beyond saving.
Because she didn't know how to refute Yukima Azuma, Kasumigaoka Utaha chose to deal with the situation in a very childish way.
She pressed her soft, red lips against the wound on Yukima Azuma's forehead.
She gently blew on it, just like adults do when taking care of children, saying innocently, "Blow away the pain."
But at that moment, Yukima Azuma could clearly hear his heart beating faster.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's smooth, white neck was right in front of his eyes, with her perfect collarbone clearly visible in his line of sight.
However, compared to the visual stimulation, his heart was shaking even more intensely.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, so proud, had come here to "blow" for him.
Just thinking about this was enough to make him feel like he was dreaming.
"Considering your ridiculous performance earlier, I've decided to reuse the old nickname: 'Kodoku-kun.'" (lonely-kun)
It was a teasing nickname that Kasumigaoka Utaha used to call Yukima Azuma when they were still in love.
The nickname had two layers of meaning.
The first meaning was related to the work that had brought them together, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.
The protagonist in the story is someone whose consciousness is separated from reality and placed into a virtual world created by a computer.
This person believes himself to be the last survivor in the "End of the World" in reality.
The implication was of a self-satisfied fool.
The second meaning came from Yukima Azuma's gaze at the time, one always filled with loneliness.
As though he were completely lost in this world, living isolated.
No family bonds tied him down, nor friends or any illusory figures.
The implication was: If anyone calls you lonely, it means you're not truly lonely after all.
"Yes, Utaha-senpai."
Yukima Azuma replied gently with a smile.
Unable to bear Yukima Azuma smug expression, Kasumigaoka Utaha bit his lip once more.
Back when they were in love...
She had often been forced into kisses by Yukima Azuma.
During those humiliating times, now vengeance will be her!
...
It seemed to be a habit.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's fingers gently slid down.
Until they unexpectedly stopped at a point.
Because they were blocked.
Kasumigaoka Utaha paused for a moment, then immediately grinned mischievously.
"Azuma-kun, looks like the answer to that question from before has been revealed."
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched slightly.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was referring to a question she had asked when she moved into the apartment.
It really didn't seem like something a high school boy would do. Could it be that ex-boyfriend-kun really had an unspeakable secret?
At that time, Yukima Azuma had just calmly looked back.
Making Kasumigaoka Utaha feel embarrassed and unwilling to admit it.
But in the current situation
Yukima Azuma couldn't maintain the same calm expression from before.
He could only say that Kasumigaoka Utaha had a very strong sense of vengeance.
The type of person who keeps track of every debt in a small notebook.
And when it's time to argue, brings it all up.
Luckily, once Kasumigaoka Utaha resolves her old debts, she never brings them up again.
Moreover, with her speed of revenge, her little notebook no longer has many debts left to uncover.
"So, how about it? Beg me, and I'll help Azuma-kun solve the troubles of a high school boy."
Kasumigaoka Utaha whispered in Yukima Azuma's ear.
Her breath brushed against his earlobe.
The destructive power was terrifying.
"How about using your hands? Or would using your feet be better? That's right, the tights from the other day, Azuma-kun really didn't use them, did he?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha once again carried out her revenge.
Clearly, he had taken off the tights.
In the end, all he did was cover her with a blanket?
You aren't human!
Yukima Azuma was speechless.
All that could be said was, as expected of Kasumigaoka-senpai.
A master of showing maturity, her "driving" skills were extremely proficient.
The wheel ruthlessly ran over Yukima Azuma's face.
...
Machida Sonoko stood waiting not far outside the office, for about an hour.
Finally, the two of them came out.
But Machida Sonoko understood.
After all, they were high school students, chatting for a while was normal.
But!
"Kasumi Utaha-sensei, where are your tights?"
Machida Sonoko asked with suspicion.
Kasumigaoka Utaha turned away, casually wiping the corner of her mouth discreetly.
"When I was sitting at the desk earlier, they got caught on a nail in the corner of the desk and tore, so I threw them away."
Although this explanation was quite reasonable.
Machida Sonoko still felt deep suspicion!
"You're asking for leave again! Don't you care about anyone? Do you even look like a student anymore?"
"What's the excuse this time? Tell me! It really pisses me off!"
The voice on the other end was Kirisu Mafuyu, scolding in anger.
Just recently, Yukima Azuma had sent a message requesting a leave of absence via Line.
It hadn't been long since school started.
Yukima Azuma's time off had already exceeded the time spent in school.
Although Yukima Azuma was a genius who didn't need to worry about anything, Kirisu Mafuyu could no longer hold back.
So, that morning, Kirisu Mafuyu directly called Yukima Azuma.
"Kirisu-sensei, I'm taking a sick day."
Yukima Azuma weakly spoke.
There was silence on the other end for a moment.
Then, Kirisu Mafuyu's tone clearly softened.
"Are you really sick? If you're lying, I'll be really mad."
"Honestly, I'll just scold you a little, but I'll still let you have the day off."
When Yukima Azuma heard Kirisu Mafuyu softer tone, she couldn't help but smile lightly.
"I'm really injured, how could I lie to Kirisu-sensei?"
"Yesterday, I attended a senior book signing event, and there was a little accident."
"Although I just applied some simple bandages yesterday, it's better to go to the hospital for a check-up."
The sound of phone keys clicking could be heard.
It was clear that Kirisu Mafuyu was searching for information.
Fujikawa Publishing had spent a lot of money building their reputation.
The accident at the book signing didn't turn into a scandal.
In fact, it became an opportunity for The Metronome in Love to become famous.
So, after Yukima Azuma agreed, Fujikawa Publishing released the surveillance footage from the store.
This news was still hot on search engines and was receiving a lot of attention.
Kirisu Mafuyu quickly found the related article.
And saw the accident that Yukima Azuma had mentioned.
"Do you... need help? I can take the day off to go with you to the hospital."
At first, Kirisu Mafuyu clearly wanted to scold Yukima Azuma a few more words.
Like, why do something so dangerous?
But after a brief pause, she didn't say it.
Instead, concern for Yukima Azuma surfaced.
Despite the unexpected situation, Yukima Azuma's actions, though a little dangerous, were very sensible.
She also knew Kasumigaoka Utaha, a student at Toyosaki.
Without Yukima Azuma, Kasumigaoka's life would likely have faced serious problems.
Therefore, despite her frustrations, she couldn't bring herself to scold.
But she still couldn't help feeling uneasy about her student.
Thus, she asked Yukima Azuma if she needed help.
"Kirisu-sensei really is a good teacher."
Yukima Azuma responded, not quite on point.
Hearing that, Kirisu Mafuyu on the other end of the phone couldn't help but subconsciously lower her head.
Then she realized that she was talking on the phone.
Even if her expression didn't match the image of a teacher, she didn't have to worry about being seen.
What teacher would be shy about being praised by a student like that!
"Hey, you troublesome student!"
Kirisu Mafuyu tried to make her voice sound colder.
"Kirisu-sensei, I'm fine, after all, I'm a professional," Yukima Azuma hurriedly replied seriously.
Hearing this, Kirisu Mafuyu couldn't help but huff.
"Professional, huh? You're still a student!"
At this point, she paused slightly.
"Well then, after class, I'll visit you to check on you. Send me your address."
This time, Yukima Azuma was a bit stunned.
Kirisu Mafuyu was going to visit he house?
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment before replying.
As a result, Kirisu Mafuyu noticed Yukima Azuma's silence.
"What's wrong? Do you have a problem? You don't want me to visit?"
"No, I'll send you the address, I'm really looking forward to your visit, Kirisu-sensei."
Yukima Azuma could only agree.
After hanging up the phone, Yukima Azuma opened the hallway door.
It seemed that the bandage on he forehead couldn't be removed today.
In fact, the injury hadn't been serious for a long time.
The real reason he asked for leave today was to go to an interview.
No, to be more precise, it was a recruitment session.
"How could I lie to Kirisu-sensei?"
The interview with Yukinoshita Yukino was scheduled for today.
Yukima Azuma set off and headed to the coffee shop where they had arranged to meet.
...
Yukinoshita Yukino had woken up very early.
She washed her face, applied makeup.
Wore a fitted white shirt and a black skirt.
She chose black stockings for her legs.
She had to fully prepare for the interview today.
This was her last chance to live freely.
Standing in front of the mirror in her cheap rented room.
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at the dark circles under her eyes, feeling utterly helpless.
She was born beautiful.
Even without skincare, her skin remained soft and enviable.
But no matter how good the genetics, there are limits.
The tough times, the poor living environment, inadequate nutrition, and the worries in her heart.
Eventually left small marks on her beautiful face.
If this life of poverty ended here.
In just three days, her condition would quickly recover.
But if it continued like this.
It might cause permanent damage that could never be restored.
She patted her cheek.
She pushed all the other thoughts out of her mind.
Yukinoshita Yukino grabbed her handbag and stepped out of the rented room.
Under the morning sunlight, she still walked with her back straight and her head held high.
At least, until today, she was still Yukinoshita Yukino, the one who always pursued freedom for herself!
...
At the coffee shop.
Yukinoshita Yukino had arrived early.
She sat in a secluded spot.
Her mind was wandering.
Suddenly, doubts arose.
Why did the other party choose a coffee shop like this for the interview?
It wasn't a small company or a small workshop.
Laplace Corporation was a company with a registered capital of over 1.5 billion yen.
No matter how crowded the company was, they surely must have a dedicated room for interviews.
A scam?
No, the recruitment software verification process was quite strict.
So, what was going on?
Yukinoshita Yukino thought of another possibility.
The company's staff, due to her appearance, had developed dirty and vile thoughts.
They wanted to take advantage of their position to carry out "unspoken rules" with her.
This wasn't Yukinoshita Yukino being arrogant or overthinking.
She had really encountered such situations in her job search.
The other party had once asked her to meet at a restaurant for couples, subtly implying that she would have to accept the "unspoken rules" if she agreed to the job.
Yukinoshita Yukino slapped the person across the face and angrily walked away.
Of course, that interview had been a complete failure.
Thinking about all this, Yukinoshita Yukino's mood plummeted.
She had thought this was the last hope she had grasped, but in the end, it was just a meaningless illusion.
The feeling of falling down to that level made one feel like going mad.
Just as Yukinoshita Yukino was sinking into her despair,
"Hello, are you Yukinoshita Yukino-san?"
Hearing the question, Yukinoshita Yukino looked up.
She saw a handsome young man, as refreshing as a cool breeze.
He had a well-balanced face, particularly his eyes and eyebrows, which were so striking that one couldn't take their eyes off him, sharp like a sword, bright like a star.
Although he had a bandage on his forehead, slightly affecting his overall appearance, it gave him a different kind of charm.
The simple white shirt he wore looked incredibly attractive on him, almost like a hot item.
Just by looking at him, one might think he was frequently bothered by talent scouts from entertainment companies...
Even though Yukinoshita Yukino herself was an extraordinary beauty.
And she wasn't one to be swayed by looks.
She couldn't help but be momentarily stunned when she saw the young man.
After regaining her composure, Yukinoshita Yukino calmly asked:
"That's me, may I ask what's the matter?"
When the young man heard Yukinoshita Yukino confirm, he smiled.
His smile felt like a gentle breeze passing through.
It made people instinctively feel at ease and pleased.
He sat down across from Yukinoshita Yukino.
As Yukinoshita Yukino was thinking that this young man was being too bold and preparing to frown, he extended his hand toward her.
"Hello, nice to meet you for the first time. I'm Yukima Azuma, a representative of Laplace Corporation, in charge of today's interview."
Yukima Azuma's words made Yukinoshita Yukino immediately throw all her preconceived notions out the window.
She quickly reached out and shook his hand.
If this young man was the one conducting the interview,
Then excessive behavior was no longer a concern.
If he was here for the interview,
It certainly wouldn't be about "unspoken rules."
Someone like him could just wave his hand, and countless women would willingly approach him.
Considering the allure of the "younger-than-me" dynamic,
If something were to happen...
Yukinoshita Yukino herself wasn't sure who would benefit in that situation. (lol)
"Hello, nice to meet you. I apologize for any inconvenience, I'm Yukinoshita Yukino, a graduate in finance from the University of Tokyo."
Yukinoshita Yukino introduced herself again.
But Yukima Azuma waved his hand.
"It's fine, Yukinoshita-san, you don't have to be too formal, I've already reviewed your resume."
"Honestly, when I saw your resume, I even wondered if the developers of the recruitment software had missed something."
At first, Yukinoshita Yukino was a bit nervous.
But now, after hearing just a few words from Yukima Azuma, she felt her mood calming down.
She looked at the young man in front of her in surprise.
He seemed much younger than her.
But in every word and action of his, there was a kind of charm that made others feel reassured.
Such communication skills, she had only ever seen in her older sister.
If she could do the same, perhaps she wouldn't have been constantly fired.
Maybe that's why this young man was the representative of Laplace Corporation, while she was just a failure sitting here for an interview.
Realizing this, the look in Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes toward Yukima Azuma grew complicated.
For the first time, she felt the excellence of someone else in such a way that a feeling of distance arose within her.
She had always been the genius in others' eyes.
But now, this young man, not only in terms of status but also in ability, had proven that he was superior to her.
Yukinoshita Yukino suddenly understood the complex feelings in the eyes of others when they looked at her throughout her academic career.
"Yukinoshita-san? Is there a problem?"
Noticing the complexity in Yukinoshita Yukino's gaze, Yukima Azuma asked.
Yukinoshita Yukino shook her head.
"Well then, let's begin the official interview."
Yukima Azuma said.
Yukinoshita Yukino sat up straight, waiting for Yukima Azuma's question.
"May I ask, Yukinoshita-san, what position are you hoping to take on, and what is your target salary?"
Yukima Azuma asked the common important question in interviews.
Yukinoshita Yukino took a deep breath and then said:
"As I understand, Laplace Corporation is a newly established venture capital company."
"My major is finance, and I'm good at analyzing economic models, so I'm hoping for a position as an Investment Manager or a Risk Assessment Specialist."
"As for the target salary..."
Yukinoshita Yukino's words faltered.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Chapter 71: The Meaning of 'Laplace'
"Regarding the desired salary."
At this point, Yukinoshita Yukino's words suddenly stopped.
She truly needed the money.
Moreover, with her abilities and the position she was applying for, a high salary was entirely deserved.
Asking for a reasonable salary also aligned with her sense of justice.
But in today's society, finding a job was really difficult.
Perhaps it would be better to lower the salary expectations?
While Yukinoshita Yukino was still a bit uncertain.
Yukima Azuma clapped his hands lightly.
"Alright, Yukinoshita-san, I have a general understanding of your requirements."
"However, the situation of our company might not be what you think it is."
Upon hearing this, Yukinoshita Yukino immediately stood up, a bit flustered.
She hadn't even mentioned the salary yet.
Why was she being dismissed already?
At that moment, Yukinoshita Yukino's normally straight back seemed like it couldn't bear the pressure and was about to bend.
But before she could speak.
"Please hear me out first."
Yukima Azuma also stood up and gently pressed her back into the chair.
His voice, though calm, carried a strange force that made it hard to refuse.
It made Yukinoshita Yukino unconsciously follow what he said.
"Anyway, let me first summarize the current situation of Laplace Corporation for you to understand."
Yukima Azuma tapped lightly on the table.
Yukinoshita Yukino immediately focused her attention.
But the words that followed from Yukima Azuma left Yukino dumbfounded.
"The registered capital of the company is, as Yukinoshita-san mentioned, 1.5 billion yen, which is about 10 million US dollars."
"Although the amount on paper isn't small, in reality, the entire working capital of the company has already been fully invested."
Yukino widened her eyes, speechless.
If what Yukima Azuma said was true.
Then, this company, though just newly established, was actually already a hollow shell.
Before the flow of funds could be restored, the company could face the risk of bankruptcy at any time.
However, that was just the beginning of the information.
"The registered location of Laplace Corporation is on the Wall Street. In fact, there are currently no operations in Japan."
"So, the investment management position or risk evaluation specialist that Yukinoshita-san requested can't actually be carried out."
"However, if you join now, you would be considered a founding partner of the company, responsible for expanding the territory in Japan."
"Currently, due to a lack of capital from the parent company, the branch will temporarily not carry out investment operations but will take on other tasks."
"For example, developing games."
"And the most important thing right now is to find an office that can be rented, so the branch can start operating normally."
According to Yukima Azuma explanation.
Yukinoshita Yukino's mood gradually sank.
This was really unreliable.
Isn't this a "penny-pinching" company?
Although the company is involved in large investment transactions abroad.
But in Japan, there is no money, no people, no foundation.
Other than the not-so-famous company name, there's nothing at all.
Wait, the more I hear, the more it feels like it's describing me?
Yukinoshita Yukino realized that her situation wasn't much different.
No work skills, no social connections, no money.
Aside from the reputation of the University of Tokyo and the Yukinoshita surname she couldn't make use of, there was nothing.
Oh, well then it's fine.
What right does she have to criticize a "penny-pinching" company?
Clearly, she was about to not be able to pay her own rent.
"I understand now, Yukima-san, please directly let me know the position and salary when I'm hired."
Yukino said with a dim gaze.
"Umu, let's start with the human resources management position first, as it's the most troublesome area here."
"As for the salary although it's a bit disappointing for you, Yukinoshita-san, this is still the startup phase."
Upon hearing this, Yukino once again lowered her expectations for the poor salary in her mind.
At the very least, it should be around 100,000 yen.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to survive.
By the way, the current hourly wage for convenience store workers in Japan is usually around 800-900 yen.
"The initial offer is 1 million yen per month (6366.34 USD), how does that sound? Of course, once the company starts operating smoothly, the salary will definitely increase."
Yukima Azuma said.
Yukino blinked, feeling like she had misheard.
How much did the guy just say the salary was?
"That" Yukino intended to ask again to confirm.
But Yukima Azuma continued speaking, not waiting for her to say anything.
"This is a test interview, please help me choose the office location for the company."
"This is a list of office buildings I've pre-selected that are available for rent."
"And this is the company's budget well, actually, it's the balance of my account."
"Please, Yukinoshita-san, try to be a little frugal, at least leave me enough money for food."
Yukima Azuma pushed the laptop he brought with him toward her.
Then he took out his phone, opened his bank account balance screen, and pushed it in front of Yukino.
Yukino instinctively glanced at Yukima Azuma's phone screen.
The string of numbers made her feel like she had been hit hard.
Not because the amount was too large.
After all, coming from the Yukinoshita family, she had seen amounts hundreds of times greater than this.
But this balance compared to her current situation...
At first, she thought he was a "multi-level marketing employee."
It turned out that the so-called "lack of money" of his was just a lack of money compared to billions, right?
Yukinoshita Yukino stared at Yukima Azuma.
She felt like she had been mocked.
However, after that, Yukino seriously started choosing an office building.
The balance in Yukima Azuma's account was about 30 million yen.
Part of it came from the profits of the game.
The rest was from prize money from shogi tournaments.
In official tournaments, in addition to the prize for the final champion, each victory actually comes with a cash reward.
Therefore, in reality, the earning potential of professional shogi players in Japan is quite astounding.
"What about this one?"
Yukino chose an office building available for rent.
Renting the entire building was clearly not feasible.
But renting a few floors should definitely be fine.
However, this was also thanks to the collapse of Japan's economic bubble a few years ago.
Otherwise, the real estate prices in Tokyo might have been so high that even dogs would shake their heads.
Yukima Azuma looked over Yukino's choice, then extended his hand toward her.
"Welcome to Laplace Corporation, Yukinoshita-san."
Yukino extended her hand and shook hands with Yukima Azuma.
...
Leaving the caf, the two of them headed toward the selected office building.
As they got into the taxi, Yukino looked at the caf sign and couldn't help but find it a bit amusing.
No wonder the interview was held at a caf.
Because basically, there was no company office.
But it wasn't completely untrustworthy either.
Now the two of them were in the process of renting an office location.
A spending of tens of millions of yen, and the guy beside her didn't even blink.
Come to think of it, were there any wealthy families or middle-class families with the surname Yukima in Tokyo?
Yukino tried to recall, but couldn't find any information.
Sitting in the taxi, she looked at the side profile of the young man.
Suddenly, Yukino felt a sense of familiarity.
As if she had met this young man somewhere before.
But right after that, she shook her head.
How could that be!?
Since she was young, she had never liked mingling with people from the upper class.
Because of her personality.
Her mother, Madam Yukinoshita, had never taken her to any galas.
If she had, it would have been with her older sister, Yukinoshita Haruno.
Therefore, their lives before this, even if they coincidentally overlapped, would have been nothing more than a brief encounter.
And Yukinoshita Yukino certainly didn't retain any impressions of people who only crossed her path briefly.
No matter how handsome that young man was.
So that feeling of familiarity was definitely just an illusion.
Yukinoshita Yukino concluded.
The two of them got out of the car in front of an office building in the Shibuya area.
Since they had informed in advance, the real estate agent arrived early.
When he saw them get out of the car, the agent immediately greeted them with a smile and quickly walked over.
There was no other choice. The real estate market was sluggish.
Now, there were fewer and fewer people willing to rent office spaces.
As an agent, the pressure was naturally immense.
Yukima Azuma and Yukinoshita Yukino followed the real estate agent upstairs to the office floors for inspection.
After all, this was an office building in the Shibuya area.
The environment was truly excellent.
From the top floor, they could overlook the entire Shibuya shopping street.
Moreover, as long as they rented for a year, the equipment on the floor would be included as a bonus.
The floor that Yukima Azuma selected already had a fair number of desks available.
It was said that it had previously been rented by a securities company, but the company went bankrupt two years ago due to pressure.
After inspecting and confirming there were no issues, Yukima Azuma nodded.
The real estate agent immediately called the building's owner.
When the owner heard that someone was interested in renting an office, and for a full year, he quickly said he would come right away.
The office building had been vacant, and the management and service fees were almost draining the owner's finances.
The contract was signed smoothly.
The owner, after reassuring that any issues could be directed to him, quickly left.
Only Yukinoshita Yukino and Yukima Azuma remained in the empty office building.
"President, what should we do next?" Yukino asked.
She had completely adopted the role of a salaried employee.
"Hire people, prioritize recruiting programmers first. It's already May, so we need to hurry."
"Also, Yukinoshita-san, pay particular attention to talent in the fields of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things."
"Unlike programming, these two fields should not be recruited haphazardly. Better to have fewer, but better talent. We will need to invest heavily. Soon, our financial resources will become quite abundant."
Yukima Azuma outlined the next steps.
Yukino listened attentively while taking notes on important information with her phone.
Recruiting programmers, Yukino thought she could understand.
Comiket, the Tokyo manga exhibition, would be held in June. (Author's note: Actually in August and December, but let's overlook that.) (Translator's note: lol)
Yukima Azuma mentioned they would be handling game development.
It was clear this project had to be completed before Comiket.
The timeline was indeed tight.
However, programming could be managed, but the scriptwriting and illustrations were definitely the most challenging parts.
Although she had questions, Yukino said nothing more.
These were Yukima Azuma's responsibilities as the president to worry about.
As for recruiting talent in AI and IoT, Yukino couldn't contain her curiosity and finally asked:
"President, as far as I know, these two technologies are still largely theoretical."
"Not just in Japan, but worldwide, there aren't any truly excellent practical applications yet."
"So, are we recruiting in these fields... to start a supplementary course?"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Speaking of which, Yukinoshita-san, do you know the meaning of the name 'Laplace'?"
"Now that I think about it, Yukinoshita-san, do you know the meaning of Laplace?"
Yukinoshita Yukino pondered over this question.
"Pierre-Simon Laplace, the French mathematician. His most famous hypothesis is Laplace's Demon."
"That is, an entity that knows the exact position and momentum of every atom in the universe."
"It can calculate the entire process of the universe's development, knowing the past and the future."
Yukima Azuma snapped his fingers, the sound faint.
"That's right, that's the origin of the name of our company."
"We are the people under Laplace's Demon."
"Our job is very simple: to spy on the future for profit."
"Developing games, setting up venture capital funds, all of it is just a process of accumulating power."
"What makes the most money in the world forever is monopoly."
"But interfering with an already existing piece of the pie to take it will come at too great a cost."
"So, we reach out to embrace the pie of the future. That's how Laplace's Demon operates."
Yukima Azuma spoke while walking toward the large glass window of the building.
As for Yukino, she could only look on in confusion at Yukima Azuma.
She was completely stunned by Yukima Azuma.
How confident is this person, really?
Does he intend to monopolize the industries of the future?
Based on what?
Unless he really is Laplace's Demon.
While Yukino was still skeptical, she saw Yukima Azuma lightly tap his finger on the window.
Following the direction of Yukima Azuma's finger, Yukino saw a Shinkansen train speeding by.
"Before the train appeared, what people wanted was a horse that could run faster."
"People like us, under Laplace's Demon, do just that."
"When everyone is fighting over a pigeon that flies incredibly fast."
"We throw a phone in front of them."
"Yukinoshita-san, do you understand now?"
At this moment, Yukinoshita Yukino completely understood.
She got it.
The person in front of her was a crazy rich person.
"President, if you have free time, go to the psychiatric department and check your brain."
"Yukinoshita-san, you're really straightforward."
"Umu, that's just the way I am."
"It's fine, when you see a glimpse of the future, you'll know if I truly have a problem with my brain or not."
Yukima Azuma completely ignored Yukino's harsh words.
After all, what he valued was Yukino's work ability.
A little harsh language didn't matter.
Moreover, the harsh truth helped with action.
What mattered more was Yukinoshita Yukino's integrity.
Entrusting the company to Yukino, he didn't have to worry about being manipulated or betrayed.
Because Yukinoshita Yukino was so upright, she wouldn't do such things.
This sense of reassurance.
Yukima Azuma was willing to spend a large amount to purchase.
"Disperse, disperse, take a break. The recruitment will be handled by Yukinoshita-san."
"President, I... I..."
"Yukinoshita-san, please keep your straightforwardness."
"Can you advance this month's salary to me?"
"You were just straightforward and scolded me earlier?"
"You told me to be straightforward!"
Yukinoshita Yukino slightly lowered her head.
She knew it was a bit strange to say that and then ask for an advance on her salary, but she honestly couldn't wait until the next payday.
While Yukino was bowing her head, about to say something more, like offering to cut her salary or write an IOU...
Ding dong.
The phone suddenly rang.
Yukino reflexively took out her phone to check.
It was a transfer of one million yen into her bank account.
She immediately looked up in surprise and gazed at Yukima Azuma.
Seeing Yukino looking at him, Yukima Azuma waved the phone in his hand.
"Anyway, I hope you'll help me out in the future~"
Yukinoshita Yukino stared at the young man in front of her.
"Umu, I hope you'll help me out, President."
...
After leaving the office building, the two went in separate directions.
Yukino first went to the convenience store near her rented apartment.
As usual, she reached for the discounted section, where the bento was half-price.
But then she thought, she didn't need to live miserably like before.
Standing there for a moment, she turned to one side and chose a sushi bento that looked very fancy.
After paying,
Yukino realized that the bento she could barely afford yesterday was actually not that expensive at all.
She took the bento back to her rental apartment.
After quickly eating the entire bento,
Yukinoshita Yukino felt something strange.
Everything that had happened today felt like a dream.
She had accidentally gotten a job, accidentally received a large salary, and accidentally met a guy like him.
Looking at the empty bento box, Yukino felt a strange urge to cry.
The phone rang.
It was a message reminding her of the rent payment from her landlord.
Yesterday, Yukino might have felt anxious reading this message.
But now, she calmly replied, informing the landlord that she wouldn't renew the lease and would move out before the contract ended.
...
On the other side,
When Yukima Azuma returned home, he stretched his back.
Everything had been handed over.
The Laplace company branch was complete.
And it was named "Laplace Electronics Technology Co., Ltd."
The programming work for White Album could be directly handed over to the company for processing later.
After all, the programming workload for this type of game is no small feat. If Yukima Azuma were to do it himself, it would definitely take a long time.
Isn't the point of hiring programmers to use them?
As for the other plans...
Until the funds from the headquarters are recovered, there's nothing much that can be done for now.
The shogi tournament had long since come to its conclusion.
Even if Yukima Azuma were to skip all the remaining matches now, his number of wins would still secure him the championship.
It could be said that after going through such busy days, Yukima Azuma finally had some time to relax.
He could finally rest easy, lying on the sofa while petting the cat.
He hugged Shiratamaru.
Yukima Azuma took a deep sniff of the cat.
But as he was halfway through the sniff,
"Ahem! Wait, there's something else today!"
Yukima Azuma suddenly remembered that someone had called him this morning.
It seemed that Kirisu Mafuyu was coming to visit his house after school today!
Realizing this, Yukima Azuma immediately snapped out of his "high cat" state.
In any case, first he had to clean up the pair of stockings that his senpai had thrown around yesterday.
Yukima Azuma quickly ran downstairs to pick up one of them.
Then he continued searching around the living room.
Finally, he found the other one under the sofa.
Yesterday, the two of them had essentially rekindled their old relationship. Though they hadn't officially confirmed getting back together, they still had a good time.
The truth proved,
She was indeed worthy of being Kasumigaoka-senpai.
Even using only her legs, she still had countless tricks.
Last night, Yukima Azuma nearly experienced a new form of worship. (TL: noob, I've been awakened for a long time.)
Kuhum, now is not the time to talk about that.
Yukima Azuma hurriedly ran to the bathroom to wash the black mesh stockings.
Then he hung them upstairs, in Kasumigaoka Utaha's room.
Oh, right, Yukima Azuma now had the key to Kasumigaoka's room.
She had given him the spare key.
Shiratamaru watched its owner rush around, tilting its head in surprise.
Weren't the two masters marking their territory yesterday?
Why was he now taking the traces away to hide them?
How strange.
Never mind, as a cat (King), why bother thinking so much?
Not understanding, Shiratamaru ran to its room and brought out its empty rice bowl.
It dropped the bowl on the hallway floor, making a loud noise. (lol)
...
After school.
Following the address,
Kirisu Mafuyu arrived at the apartment.
Looking at the spacious two-story independent apartment in front of her,
Kirisu Mafuyu fell into deep thought.
Truly, as expected of someone who often engages in lively discussions about the country's economic situation in the teacher's office.
His living situation was better than hers, a teacher.
Yukima Azuma rang the doorbell.
Kirisu Mafuyu adjusted her collar slightly before entering.
The door in the hallway quickly opened.
"Kirisu-sensei, please come in."
Yukima Azuma smiled as he spoke.
Kirisu Mafuyu's gaze landed on the bandage on Yukima Azuma's forehead.
"How did the check-up go?"
She still wanted to scold him.
In the surveillance video, Yukima Azuma had single-handedly restrained the criminal.
But what if his backpack hadn't contained a camera, but a knife instead?
This troublesome student!
"It's just a scratch, Kirisu-sensei, don't worry," Yukima Azuma reassured her as he let her into the apartment.
It seemed that he had seen through her thoughts.
He explained casually, as if by chance:
"Actually, it wasn't that dangerous. The guy was obviously not trying to commit a serious crime."
"Using such disgusting tactics only proves that he's afraid of the situation being blown out of proportion, afraid of really ending up in jail."
Kirisu Mafuyu turned and shot a glance at Yukima Azuma.
This guy, his explanation made it sound so reasonable.
She didn't believe it.
In that brief moment, Yukima Azuma couldn't have thought that much.
Even if the other person had been a violent criminal, Yukima Azuma would have still rushed in.
With just a glance, Yukima Azuma immediately stopped speaking, smiling as he offered a pair of new slippers.
They were light blue and slightly translucent.
"Actually, I only need disposable slippers."
Kirisu Mafuyu noticed the disposable slippers in the bottom drawer of the shoe cabinet.
"As a problem student like me, Kirisu-sensei probably won't just visit my house once."
"Besides, the disposable slippers are too thin, you won't be comfortable walking on the floor."
Yukima Azuma said as he opened the packaging of the slippers.
"So you do know you're a problem student."
Kirisu Mafuyu sighed and finally took the slippers.
The two of them walked to the living room and sat across from each other at the dining table.
As Kirisu Mafuyu walked down the hallway, she glanced around.
Everything was neatly arranged.
It seemed that this problem student wasn't too mischievous at home.
The kitchen showed signs of being used, with a full set of cooking tools.
It was clear that he regularly cooked for himself, and there was a sense of everyday life.
There was even a self-made coffee machine!
"Kirisu-sensei, would you like something to drink? Tea? Soft drinks? Coffee?" Yukima Azuma asked.
"Just regular tea is fine."
Kirisu Mafuyu didn't want to trouble Yukima Azuma.
"Then just tea. I have a type imported from China. You should try it, Kirisu-sensei."
"By the way, both you and I love tea, right? You must drink it often in the office as well, don't you?"
Yukima Azuma said as he went to get the teapot.
Kirisu Mafuyu didn't know how to stop him.
This guy, after she dragged him to the office by the ear, still had the presence of mind to observe what she was drinking!
Soon, Yukima Azuma placed a fragrant cup of tea in front of Kirisu Mafuyu.
Kirisu Mafuyu picked up the cup and took a sip.
She felt that not drinking it would be unfair to the effort he'd put in.
However, as soon as the tea hit her mouth,
Kirisu Mafuyu immediately noticed a stark difference compared to the tea she usually drank.
Not only was the quality of the tea leaves on a completely different level,
But the way it was brewed also seemed to be on a different tier altogether.
She truly was a tea lover.
But as she drank such fine tea, Kirisu Mafuyu felt somewhat embarrassed, unsure if she should continue scolding Yukima Azuma.
--------------------------------------------
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Kirisu Mafuyu placed her teacup down and shook her head.
'No, no.'
How could she let herself be outsmarted by this troublemaker student, bribed to get away with things!
"Yukima-kun, when will your family be back? I need to talk to them about your issues."
Kirisu Mafuyu leaned her elbows on the table, interlacing her fingers, showing a serious attitude.
"I don't have one."
Yukima Azuma calmly replied.
"Eh?"
"I said, I don't have a family."
Hearing Kirisu Mafuyu's doubtful tone, Yukima Azuma repeated himself.
Kirisu Mafuyu's expression immediately changed.
She stared at the young man in front of her, momentarily speechless.
This information was truly shocking to her.
Two seconds later, Kirisu Mafuyu regained her composure and quickly apologized:
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up a sensitive topic, I just..."
"Just worried about me," Yukima Azuma interrupted her with a smile.
"Don't worry, Kirisu-sensei. It's not a sensitive topic for me, so it's fine."
Kirisu Mafuyu widened her eyes.
On the contrary, she was the one being comforted.
In that moment, Kirisu Mafuyu realized.
Even though she always called Yukima Azuma a "troublemaker student, a troublemaker student,"
She really had no idea how heavy the burden he had to bear was.
How could a young man smile and say "it's not a sensitive topic at all" like that?
Kirisu Mafuyu wanted to say something.
She opened her mouth but then fell silent, unable to speak.
In the quiet living room, only the sound of Yukima Azuma lightly sipping his tea remained.
The silence lingered for a long time.
After a moment of thinking, Kirisu Mafuyu finally managed to say:
"Can you tell me about your situation?"
If she didn't know what had happened in Yukima Azuma's past,
Any attempt at comfort would be meaningless.
Any guidance would just be self-righteous.
At the very least, Kirisu Mafuyu needed to understand what this young man had been through.
Only then could she attempt to help him.
"Not to sensei, of course."
As a result, Yukima Azuma answered like that.
Kirisu Mafuyu was stunned.
After all, this young man had always been polite, humorous, and though a little mischievous, very obedient to her.
Could it be that his past was so heavy that he didn't want to talk about it?
Just as Kirisu Mafuyu was thinking that.
"Three years from now, I'll graduate, and by then, sensei won't be my teacher anymore."
"In Japan, there's probably no such thing as 'once a teacher, always a father,' right?"
"So, asking questions like this as a teacher might be crossing the line."
"But, if Kirisu Mafuyu wants to know, I definitely won't hide anything."
While speaking, Yukima Azuma lightly shook his finger.
Kirisu Mafuyu really wanted to grab his ear.
These words showed no respect for a teacher at all!
Show some proper respect for your teacher!
But, considering that the young man in front of her was a troublemaker,
Kirisu Mafuyu decided not to argue with him.
"Alright, then, as Kirisu Mafuyu, tell me about your story."
Yukima Azuma nodded.
"This story begins with a child who wasn't particularly smart. How should I put it, the Yukima family is not a traditional family."
Yukima Azuma began telling his story slowly.
However, he intentionally hid the fact that he was someone who had crossed over.
The rest of it, though, was true.
The Yukima family was not a traditional family.
Although not large in scale, it was indeed a clan.
And being a clan, to maintain a better lineage, they adhered to the principle of "the talented should lead."
This was beneficial for the development of the clan.
However, for the incompetent, things became very bad.
Yukima Azuma wasn't born as a "slow" child.
As mentioned earlier,
As a reincarnator, Yukima Azuma's soul had to gradually merge with this body.
Before, Yukima Azuma had no memory of his past life.
Moreover, due to the integration period,
When he was born, Yukima Azuma was even slower and less quick-witted than ordinary children.
This Yukima Azuma was the second child in his family.
His biological parents despised him because he was so incompetent.
As a result, Yukima Azuma didn't receive the care he should have.
Once he gained some ability to take care of himself, he was sent to Tokyo to study.
Probably with the thinking of "out of sight, out of mind."
Thus, the Yukima family completely missed the first turning point for Yukima Azuma.
Later, Yukima Azuma's performance rapidly improved.
He stood out in the Shogi world, gaining attention in a short period.
The Yukima family wanted to bring Yukima Azuma back.
But he flatly refused.
At that time, things were quite tense and not at all pleasant.
Fortunately, during that period, Yukima Azuma happened to meet Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Then, three years ago,
The Yukima family suffered an accident.
Except for Yukima Azuma, who had been abandoned in Tokyo,
The Yukima family completely collapsed.
"That's how it happened. I completely became someone without any blood relatives left. Only those who claim to be relatives, but in reality, they are just hungry wolves eyeing the family wealth."
"I used a bit of trickery, paid a price, escaped from Chiba, and now live alone in Tokyo."
Yukima Azuma concluded.
At this moment,
Kirisu Mafuyu's gaze became somewhat vacant.
Though Yukima Azuma spoke calmly,
Just thinking about it, one could tell that what he had shared, if it had happened to anyone else, would have been experiences from hell and a devastating shock.
To go through such things and not become an anti-social person, against humanity, could be considered a miracle.
The fact that Yukima Azuma could remain so composed and polite was truly hard to believe.
Kirisu Mafuyu herself was the type to "regret her youth."
She had once shone brightly in figure skating.
But she gave up her talent due to personal emotions.
Throughout the rest of her life, she never stopped regretting it, and after becoming a teacher, her personality became more stubborn.
However, upon hearing what Yukima Azuma had gone through,
Kirisu Mafuyu felt that the pain of her youth was nothing.
It wasn't even half of what the young man in front of her had to endure.
Initially, she had planned to offer some comfort after hearing his story.
But now, that was out of the question.
What comfort could she offer?
Not to mention the person involved, even someone just listening like her was on the verge of suffering psychological trauma!
Just as Kirisu Mafuyu was sinking deeper into her chaotic thoughts,
Clink clink clink!
The sound of metal clinking clearly echoed from the hallway.
Kirisu Mafuyu snapped back to reality, looking up toward the source of the noise.
She saw a white cat, about the size of two palms.
At that moment, the cat was dragging a large metal bowl, nearly as big as its body, making a clattering noise on the floor.
Looking at this cute white fluffball,
Kirisu Mafuyu felt her wounded heart heal a little.
"What's this?"
She asked curiously.
Yukima Azuma had stood up at some point and explained:
"It's called Shiratamaru. I found it on my way back after school not long ago. It seems to have been abandoned, so I brought it home."
Saying this, Yukima Azuma gently picked up Shiratamaru.
It was strange.
He had fed it earlier when he came back at noon, hadn't he?
In the afternoon, since Kirisu Mafuyu was coming, he had carefully locked Shiratamaru in a cage.
Glancing toward Shiratamaru's room,
Yukima Azuma realized,
The simple latch on the cage had been opened.
He looked back at Shiratamaru, meeting its striking mismatched blue and yellow eyes, and fell into deep thought.
Shiratamaru: "Nyan nyan?"
What he say?
It seemed that Shiratamaru's intelligence was truly high, even exceeding expectations.
It was no different than a Border Collie in the body of a cat.
At this moment, Kirisu Mafuyu also stepped closer to observe.
She watched the scene of one person and a cat living in harmony.
Kirisu Mafuyu was so moved that she almost burst into tears.
Thank heavens.
At least this child hadn't gone down the wrong path.
Yukima Azuma took Shiratamaru's food bowl, prepared a portion of food for the cat, and even added some freeze-dried food.
Once the food was ready, Shiratamaru leaped down from Yukima Azuma's arms.
It immediately dove into the food like a whirlwind.
The noise of Shiratamaru's bowl being hit and clattering loudly echoed through the room.
Yukima Azuma thought to himself that he needed to speed up his plan.
Otherwise, if Shiratamaru kept banging the bowl like this every day, it wouldn't be good at all.
He had to finish building the automatic feeder as soon as possible, so that Shiratamaru would "torture" the machine instead of banging the bowl every day.
The scene of Yukima Azuma deep in thought automatically transformed in Kirisu Mafuyu's mind into: 'cats are the medicine for healing the soul.'
Kirisu Mafuyu wholeheartedly agreed with this thought.
She even began to consider whether she should get a cat herself.
As both of them were watching Shiratamaru eat,
The sound of a door opening came from the entrance.
"I'm back."
Kasumigaoka Utaha had returned home and immediately noticed a pair of women's shoes by the entrance.
These shoes were not the school uniform type that students usually wore.
So, she immediately ruled out several possibilities.
Eriri, Kato Megumi, or others certainly wouldn't be wearing these types of shoes on a school day.
In other words... it was a another "sneaky cat" again!
Realizing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression immediately soured.
Nice!
She had just been sweet yesterday.
And today, this person was already planning to betray her, huh!
"Welcome home."
Yukima Azuma came out from the room, greeting Kasumigaoka as usual.
Kirisu Mafuyu also followed behind out of curiosity.
After all, Yukima Azuma had said that he had no family.
So who was this person entering the house now?
Seeing the two of them acting so casually, as if nothing was amiss,
Kasumigaoka became even angrier.
Nice, now they weren't even pretending anymore!
"Lonely-kun, could you explain who the woman behind you is?"
"Why did you bring a stranger into our house!?"
Kasumigaoka emphasized the phrase "our house," grinding her teeth in anger.
Who is the "sneaky cat" daring to approach Azuma? I will finish her off right now! The 512 combo, senpai in black stockings, has been activatedrune settings with just a click.
Kirisu Mafuyu, though a woman past her prime and having never been in a romantic relationship,
Still, with a woman's intuition, she could smell the intense scent of gunpowder in the air.
Having never gone through something like this before, Kirisu-sensei was momentarily at a loss and didn't know what to do.
Seeing Kirisu Mafuyu flustered,
Kasumigaoka Utaha grew even bolder, her overwhelming aura taking charge.
Her sharp gaze locked onto Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma smiled, turned, and made the introduction.
"Senpai, this is my homeroom teacher, as well as a teacher at Toyogasaki, Kirisu Mafuyu-sensei. She's here to check on my health."
After finishing his words, Yukima Azuma turned to look at Kirisu Mafuyu.
A question mark immediately appeared over his head.
Wait, sensei, what are you panicking about!?
As soon as Yukima Azuma finished speaking, Kasumigaoka Utaha was also taken aback.
A teacher? A teacher from Toyogasaki?
Did that mean her jealous outburst just now was completely embarrassing?
But wait, she's a teacher visiting the home, so why is she acting so panicking?
Both of them turned to look at the teacher.
Kirisu Mafuyu finally realized.
Right, I'm a teacher, and I'm here to visit my student's home.
What on earth am I so panicking for?
In an instant, the atmosphere became exceedingly awkward.
"You are a third-year student, Kasumigaoka Utaha, right? I am a first-year teacher, Kirisu Mafuyu."
Kirisu Mafuyu shyly introduced herself.
Then she tried to maintain a serious expression.
"Yukima Azuma, along with Kasumigaoka Utaha, are you both living together outside of school?"
Normally, when Kirisu Mafuyu discovered such serious issues with a student's lifestyle, she would definitely get angry.
But at the moment, in this awkward situation, genuine anger couldn't really flare up.
Still, the questions that needed to be asked had to be asked.
At this point, Kasumigaoka Utaha had just finished changing her slippers.
Then she slowly and calmly explained:
"For personal reasons, I moved out during the spring break to live alone."
"Through a real estate agent, after considering factors like convenience to school, soundproofing, and comfort, I decided to rent this place."
"Kirisu-sensei, the truth is, the relationship between me and Yukima is just a normal landlord-tenant relationship."
Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't too worried.
First, both she and Yukima Azuma were excellent students at Toyogasaki Academy.
One was the top student of the third year, the other was the representative of the newly enrolled students.
Toyogasaki was always very tolerant towards both of them.
Moreover, after all, the reason they were living together was because of the rental agreement.
Although the intention behind it was certainly not pure, and their living situation had completely changed,
On the surface, it could still be reasonably explained.
Sure enough, after listening to Kasumigaoka's explanation, Kirisu Mafuyu's expression softened considerably.
However, still, this was about two high school students living together, wasn't it?
When Kirisu Mafuyu was about to say something else, Yukima Azuma lightly tugged on her sleeve.
She turned around.
Then she heard Yukima Azuma softly say:
"Utaha-senpai is the first friend I met when I first came to Tokyo."
These words immediately shattered Kirisu Mafuyu's psychological defenses.
Now, there was no way to object.
Just imagine.
The boy, still in elementary school, was kicked out of his home by Yukima, and made his way to Tokyo from Chiba on his own.
The first friend he could call "senpai" that he met.
This teenage boy, alone, with no relatives, his family gone, was the only connection he had in Tokyo.
If anyone could still oppose this,
Could they even be considered human!?
So, Kirisu Mafuyu could only silently nod.
.....
The sky gradually darkened.
Yukima Azuma invited Kirisu Mafuyu to stay for dinner.
Afterward, Kirisu Mafuyu left Yukima's home.
She tiredly returned to her rented room.
Kirisu Mafuyu walked through the cluttered hallway and collapsed onto the bed.
The information she had learned today was really too much.
Until now, she still couldn't process it all.
Kirisu Mafuyu felt she needed to rest for a while.
While lowering her head, suddenly her phone rang.
Kirisu Mafuyu picked it up and looked.
It was a message from the landlord notifying her about the rent payment.
So Kirisu Mafuyu took out her phone, preparing to transfer the rent for the next term to the landlord.
But she stopped at the password input page.
Wait, since the apartment is being rented to a student, it's fine for me to rent there too, right?
This way, I can monitor those two. After all, living together in high school is still very risky, and if they're not careful, something big could happen!
Thinking this, Kirisu Mafuyu nodded.
She felt like she had come up with a good idea.
However, Kirisu Mafuyu didn't realize that,
After hearing Yukima Azuma's story, she had started to develop a vague, forgiving attitude towards everything related to him.
Due to Yukima Azuma's circumstances, she was afraid of hurting his feelings, fearing that he might do something extreme in response.
With this attitude,
Don't even talk about monitoring them.
Even if Yukima Azuma and Kasumigaoka Utaha were doing something shady right in front of her,
As long as Yukima Azuma looked at her with puppy dog eyes,
Kirisu Mafuyu probably wouldn't be able to stop them.
(t/n: Omoshiroi)
....
On the other side,
At Yukima's house.
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Yukima Azuma in confusion.
"What did you mean by that?"
She had clearly heard what Yukima Azuma said.
However, she didn't understand.
Why would a teacher who seemed so serious and straightforward
suddenly change her attitude 180 degrees after hearing that statement?
She immediately went from being uncertain to being agreeable.
Yukima Azuma shrugged.
"It was literal, Utaha-senpai is the first friend I made in Tokyo, and also my first love."
When she heard "first love," the corner of Kasumigaoka Utaha's mouth slightly curled up.
Still, she shot Yukima Azuma a glance.
He was starting to say sweet things to her again.
This guy's skills in pleasing women were really improving too quickly.
In every way.
But in reality, Yukima Azuma wasn't wrong.
At that time, he had just regained his memories, looking around and seeing only strangers.
It felt somewhat like the main character in A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi).
Passersby couldn't recognize his face; they only saw a big X on they face.
And in that situation,
In a corner of a bookstore,
Kasumigaoka Utaha came into Yukima Azuma's view.
She was the only person Yukima Azuma "knew."
So, Yukima Azuma recklessly stepped forward.
"Really, who would say 'I love you, please marry me' the first time they meet?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha also recalled the scene when they first met, remembering Yukima Azuma's words.
She couldn't help but sigh,
But her eyes were filled with overflowing emotions.
"I had no other choice." Yukima Azuma shrugged. "This is the only way I could think of to attract senpai's attention."
...
The next day.
"Then, sorry to trouble you, Yukima-san!"
Kita Ikuyo bowed and handed her bass guitar to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma took it and handed Kita Ikuyo half of the payment.
After school today, he had also arranged for Bocchi to meet them and get acquainted.
"I'm not going anywhere. I still have work to do tonight."
Eriri lay on the table, tiredly speaking.
Anyone could tell that she hadn't gotten enough sleep the night before.
There was no choice.
She had to finish the manuscript as Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, as well as the illustrations for White Album that Yukima Azuma had asked her to do.
Everything had to be completed before the summer Comiket.
Time was running out.
After all, it was the illustration for a finished game, so the workload was huge.
Thankfully, Yukima Azuma had helped her a little with the manuscript work beforehand.
Otherwise, by now, Eriri wouldn't just be tired, she would be near exhaustion.
This morning, during class,
Eriri had fallen into a deep sleep.
Kirisu Mafuyu looked at her, her gaze almost murderous.
Yukima Azuma clasped his hands together, trying to plead.
After several attempts, Eriri finally slept through an entire morning class.
After school,
Kirisu Mafuyu woke Eriri up and led both her and Yukima Azuma out of the classroom.
But not because of Eriri sleeping in class.
"Isn't your club using the multimedia room upstairs?"
"But recently, the student council has taken over that room for the upcoming summer festival."
"The club rooms have been fully allocated, so you might temporarily not have a club room to operate in."
Kirisu Mafuyu delivered the bad news.
Eriri blinked.
She was about to say that the student council shouldn't have taken their club room,
But after thinking for a moment, she realized, wasn't this a great opportunity?
Then, there was Yukima Azuma beside her.
"How about I go talk to the principal? I'll 'donate' some 'gifts' to the school?" Yukima Azuma said seriously.
Before he could finish his sentence,
Kirisu Mafuyu reached out, intending to pinch Yukima Azuma's ear.
"You student with this kind of problem, solve it like a student! Even if you have money, you can't do that!"
Yukima Azuma quickly dodged.
"Money, isn't it meant to make things easier for oneself and others?"
Kirisu Mafuyu rolled her eyes.
This rich kid!
No, it's this problematic student!
At that moment, Eriri interjected:
"Since you've said that, there's no choice but to find another place."
Saying that, she pulled Yukima Azuma along.
When they returned to the classroom,
Eriri excitedly suggested:
"Now there's no other choice, so the next club activity will be held at Yukima's house."
Yukima Azuma nodded upon hearing this.
It should be fine.
After all, in the club now, there were only Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was still renting at Yukima's house.
Seeing that Yukima Azuma agreed, Eriri immediately clenched her hand.
Great!
By the way,
Based on the progress of Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri's work,
The next club activity would take place on Friday afternoon after school.
....
That afternoon after school,
"Megumi, do you have time?"
"Yes."
"Then, will you come along?"
"Yes, I will."
After this brief conversation, the two of them walked toward Kita Ikuyo.
Kita Ikuyo looked at them, sensing that there was something strange about their relationship.
Their compatibility was almost excessive.
It was as if they were an old married couple, having been married for many years, at home, and they could understand each other with just a glance or a few words.
Kita Ikuyo shook her head, trying to dismiss these strange thoughts.
Today, Yukima Azuma came here to help her solve the trouble.
The meeting spot was under the signpost in Shimokitazawa.
When the three of them arrived,
they saw a shadow sneaking around, crouching near the signpost, looking around cautiously.
"That person... isn't that one of Yukima-san's friends?" Kita Ikuyo asked.
She was the type to be bright and never looked at others with strange eyes for their unusual behavior.
Kita Ikuyo was just curious.
Since Yukima Azuma was always surrounded by beautiful girls, he didn't seem like the type to have such strange friends.
Kato Megumi also curiously glanced at the shadowy figure.
Yukima Azuma didn't respond immediately but stepped forward and lightly patted the pink hair of Bocchi.
Bocchi was startled.
But when she recognized it was Yukima Azuma,
she let out a relieved sigh, her tension easing.
"Azuma... Azuma-kun!"
Although her greeting still had some hesitation,
it was much more courageous than the last time they met.
"It's been a while, Bocchi."
"Hmm, but didn't we just meet last Saturday?"
"It's been a few days. You know the saying 'a day apart feels like three seasons apart,' right?"
"Ah, is that so? I... I understand now."
As the two were talking, Kita Ikuyo and Kato Megumi also walked closer.
When Bocchi saw strangers coming near,
she immediately hid behind Yukima Azuma.
She clutched the hem of his shirt, peeking out with only half of her head showing.
Ahh! It's those beautiful high school girlsare they here to scold me? Is it because I'm standing too close to Azuma-kun?
Am I going to be told, "Hey, you weird person, don't come near that handsome guy!"?
Today, Gotoh Hitori mind was once again filled with dramatic thoughts.
--------------------------------------------
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"Uh... Hello?"
Kita Ikuyo tried to greet Bocchi.
Frightened, Bocchi shrank behind Yukima Azuma.
Seeing this, Kita Ikuyo looked at Yukima Azuma with confusion.
Could it be that I look like a serial killer or terrorist?
Yukima Azuma smiled helplessly.
"Sorry, this girl is a super introvert, someone who has social anxiety, and she might even have some trouble with communication."
"Her name is Gotoh Hitori, a first-year student at Shuka High School, the same age as us."
"And you too, Bocchi." Yukima Azuma said as she pulled Bocchi from behind her.
"This is Kita Ikuyo, and this is Kato Megumi. Both of them are very kind, so don't worry."
Yukima Azuma patted Bocchi's back to encourage her.
After hearing Yukima Azuma, Gotoh Hitori gathered all her courage.
"Hi... hello everyone, I... I'm Gotoh Hitori."
"Ah, Gotoh-chan, hello there."
"Gotoh-san, hello to you."
The three of them greeted each other.
Kita Ikuyo looked at Yukima Azuma with a strange look.
Her gaze seemed to say: Didn't you tell Gotoh that you were going to introduce her to people?
Yukima Azuma only smiled and said nothing.
If he had told Gotoh Hitori in advance that he would introduce her to friends...
Then as soon as Gotoh Hitori heard that, she would have gotten nervous and would have been self-conscious and struggled with it until the meeting.
Rather than let Bocchi torture herself...
It's better to let her meet people directly.
"Bocchi, Kita-san wants to learn guitar. Could you teach her?"
"She will pay for lessons, and she only needs a little time each day."
Yukima Azuma asked.
The part about paying for lessons was Kita Ikuyo's idea.
She didn't want Yukima Azuma to take on any unnecessary debt out of kindness for her.
"Umm... umm."
Normally, Bocchi would definitely not want to take on requests like this.
But, since it was a request from Yukima Azuma...
Since it was a favor from a friend, she had to accept it, right?
"I... practice every day, so I guess... I can come along."
Gotoh Hitori said softly.
Kita Ikuyo nodded.
She originally planned to apologize to the band she joined after learning the guitar, where her senpai that she admired was.
Being able to observe their practice or performances in advance would definitely help her gain a lot of experience.
Yukima Azuma stood by silently, smiling.
Kato Megumi leaned in and whispered:
"Azuma-san's smile doesn't seem to have good intentions."
"Not necessarily, I just think the developments later will be very interesting."
Yukima Azuma whispered back.
If she wanted to learn guitar, she would first need a guitar.
So, before heading to the hall where the band was practicing, the four of them decided to stop by a music store.
"Welcome, valued customers!"
The store clerk at the music shop immediately approached as the group entered.
After all, Gotoh Hitori was carrying an instrument bag, and Yukima Azuma also had one slung over his shoulder.
The other two girls, however, did not.
A group like this was an obvious potential customer for musical instruments.
Moreover, even if they weren't buying
Enjoying the sight of a handsome guy wasn't a bad deal either.
"We'd like to buy a guitar. Could you assist us?" Yukima Azuma stated their purpose.
The store clerk promptly agreed and led the group to the guitar display section.
This music store had a wide selection of instruments.
Whether it was bass guitars or regular guitars, they carried everything from entry-level models to high-end ones.
After asking about their budget,
the clerk introduced several guitars that matched their price range.
Kita Ikuyo began comparing the models, trying to decide which one she liked best.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma was observing Gotoh Hitori.
"Bocchi, do you like any of these guitars?"
Hearing this, Bocchi froze for a moment.
Her gaze instinctively flicked toward a corner of the display rack.
But then she shook her head.
"No, I have my own guitar, and I like it very much."
Yukima Azuma nodded, choosing not to expose the truth.
"I could tell. After all, you take such good care of your guitar."
Bocchi nodded repeatedly.
In the end, Kita Ikuyo selected a red mid-range guitar.
The group headed to the checkout counter together.
The result was that, upon leaving the store
"Wait a minute, Azuma-san, why do you have an extra instrument bag on your back?"
Kita Ikuyo stared at Yukima Azuma, now carrying two instrument bags, and fell into thought.
Even Bocchi was slightly surprised.
Not only was she curious why Yukima Azuma had an extra bag, but she also wondered what was inside it.
"I liked it, so I bought it."
Yukima Azuma explained with a light smile.
Kita Ikuyo was speechless.
Truly, the mark of someone with money!
Completely opposite to her own situation, where she had to save her allowance for two months and collect New Year's money just to afford her guitar.
The group continued chatting as they strolled deeper along a street in Shimokitazawa.
However, amidst the laughter...
The smile on Kita Ikuyo's face slowly faded.
Because she found the street oddly familiar.
"H... hey," Kita Ikuyo said stiffly, "how about we stop here for today? I think I forgot to turn off the gas at home."
Yukima Azuma had been prepared for this.
Before Kita Ikuyo could flee,
he swiftly grabbed the back of her collar.
"If it really is a coincidence, then take this opportunity to explain everything and apologize!"
Hearing this, Kita Ikuyo stopped struggling.
And so...
.....
Inside the live house STARRY.
"Ahh! It's the runaway guitarist!"
The one who exclaimed was Ijichi Nijika, the drummer of the band.
She had blonde hair tied in a low ponytail and was dressed in a high school uniform, giving off an approachable and adorable vibe.
Next to Nijika was a short-haired girl with blue hair, Yamada Ryo, the bassist of the band.
This was the senpai that Kita Ikuyo admired.
Ryo had a neutral beauty with a cold, alluring aura.
Kita Ikuyo's expression looked like her soul had left her body.
But, after a brief silence, she seriously explained her previous runaway incident to Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryo.
"Did you really buy a bass by mistake? That's impressive."
"Ryo, don't say things that unintentionally hurt people!"
The two girls clearly bore no grudge over Kita Ikuyo's past runaway episode.
After hearing her explanation, they quickly forgave her.
"So, Kita-chan plans to learn guitar from Bocchi-chan and rejoin the band?"
Ijichi Nijika asked curiously.
Kita Ikuyo nodded with determination.
Ijichi Nijika turned to Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi.
"We're friends of Bocchi and Kita-san, just here to watch the band's practice," Yukima Azuma explained.
"Eh? Really? Yukima-san doesn't know how to play an instrument?"
Ijichi Nijika glanced at the two instrument bags on Yukima Azuma's back and asked curiously.
"Yeah, I don't. One of them is a bass that Kita sold to me at a bargain price."
"The other one I just saw at the store and liked, so I bought it."
Hearing that, Ijichi Nijika was at a loss for words.
Who buys a guitar just because they like it?!
"Oh, oh! I totally get it!"
However, Yamada Ryo completely understood.
Ijichi Nijika held her head, helpless.
She had forgotten that her own band already had an Oujou-sama who frequently visited music stores and bought whatever caught her eye.
The cheerful atmosphere continued as the band's practice began.
Bocchi took out some instructional videos she had watched before to self-learn guitar.
She showed them to Kita Ikuyo while demonstrating the techniques.
After all, teaching was incredibly challenging for Bocchi.
Yukima Azuma stood quietly in the back, observing.
"Azuma-san seems very interested in the band," Kato Megumi remarked casually.
"Umu, not really. But since I'm here, I might as well learn. It's always good to pick up a new skill."
As he replied, Yukima Azuma took out the guitar he had just bought.
Kato Megumi gave a small nod, as if understanding Yukima Azuma's attitude.
Following Bocchi's demonstration, Yukima Azuma tried pressing a few chords.
How should one describe it?
Playing the guitar was much harder than he had imagined.
Ijichi Nijika noticed the scene.
Just by watching Yukima Azuma play a few times, she immediately realized that he really didn't know anything about the guitar.
It was obvious that the guitar Yukima Azuma bought was of high performance, and quite expensive.
Ijichi Nijika quickly shifted her focus back to the band's practice.
Yukima Azuma kept glancing at the guitar, playing a little, repeating the movements basically copying Bocchi's motions.
Before long, a message appeared in front of him:
"Skill Learned: Instrument (1v1)."
After all, his intelligence stat was eight.
The higher the intelligence, the lower the threshold for learning basic skills.
Afterward, Yukima Azuma stopped playing and turned to Kato Megumi:
"Megumi, do you want to give it a try?"
He handed her the guitar.
Kato Megumi took it and tried to mimic the movements Yukima Azuma had just made.
However, it was clear that Kato Megumi wasn't particularly talented at playing instruments.
She exhibited the classic "the brain understands, but the hands won't cooperate" struggle.
After trying for a while, Kato Megumi put the pick down.
"Maybe I'm not cut out for this. It seems like I don't have a natural talent for it. I'm just average."
Her voice was soft, with no particular emotion in it.
"Honestly, I feel like most things are like that. No special talents, just average. I wonder if that's why I've always been so low presence. Nothing stands out about me. Haiz."
A light, almost imperceptible sigh escaped her.
It sounded like a casual lament, with no real sorrow behind it.
But Yukima Azuma, at that moment, took Kato Megumi's hand.
"Megumi is very special. Don't get discouraged over small things like this. Come on, let me teach you."
Saying this, Yukima Azuma took Kato Megumi's hand.
The two of them were almost pressed close together, trying to play the guitar together.
Ijichi Nijika accidentally glanced over at them.
Immediately, she felt as though she'd just been force-fed a huge piece of "dog food."
Seriously, enough already!
Inside, Nijika silently groaned.
After all, Yukima Azuma didn't even know how to play, and yet he was teaching someone else.
Looking at the scene, it gave the impression that he was just taking show off of Kato Megumi.
But just as Nijika was about to turn back and ignore this scene
From the direction of Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi, a guitar melody rang out.
It was the song that their band had been practicing.
Though their guitar skills were still amateur level, it was...
Ijichi Nijika looked at Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi in surprise.
She saw Yukima Azuma holding Kato Megumi's hand, earnestly teaching her how to play the guitar.
The two were playing the complete melody of the song together.
A huge question mark seemed to appear above Ijichi Nijika's head.
Wait a minute, hold on!
Wasn't he the one who couldn't play?
Ijichi Nijika could be sure that the notes Yukima Azuma had pressed earlier weren't fake.
He truly didn't know how to play.
But now...
The two of them were playing the song together, and their skills were improving with each strum.
No matter how slow their progress was, but...
Who could possibly increase their guitar skills within just one short lesson like this?
Wait a minute! Who could look and listen, and play the entire song perfectly the very first time?
Ijichi Nijika felt like she was screaming inside like a stunned mole.
"Wonderful."
After finishing a song, Kato Megumi softly exclaimed in amazement.
Clearly, both of them had no knowledge of playing the guitar at first.
Yet, Yukima Azuma only studied for a short period of time,
And now he could hold her hand, guiding her to play through the entire song.
Even though she wasn't familiar with the instrument,
Kato Megumi understood that this was truly remarkable.
"It's also thanks to Megumi, don't underestimate our connection!"
Yukima Azuma smiled and said.
Kato Megumi poked lightly at Yukima Azuma's side.
She knew she didn't really know anything about it.
So, it was definitely just a tease earlier.
It was just like when he said, "Megumi is very special."
However, Yukima Azuma seemed to be able to read Kato Megumi's thoughts.
He took her mischievous hand in his.
His serious eyes stared deeply into her clear tuberose-like gaze.
"I'm not joking or comforting Megumi, I really think Megumi is very special."
"In this world, there's only one Megumi."
"And there's no need to try and change anything. It might sound like a roundabout way of saying it, but Megumi is just Megumi."
"Hmm, it still doesn't feel like enough to say these words, so let me show you that Megumi is the most captivating girl in the world, okay?"
Halfway through his words, Yukima Azuma realized that he was getting a bit tangled up in his own speech.
But an idea had already blossomed in his heart.
Kato Megumi blinked her sparkling tuberose eyes.
"Show me? How?"
"I can't tell you for now."
Yukima Azuma raised his hand to gesture "shh."
Kato Megumi nodded slightly.
However, within her heart, a feeling of anticipation stirred up like never before.
It wasn't the usual kind of interest, like a "let's see how it goes" curiosity she typically felt when she cared about something.
It was a genuine sense of expectation, even a yearning.
Her heartbeat began to quicken little by little.
Even Yukima Azuma's hope of proving what he said, she now hoped it would unfold right in front of her within the next 30 seconds.
Her other hand, which wasn't held by Yukima Azuma, instinctively placed itself on her chest.
Kato Megumi carefully savored this new feeling.
....
The band practice ended when it was starting to get dark.
Ijichi Nijika looked at Yukima Azuma with eyes full of horror, as if looking at a monster.
Kita Ikuyo was holding Bocchi in a sorrowful embrace, crying loudly.
She was still saying things like "What if we bought the wrong one this time?" "This is actually a bass, right?" "It's too hard!" and similar remarks.
Clearly, the practice session didn't go smoothly.
But at least they were back with the band.
There would be many more practice sessions in the future.
The more they practiced, the more skilled they would become, and in the end, they would achieve something.
.....
Home
Yukima Azuma smiled brightly as he approached Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Senpai, I want to learn how to write light novels."
Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at him.
There was something odd about him today, as if he had something up his sleeve. It felt like a mischievous child trying to do something good before their parents noticed, hoping to lessen the punishment later.
Though she was a little suspicious,
Kasumigaoka Utaha still dedicated herself to teaching Yukima Azuma the skills of writing light novels.
Yukima Azuma's literary foundation was clear.
He wrote just as well as Kasumigaoka Utaha.
In fact, his writing was arguably a bit better.
As for the storyline, there was no need for any guidance.
What was needed were the techniques of writing a light novel, such as controlling the pacing and cliffhanger
After hearing the lecture from a genius light novel writer,
Yukima Azuma confidently took out his laptop.
He started typing!
Kasumigaoka Utaha turned her head to glance at the content in Yukima Azuma's document.
"'Seishun Kodoku Shounen wa trisugari no heroine no yume o minai,' what a ridiculous title!"
(t/n: I spent 30 minutes searching but couldn't find anything on google, it only brought up Bunnygirl-senpai but clearly it wasn't, chatgpt gave answers about a LN and Author does not exist. May be original he writing for Megumi, English title is "The Youth of a lonely boy will not dream of a passerby heroine")
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at him with a skeptical expression.
Yukima Azuma just smiled and said nothing.
....
That evening,
"Senpai, can we have ribs for dinner tonight?"
"Ribs, is it?"
"Just make soup! Don't eat anything too fatty tonight."
"Alright, that's fine."
The two of them conversed casually.
Yukima Azuma placed the defrosted ribs on the cutting board.
He pulled out a meat cleaver and started handling the ingredients skillfully.
But after only a few cuts,
Skill: Cooking skill maxed out, level increased.
Skill: Cooking (6->7).
Yukima Azuma stopped his hand.
He pulled up the system panel.
[Owner: Yukima Azuma]
Body: 7
Intelligence: 8
Charm: 8
Skills:
Language Proficiency (lv6) Literature (lv6) Cooking (lv6->7) Programming (lv4) Shogi (lv8)
Notes: Skills below level four (i.e., beginner skills) are hidden and not displayed on the panel.
Looking at his list of skills, his cooking skill had reached level seven.
Yukima Azuma smiled.
Finally, he had a skill that had reached master level.
At least it was worth the effort of cooking for himself every day.
Now, it was time to test it.
Was Shogi truly special?
Or would all skills that reached this level have a special effect?
Yukima Azuma closed his eyes.
In an instant, his eyes opened again.
He casually placed the meat cleaver next to the cutting board.
Yukima Azuma placed his hand on the rib on the board.
His finger glided over the bone beneath the meat, feeling the contact with the flesh.
The moment after, his finger moved slightly.
The bone, which normally would require a strong cleaver to cut, simply split into two pieces with just a light press from Yukima Azuma.
His movements didn't stop.
Before long, the rib was broken down into small pieces suitable for cooking.
He turned on the faucet.
After washing his hands, Yukima Azuma looked at his left thumb joint.
He gently pressed his thumb joint with his right hand.
Immediately, his left thumb naturally dislocated.
With just a slight pull, the dislocated thumb instantly returned to its original position.
Yukima Azuma took a deep breath and closed his eyes again.
The truth had been confirmed.
All skills that reached level seven, the master level, had a special transformation.
This allowed Yukima Azuma to possess a supernatural ability related to that skill.
The ability that came with Shogi allowed him to influence the real world as if it were a chessboard.
The ability that came with the cooking skill allowed him to see the entire world of ingredients.
As long as the ingredients were within his special line of sight,
Yukima Azuma could easily analyze any creature, like a professional butcher.
The muscle fibers, the weakness of the bones, how the joints connected.
All of these things became transparent in Yukima Azuma's eyes.
And he could easily separate them into the shapes he desired.
Yukima Azuma took a few deep breaths before dismissing the ingredients vision.
Whenever he activated this vision, he always felt the urge to dismantle everything.
....
Cook, Cook, Cook.
Dinner was ready.
After taking a sip of the rib soup,
Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately widened her eyes.
Yummy~.
The sensation was so specific, it was hard to describe with words.
Kasumigaoka Utaha thought that if this were an anime about food, that bowl of rib soup would be sparkling golden.
Then, she would take a sip, and her clothes would automatically explode, plunging into some kind of illusion or something.
Huh... wait a second?
"You didn't put any aphrodisiacs in the soup, did you?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha asked, wary.
Yukima Azuma: ???
Yukima Azuma: Do you think I'm the type of person to do something like that?
Kasumigaoka Utaha: You tell me, why do I feel so stimulated after eating this?
...
Friday.
After school.
Today was club activity day.
So, Eriri went with Yukima Azuma back to his apartment.
Coincidentally, Kato Megumi also wanted to check out Shiratamaru, so she came along too.
And right in front of Toyogasaki School, Kasumigaoka Utaha was clearly waiting for them.
Thus, the three beautiful high school girls surrounded Yukima Azuma and walked back to the apartment together.
Sounds great, right?
However...
Utaha's gaze seemed like it could kill.
If it had only been Eriri, Kasumigaoka Utaha might have gotten into a fight with her.
But today, Kato Megumi was also there.
And because she was wary of this dangerous opponent, Kasumigaoka Utaha unusually refrained from teasing Eriri today.
As a result, when the three of them arrived at Yukima Azuma's apartment door,
They saw a shiny black expensive car parked in front of the door.
Yukima Azuma glanced at the license plate.
It was definitely Eriri's family car.
And in front of the apartment door,
A towering stack of cardboard boxes was piled up.
It looked like they were preparing to move.
"Oujou-sama, everything has been moved in. Since we don't have the keys, we could only temporarily leave it in front of the door."
The butler of Eriri's family reported.
"Sawamura-san, what are you planning to do?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled sweetly, but her tone was so cold it could send a chill down your spine.
Eriri cleared her throat.
"Ahem, of course, I'm renting a room. I need to finish the illustration work for White Album before Comiket this summer. The deadline is too tight."
"To save time, I figured I'd directly communicate with Azuma for the most efficient results."
"So, I'll rent a room here at Azumam house. Whenever I have free time, I'll come over to work."
"There's no other choice. It's all for the sake of our club's game!"
Eriri's words grew more forceful.
In the end, she puffed out her chest, trying to appear confident.
Kasumigaoka Utaha coldly smiled, also puffing her chest out, but exuding a terrifying aura.
"I disagree."
Eriri felt as though she had been struck a powerful blow.
What did Kasumigaoka Utaha eat when she was growing up to have such a large chest?
However, despite being defeated, Eriri refused to back down.
"If you disagree, so what? You're just a tenant. The landlord is Azuma!"
"Besides, why can you rent a room but I can't? It's for the club, after all."
"Now that the club room is taken by the student council, we need to hold club activities at Azuma's place. Do you expect me to run back and forth every time?"
Eriri's reasoning had been carefully thought out long before she heard that the club room was taken over by the student council.
Kasumigaoka Utaha paused for a moment, unable to immediately rebut.
Yukima Azuma took out the key and opened the apartment door.
The butler of Eriri's family began moving Eriri's belongings in.
The boxes mainly contained drawing boards, documents, computers, and other materials.
Eriri's personal belongings took up only a small portion.
It seemed that Eriri was truly here to work.
"Place it in this room."
Eriri pointed to the empty room next to Yukima Azuma's.
"Move it to the second floor."
Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke, setting her limit.
The butler of Eriri's family looked at Yukima Azuma with an awkward expression.
He master, Miss Sayuri, had given him instructions.
In addition to obeying the young lady, the butler also had to listen to the orders of Yukima Azuma, the young man.
And, Yukima Azuma's orders took precedence over Eriri's.
So, in this awkward situation, the butler decided to look to Yukima Azuma for a final decision.
"Move it to the second floor. I'll show you the way."
Yukima Azuma made his decision.
It had to be fair.
The butler nodded.
Eriri was left stunned.
Why was my family's butler listening to Yukima Azuma like this?
Aren't we not even married yet?
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Yukima Azuma led everyone upstairs.
He arranged for Eriri's room to be right next to Kasumigaoka Utaha's room.
Coincidentally, two days ago, Yukima Azuma had bought a batch of nameplates.
Now, they could be put to use.
Yukima Azuma took a blank nameplate from the box.
On it, he wrote the words "Sawamura Spencer Eriri."
Then, he hung the nameplate on Eriri's room door.
"The Katakana is written so badly!"
Eriri looked at her nameplate and criticized it.
But even though she said that, the corners of her mouth couldn't hide a smile.
That smile was even harder to suppress than when using an 8x recoil grip with large machine gun.
It was almost about to stretch to the sky.
Yukima Azuma could only feel helpless.
He casually took another blank nameplate from the box.
Yukima Azuma wrote the words "Kasumigaoka Utaha" and hung it on Kasumigaoka's door.
Kasumigaoka looked at her nameplate.
Then, she looked at Yukima Azuma box of blank nameplates.
Without leaving a trace, she pinched Yukima Azuma's side.
Yukima Azuma gritted his teeth and endured.
There was no other way.
Sometimes, you had to pay a small price.
Kato Megumi, holding Shiratamaru in her arms, stood at a distance and quietly observed this scene.
After moving Eriri's belongings, everyone returned to the living room.
"The character designs and cover art are here, and one-third of the CG art for the game is already completed."
Eriri laid her works on the table.
Yukima Azuma took a quick look.
There was basically nothing that needed correction.
When designing the characters, Eriri had contacted Yukima Azuma via Line.
The two of them had made a few revisions.
With the original character designs in Azuma mind and Eriri outstanding illustration skills, the chances of errors were minimal.
The only issue was that the work still seemed a bit rushed.
Kasumigaoka Utaha also took out a stack of drafts.
"I've finished the script, but this is the first time I've written a script, so I might not recognize some problems myself."
Eriri and Yukima Azuma each took a copy and began to read.
Kasumigaoka's writing was sharp, and her style was unquestionable.
However...
After reading, Eriri furrowed her small brows.
"I always feel like something's missing."
Kasumigaoka paid no attention to her.
Instead, she looked at Yukima Azuma.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma had just finished reading the script.
"As for the story, it definitely meets the standard, and I would even say it's excellent."
"But since you're used to writing light novels, you may have accidentally overlooked a few things."
"For a game script, the details of the story should have many different choices."
"Through these choices, it will ultimately lead to different endings. This script would work well for a Good Ending role."
Hearing this, Kasumigaoka nodded.
Indeed, she was used to writing light novels, so she had overlooked this point.
"This is exactly what I mean!"
Eriri raised her hand high and loudly agreed.
"You dare to criticize when you haven't finished your own work?"
Kasumigaoka smirked and mocked her.
"Hey, the workload of an illustrator is huge!"
"The scriptwriting work isn't light either. In the end, it's a human issue."
"Illustrations and texts are not the same!"
"Then why don't you write the script?"
"You're so annoying! You evil woman in black stockings!"
The two of them started bickering again.
Yukima Azuma sat down next to Kato Megumi, who was standing on the sidelines.
Shiratamaru was curled up in Kato Megumi's arms, looking very content.
Yukima Azuma reached out and scratched Shiratamaru's chin.
Since the cat was in Kato Megumi's lap, he couldn't avoid lightly touching her leg.
However, it seemed that Kato Megumi didn't mind at all.
"Megumi, join the club as a game tester," Yukima Azuma suddenly spoke.
This tuberose girl, who was holding the cat and staying out of the argument, looked rather quiet.
Moreover, the club really needed someone for real-world testing.
"Eh? But I don't understand any of this," Kato Megumi seemed rather surprised.
"It's fine, actually, that's better."
"Utaha-senpai is a light novel writer, and Eriri is an illustrator. When they experience the product, it's hard to avoid them being overly critical of each other's work."
"And if they use their professional perspectives to evaluate our work, it will lose objectivity in testing."
"After all, when the game is released, our target audience is the general players, not professionals."
Kato Megumi blinked her eyes as if she was pondering, "I see, so that's how it is?"
"I can join, but do you think Kasumigaoka-senpai and Sawamura-san will agree?"
At that moment...
Kasumigaoka and Eriri stopped arguing.
Both of them looked at Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi with meaningful expressions.
"Utaha-senpai, Eriri, so, Megumi will be our new member from now on, is that okay?" Yukima Azuma clasped his hands in front of his chest, looking as though he was pleading.
"You've already decided, why are you asking us?"
"Yeah, that's right!"
It was rare for Kasumigaoka and Eriri to agree on something like this.
However, even though they said that...
It was clear they didn't object to Kato Megumi joining.
If it had been someone else, they would likely have rejected the idea without hesitation.
Although they had only known Kato Megumi since the beginning of the term, somehow, they had already come to consider her a friend.
Megumi had a special ability like that.
And the fact that Kasumigaoka and Eriri considered somebody a friend was truly rare.
"Cheers! To celebrate Megumi joining the club, let's have red bean rice today!"
Yukima Azuma raised his hand and cheered.
"Lonely-kun, did you forget something?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha glared at him.
"What about the programming? Azuma, you're not just urging us to work while doing nothing yourself, are you?"
Eriri also took this opportunity to criticize him.
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
"How could I forget?"
He opened his laptop and showed the program.
It was a pretty complete game system, with the entire framework already built and able to run smoothly.
Next, they just needed to add the necessary content.
The game could officially enter the internal testing phase.
Looking at the game program on Yukima Azuma's laptop, Kasumigaoka Utaha furrowed her brows in confusion.
Lately, she hadn't seen Yukima Azuma write any code at all.
But the level of completion of this program
Even if there were seven or eight programmers working together, it would take at least two or three days to finish.
Eriri's mouth dropped open in amazement.
"When did you do this? Impressive! It's like outsourcing the work."
Yukima Azuma nodded in agreement.
"Of course it's like outsourcing, because it actually is outsourcing."
Kasumigaoka: "?"
Eriri: "?"
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but laugh.
"A few days ago, I registered a company that specializes in developing our club's game, as well as preparing for future publicity and release."
"I set up the company, hired a few programmers, and gave them the job of programming the game."
After hearing Yukima Azuma's explanation, the three girls were stunned.
Normally, who would open a company just for the result of a school club?
Where did this idiot come from?
"Wait until the game doesn't sell, then we'll see if you stay obedient!"
Eriri muttered grumpily.
But deep down, she had already made up her mind.
When the game is released, she'll ask her mother to buy a hundred copies.
After all, she could give them to her friends in the otaku community for promotion.
The more copies she buys, the better.
As for Kasumigaoka Utaha, her thoughts were much simpler.
If the company made a loss, it wouldn't matter.
If Yukima Azuma went bankrupt, she'd just feed him.
(t/n: Rich lady with black tights, please feed me too)
....
That night.
Yukima Azuma really did cook red bean rice.
In Japan, red bean rice is also called Azuki gohan, symbolizing celebration.
This dish is typically made for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, or when a family gains a new member.
It represents care and has a strong symbolic meaning of bonding.
In the kitchen, Kato Megumi quietly helped Yukima Azuma prepare the meal.
Eriri was in the living room, playing with Shiratamaru.
"Come on, come here, Shiratamaru~"
Eriri waved her hand, calling the cat.
Shiratamaru was very clever and could now understand some simple words and respond to his name.
Hearing Eriri's call, the little cat elegantly walked over to her.
Finally, Shiratamaru jumped up and snuggled into Eriri's arms.
His tiny little paws gently scratched her leg, almost as if kneading dough.
Eriri tightly hugged Shiratamaru.
She looked provocatively at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Kasumigaoka just glared back at her.
That silly Eriri.
She didn't even realize the threat from Kato Megumi.
And right after that
Shiratamaru jumped out of Eriri's arms.
The little cat ran around before leaping and landing in Kasumigaoka Utaha's lap.
Shiratamaru's tiny paws lightly tapped on Kasumigaoka's black tights.
Shiratamaru: Umu, this time it's the right place.
Kasumigaoka paused for a moment, then giggled.
"How dare you! That woman in black tights, you used such lowly tricks to seduce Shiratamaru!"
Eriri's voice was full of jealousy as she shouted angrily.
Is it because Kasumigaoka Utaha has bigger oppai than me that Shiratamaru was seduced? Eriri thought to herself.
"Sawamura-san, read a book for once. This is a natural behavior for kittens, just cat kneading."
"Shiratamaru choosing me only proves that you, Sawamura-san, really have no charm. Don't blame everything on others, okay?"
Kasumigaoka laughed, her words sharp like a knife.
"How dare you! Shiratamaru, come back here, don't play with that wicked woman anymore!"
Eriri grabbed the cat teasing stick nearby, trying to win back Shiratamaru's affection.
Shiratamaru hesitated for a moment.
Finally, the little cat ran toward the teasing stick.
Kasumigaoka didn't mind much.
She'd just pull out the cat snacks later and win him back.
....
The atmosphere during dinner was quite odd.
The reason was that the food Yukima Azuma cooked went far beyond the concepts of "good" or "bad."
Eriri and Kato Megumi even began to doubt whether Yukima Azuma had added any strange ingredients.
Yukima Azuma: I would never do something unreasonable like that!
....
After dinner.
Eriri hugged her tablet, staying up late to draw illustrations.
Kasumigaoka also started writing the script for the branches of the main story.
Kato Megumi finished washing the dishes and prepared to leave.
At the entrance.
Yukima Azuma looked at the sky outside, now dark as ink.
"Why don't you stay the night?"
"Hmm... would that be alright?"
"What's wrong with that? I wouldn't feel comfortable letting you go home alone."
"Well I'll go buy some pajamas and a towel first."
"Okay, I'll go with you."
What they say is "practice makes perfect."
Since the last time, when she fell asleep on the couch and conveniently stayed overnight, the idea of "staying the night" between the two of them had become much more ambiguous.
It's already so late, it's not safe to go home, so stay the night!
The sun's too hot, you'll get sunburned on your way back, stay the night!
Oh, it's still early today, and the weather is pleasant Shiratamaru misses you, so stay the night!
The weekend.
Once again, it was a day when all three girls stayed at Yukima's house.
Yukima Azuma happily started his morning with a jog.
Today, Yukima woke up very early.
He planned to finish his run quickly and get back to cook breakfast for the three girls.
Though that was the plan.
It seemed that things weren't going as expected.
.....
Ochanomizu.
A corner near Meiji Shrine, a spot not very famous.
This is a place that most tourists visiting Tokyo wouldn't stop by.
Around it are several well-known universities, such as Meiji University and Tokyo Medical University.
The bustling neighborhood creates the largest student area in Japan.
At the same time, this area is home to many churches, with the largest bookstore in the country located right here.
This has shaped Ochanomizu into a unique cultural hub.
Being a student district, it was quite quiet in the early morning.
Today, Tokyo was also covered with a thin layer of mist in the morning.
Although visibility was still around 50 meters, the early morning atmosphere of Tokyo felt as though it was wrapped in a mysterious, tranquil veil.
In this early morning scene, as Yukima Azuma was jogging, he happened to pass by an alley.
He heard the sound of hurried footsteps echoing from within the alley.
At the same time, the sound of a girl panting could be clearly heard.
Yukima Azuma lightly slowed his pace.
But then he decided to move on.
He truly had no intention of interfering in matters like this.
Although Yukima Azuma usually behaved politely toward others and was gentle with the girls around him, he wasn't inherently a good person.
He wasn't the type to rush in to help whenever he saw something wrong.
But just as Yukima Azuma was about to step away.
A familiar silhouette in the alley caught his attention, causing him to stop.
In the narrow alley, two girls were rushing through.
One had black hair, wearing an evening dress.
The other girl had blonde hair tied in a side ponytail, dressed in a maid outfit.
Yukima Azuma's gaze fixed on the girl in the maid outfit with blonde hair.
She had sea-blue eyes, skin whiter than the average Japanese person, and looked as if she were of mixed European descent.
Her face bore more Western features than Japanesehigh nose, large eyesseemingly a harmonious blend of Eastern and Western beauty.
Yukima Azuma's gaze lingered on her delicate face.
It was very familiar.
Her face resembled his colleague, or perhaps subordinate, Hayasaka Nao, by about seventy or eighty percent.
That was the real reason Yukima Azuma stopped.
Nao-san had once said that she had a daughter around Yukima Azuma's age.
Yukima Azuma, of course, knew this and he also knew about Nao-san's daughter.
Her name was... Hayasaka Ai.
The two girls noticed the figure appearing at the alley's entrance.
Clearly, they were very tense.
"Oujou-sama, let me hold him off, you go ahead."
The girl in the maid outfit said softly.
Then, she charged directly at Yukima Azuma.
Her movements were swift, clearly showing she had received professional training.
Yukima Azuma didn't want to confront Hayasaka Ai.
With just physical strength, his physical stats were only 7, which wouldn't be enough to overpower her. It would be hard to determine the winner in a short amount of time.
And if he used "Cooking vision."
Yukima Azuma worried he might hurt Hayasaka Ai.
So, suddenly, a terrifying presence emanated from Yukima Azuma, and in an instant, it seemed to materialize.
At that moment, standing at the end of the alley, he didn't appear to be a human anymore.
Instead, it felt like a massive, over ten-meter-tall polar bear, with claws large enough to fill the entire alleyway, its huge frame sending chills down the spine.
The wind rushed into the alley from outside.
It felt as if the roar of that terrifying creature was shaking the very earth and sky.
Hayasaka Ai, charging toward him, suddenly felt her legs weaken, almost stumbling.
Her sea-blue eyes widened.
What the hell is this?
As someone close to the Shinomiya clan.
Hayasaka Ai had been professionally trained as a real agent.
She had also met real international assassins, people who could kill without blinking an eye.
Those people also exuded an overwhelming pressure.
Making it hard to even look them in the eye.
But compared to now, those people were nothing but children.
Behind her, the girl in the evening dress also stopped, warily watching Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma retracted his overwhelming presence.
He stepped further into the alley.
"Who are you? How much did those people pay you? I can double it."
The girl in the evening dress stared at Yukima Azuma and spoke.
Hayasaka Ai quickly pulled the girl in the evening dress behind her.
She understood clearly that the person in front of them wasn't someone who could simply be hired with money.
With both of their eyes filled with caution, Yukima Azuma walked past them.
At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps from the alley reached them.
From the noise, there must have been at least twenty people.
Yukima Azuma took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, his gaze had subtly shifted.
A group of people in black suits, wielding clubs and machetes, were rushing toward them.
They appeared to be members of the Yakuza.
Sadly, in Japan, the Yakuza were legally recognized.
(t/n: according to i found on gg although not sure if it's accurate, it's not really legal or illegal, Yakuza groups are like a company that can make profit and full tax pile (It's just that the way they make profits isn't really that good, although I suspect other capitalists aren't any better either.}, the government turns a blind eye to it, so is look like Being Yakuza is not illegal but it's illegal to do something illegal.)
Hayasaka Ai and the girl in the evening dress, suppressed by Yukima Azuma's overwhelming presence, dared not act recklessly.
But seeing the group of Yakuza chasing after them, they couldn't help but feel extremely anxious.
"Hey, brat, this is Yamaguchi-gumi's business, move aside."
"Stop talking, break his legs and throw him aside, then it's done."
"Don't waste time, those two aren't pushovers, hurry up!"
After several of shouting.
A tall man, holding an iron rod, led the charge.
He swung the rod down, aiming straight for Yukima Azuma's legs.
Yukima Azuma said nothing.
He stepped forward in sync with the oncoming man.
The large Yakuza clearly hadn't expected Yukima Azuma to not only stay and not run away, but also charge toward him.
The iron rod swung through the air.
But he didn't care.
He retracted the rod and prepared to swing it down at Yukima Azuma's head.
However, Yukima Azuma had already closed the distance.
In the blink of an eye, Yukima Azuma extended his hand and grabbed the man's wrist.
There was no special show of strength.
The man let out a blood-curdling scream as the iron rod clattered to the ground.
However, Yukima Azuma didn't stop at the sound of his cries.
Breaking bones, peeling skin, and cutting fleshthese were all mere moments in Yukima Azuma's hands.
The other Yakuza members could only hear their comrade's pig-like screams.
Then, he collapsed, limp, onto the ground.
Looking down at the ground, no one could help but feel a chill run down their spine.
The tall Yakuza, with just one move, now lay on the ground, no longer resembling a human.
His arms and legs were twisted at grotesque angles.
His body was like a heap of mush sprawled out in the alley.
Only the terrifying groans from his mouth remained.
Yukima Azuma frowned.
He reached out, grabbed the man's chin, and yanked it down.
This time, there was no more pitiful scream.
Because even his jaw had been dislocated by Yukima Azuma.
Hayasaka Ai, witnessing this, instinctively swallowed.
This man was terrifying.
The professional assassins hired by the Shinomiya clan, or international mercenaries,
Before this person, they probably wouldn't even last two moves.
Who is he... a top international assassin? Or a legendary hidden master?
Why is he here?
Is he an enemy or an ally?
It's no wonder Hayasaka Ai was overthinking everything.
At this moment, Yukima Azuma's position could decide whether she and her mistress lived or died.
Yukima Azuma picked up the iron rod that had fallen by his feet and swung it a few times.
"Cooking vision" primarily provided a special kind of sight.
Therefore, the specific method was not limited to bare hands.
Using an iron rod was perfectly fine.
In fact, it was even more effective.
The only problem was that the scene would likely be a bit bloody.
But since this was a fight in an alley, with a large number of people present, it wasn't the time to worry about appearances.
Yukima Azuma gripped the iron rod and walked toward the gang.
Over twenty Yakuza, all tall, their bodies covered in tattoos, arms scarred from knives.
But when they saw Yukima Azuma advancing, every one of them who dared to step forward took clumsy steps, slowing down and then retreating.
It was no surprise they were afraid.
This man... was terrifying.
If Yukima Azuma had just landed a direct blow,
and splattered blood everywhere,
these Yakuza would definitely not have cared at all.
In fact, they might have become more eager to charge in at the sight of blood.
But after just one blow, the person he attacked no longer resembled a human.
The scene was something even these seasoned Yakuza had never witnessed before.
That was true fear.
Finally, as Yukima Azuma drew nearer,
a few Yakuza clearly found themselves backed into a corner.
Fear engulfed them, anger surged from deep within their hearts, and recklessness began to boil over.
Long knives were drawn, swinging toward Yukima Azuma as if they aimed to take his life.
Yukima Azuma observed their movements carefully.
"Cooking vision" allowed him to see through the muscles and bones of a person, meaning he could also track how their muscles exerted force and how their joints moved.
From these observations, he could almost predict their next moves.
Thus, Yukima Azuma swung the iron rod in his hand.
The rod was at least longer than their knives.
Yukima Azuma swung it toward their arms, looking like just an idle swing.
But then, a sickening crack of breaking bones rang out.
It wasn't even clear how hard the rod had been swung,
but their arms, at the elbows, were twisted almost 90 degrees in a grotesque manner.
Painful groans erupted from them simultaneously.
Yukima Azuma said nothing, just continued moving forward while swinging the rod.
Almost every few steps he took, another Yakuza would collapse, their body crumpled into a pile on the ground.
The iron rod seemed like a light tap, yet it effortlessly shattered their bones like tofu.
The sound of breaking bones and their pitiful screams echoed through the air, sending chills down anyone who heard them.
In just a few minutes,
more than ten gang members had collapsed on the ground.
The remaining ones, terrified, turned and fled, abandoning everything they were holding, not daring to look back.
Yukima Azuma watched them run away,
casually tossing the bloodied rod aside.
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a tissue, and wiped the blood from his face.
This tissue had originally been meant for wiping sweat, but that was no longer an option.
Looking at the bloodstains on the corner of his shirt, Yukima Azuma felt a bit annoyed.
If he went back like this,
it would surely worry the three girls.
Moreover, the situation couldn't be explained in just a few sentences.
'Troublesome.'
Frowning as he thought about how to handle the situation when he got home, Yukima Azuma looked up and noticed two girls trembling at the entrance of the alley.
Shaking his head, Yukima Azuma temporarily pushed all other thoughts aside.
He walked toward the two girls.
As Yukima Azuma approached, the two girls pressed themselves against the wall of the alley, looking like young girls about to be harassed.
However, one sentence from Yukima Azuma made both of them freeze in place.
Reaching the two girls, Yukima Azuma raised his hand and gently pinched Hayasaka Ai's cheek.
"You must be Hayasaka Ai. Given your seniority, you can call me 'uncle.'"
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
When Yukima Azuma reached out to her.
Hayasaka Ai was terrified to the extreme.
But she didn't dare to dodge.
She was afraid that any careless move would anger the terrifying man in front of her.
Which could lead to harm to her young mistress.
However, what she didn't expect was that.
Yukima Azuma did nothing to her.
He just gently pinched her cheek.
Immediately afterward, the words he spoke.
Made Hayasaka Ai's eyes widen.
"You must be Hayasaka Ai. Given your seniority, you can call me 'uncle.'"
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Hayasaka Ai was stunned.
Uncle?
She had no idea she had any relatives like this young man.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma, with his black hair and eyes typical of an Asian handsome man.
No matter how you looked at him, he didn't seem to have any blood relation to the Hayasaka family!
For a moment, Hayasaka Ai, who was known as a "master of communication" and took on the role of wearing "thousands of masks," didn't know how to respond.
However, Yukima Azuma didn't wait for her to reply.
He continued speaking naturally.
"A few days ago, I met your mother, Hayasaka Nao. Nao-san even said she misses you a lot."
Hayasaka Ai muttered to herself.
This sounds fake.
Her mother, Hayasaka Nao, had gone overseas not long ago, currently in Wall Street.
This was an internal move from the Shinomiya group.
So only a few people knew about it.
Even she had only learned it not long ago.
This guy is really lying without batting an eye.
Is he trying to create an identity to approach her and her young mistress?
Hayasaka Ai immediately raised her guard to the highest level.
However.
"I didn't expect you'd run into this. You should make a report by phone."
"If not, Nao-san will be very worried if she hears you were attacked."
As Yukima Azuma spoke, he took out his phone.
And called Hayasaka Nao.
Hayasaka Ai's eyes widened.
What is this?
She quickly glanced at the number on Yukima Azuma's phone.
And it really was her mother's number.
Moreover, it wasn't the business phone number, but a personal one that only very close people knew.
Hayasaka Ai's mind quickly started working.
Could he be a hacker?
Is this number actually faked?
But before she could think any further.
The phone was connected.
On the other end of the line, the familiar voice of Hayasaka Nao could be heard.
Although the specific content wasn't clear, it was undoubtedly Hayasaka Nao's voice.
"Hello? Nao-san. Nah, it's not a work matter... and I'm not asking for money!"
"Of course, I know I have to wait for the schedule! I'm calling you today about something else."
"Today, I met your daughter, Hayasaka Ai... Umu umu, there was a bit of an issue, but it's already been resolved."
"Oh, she's right next to me. Okay, I'll let you talk to her."
After speaking, Yukima Azuma handed the phone to Hayasaka Ai.
Hayasaka Ai took the phone in a daze.
"Mom?"
She tentatively called out.
"Ai, did you run into a problem?"
The familiar voice of Hayasaka Nao rang out, completely dispelling any doubts in Hayasaka Ai's mind.
So, Hayasaka Ai recounted everything that had happened here to Hayasaka Nao, without missing a detail.
In fact, the situation was quite simple.
The young mistress beside Hayasaka Ai was none other than the Shinomiya family's young mistress she was servingShinomiya Kaguya.
Last night, Shinomiya Kaguya attended a high-end dinner party for Tokyo's aristocrats in the Ochanomizu area.
As a young lady from the Shinomiya family, Shinomiya Kaguya needed to maintain social connections with certain people.
According to the plan, they were supposed to return to the Shinomiya mansion after the party ended.
However, due to an invitation from the host of the evening party.
Mainly because the host of this party was a Japanese Diet member.
Someone with the potential to run for prime minister in the future.
In the end, Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai spent the night at a mansion in the Ochanomizu area.
The security work was carried out very strictly last night.
As a result, nothing happened.
But early this morning, when they were preparing to leave for the Shinomiya mansion.
The security personnel, who had been working all night, became a bit lax as the young mistress of Shinomiya was about to leave.
As a result, on the way back.
The Shinomiya family's car was ambushed and had its tire blown out in the middle of the road.
A group of gangsters rushed in to attack.
Hayasaka Ai hurriedly took Shinomiya Kaguya and fled.
The main objective was to buy time.
The Shinomiya family's car lost communication.
The Shinomiya household staff, who were monitoring, would surely respond quickly and send more people.
But while escaping, the two happened to encounter Yukima Azuma.
And that's how things progressed to the current situation.
After reporting the situation to Hayasaka Nao, Hayasaka Ai listened to a few more things from her mother, and then the call ended.
Hayasaka Ai respectfully handed the phone back to Yukima Azuma.
"Yukima-san, I truly apologize for my behavior earlier. Thank you so much for your help."
Yukima Azuma put the phone away and reached out to pinch Hayasaka Ai's cheek again.
"You don't need to be so polite. If you don't want to call me 'uncle,' then calling me 'Onii-san' is fine too."
"In the future, you, your mother, and I can address each other according to our relationship."
The corner of Hayasaka Ai's mouth twitched slightly.
She had already heard from her mother, Hayasaka Nao.
The person named Yukima Azuma was someone her mother had only recently met.
He was an incredibly talented individual.
Moreover, after being reassigned to work for the Shinomiya family, her mother was now working for this young man.
But the so-called "uncle."
It was actually just a casual way for her mother, Hayasaka Nao, to have her call Yukima Azuma.
This man didn't seem to care much about the concept of superior and subordinate, so it didn't matter how one addressed him.
In fact, if you looked at their ages, he was actually about the same age as her.
The title "uncle" was clearly just a cruel joke.
However, as someone who always obeyed her mother's wishes,
Hayasaka Ai couldn't help but follow her mother's instructions.
Furthermore, Yukima Azuma had actually saved her and Shinomiya Kaguya's lives.
So, despite feeling a bit resentful and embarrassed,
Hayasaka Ai still lowered her head and obediently called out:
"Yukima Onii-san."
Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
From memories of his past life, Yukima Azuma knew that,
The Hayasaka family was filled with outstanding individuals.
Whether it was the current representative of the family Hayasaka Nao, or the younger generation Hayasaka Ai,
They were all capable hands who could handle anything.
It was just that the Hayasaka family had once encountered the head of the Shinomiya family.
Under the pressure of the times and the suppression from that family head,
The Hayasaka tycoon eventually collapsed.
That Shinomiya family head clearly saw the value in the Hayasaka family.
As a result, he integrated the Hayasaka family into the Shinomiya financial group.
He made the Hayasaka people close servants to the descendants of the Shinomiya family.
However, although this family head had foresight,
His three sons did not inherit the same vision as him.
If they had, Hayasaka Nao would not have been stabbed in the back and ultimately forced to leave the power center of the Shinomiya financial group.
Yukima Azuma found the Hayasaka family very interesting.
If there was an opportunity, he hoped he could fully take over this family.
Such a treasure, if it remained within the Shinomiya family in the future, would only be buried in the dust.
At this moment, Shinomiya Kaguya, who was still being protected behind Hayasaka Ai, also stepped forward.
She took the hem of her evening gown, gently curtsied, and greeted Yukima Azuma.
Despite having just experienced a dangerous morning of fleeing,
Along with the terrifying battle in the alley just now,
Shinomiya Kaguya still maintained her elegance.
Her black hair, perfectly flowing down her back,
Her aura was like a precious gem on a crown.
"Hello, I am Shinomiya Kaguya, Hayasaka's sister."
"If Hayasaka calls you Onii-san, then I will also call you Yukima Onii-san."
Shinomiya Kaguya's words were both graceful and charming,
With just a few sentences, she smoothly erased any sense of distance between them and quickly closed the gap.
Yukima Azuma smiled as he looked at Shinomiya Kaguya.
Currently, in her blood-red eyes, there was no trace of the innocent, naive girl.
Her gaze seemed capable of seeing through a person's true nature, evaluating their worth.
This was Shinomiya Kaguya. The Shinomiya Kaguya before she became innocent and humorous because of love.
Shinomiya Kaguya had deeply seen through the value of Yukima Azuma.
Not only because Hayasaka Nao held him in high regard,
But purely in terms of combat skills,
The young man in front of her was enough to make Shinomiya Kaguya want to recruit him to her side.
In situations where guns were not used,
The skills Yukima Azuma had just displayed were enough to overwhelm any opponent.
And in the upper echelons of Japanese society,
In fact, gun-related situations were very rare.
Because once a gunshot was fired, the nature of the conflict would completely change.
Large gangs did own a few guns,
However, in Japan, it was almost unheard of to hear about gun-related homicides.
"Shinomiya-san, umu, I've heard of you. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Although Yukima Azuma replied like this, Shinomiya Kaguya could tell.
His attitude toward her was completely different from the way he treated Hayasaka Ai.
He treated Hayasaka Ai with true familiarity.
Even though the action of pinching her cheek was somewhat rude, it was evidence of their close relationship.
But with her, it was just a polite response.
This made Shinomiya Kaguya feel a little surprised.
Because, until now, very few people had shown no friendliness toward her.
Whether because of her status or her beauty,
Those around Shinomiya Kaguya were usually enthusiastic and flattering.
Yukima Azuma's attitude was truly rare.
Especially when compared to Hayasaka Ai, who stood beside her.
"Yukima Onii-san, you're the benefactor who saved my life. Could I invite you to the Shinomiya estate? So I can repay you in some way."
Shinomiya Kaguya gave a perfectly measured smile.
This was a smile carefully researched by the Shinomiya family.
By adjusting certain expressions, it could have the greatest impact on others.
With the unparalleled beauty of Shinomiya Kaguya, this smile often provided an absolute advantage in negotiations.
However,
"It's fine. I'm just out for a morning jog, I have to go back and prepare breakfast. There's someone waiting for me at home."
"If you really want to repay me, have someone from your side bring me a set of clothes."
Yukima Azuma tugged at his sleeve.
He revealed the bloodstains on his shirt for Shinomiya Kaguya to see.
Upon hearing this, Shinomiya Kaguya was silent for a moment.
Then, she smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Alright, please wait a moment. I'll have someone prepare the clothes right away."
Soon after, people from the Shinomiya estate arrived.
A large group of security personnel rushed in, surrounding Shinomiya Kaguya for protection.
Shinomiya Kaguya merely waved her hand, signaling for them to disperse, while also taking away the Yamaguchi gang members lying on the ground.
Shortly after, another car arrived quickly.
A butler stepped out, carrying a set of casual clothes that looked extremely expensive.
Yukima Azuma took the clothes and casually found a nearby store, borrowing their restroom to change.
"Shinomiya-san, thank you for the clothes. I have some matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."
Yukima Azuma waved his hand as he bid farewell.
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded, giving a graceful goodbye.
However, just halfway down the road, Yukima Azuma suddenly turned back.
In the puzzled gaze of Shinomiya Kaguya, Yukima Azuma walked up to Hayasaka Ai and extended his hand.
"Give me your phone. Add me on Line. Since you call me 'Onii-san', you can just reach out to me whenever you need something."
"Give me your phone. Add me on Line. Since you call me 'Onii-san', you can just reach out to me whenever you need something."
Yukima Azuma reached out to Hayasaka Ai, signaling for her phone.
Hayasaka Ai, somewhat helpless, took out her personal phone.
Then, she and Yukima Azuma exchanged their Line accounts and phone numbers.
If it were an ordinary boy talking to her like this,
Hayasaka Ai would have kicked him to the ground by now.
But the young man before her had superior strength, and she was no match for him.
Moreover, from the perspective of their positions, Yukima Azuma still called Hayasaka Nao "Sister Nao."
Even though Hayasaka Ai didn't recognize him as her uncle,
her attitude toward Yukima Azuma was unconsciously more familiar.
Before leaving, Yukima Azuma patted Hayasaka Ai's blonde hair.
The feeling of his hand wasn't bad.
As she watched Yukima Azuma leave,
Shinomiya Kaguya's blood-red eyes stared unblinkingly at Hayasaka Ai.
"Kaguya-sama, is there something you'd like to ask?"
Hayasaka Ai asked.
"What's the deal with him?"
Shinomiya Kaguya wondered.
If she could bring Yukima Azuma under her wing,
her usual actions would become much more convenient.
"My mother said she met him on Wall Street. He has an investment running there, and he's an outstanding talent."
"He doesn't seem to be from any tycoon family or clan; it looks like he's made a large amount of money based on his own abilities."
"As for other details, I'm not too sure. It'll take some time to investigate."
Hayasaka Ai shared some of the information.
She didn't tell Shinomiya Kaguya that Hayasaka Nao was working for Yukima Azuma.
That was a difficult thing to reveal.
Even though Hayasaka Nao was still officially working for the Shinomiya clan,
the truth was, Hayasaka Nao had been "exiled".
Finding another way out was completely normal.
But she couldn't expect Shinomiya Kaguya to understand that.
Upon hearing this, Shinomiya Kaguya fell into deep thought.
"Does Nao-san think he's a talent?"
She once again raised her evaluation of Yukima Azuma's value.
Because of Hayasaka Nao's comments.
Earlier, Shinomiya Kaguya had said that she and Hayasaka Ai were "sisters."
That statement wasn't made casually.
Since Shinomiya Kaguya was born,
Hayasaka Nao had been her wet nurse, responsible for taking care of and raising her.
Hayasaka Ai also grew up with Shinomiya Kaguya.
Their bond could indeed be called sisterly.
Shinomiya Kaguya naturally understood her wet nurse's sharp eye.
Therefore, she became even more curious about Yukima Azuma.
Realizing her mistress's thoughts,
Hayasaka Ai opened her mouth, intending to stop her with a few words.
Someone like Yukima Azuma was definitely not someone who could be easily controlled.
He had achieved success at a young age, with strong management abilities and frightening power, but all of that was not the most important thing.
What was more important was that the way he looked at Shinomiya Kaguya showed no respect for power or money at all.
And when he looked at her, in his eyes was an unhidden desire.
It wasn't a physical desire, but more like the kind of longing one has when they encounter a talented person.
Hayasaka Ai really wanted to say, "Mistress, the person you want to recruit not only doesn't care about you but has likely already set his sights on me."
However, in the end, Hayasaka Ai did not voice this advice.
It was all just her speculation, with no evidence.
As a member of the Hayasaka family, there were some things she could not interfere with regarding Shinomiya's decisions.
....
On the other side.
After finishing the morning training, Yukima Azuma returned to the Yukima residence.
Outside the apartment door, Yukima Azuma saw a familiar face.
"Real estate agent-san?"
It was quite a surprise to unexpectedly run into the "real estate agent-san" from Chapter One.
The real estate agent smiled awkwardly but politely.
She had been working in real estate for two years... no, now it was two and a half years.
She had received two rental requests today.
Both clients were beautiful office ladies just entering society.
After sending them available houses to view,
The real estate agent didn't expect both clients to request the same house.
She looked carefully at the house the clients had chosen.
Wasn't this the place where she had completed a transaction during the spring break?
The real estate agent clearly remembered introducing a super-beautiful girl to this house.
There seemed to be some complicated romantic relationship with the handsome landlord.
Now, they might be in a conflicted love situation in that very house.
The real estate agent felt this transaction would be hard to complete.
She tried suggesting other houses to the two clients.
But both clients firmly rejected them.
In the end, early this morning, the real estate agent had no choice but to bring the two clients to Yukima Azuma to discuss.
"Yukima-san, these two female clients want to rent your apartment."
The real estate agent briefly explained the situation.
Yukima Azuma tilted his head, looking behint agent, waving to the two successful women.
They had different expressions.
The real estate agent now had a question mark above her head.
"Could it be that Yukima-san knows these two?"
Yukima Azuma smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, what a coincidence. Bring the contract here. Once I sign it, you can go ahead and withdraw my rental request."
The real estate agent nodded vigorously, then took out two contracts from her handbag.
Yukima Azuma took the two contracts and walked toward the two tenants.
"Kirisu-sensei, Yukinoshita-san, what a coincidence."
That's right, these two successful women were Kirisu Mafuyu and Yukinoshita Yukino.
Both of them had rental contracts that were about to expire.
This time, Kirisu Mafuyu intended to come and oversee Yukima Azuma's lifestyle.
As for Yukinoshita Yukino, she simply liked the environment of Yukima Azuma's house, so she had requested to rent here.
However, for some reason, there was a somewhat awkward atmosphere at the scene.
Yukima Azuma sensed this.
So, he didn't say anything more.
He just silently handed the rental contracts to the two women.
After a moment of hesitation, both signed the contracts.
Thus, Yukima Azuma had two more tenants.
The real estate agent took the contracts and commission, then quickly left.
Even though she wanted to watch the drama, she was afraid that she would also be dragged into it.
...
Yukima Azuma began helping them move their belongings.
The three girls who were staying in the house were all woken up by the noise of the moving, and came out to check.
Upon seeing the two women standing behind Yukima Azuma, each of them had their own thoughts.
Kirisu Mafuyu was clearly not focused.
If she had been, she would have started questioning Yukima Azuma the moment she saw two other girls from her class in his house.
After moving the things into the rooms on the second floor,
Yukima Azuma took out two white nameplates.
He wrote the names "Kirisu Mafuyu" and "Yukinoshita Yukino" on them and hung them on the doors of their rooms.
"By the way, do you need help arranging your things?"
Before leaving, Yukima Azuma casually asked.
Both Kirisu Mafuyu and Yukinoshita Yukino shook their heads.
.....
After Yukima Azuma left,
Neither of them hurried to arrange their things.
Yukinoshita Yukino walked into Kirisu Mafuyu's room, and both sat on opposite sides of the bed with the white sheet.
In the room, the air was still for a moment.
Finally, it was Yukinoshita Yukino who broke the silence.
"Mafuyu-sensei, long time no see."
"Yeah, Yukino, long time no see."
Indeed, the two knew each other.
The year Yukinoshita Yukino enrolled at Toyogasaki School was also the first year Kirisu Mafuyu officially worked there.
Yukino was the first student Mafuyu guided.
Mafuyu's feelings toward this outstanding student, who graduated from Toyogasaki, were somewhat complex...
After a short pause, Mafuyu asked.
"Do you know Yukima Azuma?"
Both of them asked in unison.
Yukino gestured for Mafuyu to speak first.
"That person is my student." Kirisu Mafuyu sighed. "He's also a student with issues, just like you."
Upon hearing this answer, although Yukino had anticipated it, she was still surprised.
During the interview, Yukino had a feeling that Yukima Azuma was young, but she had only thought he seemed younger.
His actual age surely meant he had already graduated from high school.
He could have started his career after college or been a high school dropout working.
But now, looking back, her direct superior turned out to be a legitimate high school student from Toyogasaki.
Was it really reasonable for a high school student to hold control of Laplace Corporation?
"Yukino, what about you? How did you come to know him?" Kirisu Mafuyu asked, curious.
In Mafuyu's eyes, there was no reason why her outstanding student would have any connection with Yukima Azuma.
Yukinoshita Yukino felt a bit embarrassed but still answered honestly:
"I'm currently working at his company."
This unexpected answer left Kirisu Mafuyu momentarily stunned.
Come to think of it, Yukima Azuma had once mentioned starting a company.
But!
"With your abilities, how did you end up at his company?"
Concern was evident in Mafuyu's eyes.
While teaching Yukino, Mafuyu had realized that this excellent student had some personality flaws.
However, at that time, Mafuyu thought that as long as Yukino followed her talents, there shouldn't be any issues.
Therefore, while she had tried to correct Yukino's personality, she hadn't really paid much attention to it.
It wasn't until Yukino graduated that Mafuyu realized she had missed something.
The adolescent years are crucial in shaping a person's character.
With Yukino's awkward personality, entering society would certainly bring her many challenges.
Recognizing this, Kirisu Mafuyu tried to contact Yukino.
But she couldn't reach her.
Messages seemed to sink into the void.
And now, when they met again,
Yukino said she was working at Yukima Azuma's company.
This definitely confirmed Mafuyu's concerns.
A graduate from the University of Tokyo had to go work at a high school student's company.
Yukinoshita Yukino heard Kirisu Mafuyu's worries.
At first, she was a bit stunned.
Then, she smiled bitterly.
"Mafuyu-sensei, I kind of regret not listening to you when I was a student."
Remembering nearly a year of being fired seven or eight times, Yukino felt nothing but bitterness inside.
She almost couldn't survive in Tokyo.
Hearing this, Kirisu Mafuyu felt even more guilty.
Because of her own oversight, a student who should have had a bright future had fallen into difficult circumstances.
But before Mafuyu could say anything, Yukino changed the subject.
"However, working at his company isn't a failure for meit's an opportunity."
Kirisu Mafuyu was taken aback by this statement.
Yukino continued:
"Mafuyu-sensei, you must have misunderstood him. His company isn't some small place."
"Laplace Corporation is a multinational company with a registered capital of over 1.5 billion yen."
"Even a graduate of the University of Tokyo would be eager to work at his company."
"I've had a year full of hardships in society, but in the end, getting into his company is already a stroke of luck."
Upon hearing this, Kirisu Mafuyu was stunned, a question mark immediately appearing in her mind.
1.5 billion yen?
What had that problematic student of hers told her before?
He earned some money from making games and wanted to start a company to invest.
That problematic student referred to 1.5 billion yen as "a small amount"?
(note: Ayo, the book soul in teyvat suddenly disappeared from my library, will webnovel delete it? but it's not a translated story, why delete it? Or did the author?)
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Chapter 81: Yukinoshita Yukino Develops Admiration and Titanic tickets
1.5 billion yen?
Kirisu Mafuyu was utterly stunned by this terrifying figure.
Seeing her teacher's expression, Yukino couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
After all, back when Kirisu Mafuyu was her teacher, she always maintained a stoic poker face.
"Is he the heir of some conglomerate family?" Yukino asked curiously.
A young man with such outstanding talent...
Even the heirs of the Shinomiya or Yukinoshita families likely couldn't compare.
But as the topic was brought up, Kirisu Mafuyu shook her head seriously.
"He's just an ordinary person, not part of any conglomerate or supported by any family. He's all on his own."
As for Yukima Azuma's background, Kirisu Mafuyu certainly wouldn't disclose it without permission.
But one thing she was determined to make clear was that Yukima Azuma was entirely independent.
Even if the Yukima family still existed, they wouldn't be worthy of someone like Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma had been alone from start to finish.
No family.
That's what he said himself.
Kirisu Mafuyu confirmed it as well.
Hearing Kirisu Mafuyu's serious explanation, Yukino's eyes slowly widened.
He is all alone?
"He once told me about his company, but I didn't expect it to be on such a massive scale."
"The money he used to start the company was earned from developing games when he was in middle school."
"No family support, no one to back him up."
"From beginning to end, he's always been by himself."
Kirisu Mafuyu explained solemnly.
In Yukinoshita Yukino's heart, an unprecedented feeling of shock surged.
Previously, she had assumed Yukima Azuma came from a conglomerate family, far more exceptional than hers.
Although that notion had moved her a little, it didn't go beyond that.
Yukino understood herself well.
The geniuses nurtured by powerful families like the Shinomiya clan, who held immense influence in Japan, could never be inferior to her.
But Yukima Azuma was completely alone.
He was younger than her.
By his own efforts, he had built a place for himself in Tokyo.
Not relying on anyone's help meant he wasn't bound by anyone either.
Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes trembled intensely.
From birth until now, for the first time, she felt a sense of admiration.
As a girl who had always been more exceptional than her peers, hailed as a genius, and admired by many
When someone like her developed admiration for someone more talented, that emotion was far more intense than an average person's, to the point of being nearly uncontrollable.
The conversation ended there for the time being.
Yukinoshita Yukino returned to her room.
Both individuals carried their own thoughts as they began organizing the belongings they had just moved in.
...
Downstairs.
Kasumigaoka pulled Yukima Azuma, and a small group of people gathered.
"Why is Kirisu-sensei staying at Azuma's house?!" (Eriri)
"Apparently, her previous rental contract expired." (Azuma)
"It seems more like she's here to supervise us." (Utaha)
"Ehh? What do you mean by that?" (Eriri)
"Umu umu, maybe she's just worried about her students running into unexpected trouble." (Azuma)
"Stop dodging the question! Let's set Kirisu-sensei aside for nowwhat about Yukinoshita?" (Utaha)
"Yukinoshita? Who's that?" (Eriri)
"She seems to be a former top student of Toyogasaki." (Megumi)
"Why do you all know everything?!" (Eriri)
"You're just the only clueless one." (Utaha)
"Yukinoshita-san also moved here because her rental contract expired." (Azuma)
The suspicious gazes of the three girls all turned to Azuma.
"Ahem... Currently, Yukinoshita-san works at my company, handling HRspecifically, recruiting programmers for our team."
Yukima Azuma added an explanation.
"Wow, wow. Not just a student-teacher relationship, but even office politicsyou're going all out!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha shot Azuma a sharp glance, as piercing as a knife.
Yukima Azuma raised three fingers and swore solemnly.
Heaven bear witnessthey were absolutely innocent!
...At least for now, they were still innocent.
"Hmph, I'll let it slide this time. But no more outsiders casually moving into this house!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha warned.
Eriri nodded furiously, completely oblivious to the fact that she had just moved in the night before.
"I've already asked the agency to withdraw the rental listing."
Yukima Azuma aligned himself with the two as if they were united in their cause.
...
Thus, after a busy morning, the Yukima household finally sat down for breakfast.
Following breakfast, Kasumigaoka and Eriri resumed their work on White Album.
The entire weekend passed peacefully.
The following week unfolded neatly and orderly.
After Kirisu Mafuyu moved into the house, she mostly kept to herself in her room every day.
As for Yukinoshita Yukino, she left early in the morning and only returned to the apartment in the evening.
Yukima Azuma remembered that his company operated on standard business hours9 a.m. to 5 p.m., five days a week. So why did Yukino seem so busy?
Kasumigaoka Utaha was also swamped. Besides writing scripts for novels, she was gearing up to prepare Volume 5 of The Metronome in Love.
Outside of school, Yukima Azuma's official match had concluded.
He secured first place in the tournament with an undefeated record, earning a promotion to 7-dan professional shogi player, the youngest in history to achieve this milestone.
This achievement served as a bold declaration of Yukima Azuma's return to the shogi world.
Additionally, Yukima Azuma confirmed his participation in the "Ryuuou" title tournament starting in the summer.
This news dominated shogi headlines for quite some time.
Meanwhile, at school, Kita Ikuyo seemed to have integrated well with the band and became friends with Bocchi.
Their band, Kessoku Band, was scheduled to perform their first live show at STARRY next week.
What a cause for celebration!
Toyogasaki recently held a monthly exam.
Yukima Azuma maintained his position at the top of the school leaderboard with an unbeatable score.
Meanwhile, Eriri scored failing grades in both English and math and received a scolding from Kirisu Mafuyu. Eriri's British blood wept in shame.
Typically, Eriri's grades were just enough to meet the standard, but lately, she had been neglecting her studies due to being preoccupied with her illustration work.
Kato Megumi barely managed to pass the threshold as well.
As a result, Kirisu Mafuyu specifically sought out Yukima Azuma, warning him to supervise the two girls and ensure they studied more seriously.
If they failed any subjects in the national exams this summer, they would have to stay back for remedial classes.
Yukima Azuma nodded repeatedly, promising to help the two of them review during breaks between classes.
Amid a busy life, a plan Yukima Azuma had prepared for quietly reached its execution date.
Titanic had premiered.
....
"My mom received two movie tickets from a friend, but she didn't want to go, so she gave them to me."
"If Azuma is free It-it's not like I'm insisting you come watch a movie with me, hmph! But it'd be a waste not to use the tickets!"
Eriri handed a movie ticket to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma took the ticket and glanced at it.
It was indeed a ticket to Titanic.
As for Eriri's tsundere-style explanation, Yukima Azuma ignored it entirely.
What "my mom got it from a friend"?
She must have bought it herself.
Though it was also possible that Sayuri-obasan orchestrated this behind the scenes, acting as a matchmaker trying to pair her daughter with her crush.
As expected, Titanic tickets had long been sold out everywherea true "impossible ticket to find."
Even Yukima Azuma, as an investor, had only received a few tickets.
Carefully tucking the ticket into his chest pocket, he patted it lightly and smiled:
"Umu, I'm looking forward to it."
Eriri's face immediately turned bright red.
At that moment, Kita Ikuyo happened to walk by.
Eriri quickly dragged her into the restroom, making an excuse to flee.
Just then, Kato Megumi returned to the classroom and nearly bumped into them.
Fortunately, Kato Megumi gently sidestepped and avoided the collision.
Witnessing this, Yukima Azuma clapped softly:
"Sasuga Megumi-sama, your dodging skills are impressive!"
Not only the Number One Assassin of Toyogasaki but also the Dodge Master of Toyogasaki.
Kato "Hassan-i Sabbah" Megumi, the "Young Girl of the Mountain."
She always managed to gracefully avoid every collision.
Kato Megumi seemed to guess Yukima Azuma's thoughts.
She lightly poked his side with her finger.
Yukima Azuma instantly straightened up, no longer daring to joke around.
"Did something good happen with Sawamura-san?"
Kato Megumi asked.
Indeed, Eriri was an open book.
Her emotions were always written all over her face.
"Maybe," Yukima Azuma replied vaguely, quickly changing the subject.
He reached into his backpack and pulled out two Titanic tickets.
Kato Megumi blinked her gentle eyes, like tuberose flowers.
"Watch a movie? After being ignored by the ticket checker last time, I haven't gone back to the theater since." (lol)
Upon hearing this, Yukima Azuma felt that the topic had taken a slightly heavy turn.
He was about to say something comforting.
But before he could open his mouth, Kato Megumi snatched the ticket out of his hand.
"Just kidding, of course I'll get my revenge a bit!"
"I'm really looking forward to it!"
Looking at Kato Megumi's mischievous smile, Yukima Azuma's heart skipped a beat.
Kato Megumi really was the cutest in the world!
As for whether Kato Megumi had truly been ignored by a ticket checker before,
It might have happened, but now she didn't care at all.
No matter what, with Yukima Azuma by her side, she'd never be ignored again.
....
After school,
Yukima Azuma returned to the apartment.
"I'm back."
"Welcome home."
Only Kasumigaoka Utaha was at home.
After changing his shoes, Yukima Azuma walked over.
Shiratamaru was lying on Kasumigaoka's lap, bouncing its feet.
Yukima Azuma ruthlessly picked it up and threw it onto the sofa next to them.
"Abandoned," Shiratamaru scratched the sofa a few times in frustration before jumping down and playing by itself.
"Lonely-kun, back at it again?"
Kasumigaoka crossed her arms over her chest, making her "outstanding advantage" even more noticeable.
"If that's the case, senpai, what will you do?"
Yukima Azuma smiled with hidden meaning.
Kasumigaoka made a troubled face.
"Well, resistance probably won't work. Objectively speaking, there's a physical difference between men and women."
"Maybe I'll report it to the police and have Lonely-kun sent to a reform center, wait a few years and then come pick you up," Kasumigaoka said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Yukima Azuma immediately put on a pitiful expression, as if on the verge of tears.
Faced with that expression, Kasumigaoka couldn't stand it anymore and lost her composure completely.
She didn't know what to say to comfort him, so she decided to pull Yukima Azuma into her arms.
Both of them fell onto the sofa and curled up together.
Feeling the softness of her body underneath him, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but be amazed.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's figure was truly perfect beyond belief.
Though Eriri often teased her as being chubby, her waist was actually very slim.
It seemed like all the fat was distributed in the most "suitable" places.
After a while of rolling around on the sofa, Yukima Azuma took a slightly crumpled movie ticket out of his pocket.
"Senpai, let's go watch a movie."
Kasumigaoka took the ticket and glanced at it.
"So, you came over just to invite me to a movie?"
Yukima Azuma nodded honestly.
And just like that, he was kicked off the sofa by Kasumigaoka.
"And here is our second song: That Band!"
The performance by the Kessoku band ended smoothly.
This was their first live performance at the STARRY live house.
Clearly, the four members still had some shortcomings.
In particular, the first song could be described as a disaster.
However, just before starting the second song, Bocchi suddenly exploded with a guitar solo powerful enough to awaken every soul in the room.
This solo not only grabbed the attention of the distracted audience in the live house,
but also "restarted" the entire Kessoku band.
After being awakened, the band performed the second song, That Band,
with a level of professionalism, both in singing and the coordination of the instruments.
When they finished, loud applause erupted from the audience.
Yukima Azuma, sitting under the stage, listened to the entire performance,
and gave a warm round of applause to the performance of all four members.
Afterward,
when the four members of the band returned to the backstage,
they saw Yukima Azuma waiting for them there.
"Azuma-kun!"
Bocchi exclaimed in surprise and joy.
Yukima Azuma handed bottles of water to each member of the Kessoku band.
Then, he took a tissue from his pocket
and wiped the sweat from Bocchi's forehead.
With Yukima Azuma taking care of her,
Bocchi nearly melted from embarrassment.
The other three members of the band could only look at each other,
feeling like they were being treated differently.
They also wanted a handsome guy to wipe their sweat!
They don't want eat dog food.
But before they could tease Gotoh Hirori,
"Bocchi, can I borrow you for a moment?"
Yukima Azuma smiled and said, then pulled Bocchi away from the backstage.
Only the three of them remained, standing in confusion.
It wasn't until they left Shimokitazawa
that Bocchi finally regained her composure.
"Azuma-kun."
"Bocchi, you didn't forget our promise, did you?"
"I didn't forget... but... I'm sorry, I couldn't get the movie tickets."
Bocchi bowed her head.
Earlier, she had sent a small apology to Yukima Azuma via LINE.
"It's okay, I already got the tickets."
Yukima Azuma took the movie tickets out of his pocket.
When Bocchi saw the tickets, her eyes lit up.
She really wanted to go watch the movie with Yukima Azuma again.
She had stayed up until midnight trying to get the tickets, but ended up not being able to get them, feeling regretful for a long time.
...
They took the train to Ginza.
Before they even reached the cinema, Bocchi could feel that the crowd today was different.
When they entered the cinema,
the absurdly long ticket line only made Bocchi feel even more awkward.
Yukima Azuma reached out, took Bocchi's hand, and pulled her closer to him,
shielding her from the crowd.
Bocchi felt her hand tightly holding Yukima Azuma's.
The sense of unease quickly disappeared.
Although since joining the Kessoku band,
Bocchi had somewhat understood that the distance between her and Yukima Azuma, in terms of friendship, was definitely unusual.
However, this feeling of abnormal distance
gave Bocchi a sense of comfort and reassurance.
So, after just realizing her unease about the distance between them, Bocchi decided to accept this mistake.
They checked their tickets and entered the theater.
Unlike their first movie outing,
this time, the seats in the theater were almost full.
As soon as they entered, Bocchi could feel many eyes on them.
She instinctively gripped Yukima Azuma's hand tighter.
Yukima Azuma gently patted Bocchi's head as a way of comforting her.
After finding their seats, they sat down.
Yukima Azuma looked around the crowded theater, feeling quite satisfied.
The people sitting here, It's all money.
Although only a small portion of it would end up in Yukima Azuma's pocket, it was enough to make him feel happy.
The lights in the theater dimmed.
The movie officially started.
Bocchi inhaled the familiar scent from beside her.
Gradually, she stopped noticing the people around her.
She immersed herself in the film.
With a total investment of over two hundred million USD, especially considering that the actors' fees made up only a small portion, the film offered impressive shots.
When the Titanic ship cut across the surface of the sea, entering the viewer's sight,
gentle breaths could be heard throughout the theater.
As the plot progressed,
the movie finally reached the famous scene.
You-jump, I-jump.
At this moment, emotions peaked.
There were quiet sobs in the theater.
Bocchi, immersed in the film, also felt sadness.
At this moment, in this scene, she wanted to see Yukima Azuma's reaction.
However, the moment she took her eyes off the screen,
she saw, not far ahead, a young couple passionately kissing.
Bocchi immediately felt her cheeks burn, quickly turning her gaze away.
Then, she looked around.
The entire theater was filled with couples kissing.
After all, this was a romance movie with a disaster element.
Bocchi felt unsure where to place her eyes.
Moreover, when looking at those people, she gradually recalled the feeling from the last time in the cinema.
Her legs unconsciously rubbed against each other.
"Hitori, do you want to?~"
Yukima Azuma suddenly whispered in Bocchi's ear.
His breath touched Bocchi's earlobe.
It became the catalyst that ignited the flame.
Bocchi turned her head, her tearful eyes hidden under her pink hair.
She looked like a flower ready to be picked.
As a result, this time, Yukima Azuma did not approach.
Bocchi stared at Yukima Azuma in confusion.
But Yukima Azuma only pointed to himself.
"I won't resist. If you have any intention, Bocchi, feel free to do it."
Hearing this, Bocchi immediately understood.
In the dim cinema, the reddish-pink hue spread along her cheekbones, down her neck, even staining her earlobes.
If it were winter, there might even be steam rising from Bocchi's head right now.
Her gaze was fixed on Yukima Azuma.
Bocchi felt extremely embarrassed.
There were too many people around.
But deep inside, she was extremely agitated.
Amid the hesitation, Yukima Azuma helped Bocchi.
He raised his hand to cover Bocchi's eyes.
So, when there was no longer any vision, Bocchi deceived herself, not caring about anything else.
After all, she couldn't see anything.
Therefore, there was nothing around her.
Bocchi thought this to herself.
And when the actual contact happened, she didn't think about anything else.
The sky was blue, the grass was green, the sunset was crimson, don't ask why I'm saying these things here, because if I say anything else, it'll be censored.
When they finished, the movie was almost over.
After all, the famous scene from Titanic was already in the later part.
"Next time, let's go watch a movie together again."
Yukima Azuma smiled and invited.
Bocchi lowered her head, her cheeks still flushed pink, but she nodded firmly.
In her mind, she couldn't even figure out the reason for deceiving herself.
This was definitely not a distance that could be explained by friendship.
No matter how foolish Bocchi was, she understood this.
But even so, Bocchi still couldn't say no.
This was the clarity of decadence.
.....
The next day.
Eriri dressed formally and appeared at the entrance of the Ginza cinema.
Yukima Azuma looked at the movie ticket in his hand.
He had agreed before, but he hadn't paid attention.
On the ticket, the seating was marked for couples.
Yukima Azuma was very curious, wondering if Eriri had done this on purpose or by accident.
And when they entered the cinema.
"Eh!? What... what's going on?"
Eriri looked at the seat corresponding to the ticket and exclaimed in surprise.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Umu, it was intentional but also accidental.
Unlike the large cinemas at premieres, cinemas specifically for couples don't have many seats.
And these couple seats were not just regular chairs.
They were more like a double bed.
There were no dividers between the two seats, and the backrests were connected, so the two people sitting could hug each other at any time.
Eriri clearly didn't know this.
After all, she had never been to a cinema for couples.
"Maybe Sayuri-obasan's friend bought the wrong ticket."
Yukima Azuma cleverly helped Eriri out of this situation.
Eriri immediately nodded rapidly.
"Yes... yes, it must have been a mistake, but there's no other choice."
After saying that, Eriri immediately sat down in the seat.
Yukima Azuma also sat next to her.
The movie began.
In the summer, the air conditioning in the cinema was very strong.
And when there are fewer people in the room, just sitting for a while makes it feel cold.
Not even ten minutes after it started,
Eriri had huddled at the edge of the seat.
Yukima Azuma found it both funny and helpless.
If he didn't know Eriri was a silly girl, her actions today would really seem quite calculated.
Purposely pretending not to know, buying tickets for a couple's cinema, and even wearing light clothing.
Yukima Azuma put his arm around Eriri.
Eriri stiffened, then her small hands pressed against Yukima Azuma's chest, trying to push him away.
However, her resistance was really quite weak.
"Don't move, I don't have a jacket. The air conditioning is too cold in here. If you don't get close, i might catch a cold after the movie." Yukima Azuma said gently.
"You... you said that, so... I really have no choice, umu, you should thank me, you know."
By now, Eriri had completely stopped resisting, and instead, she curled up closer to Yukima Azuma.
Her small, soft body, with the faint scent of pear filling the air.
Yukima Azuma's hand started to grow restless.
"This is an emergency situation, this is an emergency situation."
Eriri mumbled under her breath, pulling herself even closer into Yukima Azuma's arms.
The movie was gradually reaching its climax.
Eriri, curled up in Yukima Azuma's embrace, was crying uncontrollably.
She was quite an emotional person.
When the death of Jack came on screen, she couldn't hold back any longer and burst into tears.
Yukima Azuma gently lifted her small head, which was rubbing against his chest.
In Eriri's tear-filled eyes, he kissed her.
Eriri could only make a choked sound.
Then, she completely lost herself in the kiss.
Strangely, not only did Eriri have the scent of pear,
Even in the kiss, she carried a slight sweet taste of pear.
Yukima Azuma quite liked this flavor.
So, he took his time enjoying it.
....
Titanic was released globally, and it could be said that it was both highly praised and achieved immense box office revenue.
In Yukima Azuma's original world, Titanic's global box office eventually stopped at 2.3 billion USD.
But in this world, the release of Titanic was delayed by a few years.
After the initial economic crisis, the movie was postponed until several years after the economy began to recover.
In just a few years, the level of consumer spending had completely changed.
Finally, when Titanic left theaters, its global box office was set at 3.4 billion USD.
And Yukima Azuma's investment of 10 million USD, which accounted for 3.5% of the total revenue.
3.5%, this number might seem light before calculating the revenue.
But after the calculation, it turned into 119 million USD.
119 million USD.
Which is 18.2 billion Japanese Yen.
--------------------------------------------
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Watching the same movie for the fourth time, one that he had already seen before.
Yet Yukima Azuma didn't feel bored at all.
The sparkling, water-like eyes of Bocchi and the conflicted boldness in her heart made it impossible not to tease her.
Eriri's cute reactions, gradually shifting from arrogance to shyness, coupled with her pear-flavored sweet lips, also left a lingering impression.
In contrast, the movie outings with Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kato Megumi were relatively more peaceful.
With Kato Megumi, things had only progressed to holding hands.
But just sitting next to Megumi while watching a movie was enjoyable enough.
As for Kasumigaoka Utaha, nearly anything could be done.
There was no need to do anything too extreme right inside the cinema.
When Titanic ended its screenings, the box office revenue figures were released.
Yukima Azuma's "all-in" investment had brought Laplace Corporation an enormous profit of $119 million.
After subtracting the initial investment capital, the net profit still exceeded $100 million.
For this investment, the return rate reached 1,000%.
Converted to Japanese yen, the figure reached a staggering 18.2 billion yen.
This unbelievable investment profit prompted Hayasaka Nao to take the initiative to call and report for the first time.
It seemed Hayasaka Nao had also followed along with a small investment.
But she didn't have the boldness to "all-in" like Yukima Azuma.
Even so, she still became a significant winner.
But compared to the profits, Hayasaka Nao was even more amazed by Yukima Azuma's foresight.
This man seemed to live up to his name.
Just like Laplace's demon, he could seemingly foresee the future.
During their conversation, Yukima Azuma and Hayasaka Nao briefly discussed the next investment plans.
Among them, $20 million was allocated by Yukima Azuma to invest in a man named Michael Dell.
This individual had registered his company two years ago with a capital of just $1,000.
The product he aimed to develop was computers.
Two years later, he had launched his creation and was in urgent need of investment to validate it.
Additionally, another $50 million was allocated by Yukima Azuma to invest in a computer operating system project by Microsoft.
The founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, was already a renowned entrepreneur and software engineer at this time.
His company, Microsoft, had also captured a significant share of the software industry in the United States.
Ordinarily, for a newly established venture capital firm like Laplace Corporation,
without strong backing, it wouldn't qualify to participate in the initial funding rounds for Microsoft's projects.
For a well-known company, when accepting investments, they don't just consider the money.
They also focus on the value the investor can bring to them.
Famous Wall Street venture capital firms, with just one investment, could generate media frenzy and massive advertising campaigns.
Investors with a strong foundation and extensive connections could rely on personal networks to expand product distribution channels or even resolve issues related to sourcing cheaper raw materials.
These were things that Laplace Corporation currently couldn't do.
However, that was just the typical scenario.
The computer operating system project by Microsoft at this time was an exception.
Because the same year Microsoft began seeking investment,
the U.S. government also announced that the Department of Defense would develop its own computer operating system and make it widely accessible.
On one side was a civilian system, and on the other, a government-backed system.
The trend clearly leaned toward the government.
For this reason, most venture capital firms didn't see much potential in Microsoft's project.
Thus, Laplace Corporation was able to secure this investment opportunity.
The remaining funds, aside from operational costs for the overseas headquarters,
were entirely used to invest in the branch in Japan.
And finally, with money in hand
.....
Today, Yukinoshita Yukino was sitting in an office building conducting interviews.
Sitting across from her was a young woman named Isshiki Iroha.
She was interviewing for a position in human resources.
As Yukino looked over her resume, she couldn't deny that Isshiki was indeed impressive.
However, at present, all human resources matters at Laplace Corporation were personally managed by Yukino.
There was really no need for additional staff.
"Isshiki-san, have you considered trying a different position?"
After failing to persuade her, Yukino finally asked.
If it were in the past, she would have refused outright without another word.
But since meeting Yukima Azuma, she had started learning how to negotiate with others.
Isshiki Iroha shook her head.
"In that case..." Yukino was about to make her decision when her phone suddenly rang. "Excuse me, I'll step out for a moment."
She took the call and walked out of the interview room.
"President, do you need something?"
"Yukino, what are you doing?"
"I'm working... Do you have something else you need, President?"
If it had been anyone else, Yukino would have responded curtly: "I'm working. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now."
And she would have actually hung up without waiting for a response.
"Yes, I do. Over the next two days, hire a few HR staff, then you stop working."
From the other end came Yukima Azuma's enthusiastic voice.
A massive question mark appeared above Yukino's head.
Was he planning to fire her?
Why?
Yukino tried to recall everything she had done over the past half-month.
Since she started working, she could confidently say she had worked diligently without any negligence.
Even in terms of workplace relationships,
after her last conversation with Kirisu Mafuyu,
Yukino's attitude toward Yukima Azuma had noticeably shifted.
The patience she never showed others was now fully extended to Yukima Azuma.
Even when Yukima Azuma occasionally talked nonsense,
she still listened seriously.
And yet, why?
"Moshi moshi? Yukino, are you listening?"
Yukima Azuma's voice came from the other end of the call.
"Yes, I understand," Yukino replied.
"Good. Once you're done, come over to my place. I've sent the location on Line."
"Alright."
Yukino quietly hung up the phone, a heavy feeling weighing on her chest.
She returned to the interview room.
Trying to maintain her composure, Yukino looked at Isshiki Iroha.
"Isshiki-san, welcome to the company. Please follow me to complete your onboarding paperwork."
Even with the looming possibility of being dismissed, Yukino upheld her sense of responsibility, finishing her work without any personal bias.
"Yukinoshita-san, is something wrong?"
On their way to complete the procedures, Isshiki Iroha curiously asked, noticing Yukinoshita Yukino's unsettled demeanor.
However, Yukino merely shook her head.
The turmoil in her heart was something she couldn't share with a stranger.
Once the onboarding procedures were completed, Yukino informed Isshiki Iroha that she would officially start work the next day.
After that, Yukino left the company building.
Following the directions on her phone, she made her way to the designated location.
On her way there, Yukino's mind was in chaos.
She couldn't understand.
Why, just when she found a glimmer of light, was she about to be pushed back into the darkness?
The past two weeks felt like a beautiful dream, and now it seemed to be on the verge of shattering.
When she arrived, she saw Yukima Azuma standing by the roadside.
Although she had told herself repeatedly on the way to stay calm, her heart was still far from steady.
She needed to stay rational.
But at this moment, Yukino couldn't hold back anymore.
She strode quickly over, grabbed the young man's shoulders, and spoke in a trembling voice:
"Why are you planning to fire me? Did I do something wrong?"
Yukima Azuma was bewildered.
"Who said I was going to fire you?"
Yukinoshita Yukino: o.O?
Hearing this unexpected answer, Yukino froze in place.
"But on the phone, didn't you say I should stop working?"
Yukima Azuma nodded.
"That's right. I meant stop working in human resources. When you first joined, I told you it was just a temporary role in HR, didn't I?"
"Now that we have money, keeping you in recruitment is truly a waste of talent."
"In a moment, we'll acquire a few factories and then establish a new subsidiary. You'll be the branch director."
"I can't trust anyone else with this roleonly you, Yukino."
Yukima Azuma gently patted Yukino's shoulder.
Woman, I trust you completely!
In society, someone like Yukinoshita Yukinohonest, upright, and incapable of lyingwas a rare gem.
If it weren't for Yukino, Yukima Azuma would rather manage all the branches himself.
After all, the foundation he had painstakingly built would be a cruel joke if stab in the back by someone he entrusted.
But Yukino...
Yukinoshita Yukino was truly someone who could be trusted without question.
Yukino's emotions were fluctuating, and at this point, she couldn't keep her expression in check any longer.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Why... can't you just say everything clearly, once and for all?"
Seeing Yukino cry, although his mind was still in confusion, Yukima Azuma took a tissue from his pocket and handed it to her.
Yukino grabbed the tissue, wiped her tears, and mumbled,
"How much did we make?"
Yukima Azuma didn't hide it.
"119 million."
Yukino nodded.
As expected of him.
With that, the company's fund was now much more ample.
However, to buy a few factories, the range of options might be a bit limited.
As Yukino was thinking this, Yukima Azuma added,
"USD."
At that, Yukino took a deep breath, then glared at Yukima Azuma.
She had gone numb.
It seemed like whatever happened with this person in front of her couldn't surprise her anymore.
It was just...
"I told you! Say everything clearly once!"
Yukino had just stopped crying, but now she felt like crying again.
119 million USD.
How long had the Yukinoshita family taken to accumulate 119 million USD?
Yukino thought.
Maybe not less than ten years, and perhaps eight years.
That was during a period of strong economic growth.
The guy in front of her couldn't just be described as "outstanding" anymore.
"How did you do it?"
"Invested in films. Didn't I say before I'd bet all the registered capital? A profit like this is pretty normal."
This guy was truly a Laplace demon.
After a long while, when Yukino had stopped choking up and wiped her tears dry, Yukinoshita Yukino returned to her professional demeanor.
"So, where are we going next, Laplace demon-sama?"
"Being called that is a bit embarrassing."
"You deserve it."
"Alright, alright, let's buy a car first."
"You're still not old enough to get a driver's license."
"Umu, so I'll buy one for you to use."
"I'm the branch manager, not a driver."
"Ehh? You haven't officially started yet? I'll pay extra for the driver position, how about it?"
"Fine, President."
"Yukino is so easy to sway when she's poor!"
"This is legitimate income."
Chapter 84: Hayasaka, you don't want your mother to suffer losses, do you?
Azuma and Yukino had bought a car.
A black Cadillac.
The same model as the car Yukima Azuma had seen the Shinomiya family driving before.
By paying a little extra, the paperwork like registration and license plate was completed in no time.
Yukinoshita Yukino sat in the driver's seat.
It gave off the vibe of a successful office lady.
Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
Yukino really suited this style.
If someone like her were sitting in a cheap, shabby room crying...
That would be the truly odd scene.
"So, where are we going now? Just so you know, I don't know anything about choosing factories."
"Those things require information and professional knowledge. I'm not all-knowing either."
Yukino said while glancing at Yukima Azuma.
She had the feeling he was thinking something very rude.
Yukima Azuma snapped his fingers.
"Umu, I know. Leave the professional stuff to the experts. We're going to the Shinomiya house."
Yukino raised her head, looking into the rearview mirror.
In the mirror, the young man sat calmly in the back seat.
It was as if they were just talking about going to a family restaurant.
Thus, Yukino withdrew her gaze and started the car.
In general, nothing about Yukima Azuma surprised her anymore.
The car rolled smoothly.
Yukino's driving skills were very good.
At least, they were a hundred times better than Sayuri's reckless driving.
....
The Shinomiya mansion.
Located in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
This mansion took up an enormous area.
In a capital city as urbanized as Tokyo.
It is rare to see such a large space used not to open a store but to plant trees or create a garden...
But the Shinomiya family did exactly that.
The Shinomiya mansion was like a paradise in the heart of bustling Shinjuku.
The car had just reached the street near the Shinomiya mansion.
A man in a black suit stepped forward to block their way.
Yukima Azuma rolled down the back window.
"Hello, may I ask if you have an appointment or an invitation from the Shinomiya family?"
The man in the black suit asked with a respectful tone.
"I'm looking for Hayasaka," Yukima Azuma replied calmly.
The man in the black suit took out his phone, checked it for a while.
Then he lowered his head and asked again:
"May I ask your name, sir?"
"Yukima Azuma."
After receiving the answer, Yukima Azuma was allowed to pass.
But only to the outer grounds of the estate.
The main house of the Shinomiya family consisted of a central mansion, surrounding gardens, an outer grassy area, servants' quarters, and flower gardens.
Currently, Yukima Azuma was still on the road outside this area.
The car passed through the street, gradually heading into the outer garden.
Yukima Azuma leaned against the window, gazing at the scenery outside.
"Yukino, how do you feel about all this?"
Yukinoshita Yukino thought for a moment.
In fact, the structure of the Yukinoshita mansion was quite similar to the Shinomiya.
The only difference was that one was in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and the other was located in a less prominent area of Chiba.
Moreover, the scale wasn't much smaller either.
Therefore, the scenery along the way didn't surprise Yukino.
If she had to describe her feelings...
"I'm curious, will you also build a mansion like this in the future?"
That was Yukinoshita Yukino's impression.
With Yukima Azuma's abilities, unless something unexpected happened, it was certain that he would have enough financial resources in the future to build a mansion like this.
He wouldn't even need to wait for the future.
Right now, as long as he wanted to, by recouping his investment, he could already do it in an area with cheaper land prices.
Looking at the scenery outside the window, Yukima Azuma shook his head.
"Probably not."
Yukino glanced at the rearview mirror again.
The young man in the mirror still had a calm expression.
"Things like flower gardens none of the people I know enjoy arranging flowers."
"A house this big, wouldn't it feel empty if you open the door every day? There's no atmosphere at all."
"If you can't open the door and call the person you want to see, then it can't be called 'Home.'"
"It's simply just a place to live."
Yukinoshita Yukino withdrew her gaze.
Her heart started pounding.
She understood those words all too well.
For all the time she had spent.
Every day when she woke up in the Yukinoshita mansion.
She didn't feel any warmth of what could be called "Home."
Even though the mansion had a butler and servants.
She didn't feel any living atmosphere.
Yes, it was simply just a place to live.
But her mother...
For a "home" like this, she had almost sacrificed everything.
.....
The car stopped in front of the inner grounds of the Shinomiya mansion.
A blonde girl in a maid uniform had clearly been waiting for a long time.
Yukima Azuma opened the car door from the other side.
He patted the seat next to him.
"Hayasaka, hurry up."
Hayasaka Ai smiled gently.
But inside, she was full of "hmph-hmph."
Earlier this morning, she received a call from Yukima Azuma.
On the other end, he asked, "Are you free today?"
As the closest maid to Shinomiya Kaguya, Hayasaka Ai was someone who worked tirelessly 365 days a year.
So, she quickly replied that she had work to do.
As a result, Yukima Azuma told her to take a day off.
Take a day off.
Take a day off my beep!
However, in the end, Hayasaka Ai did take the day off.
Because Yukima Azuma told her there was something very important.
He even said something like:
"Hayasaka, you don't want your mother to suffer losses, do you?"
Such words.
In a situation with no other option.
Hayasaka Ai had to submit a leave request to her mistress.
Even though she had never asked for a single day off in over ten years.
Getting in the car, Hayasaka Ai politely greeted Yukima Azuma.
"Yukima nii-san, may I ask what important matter requires me to take time off and meet with you?"
Though polite, she emphasized the word "important" very clearly.
"Umu, it's urgent, help me make money."
Yukima Azuma smiled as he spoke.
A question mark appeared above Hayasaka Ai's head.
Why is helping him make money an urgent matter?!
And why should she help him make money?!
She was about to refuse.
But just then, Hayasaka Ai heard Yukima Azuma say:
"Hayasaka, you know, my company, Nao-san also has shares."
"Hayasaka, you don't want your mother to suffer losses, do you?"
Again, that line.
Hayasaka Ai wanted to kick him, make his head explode.
But, being someone who loved her mother, Yukima Azuma had indeed provided a reason she couldn't refuse.
"So what do you want me to do for you?"
"I want you to use the Shinomiya family's network to help me screen suitable electronics factories."
Yukima Azuma made his request.
"Am I still supposed to be a servant of the Shinomiya family then?!"
Hayasaka Ai was furious, and this time, she couldn't maintain her politeness.
"You don't want your"
"Stop! I'll help! I'll help you find them, okay!"
"Remember to help me find some talented people in the computer field from the Shinomiya Group."
"Are you crazy?"
"You don't want your"
"Shut up! Let's plan the strategy!"
The car left the Shinomiya estate.
Yukima Azuma sat in the back seat, his face full of smiles.
Hayasaka Ai sat beside him, looking like a salted fish that had lost its dreams.
Yukinoshita Yukino occasionally glanced at the rearview mirror, lost in thought.
Today, Oujou-sama Yukino suddenly realized a truth.
That is, Yukima Azuma treated her so gently it made her want to cry.
Before, she had no point of comparison.
Now, meeting Hayasaka Ai.
Yukino realized that Yukima Azuma's treatment of her was almost like he was cherishing her.
He didn't use her weaknesses to threaten or deceive her.
Sometimes, she could even enjoy delicious breakfasts and dinners made by Yukima Azuma at his house.
As for the company work, he almost completely entrusted it to her.
Without a shred of doubt in her.
Could this be love?
A subconscious thought appeared in her mind.
Yukinoshita Yukino felt her face growing warmer.
She hurriedly turned her head, focusing her attention on the road ahead.
In the end, in less than a day, Yukima Azuma easily took over several electronics factories that were on the brink of bankruptcy and urgently needed to be transferred.
These factories previously specialized in producing refrigerators, televisions, and other large household appliances.
A few years ago, when the economic bubble burst, the demand for consumer goods decreased significantly, which directly affected the revenue of these factories.
After all, large household items like refrigerators and televisions were almost considered luxuries in the context of a poor economy.
Although the economy has shown signs of recovery in recent years, there were still factories that couldn't survive and would have to close down before the sun rises.
Yukima Azuma gathered all these factories and incorporated them into a newly established subsidiary.
Smart Home Laplace Inc.
This was the second subsidiary after Laplace Electronics Technology, and it was also the company that Yukima Azuma planned to invest most of his resources into within the Japanese branch.
On the way back to the Shinomiya mansion, Yukinoshita Yukino had many questions she wanted to ask but hesitated.
"If you have any questions, just ask. Now that Hayasaka has joined us, it's fine," Yukima Azuma said, noticing Yukino's unusual behavior with a smile.
Hayasaka Ai glanced up at the sky.
She was trying to get used to this.
Otherwise, she'd eventually be driven crazy by the people around her.
"Why enter the electronics industry? Given the current economic situation, investing externally would yield a bigger return," Yukinoshita Yukino asked, assuming Yukima Azuma possessed unusual abilities like Laplace.
Given the current economic climate, instead of running factories and selling electronics, clearly continuing to invest would earn money faster.
"Yukino, sometimes money alone is not enough. Money has to be spent to be meaningful," Yukima Azuma shook his head. "If money can't be spent and can't reach the people who need it, then it's just scrap paper."
Originally, a person enduring like a salted fish, Hayasaka Ai turned around in surprise to look at Yukima Azuma.
Yukino, after hearing this, also thought about it and nodded.
Money must be spent to be meaningful... right?
Because she didn't understand this, Yukino had chosen to study finance.
But now... Yukino felt she needed to start learning again from scratch.
...
The car stopped in front of the Shinomiya estate.
Hayasaka Ai got out, stood outside for a while, looking at Yukima Azuma before finally closing the car door.
The car drove away, and Hayasaka Ai turned around and walked into the inner courtyard of Shinomiya.
Along the hallway, all the servants bowed respectfully to Hayasaka Ai.
After walking a short distance, Hayasaka Ai arrived at Shinomiya Kaguya's room.
She knocked on the door.
Thud.
"I'm back, Kaguya-sama."
"Come in."
Hayasaka Ai opened the door and stepped inside.
Shinomiya Kaguya was sitting at the table, holding a red teacup.
She had clearly been waiting for quite some time.
"He called you? What did he want?"
Before Hayasaka Ai could even greet her, Shinomiya Kaguya hurriedly asked.
Hayasaka Ai paused for a moment and then said, "He asked me to use the Shinomiya family's network to take over a few factories."
When Shinomiya Kaguya heard this answer, she raised an eyebrow.
"Factories?"
"Yes, factories."
"What's the plan?"
"Looks like it's for household electronics."
Hayasaka Ai didn't lie.
But the information she provided was even more vague than a lie.
She had left out two crucial words.
Smart devices...
--------------------------------------------
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"So, he used 18 billion yen just to prepare some household items?"
Shinomiya Kaguya gently traced her finger along the rim of her cup.
Shortly after their first meeting, Shinomiya Kaguya had ordered a thorough investigation into Yukima Azuma's background.
Of course, she also learned about Yukima Azuma earning 18.2 billion yen from film investments.
This was a figure large enough to draw the attention of the Shinomiya Corporation.
Particularly with the short investment cycle and the rapid return on profit.
When she learned this, Shinomiya Kaguya was deeply astonished.
This only strengthened her determination to recruit Yukima Azuma.
Shinomiya Kaguya was someone who, once she set her mind on something, would see it through to the end.
No matter what obstacles she faced, she would find a way to overcome them until she achieved her goal.
"At the moment, that's all he's done so far."
Hayasaka Ai lowered her head.
Due to the guilt in her heart, she didn't dare look Shinomiya Kaguya in the eye.
Clearly, what Yukima Azuma was involved in was insignificant compared to the Shinomiya Corporation.
But Hayasaka Ai still chose to conceal the truth.
Because she and her mother shared the same belief.
That person.
That young man was far superior to the three sons of the Shinomiya family she had met.
His future wouldn't stop here. One day, he might grow to the point of posing a real threat to the Shinomiya Corporation.
As for her, ever since Hayasaka Nao made her choice, there was no turning back.
Fortunately, even if Yukima Azuma truly became unpredictable in the future, at most, he would only affect a few sectors of the Shinomiya Corporation.
And those sectors weren't particularly relevant to Shinomiya Kaguya's future.
Thinking this, Hayasaka Ai felt a lot more at ease.
The rest of the Shinomiya family might not matter to her.
But Shinomiya Kaguya was someone she didn't want to betray.
Lifting her teacup, Shinomiya Kaguya took a sip of black tea and smiled faintly.
"There's no other way. That's the extent of his vision, but even so, it's already impressive."
"With a bit of guidance, he'll undoubtedly become a qualified assistant. There's no doubt about that."
"He's studying at Toyogasaki, isn't he? Next semester, let Shuchiin send him an exchange invitation."
Hayasaka Ai opened her mouth to say something but hesitated.
In the end, she simply nodded.
The student exchange program.
This was a special program existing only between the three top private schools.
In the second half of each academic year, students from Toyogasaki Private Academy, Shuchiin Private Academy, and Hyakkaou Private Academy could apply to study as exchange students at the other two schools.
Simultaneously, the schools could also directly invite a specific student for the exchange program.
However, the latter case was exceedingly rare.
....
Yukima House
Today wasn't the weekend, but Yukima Azuma had taken a leave of absence from school.
As soon as he got home, he saw three pairs of neatly arranged small leather shoes at the door.
Peeking into the living room, he saw Kasumigaoka, Eriri, and Kato Megumi sitting properly on the sofa.
"I'm back."
"Welcome home." x3
After changing into house slippers, Yukima Azuma curiously stepped into the living room.
"What's going on? Is today some special occasion?"
Eriri shot him a glare.
"The day after tomorrow is the official release of White Album, and you're not even a little nervous?!"
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma finally understood why the three girls were gathered.
"Relax. I've already spent a ton of money on advertising. If it doesn't sell, I'll just hunt down the advertisers and demand refunds!"
Yukima Azuma said with a shrug.
Upon hearing this, the three girls could only shake their heads helplessly.
How should they put it?
Yukima Azuma's words really ruined the atmosphere.
But they had to admit.
Such statements were far more reassuring than something like, "Our game is definitely flawless," or other overly optimistic lines that ignored objective reality.
His words somehow instilled a strange sense of confidence.
"Anyway, let's do one last check of the game."
Kato Megumi suggested.
Yukima Azuma, of course, had no reason to refuse.
Kasumigaoka and Eriri also nodded in agreement.
Thus, the four of them sat down together.
(Yukima Azuma in the middle, Kasumigaoka on his right, Kato Megumi on his left, and Eririsomehow pushed asidesat sulking behind him.)
Grabbing the mouse, Yukima Azuma opened the visual novel under the watchful eyes of the three girls.
The feeling was a bit strange.
It was like being in the middle of a happy ending without realizing it.
However, Yukima Azuma quickly focused and took the game seriously.
After all, this was everyone's hard work.
Eriri's illustrations were truly exceptional.
The characters on the screen were vivid and lifelike, making players involuntarily fall in love with them.
Kasumigaoka's script was top-notch as well.
Though Yukima Azuma had provided the original storyline,
The dialogue in the game ignited emotional sparks within players, perfectly aligning with the plot.
It truly achieved the goal of using words to spark genuine feelings.
The game had about eight hours of content.
Yukima Azuma played for two hours before stopping.
Behind him, Eriri, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly let out an audible growl from her stomach.
"You're even greedier than Shiratamaru," Kasumigaoka Utaha teased as she glanced at Eriri.
"This is just a natural bodily response! It's not like I can control it!" Eriri retorted, her face turning red with anger.
Yukima Azuma pressed the pause button.
"If even we, the creators, are so engrossed in this game, there's no way it'll fail."
"Now then, let's address a more pressing issue. No matter how good a game is, it can't substitute for a proper meal, right?"
The three girls nodded in unison, wholeheartedly agreeing.
"I want char siu!"
Eriri was the first to raise her hand.
"I want noodle soup."
Kasumigaoka voiced her directive.
Yukima Azuma turned to Kato Megumi.
"I'm fine with anything."
Kato Megumi, as always, was easygoing.
"Alright then, let's make mixed ramen with char siu," Yukima Azuma concluded.
Mixed ramen, also known as "hotpot noodles," is typically made with ingredients like pork, pork blood, fish balls, radish, and noodles soaked in broth. The dish is topped off with a ladle of hot soup.
In some places, pork intestines are added for extra flavor.
Yukima Azuma began preparing the noodles at the stove, with Kato Megumi efficiently assisting him.
Meanwhile, Kasumigaoka and Eriri simply sat and watched.
As the water began to boil, Yukima Azuma casually brought up the topic of midterm exams.
"Speaking of which, how's everyone doing with studying? The midterms come right after the summer Comiket."
"Kirisu-sensei mentioned that if you don't meet the passing standards this time, you'll have to attend supplementary classes throughout the summer."
The reactions from the three girls varied.
"Azuma-kun, who do you think I am? Exams at that levelI can pass them with my eyes closed."
Kasumigaoka scoffed, her gaze shifting to Eriri sitting nearby.
"As for a certain half-British someone, how's your English? I feel like the British blood in you is crying out in anguish at its owner's incompetence."
Eriri froze in place, completely stunned.
Summer school?
She hadn't even heard of such a thing!
Her precious summer vacationhow could it possibly be wasted on remedial classes?
The fear of supplementary classes overwhelmed her, leaving her unable to muster a retort to Kasumigaoka's taunts.
"Help me!"
Eriri looked at Yukima Azuma with pleading eyes.
Yukima Azuma could only sigh, rubbing his forehead.
"Alright, after the summer Comiket, I'll tutor you."
With that, he turned to Kato Megumi.
"And how about you, Megumi?"
Kato Megumi said nothing.
Though she didn't reply, Yukima Azuma, who understood her well, could sense her unease.
"In short, after the summer event, Megumi, you'll need to show up on time for study sessions too."
Yukima Azuma made his decision.
Kasumigaoka finally realized something wasn't quite right.
Her slender legs, encased in black stockings, began tapping restlessly against the wooden floor.
Was she being excluded because she was good at studying?
No, the real issue seemed to be her grade level.
"Kirisu-sensei is upstairs, asking her to tutor would definitely be more effective,"
Kasumigaoka quickly came up with an idea.
Eriri glared at Kasumigaoka in frustration.
That fat woman.
If she couldn't get her way, she'd sabotage everything, right?
"If they could understand Kirisu-sensei's lectures, they wouldn't be in this situation."
"Eriri, go upstairs and call Kirisu-sensei down for dinner."
Yukima Azuma reluctantly made the decision, using the moment to change the topic.
Hearing this, Eriri quickly ran up the stairs.
No tutoring session for that fat woman, good!
When she reached the door with the nameplate "Kirisu Mafuyu" hanging on it, Eriri knocked.
"Kirisu-sensei, come down for dinner!"
There was a sound of movement inside, followed by Kirisu Mafuyu's voice.
"Okay, Sawamura-san, I know. You go ahead, I'll be out soon!"
Upon hearing this, Eriri turned and hurried back down the stairs.
As she descended, she became curious.
Thinking about it, she had been here for three weekends and never seen inside Kirisu's room.
Every time she called her down for dinner, it was just a few words like that, and then Kirisu Mafuyu would come out alone.
She only stayed cooped up in her room during the weekends.
How strange!
Was she perhaps doing some kind of ritual, summoning demons?
However, Eriri quickly pushed the thought aside.
After all, it wasn't Yukima Azuma, so she didn't care too much.
When Eriri returned to the ground floor, Kirisu Mafuyu opened her room door, peeked out to check if anyone was around, and then quickly stepped out, dressed neatly in her office attire.
She immediately closed the door and locked it.
Once everything was settled, she breathed a sigh of relief and started walking toward the stairs.
....
Making fresh char siu would take too long.
Yukima Azuma had already prepared several portions a few days earlier.
The dish for that day was already prepared, and the rest was vacuum-sealed and stored in the fridge.
Now, he just needed to take it out and reheat it a little before serving.
The ramen, looking delicious, was placed on the dining table.
Yukima Azuma also brought out a plate of pre-sliced char siu.
Before he could place it on the table, Eriri dashed over and snatched a piece.
However, it was still too hot, so she kept switching hands, finally shoving it into her mouth in haste.
Yukima Azuma knocked her on the head, ordering her to wash her hands again.
"Aho Baka."
Kasumigaoka commented helplessly.
Everyone at the table laughed.
Though a bit impolite, the atmosphere was warm and cheerful.
In fact, outside of Yukima Azuma's house, Eriri would never act in such an impolite manner.
After all, she was a young lady from a diplomat family.
As for Kasumigaoka, Kato Megumi, and Kirisu Mafuyu, none of them would usually laugh or take things lightly when someone handled they food like this.
But in Yukima Azuma's home, everyone just shared a few jokes and continued enjoying their meal happily.
Yukima Azuma felt incredibly happiness.
The summer Comiket was held as scheduled on that Saturday and Sunday in Chiba.
Yukima Azuma, Kasumigaoka Utaha, Kato Megumi, and Eriri all participated.
However, only Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi were at the booth.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, the genius, beauty, and light novel author, had gained so much fame since the signing event for the 4th volume of The Metronome in Love that she was now beyond ordinary recognition.
Her popularity was now so high.
If she publicly appeared at Comiket, she would definitely be surrounded by crowds asking for her autograph.
Therefore, she could only disguise herself slightly and walk around the exhibition.
As for Eriri,
This girl couldn't even show her face.
As the famous R18 artist, Kashiwagi Eiri, her name was listed on the artist roster for the game.
In such a situation, of course, Eriri could not appear at the booth.
However, she didn't need to disguise herself like Utaha; she freely roamed around Comiket to buy limited edition items.
...
At the booth.
Behind Yukima Azuma was a pile of boxes stacked high.
Inside were a thousand game discs.
This number was quite staggering.
"Do you really think we can sell them all?"
Kato Megumi asked, curiously looking at the pile of boxes.
"Let's see."
Yukima Azuma shrugged.
In reality, the booth at the summer Comiket exhibition was mostly for increasing recognition.
The actual sales revenue here was only a small fraction.
Popular works usually only needed about two to three hundred copies per day to be enough.
Bringing a thousand copies, even with the large crowd at the summer Comiket, it would be very difficult to sell out.
However, there were exceptions.
As soon as the event began,
The sound of hurried footsteps, like a flood rushing toward them, could be heard.
Kato Megumi looked over, blinking in astonishment.
A large group of visitors was rushing toward them.
Since running was prohibited in the exhibition area, the crowd was almost like participating in a race walking competition.
Before even reaching the booth, they had already lined up in a long queue.
They completely ignored the game experience area and went straight to the sales area of the two of them.
"Hello, please give me three copies of White Album."
The first customer, breathing heavily, quickly said.
Yukima Azuma shrugged at Kato Megumi.
It was as if to say: See?
Kato Megumi helplessly shrugged back.
It was as if to say: Fine.
She packaged three copies of White Album and handed them over.
Yukima Azuma took care of the money collection beside her.
Most customers bought three copies at once.
Those who only bought one copy were even fewer than those who bought multiple copies.
It could be said that there was no way they would have unsold stock.
Yukima Azuma had once said:
If the game doesn't sell, he would definitely go after the advertisers to collect the debt.
As long as the promotion was good,
Fans of galgames, after watching the trailer and trying out the demo of White Album, would mostly be attracted.
This was also why most people bought three copies.
As the otaku community often says:
One to collect, one to watch, and one to spread.
...
After two hours of the exhibition,
More than half of the boxes behind the two were empty.
By lunchtime,
The boxes were now filled with empties.
The only remaining box with stock inside was placed on the table.
The quantity of goods inside had clearly decreased.
"Sorry, there are only 20 copies left, customers standing behind please come back tomorrow."
"To give everyone a fair chance to experience the game, each person can only buy one copy, we ask for your understanding."
Yukima Azuma stood up and announced loudly.
Even so, the last 20 copies quickly disappeared in an instant.
Some customers standing behind didn't want to give up, their faces showing clear regret.
Yukima Azuma stretched his neck a bit to relax.
Kato Megumi also stretched her wrists for comfort.
"Tomorrow, we should hire someone to help look after the booth."
Yukima Azuma said.
The hard work, making money wasn't the most important part; what mattered was witnessing the customers' enthusiasm firsthand.
Now that they had seen it,
There was no need to wear themselves out anymore.
The two quickly tidied up the booth,
Then stood up and headed toward the outside of the exhibition.
The four had agreed to meet at a family restaurant.
When the two arrived, Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri were already seated, waiting for them.
"Super popular! I've never seen a anime/manga event with such a long line like that!"
Before they could sit down,
Eriri excitedly said.
"Well, I guess it's okay, the script I wrote wasn't in vain."
Kasumigaoka Utaha said this,
But her eyes clearly showed joy.
"Now you two can relax, right?"
Yukima Azuma sat down and sighed.
"I wasn't worried from the beginning!"
Eriri looked up.
"I wonder who was running around like a headless chicken out there before the event started."
Kasumigaoka Utaha mocked.
The two started bickering again.
Yukima Azuma realized that
Kasumigaoka Utaha really liked teasing Eriri.
"Alright, to celebrate the huge success, cheers!"
At that moment, drinks were brought over, and Yukima Azuma raised his glass of cola.
The three girls looked at each other for a moment, then also picked up their glasses.
The four glasses clinked together, making a clear and pleasant sound.
The three girls were clearly very excited.
At this moment, Yukima Azuma took out three bank cards from his pocket.
"These are your payments. The revenue from the game will be paid daily to the cards."
After saying that, Yukima Azuma pushed the three cards toward the three girls.
The atmosphere at the table paused slightly.
Noticing the girls' thoughts,
Yukima Azuma sighed helplessly.
"What are you planning? Why does this feel like a farewell dinner? This is just your well-deserved pay."
"I've started a company! How could I just do it once and then give up?"
"Do I look like the kind of person who wouldn't pay you and would make you work for free?"
Yukima Azuma's teasing made the three girls unable to stop themselves from laughing.
"Actually, no matter how grumpy he is, Lonely-kun isn't really a bad person."
Kasumigaoka Utaha was the first to take her card.
"Since you said it like that, hehe, I guess I'll buy something new! A new digital drawing tablet!"
Eriri snatched her card, grinning widely.
Kato Megumi placed her finger on the card.
"I didn't do anything to help you guys."
Yukima Azuma pushed the card into her hand.
"Being a tester is an important job too, the money on the card is divided proportionally, Megumi deserves it as well."
After a moment, Kato Megumi was convinced.
"We won't stop here. We'll go even further together!"
Yukima Azuma said, then raised his glass of cola again.
In the cheerful atmosphere, the four raised their glasses to celebrate.
...
The next day.
The sales for the first day of White Album were announced.
The number of copies sold on the first day surpassed 200,000.
Unlike light novels or manga, game discs have a higher price and require players to have a certain level of understanding.
The galgame market is smaller than the broader Otaku market.
This figure was already a phenomenon.
On the four cards, the amount in the accounts had reached a staggering number.
Even Kato Megumi, with the lowest share ratio,
after just one day, had an amount on her card that no high school student could ever achieve.
The total sales of White Album were predicted to exceed a million copies.
An undeniable major victory.
Thanks to White Album, many people learned about the name and logo of Laplace for the first time.
And in the second week after the game's release,
something big happened.
The reason why the summer Comiket was important
was because it would soon be followed by the award voting by IGN.
White Albuma groundbreaking galgame,
was nominated in six award categories.
In the end, it won:
IGN's Best Story Award,
IGN's Best Independent Game Award.
As soon as the awards were announced,
not only did it boost the game's sales once again,
but it also firmly solidified White Album's position and reputation within the galgame community.
It had almost become the origin story that every galgame fan must experience later on.
And on the day the awards were announced,
A guy named Aki Tomoya went mad.
Aki Tomoya couldn't accept that a game he wasn't involved in had achieved accomplishments he couldn't even dream of.
The best galgame.
Especially when he learned that the game was produced by Yukima Azuma, the script was by Kasumi Utako, and the illustrations were by Kashiwagi Eri.
After screaming in anger at home,
Aki Tomoya ran outside.
"I can't accept this! I absolutely don't acknowledge this!"
While yelling, a large truck came speeding toward him from a distance.
(Note: LOL, seriously, I almost choked on water on my laptop while translating this. Luckily, I managed to hold it in, but I still ended up wetting the sofa. I thought Lord Kuzuma would be the first to meet Truck-kun.)
.....
At Yukima's house.
Kirisu Mafuyu received a phone call, looking surprised.
Yukima Azuma, holding Shiratamaru, curiously asked:
"Kirisu-sensei, what's going on?"
Kirisu Mafuyu quietly nodded.
She sighed, then spoke:
"Aki Tomoya from our class had a truck accident this morning. He was rushed to the hospital, but he didn't make it. He's dead."
Yukima Azuma blinked after hearing this.
Who?
Aki Tomoya really met truck-sama?
So, is this an isekai situation now?
Yukima Azuma really wanted to make some excuses, saying that he brought it on himself.
But if the police had the perspective of a reader, they would definitely keep Yukima Azuma for questioning for two days.
However, it wasn't Yukima Azuma who ride the truck.
It can only be said that there are thousands of vehicles on the road, but safety is the most important.
If you don't follow traffic laws and go crazy in the middle of the street, you'll have to pay the price.
"So... do we need to organize a visit to his family?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
He's dead already.
As a teacher, Kirisu Mafuyu had to visit the family of the student.
To help Kirisu Mafuyu, Yukima Azuma was also ready to act along.
Kirisu Mafuyu shook her head.
"A visit... maybe it's not necessary. After all, he didn't really have any friends in the class."
"The parents also said there's no need to inform anyone else about his death. Just tell them next week that he transferred schools."
"By coincidence, we'll have a transfer student joining our class next week. With the new student coming and going, no one will really pay attention to it."
Yukima Azuma was a bit surprised after hearing this.
"A transfer student? At this time?"
The summer exams are almost here.
Kirisu Mafuyu rubbed her forehead.
Indeed, when the topic of the transfer student was brought up, even Yukima Azuma, who knew the bad news, shifted his focus to something else.
Perhaps when the announcement is made next week, the entire class will have a reaction like Yukima Azuma's, where no one really cares much about Aki Tomoya.
"Yes, this transfer student is supposedly from Russia."
Kirisu Mafuyu casually said.
Yukima Azuma blinked.
Oh, from Russia.
That's not too surprising.
The school systems in Japan and other countries are not synchronized.
If a student is from another country, it's normal for them to appear at any time.
"When she arrives, you should help her, assist her in adjusting to the class!"
Kirisu Mafuyu instructed.
We can't have another student isolated like the one before.
"Ehh? Me? I'm really busy!"
Yukima Azuma pointed at himself.
Kirisu Mafuyu raised her hand, ready to pinch Yukima Azuma's ear.
Yukima Azuma quickly apologized and agreed to help.
--------------------------------------------
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Monday.
Toyogasaki Academy, Class 1-E.
Before the first class had begun, Kirisu Mafuyu was already present in the classroom.
As most of the students had already arrived, Kirisu Mafuyu gently tapped on the blackboard.
The classroom, which wasn't particularly noisy to begin with, became completely silent, and all eyes turned toward the podium.
"I have two announcements to make, so this will take a bit of time before class starts."
"The first matter: Aki Tomoya from our class has transferred to another school due to personal reasons."
The moment Kirisu Mafuyu finished her words, the reaction was as expected.
The class didn't show any particularly strong emotions.
Everyone exchanged glances with puzzled looks on their faces.
Many students immediately had the same thought: "Who is Aki Tomoya?"
"Did we really have someone named Aki Tomoya in our class?"
As they looked around and noticed the empty seat, some finally recalled who that name belonged to.
But no one really cared.
Over nearly a semester, no one had befriended Aki Tomoya.
In fact, many had never even spoken to him.
As a result, they treated it as if nothing had happened.
Seeing the class's reaction, Kirisu Mafuyu let out a small sigh of relief.
Though it felt slightly rude to the one who had "left," this was for the best.
"The second matter: Starting today, we have a new transfer student in our class. Please be welcoming and friendly to them."
Immediately, the class broke into excited chatter.
After all, having a transfer student join during this time felt like the start of a light novel.
"A transfer student... I wonder if it's a boy or a girl?"
"Hopefully, it's a stunning beauty who falls for me at first sight!"
"If it's a guy, that would be annoying. The transfer student better be handsome!"
"Hey, you're no better! Besides, we already have Yukima-san in class. Isn't that enough?"
"Even if there are too many handsome guys, there will never really be enough! They're nice to look at, you know!"
Amid the buzzing chatter, Kirisu Mafuyu tapped the board once more.
When silence returned to the room, she called toward the door, "Kujou-san, you may come in now."
The classroom door slid open.
A tall beauty with white hair stepped inside.
Her mere appearance immediately drew gasps of admiration from the class.
After all, just like bishounen, there can never be enough bishoujo anywhere.
The transfer student had snow-white skin and eyes that sparkled like sapphire gemstones.
Her long, straight hair, tied in a half-up style, cascaded softly down her back like a silken waterfall.
She was tall, with slender limbs, a well-defined figure, and curves in all the right places.
Not only did she possess a beauty that far exceeded the high school level, but compared to the average Japanese girl, this transfer student exuded a sense of height and maturity, carrying an aura of a refined, elegant woman despite her young age.
Yukima Azuma looked at the new transfer student and blinked lightly.
Kirisu-sensei was clearly overthinking things.
With a beauty like this, there was no need to worry about her fitting in.
All she had to do was take her seat.
By the end of the day, countless people would surely approach her to chat.
Wait a second.
Yukima Azuma suddenly remembered a detail Kirisu Mafuyu had mentioned.
This beauty had transferred from Russia.
Her native language was Russian.
Could it be that she wasn't fluent in Japanese?
If so, would he be tasked with acting as her translator?
At that moment, the transfer student stepped up to the podium and wrote her name on the blackboard.
Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou.
Her full name was even longer than Eriri's.
"You can call me Alya. I'm half Japanese, half Russian. Please take care of me."
Alya introduced herself succinctly.
Her Japanese was quite fluent.
Yukima Azuma dropped his face onto the desk.
Might as well sleep!
Kirisu-sensei was definitely worrying for nothing.
"Kujou-san, you can sit over there."
Kirisu Mafuyu pointed to the seat next to Yukima Azuma.
That spot had been left vacant as announced earlier that morning.
"If you have any difficulties with your studies or anything else, feel free to ask the person next to you Hey, Yukima Azuma, wake up right now!"
Kirisu Mafuyu's voice rose in irritation when she realized Yukima Azuma was already fast asleep.
She had specifically reminded him over the weekend to help the new student.
Yukima Azuma lifted his head, revealing a red mark imprinted on his forehead.
Eriri, seated nearby, couldn't hold back her laughter.
Even Alya, standing at the podium, allowed a faint smile to escape.
As the new student approached, Yukima Azuma, feigning charm, pulled out the chair next to him with a flourish and gestured invitingly.
"Thank you."
Alya spoke softly in gratitude.
Yukima Azuma waved dismissively and slumped back into his seat.
Resting his face on the desk again, he felt the heat causing the hair on his forehead to stick to his skin uncomfortably.
He brushed his bangs back, pushing his hair away.
At that exact moment, Alya's gaze turned toward him.
In the soft morning light, his casual gesture of sweeping his hair back revealed his clean-cut, handsome face, illuminated with an almost ethereal glow.
Though his expression was somewhat lazy, that very laziness gave him an irresistible charm.
The simple act of brushing his hair back was enough to accentuate his good looks.
"...(So handsome)."
Hearing the faint murmur, Yukima Azuma turned to look at Alisa.
Alya remained composed, meeting Yukima's gaze directly.
Her calm demeanor made Yukima wonder if he'd imagined hearing it.
"Excuse me, Kujou-san, what did you just say?"
"I was just saying thank you," Alya replied calmly.
Yukima Azuma's mind was filled with a big question mark.
That clearly wasn't a simple thank-youit was a compliment about how handsome I am, wasn't it?
What's going on here?
Since most ordinary Japanese students don't understand Russian, does she think it's fine to just openly say whatever's on her mind in Russian?
Isn't this a bit too bold?
Yukima Azuma couldn't shake a slight sense of unease.
A teenage girl with such peculiar tendencies
Most of the time, people like that are under a lot of psychological pressure and prone to overthinking.
Kirisu-sensei, you're throwing a ticking time bomb at me!
But maybe it's best to just act like I don't understand.
Yukima Azuma nodded and responded with a gentle smile.
"You're really handsome. (in Russian)"
Alya once again, without a hint of emotion, stated her honest thoughts.
Yukima Azuma turned his head away, avoiding her gaze.
Beside him, Eriri finally stopped laughing.
Even someone as oblivious as her could now sense the gravity of the situation.
A transfer student had just arrived
Not just any transfer student but a beauty far beyond the usual school standards.
And she was seated right next to Yukima Azuma.
On top of that, the two were chatting quite naturally.
This!
A metaphorical exclamation mark popped up over Eriri's head.
Wasn't this the classic setup of a "girl who fell from the sky"?
And as for her, the childhood friend, wasn't she shaping up to be the typical loser character in a high school romance-comedy novel!?
What's more, Eriri realized a major problem.
Her defining traitbeing a "half-blood"was now completely overshadowed.
This girl who fell from the sky had the same trait!
This is bad! My position is about to disappear entirely!
Eriri finally began to panic.
...
As soon as the bell signaling the end of class rang, things unfolded exactly as expected.
A large group of classmates gathered around Alya's desk, crowding an entire corner of the room.
Naturally, most of those who approached were female students.
High school boys in their prime youth, faced with an overwhelmingly beautiful girl, often felt too shy to start a conversation directly. Instead, they chose the indirect route.
Eriri sat off to the side, watching the scene unfold with mixed emotions.
Fortunately, Yukima Azuma remained seated in place, which offered some comfort to the twin-tailed blonde.
At that moment, two boys approached.
Kunimi Yuuma and Satou Kazumatwo of Yukima Azuma's friends at school.
The first, Kunimi Yuuma, was a key member of the basketball team, with a decent appearance, scoring around 6 or 7 points out of 10, and a healthy build that made him quite popular.
The second, Satou Kazuma, was an otaku, but his personality was not as unpleasant as Aki Tomoya's.
"Hey Yukima, after gym class, want to play some basketball?" Kunimi Yuuma asked, inviting him.
Yukima Azuma nodded in agreement.
He liked participating in sports activities like basketball, as it helped with his physical fitness.
"You two really are a bunch of uncivilized brutes," Satou Kazuma remarked sarcastically.
He had tried playing basketball with the two of them before, but the skill gap between them was just too big, like an insurmountable wall.
So, Satou Kazuma had given up, choosing to live with the bitter reality of his own limits.
"Kazuma, here's some advice. If you ever get isekai'd into another world..." Yukima Azuma patted Satou Kazuma on the back, offering serious advice. "When you pick your cheat, don't think too hard. Choose something with average abilities, okay?"
Satou Kazuma blinked in surprise.
"Why are you suddenly talking about being transported to another world?"
"Because Kazuma, you're weak. Who knows, you might get... run over by a tractor and die one day."
"What the heck are you talking about! Who the hell dies from a tractor accident?"
The three of them laughed together as they walked toward the gymnasium.
On the other side, Eriri was grinding her teeth in frustration.
Good news: Yukima Azuma hadn't approached the "transfer student who fell from the sky."
Bad news: Yukima Azuma didn't bother to talk to her either.
"Sawamura-san, let's go change," Kita Ikuyo said, coming over to invite Eriri.
"U-umu, let's go!" Eriri responded, trying to hide her unease.
Noticing her, Kita Ikuyo immediately added, "Sawamura-san, take it easy. Don't push yourself too hard during gym class like last time."
Eriri immediately remembered the mishap from the fitness test at the start of the semester. She had gotten into a bit of trouble during that time.
At that moment, her jealousy and frustration vanished.
Right, that fool is the type of tsundere. He's probably just shy, so he didn't talk to me.
Maybe when we get to the stadium, he'll be like last time and silently look out for me from afar!
Thinking about this, Eriri broke into a bright smile.
...
After gym class ended, Eriri rushed to the area beneath the stadium, to the vending machine.
She bought a cold bottle of green tea.
Then, she began looking around for Yukima Azuma.
After searching for a while, she finally spotted Yukima Azuma walking from the stadium to the lecture hall, chatting happily with his two friends.
Eriri immediately ran over.
"Azuma, I bought an extra bottle of water, here, for you."
She extended the bottle of green tea towards him.
Yukima Azuma, hearing her, paused his conversation and turned to look at Eriri.
He casually took the bottle, opened it, and took a sip.
"Thanks."
After saying that, Yukima Azuma waved and continued walking with his two friends.
Eriri immediately pouted in frustration.
What is this!?
I went out of my way to buy a drink, and this is the kind of attitude I get!?
Not even a single extra word to me!
With her head down, Eriri felt utterly downhearted.
Just as she was puffing her cheeks, about to sit down and indulge in self-pity for a bit, something cold unexpectedly brushed against her cheek.
"Aaa!" Eriri yelped in surprise, looking up.
In front of her was a can of lemon tea.
"I almost forgot. This one's for you, Eriri. I specifically got it for you," Yukima Azuma said, smiling gently as he handed her the can.
Eriri immediately snatched the can of lemon tea from him, glaring at Yukima Azuma.
Her small fangs peeked out, making her look quite fierce.
However, since it was her favorite kind of lemon tea, Eriri decided to forgive him this time.
Eriri's favorite is lemon tea.
This hasn't changed from when she was a child until now.
So, when she saw the lemon tea, Eriri felt that Yukima Azuma was truly paying attention to her.
Holding the can of lemon tea in her hand.
The cold sensation spread throughout her body from the palms of her hands.
The heat of summer seemed to be completely dispelled.
Yukima Azuma gently patted Eriri's small head, then turned and ran to catch up with her two friends.
The topic they were just talking about, Yukima Azuma seemed to care a little.
"You, disgusting riajuu!"
Satou Kazuma criticized.
"Haha, Yukima, you're really talented."
Kunimi Yuuma teased.
Yukima Azuma waved her hand.
"Where were we with the topic just now?"
"Oh, oh, it's about my friend in the basketball club, he said he witnessed someone spit fire from the palm of their hand!"
"That's ridiculous, superpowers? Nobody uses that in shounen manga anymore!"
"Yeah, my friend said it very confidently, even pounded his chest, saying he saw it with his own eyes and heard it with his own ears."
Kunimi Yuuma made a chest-pounding gesture.
Satou Kazuma looked at him with the expression "you believe everything your friend says?"
"If superpowers really exist in this world, then please reincarnate me into another world."
"I don't want to be a 'bystander' in a shounen manga, those supporting characters in shounen manga never end up well!"
The conversation circled back to the topic of another world from earlier this morning.
Yukima Azuma thought a little.
Superpowers really?
If it were last year, hearing this topic, he would have just laughed it off.
But the problem is.
He really met someone with supernatural powers, someone with an eye of Yin and Yang.
....
That day, after school.
Yukima Azuma walked out of the school gate and saw a red-and-white Porsche sports car parked in front of Toyogasaki.
Seeing this luxurious car.
Yukima Azuma had a bad premonition.
So, he immediately turned around, preparing to take a detour and leave by the sidewalk on the other side of the street.
As a result, just as he turned around.
A fragrant breeze hit him from behind.
"Azuma-kun, long time no see!"
The sensation of "a mountain" pressing down on Yukima Azuma's back was quite striking.
The alluring scent completely enveloped Yukima Azuma.
Two slender, white hands stretched out from the side of the neck, intertwining before Yukima Azuma's chest.
Her hair lightly touched the back of his neck, the itching sensation spreading to his back.
Yukima Azuma was hugged from behind, with no choice but to stop.
"Let me go."
"Ehh!? So cold! It's been a long time since we met, is it because I did something wrong that made Azuma-kun angry?"
Despite saying this, the person let go of Yukima Azuma's neck.
Then moved to stand facing Yukima Azuma.
This is a beauty almost beyond reproach.
Short black hair, smooth white skin, with eyebrows and facial features that are extremely delicate.
Her appearance resembles Yukinoshita Yukino, but she exudes a more mature aura.
She wears a tight-fitting T-shirt and denim shorts.
Her long, smooth legs are exposed to the air, so long that it's almost unbelievable.
Her body, with distinct curves, can't even fully describe her beauty.
Her figure is like a sharp scythe that takes away life, like a sweet poison that one cannot resist.
Yukinoshita Haruno.
Yukinoshita Yukino's older sister.
Yukima Azuma's "ex-girlfriend" for just one night.
Yukinoshita Haruno stood in front of Yukima Azuma, smiling mischievously.
"Azuma-kun, it's been a while, do you miss me?"
"Surely you have a lot to say to me, how about we get in the car and talk for a bit?"
"My car, the windows are one-way, you can't see inside from outside."
As she spoke, Haruno's fingers lightly brushed her lips. A suggestive hint.
However, Yukima Azuma just gave a cold smile.
The sneer, with no hint of amusement, was enough to show his attitude.
He truly had nothing to say to this woman.
Seeing that Yukima Azuma remained unmoved.
Yukinoshita Haruno immediately became serious.
She clasped her hands together.
"I know I made a huge mistake, and it's normal for you not to want to talk to me."
"But I came here because of Yukino... at least my sister is innocent."
"Please listen to me about Yukino. After that, you can punish me however you want."
Looking at Haruno's serious expression.
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow.
After a moment of hesitation, he sighed.
She had said it like this, so Yukima Azuma didn't want to say anything more, he could only listen to her.
"Where's your car?"
"Right here!"
The red-and-white Porsche sports car was indeed Yukinoshita Haruno's vehicle.
Yukima Azuma sat in the passenger seat.
Just as he closed the car door.
He heard the "click."
The car door was locked.
Yukima Azuma turned to look at the driver's seat, where Yukinoshita Haruno was sitting.
She had returned to her mischievous smile.
"Azuma-kun, why are you still so easy to fool!"
To be honest.
Yukima Azuma really wanted to punch Haruno in the face.
If he gave her a punch, she would definitely cry for a long time!
Seeing Yukima Azuma slowly raise his fist.
Yukinoshita Haruno realized that if she teased him any further, she would get into trouble.
She quickly changed the subject.
"Actually, I'm really here to talk to you about Yukino."
"When I was looking up information, I was shocked! The documents had your name in it."
"I thought it was just a coincidence, but when I checked carefully, I realized it was really you."
"I never expected, the little guy who once shared a bed with me, has developed this much."
After Haruno finished speaking, a look of nostalgia appeared on her face.
Yukima Azuma curled his lips slightly.
Her words brought back memories for him.
However, those were certainly not pleasant memories.
It was the second year after Yukima's family gone, when Yukima Azuma returned to Tokyo from Chiba.
It was also when he regained the memories of his past life and received the system.
At that time, Yukima Azuma didn't have much money.
Although he had a support tool at hand.
And many ways to make money in mind.
But the skills required time to develop.
So, during that difficult period.
Yukima Azuma could only take a part-time job.
Of course, even though it was a part-time job.
With Yukima Azuma's ability and appearance, he didn't need to work like an ordinary student doing odd jobs.
Yukima Azuma only had to dress neatly and work at a high-end place.
With his looks and proficiency in multiple languages, Yukima Azuma easily passed the interview.
He could earn a large salary, and at the same time.
In such places, customers only needed to give a small tip, which was also a considerable income.
In that context, Yukima Azuma met Yukinoshita Haruno for the second time.
Previously, when he met Haruno at the Yukinoshita house, Yukima Azuma hadn't paid much attention to her.
He thought there would be no relationship in the future.
But then, at a dinner party.
This woman, like a butterfly, fluttered through the human world.
With just a smile and clinking glasses, she managed to build a significant social network.
Yukima Azuma remembered that this woman, Haruno, seemed to have a motto she had created for herself:
"Stand like a peony, sit like a peony, and act like a lily."
As a result, such a peony got involved in this situation during that dinner party.
There was definitely something in her drink.
Before the party had ended, Yukinoshita Haruno tried to stand up, pretending to be fine, and rushed to the bathroom.
Then, she climbed out the bathroom window.
The banquet room was on the second floor.
If Yukima Azuma hadn't just finished work and passed by, Haruno might have fallen and broken her leg.
After helping her, Yukima Azuma realized the situation wasn't right.
He intended to call an ambulance and take her to the hospital.
But at that moment, Yukinoshita Haruno, who had lost consciousness, reached out and snatched his phone.
She turned it off.
Then, her tearful eyes looked at Yukima Azuma.
"Going to the hospital now might cause a scandal, and my life will be ruined forever."
"Please, take me to the hotel, I have medicine in my room to deal with this situation."
Yukima Azuma could not refuse the plea.
Haruno's eyes at that moment had a power that made people lose their minds.
He hailed a taxi.
Yukima Azuma took her to the hotel based on the address on Haruno's room key.
He helped Yukinoshita Haruno stagger into the hotel room.
Yukima Azuma looked around, wanting to find the medicine she had mentioned.
But the hotel room showed no signs of being used at all.
There was no luggage or personal items.
Yukima Azuma turned back and asked, "Excuse me, where's the medicine you mentioned?"
As soon as he turned back, Haruno threw herself onto him.
They both fell onto the white bed.
"Medicine? Aren't you my medicine?"
Yukima Azuma remembered that Haruno had said that.
Then, Haruno really "consumed" Yukima Azuma.
It was likely because Haruno had reached the age of sexual desire, or maybe it was due to the effects of the drug.
She completely "consumed" him.
As a result, Yukima Azuma had to wait until noon the next day to wake up.
When he came to, Yukima Azuma saw:
Fresh clothes hanging at the head of the bed.
On the sheets, there was a bright red stain.
On the bedside table, there was a pile of Japanese yen.
Looking at these things, Yukima Azuma fell into thought.
After a while, he realized something.
It seemed he had been "misunderstood"?
He quickly jumped out of bed, put on his clothes, and called the hotel staff.
The staff said that Haruno had left early in the morning.
She had also extended the room for three more days.
Yukima Azuma asked the front desk for Haruno's contact information.
The front desk replied that it was the guest's personal information.
This answer could not fool Yukima Azuma.
He immediately declared that Haruno had stolen from him and demanded an investigation.
At the same time, he slipped some money into a hidden corner of the camera.
Thanks to the reasonable change in reasoning and the power of money,
Yukima Azuma finally obtained the real information.
That morning,
When Haruno left the hotel,
She had used her status to erase her information from the hotel system.
When he found this out, Yukima Azuma was furious.
How could he contact her?
Aside from going to Haruno's house to "block her way,"
Yukima Azuma decided to give up.
The money on the bedside table, Yukima Azuma put into an envelope.
This envelope, along with a white bed sheet, was placed into a handbag.
He threw it into the bottom drawer of the wardrobe in the bedroom.
The purpose was to remind him of the humiliation and to push himself to strive harder.
As a result, a few hundred days later, a woman suddenly appeared.
And she stood blocking the school gate.
She started with the words "Long time no see."
If Yukima Azuma could show a friendly attitude, that would be strange.
He had never tried punching another woman, and didn't know if he could do it.
But if it were a punch to Yukinoshita Haruno's face, Yukima Azuma was sure he would feel no guilt at all.
That bitch, a punch to her face would surely make her cry for a long time.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Chapter 89: Yukino, I Can't Be Without You
Yukinoshita Haruno.
The eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family.
The Yukinoshita family has only two daughters, and she is the elder.
As the older sister and the one better adapted to society,
Yukinoshita Haruno is almost a symbol of the Yukinoshita family.
However, this prestigious lady who shines brightly on the outside
is internally scarred and already in tatters.
Yukinoshita Haruno understands her mother very well.
Her mother, who is wholeheartedly devoted to inheriting and expanding the Yukinoshita family, possesses strong ambitions and abilities.
From a young age, Yukinoshita Haruno understood her own mission.
For the advancement of the Yukinoshita family,
Yukinoshita Haruno honed her social skills to their peak.
Every day, she wore a mask.
Speaking human words to humans, demon words to demons.
She was also prepared to sacrifice some personal freedoms for the sake of the family.
However, that resolve was shattered into pieces by two events.
The first.
At an evening party, Yukinoshita Haruno was drugged by her fianc,
who intended to commit an indecent act against her.
Even though only two years remained until their engagement term,
he could not wait even for that short time.
He didn't even bother with sweet courtship,
opting instead for the most despicable method.
That day, although Yukinoshita Haruno escaped,
she still lost her first time.
If there was any consolation,
perhaps the fact that her first was with a younger, handsome boy made her feel a little less heartbroken.
The young man working as a server at the venue was quite Haruno's type.
This one thing could barely count as some small psychological comfort.
The second.
Yukino left the Yukinoshita family.
As someone who dearly loved her younger sister, Haruno's feelings toward Yukino were deeply complex.
She didn't want Yukino to be hurt,
but she also hoped Yukino could grow quickly,
mature enough to no longer rely on her.
During their youth,
Haruno always played the role of the "perfect" yet terrible older sister.
She acted as both an opponent and a target for Yukino to strive toward, guiding her forward.
But due to the turmoil within the Yukinoshita family,
Yukino also had to bear the burden of an arranged marriage.
Haruno didn't want to see that happen, but she was powerless to resist.
The Yukinoshita family was under the complete control of Mrs. Yukinoshita.
The two daughters born into this family were like two golden canaries trapped in a gilded cage.
Haruno tried to play the role of an exceptional canary.
One that could occasionally step out of its cage, earning applause and admiration for its master.
But in the end, it was still tethered by a thin string around its leg.
As for Yukino
The other canary, locked tightly in the cage since birth,
suddenly, upon graduating from university, broke free from its chains and flew toward the sky.
As if, under the vast blue sky,
even if its feathers were singed by the sun,
even if its wings were broken by fierce winds,
even if it crashed into lush branches, bloodied and battered,
Yukino would not care.
Haruno was simultaneously astonished by her younger sister's strength and heartbroken by her fragility.
Yukino was strong enough to break free from the mental chains and soar straight into the sky.
But Yukino was also weak, unable to fully spread her wings under the blue heavens.
Haruno was sent by Mrs. Yukinoshita to Tokyo, tasked with forcing Yukino to return home.
Thus, Haruno sought out the Fujikawa publishing house.
She visited the companies behind the recruitment websites.
She approached every company Yukino had worked for,
forcing them to dismiss Yukinoshita Yukino.
When doing these things, Haruno sighed briefly.
But it didn't change anything.
Because even if Haruno didn't do it...
Mrs. Yukinoshita would come to Tokyo and do the same.
And once Mrs. Yukinoshita got involved, her actions would bring Yukino far more suffering than Haruno's ever could.
Therefore, Haruno believed it was better for Yukino to obediently accept it, suffer less, and return home.
Yet Yukino faced every hardship so resolutely.
She endured and soared for an entire year under Tokyo's vast blue sky.
Once more, Haruno traveled from Chiba to Tokyo, this time bearing an ultimatum.
This time, she had to bring Yukino home.
If not, Mrs. Yukinoshita would come personally.
But this time, when Haruno investigated her sister's circumstances,
she discovered that Yukino was working for a company called Laplace Corporation.
And the person controlling that company?
The records clearly listed the name Yukima Azuma.
Of course, Yukinoshita Haruno knew this name.
That day, when she tried to escape the hotel with her "battered body,"
she had gone to great lengths to investigate the young man who had been involved.
In the end, she discovered she had even met that boy before.
She had once marveled at his decisiveness.
That day, the two had crossed paths on the narrow road near the Yukinoshita household.
Who would have thought there was such a connection between them?
At that moment, Haruno truly wanted to find someone to cry her heart out to.
And now, that boy had spread his wings to protect her younger sister.
With a complicated mix of anxiety, emotion, fear, and sorrow,
Haruno drove to the school gates where that boy was currently studying.
Under the gentle light of the afternoon sun,
the young man stepped out of the school gates, dressed neatly in his uniform, his hair tidy, and his demeanor calm.
It was as though some significant transformation had occurred within him.
Yet, at the same time, it felt as if nothing had changed.
Yukinoshita Haruno stepped forward.
Initially, she had intended to simply greet him, then discuss Yukino's situation.
But in the end, she couldn't stop herself from extending her arms and hugging him tightly.
Now, the two of them sat inside the car.
"Sigh, you know the Yukinoshita family's situation isn't great right now, and Yukino still has an engagement looming over her."
"Allowing her a year of freedom outside was already the limit. Now it's time for her to come home."
"So, Azuma-kun, hand Yukino over. Or if you can't bear to, I'll talk to her myself."
As Yukinoshita Haruno spoke, her fingers played with the keychain dangling from the car keys.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma treated her words as if they were nothing more than a passing breeze.
"Yukinoshita Haruno, this matter has nothing to do with our relationship, and I have no interest in opposing you."
"But Yukinoshita YukinoI must have her. No one else, only her."
Yukima Azuma articulated each word clearly.
It had to be Yukinoshita Yukino. No one else.
Laplace Corporation required someone as upright and principled as Yukinoshita Yukino, immune to any form of temptation, to provide support.
Yukinoshita Haruno could feel the unwavering determination in Yukima Azuma's words.
She couldn't help but stare at him in confusion.
She couldn't understand why it had to be Yukino.
"You've grown so much, so don't say such childish things. There's no one in this world who is irreplaceable"
Before Haruno could finish her advice, Yukima Azuma interrupted her.
"Then there's nothing more for us to discuss."
"No one else, only Yukino. That might sound childish to you, but to me, it's an unchangeable truth."
"Next, I'm guessing you'll say that if I don't change my mind, your mother will come here next, right?"
"That's fine. Even if it's Mrs. Yukinoshitaor even Shinomiya Gan'an standing before me"
"My answer will remain the same, and it will always be the same."
"If you want Yukino, try taking her from me."
"Yukino belongs to me. Only me."
After finishing his words, Yukima Azuma stepped over Haruno's long legs without hesitation.
He reached for the driver's side door lock, opened the door, and exited the car.
Throughout the entire process, Yukima Azuma didn't spare so much as a glance at those alluring long legs.
Watching Yukima Azuma's departing figure, Yukinoshita Haruno clasped her hands tightly together, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.
A faint trace of Yukima Azuma's scent still lingered on her collar.
She silently buried her head into her clothing, arriving at a conclusion.
Her younger sister, Yukinoshita Yukino, must have drawn the strength and determination to break free from the Yukinoshita family because of this young man's inspiration.
Because, in this very moment, Haruno herself wanted nothing more than to escape her gilded cage and stay by his side.
After taking a few heavy breaths, Haruno raised her head.
And then, through the rearview mirror, she saw her younger sister embracing the young man.
A surge of unprecedented jealousy welled up from Haruno's fractured heart.
For the first time in her life, Haruno felt envious of her own younger sister.
.....
After getting out of the car, Yukima Azuma saw a girl with long, straight black hair running toward him in a hurry.
The first button of her white shirt was undone, and the sleeves were rolled up in a messy fashion.
Although she was still wearing high heels, she was running frantically, not paying any attention to the risk of twisting her ankle.
This was the first time Yukima Azuma had seen Yukinoshita Yukino lose her composure like this.
Even when he had made her cry last time, she had still maintained her grace and dignity despite her tears.
Upon seeing Yukima Azuma step out of the car, Yukino rushed toward him.
"She she said something to you? I can explain, I"
Her breath was frantic, her words disjointed, and she was speaking so fast that it was difficult for her to make herself clear.
Yukima Azuma gently placed his hand on Yukinoshita Yukino's head, then his fingers slid down, straightening her misaligned collar.
Next, he carefully pulled down her sleeve, which was still rolled up, smoothing out the wrinkles.
These actions caused Yukino to choke on her words, unable to continue speaking.
After making the adjustments, Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
"Yukino, panicking like this isn't dignified at all. You're the branch manager of Laplace Corporation."
"Whatever others say to me doesn't matter, Yukino doesn't need to explain anything to me."
"Since you became the branch manager of Laplace Corporation, there's no turning back for you."
"If anyone tries to use threats or temptations to take you away, I'll be even more decisive than they are and offer better benefits."
"Even if you want to run away, I won't allow it. No matter where you go, I'll bring you back."
"Yukino, remember this. Laplace Corporation can't be without you. I can't be without you."
Yukinoshita Yukino opened her eyes wide, speechless in shock.
Since learning that her sister had come to Tokyo, she had rushed here immediately.
On the way from Toyogasaki Academy, due to traffic, she had left her car by the side of the road and ran here.
As she ran, her mind was flooded with possible scenarios.
Her sister might reveal her true identity to Yukima Azuma, using the Yukinoshita name to pressure him into letting her go.
Or her sister could offer a high price for him to take the money and fire her.
The young man, like a Laplace demon, might not care about money.
He might also not fear the threats from the Yukinoshita family.
But he had no reason to defy the pressure from her family just for her.
In this encounter, the young man might wear a cold expression and tell her to go away.
Or he might show a troubled expression and tell her not to blame him.
But Yukinoshita Yukino had never considered the possibility:
That this young man, Yukima Azuma, would calmly step in front of her, fix her crooked collar, and then, with a determined look in his eyes, say to her:
"Yukino, I can't be without you."
Those words exceeded the most beautiful dreams Yukino had had in over twenty years.
Because even in her dreams, there had to be some basic logic.
But why would he say something like that?
Yet reality was even more absurd than her dreams.
This young man truly said those words.
Yukima Azuma stood before her, his eyes unwavering and resolute.
"Yukino, I can't be without you."
Yukinoshita Yukino felt like she was about to lose herself in his gaze.
Sitting in the car of Yukinoshita Yukino, Yukima Azuma stretched his hand comfortably, leaning back in the seat, looking completely relaxed.
As expected, lying here is the most comfortable.
However, in the driver's seat, Yukinoshita Yukino did not have the same calm demeanor.
At this moment, her cheeks were still flushed.
Earlier, on the street...
After hearing Yukima Azuma's words, she couldn't control her emotions and rushed to hug him.
Although school had ended a while ago, there were still some students from Toyogasaki Academy passing by on the street, glancing over at them.
Moreover, Yukino's older sister, Yukinoshita Haruno's car, was still parked nearby.
Clearly, it was Yukino herself who had initiated the hug, but in the end, she was blushing so hard that she didn't know where to hide her face.
"Let's go home."
Yukima Azuma tilted his head and looked at Yukino, suggesting.
Yukino didn't turn to look at him.
By now, her mood still hadn't settled.
If she looked into the deep eyes of this young man now, she didn't know what she might do.
After all, she was at that age already.
"I still have to go back to the company; the work is not finished yet."
Yukino's voice was somewhat embarrassed.
"Huh? You clearly finished at five o'clock though?"
"It's because Yukima... because Azuma doesn't care about the development of the company! Right now, we're just starting, I need to make use of the time."
"It's just today, there won't be any problem!"
"But..."
"Yukino, how long has it been since you went home for a meal?"
The mention of home broke down Yukinoshita Yukino's last defense.
In the past, she had felt that the atmosphere at Yukima's house was truly too captivating.
That's why Yukino was always so busy and never went home.
In reality, she was afraid that if she became too immersed in that atmosphere, one day, when those moments disappeared, she wouldn't be able to bear it.
If she got used to life at Yukima's home, then was pulled back into the birdcage called Yukinoshita, she would definitely collapse.
But now... Yukinoshita Yukino realized that her resistance was actually no different from being useless.
The car started, heading towards Yukima's house.
"Yukino, do you want anything to eat?"
"I don't have any particular preferences."
Yukino was the type of person who liked to cook.
Most people who enjoy cooking are not picky, but they usually have a few dishes they like.
But Yukino was the type of person who liked anything as long as it was delicious.
...
Opening the front door, Shiratamaru was sitting obediently on the doorstep.
If Shiratamaru could bark, it would definitely be a very good "house guard."
After changing into indoor slippers, Yukino bent down, reaching her hand out to Shiratamaru.
Shiratamaru looked at Yukino.
This mistress, who leaves early and comes home late every day, rarely gets to pet it.
Carefully, it lifted one paw to test.
Confirming there was no danger, Shiratamaru immediately jumped into Yukino's hands.
Yukino's heart melted at the cuteness of Shiratamaru.
She was, after all, someone who was extremely fond of cats.
God knows how much willpower she had exerted over the past period to resist rushing to hug Shiratamaru.
At this moment, as she picked Shiratamaru up, Yukino inhaled deeply, as if she wanted to swallow the cat whole.
Yukima Azuma stood beside her, watching the scene with a faint smile on his lips.
He remembered when Shiratamaru first came home...
Back then, it was as small as the palm of a hand, and one could easily pick the cat up with a single hand.
Now... Now, when lifting it up, its body had grown long like a "cat string," now as long as a human arm.
Because Shiratamaru was so smart, not even the cage or the room's door could contain it.
Every day, it ran around the upper and lower floors.
When hungry, it would bring its bowl out and knock it on the floor.
Other than its own cat nest, it could sleep anywhere in the house.
The dominant lifestyle could be summed up in one word: "reckless."
When it first arrived...
Shiratamaru: "This is your house?"
And now...
Shiratamaru: "This is "YOUR" house?"
Fortunately, Shiratamaru didn't cause much trouble and was very friendly with everyone.
So, Yukima Azuma let it do whatever it wanted.
....
Tonight, they had Coca chicken wings for dinner.
After the meal, Yukino hugged Shiratamaru and ran straight to her room.
Having not been able to "inhale cat energy" for a few days, Yukino decided she would make up for it double in the coming days. (note: I also want to be a cat)
Yukima Azuma could only smile wryly.
Tonight, it was Kirisu Mafuyu's turn to wash the dishes.
After finishing dinner, Kirisu-sensei grabbed a plate and walked to the sink.
Yukima Azuma lay on the couch, sticking his head out to look toward the kitchen.
He watched Kirisu-sensei, with her long pink hair tied in a low ponytail, working around the house.
Yukima Azuma thought that in the future, Kirisu-sensei would definitely be a great wife.
Crash!
The sound of something breaking was clearly heard.
Time seemed to stop.
Kirisu Mafuyu froze, slowly turning her head to make eye contact with Yukima Azuma.
Then, Kirisu bent down to pick up the broken pieces of the plate.
"Kirisu-sensei! Let me do it!"
Yukima Azuma immediately reacted, flipping off the couch and quickly walking toward her, pulling her hand away.
Kirisu Mafuyu looked like she wanted to cover her face.
Clearly an adult.
Yet her domestic skills were truly a disaster.
She had no idea how many plates she had broken at this point.
Yukima Azuma led her to sit down on the couch.
Then, he grabbed a broom from the other side and began carefully sweeping up the mess.
The broken porcelain pieces were very dangerous.
"Kirisu-sensei, don't worry, everyone has something they're not good at."
Kirisu Mafuyu really wanted to cover her face now.
Not only was she "useless" when it came to housework, but now her student was the one comforting her.
The feeling of embarrassment overwhelmed her heart.
"Sensei, just go to your room, leave the rest to me."
Yukima Azuma's words were like a pardon that saved Kirisu Mafuyu.
The teacher, Kirisu Mafuyu, hurriedly went up the stairs, as if fleeing.
In fact, Kirisu Mafuyu really wanted to apologize and thank Yukima Azuma for his kindness.
She genuinely felt comforted.
But as a teacher, it was just too embarrassing.
"Next month's rent... I'll have to pay double."
As she reached the second floor, Kirisu Mafuyu whispered to herself.
But before she could reach her room,
A door suddenly opened from the side.
Kirisu Mafuyu was immediately pulled into the room.
"Yukino!? What's going on?"
Pulled into the room, Kirisu Mafuyu was startled and confused.
Looking back, she saw her student, staring at her seriously.
That gaze made Kirisu Mafuyu feel quite awkward.
"Mafuyu-sensei, I... have someone I like."
Yukino spoke in a very serious tone, gently twisting the hem of her white shirt.
Kirisu Mafuyu took a moment to understand the meaning behind Yukino's words.
Her eyes widened.
Yukino, her student!
It turned out there was someone she liked!
Kirisu Mafuyu couldn't help but be surprised.
Because, back when Yukino was a student, her gaze toward other classmates always had a strange look, as if she were looking at an insect.
Knowing Yukino, Kirisu Mafuyu couldn't imagine it.
Who could this person be to make Yukinoshita Yukino open her heart and say something like, "I have someone I like"?
After collecting herself, Kirisu Mafuyu smiled.
"This is good news! Who is it? Is it a colleague from your company?"
It was naturally a good thing that Yukino had finally figured out her feelings.
She couldn't let her student live alone forever.
At this moment, Yukino nodded slightly.
Her fingers twisted the hem of her white shirt more and more into a ball.
"It's... A... Azuma-kun."
Yukino confessed her feelings.
A topic like this, usually, girls would share with their close friends and discuss when they were still in school...
But, during her student years, Yukinoshita Yukino...
Not to mention love.
She didn't even have a same-gender friend.
She had no experience in this matter at all.
So, even though she had already entered society,
At this moment, Yukino was still like a little girl when it came to matters of the heart.
In Yukino's mind,
The only person she could share her feelings and discuss this with was her teacher, Kirisu Mafuyu, whom she had always respected.
And Yukima Azuma.
But, discussing how she liked Azuma with Azuma himself was out of the question.
So, Yukino could only turn to her former teacher.
"Mafuyu-sensei... I don't know what to do, I have absolutely no experience with this. Can you help me?"
It was normal for teachers to help students understand things they didn't know, wasn't it?
Umu... that must be normal.
Still, Kirisu Mafuyu was in shock.
When she heard that the person who made Yukino feel this way was Yukima Azuma,
The CPU in Kirisu Mafuyu's mind stopped working.
Huh?
The student she had once taught, liked her current student?
But wait, Yukino had already entered society, while Azuma was still in high school!
Wasn't the age difference too much?
No, wait. There's that saying, as long as there's love, no matter how big the age gap, it doesn't matter, right?
A! What is going on here?
In Kirisu Mafuyu's mind, everything was completely chaotic.
Even though she was a teacher,
She was still an older unmarried woman.
Not to mention a marriage partner, she had never even had a boyfriend.
Giving relationship advice to Yukino,
For her, this topic was really beyond her imagination.
"Uh... well... the two of you seem like a good match, so... there shouldn't be any issues, basically, you need to focus on improving communication first."
"Talk more, increase physical contact a bit, express your feelings to each other."
"And then, find an appropriate time to confess, like during a fireworks festival, when the fireworks go off, and you say something like, 'I like you.'"
"Or you could watch the moon together and say something like, 'The moon looks beautiful tonight,' something like that."
After the brain shock, Kirisu Mafuyu finally started to sort out her words.
In the end, from a few romance novels she had read,
She summarized some advice that seemed reasonable about love.
Romance novels.
This was the only romantic experience that Kirisu Mafuyu could count as part of her life.
After speaking, Kirisu Mafuyu nervously looked at Yukino.
Afraid Yukino would make a face and criticize that her advice was terrible.
It sounded like the words of an old girl who had never been in love.
Fortunately, Yukino didn't do that.
Instead, she nodded seriously.
"Umu umu, I see, Sasuga Mafuyu-sensei."
Kirisu Mafuyu felt terribly embarrassed.
No!
Don't praise me so seriously like that!
My conscience is about to break!
Kirisu Mafuyu once again felt so embarrassed she wanted to die.
As for Yukino,
She truly took those words to heart.
Having clarified her feelings,
Yukino wanted to take the appropriate actions.
Because she had confirmed that she was in love with Yukima Azuma,
She would now try to approach him and win his heart.
Though she had never tried dating and didn't know what it felt like to experience the things people often talked about during their school days,
Yukino was not the type to hesitate just because she hadn't experienced something before.
Even if she was starting a bit late,
Yukinoshita Yukino would now begin her journey into love!
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 91: Eriri: Azuma's Stepchild Shows Up at the Door!
Friday afternoon, during the last class before school ended.
"Next week marks the beginning of the semester exams. You should spend more time studying this weekend,"
"Save the fun for the summer vacation. It's not too late for that."
"If anyone fails to meet the requirements during the semester exams, they will have to stay back for remedial lessons until they pass the supplementary test!"
Kirisu Mafuyu knocked on the blackboard, speaking sternly.
Class 1-E was immediately filled with groans of despair.
The semester exams at Toyogasaki were always notoriously difficult.
Not only were they inter-school exams, but the test papers were also co-written with renowned private institutions like Shuchiin and Hyakkaou.
The difficulty level was imaginable.
Furthermore, the so-called "passing requirement"...
It wasn't the usual sixty points.
It was half a standard deviation above the school's average score.
Failing to reach this mark meant staying back for remedial classes.
If even during the summer break they couldn't pass the supplementary test...
They would have to repeat the year.
After all, this was a prestigious private school known for its academic excellence.
The soul seemed to leave Eriri's small cherry lips.
Even though she had been diligently focusing on her studies lately,
math and English remained a chaotic mess for her.
Eriri felt like the sky was collapsing on her head.
Summer vacation!
Her sweet summer vacation was slipping away!
Yukima Azuma looked at Eriri's dejected appearance and couldn't help but laugh while feeling a tinge of pity.
In any case, it seemed necessary to tutor her well this weekend.
Retracting his gaze, Azuma turned his attention to Alya.
The transfer student from Russia.
Yukima Azuma hadn't forgotten Kirisu Mafuyu's instruction to look after her a bit.
To be honest, Alya had been in Class 1-E for a few days now.
In terms of adapting to the class environment, she seemed fine.
But when it came to making friends...
Azuma thought this might be a lost cause.
This Alya girl had a rather aloof personality, seemingly the type who didn't enjoy forming close bonds.
Although she could engage in conversations with her classmates,
she didn't seem to have any particularly close relationships with anyone.
It was as if she deliberately maintained a certain distance.
It wasn't that she couldn't make friends,
but rather that it was Alya's choice.
Naturally, Azuma had no intention of interfering.
Ahem, a bit off-topic there.
"Kujou-san, you just transferred to Toyogasaki Academy, or rather... just arrived in Japan."
"In terms of your studies, are you having any difficulties? The exams are quite rigorous. If there's anything..."
"You can come to me this weekend. I'll help you catch up, as a last-minute preparation for the exams."
Upon hearing this, Alya smiled at Azuma.
She could tell that Azuma's concern was different from the flattery she usually received from others.
He genuinely wanted to help her.
Conversely, Azuma didn't seem particularly interested in her as a person.
It was the first time Alisa had encountered someone who wasn't intrigued by a beauty like her.
That made her find Azuma rather intriguing.
But about her studies...
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Yukima-san."
Alya replied.
Yukima Azuma nodded, not paying much attention.
"So gentle. (Russian)"
Once again, Alya spoke in Russian.
Yukima Azuma had a strong urge to throw out a teasing comment.
But he restrained himself.
"What did you just say, Kujou-san?"
"Just told you not to worry."
....
After class.
Eriri ran over and grabbed the corner of Yukima Azuma's shirt.
"Azuma! Save me!"
Yukima Azuma pinched Eriri's cheeks.
"If you study seriously this weekend, you should be fine. Don't worry."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Really really?"
"Really really."
"Zun dudu zun dudu really?"
Her rapid-fire questions became a jumble as Yukima Azuma continued pinching and teasing her cheeks.
"Sawamura-san and Azuma-san have such a good relationship," a soft voice sighed from a seat behind them.
The usual response would have been: "Well, we're childhood friends, after all."
But Yukima Azuma's response was different.
He reached out his other hand and pinched Kato Megumi's cheeks.
"Megumi and I are also really close, and tomorrow Megumi has to study seriously too. No escaping!"
With her cheeks pinched, Kato Megumi blinked her eyes, which resembled tuberose flowers.
She looked unbearably adorable.
.....
After school, back at home.
Yukima Azuma told Kasumigaoka that he'd be hosting a group study session tomorrow.
Kasumigaoka Utaha merely snorted lightly.
But she didn't seem to mind much.
Since the book-signing event, their relationship had progressed rapidly, growing more affectionate by the day.
It was as if the brief separation had made their reunion even sweeter. Now, they were more loving than ever before.
Such a "passionate love scene" couldn't be loser!
At that moment, while they were chatting, Kirisu Mafuyu returned home.
"Kirisu-sensei, we're hosting a group study session at home tomorrow. Would you like to join and help out?"
Yukima Azuma casually asked.
"I'm afraid I can't. I'll be at Shuchiin tomorrow, spending the weekend there preparing exam papers. Sorry for the trouble."
Kirisu Mafuyu shook her head.
Toyogasaki's semester exams were indeed incredibly rigorous.
Kirisu Mafuyu had been selected as one of the exam designers.
She needed to stay at Shuchiin's faculty dormitory over the weekend to work with other teachers on the preparations.
.....
The next day.
Early morning, Yukima Azuma returned home after his morning jog.
He found Eriri squatting at the door.
"Eriri, why aren't you going inside?"
Yukima Azuma asked curiously.
"I don't have the key!"
Eriri looked a bit sheepish.
Only then did Yukima Azuma remember.
He had forgotten to give Eriri a key to the apartment.
Come to think of it, Megumidespite not renting a place in Yukima's househad a key.
So why had he forgotten to give one to Eriri?
Yukima Azuma fell into thought.
Taking the key from his pocket, he unlocked the apartment door.
Eriri took a deep breath, savoring the cool air from the air conditioner inside.
"Finally alive again," Eriri sighed in relief.
Waiting outside this morning, she had nearly been roasted into a "gyaru"!
Yukima Azuma opened his room door and retrieved a folding fan from the wall.
A shogi player's home always had a few folding fans around.
He unfolded the fan and gently fanned Eriri.
Enjoying Yukima Azuma's service, Eriri felt a sweet warmth rise in her heart.
She suddenly remembered how often Yukima Azuma had taken care of her like this in the past.
I should do something to repay him.
I'm not the same Eriri as before!
With that thought, Eriri suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed Yukima Azuma on the cheek.
After all, she'd done the same at the cinema.
This time, it was just a kiss on the cheek.
Nothing to be embarrassed about... right?
Eriri's face turned red like a ripe apple.
Yukima Azuma touched his cheek where he had just been kissed, looking a little surprised.
It seemed Eriri had truly grown.
Flustered, Eriri quickly changed the subject.
"Wow, your place even has a shogi board!"
She picked up a small shogi board from the corner of the room.
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow.
Even if she'd matured, she was still a bit of an airhead.
Watching Eriri start fiddling with the shogi pieces, Yukima Azuma reminded her:
"Eriri, you came over today to catch up on your studies."
Eriri shook her head, her golden ponytail swaying.
"It's fine! It's still early! Besides, Kato-san hasn't even arrived yet!"
"Let's play a game! I'll have you know, I'm a shogi pro!"
Yukima Azuma clicked his tongue in helplessness.
At that moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha, woken by the noise, stepped out and chuckled.
"As expected of you, Sawamura-san."
"Kasumigaoka, what's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean, you're an idiot."
"You're looking for a fight, huh!"
It seemed the two were about to start their usual Tom and Jerry quarrel.
But this time, Kasumigaoka didn't argue with Eriri.
Instead, she nudged Yukima Azuma to the other side of the shogi board, her face brimming with anticipation for the show.
Sitting down, Yukima Azuma decided he might as well tease Eriri a bit.
After all, she was his ex-girlfriend.
And yet, she didn't know anything about him?
If she had bothered to ask why Yukima Azuma often skipped school, wouldn't she have discovered that he was a shogi player?
So, Yukima Azuma set up the board, but he removed four of his pieces: the Left Lance, the Bishop, the Rook, and the Right Knight.
Seeing Yukima Azuma handicap himself by four pieces, Eriri immediately angry, baring her small teeth:
"What is this! Azuma! Do you dare look down on me? Watch me crush you without a single piece left!"
After the bold declaration, Eriri began playing shogi.
The result...
Not even half a cup of tea had passed.
The pieces in front of Eriri were nearly all gone.
And this was because she was playing the game very slowly, prolonging the time.
Otherwise, perhaps by now, Eriri would have only had the King left.
"How could this happen!"
Eriri threw herself onto the tatami mat in the room, abandoning the game, her gaze blankly staring at the ceiling.
She looked like someone who had just been badly bullied.
Kasumigaoka beside her couldn't hold back her laughter any longer.
Yukima Azuma quietly began to clean up the pieces.
Everyone had seen it, Eriri was the one who had asked me to bully her like this!
I've never heard a request like that in my life!
At this moment, the doorbell from the entrance area rang.
Yukima Azuma set aside the cleaned-up pieces and stood up to walk toward the door.
Eriri and Kasumigaoka didn't pay much attention, thinking it was Kato Megumi.
But...
Yukima Azuma opened the door.
Standing in front of it was a silver-haired young girl and a cute little girl.
"Ginko, what are you two doing here?" Yukima Azuma was somewhat surprised, mixed with joy.
Sora Ginko put a hand on her hip, using a folding fan to point at Hinatsuru Ai beside her, helplessly saying:
"This little brat got a break and insisted I bring her here."
At that moment, Yukima Azuma suddenly remembered.
Elementary and middle school vacations often started earlier than high school.
So, Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai had already started their break now.
"Who's a little brat! I have a name, you know! It's Hinatsuru Ai, you old woman!"
Hinatsuru Ai puffed out her cheeks angrily in rebuttal.
Since Hinatsuru Ai had become Yukima Azuma's apprentice, Ginko and Ai had often bickered over their way of addressing each other.
In terms of rank, Sora Ginko, as Yukima Azuma's senpai, was indeed older than Hinatsuru Ai by one generation.
But calling Ginko "old woman" when she was only in middle school?
"Alright, alright, come in and talk," Yukima Azuma waved her hand.
"Shishou! I'm here to visit you!"
Hinatsuru Ai dashed in to hug Yukima Azuma, the Ahoge on her head wobbling up and down.
It was shaking so much it almost looked like an airplane propeller.
At this point, the two people in the room finally stuck their heads out.
Eriri had a giant exclamation mark above her head.
A woman!
Where did this strange woman come from!
And she directly came to Azuma house!
Seeing Hinatsuru Ai jump into Yukima Azuma's arms,
a bold guess suddenly popped into Eriri's mind.
Could it be a lover bringing their child along?!
If Yukima Azuma knew what Eriri was thinking,
he would surely scold her immediately.
"What the hell, a child of a lover?!"
Not to mention whether Yukima Azuma and Hinatsuru Ai looked alike,
there was also Sora Ginko standing next to her. with her age, How could she be the mother of someone else's child?
Don't think such absurd things!
"Wait! You guys, wait for me a moment!"
Eriri finally snapped back to her senses and quickly ran to the door.
She pulled Hinatsuru Ai out of Yukima Azuma's arms.
"Who are you people? And what is your relationship with Azuma!?"
Seeing Eriri standing protectively in front of her, Sora Ginko furrowed her brows. The folding fan in her hand lightly tapped her slender neck.
"That's something I should be asking. Who are you? And what is your relationship with Azuma?"
A cold aura unconsciously spread around.
Yukima Azuma noticed that the grayish-blue eyes of his senpai had now turned an icy blue.
"Huh? I'm Azuma's childhood friend!"
"Oh, really? I've never heard of you."
"That line sounds familiar... Wait! That's supposed to be my line!"
"Hmph, I'm his senpai. Ever since he learned how to read, we've been together."
Eriri was so shocked she couldn't find any words.
Could such a thing really be true!?
Doesn't that mean she had known him even earlier than Eriri herself?
No, waitwhat senpai!?
Eriri looked at Sora Ginko with suspicion in her eyes.
Sora Ginko didn't want to say more and used her folding fan to prod Yukima Azuma.
"This is Sora Ginko, my shogi senpai, in the truest sense, as we share the same mentor."
"This is Hinatsuru Ai, my disciple, who is currently studying shogi with me."
"And this is Eriri, my friend since elementary school. You could say she's my childhood friend."
Yukima Azuma introduced everyone to each other.
A giant question mark seemed to appear above Eriri's head.
Azuma studied shogi?
How did she not know anything about this?
Standing behind her, Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't hold back her laughter.
Eriri turned around, glaring angrily.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha, what are you laughing at? Don't tell me you knew about this!?"
Kasumigaoka shot her a disdainful glance.
"Of course I knew. I've been acquainted with Sora Ginko over there for a long time now."
"Moreover, the fact that Lonely-kun is a professional shogi player is something even Kato-san knows."
"And yet, someone who claims to be his childhood friend knows absolutely nothing about it."
"Listen closely: the person standing before you is none other than Japan's greatest shogi genius."
"The youngest 7-dan professional shogi player in history, a legend with only one loss in his career, a symbol of overcoming the strongestYukima Azuma, 7-dan."
Eriri was utterly stunned.
She thought back to everything that had happened.
No wonder Kasumigaoka had that smug expression, like she was watching a play, when Eriri played shogi against Yukima Azuma.
No wonder she had been completely crushed, even with a four-piece handicap.
At that moment, Eriri felt like a total fool.
"Uh hello, everyone."
The tension at the doorway was broken by a soft voice.
Sora Ginko was startled by the unexpected sound.
Like a startled kitten, she stepped back and hid behind Yukima Azuma, looking in the direction of the voice.
Hinatsuru Ai, meanwhile, was so frightened that the tuft of hair on her head stood upright.
Neither of them had realized when a petite, gentle-looking girl had quietly appeared behind them.
Seeing Kato Megumi arrive, Yukima Azuma introduced everyone once more.
Afterward.
The five girls sat around the table.
Eriri glanced at Sora Ginko with a "stay away, stranger" look.
She leaned over and quietly asked Kato Megumi beside her:
"Kato-san, did you know Azuma is a professional shogi player?"
Kato Megumi nodded.
"Of course. Every time Azuma-san participates in official tournaments, I'm the one taking care of Shiratamaru."
Under the table, Shiratamaru, hearing its name, trotted over to Kato Megumi and rubbed its head against her leg.
Eriri looked up at the ceiling.
She truly felt like an idiot.
Ah!
Oh, vast blue sky, why are you so unfair to Eriri!
Yukima Azuma popped his head out from the kitchen.
"Megumi, come help me prepare the ingredients. There's too much stuff."
Hearing this, Kato Megumi got up and walked into the kitchen.
Hinatsuru Ai immediately hopped off her chair and ran after her.
"Shishou, Ai will help too!"
The three remaining in the living room began to wonder if they should pick up some cooking skills themselves.
...
"Are these... century eggs?"
"Wow, this is my first time seeing them!"
Looking at the glossy black eggs on the cutting board, Kato Megumi blinked curiously.
This was something she had only ever seen on variety shows before.
She'd heard it was a culinary specialty from China.
But in Japan, nobody dared to eat it.
Even on variety shows, it only appeared as a "punishment."
Hinatsuru Ai wasn't much different.
Standing on a small stool, she stared intently at the century eggs on the cutting board, the ahoge on her head swaying gently.
"Yeah, I ordered them internationally. The shipping cost more than the eggs themselves," Yukima Azuma confirmed with a nod.
Kato Megumi reached out to touch a century egg lightly, then brought her fingertip to her nose to sniff.
Immediately, her small, delicate nose wrinkled.
Seeing Kato Megumi's adorable reaction, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Is this really edible? Azuma-san, are you messing with me?"
Kato Megumi's voice remained gentle, but her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's.
Clearly, she thought Yukima Azuma was playing a prank on her.
"I'm not joking, Megumi. This is just an ingredient for cooking. I don't usually eat them raw either."
"But once prepared into a dish, the flavor becomes much more pleasant."
Hearing Yukima Azuma's explanation, Kato Megumi nodded thoughtfully.
"Like sashimi, right?"
"Umu, something like that. Megumi is really sharp."
That morning's breakfast consisted of lean pork and century egg congee paired with soup dumplings.
While busy in the kitchen, Kato Megumi couldn't help but be amazed at Hinatsuru Ai's proficiency.
Initially, she had planned to keep an eye on the younger girl, worried that Hinatsuru Ai might hurt herself.
To her surprise, Hinatsuru Ai's cooking skills seemed even better than her own.
"Hinatsuru-chan, you're amazing!"
"Of course! Ai is the young lady of the Hinatsuru family, owners of a hot spring resort. I've been learning to cook since I was little."
"Hehe, shishou, don't you think I'm great too?"
"Umu umu, very impressive, very impressive."
When the pot of lean pork and century egg congee was finally ready and served into bowls,
Kato Megumi took her bowl, brought it up to her nose, and sniffed.
This time, there was only the sweet aroma of rice and the light freshness of pork.
The strong pungency from earlier had completely vanished into the congee, becoming a subtle enhancement to the dish's fragrance.
As the bowls and dishes were laid on the dining table, the three girls stared curiously at the dark, semi-translucent bits mixed into the congee.
"What is this?" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked, looking toward Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma smiled gently. "Try it first, and then I'll tell you."
So, one by one, they tasted it.
The first thing they noticed was the gentle fragrance of rice and a mild saltiness, without any unpleasant flavors.
The strange ingredient had a texture akin to a slightly salty jelly when eaten.
"This is delicious!" Eriri's eyes sparkled.
"Surprising. Very tasty," Kasumigaoka nodded in approval.
Sora Ginko simply bowed her head and focused on eating.
Being naturally shy, especially with Eriri and Kato Megumi present, Sora Ginko felt a bit out of her comfort zone.
Seeing everyone's reactions, Yukima Azuma chuckled softly and said:
"Actually, that's century egg."
Upon learning the truth, the three girls widened their eyes in shock.
"No way!"
Eriri had tried century egg before when her mother bought some out of curiosity.
It was a traumatic memory she'd vowed never to repeat.
Kasumigaoka and Sora Ginko had similar reactions.
Though they'd never tasted it, they were well aware of its infamous reputation from online shows.
"It's true," Yukima Azuma shrugged. "The bad reviews online are just because of poor preparation methods."
Breakfast continued in a lively and cheerful atmosphere.
Everyone seemed quite satisfied.
Well except for the part where Eriri burned her tongue.
Yukima Azuma had clearly warned everyone that the soup inside the dumplings was hot, so they should be careful when eating.
But Eriri, being the clumsy one, still managed to burn herself.
Now, this silly girl stood outside the kitchen, sticking out her small pink tongue.
Yukima Azuma retrieved some ice from the fridge to help cool her tongue.
Fortunately, he had prepared small ice cubes earlier for chilling drinks.
Come to think of it Eriri sticking out her tongue looked somewhat alluring.
Yukima Azuma couldn't help himself and lightly touched her soft, pink tongue with his finger.
Eriri immediately let out muffled sounds of discontent, "Umm! Umm!"
At that moment, the sound of knocking came from the front door.
Yukima Azuma and Eriri exchanged puzzled glances.
The girls in the living room also looked curious.
Who could it be this time?
Kirisu-sensei was at Shuchiin.
Yukino had already left for work early in the morning.
Logically, there shouldn't be anyone else visiting.
Yukima Azuma wiped his hands and headed toward the front door.
When the door opened, he saw a blonde girl with shark-like teeth standing outside.
At that moment, she was flashing a malicious smile at Yukima Azuma.
"Tch!"
A sound of annoyance clicked from the hallway, where Sora Ginko was standing.
"Sainokami Ika, why are you here?"
Hearing Sora Ginko's question, Sainokami Ika tilted her head.
Her golden eyes, adorned with a lightning-bolt pattern, stared intently at Sora Ginko.
"Of course, I'm here to play shogi with Azuma. As for someone untalented like you, just shut up."
Sora Ginko's face instantly darkened.
In terms of reading ahead in a shogi game, she was indeed slightly inferior to Sainokami Ika.
She had once been mocked by this person at the game table.
However, this time, before Sora Ginko could retort, Yukima Azuma reached out and gave Sainokami Ika's head a light flick with some force.
"Ow!"
Even an eccentric girl like Sainokami Ika clutched her head and whined at this moment.
"If you say something like that again, then leave. Get out of my sight forever."
After saying this, Yukima Azuma motioned for Sainokami Ika to come inside.
After Yukima Azuma's stern reprimand, Sainokami Ika noticeably became much more obedient.
She hadn't expected Yukima Azuma, who had always kept a distance from her, to be this assertive from the start.
"Who's she?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha walked over to Sora Ginko and asked in a low voice.
"Azuma's ex-girlfriend," Sora Ginko replied casually.
As a result, after hearing this response, all the girls in the apartment simultaneously turned their sharp gazes toward Sainokami Ika.
Sainokami Ika: !?
"Ginko, stop saying weird stuff like that. She just confessed to me but got rejected," Yukima Azuma sighed helplessly.
After letting Sainokami Ika inside, Yukima Azuma took a pair of disposable slippers from the bottom shelf and pointed to his room.
"You want to play shogi with me, right? Go sit there."
Hearing that, Sainokami Ika immediately kicked off her shoes.
Wearing only her long black over-the-knee socks and not bothering with slippers, she dashed excitedly toward the shogi table, looking at Yukima Azuma with anticipation.
However, Yukima Azuma didn't look at her but instead turned and called out:
"Ai, come here."
Hinatsuru Ai obediently stepped in front of Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma pointed to Sainokami Ika at the shogi table.
"I'm giving Ai a mission: tame her. This is the challenge your master is assigning to you!"
Chapter 93: "Megumi Likes It This Way?" "Mm"
"Huh, who would bother competing with such a little brat..."
Sainokami Ika didn't even get to finish her sentence before Yukima Azuma's cold glare silenced her completely.
He pulled Hinatsuru Ai in front of him, placed both hands on her shoulders, and introduced her:
"This is Hinatsuru Ai, my disciple. If you want to play against me, you'll have to beat Ai first."
"Sainokami Ika, you're always going on about talent and genius. But Ai is someone whose talent surpasses yours."
"Playing against Ai shouldn't leave you dissatisfied, right?"
Hearing this, Sainokami Ika's gaze shifted to Hinatsuru Ai.
This kid has talent greater than mine?
At least seventy percent of Sainokami Ika didn't believe that statement.
The remaining thirty percent was only because the words came from Yukima Azuma, so she reluctantly listened.
"Go ahead, tame her."
Yukima Azuma patted Hinatsuru Ai's shoulder, entrusting her with this significant task.
Hinatsuru Ai nodded firmly, then stepped toward the shogi board.
Sora Ginko approached Yukima Azuma, her face clearly worried.
"That brat... is she going to be okay?"
"Don't worry, senpai." Yukima Azuma reassured her gently.
"As for what Sainokami said earlier, don't let it bother you."
"At the end of the day, she hasn't reached the level where talent becomes crucial to advancing further."
"She's just an arrogant person riding on a bit of talent. The next time you face her, you'll most likely win."
Yukima Azuma's words were entirely true.
Talent only fully reveals itself when one reaches a certain height.
Before reaching the critical level of Lv7, talent is almost unnecessary.
With diligent learning and practice, skills improve significantly.
Sainokami Ika's shogi skills were definitely not at Lv7.
If they were, she'd already be a true professional player.
Always going on about talent.
She's just untrained.
A single game against a Meijin would humble her.
One game would be enough to shatter Sainokami Ika's so-called talent.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's comforting words, Sora Ginko's heart instantly felt lighter.
"I'll go take a look. You carry on with your work."
After saying this, Sora Ginko walked over to the shogi board to act as referee.
Yukima Azuma casually shut the door to the room.
Then, he turned to the remaining three girls.
"All right, while they play shogi, we've got our own tasks. It's time to start studying."
Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately excused herself.
She planned to go back and sleep.
Last night, she'd stayed up late writing, so she went to bed very late.
If not for the noisy commotion in the house this morning, she wouldn't have woken up at all.
...
Yukima Azuma led the other two girls to the study corner on the second floor.
Eriri needed to review math and English.
Kato Megumi, on the other hand, focused on history and literature.
Sitting at the study desks in the corner, Yukima Azuma grabbed a test prep book from a nearby shelf.
It was a collection of exams he had organized with Kirisu Mafuyu earlierpractically the gold standard for test prep.
"Eriri, start with math. Megumi, work on literature. Once you're done, I'll explain any mistakes."
"English and history are more about memorization, so I'll supervise you two this afternoon."
Yukima Azuma had planned out the entire day.
Thus, the two girls quietly began working on their assignments.
....
Time passed slowly.
Eriri was the first to put down her pen.
It wasn't because she finished faster than Kato Megumi.
She just gave up earlier.
When people are pushed to their limits, they can accomplish almost anything.
But math problems are a different story.
With math, if you can't solve it, you simply can't solve it.
Eriri's test paper was left with large sections blank.
Yukima Azuma helplessly picked up the test paper.
First, he looked over the questions Eriri had answered.
Sigh... utterly unbearable.
"Eriri, let me see your scratch paper... As I suspected, the problem lies in your calculations."
"Remember, multiplication and division come first, followed by addition and subtraction. Even with more complex problems, don't forget the most basic rules."
Yukima Azuma meticulously pointed out Eriri's mistakes.
He also re-taught her how to properly use scratch paper.
This scatterbrain had written all over her scratch paper in a chaotic mess.
There were calculations she could have gotten right.
But because her scratch paper was too cluttered, she misread numbers from earlier steps, leading to errors in later calculations, ultimately ruining the entire problem.
After correcting all her mistakes, Yukima Azuma began explaining the blank questions Eriri had left unanswered.
Once he had gone through most of the problems, Yukima Azuma closed the test paper.
"All right, Eriri, you can take a ten-minute break. Afterward, we'll move on to the next test."
Hearing this, Eriri asked in surprise:
"What about these questions? Don't I need to learn them?"
She pointed to the final fill-in-the-blank question and the last long-form problem.
"No need. These two questions don't significantly impact your overall score."
"But studying them would drain more energy than the entire test combined."
"Knowing when to skip is the smart choice."
After hearing this, Eriri naturally didn't insist.
All she wanted was to pass the exam, not aim for the top of the school rankings or anything like that.
She got up from her seat and ran downstairs.
The test had drained her; she wanted to play on her phone and eat some snacks.
Yukima Azuma's fridge was always stocked with delicious treats.
...
Once Eriri left, Kato Megumi handed in her literature test.
Yukima Azuma scanned through it from start to finish.
The results were much better than Eriri's.
With her current level, Kato Megumi would probably scrape a passing grade in her exams.
But to be safe, it was better to study a bit more.
"This blank spacedidn't you have any ideas?"
Yukima Azuma pointed to a question left unanswered.
"Mm, I didn't quite understand it. Since it's just a practice test, I didn't want to guess randomly."
Kato Megumi nodded.
Yukima Azuma took the question and rewrote it on scratch paper in a simpler form.
"I can [blank] Megumi will have a happy future. Our life together will be [blank] secure."
Filling in the blanks, Yukima Azuma provided an explanation.
On the scratch paper, he wrote down two potential answers.
"'Guarantee' and 'protect.'"
"In Japanese literature, this word means to commit or guarantee, while this one means to protect."
(Note: I don't speak Japanese.)
Yukima Azuma explained.
Kato Megumi nodded.
"So it should be: 'I can guarantee Megumi will have a happy future. Our life together will be protected.' Is that correct?"
"That's right. Next question."
Yukima Azuma pointed to the following problem.
But while explaining, Yukima Azuma suddenly felt something Kato Megumi's leg lightly brushing against his calf.
Azuma blinked in surprise.
Then, he smiled gently and said:
"Megumi, you need to focus when studying."
Kato Megumi nodded.
"Mm."
Her response sounded like a soft, delicate murmur.
What's more, the sensation on his leg didn't go away.
As he continued explaining, Kato Megumi quietly murmured:
"Azuma-san... I'm finding it hard to focus."
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but feel exasperated.
Pulling stunts like this under the table and still expecting to concentrate? That's rich.
"Megumi, do you enjoy this kind of thing?"
"Mm."
"But you really need to focus on your studies right now."
"Even if you say that, the person making it hard for me to focus is Azuma-san."
"Huh? Are you blaming me now?"
"No, I'm not!"
Kato Megumi poked Yukima Azuma's side with her finger.
Azuma started to feel that something wasn't quite right.
Her words and actions didn't match up.
So both of them looked down under the table.
What they saw was... Shiratamaru.
The white cat was under the table, rubbing its head against Yukima Azuma's leg while its tail softly brushed against Kato Megumi's.
Yukima Azuma picked Shiratamaru up and gave it a light pat on its rear.
"Nyan!" Shiratamaru nyaned, then leapt away to a corner.
The two refocused their attention on the test.
But the atmosphere had turned a bit awkward.
As Yukima Azuma continued explaining, he couldn't help but think back to their earlier exchange.
How should he put it... It was a little embarrassing.
But when he had asked if Megumi enjoyed it, she had replied with "Mm."
So she liked it?
Liked what, exactly?
While pondering this, Yukima Azuma shifted his leg slightly toward Kato Megumi.
But just as he moved a little, he felt something soft again.
"Shiratamaru!"
Both of them called out at the same time.
"Nyan?"
Shiratamaru peeked out from behind a bookshelf nearby.
Seeing that Shiratamaru wasn't under the table this time, the two looked at each other in silence.
Shiratamaru, noticing that no one was paying attention to it, tilted its head in confusion.
Then, it trotted down the stairs and out of sight.
Eriri rushed upstairs holding a plate of pastries, spoon in hand, and immediately took a bite.
"Umm, this cake is delicious... Huh? How are you two doing? Weren't you supposed to be studying?"
She noticed the strange atmosphere between the two of them.
A question mark appeared over her head as she continued to eat her cake without missing a beat.
...
The morning study session quickly passed.
Eriri was still a bit worried about her math, but she was likely to pass the test.
She planned to reinforce it tomorrow.
Before the actual exam, she would review the practice work, and it should be fine.
As for Kato Megumi's literature, there were no issues at all.
She made fast progress.
Yukima Azuma let both of them review their mistakes.
He then headed downstairs.
He ran into Sora Ginko coming out of a room.
Yukima Azuma walked up to her, looking into the room.
Sainokami Ika was lying on the tatami, her shirt disheveled, looking like she had been playing around too much.
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but feel a little helpless.
That pervert, still hasn't given up on the habit of stripping while playing shogi.
On the other side of the board, Hinatsuru Ai had tears all over her face, clearly having cried.
However, her expression now was one of determination and joy.
Just by looking at their faces, it was easy to guess what had happened on the chessboard.
Hinatsuru Ai was the best at reading the endgame.
Sainokami Ika must have pressured her tightly in the first half of the game.
But, after learning from Yukima Azuma,
Despite still being a girl who cried easily, Hinatsuru Ai's ability to handle pressure had become incredibly strong.
With her resistance, the game had gone on long enough for the endgame to come into play.
In the end, Hinatsuru Ai, using her excellent endgame skills, had turned the tide.
It must have been something like that.
"Shishou! Ai won!"
Hinatsuru Ai saw Yukima Azuma arrive and immediately jumped up, running over to him.
Yukima Azuma reached out and ruffled her hair.
"Great job. After a while, I'll take you to participate in some practice matches and official tournaments. My disciple is about to become famous."
Upon hearing Yukima Azuma's praise,
Hinatsuru Ai's eyes lit up, and her Ahoge on top of her head swayed happily.
"Don't spoil her too much, or she'll become overconfident and foolish like that idiot lying over there."
Sora Ginko grumbled disapprovingly.
"Ai won't be like that!"
Hinatsuru Ai retorted loudly.
--------------------------------------------
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"Are you being honest?"
Yukima Azuma gently kicked Sainokami Ika, who was lying flat on the tatami.
Then, he sat down beside her.
Sainokami Ika regained her composure, the arrogance on her face significantly faded.
"That girl... I just made a mistake!"
It was clear that she was dissatisfied.
Yukima Azuma reached out and lightly tapped Sainokami Ika's forehead.
"Thank Ai. She was the one who woke you up as your opponent; she was extremely gentle about it.~"
Hearing this, Sainokami Ika looked at Yukima Azuma in confusion.
Yukima Azuma, on the other hand, looked at the shogi board and casually moved a few pieces.
Sainokami Ika also followed his gaze.
These were the final moves in the match between her and Hinatsuru Ai.
Azuma reversed the game by 45 moves, to the final stage, where the reversal of the situation had not yet occurred.
He held the pieces of Hinatsuru Ai, who was in a disadvantaged position.
Then, he began placing the pieces.
He also moved Sainokami Ika's pieces.
As a result, in fewer than ten moves, Sainokami Ika was checkmated.
Sainokami Ika stared wide-eyed at the board.
These moves almost completely shattered her understanding of shogi.
The moves Azuma made for her side were almost the best countermeasures she could come up with.
She just stared at the board, unable to regain her composure for a long time.
It wasn't until Yukima Azuma scattered all the pieces on the board that Sainokami Ika lifted her head again.
"Now do you understand? How fortunate it is for you to meet Ai at this moment, to have her as your opponent."
"If you had kept the mindset you had before, facing an opponent like me, you would have at least been mentally crushed for months."
"If you were unlucky enough to face Meijin... I fear you might never want to play shogi again in your life."
Yukima Azuma's words were not an exaggeration.
That Meijin...
A person with shogi skills that could very well be at level 9.
Currently, he was focused on one thing.
That was using the techniques of the best player to fight against that same opponent.
His goal was to explore the very core of victory and defeat in shogi through this method.
Specifically, if both sides use the optimal strategy in the same game, would the player going first win, or would the one going second win?
In fact, for shogi, the ultimate question is: Will the first player win, or will the second player win?
This leads to a consequence.
That is, everyone who has faced Meijin...
Has the feeling that their shogi ability has been crushed into dust.
Because the person sitting across from you uses the exact techniques you're best at.
But then demonstrates a power you never even dared to imagine before.
The solution you thought was optimal.
That person only needs one move to show you that it's wrong.
To explain it more simply:
You think that when the apple falls from the branch, it will hit the ground.
But Meijin steps forward, slaps you.
Then, kicks the tree trunk, causing the apple to fall from the branch, fly into the sky, and disappear without a trace.
This mainly serves to make you doubt your own life.
If your mentality for playing shogi isn't strong, just one game with Meijin can leave you in a state of confusion for a while.
As for people like Sainokami Ika, always boasting about their talent, full of arrogance and impulsiveness...
Just one game, and she might never want to touch shogi again.
Currently, Sainokami Ika was sitting obediently in front of Yukima Azuma.
The monster of the shogi world.
Had been tamed to a basic level.
If she behaves better in the future, Yukima Azuma wouldn't mind playing against her.
After all, Sainokami Ika's talent was not bad; she was a worthy opponent for Hinatsuru Ai.
Moreover, once he decided to take Ai as a disciple, it was important to find her an opponent.
If she kept facing Yukima Azuma, a dominating opponent like him, even if Hinatsuru Ai improved, it would be hard for her to feel any sense of urgency.
.....
The busy weekend passed quickly.
Monday.
Those who returned to Toyogasaki faced the grueling midterm exams.
Then came the rapid grading process.
The morning after the exam, the results were already available in the afternoon.
The entire exam lasted for two days.
The day after the exam ended, which was Wednesday, the list of the top 100 students from each grade level was posted on the announcement board in front of Toyogasaki Academywhere the admission list had been posted before.
Yukima Azuma, upon arriving at school, went straight to the board to take a look.
Third-Year Rankings
At the top of the third-year rankings, unsurprisingly, was Kasumigaoka Utaha.
She was also the top scorer in the overall composite ranking of this inter-school exam.
Looking at her name prominently displayed, Yukima Azuma smiled faintly.
"Senpai's mind is truly formidable."
Although she sometimes dozed off in class, the subjects she didn't understand were always seriously reviewed. She only focused on other tasks once she had mastered the knowledge.
There was no doubt that Kasumigaoka Utaha's admission to the University of Tokyo was guaranteed.
Furthermore, Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't intend to study medicine, so she would likely choose the Faculty of Literature.
In that case, she wouldn't need to put in any more effort.
After a brief reflection, Yukima Azuma's gaze shifted to the second-year rankings and then stopped at the first-year list.
"That's so unfair! You keep skipping class, but your grades are still so high?"
"Is this the wall of difference? The wall called genius? How annoying!"
Satou Kazuma suddenly appeared, attempting to rush at Yukima Azuma and use a chokehold.
Yukima Azuma easily dodged, then counterattacked with an arm lock.
As a result, Satou Kazuma bitterly realized that not only was his troublesome friend smarter, but also much better at martial arts.
"Haha, I told you it was impossible. You just had to keep trying to ambush him."
Kunimi Yuuma, standing beside him, gently patted Kazuma on the back.
Looking at the reactions of his two close friends, Yukima Azuma guessed that his results must have been expected.
Looking at the rankings.
Sure enough.
Yukima Azuma's name was prominently displayed at the top of the board.
Moreover, just like Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Yukima Azuma was also the top scorer in the composite standardized value of this inter-school exam.
Just below Yukima Azuma, there was a very long name.
Hmm... of course, it wasn't Eriri.
It was Alya.
Second place at Toyogasaki, ranked third in the composite standardized value rankings.
A white figure quickly passed by in the corner of his eye.
Yukima Azuma glanced over, and it was Alya.
"Kujou-san, you're amazing. You just came from Russia to Japan and already achieved such great results."
Yukima Azuma complimented her politely.
Upon hearing this, Alya looked away from the rankings.
She gave a polite smile to Yukima Azuma.
"You're still better, Yukima-san. Your composite standardized value far exceeds mine."
Though she said that...
"I'm so frustrated! (in Russian)"
Yukima Azuma pretended not to hear.
....
Class 1-E.
Kirisu Mafuyu, who had been absent for a while, finally appeared.
Kirisu-sensei, usually as cold as an iceberg.
Today, she was clearly in a much better mood.
The atmosphere in the class had also become livelier.
"Everyone did great. This time, no one in our class failed."
"Also, Yukima-san has taken the first place in the composite standardized value ranking. Let's all give him a round of applause."
The class erupted into cheers.
After all, the composite standardized value was a competition between prestigious private schools like Shuchiin and Hyakkaou.
The top student in the class.
A student from Toyogasaki, a member of Class 1-E, everyone felt proud.
"And also, Kujou-san, second place in the entire grade, ranked third in the composite standardized value ranking. Well done."
Kirisu Mafuyu also complimented Alya a little.
However, at this moment, Alya raised her hand.
"Kujou-san, do you have a question?"
"Kirisu-sensei, I want to know who is second in the composite standardized value ranking?"
"Ah... I remember it's Shinomiya Kaguya-san from Shuchiin, with a standardized value of..."
Kirisu Mafuyu said a number.
It was very close to Yukima Azuma's result.
The two of themAzuma and Kaguyaformed a clear gap from the Alya behind them.
"Alright, I understand now."
Alya said, then slightly lowered her head.
"I'm so frustrated, really frustrated! (in Russian)"
Her whispered words reached Yukima Azuma's ears.
Yukima Azuma tilted his head and looked at Alya.
After spending some time together, he had started to pick up on a few things.
This girl... she took everything very seriously.
In fact, perhaps too seriously, to the point of being stubborn.
She had just moved from Russia to Japan.
Her academic results would naturally have some fluctuations.
Being third place was probably already an outstanding achievement.
But Alya clearly still felt like she hadn't tried enough.
The class was noisy for a while, but Kirisu Mafuyu didn't stop them.
The exam was over.
A bit of noise at the beginning of the day was fine.
After most of the students had settled down, Kirisu Mafuyu continued speaking:
"The remaining classes will focus on reviewing the semester exam."
"Also, the highly anticipated school festival will start on Friday."
"You all have the next two days to prepare actively... What is our class's theme again?"
"A butler caf!" Everyone responded in unison.
A question mark appeared above Yukima Azuma's head.
Why didn't he know about this?
Kirisu Mafuyu tried to suppress a smile and glanced at Yukima Azuma.
That's what you get for skipping school all the time.
This is the consequence!
"Ahem." After a slight cough, Kirisu Mafuyu continued, "Well, anyway, after the school festival, you'll have an official break."
...
The first period passed in a noisy bustle.
After school, Alya was lying face down on the desk, reflecting on her results.
It wasn't that she couldn't accept her failure.
It was that she felt she hadn't been serious enough.
If she had been, even if she lost, she shouldn't have been so far behind the others in terms of the score gap.
She thought about it endlessly, and soon tears began to slip from the corner of her eyes, soaking into her sleeve.
Quickly, her sleeve became damp.
In the midst of blaming herself, Alya suddenly felt someone poke her in the side.
Instinctively, she immediately lifted her head.
Her silver hair, like a waterfall, fluttered in the air.
She hastily wiped the tears from her face in a fluster.
Alya glared fiercely in the direction of the "attack."
As soon as she turned her head, her cheek collided with something cold.
"Uwa!"
She let out a cute squeal, took a step back, and looked more closely.
In front of her was a can of red bean soup.
Despite the scorching summer heat, the can was still emitting cold vapor, and droplets of water had gathered on its surface.
Alya tilted her head, peered around the can of red bean soup to see more clearly.
Alya looked toward the "culprit."
"Yukima-san, what are you doing?"
Yukima Azuma shook the can of red bean soup in his hand.
"I saw Kujou-san looking a bit down, so I bought a little gift to cheer you up."
"I thought Kujou-san might like red bean soup; I've seen you buy it often."
Hearing this, Alya's face turned slightly red.
She hadn't expected her small habit to be noticed by the guy sitting next to her.
Moreover, this thoughtful gift, given at just the right moment...
"This timely concern is too crafty, it's bound to make one's heart flutter! (in Russian)"
Alya murmured softly.
"This timely concern is so cunning, it will make people moved!" (in Russian)
"What did Kujou-san just say?"
"I said that sweets really do help improve one's mood."
"I see."
"Truly clueless." (in Russian)
Yukima Azuma almost blurted out a perfect Russian reply.
His language skill level is Lv6, don't mess with him!
His pronunciation might even be better than Alya, that silver-haired girl.
But Yukima Azuma still held back.
Pretending not to know would make things more interesting later.
"Yukima! Come over here, the suit is ready."
"You're really not treating me like a human!"
From another direction, Kunimi Yuuma called out loudly.
Yukima Azuma, frustrated, raised his fist.
Alya looked up.
Everyone in the class was holding a black outfit, resembling a butler costume with a tail.
The theme of Class 1-E's school festival was a butler caf.
In other words, this was the reverse version of a maid caf.
The main reason this plan was approved was mainly due to Yukima Azuma's existence.
More importantly, when the vote for the plan took place, Yukima Azuma had taken a day off.
"You guys should act like humans! How can you decide something like this without even consulting me!"
Yukima Azuma tried to resist.
"Minority obeys the majority!"
Eriri immediately chimed in.
She also wanted to see Yukima Azuma wear the butler outfit.
"Azuma-san, our Class 1-E is a democratic class, you know."
Kato Megumi calmly added the final blow.
"Even Megumi too?"
Yukima Azuma felt like he had been stabbed in the back.
Looking at the bustling crowd, Yukima Azuma was holding the butler outfit, looking bored but still trying it on, while Alya couldn't help but laugh.
The things that had been bothering her seemed to be alleviated after a good laugh.
It wasn't so bad losing this time. She just needed to be more serious next time.
....
The School Festival
The school festival is an essential part of school life in Japan.
It usually lasts for three days.
During this time, the school opens its doors to visitors and allows outsiders to register and attend.
Most high schools hold their school festivals at the same time.
This is also a rare opportunity to interact between schools.
It's often seen as the start of the summer break.
And it's a colorful, beautiful part of the memories of school youth.
Of course, this only applies to extroverted and popular people.
As for introverts, like the "ghosts of the classroom"...
"School festival... huh."
Gotoh Hitori stood in front of the school's Shuka festival poster, looking sorrowful.
Since middle school, Gotoh Hitori had dreamed of participating in a school festival.
She wanted to stand on the school festival stage and perform once.
In fact, the main reason she learned to play the guitar was for this.
If she could stand on the school festival stage and shine with an excellent performance.
Then she would become the center of attention in the entire school!
That was the final dream Gotoh Hitori had during her school days.
However, since she started learning guitar, three years of high school had passed.
She still didn't have the courage to sign up for a performance at the school festival.
Just the thought of so many people watching her from below the stage made Gotoh Hitori want to crawl into a hole and hide from the embarrassment.
At this point, she no longer dreamed of being the most beloved person in the school.
She only wanted to perform once on the school festival stage.
That way, she would have no regrets.
However, Gotoh Hitori still lacked confidence.
Even though she had joined Kessoku Band,
She had performed twice at the STARRY live house.
But the space there was really too small to accommodate many people.
More importantly, there was no one she knew there.
As for the school festival... the audience under the stage would be her entire class.
Just thinking about it made her scared.
Gotoh Hitori shivered.
She then turned around, preparing to quietly head home.
Next time, she would definitely try!
She was just starting high school, there was still over two years left!
However, she had also had this same thought back in middle school, and in the end, she graduated without ever following through.
Just as Gotoh Hitori was about to step out of the school gates,
Her phone buzzed.
She took it out to check.
It was the Kessoku Band chat group on Line.
They were probably discussing the school festival participation, right?
With that thought, Gotoh Hitori opened the chat.
Azuma: [Her school dream is to participate in the school festival and perform on the school stage once.]
Azuma: [So let's help her achieve her dream, in exchange, I can introduce some commercial performance opportunities for Kessoku Band.]
Kita: [Huh? Really? Yukima-san, you don't have to pay us anything, we'll definitely help!]
Nijika: [That's right, because it's Bocchi-chan's dream, it's also Kessoku Band's dream!]
Ryo: [Yukima, just be our manager! That way Kessoku Band will have an easier time making income.]
Nijika: [Ryo! Don't be so rude!]
Bocchi: [Huh!? Huhh!?]
Nijika: [Bocchi-chan has appeared! Bocchi-chan, go sign up, we'll go up on stage with you!]
Kita: [That's right, let's use our Kessoku Band name! Let's hit the stage!]
Ryo: [Gambare, Gambare!]
Gotoh Hitori stared at the chat interface, unable to speak due to the shock.
Why was Yukima in the Kessoku Band chat... Wait a minute! The important thing is, how did Yukima know she wanted to participate in the school festival!?
"Is it really... telepathy!?"
Gotoh Hitori exclaimed in amazement, starting to stammer.
Looking at the situation in the chat,
It was clear they hadn't discussed anything with her.
Everything had already been decided, and they had even started choosing songs for the performance.
Her dream suddenly felt so close.
Gotoh Hitori felt a little flustered, almost as if she had received an unexpected gift from the sky.
Her thoughts became a mess.
Unconsciously, her fingers opened a conversation with Yukima.
When Gotoh Hitori didn't know what to do, her first reaction was to ask Yukima for advice.
She typed out a message, then deleted it.
Deleted and then retyped.
In the end, Bocchi sent just one line.
Bocchi: [Azuma-kun, someone like me, can I really perform on stage?]
Azuma: [What are you saying, Bocchi? Aren't you a "guitar hero"?]
Bocchi: [But when I face the audience, I get so scared I can't even open my eyes.]
Azuma: [It's okay.]
Bocchi: [Even if you say that, Azuma-kun.]
Azuma: [When you get on stage, Bocchi, you'll find yourself again. The school festival will be busy, but I'll find time to cheer for you.]
Bocchi: [I... I'll try my best!]
When she saw Yukima Azuma say he would find time to cheer her on,
Gotoh Hitori suddenly became determined.
She had to get on stage!
Not just for her own dream.
But just to play the guitar for him to hear.
She had to get on stage!
...
Looking back at Bocchi's messages,
Yukima Azuma smiled.
He really couldn't bear to watch Gotoh Hitori be alone.
The sight of her sitting alone on a swing in the park.
It made Yukima Azuma feel like he had seen it before.
It seemed like he had also sat alone on a swing in an empty park, without swinging.
Then, Yukima Azuma met Kasumigaoka Utaha-senpai.
And then, that familiar feeling led Yukima Azuma to approach Bocchi.
He pulled her off the still swing.
If Bocchi didn't want to make friends, Yukima Azuma definitely wouldn't interfere.
But still, she longed for someone to step into her world.
Yet, she remained alone.
Even though Yukima Azuma didn't like interfering in others' affairs, he didn't want to leave her alone...
In the end, he'd push her onto the stage.
He'd let Bocchi step into the light that was meant for her.
Just a little push.
The rest, Bocchi and Kessoku Band would handle.
They would follow the path that had already been set.
With their music, they would draw special notes across the sky of Tokyo.
And so, the school festival officially began.
.....
On Friday.
"Hey, you guys understand what youth is, right?"
Yukima Azuma struggled to hold back his laughter as he spoke those empty words.
It was as if his face was about to write the two characters "Really serious."
At that moment, Yukima Azuma was dressed in a black, form-fitting tuxedo paired with custom-made trousers.
Underneath, he wore a white school uniform shirt from Toyogasaki Academy. His hair was slicked back and styled with gel, giving him a refined, sophisticated look.
This appearance truly resembled the protagonist of a shoujo manga.
From seven-year-old girls to forty-year-old housewives, no one could meet this boy without feeling their heart flutter.
It's no exaggeration to say that if Yukima Azuma were to join the male host of a club, after just three months, the sales could surpass one billion yen.
Many girls would likely lose themselves and spend their fortunes on him.
And standing in front of a young man like that were two mischievous friends, dressed in maid uniformsSato Kazuma and Kunimi Yuuma.
These two troublemakers had caused the most commotion when voting for the class's theme.
They had secretly teamed up with classmates, keeping the idea of a butler caf a secret from Yukima Azuma.
If these two troublemakers ended up getting their way, it definitely wouldn't be Yukima Azuma's style!
So, on preparation day, the boy in the tuxedo stood in front of his classmates and made a suggestion.
Since they had decided to make it a butler caf, it couldn't just be about having good-looking guys.
They had to showcase their own unique traits.
With his good looks, Yukima Azuma had charmed almost everyone in the class.
Thus, this scene unfolded.
Yukima Azuma stood before the two troublemakers and talked about youth.
"What the hell is youth! Yukima! Are you even human!?"
"Kazuma! How dare you talk! Who here is actually a person!"
"You're so handsome, what's wrong with using your looks!"
"I think you'd look great in a maid uniform too! What's wrong with taking advantage of that!"
It must be said, Sato Kazuma, with his slim frame, looked surprisingly fitting in the maid uniform and wig, without a hint of awkwardness.
Yukima Azuma casually picked up two pineapple buns from the table.
"Here, this is for you, consider it compensation."
Yukima Azuma said as he pointed to Sato Kazuma's chest.
Sato Kazuma lunged forward, intending to pull Yukima Azuma down with him.
Sato Kazuma fell, and Yukima Azuma easily caught him.
"Alright, Kazuma, winner takes all, loser takes the fall."
Kunimi Yuuma was the type of person who had a psychological game plan.
Once he teased someone, he was prepared to be teased back!
(Note: Exactly, I hate people who are fine with teasing others, but get angry when they themselves are teased.)
Unlike Sato Kazuma, Kunimi Yuuma was the captain of the basketball club. He was not only tall but had a giant frame.
The traditional maid uniform he wore was given a distinctly masculine touch when Kunimi Yuuma wore it.
Sato Kazuma, who was held by Yukima Azuma, could only face the reality.
Damn it, winner takes all, loser takes the fall!
After realizing the truth, Sato Kazuma stood up.
But through the window of the classroom door, he saw a long line of people waiting outside.
Sato Kazuma almost wanted to jump out of the back window.
One could die physically, but you couldn't die in the eyes of society!
Kazuma could only cry silently.
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 96: Yotsuya Miko: I Am Azuma-sama's Dog!
"Two special sweet cream sauce omelet rice dishes, please."
"Sure, just a moment."
Not long after, Yukima Azuma brought two plates of omelet rice drizzled with white sauce to the students who had ordered.
"Enjoy." Yukima Azuma flashed a commercial-grade smile as he spoke.
The atmosphere in the classroom became noticeably lighter.
When Yukima Azuma moved to the next table, the two female students who had ordered omelet rice couldn't help but squeal softly.
"Oh my god! Yukima-kun is so handsome!"
"That smile! Aaaah! Just looking at his smile is worth the price of the omelet rice!"
"He's so good-looking! Plus, he's smart! And incredibly athletic! How can such a perfect person even exist?"
"I want to marry him! What should I do? I can't control my thirsty for Yukima-kun anymore!"
The quiet murmurs of the female students buzzed through the classroom.
Yukima Azuma held the menu in his hand, making his way around the tables.
The menu, in reality, only featured omelet rice.
There were various "styles," of course, but in truth...
The "Special Sweet Sauce" was just omelet rice with white cream sauce.
The "Tangy Sweet Delight" was omelet rice with tomato sauce.
The "Lively Love" was Simply extra tomato sauce.
Yet despite this simplicity, the line outside the classroom seemed never-ending.
It's worth noting that the marketing strategy of Class 1E was undeniably brilliant.
Most of the budget for this school festival had been invested in costumes, with only a small portion spent on pre-made frozen omelet rice.
A true marketing victory.
"Azuma-san is really popular, isn't he?"
From the partitioned kitchen, Kato Megumi poked her head out with a smile.
The Yukima Azuma she had gotten to know always shone brightly.
Seeing him like this made Kato Megumi genuinely happy.
However, another girl didn't share the same sentiment.
Directly below Kato Megumi, Eriri also poked her head out.
Watching the crowd of female students glued to Yukima Azuma, she was nearly biting through her handkerchief.
After serving one last plate of omelet rice, the kitchen finally declared its operations closed.
All the omelet rice prepared beforehand had astonishingly sold out.
Everyone in Class 1E looked at Yukima Azuma with eyes full of amazement and admiration.
Yukima Azuma rotated his slightly stiff arm as his phone vibrated softly in his trouser pocket.
He took it out and glanced at the screen.
It was a LINE message, and the sender surprised him slightly.
It was Yotsuya Miko, the girl who could see spirits and ghosts.
Since their encounter in Shimokitazawa that day, quite some time had passed.
But she had never once asked Yukima Azuma for help.
Instead, every morning and evening, she would send greetings, It's no different than worshiping on time.
Yukima Azuma genuinely respected this girl.
Despite seeing spirits every day, she managed to endure and handle things on her own without troubling others.
Truly, a resilient soul.
But this time, it seemed she was genuinely in trouble.
Miko: "Sorry for bothering you, Yukima-senpai, but I've encountered a 'problem' I can't avoid. Could I ask for your help?"
Her tone was as sincere as always.
Azuma: "Tell me clearly first."
Miko: "Yes, the thing is... there's a problem with the new teacher in my class. It's... rather difficult to deal with."
Miko: "Since I have to interact daily, I've reached my limit."
Miko: "So, I'd like to ask for your help. I'm willing to pay any price I can offer!"
Yukima Azuma read Miko's summary.
His fingers tapped lightly on the back of his phone.
Azuma: "Let's meet tomorrow to discuss it. Is it urgent?"
Miko: "I can endure for one more day!"
Yotsuya Miko.
The girl who could see spirits and ghosts.
Since meeting Yukima Azuma in Shimokitazawa, her life had entered a new phase.
Even though she faced a world full of ghosts every day, she found a bit of solace amid the confusion and fear.
Just knowing that there was someone she could rely on in this world gave her an anchor to hold onto.
But Miko understood well.
She and Yukima Azuma weren't particularly close; theirs was merely a chance encounter.
If she asked for help too many times, it would undoubtedly annoy him.
So, despite constantly confronting the overwhelming presence of evil spirits in her life, Yotsuya Miko had never once asked for Yukima Azuma's assistance.
All she did was send him daily greetingsonce in the morning and once before bed.
But recently, Yotsuya Miko had run into a problem she couldn't ignore.
Her previous homeroom teacher had gone on maternity leave and could no longer continue teaching. Naturally, the class needed a new homeroom teacher.
That new teacher was Tno Zena young man with a delicate, gentle demeanor.
The female students in Miko's class were practically smitten with Tno Zen. Attendance rates noticeably improved as a result.
But for Yotsuya Miko, merely facing this new teacher was a torment.
Why?
Because Tno Zen was wrapped in a pitch-black, hellish auraa horrifying tangle of vengeful spirits.
The number of malevolent entities surrounding him was staggering.
It was a living portrait of hell itself.
Even a glance was enough to send shivers down her spine.
Since gaining the ability to see spirits, this was the first time Yotsuya Miko had seen someone enveloped by so many terrifying entities.
In both number and sheer intensity, these spirits far surpassed any other haunting presence she had ever encountered.
Most of them appeared as warped, shadowy cats.
Beyond the massive swarm of ghostly cats, Tno Zen was also overshadowed by a colossal humanoid spirit.
This being resembled a spider and was so large that it could fill an entire room.
Its horrifying aura far exceeded that of the malicious spirit Miko and her best friend had once encountered in a narrow alley.
Every day, this spirit loomed over Tno Zen, shielding him.
If anyone dared to look at Tno Zen, the spirit would immediately roar:
"Don't look! Stay away from him!"
Its ferocious screams were powerful enough to obliterate weaker spirits nearby.
Since Tno Zen's arrival, each school day had become pure agony for Yotsuya Miko.
She could only try to keep her head lowered, her gaze fixed firmly on the textbooks in front of her.
She didn't even dare to look up.
This had even started to affect her academic performance.
If that was all, Miko might have gritted her teeth and endured it.
After all, Tno Zen was only a substitute teacher.
Once the previous teacher returned from maternity leave, he would leave.
A few monthsperhaps she could get through it.
But what Miko couldn't bear was discovering a terrifying truth.
Her best friend, Yurikawa Hana, had started feeling hungrier and hungrier ever since the new teacher arrived.
Miko had long noticed that Hana tended to eat much more than an average person.
At first, she thought her friend simply had a big appetite.
But recently, through a chance encounter...
Yotsuya Miko discovered an important fact.
Yurikawa Hana, her best friend, was an extraordinary girl with a vast amount of life force.
Every day, a large amount of life energy radiated from Hana, creating a protective effect against all evil forces.
This was why Yurikawa Hana always had an enormous appetite.
However, recently, the reason Hana had been getting hungrier than usual was because of Tno Zen.
The malevolent spirits surrounding Tno Zen, along with the massive, terrifying presence of the spider-like humanoid vengeful spirit, drained Hana's life force whenever it came near her.
This week, Hana had even fainted from hunger once.
This was not something that could be solved by simply ignoring it.
In desperation, Yotsuya Miko had sent a distress message to Yukima Azuma.
When sending the message, Miko also prayed fervently, hoping that Yukima Azuma wouldn't refuse.
If he did, she truly wouldn't know who else to rely on.
Fortunately, while Yukima Azuma didn't immediately agree, he still accepted her request to meet and discuss the matter.
Yotsuya Miko sighed in relief.
She glanced at her friend Yurikawa Hana, who was completely unaware of what was happening, and silently made up her mind.
Whatever Yukima Azuma might ask, she would agree to it as long as she could.
She couldn't let her friend fall into danger.
Yurikawa Hana, with a suspicious expression, looked at Miko, whose hands were clenched in the air.
She felt that her friend had been acting strangely lately.
Ever since their encounter in Shimokitazawa, Miko's sudden shift into a "masochistic" behavior had shocked her.
Fortunately, after that event, there didn't seem to be any other odd situations.
Day after day, as they went to and from school together, Yurikawa Hana didn't see her friend sneaking to the love hotel or anything like that.
...
And so, time quietly passed, leading to Saturday.
Yukima Azuma had taken a day off.
Everyone in class was understanding, since Azuma had been busy all day the previous day.
His dedicated attitude was more than enough.
Shuka High School, where Miko studied, was really far from Shibuya Station.
Yukima Azuma took more than half an hour by bus to get there.
One could only say that it was truly a Bocchi moveavoiding meeting acquaintances during high school by enduring such a long commute every day.
What a decisive person!
When he arrived at the gates of Shuka High School, Yukima Azuma saw Yotsuya Miko walking slowly toward him.
"Yukima-senpai!" Miko called out loudly, bowing at a 90-degree angle.
The incredibly respectful gesture left the surrounding students confused.
Yukima Azuma immediately helped Miko straighten up.
"Let's go, we'll talk while walking and, while we're at it, check out your school festival."
Upon hearing this, Yotsuya Miko eagerly nodded repeatedly.
The two of them entered the Shuka High School campus together.
Many students turned to look at them.
Yukima Azuma's striking appearance truly drew attention.
As for Yotsuya Miko, she was walking on air.
So happy!
It was such a thrill!
It wasn't because she was being noticed that she felt excited.
Yotsuya Miko didn't have such particular preferences.
It was because she was walking alongside Yukima Azumathis was just amazing!
Normally, one could spot a few malicious spirits scattered around the school.
But right now, nearly all of them had disappeared.
The young man beside Yotsuya Miko seemed like a moving barrier.
From the moment Yukima Azuma appeared, Miko had noticed this.
The malicious spirits that usually latched onto people, asking, "Can you see me?"
As Azuma got closer, it was as if they wanted to grow two more legs, frantically running away as fast as they could.
In her sight, an almost spirit-free zone had formed.
There was no trace of any malicious spirits left.
Walking beside Yukima Azuma, Yotsuya Miko even felt as if she had returned to the time before she could see ghosts.
A normal, mundane life.
In Miko's eyes now, it was like a blessing from the heavens, as sweet as honey.
Even being Yukima Azuma's "dog" would be far better than the days of facing those terrifying things!
While Miko was lost in her thoughts...
"Yotsuya-san..."
"Yes! I want to be Yukima-sama's dog!"
Hearing Yukima Azuma call, Miko responded quickly, but she accidentally blurted out what was truly on her mind.
Yukima Azuma paused for a moment and then responded:
"Everyone has their own preferences. If Yotsuya-san really desires it, I won't object."
Preferences can be vivid, but people might die from embarrassment.
At that moment, Yotsuya Miko just wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
After inadvertently saying "I want to be Azuma-sama's dog,"
Yotsuya Miko decided to completely let herself go.
She, who was usually quiet and obedient, now just diligently followed Yukima Azuma.
A submissive demeanor, ready to obey orders.
After all, as long as she wasn't facing evil spirits...
Even if Azuma intended to put a collar around her neck, Yotsuya Miko would not resist.
Yukima Azuma reached out to gently stroke the head of the girl with amber eyes.
"In short, let's invite that teacher of yours to a quiet place for us to talk."
Upon hearing this, Yotsuya Miko nodded obediently.
But soon after, she felt a little difficulty.
Because Teacher Toono Zen usually did not communicate with anyone.
Every day, he only arrived on time for class and left after class.
As soon as the school bell rang, he immediately left.
Any attempt at conversation outside of studies, he completely ignored.
Yotsuya Miko could not think of a way to invite him to a quiet place.
After all, she didn't even have a way to contact Toono Zen.
Just as Yotsuya Miko was feeling confused,
She suddenly spotted a figure in the distance slowly walking out of the school grounds.
"That person! That's my temporary homeroom teacher, Toono Zen!"
Yotsuya Miko pointed at that figure and said.
Yukima Azuma looked in the direction Yotsuya Miko pointed.
Due to the distance, Yukima Azuma couldn't smell anything.
"Let's follow. That teacher is surrounded by the spirits of cats."
"Recently, there have been a lot of missing cat reports in Tokyo."
Yotsuya Miko said with a worried tone.
She didn't want to see more cats harmed.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Bocchi's performance would take place in the afternoon, near sunset.
There was still enough time now.
So, the two of them followed Toono Zen's figure.
They exited the school gate.
Toono Zen entered a nearby alley.
This action further confirmed the suspicion Yotsuya Miko voiced.
Because stray cats usually operate in alleys like this.
The two quietly followed Toono Zen from a distance.
Yotsuya Miko hoped to catch him in the act.
If they could gather evidence,
Maybe they could get Toono Zen arrested.
After all, many cats had gone missing, and in Japan, it was illegal to kill cats.
With that, the problem would be solved.
They passed through a few small alleys.
The three of them still did not see a single stray cat.
It seemed that all the stray cats in the area had disappeared.
After wandering around,
Eventually, Toono Zen turned under an arch bridge.
From there came the faint sound of a cat meowing.
Upon hearing the sound,
Toono Zen jumped over the railing and landed on the grassy field by the embankment.
"This is bad, we need to hurry!"
Seeing this scene, Yotsuya Miko quickly ran over.
For humans, cats were really fragile.
In just a few seconds, they could lose their lives.
At this moment, under the bridge, the painful cries of a cat echoed.
Yukima Azuma sped up, jumping over the railing and landing on the concrete ground beneath the bridge.
But he stopped in place, not continuing to act.
Yotsuya Miko hurriedly ran over.
But when she saw the scene under the bridge, everything was not as she had imagined.
Under the bridge, a three-colored stray cat huddled in a corner, letting out a frightened cry.
On the other side, Toono Zen was pinning a hoodie man to the ground.
Clearly, they had been in a brief wrestling match.
Toono Zen had the upper hand.
At this moment, Toono Zen was holding the man down, taking various items from his body and placing them on the concrete ground beside him.
Yotsuya Miko saw this and immediately took a sharp breath.
On the ground were pliers, a large syringe, a stun gun, and other items.
Moreover, these items had dry, faded bloodstains on them.
Even the pliers had some strands of fur stuck to them.
Upon seeing this, Yotsuya Miko understood.
The culprit behind the series of missing cats in Tokyo wasn't Toono Zen, as she had thought.
It was the man in the hoodie before her.
Toono Zen had likely gone through the alley, perhaps concerned about the missing cats.
Thus, he had wandered and conducted a patrol.
Perhaps the vengeful spirits of the cats had also followed Toono Zen as he patrolled.
Once Yotsuya Miko figured this out, she felt a bit ashamed.
She shouldn't have hastily judged someone as good or bad just based on what she had seen of spirits.
Hearing the noise, Toono Zen turned around and saw Yukima Azuma and Yotsuya Miko.
The strength in his hands loosened a bit.
The hooded man pinned to the ground began to breathe heavily.
Yukima Azuma looked at this scene, raising an eyebrow.
Humans always have many sides to them.
Toono Zen in front of them might not be evil.
But he certainly wasn't as good as Yotsuya Miko had believed.
If the two of them hadn't shown up here,
Toono Zen might have directly killed the hooded man.
The way he had restrained him earlier left no room for breathing.
It truly seemed intended to kill.
"What's your name again? I think you're one of my students. How did you end up here?"
Toono Zen asked Yotsuya Miko.
Clearly, he wasn't very good at communication.
He couldn't even remember the names of students in his class.
"My name is Yotsuya Miko, I... have something I want to say to Toono-sensei."
Yotsuya Miko wanted to explain but didn't know where to begin.
At that moment, in her line of sight, a massive humanoid spider suddenly emerged from Toono Zen's body.
Its enormous claws covered Toono Zen.
The terrifying face roared toward them.
Don't look!
Yukima Azuma stepped forward, grabbed the stun gun from the cement ground, and threw it to Toono Zen.
Toono Zen understood and stood up.
As he pulled his body away from the hooded man,
He switched on the stun gun and pressed it against the back of the hooded man's neck.
Accompanied by the man's screams and the smell of burning flesh,
The hooded man instantly passed out.
After finishing everything, Toono Zen looked at Yukima Azuma with a deep gaze.
Yotsuya Miko stood frozen in place.
Toono-sensei... seemed to be different from what she had thought.
"Yotsuya-san, what did you want to say to me?"
Toono Zen stood up and looked at Yotsuya Miko.
Yotsuya Miko thought for a moment.
Then, she looked at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma bluntly said, "If you have something to say, just say it, it's fine."
Yotsuya Miko nodded.
Then, she lifted her head.
The terrifying humanoid spider was now screeching wildly.
Yotsuya Miko understood.
The vengeful spirits of the cats were swirling around Toono Zen.
They weren't following him out of hatred.
On the contrary, they were thanking him.
That's why they surrounded Toono Zen, trying to keep him away from the massive humanoid spider.
The spider kept growling, "Don't look! Stay away from it!"
Although Yotsuya Miko didn't know exactly what was going on,
She felt that the reason Toono Zen didn't communicate with others
Might be because of the influence of this humanoid spider.
So, whether for friends or out of kindness,
"Enough, let Toono-sensei go free."
She faced the massive humanoid spider, several meters tall, and spoke these words.
The humanoid spider, which had been screaming wildly, seemed to be paused at the press of a button.
Its head slowly turned, its huge, fierce eyes staring at Yotsuya Miko.
It seemed to be confirming something.
Confirming whether Yotsuya Miko could see it.
After a moment of silence,
The gigantic creature with eight spider legs began to charge wildly on the ground, rushing toward Yotsuya Miko.
Toono Zen furrowed his brows.
He couldn't understand Yotsuya Miko's words.
But in that very moment, he felt his body become light as a feather.
A corner of his vision seemed to have something passing by.
Yotsuya Miko took two steps back, her legs already trembling.
Normally, she would try not to acknowledge the existence of these spirits.
But now, facing a monster that might be the most terrifying thing she had ever seen, Yotsuya Miko wanted to provoke it.
Her courage was shouting,
But her legs were truly weak.
Yukima Azuma caught a disgusting smell.
It was like the smell of rusted iron fences.
He tried activating his special vision that came with his cooking skills.
But within that strange vision, Yukima Azuma still couldn't catch sight of any ghostly figures.
It seemed that Yotsuya Miko's Yin-Yang eyes were an extremely special skill.
At this moment, the disgusting smell began to move.
Yukima Azuma raised his right index finger.
It was as though he was positioning a chess piece.
He pointed downward.
Through Yotsuya Miko's eyes, the massive humanoid spider suddenly bore an invisible pressure.
It was violently forced down to the ground.
The spider's eight legs emitted a series of screeching, unpleasant sounds.
They were bent and twisted into a heap.
The monster, once several meters tall, now...
At this moment, the humanoid spider, pressed to the ground by the invisible force, was no taller than Yotsuya Miko's calf.
Seeing this scene,
Yotsuya Miko breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed that such a terrifying evil spirit,
In Yukima-sama's hands, could be suppressed with just a flick of a finger.
However, after waiting for a while,
Yotsuya Miko noticed that the invisible pressure still couldn't destroy the humanoid spider.
Immediately, she looked at Yukima Azuma with concern.
As a result, she saw Yukima Azuma seemed to be lost in thought.
He didn't appear strained or tense at all.
On the contrary, he seemed to be examining something.
When Yotsuya Miko was about to speak, Yukima Azuma slowly raised his hand.
He made a gesture of gripping space toward the area where the humanoid spider was.
Yotsuya Miko saw that an invisible pressure from all directions suddenly pressed in.
The humanoid spider, which had been crushed into a heap, hissed from its throat.
Its massive body continued to be compressed.
As Yukima Azuma's fingers closed,
A black-red orb fell to the grass beneath the bridge.
Yotsuya Miko blinked.
It felt like Yukima-sama was far stronger than when they were in Shimokitazawa.
"What... just happened?"
Finally, Toono Zen couldn't help but ask.
Yotsuya Miko snapped back to reality and waved her hand at Toono Zen.
"Toono-sensei, just consider what I said nonsense, but if you like cats so much, why not adopt it?"
She pointed to the three-colored cat huddling in a corner beneath the bridge.
Hearing this, Toono Zen also looked in that direction.
"I don't exactly 'like' them... I wouldn't call it liking... but... I'll give it a try."
Halfway through, Toono Zen suddenly changed his tone.
He had a feeling.
Perhaps... he could adopt a cat.
His mother had long abandoned him, and there would be no one left to harm the cats he took care of.
Toono Zen walked toward the three-colored cat and gently embraced it.
In Yotsuya Miko's vision,
The vengeful cat spirits that had surrounded Toono Zen,
Now began to dissipate.
From dark red and gloomy colors, they shifted to a golden hue like sunlight, transforming into soft points of light that gently faded away.
--------------------------------------------
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Notification: Your Shogi skill has been specially affected, proficiency has been fully achieved.
Shogi (lv8) Shogi (lv9).
Before Yukima Azuma's eyes, a notification from the system appeared.
At the same time, Yukima Azuma also saw golden yellow specks of light quietly rise from Toono Zen's body.
Among them, a few golden yellow specks automatically gathered towards Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma opened the system's control panel.
According to logic, his Shogi skill proficiency was still lacking in some areas.
But when he opened the system's control panel, Yukima Azuma saw that the last empty part of the progress bar for the Shogi skill had been filled with golden yellow light.
Then, the progress bar slowly filled up.
Finally, the portion of the progress bar that was previously missing to complete was completely filled.
The Shogi skill officially reached lv9.
A stronger aura erupted from Yukima Azuma's body.
However, unlike the previous time when the skill leveled up, he had to suppress it with effort.
Although this new aura was incredibly powerful, Yukima Azuma still felt that it was completely under his control.
There was no need to adapt.
In his hands, it was like a soft dough that could be molded at will.
It could be transformed into any shape according to his desire.
He looked toward Toono Zen.
Yukima Azuma pondered for a moment.
Is this considered... something like "merit"?
The effect seemed minimal, just reducing some of the training required for proficiency.
Could it be that the quantity is too little?
Yukima Azuma remembered this and prepared to pay more attention to it later.
He walked to the grass under the bridge.
Yukima Azuma bent down and picked up the round black-red gem lying among the blades of grass.
Yes, Yukima Azuma could see this gem.
After discovering that "cooking vision" couldn't see spirits, Yukima Azuma started to think that perhaps spirits are something too delicate?
After all, ordinary humans can't see air.
So Yukima Azuma tried to compress that terrible odor.
The round gem in his hand was the result.
Now, not only could it be seen.
It could even be touched.
Yukima Azuma glanced at Yotsuya Miko next to him, and a few ideas flashed in his mind.
....
Toono Zen stayed under the bridge and called the police.
He was preparing to hand the man in the hooded sweatshirt over to the police.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma and Yotsuya Miko walked ahead, heading back to Shuka High School.
On the way, Yukima Azuma handed the compressed gem from the humanoid spider to Yotsuya Miko.
When she took it, Yotsuya Miko's eyes widened in astonishment.
She had witnessed the process of the humanoid spider being compressed into the round gem.
But she didn't expect that this gem could actually be touched!
"Uhm, Yukima-senpai..."
"Hey, hey, Miko said she wanted to be my dog, right?" Yukima Azuma smiled and said.
Yotsuya Miko swallowed her saliva.
Everything was going in a different direction than she had imagined.
"...Yes."
Yotsuya Miko couldn't deny it.
After all, she owed Yukima Azuma a great favor.
Before, she had been ready to sacrifice anything she could to repay Yukima Azuma.
"Good." Yukima Azuma snapped his fingers. "Swallow this."
Yotsuya Miko looked at the round gem in her hand.
"Yukima-senp... Yukima-sama, this..."
"The answer must be 'yes' or 'woof'."
"And call me by my name. I'll call you Miko."
"..."
"W-woof."
Yotsuya Miko closed her eyes, gathering all her courage, and swallowed the round gem.
With the movement of her throat, everything was over.
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow.
After his Shogi skill leveled up to lv9, the aura he could control became more fluid, like water.
Telling Yotsuya Miko to swallow the round gem wasn't without protection.
Yukima Azuma had enveloped the gem with his aura, surrounding it.
If anything unusual happened, Yukima Azuma could immediately crush whatever was inside the gem.
He wouldn't let Yotsuya Miko get hurt.
But when Yotsuya Miko swallowed the gem, the aura surrounding the gem faded.
"How does it feel?"
"Woof~."
"You don't need to do that often."
"It feels... like swallowing a rag. Ugh..."
Yotsuya Miko's face turned unpleasant.
But her body seemed to have no serious problems.
Yukima Azuma took a piece of orange candy from his pocket.
He peeled off the wrapper and popped it into Yotsuya Miko's mouth.
The sweet taste of orange quickly spread through her mouth, making her feel much better.
Once Yotsuya Miko had recovered, Yukima Azuma asked:
"Do you feel any changes?"
Yotsuya Miko closed her eyes, concentrating for a moment.
"Hmm... it seems... it seems like I can spit something out."
Saying that, Yotsuya Miko turned to the side and tried spitting.
Then.
The giant humanoid spider reappeared in Yotsuya Miko's sight.
She was so scared that goosebumps covered her body.
At the same time, the terrible smell from before rushed into he nose again.
Yukima Azuma squinted.
"Miko, try to see if you can control it."
Hearing this, Yotsuya Miko tried to suppress her fear and spoke to the humanoid spider in front of her:
"Go destroy that pile of dirt over there."
If Yukima Azuma hadn't been there, Yotsuya Miko would never have dared to try.
The humanoid spider obeyed the command and rushed quickly toward the pile of dirt by the riverbank in the distance.
Yukima Azuma saw the soil being tossed into the air from far away.
It was indeed controllable.
However, it seemed that even when controlling an evil spirit, they still had to follow basic rules.
Before being seen, the level of destruction they caused was extremely limited.
"Can you retract it?"
"Let me try."
Yotsuya Miko took a deep breath toward the humanoid spider.
The humanoid spider quickly shrank down.
Yotsuya Miko let out a small dry retch.
"I feel like I just ate a rag again, Azuma-sama, hic!"
Yukima Azuma gently ran his hand through the girl's amber-eyed hair.
He had only intended to test things out, but he didn't expect it to succeed.
As expected, Yotsuya Miko possessed the most powerful "clairvoyant" ability among all charaters in the original works she belonged to.
Whether the evil spirits were strong or weak, Yotsuya Miko could see them clearly.
Her talent was truly amazing.
It seemed that there was still a great potential to be unlocked.
Could this be called "soul control magic"?
...
The two of them walked back to Shuka High School.
On the way, Yotsuya Miko several times wanted to say something but hesitated.
Upon entering the school grounds, they stopped in front of a takoyaki stall.
Takoyaki, being easy to make with a simple process, was always the top choice for student-run stalls during school festivals.
Yukima Azuma ordered a portion with mayonnaise and Thousand Island sauce.
The takoyaki had just been taken out of the pan and was still steaming, causing the bonito flakes on top to gently sway.
He skewered a piece of takoyaki, blew on it to cool it down, and then offered it to Yotsuya Miko.
Yotsuya Miko stared at the takoyaki being held in front of her, a little dazed, but in the end, she opened her mouth and took a bite.
The taste wasn't anything special, but Yotsuya Miko ate it happily.
She hadn't had breakfast when she left the house this morning.
When she woke up early, her mother called her and her sister to the breakfast table.
Yotsuya Miko immediately saw a giant lizard-like monster lying on the table.
It even stuck its long tongue out to lick a piece of her toast.
Although the evil spirits, before being seen, couldn't affect the material world, the sight still made Yotsuya Miko unable to swallow her breakfast.
She could only say, "I'm not hungry," and rushed to school.
After a busy morning, she was now finally able to have a bite of takoyaki.
No matter how ordinary the dish was, Yotsuya Miko still ate it with delight.
"If you want to say something, just say it directly. You don't need to hide it from me, Miko."
Watching Yotsuya Miko enjoy the takoyaki, Yukima Azuma smiled.
Hearing this, Yotsuya Miko suddenly felt like she wanted to say "woof."
Heaven knows how every day she had to pretend not to see, and talk in vague riddlesit was truly painful.
"Azuma-sama, I... I want to move closer to your house."
Yotsuya Miko finally voiced the reason she had been hesitant about throughout the journey.
If she could move closer to Yukima Azuma's home, at least every night when going to bed, Yotsuya Miko wouldn't have to face the evil spirits in her room anymore.
Every time she went to sleep, as soon as the lights went out, strange things would crawl out from the wardrobe or under the bed.
She had to pretend not to see anything and force herself to sleep as if nothing had happened.
At times, the evil spirits would even crawl into her blanket.
If this continued, Yotsuya Miko felt that her mental state would collapse.
After making this request, Yotsuya Miko nervously looked at Yukima Azuma.
"That's fine, there are a few apartments near my place that are up for sale," Yukima Azuma said.
"But don't you have your mother and younger sister at home? Can you convince your family to move?" he asked.
Yotsuya Miko let out a sigh of relief upon hearing Yukima Azuma's words.
As long as Yukima Azuma agreed, that was all that mattered.
"Yes, I think I can convince them," she replied.
In her mind, Yotsuya Miko was already thinking about how to bring up the conversation with her mother.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma immediately sent the address of his house and the contact details for the apartment owner nearby to Yotsuya Miko's phone.
He skewered a piece of takoyaki and tasted it, only to immediately lose interest.
It seemed that ever since he leveled up his cooking skill to level 7, his taste buds had become more selective.
Therefore, Yukima Azuma handed the rest of the takoyaki to Yotsuya Miko.
Yotsuya Miko took it without hesitation and finished it all.
"Speaking of which, Azuma-sama, what's that thing behind you that you've been carrying since this morning?" she asked curiously, eyeing the instrument case on Yukima Azuma's back.
"Oh, this is a magical tool that will be used later," Yukima Azuma replied with a smile, patting the guitar on his back.
Yotsuya Miko didn't fully understand, but she trusted that Azuma-sama had his reasons for everything he did.
...
In the afternoon, the two of them walked through the small stalls around Shuka High School, filling up with snacks.
Then, they both headed toward the school's gymnasium.
The performances for the festival would be held in the gym, starting at 1 p.m.
Arriving early would give them the chance to pick a good spot.
As soon as they entered the gym, their eyes caught a glimpse of a blonde-haired figure.
Yukima Azuma walked toward the temporary stage and greeted the blonde-haired person.
"Manager Ijichi, you're here early!"
Ijichi Seika, Nijika's older sister, who was 12 years older than her, was also the manager of the live house STARRY where Kessoku Band performed.
The last time Yukima Azuma went to see Bocchi's performance, he had met and greeted Seika backstage a few times.
Upon hearing his voice, Ijichi Seika turned around.
When she saw Yukima Azuma, she waved back.
"Nijika kept pestering me to come watch the performance, so I had no choice but to come," she said.
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but chuckle.
Manager Ijichi Seika had a cute, somewhat proud attitude.
"Oh, you're... hic... you're Yukima, right? Hello!" A woman with purple hair, standing beside Ijichi Seika, staggered toward Yukima Azuma to greet him.
The strong smell of alcohol hit them immediately as she spoke.
Yotsuya Miko widened her eyes in shock.
Where did this drunkard come from?
Looking at the older sister with purple hair, smelling of alcohol, greeting her.
Yukima Azuma blinked, turning her head to look at Ijichi Seika.
"Ijichi-san, is this your friend?"
Ijichi Seika looked a little awkward.
She raised her hand to rub her forehead.
But in the end, she nodded.
"She's a junior of mine from college, Hiroi Kikuri."
"Bocchi-chan met her on the street in Shimokitazawa after school."
"Now she's here to watch Bocchi-chan's performance along with everyone."
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma nodded.
He actually knew this alcoholic older sister.
A bassist so addicted to alcohol that she couldn't leave her drink.
In the original story, she was considered half a guide for Bocchi to step onto the stage.
"Hiroi-san, hello."
"Hehe, hello, hello, just like Bocchi said, you really are handsome."
Hiroi Kikuri staggered over, throwing an arm around Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
The smell of alcohol became even stronger, blowing straight into he face.
But, if she was Bocchi's friend, she was considered half a friend of Yukima Azuma too.
For friends, Yukima Azuma had a very high tolerance level.
"Has Hiroi-san drunk a bit too much?"
"It's fine, it's fine, I'm still very sober."
"I brought hangover medicine and red bean soup, Hiroi-san, please have some."
"Eh!? You're so thoughtful! I feel like I might fall in love with you!"
Hiroi Kikuri took the hangover medicine.
She mixed it into the red bean soup and drank it down.
Then, she leaned against the edge of the stage to rest and cure the hangover.
Ijichi Seika and Yotsuya Miko looked at each other, surprised.
They didn't understand why Yukima Azuma had hangover medicine with her.
Facing their suspicious looks,
Yukima Azuma shrugged.
"Well, it's better to be prepared."
What kind of prevention was this? It really was like a prediction!
This thought appeared in their minds.
"Yukima-oniisan!"
The voice of a child rang out.
Yukima Azuma felt he thigh being hugged.
Turning around, it was the cute little girl with pink hair.
Yukima Azuma reached out to pick her up and introduced her.
"This is Gotoh Futari, Bocchi's little sister."
"Gotoh Futari desu!"
Gotoh Futari was small and bright.
"She's Bocchi-chan's little sister?."
Ijichi Seika looked at the cute Futari, a little amazed.
Although they looked about seventy to eighty percent alike,
In some ways, the two sisters were completely different.
The manager always felt that all the positive energy of the older sister was poured into the younger sister.
At this moment, the Mr. and Mrs Gotoh also came over.
Clearly here to watch their eldest daughter's performance.
Mr. Gotoh even brought a video camera.
They were very well-prepared.
For the first friend their eldest daughter had made,
The couple showed great enthusiasm.
.....
As time passed,
The auditorium gradually became more crowded.
Amidst the crowd, Yukima Azuma recognized faces he had seen at the live house.
They seemed to be fans of Bocchi and Kessoku Band.
Although they had only been on stage twice so far,
The group's guitarist, Bocchi, truly had a strange allure.
There were also some unfamiliar faces.
"Wait a minute, our classmate Gotoh is going to perform on stage, right?"
"Umu, it seems like she'll perform with the band. I didn't expect Gotoh-san to know how to play an instrument."
"She seems really talented. Could it be because she's so immersed in music that she doesn't communicate much with others?"
Whispers floated through the crowd.
Many had gathered here because of Gotoh Hitori.
In just half a year,
From the spring break to the summer break,
Bocchi had overcome many struggles and was no longer alone.
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but smile faintly.
....
On stage,
Behind the curtain,
The equipment had been neatly arranged.
The four members of Kessoku Band were making final adjustments to their instruments.
Bocchi's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of her chest.
"Why is there drum sound already, even though it hasn't started yet?"
Yamada Ryo spoke up, confused.
"Bocchi-chan! You should also take a deep breath!"
Kita Ikuyo, having found the source of the "drum sound," hurried to comfort her.
After finishing the adjustments,
The four of them stood in a circle.
Placing their hands on each other.
"Kessoku Band, let's do our best together, and enjoy the school festival together!"
Nijika said the slogan with enthusiasm.
The hands of everyone were pressed down and then lifted up.
With the announcement of Kessoku Band's upcoming performance,
The heavy curtain was slowly lifted.
The four of them squinted slightly, adjusting to the bright light in the auditorium.
Then, they saw the scene below the stage.
This auditorium, several times larger than the live house, was packed with people.
The orange light sticks glittered below the stage.
After swallowing a gulp,
The overwhelming noise suddenly erupted into their ears.
The scene when standing on stage was far more impressive than anything they had imagined.
Bocchi was so nervous that she wanted to close her eyes,
But she forced herself not to avoid it.
Fortunately, just at that moment,
"Good luck, onee-chan!"
Following the voice,
Bocchi saw the energetic figure of her little sister, along with the light sticks of her parents cheering her on.
"Good luck!"
It was Bocchi's fans.
Over there, her classmates were also present, their faces full of anticipation.
"Bocchi-chan, good luck! Kikuri onee-san came to watch you! Do your best, Bocchi-chan!"
Near the stage,
The older sister with purple hair, like a ball of energy, waved her arms enthusiastically.
It was clear she had been drinking, and there was a glass bottle of alcohol beside the stage.
Bocchi decided to pretend she didn't see her.
Finally, her gaze stopped at the teenager in front of the stage.
The teenager wasn't shouting loudly,
He only mouthed words to her.
But his voice resonated deeply in Bocchi's heart.
Bocchi, do your best!
It was that voice.
Nijika started tapping the drumsticks on the drum, signaling the performance to begin.
At the right moment, the bass blended in.
Bocchi also played the first note of her song in the school festival.
The sound of the guitar spread throughout the auditorium.
The skillful playing, the waves of sound connecting without any gaps.
It was Bocchi's first time stepping onto such a large stage, but she exerted one hundred twenty percent of her strength.
The drumbeat quickened, the bass deepened, and the guitar roared like a raging storm. The entire band blended together perfectly.
The entire auditorium, every eye, was completely captivated by this band.
No matter the unhappiness or fatigue, everything could be blamed on the weather at this moment.
.....
[I liked dark, cramped spaces, so I'd bury my face deep in my hood
My eyes resented the heartless world, but yearned for love
I liked being soaked by the rain, because my face looked better clouded over
I pretended to be afraid of the storm while waiting for the sky to burst
Strum through the light's distortion; I want to make thunder roar
Drum beyond the pain; what can I do? This fierce pounding is out of control
Strum in a harmonizing quartet; I want to cause a revolution
Drum in a lamenting forte; what can I do? My savage nature is beyond wild]
Kita Ikuyo's clear voice rang out, like a skylark soaring through the space of the auditorium.
The lyrics that Bocchi wrote always carried her unique style.
And when those words were sung by Ikuyo under the sunlight,
It created a particularly lively feeling.
Or perhaps, one could call it the feeling of rock.
There was no conductor.
The light sticks in the auditorium swayed up and down in rhythm with the guitar.
After the instrumental break, a stronger wind blew.
The music swept away the scorching heat of summer, clearing everything in its path.
The first song ended with a skillful sweep of the strings from Bocchi.
"This is our first song, Seishun Complex!"
"We are Kessoku Band! Currently active in Shimokitazawa!"
Nijika, the part-time MC, began introducing the band.
In this brief moment of musical pause,
Hiroi Kikuri curiously looked at the guitar bag behind Yukima Azuma.
"Yukima-kun, will you be performing on stage later? Is there a bass in the bag? Or a guitar?"
Upon hearing this, Yukima Azuma pulled the guitar bag from behind to his chest.
Through the fabric, he gently rubbed the strings beneath.
"It's not that, this is just for precaution."
Hiroi Kikuri tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
Ijichi Seika also glanced over with curiosity.
"Next, our second song, Seiza ni Naretara!"
When Kita Ikuyo loudly announced it,
Kessoku band's performance continued.
Everyone's attention turned back to the stage.
The exciting musical experience from the first song had everyone eagerly anticipating the second one.
While waiting,
It was actually a drunk purple who noticed the problem first.
Hiroi Kikuri stared at Bocchi, dazed.
With the urgent drumbeats,
The second song, Seiza ni Naretara, began.
As Bocchi played, she glanced at the tuning knobs.
From the start, the sound of the guitar was a little strange.
As the performance continued,
It became clear that something was off, even though everything had been fine until yesterday.
But now, why were the first and second strings out of tune?
Bocchi lowered her head, feeling a bit unsettled.
And just as she strummed the guitar,
Bang!
A strange sound, barely noticeable, blended into the music.
Bocchi's eyes widened.
The first string had snapped!
The performance went on.
Bocchi quickly reached down to turn the tuning knob.
But the knob was stuck and wouldn't turn.
At that moment, Bocchi noticed something.
There was a crack on the guitar where the tuning knob was.
"Well, then, the second string can't be used either."
"Like this, she won't be able to finish the solo."
Hiroi Kikuri, who had noticed the problem first, muttered to herself.
The guitar's tuning knobs were responsible for adjusting the tension of the strings.
When the first string broke, it affected the tension of the second string.
Without tuning, the second string would completely lose its pitch.
If two out of the six strings were broken,
No matter how hard you tried, you wouldn't be able to complete the guitar solo.
'What should I do, it's my turn to solo now!'
'What should I do, think quickly, Gotoh Hitori!'
A rare school festival performance was about to be ruined by her equipment failure!
Everything was going to fall apart because of her!
Bending down, Bocchi desperately tried to fix the guitar, but it was hopeless.
In her mind, everything was chaotic.
The suffocating feeling of collapse weighed heavily on her chest.
And at that moment,
"Bocchi!"
A boy's voice rang out from below the stage.
Bocchi instinctively looked up.
A light blue-pink guitar appeared in her line of sight.
Seeing that guitar, Bocchi quickly ran over.
The two exchanged guitars quickly.
Even holding the cold guitar that had never been used, Bocchi still felt a little unreal.
But there was no time to think.
She listened to Kita Ikuyo's playing, then tuned the strings and focused.
The perfect guitar sound rang in her ears.
Bocchi felt an amazing sense of harmony with this unfamiliar guitar.
After all, this was the guitar she had first seen in the music store.
And the perfect sound,
Clearly, someone had meticulously adjusted the tension of the strings.
There wasn't a single flaw.
Without effort, it would never be tuned to such perfection.
Bocchi could clearly feel that, as she played, it was as if another pair of hands were pressing the strings with her.
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 100 (Yay~): Bocchi's First Time
The guitar solo begins.
Bocchi uses her new guitar, playing a solo melody that stirs the heart.
The sound waves swirl around the space in the stadium.
It's amazing.
That's the thought of most of the people in the audience.
Those who do not have the ability to professionally evaluate music.
They simply comment on whether it's good or not.
And what can capture attention and make people lose themselves is the greatest praise.
Bocchi only feels that playing the guitar is becoming smoother and smoother.
The small mistakes she hadn't noticed during previous performances are now easily found and corrected.
It's as if someone else is standing behind her, playing with her.
She feels the magic of it.
This is the first time Bocchi feels like her guitar playing is plucking the emotional strings of her heart.
If were to describe it figuratively.
At this moment.
Bocchi's guitar skills, from "beginner level," have entered "Master level."
Bocchi's heart also resonates with the guitar strings.
...
The performance slowly ends.
The entire auditorium remains immersed in awe, unable to escape immediately.
It's as if they are still submerged in that indescribable feeling.
The vast stadium.
After three seconds of silence.
Suddenly bursts into thunderous applause and intense cheering.
The sound seems to tear through the dome of the stadium.
Bocchi wipes the sweat from her forehead, her eyes full of joy as she looks down at the audience.
Across the stage, she and the boy lock eyes.
The applause around her suddenly fades away.
Only the sound of one person's applause reaches her ears.
Nijika on stage looks at Bocchi with surprise.
The solo just now.
She could clearly hear the difference, a complete change from before.
Even she, at this moment, could only describe the performance as "amazing."
Looking at the blue-pink guitar in Bocchi's hands.
Nijika couldn't help but exclaim.
...
The curtain slowly falls.
The applause lingers, continuous.
"Are you still having the celebration party, right? Then, I'll excuse myself and leave first."
Yukima Azuma smiles, bidding farewell to Ijichi Seika and Hiroi Kikyori.
"Eh? Aren't you coming with everyone to the celebration party?"
"Aren't you going?"
Both of them suddenly realize, quickly trying to stop him.
Yukima Azuma gently shakes he head.
"I'm not participating, I'm not a member of the band, just a spectator."
Hiroi Kikuri, hearing this, grumbles and rushes towards Azuma.
Yukima Azuma quickly dodges.
That being said, aside from Bocchi and Kita Ikuyo, Yukima Azuma isn't particularly familiar with the others.
And getting too close could make them uncomfortable.
Ijichi Seika watches Yukima Azuma leave, unsure of what to say.
He's prepared for everything.
He definitely cares a lot about Bocchi.
...
After Yukima Azuma left, Ijichi Seika and Hiroi Kikuri also exited through the back door of the stadium.
This door is closer to the backstage area.
As soon as the two of them stepped outside, they saw Gotoh Hitori running toward them, holding her guitar.
Even the other three members of Kessoku Band were left behind.
This scene made the two of them exclaim in surprise.
Because Gotoh Hitori usually makes sure to stay behind the other members of Kessoku Band.
She tries to avoid standing out too much, keeping a low profile.
How could she do something so attention-grabbing?
Bocchi ran up to them, stopped, and panted heavily.
She could hardly catch her breath, but she quickly looked up, searching around.
But after scanning the area, she couldn't find the person she was looking for.
Gotoh Hitori's joyful expression suddenly dimmed a little.
"Haa manager, do you know where Azuma-kun went?"
Gotoh Hitori tried to steady her breathing and asked that question.
Seeing Gotoh Hitori's expression,
Ijichi Seika and Hiroi Kikuri exchanged a smile.
"Yukima-kun went in that direction. You can still catch up."
"Run! Bocchi-chan! Run, hurry up!"
Gotoh Hitori nodded and headed in the direction Yukima Azuma had gone.
But after running a few steps, she suddenly remembered something and turned back.
"Everyone, manager, Kikuri-san, I'm really sorry"
Because she had promised, after the school festival performance, they would celebrate together.
At that moment, the three little friends had just arrived.
Nijika looked at her, as if to say, "Why are you apologizing now?" with an irredeemable expression.
"Still apologizing at this hour! Hurry up and go!"
Kita Ikuyo waved her hand.
"Go, Bocchi-chan!"
Ryo also waved her hand.
So, Gotoh Hitori continued running ahead.
She passed through the crowd.
Crossed the empty school corridor.
When she set foot on a corner of the grassy field, Gotoh Hitori couldn't stop apologizing to the grass in her heart.
She passed through the gate of Shuka High School.
Finally, the figure of the boy appeared within her sight.
At that moment, Bocchi stopped thinking and rushed forward.
In the surprised eyes of Yukima Azuma, she opened her arms and threw herself into his embrace.
The cars moving on the road.
The people walking down the street.
The students passing by the roadside.
Everything seemed to disappear.
In Bocchi's world, there was only the boy left.
"Why are you chasing me, Bocchi? Aren't you supposed to be celebrating with the band?"
Yukima Azuma was genuinely a little surprised.
"I... I came to return the guitar to Azuma-kun."
Bocchi, with only the image of him in her mind, could only awkwardly say that reason.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma shook his head and smiled softly.
"This guitar, Bocchi, you can keep it."
Unexpectedly receiving this answer, Bocchi took the blue-pink guitar, her mouth slightly open in surprise.
Seeing her cute expression, Yukima Azuma reached out, gently lifting Bocchi's chin and softly brushing it.
"This was originally a gift for Bocchi."
"That day, when you walked into the music store, you stared at this guitar for a long time, right?"
"Bocchi's guitar seems to be quite old. I heard from Mr. Gotoh that it was the guitar he used back when he was a student."
"So, I thought about buying this guitar and giving it to you at the right time."
"And you don't need to worry about money, because it was your money that paid for it."
"You gave me money with great meaning, like a 'dowry,' and I promised to use it at the right time."
"Looking back, I think I chose the right time, don't you think?"
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Bocchi finally couldn't hold back anymore.
Tears began to flow freely, dropping onto the hand that was lifting her chin.
No wonder the guitar she loved appeared at the exact right moment when the strings broke.
It felt like winning the lotterythis unexpected moment.
It must be because the boy in front of her had woven a bit of care for her.
This care didn't feel like a burden.
It only made her want to cry.
Tears continued to flow.
Yukima Azuma took a tissue out of his pocket and gently wiped away each drop of tear on Bocchi's face.
Finally, after a long while, Bocchi stopped crying and, with a choked voice, said:
"Azuma-kun... shall we... go... for a walk?"
Yukima Azuma wiped the last tear from Bocchi's face.
"Are you really okay with not going to the party?"
"Mm, right now I want... to be with Azuma-kun..."
"Alright."
Yukima Azuma took Bocchi's hand.
Bocchi, in turn, tightly gripped his hand with her fingers.
The two of them walked together down the small path of Shuka High School, heading towards the train station.
This path, Bocchi had walked countless times before.
But today, it felt like the first time she was walking on it.
The scenery along the way felt completely different.
When she looked down, all she could see were the neatly arranged paving stones, with some sections of the sidewalk damaged.
And the colorful shadows of trees reflected on the ground.
But when she looked up, the soft afternoon light bathed the street, and the leaves swayed in the breeze.
On the wall next to them were various kinds of street graffiti.
The boy beside her, bathed in sunlight, smiled in a way that made her heart catch in her chest.
Youth gradually reappeared in the fading memories.
They both entered the train station.
Together, they boarded the swaying train, the clattering sound of the tracks echoing.
Since it was the afternoon, the train car was packed with people.
But Bocchi didn't feel bothered.
In fact, this was better.
She stood on one side of the train car.
Yukima Azuma held onto the handrail opposite her, his hand creating a small, comforting space of safety in the midst of the surrounding crowd.
The two of them felt the gentle sway of the train, occasionally getting closer to each other.
They got off the train at Tokyo Station.
Hand in hand, they entered the bustling crowd of Ginza.
They went to a bakery to buy a few cookies.
Then, they entered a bubble tea shop and ordered plain milk tea and mango pomelo sago.
Of course, Yukima Azuma took care of the ordering.
Bocchi, holding a cookie in one hand and bubble tea in the other, felt a little awkward.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma suddenly brought the straw to her mouth.
"Try it, it's really good."
Bocchi hesitated for a moment before she opened her mouth and bit onto the straw.
Awawa! She had just performed an indirect kiss... even though they had kissed several times already.
The straw brought her a sip of the delicious drink.
Unlike the usual milk tea or drinks from vending machines.
Bocchi, who had never been to a bubble tea shop and didn't have the courage to stand in front of the staff, just stared at the menu.
So, she ended up ordering plain milk tea.
As the two walked past a hair salon in Ginza, Bocchi stopped.
Yukima Azuma blinked in surprise.
Bocchi took a few deep breaths.
Then, she took off the hair tie with a strand of hair attached to it and handed it to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma looked at the hair accessory, which resembled a fruit-flavored Bourbon candy, in his hand.
"Wow, has Bocchi become more outgoing today?"
"Not really!"
Her tense mood was easily eased by that comment.
They entered the hair salon.
Yukima Azuma communicated briefly with the hairdresser.
It was just a trim of her bangs and a slight adjustment to her long hair... no special styling, no need for curling or blow-drying.
A hair salon that could exist in Ginza seemed trustworthy enough.
Bocchi sat in the chair, closing her eyes because of the tension.
After hearing the sound of scissors snipping,
The cute face that had been hidden under the long pink hair was finally revealed.
After the hair was washed and dried,
Bocchi shyly stepped in front of Yukima Azuma.
"H-How do you... feel about it?"
Her deep blue eyes were no longer hidden by her bangs, looking a bit flustered.
"Really cute, and now, I feel like if I don't see you for a day, I'd miss you terribly."
Yukima Azuma said seriously.
"Ehh? Then... then... I'll send you a photo every day, Azuma-kun!"
"Alright, let's make it official then."
With such a pleasant surprise, of course, Yukima Azuma happily agreed.
Yeah, Yukima Azuma had even gotten a membership card for this hair salon.
When they walked out of the salon, hand in hand, the sky had begun to darken.
In the distance, the sun slowly set, painting the evening clouds with a red hue.
The orange-red color gradually faded away.
A cool summer breeze gently blew, making the hair by the girl's ear flutter lightly.
"What should we have for dinner tonight? Or do you want to go home and eat, Bocchi?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
But this time, there was no immediate answer.
When he turned his head with a puzzled expression,
Yukima Azuma's eyes met Bocchi's sparkling gaze.
Bocchi's eyes seemed to be speaking.
"I don't want to go home tonight."
Those deep blue eyes were how she conveyed that message to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma paused for a moment, then took out his phone.
Well, anyway, he would find a nearby luxury hotel.
"Bocchi, do you have your ID with you?"
"Mm..."
Bocchi felt lucky because this morning, when she left the house, she had put her ID in her skirt pocket.
At that moment, she had thought that if the band's performance at the school festival failed, she would change her name and run away.
Oh, and also change her hairstyle.
But anyway, having it with her was definitely a stroke of luck!
Yukima Azuma chose a hotel and called to book a room.
Since it wasn't a holiday or peak tourist season, the luxury suite was still available.
He directly booked a room over the phone.
After that, the two followed the GPS directions and headed toward the hotel.
Passing by a pharmacy, Yukima Azuma stopped.
"The hotel... it should be have it."
Bocchi's voice was as quiet as a mosquito.
"Umu, but if we prepare, we won't have to worry."
Yukima Azuma left Bocchi outside and entered the pharmacy by himself.
When he came out, one of the bags was slightly bulging.
The two of them checked in at the front desk.
The receptionist looked at the black card Yukima Azuma handed her and smiled brightly.
"Your room is on the 11th floor. The elevator is to the right. Have a pleasant evening."
They received the room key.
Yukima Azuma pulled Bocchi, who was covering her face with her hand, into the hotel elevator.
He swiped the key card to open the room.
The first thing that caught his eye was the lavishly decorated lobby.
This luxurious suite had a shower room, and outside, there was a separate 2.5 hot spring pool.
The towels and new pajamas were high-end and available for free use.
Bocchi ran straight to the bedroom.
She sat at a corner of the pristine white bed.
"T-T-What should we do next? I'm so sorry, but... but I really... have no experience."
Yukima Azuma really wanted to say that not having experience wasn't a problem.
Well, maybe Yukima Azuma didn't have much experience either.
But right now, it felt like anything he said would only embarrass Bocchi more.
"Umu... first, let's take a bath."
Yukima Azuma made a sensible suggestion.
Hearing this, Bocchi quickly ran into the shower room.
Yukima Azuma sat on the bed, letting out a sigh.
After a while, he still didn't hear the sound of water coming from the bathroom.
He turned his head.
Yukima Azuma saw Bocchi half-peeking her head out.
"Do you want... to... take a bath together?"
Looking at her blushing face, Yukima Azuma felt like Bocchi might faint from the embarrassment.
"Maybe next time."
Finally, the sound of water gently flowing could be heard.
About half an hour later.
When Yukima Azuma began to wonder if Bocchi had fainted from soaking for too long,
A cute girl, wrapped in a pink towel, slowly walked out of the shower.
"...."
"...Then I'll go take a bath too."
After admiring her for a moment, Yukima Azuma spoke.
As a result, while on his way to the bathroom,
Yukima Azuma was suddenly embraced by Bocchi.
"No... no need, Azuma-kun smells so nice."
Since their first meeting, Bocchi had really liked the scent of Yukima Azuma.
The two staggered, and in the end, one of them lost balance and fell onto the white bed.
Yukima Azuma looked into her teary eyes and said:
"If you regret it now, it's still not too late."
Bocchi didn't say anything.
She only responded with bedroom eyes.
All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends
Curse_Heian_Chef
Early in the morning.
The biological clock that Yukima Azuma had formed long ago woke him up.
Opening his eyes, he looked up at the unfamiliar ceiling.
His instincts made him want to sit up.
As his body moved, a heavy feeling spread in his arm.
A slight difficulty in moving.
Yukima Azuma stopped his actions.
It was only then that he remembered what had happened the night before.
Simply put, what needed to be done had already been done.
Currently, pink hair was at the tip of his fingers.
Her head tilted slightly against his shoulder.
Yukima Azuma saw it.
In his arms, the pink-haired girl was sound asleep.
From her expression, she was likely dreaming a beautiful dream.
Especially this small and lonely girl, who was willing to cooperate with everything.
An incredibly wonderful experience.
Carefully pulling his hand out.
Yukima Azuma stealthily got out of bed.
It was only after leaving the bedroom that Yukima Azuma dared to move normally.
He found the hotel's internal phone on the table in the living room.
Yukima Azuma made a call to the front desk.
"Good morning, Yukima-san. Is there anything I can assist you with?"
"Bring me some red dates, lotus seeds, pig kidneys... and spices, to the room."
"Yukima-san, do you need fresh ingredients? Our hotel offers a meal service, you can order food free of charge."
"I need the ingredients."
"Understood, Yukima-san. Please wait a moment. We will immediately send someone to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients and bring them to your room very quickly."
Yukima Azuma hung up.
The hotel's work efficiency was very high.
After all, the cost of renting this room for a night was equivalent to the price of renting an ordinary apartment for a month.
The good ingredients were neatly arranged in a box, placed at the door.
Yukima Azuma brought the ingredients into the room and then entered the kitchen.
He lit the stove and began to cook the soup.
This was the first time Yukima Azuma had skipped his morning run since getting the system and starting his training.
Previously, no matter how big the storm was, Yukima Azuma had never missed his morning run.
But today, if he didn't run, then so be it.
He couldn't leave the girl who had just lost her Cherry like that.
...
Yukima Azuma hummed softly, quickly using a kitchen knife to process the ingredients.
His technique could already be considered an art.
Pork rib soup with red dates and lotus seeds.
A dish that tonifies qi and blood, very delicious, with no ingredients that Bocchi didn't like.
"My love story, it may sound very gay...~"
"Girlfriend say I'm loser~"
"Scare tomorrow lose her~"
"Memory no more, cry like baby~"
"Say bye bye, I become single guy~"
The boy's gentle singing voice.
Like the seasoning for this morning.
The morning light shone through the window, casting the boy's shadow long in the room.
The bedroom door was pushed open, carrying a light breeze.
Yukima Azuma stopped singing.
"Did I make noise and wake you up?"
He turned around, smiling gently and asking.
Gotoh Hitori shook her head.
At this moment, she was wearing only a loose white shirt that originally belonged to Yukima Azuma.
The delicate white shirt was stretched tight, forming an exaggerated curve, and the button on the shirt had to bear a lot of pressure.
As they say, the material creates gravity.
That's the law of universal attraction in science.
So, it was perfectly natural for Yukima Azuma's gaze to be drawn by the gravity of her presence.
"Girlfriend find another~."
"Find another one like Taylor Swift~."
"We break up today, I think I ok~."
Gotoh Hitori sang along to the song that Azuma hadn't finished yet.
She stretched her arms out, wrapping them around the boy's waist from behind.
So, Yukima Azuma followed her and sang along.
Even without instruments, to their ears, it sounded like nature itself was the music.
...
When Gotoh Hitori just woke up, she noticed the pillow beside her was empty.
Her mood was a little complicated.
A bit disappointed, but not because she was blaming Azuma.
Azuma was the best in the world.
If she woke up in the morning and saw him holding a diamond ring on his knee, that would definitely make Gotoh Hitori feel awkward.
She wouldn't be able to control her thoughts, wondering 'how could she possibly deserve him?'
In the days ahead, would she be able to bear the responsibility of being a good girlfriend, or even a good wife?
Compared to receiving, Gotoh Hitori tended to lean more towards giving in a relationship.
Receiving too much would actually make her feel scared.
She thought about a bunch of meaningless things in her head.
Gotoh Hitori vaguely heard the gentle singing from outside the bedroom.
She grabbed the white shirt at the head of the bed and put it on.
Gotoh Hitori poked her head out of the bedroom.
The boy was busy in the kitchen.
Steam gradually rose and spread through the air like an invisible cloud.
Her heart felt light and fluttery, just like that.
...
Back to the present.
Yukima Azuma gently tapped the slender hand on his waist.
"Bocchi, hurry and wash your hands, it's almost time to eat."
Bocchi's fingers were very long, and despite years of playing the guitar, she didn't have any calluses.
When holding her hand, one couldn't help but want to caress it.
Like a work of art, extremely beautiful.
Now, Yukima Azuma somewhat understood Kira Yoshikage's thoughts.
Bocchi obediently ran off to wash her hands.
When she returned.
The aroma of the ribs had filled the living room.
Upon smelling the fragrance in the air.
Bocchi seemed to have turned into a rock art.
"Azuma-kun, even if there's poison in the bowl, I'll still finish it all without leaving a single drop!"
"What a weird declaration, come here and try it."
"Slup... It's so delicious, really so delicious, it feels like I might cry!"
"Must be because you touched the hot tongue, take your time eating."
Yukima Azuma raised his hand and gently tapped Bocchi on the head.
Bocchi, as usual, lowered her head.
But this time, her long hair didn't cover her eyes.
Her bright and lively eyes, a bit shy, gazed up from below.
It made one want to tease her even more.
After being scolded.
Bocchi slowly drank the soup with a small spoon.
It was truly delicious.
She had never tasted such a wonderful dish before.
Bocchi's limited vocabulary couldn't express how she felt at this moment.
The soft bed, the marks on the sheets, the morning kitchen steam, and him by her side.
Before the spring break.
Even in her dreams, Bocchi couldn't have imagined this scene.
If an ordinary person reflected on all these changes, they would probably feel like they were living in a dream.
But Bocchi understood clearly.
Her former self could never have had this kind of thought.
The sweet days of youth, sweet to the very marrow.
They were scenes that, even just glimpsed on a television screen, made her heart ache.
But only after half a year.
Bocchi was already in it, immersed in it, lost in it.
The breakfast lasted nearly an hour.
Bocchi couldn't help but yawn loudly.
Her once-flat stomach was now slightly expanded.
Yukima Azuma smiled lightly and reached out to poke her.
Bocchi covered her face with her hand, feeling a little embarrassed, but she didn't stop him away.
"Do you want to sleep more?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
After all, Bocchi had been tired all night yesterday and only managed to sleep close to dawn.
"A little... I guess it won't hurt."
Bocchi calculated the time.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma was momentarily stunned, then immediately pinched Bocchi's cheek in displeasure.
"I said sleep, aren't you tired?"
Only then did Bocchi realize her misunderstanding.
Her fair skin suddenly turned bright red.
"Ah... actually, I got a message at home asking how I'm doing, so it's better to go home earlier."
"Your family already asked, and you still say 'a little won't hurt,' Bocchi, are you not worried?"
"No... no, it's just that if we delay a bit, we might still make it in time."
"I want to flick your forehead, but I can't bring myself to."
"Eh!?"
...
The hotel staff had been assigned to go to the Ginza shopping center to buy new clothes.
They both changed into their clothes.
In front of the mirror, Yukima Azuma adjusted Bocchi's dress collar slightly.
As for Bocchi, her skills were still not proficient, and she was helping Yukima Azuma tie his tie.
Then, they held hands and first went to a high-end fruit shop to buy gifts.
Afterward, they both headed to Bocchi's house.
As soon as they rang the doorbell, the front door in the foyer immediately opened.
Yukima Azuma was used to this scene.
Seeing the Gotoh couple.
Yukima Azuma slightly bowed and greeted, then said:
"Mr. Gotoh, Mrs. Gotoh, as promised, I've come to visit."
The two of them noticed Yukima Azuma holding their daughter's hand.
And their daughter was now wearing a new outfit.
Unlike when she left home yesterday morning.
They probably understood the situation.
There was no awkwardness as they had imagined.
Their grown-up daughter had a boyfriend, and both of them felt very happy.
After all, Gotoh Hitori had always been an introverted girl, often hiding at home.
Since meeting Yukima Azuma, the smile on her face had appeared more and more often.
They were a typical family.
They hoped their daughter would be happy and content in the future.
Moreover, the young man in front of them really seemed trustworthy.
Naturally, there was no discomfort.
Hmm... maybe when their younger daughter, Gotoh Futari, finds a boyfriend in the future.
They might try to scare their son-in-law then, but for now, they'd be polite.
"Come in, come in. Yukima-kun, really, bringing gifts when visiting."
Mrs. Gotoh took the gift from Yukima Azuma's hand, smiling and inviting them both inside.
Bocchi was a little surprised.
She thought Yukima Azuma was just escorting her home.
She didn't expect him to visit.
Immediately, her small hand began nervously drawing circles on the palm of Yukima Azuma's hand.
Yukima Azuma tightened his grip, holding Bocchi's worried hand firmly.
Inside the apartment, the Gotoh couple, Yukima Azuma, and Bocchi sat across from each other at the long dining table.
"Yukima-kun, would you like something to drink? We have green tea and orange juice."
"Green tea is fine, sorry to trouble you."
"It's no trouble at all, Yukima-kun, you're just being too polite."
Soon, a cup of green tea was placed beside Yukima Azuma.
Bocchi felt a little nervous, her fingers swaying restlessly.
Her small foot brushed against Yukima Azuma's thigh under the table.
The situation of meeting the parents made her feel a bit tense.
The Gotoh couple also felt somewhat shy.
After all, it was the first time they were meeting their oldest daughter's boyfriend.
"Ah, Yukima-kun, what does your family do? What do you want to do in the future?"
"Husband! What kind of question is that! It's so rude!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I didn't mean anything, just making conversation."
Mr. Gotoh realized his question was a bit inappropriate after asking.
But in TV dramas, don't they often ask such questions?
Mrs. Gotoh shot him a glance.
She thought: This is the boyfriend that our oldest daughter worked so hard to find, and you're trying to ruin it?
However, Yukima Azuma didn't feel any pressure.
"It's fine," he waved his hand. "I was actually planning to talk to you both about these things."
Unlike regular high school students.
Yukima Azuma wasn't just talking about his feelings for Bocchi.
What he could promise wasn't limited to just protecting Bocchi in the future.
--------------------------------------------
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Yukima Azuma had made relentless efforts up until today.
Just so that on occasions like this, he could speak with a refined tone to everyone sitting across from him.
If it weren't for that, why would he bother struggling and calculating like this?
Wouldn't it be better to marry Eriri and live off her?
Or marry Kasumigaoka, and live a carefree life like that?
"It's fine," Yukima Azuma waved his hand slightly. "I also wanted to talk to both of you about these things."
Seeing Yukima Azuma's humble and polite attitude, the Gotoh couple finally felt at ease.
As long as they didn't mess things up, it would be fine.
However.
"When I was in junior high school, my family went through some hardships. Now, I'm the only one left in my family."
Yukima Azuma said this gently, as if it were of no importance.
The Gotoh couple felt as if they had just been punched in the heart.
It's ruined!
They must have messed it up!
"We're really sorry, Yukima-kun! I absolutely didn't mean to bring this up."
Mr. Gotoh quickly explained, flustered.
Mrs. Gotoh pinched her husband's waist hard, making him grit his teeth in pain.
But he didn't dare to let out a sound.
"It's okay, it's okay. After all, this is something I brought up myself, you two don't need to worry about it," Yukima Azuma spoke to ease the atmosphere.
The two of them finally calmed down.
However, their eyes when they looked at Yukima Azuma were filled with sympathy.
How old is this child?
He had to live alone in junior high school.
He must have suffered quite a lot over the years!
If it weren't for the awkwardness, the Gotoh couple would have already wanted to ask Yukima Azuma to move in with them.
But what Yukima Azuma said next left the two of them speechless with astonishment.
"Right now, I'm studying at Toyogasaki Academy, the same age as Bocchi."
"Aside from being a high school student, I've been learning to play shogi since I was young, and now I'm a professional 7-dan player."
"Although the income of a professional shogi player is unstable, since the beginning of this year..."
"Through official matches, my income is approximately like this."
Yukima Azuma raised his hand and wrote a rough number on his palm.
For an average family, the prize money that Yukima Azuma earned just from official matches was an astounding amount.
It had been mentioned before.
Professional shogi players in Japan are very well-paid.
After all, it's very difficult to enter the professional field.
Every year, only a handful of people can pass the tests of the shogi associations and be promoted to official matches.
Not to mention those who reach the professional level.
Currently, in the professional shogi world, there isn't even a single female player, which clearly shows the fierce competition.
Yukima Azuma, professional 7-dan player.
Even if he were 15 years older, in the Japanese marriage market, he would still be a sought-after son-in-law.
The Gotoh couple were left speechless and astounded by this sudden turn of events.
The teenager in front of them was clearly not what they had imagined.
Although he had suffered quite a bit, now, he had risen like a phoenix, soaring to the high sky.
"So, you two don't need to worry about me at all. I'll definitely have the ability to take good care of Bocchi in the future."
Yukima Azuma lowered his hand, sitting upright, looking as serious and obedient as a well-behaved boy.
It took quite a while for the Gotoh couple to regain their composure.
"Aha... I see now."
"Um-Umu... it feels like we're getting old."
"That's right, you two can decide things for yourselves~"
"Yes, it's a matter for young people, let them take care of it themselves."
With that, the couple stood up and went to their room.
They casually picked up Gotoh Futari, who was trying to climb onto Yukima Azuma, and took her with them.
Bocchi stood there, wide-eyed in astonishment.
She had been so tense just now, she could hardly stand it.
She was afraid that her parents and Yukima Azuma might clash during their conversation.
After all, in the dramas she'd watched before, such conflicts often happened.
Parents would oppose a relationship and cause the two people to break up.
But in the end, things turned out in an unexpected direction.
"Azuma-kun... you don't have to do that."
After a long while, Bocchi finally managed to say something like that.
Hearing this, how could Yukima Azuma not understand her meaning?
He raised his hand and gently lifted Bocchi's soft face.
"Don't worry, our relationship can stay just as it is."
"The reason I came here was simply to avoid making you feel awkward."
"Bocchi might be a fool, but at least we should give your parents a bit of peace of mind."
As he spoke, Yukima Azuma gently pinched Bocchi's cheek.
This girl really couldn't bear the responsibilities of being a girlfriend or a wife.
On the contrary, the feeling of being a secret lover seemed to suit her better.
How could there be such a fool in the world?
"Moreover," Yukima Azuma looked straight into Bocchi's eyes. "If you've decided you won't regret it, then of course, I won't give you the chance to back out."
Bocchi seemed drained of energy, her body slumping against Yukima Azuma's hand.
She had completely given up.
In short, it seemed like she couldn't escape his grasp now.
...
That afternoon, they had lunch at the Gotoh house.
Afterward, Yukima Azuma said goodbye to all four members of the Gotoh family.
He left the Gotoh house.
Under the scorching heat of summer, the sun blazed down from above.
Yukima Azuma looked up and raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun.
In any case, he needed to be more serious about his work.
If he couldn't dominate Japan in the future and change the laws here, then marriage wouldn't be possible. (note: lol hahaha, this is really really familiar)
Correspondingly, he needed to provide more basic security for the girls.
Although Yukima Azuma hadn't mentioned Laplace Corporation while at the Gotoh house, what he wanted to provide Bocchi in the future certainly wasn't just the title of a professional shogi player.
He hailed a taxi from the side of the road.
After getting in, Yukima Azuma told the driver:
"To Shibuya."
He paused for a moment and then continued. "To the Laplace Corporation building."
The taxi driver hesitated for a moment.
Then, he took out his phone to confirm the location.
He searched the map.
It didn't take long for him to find the building Yukima Azuma mentioned.
The car began to roll forward.
"Young man, are you an employee of this company?"
On the way, the driver struck up a conversation with Yukima Azuma.
"Yeah, you could say that."
"Ah, good for you, a bright future ahead!"
"It's nothing special, just a small start-up company."
"Eh, in today's environment, what small startup company could afford to buy an entire office building? It must have a lot of potential!"
"Haha, then I'll gladly accept your best wishes, sir."
As they chatted, the taxi arrived in front of the building.
Yukima Azuma paid the fare and stepped out.
He looked up.
The high-rise office building completely blocked out the sunlight, so there was no need to worry about the glaring light.
The old sign on the building had been taken down.
Now, on the facade of the high-rise, two large words made of LCD screens were displayed:
Laplace Corporation
Yes.
Yukima Azuma had bought this office building.
Now, the entire building belonged to Laplace Corporation.
Leasing office space was just a temporary solution.
Once you have money, who rents anymore?
If employees saw that they were still leasing office space, they might think the company wasn't capable!
A little workspace like that, who would find it sufficient?
Every department needs its own floor!
One person, one floor!
Ahem... one person per floor might be a bit much.
In any case, from a future perspective, buying this office building, especially after Japan's economic bubble bursts in a few years ago, would definitely not be a bad investment.
In the future, Japan's economy will recover, and real estate prices will rise again.
Even with the aging population and vacant houses starting to appear in the suburbs, an office building located in central Tokyo, in the Shibuya areaone of the busiest areas in the countrycould never fail to be profitable.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma wanted to hire real talent.
Laplace Corporation was aiming for the "future's pie," and of course, they needed to show the right attitude.
Otherwise, what genius would want to work here?
News of the acquisition of the office building had stirred public opinion.
At the moment, very few people had the means to make such a bold real estate purchase.
The specific good or bad evaluations of the deal were still unclear, but at least the company's reputation had been elevated.
Even taxi drivers driving through Shibuya knew: "Ah! This is the company that suddenly bought the whole office building."
Looking at the small details, you can still see the bigger picture.
Yukima Azuma entered the building smoothly.
The security staff at the door, upon seeing Yukima Azuma, all greeted him with a bow.
There was no typical scenario where the guards look down on him or mock him or slap-face casually.
At present, most people working in the Laplace Corporation building knew who Yukima Azuma was.
Although, since the building was acquired and the staff expanded, Yukima Azuma rarely appeared at the company anymore.
When Yukima Azuma entered the elevator, swiped his card, and pressed the button for his floor, the employees in the lobby on the first floor began to whisper excitedly.
"Was that really our President just now? He's so young!"
"He's even more handsome in person than in the photos, like a perfect male lead from a CEO romance novel!"
"Didn't some people complain before, saying the President pictures were overly edited, looking fake?"
"Didn't you think that at the time? Who would have thought he'd be so handsome in real life?"
The receptionists huddled together, chattering away.
....
The elevator moved up.
It stopped on the twenty-second floor.
Yukima Azuma stepped out of the elevator, walked down the quiet corridor, and reached the office at the end of the hall.
Knock knock.
At the sound of the knocking, a dignified female voice echoed from inside.
"Come in."
Yukima Azuma pushed the door open and immediately saw Yukinoshita Yukino, busy at her desk, not looking up.
"Which department are you from? What's the matter?"
Receiving no response, Yukino frowned and looked up.
To her surprise, she saw Yukima Azuma standing right next to her.
Seeing his familiar face made her heart flutter.
The coldness on Yukino's face quickly melted away, her eyebrows relaxed, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily curved into a smile.
Yukima Azuma walked over to her, placed his hand on her slender shoulders.
Her muscles were tense.
She must have been in that posture for too long.
Yukima Azuma applied gentle pressure with his hand, finding the pressure points on her shoulders and neck, and began massaging to help her relax.
"Mm~..."
Yukinoshita Yukino, who was always so dignified, let out a soft, somewhat suggestive moan.
As she felt his hand massaging her, the soreness in her shoulders was quickly relieved.
"May I ask, is there something you need from me? Big Boss suddenly being so considerate, it makes me a little uneasy."
Despite saying that, her tone carried no actual unease.
Instead, it was more about hiding the embarrassment.
Though she had decided to pursue Yukima Azuma, being massaged like this still made Yukino too shy to look up.
"Uwa~, your comments are really heart-wrenching."
"I didn't mean it..."
"Eh? You didn't choose to be tough and keep quiet? Apologizing like this makes me embarrassed."
Yukino looked up, her black hair flowing down like a waterfall behind her.
Her eyes looked up at Yukima Azuma from beneath her lashes.
Her cheeks puffed slightly.
"Anyway, Azuma-kun, what brings you here?"
"Just came to check on the company, haven't been here in a while."
"You're actually aware of that. I'm impressed."
"And you, Yukino, working so diligently. Why not hire a secretary to help share the workload?"
"It's fine, I don't need one."
"Well, Azuma-kun, you're here to inspect the work, primarily to see what?"
"I want to visit the workshop, and by the way, are there any finished products yet?"
"I'll go with you. The products are in the warehouse on the fifth floor."
"Aren't you busy, Yukino? I can go check them myself."
"I'll go with you."
"Alright."
Yukino quickly organized the documents on the desk.
Then she stood up and led Yukima Azuma out of the office.
The two took the elevator down to the fifth floor to the warehouse.
After swiping the card to open the warehouse door.
There was still another password-protected door inside.
After all, the things in here are considered company secrets.
Yukino entered the password, and the second door opened.
A large warehouse, but inside, there were only a few electronic items.
A bed, a desk, a wardrobe, a rice cooker, a dishwasher, a washing machine.
Oh, the washing machine is a by-product.
Yukino checked the app on her phone and handed it to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma glanced through it.
From the perspective of "someone who has been through it," these products still had some flaws.
But compared to the current time, they were truly ahead of their era.
Smart bed: It has a self-adjusting function and can adjust the firmness, height, and angle of the bed based on the user's sleeping habits and physical condition, providing the best sleep environment.
Smart desk: Equipped with a light adjustment system, it can automatically adjust the brightness and color temperature of the desk light based on the surrounding light, remind the user when sitting for too long, and has a clock and timer function. It can also adjust the height according to the user's height.
Smart wardrobe: Through sensors and a control system, it can automatically adjust the temperature and humidity inside the wardrobe, keeping clothes in good condition while also offering intelligent outfit combination suggestions.
These products, at Yukima Azuma's time, could be considered common.
So, there's no need to go into detail.
The washing machine also deserves mention, because although washing machines are available now, they are all semi-automatic machines.
The concept of a fully automatic washing machine was still only in the design phase.
Not to mention the research into cleaning capabilities.
Even so, this by-product, the washing machine, might turn out to be one of the best-selling items in the upcoming consumer market.
Looking at the products, there doesn't seem to be anything special.
But the focus isn't on the products sold.
It's on the basic logic of how the products operate.
Currently, the public still views furniture as something "cold."
Once you buy it, it stays the same.
Let alone the user experience.
But with Laplace's smart furniture, the basic logic is to optimize the user experience through data collection.
This basic logic ensures that the traditional furniture industry can hardly compete with Laplace.
Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction and returned the phone to Yukino.
"Seems fine."
"Because the design concept you proposed is not only outstanding but its feasibility is truly chilling."
"Clearly, it's because we work under the 'Laplace Demon.'"
"I've started to believe that saying now."
Yukino looked at Yukima Azuma with a deep gaze.
She put her phone away.
Then she turned her attention back to the finished products in the warehouse.
Yukino suddenly recalled the documents she had just processed.
The extremely large expenditures listed within them.
"As for the investment in our research and development..."
Yukino hesitated slightly.
Currently, overall, Laplace's research and operations truly seemed like a money-burning machine with no end in sight.
Even with optimistic forecasts, the products could become bestsellers.
But the furniture market today was really not that promising.
How long would it take to recover the investment from these products?
If they sold patents or something like that, they would surely make a lot of money.
But Yukino knew that Yukima Azuma wouldn't do that.
"It's fine, I never expected the business to turn a profit in the short term."
"Rather, making these things is just a way to burn through the money we have."
Yukima Azuma waved his hand, unfazed.
Hearing this, Yukino nodded, seeming to ponder something.
Afterward, the two of them left the warehouse together.
"Oh, and Yukino, don't forget to send a washing machine and dishwasher back home."
Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
Yukino shot him a glance.
Sometimes, she really felt like this guy was just developing these things for his own convenience.
....
The two of them took the elevator directly down to the underground parking garage.
Yukino pressed the key fob.
The black Cadillac a short distance away lit up.
Yukino took a step forward, opening the passenger door.
She gestured for Yukima Azuma to get in.
Yukima Azuma blinked.
It felt like Yukino's attitude had changed a lot compared to when they first met.
Now, there was no longer any sense that she was treating him as a superior.
After all, if Yukino could satisfy her superiors, she wouldn't have been fired repeatedly like that.
The car left the underground parking garage.
The two of them headed to a factory located on the outskirts of Tokyo.
Upon arriving, the loud rumbling of machinery and the sound of people talking could be heard inside.
This was one of the relatively small factories that Laplace had acquired.
Previously, it produced rice cookers, and it still did, but the entire industrial chain had been completely reformed.
Even though it was a relatively small factory.
It employed around three to four hundred workers.
Along with the management team and sales staff who traveled around.
The factory had nearly six hundred people in total.
As the two of them got out of the car and walked toward the factory.
An elderly security guard at the entrance called out loudly:
"You two, what are you doing here? This is a factory, you can't enter freely."
Yukima Azuma smiled and walked up.
"Sir, we're with the company, here to check on the situation at the factory."
Hearing this, the elderly guard seemed half suspicious, half convinced.
"Is that so? You look so young, and you're saying you're with the company?"
"I just look young."
Yukino tapped lightly on Yukima Azuma's head.
This guy was really good at bragging.
Then, Yukino handed her business card to the security guard.
The elderly guard took a look at it, and couldn't help but exclaim.
"Well, well, it really is you two. You're quite impressive."
"A factory this big, if we don't work, a lot of people won't have food on the table."
Yukima Azuma smiled.
Yukino, on the other hand, seemed deep in thought.
The two walked into the factory.
The environment inside the factory was truly far from ideal.
Hot, with no sunlight.
But every worker they saw didn't look demoralized; they were only tired at most.
"Hey, Yukino, what do you think is the most common and enduring relationship between strangers in modern society?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
Yukino had already had an answer in her mind for a long time.
"Labor relationships."
"Then, just evaluating a business solely with money is unreasonable."
"Because we're using money to buy human relationships?"
"Exactly, once it clicks, Yukino, you really are a genius."
Yukino looked at the workers working diligently.
Being called a genius by a genius really felt somewhat strange.
After all, it was only when she had bought the factory and began hiring a large number of employees that she truly understood the reason Yukima Azuma spoke about spending money.
She was originally from the Yukinoshita family, which had long been wealthy from real estate, so it wasn't too surprising that she didn't understand these things.
But Yukino still felt a bit embarrassed.
Now, she finally understood Yukima Azuma's plan.
At the same time, she also had to admire his ambition.
"If it was just an investment, no matter how much money was on paper, there would still be people trying to resist."
"But if it involves thousands, even close to ten thousand jobs, anyone thinking of making a move would have to think twice."
Yukino looked around the factory, speaking about the benefits of buying human relationships.
"Yukinon-chan~, I'm tired of hearing the word 'genius' already."
Yukima Azuma chuckled smugly.
"Sasuga Azuma-sama, may I ask what comes next?" Yukino smiled slightly at the corner of her mouth. "You must have even bigger ambitions, right?"
She had seen Yukima Azuma's plan.
When the capital from Laplace Corporation's headquarters returned.
Or when the Japan branch started making substantial profits.
Next, they would continue expanding at all costs.
It was like walking a tightrope.
After this madness, there would certainly be even greater ambition.
Yukima Azuma paused when he heard Yukino's address.
Is this really Yukino!?
She's even joking now!
Incredible.
Yukima Azuma also wanted to show a bit of his own flair.
"Yukinon, do you know the benefits of doing business in a small country like Japan?"
This question made Yukino a little confused.
She really couldn't think of any particular advantage.
Benefits usually came from population size or cheap materials.
These were the typical industrial advantages of large countries.
Japan was small, its population wasn't too large, and it was agingthere didn't seem to be any advantages.
She thought for a long time, but couldn't come up with an answer.
So, Yukino decided to look directly at Yukima Azuma, waiting for him to answer.
When Yukima Azuma saw Yukino looking back at him, he snapped his fingers.
"The advantage is: A small country."
This answer, which seemed like a joke, made Yukino furrow her brows.
She didn't quite understand, so she continued waiting for Yukima Azuma to explain.
"One hint: Samsung for South Koreathat's the advantage of a small country, and it's something that could never happen in large countries."
This time, Yukino immediately understood.
She widened her eyes as she looked at Yukima Azuma.
Samsung, one of the pillar corporations of South Korea.
Last year, Samsung accounted for around 20% of South Korea's total trade profit.
Unlike 99% of companies around the world, which rely on government direction, Samsung has the power to somewhat influence the country's official decisions.
This is something that could never happen in large countries.
That was the advantage Yukima Azuma had been referring to.
Upon understanding the meaning behind this answer, Yukinoshita Yukino felt goosebumps rise on her skin.
The hairs on her body stood on end.
And at that moment...
Yukima Azuma clapped his hands, brushing away the feeling from Yukino's body.
"Of course, talking about these things now is just daydreaming."
"It's good to have dreams, but making them happen would definitely be troublesome."
"Let's work hard together, Yukinon-chan."
Yukino absentmindedly nodded.
...
The two of them toured for a while.
Then they drove to the next factory.
Throughout the day, they visited three factories.
Whether large or small in scale, the conditions inside were almost the same.
In the current era, many people in Japan were unemployed due to the collapse of the economic bubble.
Laplace Corporation seemed to hire many people.
But in reality, it was just a spoonful of water taken from a bucket.
It might cause a small ripple, but it couldn't create a big wave.
Under the cover of night, Yukinoshita Yukino drove towards Yukima's house.
"By the way, the people from the electronics division are really free right now."
Yukino suddenly mentioned the branch.
Laplace Electronics had only completed one project so far.
That was the White Album project.
Of course, the project had been very successful.
To date, global sales of White Album had surpassed a million copies.
A phenomenon in the galgame industry.
A huge sum of money had already landed in the company's account.
And it was foreseeable.
The company would be able to earn money from the IP of White Album in the future.
But...
"What are they so free for? They should be making plans! I didn't hire them just to sit around all day!" Yukima Azuma said uncomfortably.
It was outrageoushow could someone be hired and still be so idle!
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Chapter 104: Let the World Witness Megumi's Charm
"Damn right! Just a bunch of second-rate programmers sneaking into Laplace Corporation, and they dare to slack off!"
Yukima Azuma sat in the car, loudly voicing his complaints.
Yukinoshita Yukino could only smile wryly.
Clearly, plenty of employee-friendly policies had already been established.
And yet, here he was, loudly making statements that could easily be misunderstood (like a demanding boss).
"Isn't it because you didn't make things clear? They're waiting for the plan for White Album 2."
Yukino calmly replied.
Anyone in the industry could see it.
White Album left a lot of loose ends, numerous clues that were deliberately unresolved.
It was obvious there would be a second part.
The first part told a university story.
But the second part was truly the main stage of galgame storytelling.
High school!
With the explosive phenomenon of the previous installment,
Merging the clues and youthful themes into the second part,
It nearly touched the hearts of every White Album fan.
Moreover, it drew in a large group of staff involved in the production of White Album.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma suddenly remembered he had completely forgotten about this matter.
"Umu, umu, the plan for White Album 2 will definitely need to be delayed for a while longer."
"Everyone has their own things to deal with; they can't drop everything just to focus on this."
Hearing this, Yukinoshita Yukino appeared thoughtful.
The two bishoujo in charge of the script and main illustrations were currently living at Yukima's house.
Yukino, of course, was aware of this.
After all, it had been a long time, and as the tenant, as well as a member of Laplace Corporation, she couldn't be unaware of such internal matters.
However, from Yukino's perspective,
The current work those two were handling shouldn't have been more important than the plan for White Album 2.
While Yukino was thinking this,
"Kasumigaoka-senpai is a talented novelist; she's currently busy with the next volume of The Metronome in Love. Word is, it will be the final installment."
"As for Eriri, she's a famous online illustrator with a huge fanbase. Because of White Album, she delayed releasing her Doujinshi and was chased down by fans for an explanation."
"They both have their own lives. Even though they came together because of me, I can't expect them to revolve entirely around me."
Yukima Azuma gently tapped his fingers on the car's armrest.
Yukino glanced at him.
Then slightly nodded.
"I understand. Tomorrow at work, I'll take on some tasks and assign them to electronics department."
Compared to money,
The young man sitting in the passenger seat clearly valued people more.
This was entirely different from others.
Normally, someone in Yukima Azuma's position
Would almost inevitably be swept into the current of capitalism, advancing relentlessly.
Like a snowball rolling on the ground, it could only grow bigger.
Once it stopped, it would only end in collapse.
But Yukima Azuma was different.
He wasn't swept away by any influence.
He only moved forward when he wanted to.
In the direction he chose, he advanced only when he decided to.
This was the result of his cheat-like abilities.
All one could say was:
He truly lived up to the name "Laplace Demon."
Such thoughts naturally arose in Yukino's mind.
The car slowly pulled into Yukima's garage.
"Moreover, I have something else to do right now."
Yukima Azuma spoke with a hint of resignation.
"What is it?"
Yukino's curiosity was piqued.
"Writing a light novel."
...
Yukima House.
Yukima Azuma immediately felt a gaze full of resentment fixed on him.
He gulped.
At that moment, the boy suddenly rememberedhe hadn't returned home last night.
Kasumigaoka Utaha glared at Yukima Azuma for a while.
But in the end, she said nothing.
If she were to scold him too much here, it might come off as excessive and suffocating.
On the contrary, it could provoke annoyance.
Kasumigaoka decided to note this down in her little black book.
She would settle the score another time.
"You asked me to contact Fujikawa Publishing, and I've had Machida arrange it. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon... Have you finished your first draft yet?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha sounded skeptical about Yukima Azuma's progress.
Lately, she had often seen him staring at his light novel manuscript, revising it repeatedly.
He had rewritten it countless times.
"Umm... I think it'll be ready in time."
"So, it's not done yet."
"Well, the deadline isn't here yet, so I still have time."
Kasumigaoka felt like Yukima Azuma was using a sarcastic tone with her.
But she had no proof.
"As for the content of the work, I can't help you with that. You're on your own."
Kasumigaoka waved her hand dismissively.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma chuckled softly and changed the subject.
"In July, there's going to be a rare, once-in-a-thousand-years comet. Let's go to Hokkaido to see it together."
Hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha blinked.
Hokkaido and stargazing.
That didn't sound bad.
Moreover, it was an invitation from him.
Her mood instantly improved.
"Sure, but there's been a lot of storms lately. We might not see the cometjust rain."
Kasumigaoka recalled recent weather forecasts and reminded him.
"Ah, this storm doesn't seem like it'll affect late June. The skies over Hokkaido might even be clearer then."
Yukima Azuma sounded optimistic.
Kasumigaoka Utaha said nothing further and simply nodded in agreement.
After that, Yukima Azuma hurried back to his room to continue revising his manuscript.
"The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine."
In fact, once the title for this light novel was decided,
The rest of the content became much easier to fill in.
The heroine was right beside him; Yukima Azuma was intimately familiar with her every word and gesture.
As for the plot of the light novel, that was even simpler to handle.
Yukima Azuma's mind was brimming with countless outstanding light novel plots that had yet to be written.
The reason he had to revise it repeatedly was:
Notification: Your literature skill has reached the maximum level.
Literature (Lv6) Literature (Lv7).
Seeing the notification from the system appear,
Yukima Azuma smiled.
He had finally achieved it.
He opened the system control panel.
[Owner: Yukima Azuma]
Physique: 7
Intelligence: 8
Charm: 8
Skills: Language Proficiency (Lv6), Literature (Lv67), Cooking (Lv7), Programming (Lv4), Shogi (Lv9)
Note: Skills below Level 4 are hidden and not displayed on the control panel.
He had gained his third Lv7 skill.
Yukima Azuma closed his eyes, focusing carefully.
A moment later, he opened them again with a hint of doubt.
He didn't feel any tangible change in his body.
Was the literature skill just an ordinary one?
Or perhaps the special effect of the literature skill was a passive feature of some sort?
He shook his head.
Unable to figure it out immediately,
Yukima Azuma decided not to dwell on it and focused on the task at hand.
With a Lv7 literature skill, he reopened the light novel manuscript he had revised multiple times.
His eyes scanned a few scenes, and his mind instinctively generated better expressions and transitions.
Surprised, Yukima Azuma began reconstructing the entire manuscript.
The heroine's name.
To avoid affecting Kato Megumi,
He made some changes, naming her Kujou Megumi.
She was an unremarkable heroine, devoid of the standout traits typical of light novel characters.
She didn't have flaws that would bring humor or conflict.
She was the heroine of both the anime world and the real world.
A girl who wasn't extraordinary, yet could touch the hearts of those who truly understood her.
She wasn't a twin-tailed blonde tsundere.
But she would don an apron and cook for you.
She didn't have long, jet-black hair, nor a sharp tongue.
But she would delve into areas she'd never known about, just because of you.
Even if you rambled endlessly,
She wouldn't reprimand you.
Perhaps she would gently say, "I don't quite understand."
Yet beneath that gentle demeanor was her wholehearted effort to understand you.
Few noticed her presence,
Because she was always by your side.
When your eyes fell on her, you'd suddenly realize you'd already fallen for her tender charm without knowing when.
But it wasn't the kind of calm tenderness most people think of.
At times, she could be jealous.
She might puff her cheeks at you.
Occasionally, she'd harbor small schemes or hold grudges.
These weren't emotions typical of anime characters but rather the tiny, concealed thoughts of a real-world girl.
Such a girl was both the heroine of the anime world and the most remarkable heroine of the real world.
Yukima Azuma strived to capture Megumi's allure in his light novel.
But even with a Lv7 literature skill, he could only depict about ninety percent of her charm.
Still, that was more than enough.
Regarding the distinctive story of the light novel,
Yukima Azuma decided to center the narrative around the 'Laplace Demon'.
An unremarkable girl, beneath the sky illuminated by a passing comet.
The small regrets in her heart transformed into a supernatural phenomenon called "Adolescence Syndrome."
The world began to repeat the same day over and over.
Her only friend unexpectedly awakened in one of those repeating days.
And on that day, he finally turned all his attention toward her.
Of course, he fell in love with her.
Confessed.
Then broke the curse of the Laplace Demon.
...
As dim white light poured through the window,
Yukima Azuma finally finished the last sentence.
"The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine."
The entire manuscript, formatted to light novel standards, spanned six hundred pages.
Yukima Azuma believed that with these six hundred pages, he could make millions of people fall in love with Kujou Megumi.
He gripped the thick manuscript firmly in his hands.
Yukima Azuma looked out at the rising sun.
"At any rate, let the world see Megumi's charm."
After this bold declaration,
Yukima Azuma collapsed onto the floor and fell into a deep sleep.
A small tip: if you think sleeping on a bed will make you not want to wake up, try sleeping on the floor.
Usually, in about four hours, you'll wake up.
Ah... truly an unhealthy tip.
.....
That morning, Kasumigaoka Utaha woke up quite early.
She quietly descended the stairs,
making no sound as she approached Yukima Azuma's door.
Carefully, she opened a small crack.
The scene inside didn't surprise her.
She sighed softly.
Then, checking the time and recalling the meeting with Fujikawa Publishing,
Kasumigaoka Utaha pondered for a moment before heading into the kitchen.
It had been a while since she last cooked; she wasn't sure if she still could.
But whether she could or not was one thing; whether she would or not was another.
She took some eggs from the fridge.
Kasumigaoka Utaha began to prepare a meal.
The first attempt was a failure, but the second turned out almost perfectly.
She wrapped the omurice and placed it in a thermal bag to keep it warm.
Then, taking out her phone, she looked up how to brew tea.
Coffee? That Lonely-kun wasn't used to drinking it.
But if he didn't wake up properly, how could he negotiate in the afternoon?
Thus, tea was the only option.
Following the guide, Kasumigaoka Utaha busied herself for quite some time.
Her fingers became swollen from the icy water.
In the end, she managed to make a somewhat acceptable cup of tea.
At that moment, her phone alarm rang.
Kasumigaoka Utaha dried her hands,
glancing at her pale, swollen fingers.
Then she curled them slightly.
Yes, this way they wouldn't be noticeable.
And so, Kasumigaoka Utaha walked toward Yukima Azuma's room.
"Lonely-kun, how long do you plan to laze around like Shiratamaru?"
The familiar voice of Kasumigaoka Utaha woke Yukima Azuma from an uncomfortable sleep.
Azuma groggily got up from the floor.
His entire body ached.
Yeah, sleeping on the floor is definitely bad for your health.
"Using Shiratamaru to mock me is too much, senpai. Anyway, what time is it now?"
"It's already noon."
"Oh, I'll go cook right away."
"Come on, Lonely-kun! Can't you think for a little? Do you think I'd starve just because you didn't cook?"
"Huh? So you've already eaten, senpai?"
"Umu. There's some food left in the kitchen for you."
Kasumigaoka Utaha subtly tilted her head toward the kitchen.
Her swollen hands, reddened from ice, were hidden behind her back.
Yukima Azuma, still groggy, shuffled toward the kitchen.
There, he saw a plate of omurice, meticulously plated, and a cup of tea that had gone cold.
Seeing these, Azuma's foggy mind suddenly cleared up.
Had Utaha-senpai really already eaten?
If he believed this was leftovers...
Then there was definitely something wrong with his head.
Picking up the plate of omurice, Yukima Azuma devoured it like someone who hadn't eaten in days, exclaiming between bites:
"It's so good! Absolutely delicious!"
His vague compliments made Kasumigaoka Utaha roll her eyes in exasperation.
After all, she knew herself well enough.
Compared to Yukima Azuma's exceptional cooking skills...
This dish was just barely edible.
"Lonely-kun, you really are out of your mind."
"Utaha-senpai, it's truly delicious! I'm not lying!"
With that, Yukima Azuma scooped up a spoonful of omurice and brought it to Kasumigaoka Utaha's lips.
Seeing Azuma's earnest expression, Kasumigaoka Utaha began to doubt herself.
Could her cooking skills really have improved?
When she opened her mouth to taste that spoonful of omurice, however...
All her doubts vanished instantly.
Indeed, compared to Yukima Azuma's flawlessly crafted dishes, this was just barely passable.
Kasumigaoka Utaha shot Azuma a glare of frustration.
But Azuma, undeterred, scooped another spoonful after finishing his own and brought it to Kasumigaoka's lips again.
Kasumigaoka was about to say something, but the spoon of omurice touched her lips, leaving her no choice but to accept it.
Like this, the two took turns eating spoonful after spoonful until the plate of omurice was gone.
"It was so good, so good that I feel like crying," Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
He picked up the cup of cold tea and took small sips.
The taste was so exquisite that it was hard to put into words.
Even though Yukima Azuma's literary skills were at level 7, he couldn't describe even a tenth of the tea's flavor.
...
"I'm heading out."
"Take care."
Yukima Azuma waved goodbye to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Kasumigaoka Utaha returned the gesture with her usual calm demeanor.
As Yukima Azuma left, Kasumigaoka looked at her fingers, where the swelling was gradually subsiding.
This guy... really is too sharp.
Even just hiding her hands behind her back wasn't enough to fool him.
...
Fujikawa Publishing
Machida Sonoko had been waiting in front of Fujikawa Publishing's building for quite some time.
When she saw Yukima Azuma walking leisurely toward her, she quickly approached him in a hurry.
"Hey, kid, why did you suddenly decide to start writing light novels?"
"Didn't Shi-chan say you were playing shogi? And you're even a professional?"
Debuting as a professional light novel author was no easy feat.
Those who qualified for publication had emerged victorious among countless competitors.
This, in fact, was quite similar to shogi.
Machida Sonoko thought that Yukima Azuma, being a professional, would surely understand the difficulty of the profession.
Just an idea sparking in one's mind isn't enough.
It takes significant determination, even exceptional talent, to reach this door.
Yukima Azuma said nothing and simply handed the manuscript he was holding to her.
Machida Sonoko glanced at Azuma before taking the manuscript.
Her eyes skimmed the title:
"The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine."
The title definitely feels like a "light novel."
Machida Sonoko opened the first page.
And then froze.
Most works require reading several chapters to feel their charm.
Because of this, many light novel authors try to create an attractive opening.
They just hope readers will continue with expectations.
From an editor's perspective, however, things are different.
By simply looking at the first page, one can make a preliminary judgment about the writing style.
After flipping through ten pages, one can get a rough idea of the plot.
After reading through the manuscript once, one can conclude whether the work has potential.
Machida Sonoko was an experienced editor.
She had encountered numerous amateurish writers, and she had also read works by authors with remarkable writing skills.
In theory, no matter the quality of the work, she should not be easily moved.
But when she opened this light novel in her hands, Machida Sonoko was so taken aback that she froze in place.
The writing style isn't this just too exceptional?
It's the kind of writing where even if the story were bad, the writing alone could still sell the book.
Someone like this why are they writing light novels?
Go conquer the literary world, Aho Baka!
She had only flipped through two or three pages when Machida Sonoko closed the manuscript.
"What's wrong, Machida-san? Is there something wrong with my light novel?" Yukima Azuma asked.
Machida Sonoko shook her head.
She wanted to give some critique but held back.
"I have a feeling if I keep reading, the two of us will be standing in this sun for another hour."
"Also, evaluating this manuscript isn't entirely up to me. I've already set up a meeting with the editor-in-chief for you."
"Anyway, let's go upstairs first."
The two of them entered the Fujikawa Publishing building, one after the other.
They walked into the editorial office.
Inside, the atmosphere was lively.
It was the beginning of summer vacation, the peak season for the light novel industry.
The editors were urging their authors to put more effort into this lucrative season.
"By the way, Machida-san, you're the lead editor, right? But it seems you don't have many editors under you?" Yukima Azuma casually asked.
But this question seemed to strike an unnecessary emotional damage.
Machida Sonoko felt as if an arrow had just pierced her knee.
It was true, she had worked at Fujikawa Publishing for many years.
But after becoming the lead editor, the number of editors under her had never exceeded three.
"Haizz, it's just a genre issue. You'll understand later. And stop poking at other people's weaknesses, kid!"
The two walked through rows of editors' desks and headed straight to the meeting room at the back.
Machida Sonoko walked up and knocked on the door.
A voice from inside called them in.
She opened the door.
Next to the large meeting table sat two people.
"This is the editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing," Machida Enko gestured to a middle-aged man.
"This person" She looked toward the other man, her gaze slightly avoiding. "Is the owner of Fujikawa Publishing."
Yukima Azuma turned his attention to the owner.
The man appeared to be in his thirties or forties.
Dressed in a neat suit, he looked like the epitome of a successful businessman.
He wore a golden Rolex watch on his wrist.
"These are Yukima-sensei, the one submitting the manuscript this time."
The two men merely nodded.
Yukima Azuma casually pulled up a chair next to the meeting table and sat down.
Machida Sonoko gave a slight smile and sat next to Yukima Azuma, nodding to the two men.
"Yukima-sensei, as for your conditions, Fujikawa Publishing is fully aware of them."
"But these conditions are rather strict. I think we could negotiate some terms" The editor-in-chief began speaking.
Yukima Azuma placed the manuscript on the table and pushed it toward the editor-in-chief.
"Just read the manuscript first, then we'll talk."
Upon hearing this, the editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing said nothing further and picked up the manuscript.
Then, a long silence followed.
The editor-in-chief's pace of flipping through the pages gradually slowed.
Theoretically, for a 600-page light novel, a professional editor could finish reading and evaluating it in about fifteen minutes.
Unlike regular readers, editors look for potential highlights behind the story.
While reading the manuscript, the editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing took a full forty minutes.
During that time, his expression continuously shifted.
When he reached the last page, he let out a long sigh of relief.
Seeing this reaction, Machida Sonoko and the publisher's owner sitting beside her understood what was happening.
The editor-in-chief slowly raised his head. But instead of giving immediate feedback, he turned to glance at his superior.
They exchanged looks for a moment.
After that, the editor-in-chief placed the manuscript on the table.
"Yukima-sensei," he changed his tone of address, "your work is truly outstanding! This is indeed a rare masterpiece."
Upon hearing that evaluation, Yukima Azuma remained impassive.
If they really thought it was exceptional, they wouldn't just say that.
They'd start discussing the contract right away.
Yukima lightly tapped his fingers on the table.
The attitude of Fujikawa Publishing felt a bit strange to him.
Could it be that senpai is working with a publisher like this?
Sure enough, when evaluating a situation through a lens of familiarity, it's easy to make mistakes.
Seeing that Yukima Azuma seemed unconcerned, the editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing got straight to the point:
"Yukima-sensei, although this work is impressive, it's still a youth love story."
"Currently, the most popular themes in the market are isekai and fantasy battles."
"The conditions you've set are too demanding, not only asking for the largest promotional campaign in the industry."
"Plus, you want to release it this month, which would push back the schedules of other releases."
"While Fujikawa Publishing is willing to invest, this is truly a risky bet."
"Yukima-sensei, would you consider reducing the promotional costs or lowering the profit-sharing percentage?"
After speaking, he waited for Yukima Azuma's response.
Yukima Azuma stood up and took back his manuscript.
This action caused both the editor-in-chief and the owner of Fujikawa Publishing to frown.
After retrieving the manuscript, Yukima Azuma didn't sit back down.
Instead, he casually asked:
"I remember that Fujikawa Publishing started with youth love stories, right?"
Upon hearing this, the editor-in-chief appeared to recall something.
"Yes, our first bestselling light novel was Oreimo."
That was the famous work in the industry, My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute.
After receiving confirmation, Yukima Azuma became even more confused.
"Clearly, you started with youth love stories, but now in your publishing house, there are almost no authors writing youth love stories anymore?"
This question caused the editor-in-chief's face to turn pale.
At that moment, the owner of Fujikawa Publishing, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke.
"We are different from your authors. We have to keep the publishing house running; we're in business, we must follow the market."
These words made Yukima Azuma laugh.
The values you hold?, and yet you dare talk about business and the market in front of me.
If you love the market so much, why not just open an investment bank?
Retrieving the manuscript, Yukima Azuma clenched his right fist and punched his left palm, with an enlightened expression.
"No wonder Fujikawa Publishing has always been a second-rate publisher all these years."
After saying that, Yukima Azuma turned and walked out.
"What did you say?"
The editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing jumped up from his seat, pointing at Yukima Azuma, his eyes wide in shock.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma had already reached the door of the meeting room.
He opened the door.
Yukima Azuma smiled.
"I said, Fujikawa Publishing, under your wise and brilliant leadership, will definitely prosper more and more."
"At least, it will be a second-rate publishing house until the day it dies."
After saying that, Yukima Azuma opened the door and left.
Inside the meeting room, the editor-in-chief and the owner of Fujikawa Publishing looked at each other, their faces as if they had just eaten shit.
They had encountered authors with bad attitudes before.
But never had they met an author who would say a few words and immediately leave like this.
It was fine to be scolded.
But losing out on a light novel that could have been a bestseller made them extremely angry.
They just wanted to reduce a little bit of the royalty percentage.
Couldn't they sit down and negotiate?
Why was there someone selling goods without discussing the price?
Machida Sonoko sensed the situation wasn't good and said, "I'll go negotiate again," then hurriedly ran after him.
.....
Downstairs at Fujikawa Publishing.
Machida Sonoko quickly caught up with Yukima Azuma.
"Yukima-sensei, if you want to debut as an author, you need to calmly deal with normal business practices. Don't get too angry."
While advising, Machida Sonoko approached Yukima Azuma.
Upon a closer look, the young man did not appear angry.
"I'm not angry."
"Then why earlier..."
"We just didn't hit it off, there's nothing to talk about with those two. Machida-san, let's go to the caf over there and sit."
"I'm such a fool, worrying about you."
The two went to a caf opposite Fujikawa Publishing and sat near the window.
Yukima Azuma ordered two donuts.
Machida Sonoko ordered a mocha coffee.
"Machida-san, thank you so much for taking care of Utaha-senpai."
Yukima Azuma said sincerely.
"Why are you suddenly saying this?"
Machida Sonoko asked calmly.
"With Utaha-senpai's personality, she definitely couldn't talk to those editors. If she could, she would have left Fujikawa Publishing by now."
"The pressure from the higher-ups must have been what you've been enduring, right?"
Yukima Azuma's words made Machida Sonoko smile bitterly.
It was true.
From the time The Metronome in Love was published until it started airing volume 4, Machida Sonoko had endured a lot of pressure.
Especially during the slump of volume 2.
Fujikawa Publishing had been thinking about cutting the romance-themed book.
It was Machida Sonoko who mediated between both sides, and The Metronome in Love continued.
It's just that Machida Sonoko had never told Kasumigaoka Utaha about these things.
"It's nothing, after all, I'm an editor, isn't this part of my job?"
Machida Sonoko shrugged.
"Machida-san is an editor, so that's true, but whether those higher-ups think that way is hard to say."
"One or two of them sit there, looking at others not as authors but as sellable goods."
"A publishing house can only stand strong thanks to its authors and literature, but when it acts without any humanity, it's meaningless."
Yukima Azuma spoke while munching on a donut.
Fujikawa Publishing, an editor-in-chief and an owner.
Since Yukima Azuma entered the meeting room, their attitudes had been aloof.
Those who knew, thought Yukima Azuma was an author cooperating with the publishing house.
Those who didn't, would even think Yukima Azuma was a debtor coming to repay a debt.
Moreover, aside from the author collaboration,
Yukima Azuma didn't believe those two didn't recognize him.
How could they not know, considering the trouble at the signing event they were in charge of, which had become famous?
Fujikawa Publishing still owed Yukima Azuma a favor.
Not even offering a glass of water, let alone saying anything.
After reviewing the manuscript, the intent to squeeze out more money was almost written all over their faces.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Machida Sonoko remained silent.
She, having been an editor at Fujikawa Publishing for many years, surely understood all of this.
In the early years of Fujikawa, it specialized in youth romance genres.
It all started with Oreimo.
A number of authors in the romcom genre and young editors who loved it gathered together.
Machida Sonoko had joined Fujikawa during this period.
But a few years ago, with the unexpected rise of the isekai genre,
and over the past two years, the manga "Jujutsu Kaisen" became extremely popular,
Fujikawa Publishing, in order to grasp market trends,
started squeezing out the space for romcom authors they were working with.
Without mercy, they suppressed it.
Either change the genre,
or stop writing books for Fujikawa Publishing.
After all, there weren't many "good" places left for publishing.
Many authors who had worked with Fujikawa for a long time had to either change genres or leave.
Now,
Machida Sonoko was the only editor left in charge of the youth romance genre.
And for this reason, although Machida Sonoko had worked at Fujikawa for many years and was considered a senior,
the number of editors under her never exceeded three.
Machida Sonoko saw all of this,
but there was really nothing she could say.
Resign?
And go where?
She was no longer young, and the privilege of quitting at will belonged to the young.
Seeing Machida Sonoko silent,
Yukima Azuma casually handed her the manuscript for the light novel.
"How should I put this? Machida-san hasn't finished reading my novel. Finish it, and I'll continue talking with you."
Hearing this, Machida Sonoko sighed helplessly and opened the manuscript.
As the words jumped off the page,
her initial chaotic thoughts were quickly soothed.
Machida Sonoko was drawn into a summer, a summer with the sound of cicadas and a cool breeze.
The girl named Megumi seemed to appear right before her eyes.
Every smile, every expression had a charm that transcended space.
As an editor, she felt like a reader, completely engrossed in the work.
She flipped through each page, the 600-page book, until the last page.
Machida Sonoko once again felt as though it wasn't enough.
She set the manuscript down.
Machida Sonoko raised her head, feeling as though she had passed through another world.
The experience just now quickly flashed through her mind.
As an editor, she realized one thing.
This light novel might not be a genre that needs to follow the market.
On the contrary, the market direction would change with the appearance of this light novel.
While Machida Sonoko was still in a daze, Yukima Azuma clapped his hands.
"Machida-san, now you understand, right! The saddest thing about Fujikawa Publishing is rejecting this book."
Machida Sonoko smiled bitterly and nodded.
She understood.
Although Yukima Azuma had criticized Fujikawa for lacking humanity,
from a commercial perspective, Fujikawa's choice couldn't be called wrong.
It was just that between the market direction and social relationships, they chose the former.
But the saddest thing was that.
The editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing, as an editor,
didn't recognize the true potential of this light novel.
As an editor-in-chief, lacking expertise.
As a speculator, failing to sense the business opportunity.
A second-rate publishing house, a second-rate editor-in-chief, a second-rate speculator.
Being second-rate, that was the saddest part.
Machida Sonoko handed the manuscript back to Yukima Azuma with a complex expression and asked:
"So, what's next? Are you going to find another publisher to submit your work to?"
"I guess that sly boss will contact other publishers," Yukima Azuma replied casually.
"Umu, Small publishers probably don't have the courage to take your novel."
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma shrugged.
"This is simple, I'll just buy my own publishing company and release the book myself."
Machida Sonoko: ?
Is this really Japanese?
I understand every word, but when they're put together, I just can't grasp it.
Seeing the bewildered look on Machida Sonoko's face,
Yukima Azuma took a business card from his coat pocket and handed it to her.
The last time he saw Yukino holding a business card, he had asked her to help make a set for him.
Machida Sonoko picked up the card from the table and took a look.
The back had a gold logo.
It seemed to be an abstract design with some characters.
Flipping it over, she immediately understood the meaning of the characters.
Laplace Corporation
Machida Sonoko gasped.
"So, the company that bought the office building in Shibuya recently, is it yours?"
Yukima Azuma smiled and nodded.
Machida Sonoko rubbed her forehead.
"Young master, why do you have to be so merciful? You should have stood up the table at the meeting and spoken with those greedy people, leaving your shoeprints on their faces too."
"Tch, you're right."
"I'll tell you, that jerk struts around the office every day, talks to people like he's sniffing them with his nose, and demands that we keep the phone lines open at all times."
"Really? Didn't any of you scold him?"
"Who would dare... Wait, I think there was. There was a girl named Yukinoshita who scolded him, and she got fired."
"Tch, I'm starting to regret it. I should've spat in that guy's face earlier."
"Hahahahahahaha, you actually dared to say that!"
"Of course, I'm a Young Master."
"Stop acting so cool, be careful or I'll report you to Shi-chan."
"Ahem, I think that won't be necessary."
Machida Sonoko laughed uncontrollably.
Someone with more money than her boss, yet still being controlled by her Shi-chan like that.
This guy was really too friendly.
Compared to her nasty boss, he was clearly a completely different type.
Changing companies would be good, and working for this guy would definitely be better than working for her jerk of a boss.
Before she could finish her thoughts, Machida Sonoko heard Yukima Azuma say:
"Machida-san, when I buy the publishing company, you should become the editor-in-chief."
Machida Sonoko, who had been enjoying herself, suddenly froze.
"Eh, are you serious? This kind of joke isn't funny."
"Of course, I'm serious. By the way, I'll also try to bring Utaha-senpai's contract here."
"Tch, so you were planning this all along."
"Machida-san, you're quite talented. This is just a regular recruitment. By the way, you must still be able to contact the authors Fujikawa worked with before, right?"
"Tch! No wonder you managed to open such a big company, your mind works faster than a beehive."
As long as Yukima Azuma's light novel sells like hotcakes,
the market direction in the future would definitely change.
The wind of youth would blow into the light novel market.
Readers who've read Yukima Azuma's works would surely be eager to see more romcom stories.
At that point, it would attract a large number of romcom authors who were previously with Fujikawa.
That would definitely be a huge profit.
"So, how about it? Do you want to join?" Yukima Azuma stood up, smiling and offering his hand to Machida Sonoko.
Machida Sonoko rolled her eyes, stood up, and shook Yukima Azuma's hand.
"Like I even have another choice."
If Yukima Azuma succeeds, and the market direction changes,
then Fujikawa Publishing's recent actions would have been digging their own grave.
Without romcom authors, Fujikawa would be in danger.
Not to mention that editor-in-chief.
And he still said that Yukima Azuma's light novel wouldn't sell well?
Ha, what a joke.
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 107: Summer Vacation, The Visit of Megumi and Eriri
The acquisition of the publishing company was actually quite easy.
The light novel industry was thriving.
Many people were rushing to establish new publishing houses.
But the few publishing companies that truly managed to survive were just a handful of well-known names.
Finding a publishing house with decent potential and offering a slightly higher price would make it easy for them to agree.
In the early morning, Yukima Azuma discussed this with Yukino.
By the afternoon, Yukino informed Yukima Azuma that the publishing company had been acquired.
It was a third-rate publishing house called Dengeki Bunko.
As for Machida Sonoko, she had also begun the process of resigning.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had signed an exclusive contract for The Metronome in Love with the Fujikawa Publishing House.
But fortunately, the rights for The Metronome in Love had not been sold yet.
Moreover, because Fujikawa Publishing House had previously not regarded The Metronome in Lovea romance novelhighly, the penalty for breaching the exclusive contract was not very high.
On the other hand, the profit-sharing terms were extremely strict.
As long as a fine was paid, Kasumigaoka Utaha could withdraw from the contract.
But for now...
The urgent matter was to find an illustrator.
Yukima Azuma's novel still had no one responsible for the illustrations.
If willing to spend money, there would certainly be many illustrators willing to take the job.
But illustrators with real renown wouldn't work just for money.
Like Eriri.
Although Kashiwagi Eri was only a well-known R18 artist, she carried a huge allure with her.
When selecting works to collaborate on, Eriri was always extremely picky.
So, finding a talented illustrator wasn't easy.
Yukima Azuma felt a headache coming on.
As for Eriri, it seemed she was still busy finishing her artbook.
Yesterday, she had even complained on Line.
Apart from Eriri, Yukima Azuma didn't know any other illustrators who could measure up to that level.
Using a regular illustrator for his novel was not something Yukima Azuma was willing to accept.
"Right, an online selection contest."
Finally, Yukima Azuma came up with this idea.
If he wanted to find an excellent illustrator...
He first needed to make the work accessible to them.
The best way to promote a light novel was actually through the Internet.
Yukima Azuma typed in a series of web addresses and logged into one.
Let's Become a Novelist! (note: Shsetsuka ni Nar)
This was a Japanese website that hosted online novels, where the largest number of original works were published as light novels.
Quite a few works had been adapted into anime from here.
It could be said that this was the cradle of many light novel authors.
Many works that didn't win awards or weren't officially published found a second chance here.
This was also the most popular light novel website in Japan.
Yukima Azuma accessed the author section and registered for an account.
When it came to the pen name, Yukima Azuma hesitated for a moment.
He had the intention of using a pen name familiar from his memories.
For example, Takatsuki Sen.
But upon further thought, he worry about one day he might be "found out" by the real person and be questioned.
So, he abandoned that idea.
After thinking for a while, Yukima Azuma slightly modified his name.
He used the name Yukimi Azuma, changing only one character, as his pen name.
After completing the registration, Yukima Azuma uploaded the first 13 chapters of Saekano. (note: abbreviation used because the full title is too long)
About 100 pages.
For promotional purposes, this was enough.
After uploading the work, Yukima Azuma wrote in the introduction that he was looking for an illustrator and left his Line account.
Then, he contacted more than a dozen light novel bloggers, paying them to promote it online.
Waiting for readers to find the work and rate it, he didn't have time for that.
Isn't earning money for spending it?
In short, now he just needed to wait.
If the deadline came and there were still no illustrators up to standard contacting him, Yukima Azuma would have no choice but to... well, "bully" Eriri a little.
Putting down his phone, Yukima Azuma stretched.
At that moment, the doorbell rang.
"At this time, who could it be?"
Muttering to himself, Yukima Azuma walked to the entrance.
He opened the door.
Standing at the door were two girls.
One had a light scent of tuberose flowers, the other had the faint sweetness of pears.
"Sorry to disturb you, Azuma-san, I came to visit Shiratamaru."
Today, Kato Megumi looked like an innocent first love, wearing a pure white dress, along with a white beret that seemed like a part of her.
"The digital drawing tablet I usually use is here, so I came... to meet the deadline."
Eriri turned her face away, her yellow pigtails swaying slightly. She was wearing a youthful white shirt paired with a pleated skirt.
And then...
Bang!
Yukima Azuma slammed the door shut.
The two girls were stunned, their faces full of confusion.
"What's going on?"
Eriri looked at Kato Megumi in bewilderment.
Kato Megumi also shook her head in suspicion.
At this moment, inside the apartment...
Yukima Azuma ran straight to his room.
He hid the printed manuscript of Saekano under the mattress.
He hadn't expected Kato Megumi to show up so suddenly today.
If the manuscript of Saekano had been exposed right now, it would have been a disaster.
Only when this novel had been acknowledged by countless people, then showing it to Kato Megumi would achieve the effect Yukima Azuma desired.
"What are you hiding, Lonely-kun?"
Kasumigaoka's suspicious voice rang out.
She had heard the doorbell, so she came downstairs to check.
But in the end, she only saw Yukima Azuma rush into his room.
There was no one at the door.
"Uhm... adult magazines?"
Yukima Azuma chose a lie that would make him incredibly embarrassed, but also relatively believable.
After all, this was Utaha-senpai.
The senpai who was always "driving," and running over others without hesitation.
Upon hearing "adult magazines," Kasumigaoka Utaha just blinked, clearly skeptical.
Had she not "helped" him too little lately?
Making Lonely-kun so upset?
Well... next time, she might try using her mouth.
Yukima Azuma didn't know what Kasumigaoka Utaha was thinking at the moment, but he quickly walked to the front door.
He opened the door again.
"What are you doing!?"
Eriri flashed her small, cute fang.
Kato Megumi didn't say anything, just tilted her head in confusion.
"Just now... Shiratamaru was right outside the door, and it was about to run out when the door opened."
"So, I had to close the door first, then bring Shiratamaru back to my room, and only after that did I come back to open the door for you two."
Yukima Azuma silently apologized to Shiratamaru in his heart.
'I'll treat you to a nice meal tonight. Brother'
The two girls heard this and turned their heads to look at Shiratamaru, who had just run out of his room, seemingly ready to welcome guests.
Umu, that makes sense.
Both of them entered Yukima's house.
Then, they changed into indoor slippers.
Kato Megumi walked over and picked up Shiratamaru.
She gently petted Shiratamaru's head.
"Don't run away, okay? If you become a stray cat, Azuma-san and I might not be able to find you again."
Eriri also walked over.
She poked Shiratamaru's behind.
"That's right, if you go outside, in no time, you'll turn into a piece of charcoal. By then, we won't even recognize you."
Shiratamaru: Nyan nyan nyan??
Being held in mistress arms, Shiratamaru looked confused, not understanding what was going on.
What is happening?
Poor Shiratamaru, unable to speak a word of human language, couldn't argue back.
....
The three girls sat down on the sofa one by one.
This time, because Kato Megumi was holding Shiratamaru, she took the seat in the middle.
She was sandwiched between Kasumigaoka and Eriri.
Eriri casually grabbed the remote control from the table and turned on the TV.
"Sawamura-san, what exactly did you come here for?"
Kasumigaoka glanced at Eriri.
This girl was saying she was rushing to finish her manuscript.
But the moment she sat down, she turned on the TV.
And she also said something about the drawing tablet being here.
Clearly, she still had a pile of drawing tablets at home.
"Hmph, illustrators have a tough job, of course, they need to balance work and rest!"
Eriri tilted her head back and started making excuses for herself.
"Megumi, would you like something to drink?"
Yukima Azuma stood behind the sofa and asked.
"Orange juice would be fine for me. Do you need any help?"
Kato Megumi turned her head back, about to stand up to help Yukima Azuma prepare the drinks.
Yukima Azuma waved his hand.
"What about you, senpai? It's rare for you to have a break today, don't drink coffee."
Kasumigaoka Utaha thought for a moment after hearing this.
"Then I'll have red tea, please, Azuma-kun."
Yukima Azuma nodded, then headed for the kitchen.
A big exclamation mark appeared above Eriri's head.
What's this!?
Why ask them but not me?
Am I just an unimportant character?
Eriri stuck her head out from behind the sofa, pouting slightly, and asked:
"Why didn't Azuma ask me?"
As soon as Eriri voiced this question, she realized that both Kasumigaoka and Kato Megumi were looking at her with strange expressions.
"Sawamura-san is such an idiot."
"Ah, so Sawamura-san is the kind of character who's slow on the uptake?"
Eriri pointed at herself, looking completely bewildered.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma's voice echoed from the kitchen.
"Is it necessary to ask Eriri?"
Eriri gritted her teeth, revealing her small fangs.
"Of course it's necessary!"
"Then, what would Eriri like to drink? I'll count down from three, two, one, and then you can say it. Three, two, one."
Under pressure, Eriri reflexively blurted out the choice in her mind.
""I want lemonade, but not Lipton, because it feels exactly like red tea when I drink it.""
Eriri's voice and Yukima Azuma's voice from the kitchen echoed together.
Every word was synchronized perfectly.
Yukima Azuma stepped out of the kitchen, holding red tea, orange juice, and lemonade.
Eriri's eyes widened.
"Eh? How did Azuma know!? Eh!?"
"You drink it all the time, except when you can't get it. Have you ever drunk anything else?"
The truth was clearEriri was indeed a bit of an Aho Baka.
Slowly pulling her head back behind the sofa, Eriri raised her hand to cover her face.
After placing the drinks on the coffee table, Yukima Azuma was initially unsure where to sit.
On the left side of the sofa, next to senpai?
Or on the right side, next to Eriri?
But now, it was clear.
No need to choose anymore.
Yukima Azuma decisively sat next to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Umu, Baka-riri deserved it.
Taking the remote, Eriri absentmindedly searched for an interesting channel.
While scrolling, Eriri accidentally passed a very terrifying horror program.
Immediately, her channel-switching speed increased dramatically.
Eriri pressed the remote button frantically, nearly making it smoke.
After switching through a few channels, she stopped.
"Huh? This one looks interesting. Let's watch the dating show."
Eriri stopped at a variety show.
The other three of them looked up at the screen.
The title of the show was: From today, fall in love seriously!
It turned out that this was the fifth season of the program.
A new season had arrived, and it was time for the love season.
The show was an unscripted reality dating show, featuring six teenage boys and girls from the entertainment industry as guests.
In short, it was a show where fans could "ship" different couples.
"From today, fall in love seriously..."
Kato Megumi read the title of the show.
"That's right, it's short for KoiKoi, a super popular dating show."
Eriri looked very excited.
Seeing that Kato Megumi still seemed not to understand, Kasumigaoka spoke up to explain:
"A dating show means a group of famous stars act out a love story in front of the camera."
"Usually, they claim there's no script, or it's called a reality show, where the crew just films, and the stars express themselves freely."
"But in reality, it's just a bunch of people wearing masks, cooperating to make money, creating surprise situations to increase viewer ratings."
"I didn't expect you, Sawamura-san, to like this kind of show... Oh, it's because no one loves you in real life, right?"
Eriri: !
"Why explain like that, and then attack me!? You're the one no one loves!"
"Besides, even in variety shows, some people really fall in love, and some even got married in previous seasons!"
"You just have a gloomy personality, so you see everything in a negative light!"
In response to Eriri's rebuttal, Kasumigaoka Utaha only smiled faintly.
Then, she leaned toward Yukima Azuma beside her.
This simple action made Eriri immediately fly into a rage.
Yukima Azuma reached out to hold Eriri back as she lunged toward Utaha, trying to mediate between the two.
"Azuma! You tell us, who's right?"
Held by the forehead, Eriri looked toward Yukima Azuma.
"That's right, Lonely-kun, tell this idiot how dark the world really is."
Kasumigaoka Utaha also looked toward Yukima Azuma.
Being seen as the referee, Yukima Azuma shrugged.
"Everything you two said, when added together, is pretty much how things really are."
"The basic goal of dating shows is to make money, so there's always some element of acting involved."
"But that being said, even without the cameras, no one easily reveals their inner self."
"This isn't at home, where you can be free; you still have to wear a mask, right? Stop it, you two."
Under the sofa, Eriri's white legs and Kasumigaoka Utaha's black legs were tangled together.
Secretly kicking and shoving each other.
Almost knocking over the drinks on the table.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's judgment, the two girls finally quieted down.
Although, because Yukima Azuma didn't side with one of them, both were somewhat dissatisfied.
But Yukima Azuma's words made sense.
After all, Utaha was an icy girl at school, a talented light novel author.
And Eriri, a girl with twin blonde braids, was a perfect Oujou-sama at school, a half-blooded artist.
Only when at Yukima's house could the two freely kick each other and argue back and forth.
"Naruhodo."
Kato Megumi clapped her hands once, indicating she understood.
What exactly she understood, though, only Kato Megumi knew.
...
The dating show began airing.
Three men and three women, six guests, all high school students.
There were actors, singers, and YouTubers.
The filming location was also at some school.
The director probably wanted to create a feeling of a school romance-comedy story.
When a short-haired girl with purple-blue hair appeared in front of the camera.
"Wow." Eriri softly exclaimed. "It's Kurokawa Akane, she's really participating in this dating show."
"Ah, I think I've seen her on TV." Kato Megumi said softly.
"She's a fairly famous actress; in a movie adapted from a game I like, she played the second female lead."
"Really?"
Yukima Azuma looked at the girl on the screen, thinking for a moment.
Kurokawa... Akane.
Kasumigaoka Utaha curiously leaned closer.
"What's up, do you know her?"
Yukima Azuma shook her head.
"I don't know her, just remember someone like that, but never mind, it's not important."
Seeing Yukima Azuma shake her head, Kasumigaoka was slightly suspicious.
Because Yukima Azuma's expression just now clearly suggested there was something more.
At this moment, Yukima Azuma pointed at a blonde girl with devil horns on the screen.
"I know her."
This statement immediately caught the attention of the three girls.
When all three looked toward her, Yukima Azuma briefly explained:
"She's a YouTuber, named MEM-Cho, with 370,000 followers and many active followers."
"When White Album was looking for online promoters, they invited her."
"Her trial videos have the highest views among YouTubers in the same price range, and her results are excellent."
"She's someone we've worked with before."
Upon hearing this, the three girls immediately understood.
Their gaze at the girl with devil horns softened considerably.
After all, she was someone who helped promote the club's work.
Of course, the money has been received in advance.
.....
The first two episodes of the dating show didn't stand out much.
But the director managed to create a very good sense of youthfulness.
Moreover, the actors were all real high school students.
So overall, it was still quite interesting.
...
Time passed quietly until noon.
Yukima Azuma stood up and stretched.
"I'm going to cook, who wants to help me?"
Normally, Kato Megumi would be the one to help cook.
Because Kato Megumi's cooking skills were very high.
But today,
Eriri raised her hand.
"I, I'll help!"
Kato Megumi, who was about to stand up, silently sat back down when she saw this.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma didn't say anything like, "Can you even do it?"
He simply nodded.
At this moment, Eriri was visibly excited.
Finally, it was her turn to show off her skills!
Since the midterm exams,
Eriri had been learning to cook under the guidance of Sayuri, her mother.
The goal was so that at times like this, she could actively step in and stay in the kitchen with Yukima Azuma.
The position in the kitchen was something Eriri had long been looking forward to.
Moreover, as long as she could demonstrate her excellent cooking skills,
She was sure it would make Yukima Azuma feel her charm!
Eriri thought to herself.
The two were about to head into the kitchen.
Then, Yukima Azuma's phone rang on the coffee table.
"Azuma-san, your phone."
Kato Megumi picked up Yukima Azuma's phone, flipped it over, and then picked it up.
She didn't glance at the screen out of curiosity, simply handing it back to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma didn't care.
"Ah, can you check who it is? If it's not something work-related, I won't bother. Cooking is more important."
Hearing this, Kato Megumi turned the phone back over.
Then,
Kato Megumi's eyes widened slightly.
After a brief pause of less than a second,
"This is a Line message, sent by a girl with an anime character avatar in pink."
Kato Megumi's light description made the atmosphere grow tense.
Yukima Azuma blinked in confusion.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, as if she had used teleportation, immediately moved next to Kato Megumi to look at the phone.
"The sender says: 'Hello, sorry to bother you, I really like you...' the rest is cut off."
"It seems the Line name is EroManga."
The tense atmosphere seemed to gradually boil over.
It felt like there was wood burning in the room, crackling.
Yukima Azuma took the phone and sat back down on the sofa.
Without any attempt at concealment, he unlocked the phone and opened the Line interface.
The best solution here was to speak directly.
After all, Yukima Azuma had nothing to hide.
After all, there was no way Sora Ginko would suddenly send a message like this.
Hmm... and she couldn't possibly be using a pink animated avatar.
When the phone was unlocked,
The Line interface appeared.
It fully displayed the content of the message.
It was a friend request message.
The full text was:
"Hello, sorry to bother you, I really like your light novel, and I would love to illustrate your novel by any means."
After seeing the entire message,
Kato Megumi's tuberose-colored eyes returned to their normal state.
"Ah, Azuma-san is writing a light novel?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha stood up and yawned.
"How boring, I'm going to lie down for a bit. Call me when it's time to eat."
As for Eriri,
Eriri was extremely worried.
"Light novel? Illustration? What's going on? When? Why didn't I know about this?"
"Why did Azuma's light novel hire other illustrators for the job?"
"I don't understand! Why not pick me, someone as talented as this, and choose some stranger instead?"
"I'm Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, you know!"
Eriri loudly proclaimed her identity as an R18 illustrator, something she had never admitted before.
After her "mixed blood" trait was threatened by other,
After being mocked as "just a close friend" who knew nothing,
Even the "rights" to her illustration work were taken away.
It's ruined.
Now, she truly has no place anymore!
Upon hearing Eriri's declaration,
Yukima Azuma only had a confused expression.
"But, Eriri, didn't you complain every day about your work piling up and being unable to keep up?"
"Yesterday, you even said 'I'm in such a rush, the deadline is almost breaking my hands, I'm so exhausted,' or something like that."
"Since you said that, I was left with no choice but to hire other illustrators."
"I didn't want to hire any subpar illustrators, after all, this is a light novel I've invested my heart and soul into."
"But compared to the work or the piece itself, of course, Eriri is more important."
After hearing Yukima Azuma's explanation,
Eriri froze.
Her eyes slowly lost their light.
She had only wanted to complain about the workload to receive encouragement from Yukima Azuma.
Words like "Gambare Gambare, Sasuga Eriri, Sugoi, Saiko" that she had seen on Line these past few days had made her so excited that she felt like she was flying.
But the result came too quickly.
Eriri was almost on the verge of crying out of anger at herself.
"Sorry, I... Anyway, if the illustrator isn't good enough, can I... can I do the illustration work?"
Eriri realized this was the result of her own making, and since she had matured a little, no longer being (still trying) the tsundere girl, she quietly proposed her thought.
"Umu, of course, that's fine."
Yukima Azuma replied, but in his heart, he sighed.
Could Eriri's luck really be this bad? Is this the "failure aura of the female leads" from legends?
And receiving the confirmation from Yukima Azuma.
Eriri looked at Kato Megumi with hopeful eyes.
"By the way, what was the name of the illustrator applying?"
Kato Megumi, upon hearing that, tapped her cheek and thought for a moment.
"Seems like the name was Eromanga, it does sound a bit special."
Immediately, Eriri buried her head into the sofa.
Only the two blonde braids hung down behind her.
Eriri: It's okay, I'm fine.
Eriri: I just need to cry for a month and it'll be fine.
--------------------------------------------
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Eriri was in deep sorrow.
Curled up on the couch, she cried incessantly.
As a result, the task of helping in the kitchen fell to Kato Megumi.
The two of them went into the kitchen and started their time cooking together.
While washing and sorting the vegetables, Kato Megumi curiously asked:
"So, is Eromanga-sensei really that great? Is they better than Sawamura-san?"
In Kato Megumi's eyes,
Eriri's drawing skills were already exceptional.
After all, she was the top talent in the Toyogasaki art club.
Yukima Azuma sighed, looking at Eriri's aura.
How unlucky could this kid be?
When he became a light novel author and began posting his stories online, while promoting them,
He was really just hoping for some luck.
But the result, after just one morning,
He hit the jackpot immediately.
"Well, they's amazing," Yukima Azuma explained. "Although emotionally, I lean more towards Eriri, if we're talking purely about drawing skills, Eromanga is definitely a step ahead."
Kato Megumi slightly parted her lips, showing a surprised expression, almost saying "Oh."
"Eriri... you know, she draws R18 works, and in that field, she's considered the best."
"But Eromanga is different, they're an artist aimed at all ages, not a manga artist, just an illustrator."
"Just based on drawing skills alone, they've gathered a huge fanbase and have a very strong influence in the illustration world."
"Online, sometimes people joke that buying a light novel is like buying illustrations from Eromanga-sensei, and the story is just a bonus."
"But for works Eromanga is involved in, there are actually people who think like that and buy them, and it's not a small number."
With Yukima Azuma's simple and easy-to-understand explanation,
Even someone like Kato Megumi, who wasn't in the industry,
Now understood the value of the name Eromanga.
She turned her head and looked out of the kitchen.
How strange, isn't it said that those who are foolish live happily? Why is Sawamura-san's luck so bad?
Such thoughts crossed Kato Megumi's mind.
Of course, she would never say these words out loud.
It was just a bit of her darker, unspoken personality.
"By the way." Turning back, Kato Megumi changed the subject. "Azuma-san, you also write light novels, right?"
Yukima Azuma nodded.
At this point, there was no point in hiding it anymore.
As long as Kato Megumi didn't see the content, there wasn't much of an issue.
"When it gets published, I'd like to give Megumi a copy. Would you mind reading it when it comes out?"
"Huh? You want to give me one? I was planning to buy one after it's released."
"But, Megumi doesn't really read light novels, does she?"
"Well, anime, light novels, those things... I don't really understand them."
"Then why would you want to buy one?"
"Because it's a light novel written by Azuma-san, so I want to read it and see."
Yukima Azuma tilted his head and looked at Kato Megumi.
He felt that recently, writing light novels had made him a little dumb.
How could he ask such a question?
She's Kato Megumi.
The person who, no matter how much you talk about things she doesn't understand, would still be willing to listen and try to understand seriously.
She's the undefeated "Saint Megumi."
"What's wrong, Azuma-san?"
Noticing Yukima Azuma's gaze, Kato Megumi tilted her head, her tuberose-colored eyes blinking.
"Oh, it's here, the eight-degree head tilt and the winkit's the legendary spell that can steal someone's heart!"
"Oh~! I didn't expect you to know that. But now that the spell has been cast, struggling is useless."
"I can't control myself anymore, I can't stop kneeling under Megumi's skirt. For Megumi, I offer my whole heart!"
"Azuma-san, that's dangerous! And you've spilled water all over your clothes."
"Ah, sorry, I got too into character."
Yukima Azuma put the kitchen knife he was holding back in its place.
The move just now seemed to have been risky for cutting his fingers.
Of course, with Yukima Azuma's cooking skill at level 7, even with handling a kitchen knife, he wouldn't hurt himself.
But at this moment, it was best to just quietly obey.
A serious Megumi has the power to make people listen.
.....
After lunch.
"Today it's my turn to wash the dishes, right?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha stood up, cleared the dishes from the table, and went into the kitchen.
"Ah, just the right time. I have something I want to discuss with everyone."
Yukima Azuma snapped his fingers, as if remembering something, and also went into the kitchen.
Kato Megumi and Eriri curiously followed.
Yukima Azuma took the greasy dishes from Kasumigaoka Utaha's hands.
He started by scraping off the food scraps and throwing them into the trash.
Then he placed the dishes into a white machine that looked like a microwave.
He arranged them neatly and then closed the machine.
"Done. From now on, if it's your turn to wash the dishes, just do it like this."
"This is a dishwasher. It has a drying function, so once it's washed, just leave it in there, no need to worry about it."
A few minutes later.
With a 'ting' sound,
Yukima Azuma opened the dishwasher and took out the sparkling dishes, as good as new.
"How convenient."
"It feels like something invented by someone who doesn't want to wash dishes."
Yukima Azuma, who had just been mocked by Kasumigaoka, could only helplessly shrug.
"Meh, laziness does drive progress. Isn't the purpose of technology to make life more convenient?"
"This is a product developed by company, and it's still not released yet. What I brought back is a prototype."
.....
In the afternoon.
Eriri obediently returned to her room to immerse herself in drawing the artbook.
This time, she didn't complain about being tired.
She didn't delay either.
She was solely focused on quickly completing the task at hand.
Even though she had been hit hard at lunch, Eriri had almost recovered by now.
After all...
"Hmpf, that Eromanga has been famous for a long time, and all their illustrations are in a ero style."
"Someone like that is definitely the type of creepy older guy from the legendary of otaku world. Umu, it must be."
"The pink profile picture is probably just to attract fans."
"Someone who can draw such seductive illustrations cannot possibly be a cute girl. There's nothing to worry about."
Eriri reassured herself with this logical analysis.
After all, it was just some creepy older guy.
It wasn't a big deal.
...
On the other side.
Yukima Azuma had accepted Eromanga's friend request.
Immediately after, he initiated a video call.
After about four or five minutes, the call was finally accepted.
On the other end of the video call was a room so dark that the surroundings couldn't be clearly seen.
Only the vague shape of a bed could be made out in the background.
In front of the screen, in the white light emitted by the screen, there was a person wearing a giant pink anime character mask, sitting very close.
"Hello, may I ask, are you Eromanga-sensei?"
"Yes, I am Eromanga. And you must be Yukima Azuma-sensei, right? Why the sudden video call?"
The voice in the call was clearly altered by a voice changer, sounding like a machine, impossible to tell if it was male or female.
Even though the person on the other side was wearing a giant mask and using a voice changer, Yukima Azuma immediately recognized that it was a girl.
Yes, it was the cute girl who drew seductive illustrations that he remembered from his memory.
Compared to appearance or voice, the structure of the body was the best way to recognize gender and age.
With his sharp eyes, which seemed to see through the world along with his cooking vision, Yukima Azuma only needed to glance to see the true nature of the girl on the other side of the screen.
"I'm truly sorry," Yukima Azuma said sincerely.
"But since this is related to the person who will be illustrating my light novel, I wanted to confirm it myself."
"Because... this is a work I've put my heart and soul into, and I absolutely have to choose an illustrator who is up to the task."
The person on the other side of the screen slightly frowned behind the mask, her eyes clearly showing some discomfort.
Sudden video calls in Japan were often seen as socially unacceptable behavior.
But because of this, Yukima Azuma's explanation moved the other person deeply.
"Understood! I completely understand Yukima-sensei's thoughts! Please, go ahead."
"Whatever the test is, I will pass it. The illustration for Saekano can only be entrusted to me!"
A voice, full of determination, rang out from the other side.
Yukima Azuma nodded, as if he had already anticipated this development.
He knew that Eromanga-sensei placed great importance on the emotions conveyed through a work. As long as they shared the same viewpoint in this regard, the relationship between them would naturally improve.
For now, they would cooperate a few times.
Then, he would bring her to Laplace Corporation.
A genius artist who had likely reached level 7 in drawing skills.
Moreover, she seemed the type to be easily influenced.
If he didn't "catch" her carefully, it would truly be a waste.
"Eromanga-sensei, please draw a picture of Kujou Megumi first. I want to see how you portray this character."
Yukima Azuma made the request.
On the other side of the screen, Eromanga nodded in agreement.
The camera switched to presentation mode.
On the drawing software, the strokes quickly began to sketch the outline of the character.
After defining the basic bone structure, each detail was added from top to bottom.
In less than ten minutes, a full-body black-and-white illustration appeared on the screen.
Even though it wasn't colored yet, the character already exuded such life that it amazed anyone who looked at it.
The character in the drawing seemed as if it could step out of the picture at any moment.
The appearance of the character resembled Kato Megumi by about fifty percent.
To be able to imagine a character so well based only on textual descriptions was, without a doubt, the work of a genius.
As Eromanga was about to begin coloring the character, Yukima Azuma suddenly spoke up to stop her.
"Eromanga-sensei, please wait a moment."
The strokes halted.
The camera switched back to face mode.
Perhaps thinking that a direct conversation would show more respect to Yukima Azuma, but she still wore the mask.
The eyes behind the mask showed signs of worry, as if she feared Yukima might say something displeasing.
After reading Saekano on the "Let's Become a Novelist!" page today, she immediately became fond of the work.
No matter what, she wanted to be the illustrator for this project.
"Eromanga-sensei, I understand how you perceive the character. I can feel your intentions through the illustration."
"I'll send you two photos. Please use the character in the pictures as a reference for Kujou Megumi."
"And one more thing... I know your style leans toward the seductive, but for this work, please hold back a little."
After saying this, Yukima Azuma sent two photos of Kato Megumi to Eromanga via Line.
One was of Kato Megumi looking spaced out, and the other was of her in a focused state.
After sending the photos, Yukima Azuma added:
"These photos must not be shared outside. Please delete them once the illustration work is completed."
On the other side of the screen, Eromanga nodded seriously in agreement.
Then, she leaned forward to examine the two photos carefully.
At first, she didn't think much of them.
But after observing them more closely for a moment, her eyes widened in shock behind the mask.
"So that's it..."
"I understand now, so this is the feeling..."
"How wonderful, is this Kujou Megumi? Truly amazing."
In the whispers, Eromanga-sensei continued to draw.
This time, she didn't need to sketch the basic skeleton of the character.
Each brushstroke was drawn directly from top to bottom, gradually completing the image.
The character Kujou Megumi was born through that pen.
Although the facial features were less similar to Kato Megumi than before,
The expression in her eyes and the subtle, airy aura were,
Exactly what captured the essence of Kato Megumi.
A fragrance as gentle as tuberose flowers seemed to spill from the painting.
At first glance, the female character in the painting did not surprise anyone.
But on the second or third glance,
That subtle feeling seemed to capture the heart of the viewer.
Once your eyes truly locked on the character, you couldn't look away.
"Eromanga-sensei."
"Mm."
"Kujou Megumi asks for your help."
"Leave it to me with peace of mind!"
Neither of them mentioned any payment for the illustration.
The call ended quickly.
...
In a house somewhere in Tokyo, in front of a screen emitting white light,
The girl stood up, removing the giant anime mask from her face.
Her soft silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
Her small, cute face radiated with a bright smile.
In the dim room,
The girl took off the snug sportswear she was wearing, leaving only a light spaghetti-strap dress.
Izumi Sagiri.
A teenage genius artist.
The name Eromanga-sensei was inherited from her mother.
Despite her young age, due to her extraordinary artistic talent,
When she took on this title, none of her online fans noticed the change.
The previous Eromanga-sensei,
Was no longer around.
At the age of twelve,
Izumi Sagiri's mother brought her to live at the Izumi household.
Even though her mother remarried, those days were incredibly happy for Sagiri.
However, a tragedy struck unexpectedly.
Sagiri's mother and stepfather were involved in a honeymoon accident and both died.
Only Izumi Sagiri was left alone.
She was adopted by her aunt, who was also her stepfather's younger sister.
But the immense shock from the death of her parents caused Sagiri to fall into a period of autism.
Her aunt, who had just entered society and had no experience in raising children,
Tried rather forceful measures to help Sagiri overcome it.
One of them was to attempt to drag her out of her room forcibly.
But this method only deepened Sagiri's emotional wounds.
From then on, up until today,
Izumi Sagiri has never been able to leave her room.
Reading light novels online became her greatest hobby in life.
In fact, Izumi Sagiri didn't like light novels from the youth, romcom genre.
This reason was somewhat similar to Bocchi.
The lively words felt like daggers stabbing her heart.
Because she couldn't and didn't want to leave this room.
But today.
Today, on the internet, Izumi Sagiri accidentally saw a post introducing a light novel from the youth genre.
The book was recommended by a blogger she quite liked.
The blogger praised the book to the heavens.
Moreover, it seemed the work contained fantasy elements,
Which sparked Sagiri's curiosity.
With the mindset of "let's see what's so hyped about this book,"
She opened the first page of "Saekano."
That morning,
Izumi Sagiri was completely stunned.
The gentle, delicate words pulled her back to the summer in the schoolyard, a place she hadn't been able to touch for so long.
Beside her, a girl named Megumi, with her gentleness, gradually healed the wounds in her heart.
After reading the chapters on the website,
Izumi Sagiri buried herself under the blanket and cried uncontrollably.
After crying,
She wanted to know more about the upcoming developments of "Saekano."
She clicked on the introduction to check if the book had been published in print yet.
What surprised and delighted Sagiri the most was,
The novel was recruiting illustrators!
For a work that had touched the deepest part of her heart,
Izumi Sagiri was determined to contribute her illustrations at all costs.
According to the contact information left on the website,
She used her artist account to friend the author, Yukimi Azuma.
The sudden video call in the afternoon startled Izumi Sagiri.
She hurriedly wrapped herself up, put on her mask, and activated the voice changer,
Only then did she dare to accept the call.
In her heart, Sagiri felt a bit resentful about the abruptness,
But that resentment immediately faded after hearing the explanation from the other side.
"Put your heart and soul into your work,"
Was something Izumi's mother, Mrs. Izumi, always used to say.
It was also a principle that Izumi Sagiri always followed.
The other person's serious attitude, touched her heart.
Wearing her light spaghetti-strap dress, Izumi Sagiri joyfully danced an otaku dance in her room.
Without caring about the payment, just being involved in the illustration work for "Saekano" made her incredibly happy.
The ding dong from the phone sounded several times.
Izumi Sagiri picked it up to check.
It was the contract and the entire first book of the light novel "Saekano" sent by the other side.
She completely ignored the contract.
Focusing all her attention on exploring the world of "Saekano."
Unlike her first read,
Izumi Sagiri realized that upon rereading,
The female protagonist in the novel had completely come to life.
The girl on the pages of the book started to live in this world.
However, the male protagonist of the novel,
Izumi Sagiri could no longer immerse herself in his character as before.
The boy in the video call earlier seemed to have stepped out of that world.
In fact, the descriptions of the male protagonist in the novel,
Izumi Sagiri had secretly mocked before.
She thought the author was overly imaginative.
How could anyone like that really existcharming and powerful enough to be the center of attention at school?
But when she linked the image of the boy she had just talked to in the video call,
Izumi Sagiri suddenly felt... everything seemed to make sense?
After finishing the read,
Izumi Sagiri puffed her cheeks in frustration.
It was all because of that boy.
She couldn't completely immerse herself in the main character anymore.
Grabbing her digital drawing tablet,
Izumi Sagiri began to illustrate.
She didn't need to think too much.
In her mind, the lives of the boy and the girl were clear,
She just needed to draw what she saw.
....
Elsewhere.
At Yukima's house.
"Home so early? Not going to have dinner before heading home?"
Yukima Azuma stood at the entrance, gently trying to advise the girl to stop.
"I would like to stay, but my sister is off today and came home, so I have to go cook."
"Otherwise, my sister will starve to death."
Kato Megumi said.
After hearing this, Yukima Azuma could only laugh bitterly.
"Ah, so younger sister has spoiled older sister and made she into a brat."
"If you meet my sister, Azuma-san, don't say that."
"Eh? Why can't I say it?"
"That's right, my sister is very sly."
Yukima Azuma nodded.
From Kato Megumi, one could sense a kind of inherited slyness.
But since Megumi was gentler, the slyness wasn't very apparent.
After changing her shoes, Kato Megumi waved goodbye to Yukima Azuma.
In response, Yukima Azuma didn't wave back. After changing her shoes, she walked with her to the station.
At the station, Yukima Azuma finally waved goodbye to Kato Megumi.
Getting on the train at Shibuya station, Kato Megumi got off at the station near her home.
She arrived home, took the key out of her bag, and opened the door.
As soon as she opened the front door,
A grown figure with black hair rushed out.
Kato Hiromi.
Her older sister, six years older than Kato Megumi.
She is preparing to graduated from university this year.
"Sis, what are you looking for?"
Kato Megumi asked as she saw her sister rushing out, looking around.
"Of course, I'm looking for your boyfriend. Aren't you bringing him home?"
Kato Hiromi said matter-of-factly.
"I don't have one."
"Are you lying? I heard from Mom and Dad that there have been several times you didn't sleep at home."
"I just stayed over at a friend's house, helping to take care of the stray cat that we adopted."
"That's a clumsy excuse, even worse than mine back in the day. Come on, Megumi, tell the truth."
Kato Hiromi and her current boyfriend had secretly been in a relationship since high school.
Back when she was in high school, Kato Hiromi had also often stayed out, not coming home to sleep.
Kato Megumi had even helped cover for her.
Last year, Kato Hiromi finally brought her boyfriend home.
After meeting their parents, they got engaged.
The wedding was scheduled for this winter.
The same time Kato Hiromi graduated from university.
With the experience of someone who had gone through it,
Kato Hiromi understood all these little tricks.
Under pressure from her sister's questions,
Kato Megumi thought about a certain boy.
But right now, they were just friends.
They could only be considered good friends, not quite to the level of a romantic partner.
Besides, there were still many competitors.
Kasumigaoka-senpai was the biggest threat.
Then there was Yukinoshita-san.
And the pink-haired girl Megumi met at the live house in Shimokitazawa.
Kirisu-sensei also didn't seem easy to beat.
Each competitor was very strong.
Hmm... did I forget someone?
Never mind, it's not important.
Anyway, Kato Megumi didn't want to talk about romance with her sister for now.
At least, she would wait until after achieving success.
"If you keep talking nonsense, you'll be cooking dinner yourself tonight."
Kato Megumi said lightly.
With that strong threat,
Kato Hiromi chuckled and immediately ran into the house.
"Megumi, I'm going to read a light novel for a bit. Call me when dinner's ready, love you!"
That was the last thing her older sister said before disappearing without a trace.
"Light novel... huh?"
Kato Megumi muttered, then went to the kitchen, put on an apron, and skillfully tied the bow behind her.
After cooking dinner,
Kato Megumi went to her sister's room and knocked on the door.
Kato Hiromi immediately opened the door and stepped out.
The two sisters sat down at the dining table and began chatting.
"Sis, what's the female protagonist in a light novel usually like?"
Kato Megumi casually started the conversation.
"Eh? I thought you didn't like light novels?"
"Just answer the question."
"Let me think... first, the female protagonist has to be very beautiful, someone who stands out in a crowd."
Kato Megumi stroked her cheek and then twisted a strand of her hair a bit too hard.
"Then, she usually has one standout quality, like being a genius in some field."
Kato Megumi took a sip of orange juice, and when she pulled the straw out, there were small bite marks on it.
"Lastly, she has a personality flaw, or a sad past that she keeps hidden. This is an important element that drives the plot."
Kato Megumi thought for a moment.
She had both parents, an older sister, a home, she wasn't kidnapped when she was young, and her grades were normal, so there wasn't really anything to regret.
"Megumi, could you scoop me another bowl of miso soup?"
"Go scoop it yourself. You're always bossing me around like this. If you keep going, you'll turn into a useless person!"
"Ehhh!? What's going on!?"
--------------------------------------------
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Sato Kazuma.
An otaku.
Normally, when he's not playing games, he's either reading light novels or watching anime.
He is the type of person who can seriously say:
"Yesterday, my team and I went through a hard adventure, overcoming dangerous challenges, and finally accomplished a great feat."
This could be used to describe the boss from the game we fought together yesterday.
Being able to get into Toyogasaki High School was definitely pure luck.
Picking random answers, but just right enough to pass.
Speaking of which, this guy Sato Kazuma has been very lucky since he was young.
He has never lost at rock-paper-scissors.
Today, the online game Sato Kazuma plays is undergoing maintenance and updates.
So, with nothing else to do, he casually reopened the light novel website "Let's Become a Novelist!" after a long time.
He skimmed through the rankings a bit.
"Honestly, can these authors just die already?"
On the rankings, from bottom to top:
"The Legend of the Phantom Blade", "Jujutsu Kaisen"...
He looked at them all.
They were all battle stories, fantasy.
Moreover, they were either the most famous works in the light novel industry, like Muramasa Senju-sensei's "The Legend of the Phantom Blade," or manga works that had been expanded into light novels, like "Jujutsu Kaisen."
Clearly, the industry is in trouble, and everyone is struggling to survive.
For this reason, Sato Kazuma had not visited the light novel website for a long time.
When he was about to close the website, the top-ranked work immediately caught his eye.
"The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine."
It was a romance-comedy novel.
This was what made Sato Kazuma pay attention.
Even though he had previously criticized the industry as being on the brink of death, he couldn't do anything about itthe market currently favors battle stories, fantasy, and isekai.
This is an undeniable fact.
In this context, a romcom still managed to carve out its own niche to stand out.
Sato Kazuma couldn't wait and clicked on the page to read.
"Yukimi Azuma? This author's name is so similar to my friend's! Just one character different, almost the same pronunciation."
When he saw the author's name, Sato Kazuma froze for a moment.
But soon, he didn't care.
Just a casual thought, then he moved on.
There's no way that guy, the riajuu, could be the author of this light novel.
Then later.
"Holy Shit, looks like it really is that guy!"
Sato Kazuma held his head.
Why was he so sure?
Because he saw his own name in the novel.
The protagonist's best friend.
This time, he didn't even bother changing the name and used the original one directly.
It immediately made Sato Kazuma stunned.
After reading the posted content, Sato Kazuma was left in a daze.
After finishing reading, his first feeling was extreme jealousy.
"Sure enough, the top student in school writes really well."
As a seasoned otaku, Sato Kazuma had also tried writing light novels.
The result... don't ever bring it up again...
That's why he understood just how good "Yukimi Azuma" is work was.
With mixed emotions, Sato Kazuma opened his YouTube and Twitter accounts.
As an otaku, Sato Kazuma often livestreams gaming on YouTube.
On Twitter, he runs game and light novel reviews.
Both accounts combined have over a million followers.
On his accounts, Sato Kazuma started tweeting.
[Advocating of Gender Equality:
Book recommendation, not an advertisement, enjoy freely.
By the way, before introducing the book, I want to say to other light novel authors: Stop being stupid and copying each other, dominating the rankings with nearly identical stories all the time, just die already!
Main content: 10/10, 120% recommendation, "The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine." by Yukimi Azuma-sensei.
Link here: (pa.treon.com/curse_heian_chef).
Reason for recommendation: Honestly, you'll understand once you read it, and if anyone doesn't like this book, all I can say is: "Go ahead and enjoy your brain-dead isekai harem stories"]
A tweet as sharp as this one is rarely posted even by bloggers who specialize in attracting attention.
But it's true, compared to ordinary tweets that are nothing special.
A sharp way of speaking like this easily piques people's curiosity.
There are quite a few fans of Sato Kazuma.
With the thought: "This guy is definitely getting paid for advertising," they clicked on the link.
Preparing to look at a few pages and then return to scold Sato Kazuma thoroughly.
However, almost no one came back.
"Saekano" was posted on the web light novel and reached the top of the rankings in just one day.
Apart from being introduced by many bloggers.
The quality of the book itself left people with nothing to say.
Especially in the context of an industry flooded with isekai and fantasy novels in the past few years.
Where readers have started to feel tired of these genres.
Before the real promotion campaign even started, the book's popularity had already reached its peak.
Izumi Sagiri's work was completed very quickly.
Within just a few days, all the beautiful illustrations were sent.
Yukima Azuma took a look.
The quality exceeded expectations.
After sending the illustrations, there was no further response.
Perhaps they had already fallen into a deep sleep.
These illustrations were definitely drawn with full effort, without rest.
The love the girl had for the work was clearly visible in every stroke.
Yukima Azuma packed up the illustrations and went to Laplace.
The seventh floor of the Laplace building.
Currently, this is the office of Laplace Bunko.
It was previously Dengeki Bunko, and after the name change, the original team still works here.
Machida Sonoko had also resigned from Fujikawa and moved here.
Upon meeting, Machida Sonoko couldn't hold back and immediately asked:
"How about the illustrator, have you found one?"
"There will be a storm coming soon, it will affect distribution, if we hesitate any longer, we'll have to wait until July to release it."
"By then, the current hype online will be wasted, we need to act fast!"
Yukima Azuma said nothing, just handed the materials to Machida Sonoko.
Machida Sonoko took them, opened them up.
Immediately, she was overwhelmed by the exquisitely surreal illustrations.
She widened her eyes, staring at Yukima Azuma.
She couldn't understand at all.
Yukima Azuma, a rookie in the light novel industry, had no connections.
How could she find such a talented artist in such a short time?
This isn't something that can be solved just with money.
She took an illustration out of the file.
Machida Sonoko looked at the bottom right corner where the signature was.
When she saw the name Eromanga-sensei, she no longer wanted to ask anything.
This is ridiculous.
Nevertheless, Machida Sonoko only wanted to say the more ridiculous, the better.
She had gambled her whole career when she moved here.
Yukima Azuma was even more of a monster that ordinary people could not understand.
She felt even more excited.
"Everything's ready, then let's start the marketing campaign immediately, we'll officially release it this Saturday."
"With the current hype online and Eromanga-sensei's fanbase."
"It will definitely succeed, it must succeed! Hey, kid, what's the first print run, you decide."
"My plan is at least 500,000 copies!"
Machida Sonoko said excitedly.
A rookie and a new work, a first print run of 500,000 copies.
Saying it like this, there will definitely be people thinking this editor is crazy.
Usually, for a new work from a rookie, if it can print 10,000 copies in the first run, it's considered a success.
And 500,000 copies.
Currently, the record for first-day sales in the light novel industry is nearly that.
And this record was set by a work that had accumulated countless fans, a work that had gone through multiple volumes.
After hearing Machida Sonoko's words, Yukima Azuma thought for a moment.
Then gave his response.
"For the first print... one million copies."
Machida Sonoko, in her excitement, froze for a moment, staring at Yukima Azuma.
Then said nothing and continued with her work.
The office, which was previously quiet, immediately became busy.
It was once Dengeki Bunko, now Laplace Bunko.
This is a third-tier publisher that has been in the industry for many years.
Its revenue is always neither high nor low.
Although it's not bankrupt, it really doesn't have much fame.
The people still working at this publishing house.
Without mentioning anything else, at least they have a deep attachment to the publisher.
When it was acquired by Laplace Corporation and directly renamed.
The editors of the publishing house felt a sense of melancholy.
Although the higher-ups announced there would be no staff cuts, just a change of some positions.
It was impossible to avoid the feeling of sadness.
Working in a publishing house, perhaps it's due to a love for literature.
All editors around the world hope their publishing house can publish an extremely successful work.
To stand out in the industry.
Only in this way can they attract better authors.
However, the editors of Dengeki Bunko had never seen their hope become a reality.
Until now, the name of the publishing house no longer existed.
However, this feeling of disappointment.
When they saw the next work that would be accepted, it quickly disappeared.
Each person who read the manuscript of Saekano.
Felt their hearts beat faster.
"The story has endured ten years of frost, but the passion is still burning."
That's the current situation.
The editors of the publishing house felt like they saw a glimmer of hope, one that could change the entire industry, gradually igniting in their hands.
This work in their hands could change the entire market trend.
The glimmer of hope that created a legend for the industry.
Being able to participate in this legendary work.
Anyone who loves editorial work would be moved to the point of trembling, right?
What? You say the name of the publishing house is no longer there?
Who says it's gone?
Aren't we Laplace Bunko?
Rebirth from the ashes, revival, starts with changing the name.
Today, we, Laplace Bunko, will shock the industry!
From today onward.
Every bookstore began hanging posters promoting Saekano.
On the screens of the Ginza building.
Advertisements for famous brands were replaced.
The artwork created by Eromanga-sensei appeared on the screens and played continuously.
Honestly, no publishing house would spend money like this.
Even if they truly owned a work like Saekano.
Other publishers wouldn't be able to invest such a large amount in advertising.
This is unreasonable.
The stronger the advertisement, the more it clearly helps increase sales.
But the nature of revenue is to make money, and such a large investment isn't justified by the profit.
However, Laplace Bunko practically wanted to write on their faces: "We are not lacking in money!"
Although it's a third-tier publisher, certainly lacking in relationships and with no guaranteed reputation.
But Laplace Corporation has money!
Therefore, in such an intense marketing campaign.
Time passed until Saturday, the day of the book release.
Saturday.
Sales Day.
On the same day, Fujikawa Publishing released several best-selling fantasy fiction books, with new volumes hitting the shelves.
There was no need to directly compete with "Saekano" to bring it down.
It was simply about being annoying.
Readers were drawn into bookstores by overwhelming advertising.
They might find their favorite works with new volumes just released.
Then they would buy that new volume immediately.
Most light novel readers don't buy many light novels at once.
Fujikawa Publishing's action was really like a bothersome fly or mosquito.
However, Yukima Azuma was not too concerned.
Fujikawa Publishing would certainly do this.
Once the fantasy genre collapsed, the youth genre would rise in the market.
At that point, Fujikawa Publishing might face trouble.
So, it was something already anticipated.
Moreover, compared to "Saekano," Fujikawa's works were really insignificant.
How could the light of a firefly compare to the bright moon?
On this sales day, Yukima Azuma just stayed home, scrolling through Twitter.
Among the people he followed, all of them had posted tweets in the past few days.
[Eromanga:
On June 21st, this Saturday, the work "The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine," which I am responsible for the illustrations, will be released. Please support it.]
Under this tweet, the number of likes, comments, and shares had exceeded the limit.
Even the figures for some idol news could not compare.
It could only be said that the power of the Eromanga fan club after many years was truly terrifying.
Apart from Eromanga,
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri also posted tweets from their main accounts.
Although the numbers were not as impressive as Eromanga's,
Yukima Azuma could truly feel their good intentions.
"Wait a moment, I'll make some dessert to thank them... what should I make?"
"Pocky would be a good choice."
Yukima Azuma decided.
Pocky here referred to long biscuit sticks coated in chocolate.
Since it makes a 'pocky' sound when bitten, that's how it got its name.
It's also the snack chosen when the main characters in many light novels play the game of trying to eat both ends of the stick.
As Yukima Azuma was about to turn off his phone and head to the kitchen to prepare a bit of dessert,
Suddenly, a call came in.
It was Machida Sonoko.
Yukima Azuma hesitated before answering.
"What's up, Machida-san? Shouldn't you be focusing on the sales data right now?"
Logically, even if there was good news, it should wait until the sales numbers for the first day came in.
But from the other side of the line, Yukima Azuma heard Machida Sonoko's uncontrollable laughter.
"Did you see this week's latest update for the manga 'Jujutsu Kaisen'?"
Upon hearing Machida Sonoko's words,
Yukima Azuma furrowed his brows.
The "Jujutsu Kaisen" series,
Yukima Azuma had watched in his past life.
It was because of his past life that he knew.
This was a great series.
Knowing what happens next in the series, Yukima Azuma naturally lost interest in following it.
Although the current author of "Jujutsu Kaisen" was still Akutami Gege, not yet Akuma Gege.
Wait... hold on?
Yukima Azuma seemed to understand what was going on.
"I don't follow this manga, is something happening?"
Yukima Azuma asked curiously.
From the other end of the line, Machida Sonoko explained with a laughing tone.
"In today's update, this fantasy battle series faced a serious issue."
"If you haven't seen it, let me explain a bit. There's a character in this work who is extremely popular for his overwhelming strength, named Gojo Satoru."
"In today's update, this character was split in half by the villain, and this character was truly killed."
Yukima Azuma pursed his lips.
Just as expected, this situation.
The Divide One, Gojo/Satoru
"So... is 'Gojo Satoru' now 'Gojo/Satoru'?"
With a complicated mood, Yukima Azuma asked.
"Yes, he was split in half and killed, though you could also call it 'Go/jo/Sato/ru' since both arms were severed."
"Before dying, the villain taunted him with something like 'You're so strong, Gojo Satoru, Stand proud, I will never forget you.'"
"Now, the original author has really exploded, and there are nearly ten thousand angry comments under Twitter."
"This story originally relied solely on Gojo Satoru to stand firm, but now 'Gojo Satoru' has become 'Gojo/Satoru,' and half of its success is basically destroyed."
Machida Sonoko was genuinely happy.
At first, "Saekano" was competing with the fantasy battle genre in the youth genre market.
A lot of money was invested in advertising, just to change the market direction.
But in the end, the competition hadn't even started.
The opponent walked onto the field and stabbed themselves.
Who wouldn't laugh when seeing this situation?
Yukima Azuma clicked his tongue.
Should he admire Gege for writing what they wanted without caring about profits?
In the matter of disappointing people, they really never let anyone down.
There was a moment of silence on both ends of the phone.
Finally, it was Machida Sonoko who couldn't hold back, speaking up.
"Aren't you worried about the sales data? You haven't asked once about the current situation."
She knew Yukima Azuma hadn't attended the sales event.
The author himself didn't show up.
On such an important sales day, staying at home.
Anyone in this situation would be worried.
"Well, I have confidence," Yukima Azuma responded nonchalantly. "And if the sales data really turns out bad, then it can only be said that the readers are truly blind."
Yukima Azuma's answer made Machida Sonoko roll her eyes.
But if you think about it, it made sense.
"Saekano" had no reason to fail.
Writing style, plot, character development, promotion, momentum, popularity.
All of these factors were top-tier in the industry.
If it flopped, it could only be said that the readers had no taste.
And this guy, he also had a big company like Laplace in the center of Shibuya.
He surely didn't care about the money earned from sales.
In a moment of helpless silence, Machida Sonoko hung up.
Then, she turned and looked at the computer screen in the editorial room.
The screen displayed data compiled from multiple sources, showing the current sales situation.
And the sales situation right now...
One could only say, the first print run was barely holding up.
According to Machida Sonoko's optimistic prediction, the first batch should have lasted at least a month.
But on the first day of release, it was almost sold out.
This was truly a "legendary story" in the publishing industry.
....
Elsewhere.
At the Sawamura residence.
Sayuri had just pushed open the front door.
Right at the door, Eriri was standing, waiting.
Seeing her mother return, she immediately rushed over.
"Mom, did you get it? Did you get it?"
Sayuri raised the plastic bag in her hand, signaling to her daughter.
But when Eriri saw what her mother was holding, she puffed her cheeks in displeasure.
"Why is this all you got? I told you to buy 50 copies, no, 100 copies!"
Hearing this, Sayuri, irritated, flicked her daughter's forehead.
"Eriri, I ran to five bookstores before I could get these last three copies."
"Now you don't even appreciate what I went through, and you're complaining it's too little, what an ungrateful kid!"
Eriri held her forehead, hearing her mother's words, and immediately smiled awkwardly.
Then, she ran behind her mother and began massaging her shoulders.
"Seriously, why did they sell out so fast? How many copies did the first print run have, and they still have no foresight!"
Hearing her daughter complain, Sayuri could only smile helplessly.
She had looked into it, and the first print run was one million copies.
But most bookstores had already sold out.
As a seasoned otaku, Sayuri understood what this meant.
Unexpectedly, Yukima-kun was not only a genius at sniffing out business opportunities.
Even writing light novels, he made it look easy.
And.
Seeing Eriri only rub her mother's shoulders a few times before tightly hugging the light novel and running off, Sayuri sighed.
On her way home, she had skimmed through The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine.
The emotions of a boy were so clear that it seemed as if they were written directly on each page.
Setting aside the excellent and astonishing writing style...
These six hundred pages, were they even light novels? This was clearly a love letter!
A six-hundred-page love letter.
Written for a girl named Megumi.
And her silly daughter, who was now holding "the love letter" that the boy she liked sent to someone else, smiling so happily.
Thinking of this, Sayuri couldn't help but bring her hand to her forehead, feeling helpless.
Though it might sound a bit self-important...
She still considered herself an exceptionally intelligent person, especially sensitive when it came to emotions.
And Mr. Spencer, her genius husband, was also a special talent in England.
At just in his twenties, he had already taken on the role of head of the diplomatic department.
Emotionally, he was also top-notch. In his youth, he had made countless young girls' hearts flutter, leaving behind a "harem battlefield" full of turbulence.
The two of them.
One was a victor from a fierce harem battle.
The other almost built a peaceful harem in real life.
So how on earth did they end up with a daughter as nave as Eriri?
In some miraculous way, Eriri had "purged" all the wisdom of her parents' heritage.
....
3 PM.
The first print run of The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine officially sold out.
By noon, Laplace Corporation, realizing the situation was not good, immediately instructed the printing factory to carry out a second urgent print run.
In hindsight, this decision was the right one.
Had they not promptly initiated the second print run, the sales of The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine would likely have been interrupted on its very first day of release.
That day would undoubtedly go down as a landmark moment in the history of the light novel industry.
That night was destined to be a sleepless one for countless people.
As the light novel industry was in a fervor, time slowly ticked toward midnight.
After a delay of one hour and forty minutes, the first-day sales data was finally compiled.
Even though it was midnight, no one at Laplace Bunko had left the office.
Everyone was tense, eyes glued to the computer screen, waiting for the final number.
And when the data finally appeared, everyone was stunned.
Many rubbed their eyes several times and then carefully counted the digits in the sales figure.
Machida Sonoko stared at the ridiculously long string of numbers, then sighed in relief, her body feeling drained as she collapsed into her chair.
2,217,300 copies.
The first-day sales ended with a number so incredible it was hard to believe.
This number was more than four times the best first-day sales record in the history of the light novel industry.
For a debut work by a new author, this odd number was even greater than the total sales of other new works.
As a former editor at Fujikawa Publishing, Machida Sonoko knew another number.
That was the first-day sales of Saekano, which had more than doubled the total sales of Fujikawa for the entire previous month.
The total monthly sales of all works combined at Fujikawa Publishing weren't even half of Saekano's first-day sales.
Machida Sonoko recalled the displeased and impatient expressions of the editor-in-chief and the Fujikawa boss when she handed in her resignation.
Surely, now, their facial expressions would be "quite a sight to behold."
--------------------------------------------
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Sunday.
9 AM.
The first day's sales data of 'Saekano' was publicly released online after careful examination by multiple parties.
The news began to spread rapidly.
Twitter was flooded with trending keywords.
Among them, one keyword stood out and far surpassed all others.
[The girl who makes millions fall for her, who is Megumi? What makes her so attractive?]
This was an article analyzing the elements that led to the success of Saekano.
The article mentioned market trends over the past few years, the dissatisfaction of readers with the fantasy battle genre.
And the character of the heroine, Megumi, and why she has such immense appeal.
The number of comments exceeded 100,000.
But hardly anyone cared about the article.
Everyone just focused on shouting:
"Megumi is my wife! Draw your swords, rivals!"
"First there were saints, now there's Megumi, she's as beautiful as a fairy in a painting!"
"White dress, long gown, the wind blowing her hat, I will love Megumi forever!"
"For Megumi, Shinzo wo Sasageyo!"
"Fateful encounter, a talisman of good fortune, Megumi is the best!"
"Throughout Heaven and Earth, Megumi Alone The Best Waifu!"
People didn't care about the article's analysis.
They just wanted to shout about how amazing Megumi is.
In the midst of the online frenzy.
The major publishers finally felt immense pressure.
A consensus began to form in everyone's mind.
That is, the market trend would definitely change.
Although the fantasy battle genre wouldn't disappear, it would become a secondary genre.
From now on.
The youth genre would sweep the entire light novel industry.
The second half of the year's plans for publishers would have to be canceled or revised.
Among them, the most worried was the Fujikawa publishing house.
...
At this moment, at the Fujikawa publishing office.
Even though the night before they had worked through the night, the lights had been on all night long.
By early morning, the office was still noisy and bustling.
The editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing, who usually sat in his private office, was now pacing through the common workspace.
The market trend had been set.
Within the next month, if any publisher couldn't release a high-quality youth genre work.
They could almost declare bankruptcy immediately.
But the problem was.
Right now, Fujikawa Publishing didn't have any drafts ready for the youth genre.
Most of the youth genre works.
Had already been rejected by Fujikawa Publishing before.
A few excellent light novel works.
Had also been postponed to be released next year.
The authors of those postponed works, of course, wouldn't sign contracts now.
Meanwhile, Fujikawa's editors were calling each of those authors.
But most of them either got a busy signal or were outright rejected.
As authors, who doesn't pour all their heart into their works?
And who wouldn't feel more sensitive when they've been ignored for so long?
Previously, Fujikawa Publishing clearly looked down upon the youth genre.
Added to that their arrogant attitude, looking down on others.
The authors they had rejected, now returning on their own, would surely have something wrong with their heads.
Not to mention, right now other major publishers were fighting over youth genre works.
In such a situation, who would still want to come to Fujikawa?
The entire morning passed, and Fujikawa Publishing had made no progress at all.
When hearing the report from their subordinates.
The editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing nearly went crazy, jumping up.
"Don't we have a bestselling youth love novel?"
"Contact that author, increase the benefits, demand the new volume by the end of this month!"
The editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing shouted at his subordinates.
However, all he received was complete silence.
Finally, a newly hired editor spoke softly:
"The author of The Metronome in Love paid a breach of contract fee a few days ago and reclaimed the exclusive publishing rights."
"Perhaps the next volume of Kasumi-sensei's novel... won't be collaborating with us anymore."
Upon hearing this, the editor-in-chief almost went crazy and jumped up.
He immediately wanted to place the blame on the editor responsible for Kasumigaoka Utaha.
But then, he remembered.
The only editor in charge of the youth genre.
Had recently left the publishing house.
Since that person had resigned, the editor-in-chief had no one left to blame.
As he racked his brain for a solution.
The boss of Fujikawa Publishing burst into the office.
The boss, who had always been friendly and often patted him on the back with a smile, now rushed in and began yelling at him.
"What kind of decision is this? How could you let a light novel that should've been the new king of Fujikawa slip away from us?"
The editor-in-chief stood frozen in place.
Wasn't this decision made based on the boss's own wishes at the time?
As he tried to argue back.
"I don't care what excuse you give," the boss of Fujikawa pointed his finger at him. "Even if you have to kneel, you're going to go and invite... invite that sensei back for me!"
Hearing that the boss couldn't even remember the name of the currently famous author.
The editor-in-chief finally understood.
The years of focusing solely on profit and ignoring feelings had now come back like a boomerang.
The bullets that had ruined every author who had collaborated with Fujikawa.
After years, they had finally struck him square in the forehead.
The editor-in-chief had no choice but to bow deeply to the angry boss.
Then, he took out his phone, holding onto a faint glimmer of hope, and called Machida Sonoko.
Unfortunately, Machida Sonoko's phone was busy at the moment.
Because now, she was the editor-in-chief at Laplace Bunko and didn't have time to listen to that greedy man anymore.
....
While Machida Sonoko was extremely busy.
On the other side.
At the Yukima residence.
Kasumigaoka Utaha pushed Yukima Azuma down onto the sofa, her expression not very friendly, shaking the light novel in her hand.
The current position of the two was indeed a little awkward.
However, since this wasn't the first time, neither of them paid much attention.
It was likely that, someday in the future, when their feelings reached a naturally intimate level.
Kasumigaoka Utaha would also want to try being on top when they took the final step.
"You're quite impressive, Lonely-kun. Your light novel surpassed the total sales of my career on the very first day of release."
As a bestselling light novel author, the cumulative sales of The Metronome in Love were nearing the coveted 2 million mark.
In the industry, Kasumigaoka Utaha had been one of the few standing at the top.
But she still couldn't compare to Yukima Azuma.
This guy, upon debut, was already at the top, with his debut work crushing the entire industry.
The first day of release sold out, and they immediately went for a second printing.
Such a scene had never been seen before.
Not to mention, the first printing was a staggering numberone million copies.
Selling out on the first day, and being reprinted immediately after publication.
This was no longer just a bestseller.
This was a king crowned in the light novel industry, someone who could change the direction of the entire market with a flick of a finger.
So, what had this "king" written?
"Do you like 'Megumi' that much? I don't see any literary style in it. What I see are just your 600 pages of love confessions."
Kasumigaoka Utaha lowered her body, her nose almost touching Yukima Azuma's.
Her red eyes were now full of fighting spirit.
"Utaha-senpai, let me explain..."
Yukima Azuma parted his lips, trying to defend himself.
But Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately bent down, silencing him.
Thirty long seconds passed.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was about to sit up.
But was immediately pulled down by Yukima Azuma, her body tilting.
The positions of the two immediately reversed.
The battle continued.
When they separated again, Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze had turned as red as blood.
Unlike the dreamy look after their previous encounters, now her eyes were full of fierce determination and an unyielding fire burning brightly.
"Intentionally choosing a light novel to surpass me, Lonely-kun, you're trying to provoke me, right?"
"This challenge, I accept. For my next work, I'll write something even more exceptional than this."
"I'll show Lonely-kun who the real heroine is!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha's jealousy as a former girlfriend, combined with the dissatisfaction of a light novel writer, was now intertwined in her heart.
She didn't want to make things too difficult for Yukima Azuma.
Instead, she decided to use the same method to completely defeat him.
If the character "Utaha" in her writing could be even more alluring than Yukima Azuma's "Megumi," then that would be the best revenge.
Kasumigaoka Utaha wanted to make those "fox" feel ashamed and ensure that in Yukima Azuma's eyes, she would be the only one left.
With Saekano in hand, Kasumigaoka Utaha stood up from the sofa and walked toward her room.
As Kasumigaoka Utaha ascended the stairs, Yukima Azuma took a quiet breath.
What an incredible scent.
Like a freshly bloomed lotus flower, the fragrance filled the space, overwhelming with its allure.
It had to be said, Utaha-senpai truly lived up to her name.
Yukima Azuma had thought that after the release of this light novel, he would probably get scolded badly.
He remained on the sofa for a while.
Then, he sat up.
Yukima Azuma walked to the bathroom.
In front of the mirror, he adjusted his collar, carefully smoothing the folds, and for once, tidied up his messy hair.
Turning around in the mirror, he made sure everything was perfect.
Finally, Yukima Azuma left the apartment.
The food in the fridge was nearly depleted.
Kato Megumi had mentioned that she had to go to the supermarket soon since her sister was home.
So, the two of them had planned to meet this morning at the Hachiko statue, the loyal dog.
They would go shopping for ingredients and take a stroll afterward.
As Yukima Azuma stepped off the train, he immediately saw her waiting by the Hachiko statue.
"Megumi, have you been waiting long? Sorry about that!"
"Umu, I've been waiting for quite a while!"
The two exchanged jokes, and after the words, they both shared a smile.
"I almost thought I'd see a pigeon sitting on Megumi's head."
"Even if I waited a long time, no little animals would sit on my head."
"Why do I feel a little down now?"
"It's just your imagination, Azuma-san. Let's take a walk over there first."
Following the direction of her finger, Yukima Azuma looked over.
It was a clothing and hat store.
"That works, let's make the supermarket the last stop, or it'll be inconvenient to walk around with a bunch of groceries."
Yukima Azuma nodded in agreement.
So, the two of them entered the store.
Today, Kato Megumi wasn't wearing her usual white beret.
Yukima Azuma guessed it was probably being washed.
Anyway, since the summer break, Kato Megumi had worn that cute beret every time they went out.
She was dressed simply in sporty style.
A short-sleeved T-shirt on top, jeans below.
This was the first time Yukima Azuma had seen Kato Megumi dressed like this.
But just like with her light dress and beret,
No matter what she wore, everything on Kato Megumi suited her perfectly.
Wait, this style, this was the first time he had seen Megumi wear it.
Yukima Azuma absentmindedly raised his hand to his forehead and lightly tapped it.
He forgot to compliment her after seeing this.
....
Inside the clothing store,
Megumi had carefully selected from the hats on display.
Finally, her gaze stopped on a beige baseball cap.
She took the cap down, then looked toward Yukima Azuma.
Afterward, Kato Megumi turned around, lightly bowed her head, put the cap on, and adjusted it a little.
Yukima Azuma took two steps back, carefully observing and nodding seriously.
"Does this suit me?"
Kato Megumi didn't look at the full-length mirror across from her but instead turned to ask Yukima Azuma.
Compared to the mirror, his opinion was always what she looked forward to more.
"Does it suit me?"
Kato Megumi blinked.
Her expectant expression was like magic, making people fall in love.
"Far beyond expectations, Megumi looks very attractive in a sporty style."
"Whether it's a cute or sporty style, Megumi could easily conquer the fashion industry. Really, no one has invited Megumi to be a model?"
Yukima Azuma added to his earlier omission of not complimenting the girl when they first met.
From earlier, the girl wanted to secretly attack Yukima Azuma's waist.
Upon hearing the compliment, she finally gave up on this intention.
Instead, she smiled joyfully.
Indeed, it felt nice to be noticed.
Kato Megumi thought to herself.
But her gaze involuntarily fell back on Yukima Azuma.
So, was it her, the person with the faint presence, being noticed by someone else that made her happy?
Or was it because he noticed her that made her feel happy?
As these thoughts came to mind, the answer naturally appeared in her head.
It must be the latter.
Because when Yukima Azuma asked her if anyone had invited her to be a model,
She had imagined that scene for a moment.
But it didn't feel anything special.
But if it were now.
If the boy took out his phone and wanted to take a picture of her, then...
While thinking this, Kato Megumi saw Yukima Azuma now take out his phone and point the camera at her.
Her heartbeat started to speed up.
Her cheeks slightly flushed.
Kato Megumi felt she wouldn't be the type to blush easily.
But in the photo, her face seemed to be naturally painted with a perfect hint of pink.
"Isn't it beautiful?"
"Are you asking me directly? Anyway, I do feel shy, Azuma-san."
"Hehe."
Kato Megumi removed her beige baseball cap and went to pay.
She had quite a bit of money right now.
Although her share from White Album was only a small portion,
It was enough for a girl who usually just strolled around the shops without buying anything to get a few things she liked.
The two of them continued to browse around the 100-yen stores.
Picking up a bottle of essential oil, sniffing it, then putting it down.
Choosing a few cute hair ties, then leaving them behind.
Gently pressing on the stuffed animals on the shelf.
Then, buying nothing, they both stepped outside.
The staff at the 100-yen store had grown accustomed to this scene.
....
"Megumi really likes to walk around shopping areas, doesn't she? Even if she doesn't buy anything, she looks really happy."
Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
Kato Megumi slightly lowered the brim of her baseball cap.
She was hiding a bit of the emotions spilling out.
She wasn't the type to hide her likes.
When she liked something, she just liked it.
It would show in her actions, her eyes, her words, any way possible.
So, she only slightly lowered the brim of her hat.
After a while of strolling, the two of them finally entered the supermarket.
They picked up some potatoes and eggs.
Both were versatile ingredients that could appear in many dishes.
Additionally, Yukima Azuma chose some hairy crabs from the frozen food section.
These were the last batch of seafood available before the storm arrived.
They originated from Hokkaido.
A premium delicacy, just like Japanese Wagyu beef.
Thinking about the storm's path later,
Yukima Azuma felt that if they didn't buy it now,
These seafoods would only be available to eat after a few months.
"If you have time this afternoon, come over and take some home."
Yukima Azuma winked at Kato Megumi.
Kato Megumi looked at the hairy crabs in Yukima Azuma's hands.
Thinking about the fresh meat of this premium delicacy and Yukima Azuma's genius cooking skills.
She nodded seriously.
Then, they bought a few more ingredients.
Kato Megumi carried a large bag and slowly stepped out of the supermarket.
Taking advantage of the moment when the girl couldn't resist, Yukima Azuma reached up and pinched her cheek.
Until Kato Megumi took a deep breath, causing her cheek to puff up slightly.
At that point, Yukima Azuma stopped teasing her and hurriedly took the large bag of groceries.
The supermarket is very close to Kato Megumi's house.
Therefore, there was no reason to refuse, and the two of them walked together toward Kato Megumi's house.
At the door of the house.
Finally, the two had to say goodbye for a short while.
Yukima Azuma returned the bag to Kato Megumi.
Then, from his bag, he took out a light novel.
This was the printed manuscript of "The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine."
It is usually stored by the publishers.
Yukima Azuma had packaged it nicely and was now handing it to Kato Megumi.
"Here, this is the light novel I wrote. I promised you, remember?"
Yukima Azuma handed the book to her.
Kato Megumi reached out to take the book.
Then, she carefully hugged it to her chest.
"I will read it carefully," she promised.
Yukima Azuma didn't answer; he just smiled lightly and ruffled her hair.
And so, Kato Megumi returned to her house.
She first placed the ingredients on the kitchen floor.
Then, Kato Megumi went to her room and carefully placed the book she had been holding in her hands on her desk.
She really wanted to start reading it right now.
Because this was the light novel written by Yukima Azuma.
She wanted to find out more.
But to have the best experience,
Kato Megumi decided she would finish her current tasks first, and set aside time after dinner to read the light novel.
Returning to the kitchen, Kato Megumi quickly got to cooking.
To finish quickly, she chose a simple curry dish for lunch today.
She chopped the ingredients into manageable pieces, and after they had cooked a little, she put them into the pressure cooker to simmer.
When the dish was finished,
Kato Megumi went to her sister's room.
She knocked on the door and opened it.
"Sis, it's time to eat."
Kato Hiromi replied without looking up:
"I know, Megumi, you can eat first, I... I'll finish one more chapter and then eat!"
Seeing her sister almost completely immersed in the light novel,
Kato Megumi sighed.
Although normally, when it was time for a meal, her sister was always eager to eat.
"Hey, you've been sitting like this since this morning, not moving at all."
Kato Megumi recalled.
Before going out, her sister had been sitting at the desk with her head buried in the light novel.
Now, after Megumi had gone shopping and even finished cooking, Kato Hiromi hadn't changed her position.
"This one is different from the others, it feels like if I don't finish reading it and go do something else, it would be an insult."
Kato Megumi moved closer.
She picked up a bookmark from the desk, placed it in her sister's light novel, and closed it.
"Ahhh, I'll die without Kujou Megumi! Just one more chapter, please! Just one chapter!"
Kato Hiromi cried out dramatically.
"Eat first, then you can read more after."
Kato Megumi said, but her gaze was slightly puzzled.
Kujou Megumi?
She looked at the cover of the book that had been taken away.
The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine.
That familiar title caught her eye.
When she saw that familiar name,
Kato Megumi's heart started beating a little faster.
.....
The two sisters sat at the dining table and began eating spoonfuls of curry rice.
They were both lost in thought, neither paying much attention to the taste of the dish.
"Is that light novel really that good?"
Kato Megumi suddenly asked.
Hearing her sister's question, Kato Hiromi immediately became enthusiastic and started to "evangelize."
The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine isn't just about being good or not, it's the kind that you'll fall in love with immediately once you start reading!"
"Yesterday was its first release day, and it sold two million copies. Yesterday, I went to the bookstore but didn't have time to buy it."
"Just in one day, at least two million people fell in love with Kujou Megumi, the heroine of the novel!"
"People like Megumi, who are gentle, really have a soul-healing charm. I want to dump my boyfriend and marry Megumi instead..."
While evangelizing, Kato Hiromi suddenly felt that something was off.
Megumi?
Kato Hiromi stared at her younger sister, Kato Megumi.
A gentle feeling, like a breeze, touched her soul.
"Megumi?"
"What is it?"
Kato Megumi looked up, glancing at her sister with a puzzled expression.
She blinked and tilted her head at the perfect anglean enchantment to win someone's heart.
Kato Hiromi's eyes widened.
"Megumi! So, you're the heroine in the legend!"
Upon hearing this, Kato Megumi instinctively brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear.
"You're suddenly saying this without any context. Even I feel awkward about it."
"You've mentioned the traits of heroines before, I don't have anything, do I?"
"No standout traits, not a genius, no tragic past, and my personality is quite ordinary."
"In the crowd, no one... well, most people don't even notice me."
Hearing her younger sister's words, which carried a hint of disappointment, Kato Hiromi took a deep breath.
Ahhhhhhh! Megumi is right here beside me!
The good news is, the legendary heroine is my little sister!
The bad news is, the legendary heroine is my little sister.
Hiromi placed both hands on her sister's shoulders and said seriously:
"That's exactly what's so lovable about you. Unlike typical heroines, it's your unique charm that makes you the legendary heroine!"
Kato Megumi stepped back from her sister's grasp, moving away from her.
"Sis, today... you look a bit disgusting."
"Ah! I'm doomed!"
The Kato family's lunch passed with lively chatter.
...
After lunch,
Kato Megumi ran back to her room.
Kato Hiromi stayed at the table, lost in thought.
Now, not only did she have to dump her boyfriend, but she also had to overcome gender and familial barriers...
Kato Hiromi slapped her forehead.
What am I even thinking? All these weird ideas.
She forced herself to control the excitement stirred by The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine.
Kato Hiromi suddenly regained some clarity in her thoughts.
Could her little sister really be the Megumi from the legend?
Theoretically, the possibility was nearly impossible.
But the actions and words of the girl in the book were eerily similar to those of her sister.
Hiromi recalled what their parents had said earlierthat after spring break, her sister had started staying out all night.
Hiromi took a cold breath.
No way!
...
Meanwhile, in Kato Megumi's room, she was staring at the book on her desk, with a different cover but the same familiar title.
With her intelligence, Megumi quickly realized something.
When Yukima Azuma said that he would follow through with their promise today, it wasn't just about giving her the light novel.
It was also the promise he had made earlierthat she was the most captivating heroine in the world.
At the time, she had asked him how he would do it.
He had said he would keep it a secret.
And then, in her heart, an expectation had bloomed.
That expectation had never faded over time.
On the contrary, it had grown like a seed buried deep in her heart, gradually taking root and growing strong.
Until today, Kato Megumi suddenly realized that the seed had transformed into a tall tree, reaching high.
Her fingers gently touched the cover of the book, as if touching the sturdy trunk of the tree inside her.
Her breath became quicker and heavier.
Even she, at this moment, could not keep her composure!
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
The noisy cicadas of summer outside the window failed to intrude into the room.
In the quiet room, the only sound was the rustling of pages being turned.
Kato Megumi's room was just like her personality.
A typical girl's room.
There were a few pink, feminine decorations, but the majority of the furnishings were simple.
Sitting at her desk, what was Kato Megumi feeling as she flipped through the pages of the light novel in her hands?
After learning the sales figures of the light novel, Kato Megumi understood that Yukima Azuma had kept his promise.
He had indeed proven to the world that she was the most captivating heroine.
At the very least, millions of people acknowledged this.
Upon realizing this, ripples stirred within Kato Megumi's heart.
How had he managed to do that?
After all, even she considered herself an ordinary girl.
One who barely caught anyone's attention, often forgotten by others.
Someone like her.
A Kato Megumi like that.
How could she possibly be associated with the image of a main heroine?
Perhaps that boy had used some kind of trick?
But when she opened the light novel and her gaze fell upon the words, Kato Megumi knew that the boy hadn't used any tricks at all.
The heroine in the story, Kujou Megumi.
Only her name had been slightly altered, likely to avoid causing her trouble.
Other than that, everything else was a flawless reflection of her.
Every word, every gesture, even the emotions hidden within her soft-spoken words and subtle actions.
The boy had captured them all and woven them perfectly into the story.
No exaggeration, no dramatic portrayals.
How Kato Megumi was in real life, Kujou Megumi in the story made choices and decisions in the same way.
It was hard to imagine just how well that boy understood her.
He comprehended even her smallest emotions.
Noticed her every tiny action.
Sometimes, she even wondered if he could understand her thoughts with just a glance.
Of course, the boy understood.
His understanding of her was like a tiny soul dwelling within her heart.
As the story progressed, the protagonist's gaze became entirely captivated by Megumi.
Through this, Kato Megumi realized for the first time that she truly had a charm.
The kind that could enchant millions.
But this allure required someone like Yukima Azuma, someone who had absorbed every one of her nuances into his own heart.
There would never be a second person in the world who could perceive her charm this way.
Not even Kato Megumi herself.
In the repetitive flow of time,
The protagonist repeatedly went on dates with Kujo Megumi, gradually surrendering his heart to her.
And so, a girl worried about her insignificance in the world,
Had once dismissed those around her as unworthy of her attention.
Now, as long as she had his gaze, it was enough.
The attention of others no longer mattered to Kujou Megumi.
It was as if a prophecy had been fulfilled.
Clearly, Kato Megumi had recently reached this same realization.
During the cooking class, when the boy declined others' invitations and smiled at her, asking if she wanted to pair up.
During the fitness test at the start of the school year, when he quickly finished his tasks and quietly helped her record her results.
Little by little, these memories surfaced in Kato Megumi's mind.
This time, the boy's memories were now filled with her as well.
Thus, the sweetness welling up from deep inside her heart multiplied tenfold, even a hundredfold.
At some point, the six-hundred-page light novel had reached its final page without her noticing.
Kato Megumi closed the book, feeling her racing heartbeat and flushed cheeks.
The noise from the outside world still couldn't reach her ears.
This wasn't a light novel at all.
It was a six-hundred-page love letter.
"This is totally unfair; this is my first time receiving a love letter,"
Kato Megumi murmured her thoughts to herself.
Once you've seen the most breathtaking scenery, ordinary mountains and rivers fail to excite you.
This perfectly described Kato Megumi's current state of mind.
In this world, aside from Yukima Azuma, no one else could move her heart.
Except for Yukima Azuma, everyone else in the world was mere dust.
From the day that boy made his promise,
Kato Megumi had been destined to fall into the love web he had woven.
From then on, she could never love anyone but Yukima Azuma.
Hugging the book tightly to her chest,
Kato Megumi dashed into the bathroom. Carefully, she adjusted her hairstyle, straightened her outfit, and ensured she looked as perfect as possible.
A girl beautifies herself for the one she loves.
For the person she was about to meet, Kato Megumi earnestly prepared herself.
Even if it made her just a bit cuter, it would be worth it.
After applying a faint layer of lipstick,
Kato Megumi rushed to the front door.
Her eager heart couldn't bear any more waiting.
Every second and minute of not seeing him felt like torment to her.
In the hallway, Kato Hiromi, who had just stepped out of her room to grab a drink, brushed past her younger sister.
Watching her sister's hurried figure run outside,
Along with the fleeting glimpse of the book her sister was clutching tightly,
Her younger sister, who had never shown any interest in light novels, was now holding a copy of Saekano.
Moreover, that book cover...
Kato Hiromi had purchased the second print edition herself.
She had also seen the sold-out first print edition and the third edition currently on sale.
Yet, the book cover in her sister's hands didn't match any of the three.
The suspicion that had flashed in her mind earlier that afternoon began to solidify.
"Hoooo!"
Kato Hiromi took a deep, sharp breath.
If this really were the case, then it was a disasteran absolute catastrophe.
Honestly, if someone did something like this for her,
She knew she would fall in love with them without hesitation, deeply and completely.
Even if that person were to behave terribly in the future, it might be impossible to turn back.
Advice from others, or even warnings from family, would likely be dismissed as mere noise.
Her life would be over!
...
At Yukima's house.
Yukima Azuma took a freshly steamed hairy crab out of the pot.
After cleaning it up, he placed it into a large thermal container.
Next, he pulled out his phone, intending to text Kato Megumi to come over and pick it up.
But before he could send the message, the doorbell rang.
Yukima Azuma stepped out to answer the door.
And then, like a tuberose in bloom, like a bird returning to its nest,
A girl threw herself straight into his arms.
The unexpected impact pushed him back half a step, but Yukima Azuma steadied himself.
Holding his phone in one hand, he gently ran his other hand through the girl's hair.
"What's wrong? Did someone bully you, Megumi?"
"Azuma-san is so sneaky. You're the one responsible for all of this, yet you still pretend to ask."
"Huh? Blaming me again?"
"Yes, it's all Azuma-san's fault!"
Today, Kato Megumi's words carried an undeniable stubbornness.
For the first time since they had met, she revealed this playful, spoiled side of her.
Yukima Azuma held her tightly, his heart overwhelmed by how adorable she was.
"I surrender! So, Megumi, how would you like to punish me?"
"Since I can't love anyone else after finishing the book, Azuma-san, you'll have to take responsibility!"
As she spoke, Kato Megumi grabbed Yukima's collar, pulling him down toward her.
Then, without hesitation, she kissed him.
Kato Megumi had never been one to hide her feelings.
Usually a reserved girl, now that her heart had been so profoundly moved, she could no longer hold herself back.
Thus, she took the initiative, determined to win over this boy's heart completely.
Caught off guard by her bold "attack," Yukima Azuma went along with her actions.
With a nudge of his toe, he gently shut the wide-open door behind them.
Then, he pressed the tuberose-like girl against the closed door.
Time seemed to blur.
Eventually, the two slowly separated.
"Orange."
Kato Megumi gently touched her lips, letting out a small sigh.
The taste of this first kiss was indescribably sweet and unforgettable.
Surely, it would remain etched in her heart for the rest of her life.
"It's because I just ate an orange-flavored candy earlier. Your timing was perfect, Megumi."
Yukima Azuma pulled a candy wrapper from his pocket and held it up in front of her.
In an instant, Kato Megumi snatched it from him, her face turning a deep shade of red that spread to her ears.
"I've prepared some hairy crab. It's still hot and really delicious. Want to try some?"
"Umu... I'll eat here."
"What about your sister?"
"My sister ate a lot earlier today; I doubt she'd want any more."
Kato Megumi affirmed confidently.
.....
Back at the Kato household, Kato Hiromi sneezed.
She was scrolling through YouTube,
And the sight of Hokkaido hairy crab on the thumbnail of a food channel made her mouth water uncontrollably.
.....
Yukima Azuma opened the thermal container.
Then he took the tools, sat beside Kato Megumi, and started cracking the crab shells for her.
The fresh, tender crab meat was brought to her lips.
Kato Megumi opened her small mouth and took a bite.
The delicate sweetness exploded on her tongue.
This was probably the most delicious thing she had ever eaten.
Premium ingredients, prepared to perfection,
And the person who made this dish was sitting beside her, helping her crack the shells.
That same person was also the love of her life.
How could such a flavor not feel like a dream?
"Oh, right. While shopping the other day, I bought you a set of pajamas. Would you like to try them on later?"
Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
"Azuma-san, you've been planning this for a long time!"
Kato Megumi teased but still gave a small nod.
After finishing the crab, the two went to the bathroom to wash their hands.
Later, they opened the door to the first-floor room where Kato Megumi often stayed overnight.
Yukima Azuma took the pajamas he had prepared out of the closet.
Kato Megumi hugged the new set of pajamas, her gaze fixed on Yukima Azuma.
"Azuma-san, turn around."
"Huh? Not stepping out?"
"Mm... Just turn around, that's enough."
"Got it!"
Yukima Azuma obediently turned his back to her.
Soft rustling sounds filled the air behind him.
It took all of Yukima Azuma's willpower to resist the urge to peek.
The gentle voice of the girl called out to him.
Only then did Yukima Azuma turn back around.
The pajamas fit her perfectly because he knew her measurements down to the smallest detail.
The delicate white trim accentuated her adorable charm.
"Umu umu, It suits you perfectly. My sense of style isn't bad at all."
Yukima Azuma "Umu umu" with a proud expression.
"Azuma-san, don't get too smug. I don't mind, but don't say things like that in front of other girls!"
Kato Megumi playfully tucked her hair behind her ear, her happiness evident.
The two stepped out of the room and headed to the storage room to find a nameplate holder.
They took one out.
Yukima Azuma carefully wrote "Kato Megumi" on the nameplate.
Then, he hung it on the door of her room.
(Note: I think I got diabetes from translating this chapter, kakaka.)
Chapter 116: Kasumigaoka's Extraordinary Skill
Early morning.
A sharp scream pulled Yukima Azuma, who was getting ready to go out for a run, back into the house.
Without changing into his indoor slippers, he kicked off his shoes at the door and rushed upstairs.
Climbing quickly to the second floor, Yukima Azuma forcefully pushed open the door to Kasumigaoka Utaha's room.
"Senpai, what happened?"
Yukima Azuma's gaze immediately searched for Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Seeing that his senpai was unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief.
Then, his eyes swept across the room.
His attention stopped at a strange change in the room.
His expression became indescribable.
On Kasumigaoka Utaha's desk was a fiery red "fluffy ball," lying flat on its stomach.
Beside it, a laptop was tilted to one side.
It seemed that she had been working on her manuscript when something unexpected occurred.
"Senpai! You stayed up all night again!"
Yukima Azuma scolded, displeased.
Kasumigaoka Utaha pouted.
At a time like this, he was chastising her about staying up late.
Yukima Azuma approached the desk.
As he got closer, he saw more clearly.
It was a fiery red cat, seemingly a long-haired breed, with a big fluffy tail resembling a feather duster.
At that moment, the little cat was lying on the desk, its shiny black eyes curiously scanning the room.
Yukima Azuma waved at it.
The fiery red fluff immediately leaped towards him.
Under Kasumigaoka Utaha's astonished gaze,
The red cat jumped into Yukima Azuma's arms, rubbing its head against his chest.
Holding the new furry companion, Yukima Azuma turned to look at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Senpai, is this... Hogyokumaru?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed to have something to say but hesitated.
She walked closer and tentatively reached out to stroke the fiery red fur.
The soft texture under her palm made her squint slightly.
"It seems... it is."
Kasumigaoka Utaha concluded.
Hogyokumaru.
That was the cat from The Metronome in Love, Kasumigaoka Utaha's light novel.
The cat that the protagonist and the heroine, Sayaka, adopted together.
Previously, readers had criticized the cat for its unrealistic fur color.
But how could a creature from the pages of a book leap into reality?
Holding Hogyokumaru in his arms, Yukima Azuma pondered as he looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Yukima Azuma gazed at his senpai, seemingly deep in thought.
"Senpai, can you tell me what you've been doing recently?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately began recounting.
In recent days, after being influenced by Saekano,
Kasumigaoka Utaha had been entirely focused on writing her manuscript.
The fifth volume of The Metronome in Love, the final volume.
It was nearly finished initially.
But Kasumigaoka Utaha kept revising it.
As a light novel author, Kasumigaoka Utaha realized there was a certain gap between her novel and Saekano.
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't hope for the final volume of The Metronome in Love to reverse her declining momentum.
But she wanted, before starting her new book, to perfect herself completely.
Striving to surpass her limits.
Every time she came downstairs to eat,
When she saw the new nameplate hanging on the door of the first-floor room,
Kasumigaoka Utaha always felt a flame of discontent igniting within her.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's pride would never allow her to be a loser!
So, after much deliberation, reflection, and revision of her manuscript, even going so far as to read the "love letter" the boy wrote to another, to grasp the essence within it.
The genius light novel author,
Kasumi Utako-sensei.
Finally, last night, after burning up all her dissatisfaction as fuel to drive her determination,
She achieved an incredible breakthrough.
After a moment of astonishment,
Kasumigaoka Utaha, looking at her manuscript, only saw flaws everywhere.
As she revised, she felt as if she was in her element, her fingers flying across the keyboard without stopping.
As a result, after an all-nighter, the next morning.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had completed the final volume of The Metronome in Love.
Pouring all her emotions into every word.
Suddenly, a fiery red "fluffy ball" appeared out of nowhere and jumped onto her desk.
Startling Kasumigaoka Utaha.
After hearing Kasumigaoka Utaha's story,
Yukima Azuma understood the cause of the situation.
It was clear that, after undergoing intense research and practice, driven by anger and competitiveness,
Utaha-senpai's literary skill had evolved from level 6, the proficiency level, to level 7, the extraordinary level.
(note: since this story is now starting to have supernatural things involved, I'll change the way the skills are called to make it sound better)
And when a skill reaches this level,
A supernatural influence manifests accordingly.
So, this is what the supernatural ability accompanying literary skills looks like.
Yukima Azuma casually picked up a sheet of paper and a pen from Kasumigaoka Utaha's desk.
The moment he put pen to paper,
Yukima Azuma immediately felt that he could bring the life within Saekano onto the page and materialize it into reality.
This was a sensation he had never experienced before.
Perhaps it was due to some kind of empathy.
Only when a work or its characters are widely known and recognized,
Could they be materialized into reality through literary skills.
Yukima Azuma put down the pen without writing anything,
Then turned to look at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
'So, does this mean that besides me, others who reach level 7 in their skills can also gain supernatural abilities?'
But... something didn't feel right.
"Senpai, if you write Sayaka's name on paper now, could you bring her into this world?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked troubled upon hearing this.
But perhaps because she trusted Yukima Azuma,
She stepped forward, picked up the pen, and wrote a passage about Sayaka on the paper.
However, even after a long time, nothing happened.
"It's not possible."
She set the pen down and extended her hand.
After understanding Kasumigaoka Utaha's situation,
Yukima Azuma also realized the difference between himself and others.
As someone with a system, him, Yukima Azuma,
When his skills reach level 7, the extraordinary level, he would undoubtedly gain the corresponding supernatural ability.
And upon obtaining it, the mastery of the supernatural ability would instantly be maxed out.
For others outside of Yukima Azuma,
When their skills reach level 7,
They would have the potential to awaken a corresponding supernatural ability.
This probability seemed to depend on their emotional state.
The stronger their emotions, the higher the chance of awakening a supernatural ability.
However, even if they did awaken it,
Their mastery of the supernatural ability would be almost non-existent.
It could only be used in some special circumstances.
As for whether mastery could improve through training,
That was something yet to be tested.
After sorting through all these thoughts,
Under Kasumigaoka Utaha's burning gaze,
Yukima Azuma began to explain:
"Senpai, here's the situation..."
Without revealing the system, Yukima Azuma gave a brief explanation about skills transforming into supernatural abilities.
Kasumigaoka Utaha listened carefully to Yukima Azuma's explanation.
She didn't look at him with contempt, as if he were suffering from chuunibyou.
Instead, she gently scratched Hogyokumaru's chin with her fingers,
Carefully examining the special creature she had brought into this world.
"So that's it. No wonder there's occasionally a strange aura about you."
Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly understood.
She had sensed something was unusual before.
The aura Yukima Azuma sometimes emitted genuinely had a suppressive effect on human physiological responses.
To simply call it "aura" might explain it, but upon deeper reflection, it didn't quite seem reasonable.
After understanding the nature of supernatural abilities,
Kasumigaoka Utaha raised a new question.
"But, it's strange. People capable of surpassing ordinary limits should be extremely rare."
"However, in this modern era with such a massive population, even if geniuses are one in a 10.000, there would still be about seven hundred thousand of them."
"If the difficulty of awakening is estimated to be higher, say only one in ten geniuses can awaken, there would still be seventy thousand people."
"In this age of the Internet, it's impossible that stories about seventy thousand people possessing superhuman skills wouldn't spark at least a few urban legends."
Hearing Kasumigaoka's point, Yukima Azuma nodded in agreement.
It truly was unusual.
With such a random awakening process, keeping all information completely under wraps seemed unrealistic.
Thinking about the approaching comet Charlotte,
"Unless the awakenings only started happening recently."
The two of them reached the same conclusion.
After a brief pause,
Kasumigaoka Utaha asked, "Does anyone else know about this? Or has anyone else encountered supernatural abilities?"
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
At present, among the people he knew, very few had truly reached level seven in any skill.
Bocchi's guitar-playing skills might have reached level seven during the school festival.
However, she hadn't awakened a corresponding supernatural ability yet.
If she had, Bocchi would certainly have mentioned it to Yukima Azuma.
Aside from Bocchi, Eromanga-sensei's drawing skills might have reached level seven.
But since Yukima Azuma hadn't even mastered basic drawing at level one, he couldn't accurately judge.
Moreover, his relationship with her was still at a superficial level.
After some thought, Yukima Azuma shook his head again.
"At present, among the people I know, only Utaha-senpai has encountered supernatural ability."
Hearing this, the corners of Kasumigaoka Utaha's lips clearly curved upward.
Oh, so it was only her.
In the end, it was just the two of them who were alike.
Hmph, that sneaky cat could never make it to the main stage after all!
Taking Hogyokumaru from Yukima Azuma, Kasumigaoka felt the "deep crimson jewel" in her arms resonate faintly with her mind.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma was thinking about Yotsuya Miko and Kato Megumi.
These two girls.
One possessed an almost unparalleled gift for seeing and utilizing spiritual abilities.
Without any training, one random day, she suddenly gained the ability to see all kinds of spirits and ghosts.
The otherwhen you think about itwas her faint presence really normal?
Could someone alive and standing right in front of others be completely overlooked?
Even Yukima Azuma had initially relied on his memories from his previous life to gradually recognize the existence of this delicate girl, Kato Megumi, as subtle as tuberose.
Gradually, he had stabilized his ability to sense Kato Megumi's presence beside him.
Especially after acquiring his first supernatural abilities.
So, what exactly was the story behind these two girls?
While lost in thought, Yukima Azuma looked out the window of Kasumigaoka's room.
By chance, he noticed, across the street, an apartment on the outer edge of a residential block.
Movers were coming and going, carrying boxes and furniture inside.
Yotsuya Miko had already moved in.
How she managed to convince her mother remained a mystery.
Even though it was a street away, the apartment was still within the range of Yukima Azuma's Shogi skill.
"Senpai, this July, let's go to Hokkaido to watch the comet,"
Yukima Azuma suddenly extended a seemingly random invitation.
Kasumigaoka Utaha gently nodded, not asking any further questions, simply agreeing.
The comet named Charlotte.
Yukima Azuma recalled some related information about it.
He had to see it for himself.
A stormy day.
Inside Yukima's house, it was completely unaffected.
Except for the fact that the daily sunlight streaming into the house had been greatly reduced.
In this mansion, nearly nothing had changed.
Still warm, still peaceful.
Kasumigaoka Utaha held the phone between her ear and shoulder, chatting with the guy on the other end of the line.
In front of her.
A pile of bright red fur and a pile of snow-white fur were tangled together.
"How's it going? Are they getting along?"
Yukima Azuma's voice came from the other end of the line.
"Surprisingly, they seem to be getting along well, licking each other back and forth. They kinda remind me of Lonely-kun."
Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled teasingly.
"Utaha-senpai, clearly, the one who likes licking back and forth isn't just me."
"I'm not saying it's not like me."
"Uwaa, sounds a bit ecchi~."
"Mm, I wonder when these two little ones will have kittens. Take a guess, do you think they'll be bright red, pure white, or mixed colors?"
On the other end of the line, Yukima Azuma seemed to fall into thought for a moment.
Then.
"Senpai, you know, if I remember correctly, Shiratamaru is also a female cat, right?"
(note: Wait, I always thought Shiratamaru was a male cat...)
Kasumigaoka Utaha touched Shiratamaru's hind leg with her finger.
While Shiratamaru was still confused, she lifted its hind leg.
"Oh, looks like you're right. If that's the case, this could be a bit tricky. Maybe I'll adjust Hogyokumaru's setup in the novel later?"
"Senpai, let's leave it to the cats to decide. As their owners, we shouldn't interfere too much."
Yukima Azuma's helpless voice made Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckle softly.
She gently placed Shiratamaru's hind leg back down.
Shiratamaru tilted its head, looking at one of its mistress.
After confirming that its mistress wasn't planning to play with it,
Its two-colored eyes turned back to the new member of the house.
In the aesthetics of cats, is bright red a beautiful color?
Anyway, judging by Shiratamaru's reaction,
It probably isn't a bad color after all.
The two cats played happily together.
Shiratamaru stuck out its small tongue, grooming Hogyokumaru's fur.
In the animal kingdom, this action signifies closeness within the family.
At the same time, it also establishes a hierarchy.
Despite being a "magical creature", Hogyokumaru willingly accepts being beneath Shiratamaru.
This was truly quite surprising.
"Ah, it's raining."
Yukima Azuma's voice suddenly came from the other end of the line.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stood up from her seated position.
"Lonely-kun, do you need me to come pick you up?"
"No, no, senpai, just stay at home and wait for me. With the weather today, an umbrella wouldn't help much anyway."
Yukima Azuma's voice was mixed with the sound of howling wind.
On a stormy day, umbrellas of average quality would be flipped upside down immediately, even breaking the frame.
Even high-quality umbrellas, though they may withstand this storm, would require a lot of effort from the person holding them.
Not to mention, the rain blows in from all directionsone umbrella can't possibly cover it all.
Therefore, Yukima Azuma refused Kasumigaoka's offer.
"Well then, you take care of yourself. Don't let anything happen on the way. I don't want to become a widow just yet."
Kasumigaoka Utaha teased while walking toward the window.
She looked out the window, watching the rain pouring heavily and the leaves being blown away by the fierce wind.
Although she was joking, her eyes were filled with concern.
"Don't worry, it's nothing major. I can handle it just fine."
Yukima Azuma's voice had a soothing effect.
"After the storm, I hope the sky clears up. If the clouds dissipate, we can go to Hokkaido to see the comet clearly."
"Hmm, but I heard that Hokkaido is hardly affected by the rainy season or storms. Not sure if that's true."
"Now that you mention it, senpai, do you have any suitable swimwear? We can buy it there, but maybe we should prepare ahead of time"
Yukima Azuma's voice suddenly stopped.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was smiling, noticed that something seemed to have happened on the other end of the line.
"Utaha-senpai."
"Yes, Lonely-kun?"
"I just saw a 'patient' who's a bit special. I want to check on them. I might be a bit late."
"If you need me to help with anything, anytime, just say so, got it Lonely-kun?"
"Hehe, understood. I just hope by that time, senpai won't find me bothersome."
The two said their goodbyes and hung up.
....
A few minutes ago.
Today, Yukima Azuma had visited Laplace Corporation.
Some factories had gradually started mass-producing smart furniture products that met the required standards.
After this storm, the sales plan could be put into action.
On the way back from Laplace Corporation,
The streets were almost completely empty.
The sky was overcast,
The wind howled fiercely, sweeping the branches and leaves from the trees by the roadside, with fallen leaves scattered everywhere.
Japan is one of the areas heavily affected by storms.
After all, it is an island nation surrounded to the sea.
When a storm is about to make landfall, television stations continuously broadcast warnings.
They urge people to stay indoors and limit going out unless necessary.
Police officers will also patrol the streets, urging people to return home early.
"Ah, it's starting to rain."
Cold droplets of water landed on his cheek.
Yukima Azuma was talking to Utaha on the phone, mentioning that it was starting to rain.
The raindrops hit the ground with a patter,
And in the strong wind, they turned into gusts that slammed into her face.
Yukima Azuma instinctively picked up his pace.
The raindrops falling from above grew steadily larger.
It wouldn't be long before the light rain turned into a torrential downpour.
He reached an overpass.
He just needed to walk straight through,
And he would reach a street with covered sidewalks.
By walking down that street to the end, not far from there, was Yukima's house.
Although getting wet was inevitable,
It wouldn't be too disastrous.
As he thought this, continuing her conversation with Kasumigaoka Utaha over the phone, he calmly walked over the overpass.
The overpass was narrow, and Yukima Azuma passed by someone.
Suddenly, a sticky sensation appeared on his face.
He raised his hand and lightly wiped it with his index finger.
When he brought it up to his eyes for a closer look,
He saw a streak of red blood, which quickly washed off his fingertip in the pouring rain.
Even though the rain was pouring down heavily,
Yukima Azuma still caught a strong metallic scent of blood in the air.
He turned around to look.
In he line of sight,
The person he had passed earlier was standing still beside the overpass railing.
Normally, would anyone stop in the middle of a storm like this?
If they did, they would probably look up at the sky, letting the rain pour directly into their face, possibly with some kind of melancholic expression.
But this person was not like that.
She was intently staring out over the railing.
In the relentless rain, the road below the overpass had become hazy, as if covered in fog.
This scene would make anyone who saw it feel something was wrong.
But, as mentioned before in Chapter 78,
Yukima Azuma was not the type to jump into situations when something seemed off.
His actions were driven only by his own motivation.
An unrelated stranger, even if they died right in front of him,
He would feel no emotion.
Even if he could help, he wouldn't feel guilty for doing nothing.
So, Yukima Azuma was about to turn around and continue walking toward the covered street.
At that moment,
A sudden gust of wind blew away the stranger's hood.
Her short black hair and beautiful face were revealed when the hood fell.
Yukima Azuma felt she recognized her and immediately recalled who she was.
Kurokawa Akane.
A star on screen, a talented actress well-known in the industry.
Previously, Yukima Azuma and the three girls had watched a dating show where this girl participated.
That impression made Yukima Azuma linger for a second to look at her.
In this moment,
The girl stood before the overpass railing, her fingers gripping it.
On her cheek, a few cuts suddenly appeared, with droplets of blood splattering out.
On her arm, clear bruises could be seen.
Clearly, no one was around her.
But she seemed like she was being assaulted directly.
Could the strong wind today be enough to cut skin?
Certainly not. If the wind could cause that, it wouldn't have left a wound as if struck by a hard object.
Yukima Azuma finally understood where the sticky sensation had come from.
A term appeared in Yukima Azuma's mind.
Adolescence Syndrome.
It is a supernatural condition caused by emotional trauma.
It only occurs during adolescence, a time when one's emotions are most sensitive.
It is also a concept from Yukima Azuma's novel The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine.
And now, this setting from the light novel in his memory seemed to be materializing right before his eyes.
"Utaha-senpai."
Yukima Azuma spoke into the phone.
He was slightly worried about the situation in front of him.
After all, there were quite a few girls going through puberty at his house.
Although Yukima Azuma was confident he could protect them from harm and prevent any psychological trauma,
It was still better to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
After summarizing a few points,
Yukima Azuma hung up the phone.
Through the relentless rain, he made his way toward the girl named Kurokawa Akane.
At this moment, Kurokawa Akane had climbed over the railing of the overpass.
With just a release of her grip, she would fall.
Would she die?
Falling onto the road below, in such a torrential downpour, the chances of death were very high.
After all, visibility was limited, and the waterlogged streets would make it difficult for the vehicles below to stop in time.
But Kurokawa Akane had lost all hope in the world.
So, she slowly loosened her grip.
At the moment when the sensation of falling was nearly upon her,
A powerful pull from behind reached her.
An arm wrapped around her waist.
Kurokawa Akane felt herself being yanked backward.
Then, she fell to the ground.
Since someone had acted as a cushion, she didn't feel any pain.
The sensation of being steady on the ground returned.
But at this moment,
Kurokawa Akane began to twist and struggle.
"No! No! Let me go!"
She screamed.
She resisted the approach of the stranger who had just saved her.
Like an injured cat, no longer trusting anyone.
Compared to death,
The person who reached out to save her was even more terrifying.
Her hands flailed wildly, and her legs kicked in confusion on the ground.
Her fingertips brushed against something.
Immediately after, a sticky sensation, different from the rain, fell from above.
Blood dripped onto her face, causing Kurokawa Akane's panicking brain to begin to recover a little of its function.
She stopped struggling, lifted her head to look up.
Above her, a strong arm was protecting her, preventing her from hitting anything while she was flailing.
At that moment, a cut on that arm was bleeding.
It was from when she had scratched it with her nails during her frantic movements.
Realizing this,
Kurokawa Akane's eyes widened, and her pupils contracted.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Desperate apologies spilled from her lips.
She tried to free herself from the arm that was protecting her.
She kneeled before the person she had hurt, even bowing her head to apologize without hesitation.
"I'm sorry! I truly apologize!"
"Hey! You two! It's too dangerous here! What are you doing?"
A stern voice came from one side.
As mentioned in the previous chapter, on stormy days, there are police officers patrolling the streets.
So, both of them were taken to the police station.
After a brief interrogation, Yukima Azuma sat on a bench in the hallway of the Tokyo Police Department, waiting.
Meanwhile, Kurokawa Akane's situation was a bit more complicated.
She was still in the mediation room.
The police had notified Kurokawa Akane's parents.
Inside the mediation room, there was also a female police officer trying to persuade her.
There would definitely be an educational talk about Kurokawa Akane's suicidal tendencies.
However... Yukima Azuma felt that this wouldn't have any effect.
Because Yukima Azuma could smell the scent of death on Kurokawa Akane.
This girl was in her teens, yet her eyes no longer held any desire for this world.
When one has truly been on the brink of death and is saved yet unchanged afterward, it...
Shows that the issue was truly serious.
Yukima Azuma was thinking about Kurokawa Akane's situation.
In his memory, Kurokawa Akane had never been in a breakdown like this before.
Was it the influence of Adolescence Syndrome?
Could this influence be healed?
Could it be reversed through conventional means?
Kurokawa Akane, leaning toward death, now seemed like a test placed in front of Yukima Azuma.
If he solved it successfully, he could gather useful material.
If not, he would need to summarize the failure to prepare for the next encounter with a similar problem.
The sound of hurried footsteps came from one side.
Yukima Azuma looked up.
A large crowd was rushing toward them.
A few people ran ahead, looking to be around high school age, and all of them had very striking appearances.
They were participants in the program "We're About to Fall in Love for Real," abbreviated as "LoveforReal."
(Note: Sorry, I haven't watched Oshi no Ko, so I wrote the program name incorrectly in the previous chapter. Teehee.)
That said, Kurokawa Akane's self-destructive behavior was also related to the "LoveforReal" program.
And at this moment...
Kurokawa Akane finally walked out of the mediation room.
A cute girl with long dark blue hair rushed up and hugged Kurokawa Akane.
Yukima Azuma remembered that this girl was probably named Sumi Yuki.
She was an artist, a model, and very famous in the "LoveforReal" program.
"Baka! Making us worry like this! Why did you do that? You should have talked to us!"
Crying voices came from the other side.
Kurokawa Akane, who was being hugged, also began to shed tears.
However, Yukima Azuma didn't see any signs of remorse in her eyes.
On the contrary, perhaps due to others' worries, the burden in her heart only grew heavier.
A cute girl with a devil's horn bow ran behind Sumi Yuki.
Seeing the two of them hugging and crying in a heap, she stood by, occasionally handing over tissues.
"MEM-san, come here for a moment."
Yukima Azuma called the girl with the devil's horn bow.
The girl, looking worried, heard her name and pointed at herself, seeming a bit confused.
However, perhaps because of Yukima Azuma's strong tone, there was an undeniable hint of threat.
So, even though she didn't know this teen, she obediently walked over to Yukima Azuma's side.
"Um... May I ask who you are?"
MEM looked up at the unfamiliar teenager and quietly asked.
The teen in front of her had an outstanding appearance.
So, her first thought was that he was probably from the entertainment industry.
But she couldn't recall any information about him.
"My name is Yukima Azuma."
When the other party introduced himself, MEM immediately confirmed her thoughts.
She had indeed never heard of this name before.
It sounded somewhat like the pen name of a recently famous light novel author.
While MEM was daydreaming, Yukima Azuma added more about his background.
"I am the president of Laplace Corporation. We collaborated just last month. MEM-san, you must remember, right?"
MEM snapped out of her daze.
"Ah, Yukima-san, hello!"
So it was the rich sponsor!
Laplace Corporation was very generous when it came to promotions.
And their promotional content was incredibly impressive.
MEM was highly impressed by this company.
The promotional video she made for the galgame White Album not only brought in a large advertising budget but also attracted great viewership.
It helped her increase her follower count on her YouTube channel.
She had even considered making a series of White Album playthrough videos.
But... why was this wealthy sponsor here?
And... why was he so handsome?
Was he really not an artist?
"Um, may I ask, Yukima-san, what brings you here?"
In response to MEM's question, Yukima Azuma tilted his head and glanced toward Kurokawa Akane on the other side.
"I picked her up on the overpass. She was climbing over the guardrail and letting go to jump."
Yukima Azuma's casual description made MEM's face turn pale, and she took a deep breath.
Although she had suspected that Kurokawa Akane's situation was serious, she never imagined it was this severe.
"Ah... Akane-chan, she's... gone through a lot, haizz! Yukima-san, have you watched LoveforReal?"
MEM sighed.
"My friend came over to my house and watched two episodes on TV."
"I see. Then it'll be easier to explain. In short, something happened on the show."
MEM explained the situation.
She felt that since Yukima Azuma had saved Kurokawa Akane, he had the right to know the full context.
The LoveforReal program, as it reached its middle and late stages, had clarified its main content.
Of the three girls participating, the most famous was clearly Sumi Yuki.
Next was MEM, who had a lively, cheerful image, almost like the mascot of the group.
Finally, there was Kurokawa Akane, who was relatively forgettable.
As an actress, Kurokawa Akane didn't seem to know how to deal with the unscripted nature of the show.
She wasn't able to create any special interactions with the others.
Kurokawa Akane gradually became a supporting character in the program, and her footage was severely cut.
It seemed that her management company had placed great pressure on her, demanding that she appear more on the show.
Thus, Kurokawa Akane participated in the competition for screen time in a way that she understood.
However, at this point, the format of LoveforReal had stabilized into a love triangle between two boys and one girl.
Trying to wedge in now was truly an unwise move.
Choosing like MEM, the mascot of the group, was a smarter decision.
While Kurokawa Akane tried to grab attention, she had a small incident with Sumi Yuki.
Her nails had scratched Sumi Yuki's cheek.
The injury was very minor, easily covered with makeup.
In time, it would heal without leaving a scar.
This small conflict was quickly resolved behind the scenes between the two involved.
Sumi Yuki was a very kind person and easily forgave Kurokawa Akane.
Now, the two were hugging like this, quickly reconciling any misunderstandings.
However, this would not simply disappear on camera just because the two had reconciled.
The conflict between them had been broadcasted.
But what happened after the conflict was not.
After the episode aired, it was easy to imagine.
A wave of criticism came crashing down on Kurokawa Akane.
The netizens were extremely violent.
As soon as the program aired, the program's Twitter account received thousands of critical comments.
"Disgusting, if she acted like this in front of the camera, it must have been even worse off-screen."
"Who is she? Doesn't she understand anything?"
"Seriously, they should call the police and arrest her, Yuki-chan is so pitiful!"
"Can we just make Kurokawa Akane disappear?"
"Has she done things like this before? How did such a person even get on TV?"
These harsh, critical comments were like piercing sounds.
Yukima Azuma went on Twitter and scrolled through the comments.
Although it's often said that netizens in Japan have only a moderate level of aggression compared to K-pop idol fans, for typical teenage girls, these comments could feel like sharp knives.
"Akane-chan... she posted an apology and explanation on Twitter, but all that did was get her criticized even more."
"During the breaks between filming, everyone checked on Akane-chan, but she responded very weakly."
"Today, I messaged Akane-chan to ask if she'd eaten properly, but she just said she went to buy a little something."
"There's a huge storm outside, and it's pouring heavily, but she still didn't reply to our messages."
"We could only get in touch with Akane-chan's mother, then followed the trace from a convenience store near her house."
"Then... then we got a call from the police station, and we rushed here together."
After hearing MEM's description, Yukima Azuma nodded.
Netizens, huh.
The online attacks were creating real wounds for Kurokawa Akane.
Would changing the direction of public opinion on the internet be a way to treat Adolescence Syndrome?
If it worked but she faced another wave of online attacks, would Adolescence Syndrome relapse?
These questions remained unanswered.
But before addressing them...
There was still a huge shadow in front of them.
First and foremost, they had to make sure that Kurokawa Akane survived.
Human life was fragile.
Like a precious porcelain item.
Once the owner of such an item loses their desire for life, the sound of it shattering could happen at any moment.
If Kurokawa Akane died during the preparation phase, everything would become meaningless words.
"MEM-san, give me all the information about Kurokawa Akane, including contact details, home address, and everything you know."
Faced with Yukima Azuma's rude demand, MEM immediately froze.
This girl, who appeared like a "demon," was actually someone who always wanted to please others.
She had worked together with Kurokawa Akane on LoveforReal and had almost become real friends.
How could she disclose her friend's private information to a stranger of the opposite gender?
Even with ordinary people, MEM wouldn't do that, let alone Kurokawa Akane, who was a fellow artist.
"Actually... I don't know much, I can only give you her Line."
MEM tried to respond vaguely.
"You've already contacted Kurokawa Akane's mother and followed the trace to her house from the convenience store, so you must already know her address, right?"
Yukima Azuma spoke calmly.
MEM turned away, looking a little awkward.
'Kusho! This guy is too sharp!'
While MEM was trying to come up with another excuse, Yukima Azuma pointed toward Kurokawa Akane.
"Do you see? She's still standing on the edge of the guardrail, showing no signs of backing away."
Yukima Azuma's words silenced MEM.
She could feel it too.
Kurokawa Akane no longer had the vitality she once had.
It seemed like she had lost all hope.
In the end, MEM still revealed Kurokawa Akane's home address.
She and Yukima Azuma added each other on Line.
All the information she had was sent directly to Yukima Azuma's phone.
There was no other choice.
As a kind person, she couldn't just stand by and watch her friend perish.
But she herself couldn't think of any way to turn the situation around.
Even though revealing her friend's personal information tormented MEM's conscience.
The situation had already become as bad as it could possibly get.
It had truly hit rock bottom.
Once a person dies, there's nothing left.
MEM could only hope that Yukima Azuma would stop Kurokawa Akane from spiraling into despair.
Putting his phone away, Yukima Azuma reached out and pinched MEM's cheek gently.
The girl looked so adorable, with her soft golden hair, giving off the vibe of a neighborly little sister straight out of a slice-of-life anime.
Who would have thought this cute girl, in reality, was older than the current Yukinoshita Yukino?
That's right, the girl pretending to be an 18-year-old high schooler was actually... 25 years old.
Being pinched on the cheek, MEM wanted to cry but had no tears left.
She felt like she had boarded a pirate ship, entirely at someone else's mercy.
The psychological tactics of her opponent were truly masterful.
And their foundation was frighteningly solid.
Would she later be forced to comply with some hidden rules?
"By the way, MEM, your current contract with your company is just a regular partnership, isn't it?"
"So, what do you think about switching jobs and joining our Laplace Corporation?"
MEM's eyes widened.
It's here! The hidden rules!
She instinctively stepped back.
Her gaze fell on the boy's face.
His hair was wet from the rain, though dried off with a towel at the police station, it still fell in a slightly damp look.
It gave off a charm akin to someone who had just stepped out of the shower.
The boy's eyebrows and eyes were breathtakingly beautiful, like stars in the night sky, leaving people sighing in awe.
Despite being accustomed to handsome and beautiful faces in the entertainment industry for so long, MEM still found herself mesmerized for a few seconds.
Too handsome.
If he worked as a male host, he'd definitely empty her wallet.
Huh? Then if she were "forced into hidden rules," would she actually be the one benefiting?
MEM clutched her head, spiraling into confusion.
Seeing MEM dazed, Yukima Azuma chuckled softly and ruffled her golden hair.
His gaze shifted to Kurokawa Akane.
"What should we do?"
MEM also looked over, asking worriedly.
"For now, let's find something for her to do."
Yukima Azuma voiced his thoughts.
...
Leaving the police station, Kurokawa Akane wearily followed her mother home.
In her dark room, she hugged her knees, sitting in the corner of her bed. Her mind couldn't form a coherent thread, breaking apart into scattered fragments.
Kurokawa Akane was a talented actress.
She could fully immerse herself in a character by studying the script and deliver a performance so flawless it left people in awe.
But outside of acting, Kurokawa Akane had no other talents.
She didn't understand human psychology, and her communication skills were only average.
So, when placed in an unscripted dating show, Kurokawa Akane failed to create an appealing image in the eyes of the audience.
On the contrary, she revealed her ordinary self to the viewers.
For an entertainer, this was an incredibly damaging thing.
As the dating show continued to progress, the complaints from her management company grew louder.
She could only perform on stage but wasn't bringing in much revenue for the company.
She had to appear more frequently on variety shows to secure more work opportunities.
Under this heavy pressure, even a small mistake could easily escalate into a major incident.
And one mistake led to an overwhelming punishment she couldn't bear.
Kurokawa Akane was only seventeen years old this year.
At this age, even a few casual remarks from classmates could leave her overthinking for days.
Being isolated by a few people was enough to cast a psychological shadow over the beautiful years of her youth.
And Kurokawa Akane?
She was being insulted and bullied by thousands, even tens of thousands of people.
Without the image of an actress to shield her, she was simply her true self being bullied.
Facing such intense criticism for the first time, Kurokawa Akane felt like her life had come to an end.
When she tried to explain, the insults only grew fiercer.
The company demanded that she stay silent and deal with everything quietly.
But even if the situation calmed down for a bit,
When her entertainment career resumed, all of this would undoubtedly be brought up again.
In that dark world, there wasn't a single ray of light.
For an entire day and night, Kurokawa Akane couldn't stop herself from scrolling through the endless comments.
That act was nothing but self-torture.
In her collapse, she noticed a message sent by MEM in the group chat.
It was only then she realized she hadn't eaten anything all day.
Like a lifeless shell, she stepped out of her room and headed to the nearest convenience store to buy some food.
The world outside was dark and chaotic.
Cold raindrops fell on her, but she barely felt them.
When she passed by a pedestrian bridge,
She looked down at the hazy world below.
The feeling of collapse had reached its peak.
So tired.
Thinking so much, I'm exhausted.
I don't want to think anymore.
Drawn to the neon lights shining below,
Kurokawa Akane let go.
If I just fall like this, maybe I'll be free.
But someone grabbed her forcefully, pulling her back into this dark world.
She began to struggle wildly.
She screamed loudly.
Her nails scratched against the person holding her.
Blood dripped onto her face.
Kurokawa Akane broke down even further.
If only I hadn't ruined everything, if only I hadn't hurt Sumi Yuki, how much better would that have been?
And now, I've hurt someone else again.
She kept apologizing, admitting fault.
She didn't hesitate to kneel and bow.
The pain in her body didn't matter.
As long as she could be forgiven, she was willing to do anything.
What happened after that?
Kurokawa Akane couldn't remember clearly.
The world around her kept changing.
The voices of others became indistinct as they entered her ears.
Like being underwater, all sounds were blurred and unclear.
So tired.
The more I think, the more exhausted I feel.
But my thoughts just won't stop.
The chaotic fragments refused to connect, breaking into countless pieces, spinning around in her head.
How can I stop this torment?
Sitting in her dark room,
Kurokawa Akane fumbled around, trying to find her phone.
But her phone had already been confiscated.
All the internet-connected devices in her room had been taken away.
But at this point, measures like that couldn't salvage anything anymore.
Stopping someone who is self-destructing is truly difficult.
External stimuli can only affect the body; they cannot penetrate the soul.
Yet, her collapse strangely paused for a brief moment.
Kurokawa Akane, as her gaze drifted past a corner of the window, suddenly froze.
Through the glass, in the blurry world before her eyes, a figure appeared.
He stood alone in the rain.
They were several dozen meters apart.
For a fleeting moment, their eyes met.
Then, Kurokawa Akane watched that figure as he slowly turned his back in the hazy world.
He walked away, steady but unhurried, heading in a certain direction.
The world in her eyes gradually began to return to reality.
She saw clearly where that figure was heading.
It was the Tokyo drainage river.
Amidst the heavy rain, the river tasked with relieving flood pressure was already full.
The water flowed with a terrifying intensity.
That figure took step after step toward the railing by the river.
Kurokawa Akane immediately understood what he intended to do.
Jump into the river and seek release.
But was release truly as beautiful as she imagined?
When she shifted her perspective from her own to a third person's, images began forming in Kurokawa Akane's mind.
Falling into the river, her body would be swept away by the rushing current, liquid filling her nose and lungs.
Slamming into the concrete walls of the levee, her body would twist and contort, becoming misshapen.
Then submerged by the water, bloating, no longer resembling anything human.
That figure planted the fear of death deeply in Kurokawa Akane.
Her throat was dry, unable to utter a single sound.
Without thinking, Kurokawa Akane immediately slid the window open and jumped out.
She didn't care that she was barefoot, nor did she notice the wet, muddy ground beneath her feet.
She ran with all her might toward that figure.
Before the person could climb over the railing, she lunged and shoved him to the ground.
The two of them tumbled over the ground twice.
And in the pouring rain
Only the sound of Kurokawa Akane's sobs remained.
....
The moment he was pushed down, Yukima Azuma understood that his plan had succeeded.
Stopping someone in the midst of self-destruction was an extraordinarily difficult task.
You needed to give them something to do, something to keep their mind from spiraling into darkness.
But how could you motivate someone who had given up all hope in the world to keep living?
After thorough deliberation, Yukima Azuma had come up with two realistic solutions.
One was to send them to a psychiatric hospital, strap them down to a bed.
Restrict their physical freedom, prevent their death, and work toward a solution.
The second method was to strip away their identity as someone who needed saving.
A person who had already given up on life and accepted being saved would rarely find the strength to return to shore on their own.
So, at this moment, the opposite approach was required.
Turn them into a savior.
When that happened, they would try to swim on their own.
Even if they couldn't reach the shore, it was still better than sinking further.
Thus, Yukima Azuma chose the right moment and arrived at the address MEM had provided.
He scouted the surroundings.
Indeed, there was a river nearby, ideal for someone desperate to end it all.
After confirming the location, Yukima Azuma stood at a spot where he could "perform" convincingly and began rehearsing.
The spotlight might only shine for a fleeting moment.
Yukima Azuma had to seize that moment.
What needed to be done to create an image so compelling it would leave the viewer breathless?
Even a passing glance had to be enough to capture their attention.
Closing his eyes, Yukima Azuma recalled the time before he had met Kasumigaoka Utaha, his senpai.
If there was ever a time to invest genuine emotion, this was it.
Notification: Your acting skill has reached its maximum limit.
Acting (Lv1) Acting (Lv2).
Given that the other party wasn't entirely lucid at the moment,
This level of skill would suffice.
Yukima Azuma opened his eyes, waiting for the light to fall upon him.
Before long, her gaze was locked on him.
When their eyes met, Yukima Azuma began walking slowly toward the riverbank.
He needed to move slowly, to give her enough time to catch up.
As long as this performance ended perfectly,
Everything that followed would enter easy mode.
As he walked, Yukima Azuma silently complained about how slow she was.
Just as he was about to climb over the railing,
Finally, Kurokawa Akane lunged toward him.
The performance concluded flawlessly.
Holding the girl in his arms, Yukima Azuma curled his lips into a smile.
Everythings Just According to Keikaku!
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Pinned to the ground.
Yukima Azuma understood: his plan had succeeded.
This event would now switch to easy mode.
"Don't commit suicide."
Kurokawa Akane, through her tears, said this to Yukima Azuma.
It was hard to tell if it was a command or a plea.
Yukima Azuma leaned against the railing, helping them both to their feet.
"Why? Death is liberation. Living is just too exhausting."
These words came from Yukima Azuma's mouth.
To say something like that to someone already breaking down and self-destructinghow ironic.
But after a short silence, Kurokawa Akane spoke again:
"Don't commit suicide."
What kind of mental struggle the girl had to go through to repeat those words, Yukima Azuma did not know.
And he didn't care.
"Oh? If you won't let me die, then take responsibility."
Yukima Azuma said this.
Kurokawa Akane stood dumbfounded for a moment.
That brief exchange eventually brought back a sliver of her rationalityonly a tiny fragment.
That fragment of rationality made her realize this conversation was not normal.
The request from the young man in front of her was absurd.
So, Kurokawa Akane said nothing, turning to head back to her house.
She wanted to return to that dark room.
But just as she lifted her foot
Kurokawa Akane heard the voice of the young man.
"Yeah, that's right. Go on, leave. I've always been alone; no one's ever been responsible for me. I was born an extrathis isn't anyone's fault, just an objective fact. My parents didn't want me, society doesn't need me, this world doesn't need me. I should've realized that sooner. Maybe my death would be a good thing for this world. No one will remember me, just as no one ever cared about me"
The internet is full of lengthy posts.
But for someone to stand in front of another person and start "reciting their essay"that's rare.
The nonsensical rambling from Yukima Azuma succeeded in stopping Kurokawa Akane's steps.
She turned back and reached out to grab Yukima Azuma's hand.
"Don't think like that."
Holding Yukima Azuma's hand, Kurokawa Akane, after a brief moment of thought, asked:
"Where's your house? I'll take you home."
This was the best solution she could come up with at the moment.
Yukima Azuma nodded, walking in a certain direction.
Kurokawa Akane, wearing only small white socks now stained with mud, slowly followed Yukima Azuma, stepping into puddles.
After they walked a short distance, Kurokawa Akane's grip loosened.
Perhaps she thought of the boundary between men and women, or maybe she simply didn't want to have physical contact with anyone in her current state.
But for whatever reason, it didn't matter.
Because Yukima Azuma knew exactly what his current plan was.
"The wind is strong today. One moment of dizziness, and I might just get blown into traffic."
Kurokawa Akane glanced at the road where a few cars sped by.
She tightened her grip on Yukima Azuma's hand, holding it firmly.
More than that, she pulled Yukima Azuma to the innermost side of the sidewalk.
She herself used her slim body to shield the outer side.
Yukima Azuma tilted his head to look at her and saw a blank expression on Kurokawa Akane's delicate face.
But through that expression, Yukima Azuma could see the girl's inner self:
Broken and fragile.
The heavy rain had long soaked her hair.
Strands of her black hair clung to her face, but it didn't make her look messy.
On the contrary, it gave her a fragile beauty, as though she might shatter at any moment.
It was breathtaking, and yet impossible to look away.
Under Yukima Azuma's guidance, the two of them arrived at a high-end rental house.
Yukima Azuma searched through his chat with the landlord, found the door code, entered it, and unlocked the house.
Stepping inside slowly, the rainwater on their bodies made the entryway wet, and the mud on their shoes dirtied the floor.
After bringing Yukima Azuma into what seemed like a safe house,
Kurokawa Akane turned to leave.
This time, Yukima Azuma didn't stop her.
He simply walked toward the kitchen.
So, before Kurokawa Akane could close the front door of the house,
She heard the sound of a knife being sharpened, the "scrape-scrape" echoing from inside.
Immediately after, Kurokawa Akane rushed in, snatched the kitchen knife from Yukima Azuma's hand,
And shoved him out of the kitchen.
Seeing Kurokawa Akane's actions,
Yukima Azuma wore a puzzled expression.
"Why did you take my stuff?"
"Because it's dangerous."
"There are plenty of dangerous things in this world, and what right do you have to do that?"
"I saved you, so I'm responsible for you. Those were your own words."
"Sounds like you're acting as my guardian."
"Exactly. From now on, I am your guardian, so you must listen to me."
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma was a little surprised.
He didn't expect the girl in front of him to go this far.
If that's the case, when the other person reaches out a hand, there's no reason not to take it.
"Just saying it doesn't count." Yukima Azuma pointed to his mouth. "I'm hungry. Oh, my guardian, please feed me."
Without hesitation, Kurokawa Akane turned and walked into the kitchen.
Watching the raindrops still dripping from her soaked figure,
Yukima Azuma casually remarked:
"Rainwater is really dirty, you know. I've heard that if you ingest it, you might get sick and die."
With that, Kurokawa Akane turned around and headed toward the bathroom.
Shortly after, the sound of rushing water filled the house.
Yukima Azuma went to the closet, took out a pre-prepared towel and an oversized white T-shirt.
He opened the bathroom door slightly and placed the items on the sink.
The bathroom had a divider; the sink and shower area were separated by a frosted glass wall.
Though it was frosted, the faint silhouette of the girl inside was still visible.
Such a setup could easily seem ambiguous, making one's heart race.
Yet inside the bathroom, there was no sign of panic.
The sound of running water continued uninterrupted.
After placing the clothes, Yukima Azuma left the bathroom.
Before long, Kurokawa Akane emerged wearing the oversized white T-shirt.
Her black hair appeared to have been thoroughly dried with the towel,
Perhaps to avoid water dripping into the food while cooking.
At this moment, Kurokawa Akane seemed to have shed three parts of her fragility, gaining a faint vitality.
She headed into the kitchen.
Shortly after, the sound of chopping vegetables came from within.
This allowed Yukima Azuma to head into the bathroom to take a shower.
At this point,
Even if Yukima Azuma left Kurokawa Akane alone in a kitchen full of sharp knives, he felt no concern.
...
When he finished showering and stepped out,
A warm meal was already set on the table.
It appeared to be fried pork cutlet with rice and miso soup.
Yukima Azuma sat down at the table.
Kurokawa Akane picked up a spoon, scooped a bite of the pork cutlet rice,
Gently blew on it to cool it down,
And then brought the spoon to Yukima Azuma's mouth.
Faced with this "being fed like this" situation,
Yukima Azuma didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Though they were now playing the roles of "guardian and troubled child,"
Wasn't her perception of his age a bit too low?
However fine.
Playing along wasn't a big deal.
Yukima Azuma opened his mouth and ate the food from the spoon.
Watching the girl focused on feeding him,
Yukima Azuma felt quite satisfied.
Such is human nature.
Since ancient times, humans have had two common tendencies:
Forcing good people to turn bad, or persuading bad people to turn good.
Corrupting virtuous girls or convincing prostitutes to reformboth bring a mix of joy and accomplishment.
And right now, what Yukima Azuma was doing was essentially the same
Tricking a suicidal girl into saving someone else.
Exploiting her compassion and enthusiasm, making her obediently do everything.
This method was undoubtedly effective.
At the very least, at this moment, Kurokawa Akane no longer had time to dwell on negative thoughts.
Her mind was entirely focused on the boy in front of her.
Thinking only about how to keep him away from death.
.....
The food on the tableYukima Azuma ate about half of it.
"I'm full. I'll leave the rest to you, my guardian."
Kurokawa Akane was momentarily stunned.
Then, she withdrew the spoon, thought for a moment, and put it in her own mouth.
The last time Kurokawa Akane ate was at noon yesterday.
When hunger passes a certain threshold, the body enters a self-protection state, suppressing the sensation to its minimum level.
This mechanism helps the human body maintain focus and improve hunting efficiency.
But in modern times, repeatedly triggering this mechanism can cause numerous problems.
For instance, stomach-related illnesses or psychological anorexia.
Fortunately, Kurokawa Akane hadn't reached that point yet.
She spooned the food into her mouth, bite by bite, though it was unclear if she could actually taste anything.
At the very least, however, the amount she consumed was enough to sustain her body's functions.
After a period of quiet eating,
Yukima Azuma made a call, requesting someone to deliver his laptop.
He sat at the desk, opened the laptop, and connected the keyboard.
Kurokawa Akane's gaze briefly brushed over the screen emitting a soft white glow.
Deep within her eyes, emotions such as fear, guilt, and anguish surfaced.
Luckily, Yukima Azuma didn't open any websites.
He simply pulled up a document.
For now, he had temporarily stabilized Kurokawa Akane's crumbling emotional state.
Next, he just needed to address the root cause of that breakdown.
Compared to consoling her, this task felt much simpler to Yukima Azuma.
Shifting online public opinion
For him, this was no different than having a meal.
The number of people who knew about Kurokawa Akane's scandal and left malicious comments was less than a tenth of those who stayed silent.
All Yukima Azuma needed to do was get the remaining ninety percent to speak up.
Or bring in a few hundred uninvolved individuals from elsewhere to join the discussion.
Once that happened, the original instigators of the malicious comments would immediately fall silent, delete their initial posts,
And might even reverse their stance and begin showing support.
'Hmm, what title should I use?
Given the current circumstances, there's no need for anything overly complicated.
Let's just keep it straightforward.'
"The Youth of A Lonely Boy Won't Dream of a Bunny Girl Senpai."
Yukima Azuma typed out this title and nodded with satisfaction.
Yep, that'll do.
However, he needed a way to ensure Kujou Megumi wouldn't appear.
After all, Megumi's aura as a main heroine was too strong, potentially distracting readers.
Ah, let's set it in the timeline before the first episode.
This way, he can even add a childhood friend backstory to enhance empathy.
After finalizing the initial setup,
Yukima Azuma turned to glance at Kurokawa Akane.
At that moment, the girl was sitting on a chair, knees drawn up, feet resting on the chair's edge, her whole body curled into a ball.
She seemed lost in thought, her expression blank and unreadable.
"Guardian," Yukima Azuma called.
Kurokawa Akane snapped out of her daze, her eyes meeting Yukima Azuma's.
He rotated his neck a few times, feigning discomfort as he said:
"My shoulders they feel so stiff."
Hearing this, the girl lowered her pale, bare feet from the chair onto the wooden floor.
She walked a few steps to stand behind Yukima Azuma.
Her slender hands rested on his neck and shoulders, starting to knead with just the right amount of pressure.
Even though Yukima Azuma's neck and shoulders didn't feel stiff at all, at that moment, he closed his eyes, pretending to enjoy the sensation greatly.
Keikaku intensifies!
Fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard.
Typically, whether writing a light novel or a short or long novel,
after completing the initial setup,
the next step is to establish an outline of the plot.
Some authors, however, skip this outlining step and dive straight into writing the opening.
They joke that the outline exists in their minds,
writing intuitively and letting the story develop as they follow the flow.
However, Yukima Azuma's approach this time was exceptionally peculiar.
For this volume, Yukima Azuma started writing from the ending.
This light novel, was born with the purpose of changing someone's ending.
For this purpose, the ending of the light novel was predetermined.
It would undoubtedly conclude with the scene of a girl falling from an overpass.
In the story, the boy would do everything in his power to reach out and save her.
But whether or not he could save the girl, that was not for Yukima Azuma to decide.
After finishing the ending, Yukima Azuma stretched.
As he stretched, his arm brushed against the girl's hand.
Only then did Yukima Azuma remember
that someone was still beside him.
Turning his head,
he saw Kurokawa Akane quietly standing behind his chair.
Glancing at the bottom right corner of the screen where the time was displayed,
Yukima Azuma realized Kurokawa Akane had been standing there, behind him, for three hours straight.
The occasional light taps on his shoulder,
he had overlooked due to his intense focus.
But Kurokawa Akane hadn't moved a single step.
When Yukima Azuma stood up from his chair,
the girl's arm dropped weakly to her side,
clearly too fatigued to endure any longer.
For a moment, Yukima Azuma was at a loss for words.
Though he had done this to give Kurokawa Akane something to do,
to stop the chaotic thoughts threatening to break her down,
the scene before him left him with mixed emotions.
Looking at Kurokawa Akane's numb expression,
Yukima Azuma said nothing.
Some words are better left unsaid until the girl before him is in a better state.
Of course, that is if both he and she still remember this moment by then.
...
Yukima Azuma walked toward the bed in the room.
It was a large double bed,
with pristine white sheets, spotless and wrinkle-free.
Sitting down, Yukima Azuma caused a small depression in the mattress.
"Guardian, it's late, come sleep with me," he said.
Kurokawa Akane looked at the boy.
Faced with his almost teasing invitation,
she simply thought for a moment before responding:
"I'll stay here with you. I won't leave until you fall asleep."
She merely assumed Yukima Azuma was like a child who couldn't sleep alone without someone nearby.
Yukima Azuma didn't deny this assumption.
He simply tilted his head slightly.
"Just sitting by my side, huh? Guardian, could you give me a hug?"
"On every cold, sleepless night, I always long for a warm embrace."
"Humans, if they don't sleep, can apparently last up to eleven days..."
Before Yukima Azuma could finish his sentence,
before he could say words like "and then die,"
Kurokawa Akane had already moved closer.
She lifted her fatigued arms and wrapped them around Yukima Azuma's neck.
The two fell together onto the soft, white bed.
The bed, originally pure white like snow, now bore wrinkles spreading from their center to the edges.
The girl's soft body fell into his arms.
Yukima Azuma slightly moved his nose.
There was still a faint smell of blood that couldn't be dispelled.
But Yukima Azuma didn't want to turn off the strange "perception state" he had maintained.
He had grown used to holding onto this subtle feeling.
So, to avoid feeling disadvantaged,
Yukima Azuma placed his chin on the girl's neck.
Her smooth, black hair draped in front of him.
The gentle scent of shampoo wafted up.
The faint smell of blood was instantly replaced.
Without turning off the lights, the two prepared to drift into sleep like this.
It was unclear how much time passed.
Yukima Azuma felt the phone buzz gently.
He picked it up and glanced at it.
It was a message from MEM.
It seemed urgent.
Yukima Azuma unlocked the phone and opened Line.
MEM: [Trouble! Akane-chan is missing! Akane's mother says the window in her room was wide open, but she's nowhere to be found!!!]
Just reading the message conveyed the anxiety and urgency.
Yukima Azuma tilted his head and glanced at Kurokawa Akane, who was lying in his arms.
At this moment, Kurokawa Akane was resting on Yukima Azuma's left arm, her small head resting on his chest.
Her breathing was steady, clearly in a deep sleep.
But even while asleep, she still held onto Yukima Azuma's neck.
The girl frowned in her sleep, clearly dreaming of something unpleasant.
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently stroked the space between her eyebrows, smoothing out the crease on her face.
Then he picked up his phone.
Snap.
Azuma: [She's with me.]
Azuma: [Akane is sleeping.jpg]
Azuma: [Regarding Akane's mother, I give that to you, MEM-san. Right now, she's unstable, and it's better for her to stay with me than go home.]
MEM: [???]
MEM: [Cat expression asking.jpg]
MEM: ['The other party is typing...']
After about two minutes, the chat still showed "The other party is typing," but no message was sent.
Yukima Azuma pressed the phone screen off, casually tossing it to the side of the pillow.
Sleep, sleep.
...
Meanwhile, in another place.
MEM was at the Kurokawa house, her face contorted in distress.
Is this for real bruh?!
Does this even make sense?
She opened the picture Yukima Azuma sent, zoomed in to look at it, then turned it off. Afterward, she opened it again to confirm.
The content of the picture was so strange it made her feel like it was a photoshopped image!
Why are these two, who hadn't even met until this afternoon...
now sleeping together like this at night?
And how am I supposed to explain this to Akane-chan's mother?!
She looked up at Mrs. Kurokawa, who was extremely worried.
MEM took a deep breath and hesitantly raised her hand.
"Um... Aunt Kurokawa, Akane-chan is fine, she's been found, and right now she's with one of my friends."
At this point, MEM really didn't know how to continue.
Hearing this, Mrs. Kurokawa hurriedly walked over.
MEM decisively showed her chat screen to Mrs. Kurokawa.
Seeing her daughter's photo,
Mrs. Kurokawa first breathed a sigh of relief, but soon after, her expression grew a little strange.
Her daughter, who had never been in a relationship before,
was now sleeping with a boy.
But as she was about to speak, she found herself unable to say anything.
She remembered something from before.
The cyberbullying her daughter never told her about, simply to avoid worrying her.
And then everything had ended up this way.
Mrs. Kurokawa hadn't want her daughter to make much money or something like that.
Her support for Akane's pursuit of an artistic path
had only been because, since childhood, Akane had admired a young idol.
What Mrs. Kurokawa longed for most was simply that her daughter could be happy.
After returning from the police station,
Mrs. Kurokawa had also realized that her daughter wasn't okay.
She was extremely worried, even frightened.
And now,
Her daughter in the photo seemed to be sleeping peacefully, without any sign of danger.
Compared to the safety of her daughter, other worries at the moment seemed trivial.
Seeing Mrs. Kurokawa's expression, which seemed to want to speak but couldn't,
MEM thought for a moment and finally came up with something to say.
"Aunt Kurokawa, my friend is the one who saved Akane-chan this afternoon."
"He definitely won't harm Akane-chan, so don't worry."
Hearing this, Mrs. Kurokawa finally eased her worries.
"Sorry for troubling you kids so much... My daughter never tells me anything."
"As long as my daughter is safe, nothing else matters."
"You all are good kids... Akane, I entrust her to you, please..."
Finally, Mrs. Kurokawa couldn't hold back and hugged MEM, crying uncontrollably.
MEM hurriedly comforted Mrs. Kurokawa, while sighing inwardly.
After all, it was just good that everything was fine.
At this point, all hopes had to be placed on the young man she had just met.
MEM looked back at the photo on her phone.
He had said he would find a 'job' for Akane-chan.
Could it be that he intends to... do something like... have a child with her?
MEM: [I've explained it clearly, Aunt Kurokawa has calmed down for now.]
MEM: [Thank me later! Such a task and you give it to me! The pressure is immense!]
MEM: [Where are you?]
MEM: [Aaaaa! So unreasonable!]
The messages on Line fell silent.
Late at night, in the wind and rain, MEM felt as though she didn't even know what she was busy with anymore.
....
The next morning.
The window still didn't have any sunlight shining through.
Occasionally, there was the sound of light rain tapping against the window.
On a day like this with a storm, the rain came in burstssometimes heavy, sometimes light, occasionally stopping, but mostly it was a downpour.
The room in this guesthouse was very soundproof, and the howling wind outside barely made it through.
On the large bed,
Kurokawa Akane opened her eyes groggily.
Her eyes were slightly red, as if she had been crying.
Since the online scandal began, she could hardly sleep.
Especially the night before the storm started.
She spent the whole night scrolling through comments online.
This self-destructive behavior almost made her mentally and physically exhausted.
Just the smallest trigger could make everything collapse completely.
Fortunately, before everything fell apart, the figure of the boy suddenly appeared in her vision.
Last night, after a physically and mentally exhausting day,
Kurokawa Akane finally stopped her endless thoughts for a moment and fell into a deep sleep.
Her nerves, which had been at their breaking point, gradually relaxed.
Why was she able to sleep?
Perhaps it was because of a warm hug.
The handsome face of the boy appeared in her mind.
But Kurokawa Akane's expression remained blank.
At this moment, she was like a machine stuck.
Because of the scandal, she fell into self-destruction.
Because of this boy, she temporarily stopped her self-destructive behavior.
She could still take in information from the outside world,
but her mind couldn't process it normally.
All emotions were temporarily paused, waiting for the wounds to heal and for her mind to start functioning again.
The information that had been absorbed would only manifest through emotions when that happened.
At this point, Kurokawa Akane was like an emotionless machine.
Receiving instructions and making judgments.
If it made sense, she would act.
And the only principle that governed her actions was not to let the boy in front of her die.
This principle had no reason, but that was the truth.
She didn't know when, but the boy had opened his eyes.
"Good morning, guardian."
"..."
Kurokawa Akane didn't respond.
"Guardian, I'm hungry. Could you make breakfast for me?"
"I'll go make it right now, wait for me a bit, don't wander off."
--------------------------------------------
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Breakfast.
As usual, after being fed half of his meal by Kurokawa Akane, Yukima Azuma announced that he was full.
Kurokawa Akane showed no visible reaction, but she seemed a little confused.
In the end, she ate the remaining food herself.
Yukima Azuma opened her laptop and continued working on his light novel.
This time, he didn't ask Akane to provide him with a massage.
Instead, he pulled her to sit in the chair next to him.
Then he called for someone to bring over a copy of The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine and placed it in her hands.
Kurokawa Akane held the book, looking at Yukima Azuma.
"Guardian, this is the book I wrote. Could I ask you to read it?"
Yukima Azuma said so.
However, Kurokawa Akane made no move.
She had no reason to read a light novel.
Even if someone told her how interesting the light novel was.
At the moment, Kurokawa Akane didn't feel like reading at all.
But that didn't matter.
"Guardian, you don't want to read it? Haah, yeah, the book I wrote isn't worth reading."
"Surely, all the effort I poured into writing this is meaningless, just like me... Honestly, I'm just that kind of person---"
Kurokawa Akane moved closer, placing her index finger on Yukima Azuma's lips.
With her other hand, she opened the light novel.
"I'll read it. Please don't think that way anymore."
The girl's fingers were soft and smooth.
It felt a little strange.
Yukima Azuma paused for a moment, then nodded.
Afterward, Kurokawa Akane withdrew her finger and began reading Saekano seriously.
To stop Yukima Azuma from overthinking again.
She didn't just pretend to read.
She genuinely focused, immersing herself in the story.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma's lips curved slightly.
He turned back to the document on his laptop screen.
Yukima Azuma suddenly remembered something and pulled out his phone.
Scrolling through his contacts, he found a name near the end and dialed.
....
At the Shinomiya residence.
Since waking up early that morning, Hayasaka Ai had felt her right eyelid twitching nonstop.
She looked it up online.
Apparently, it wasn't a good omen.
Just as she took her Shinomiya family maid uniform out of the closet and put it on, her phone rang.
She picked up her phone and glanced at the caller ID.
Yukima Azuma.
Hayasaka Ai's face immediately darkened.
What does he want now?
The last time he lured her out, she was forced to help him.
Even now, thinking back on it, Hayasaka Ai still felt annoyed.
Such a troublesome person.
He always started with: "Hayasaka, you don't want your mother to suffer losses, do you?"
Infuriating!
Just thinking about it made her angry.
But after fuming uselessly for a while,
Hayasaka Ai finally picked up the phone.
No matter how angry she was,
Knowing Yukima Azuma's recent actions, Hayasaka Ai had to admit that his methods far exceeded her imagination.
Her mother, Hayasaka Nao, indeed had sharp foresight.
From the beginning, she had placed a big bet on this young man.
And once Hayasaka Nao made a bet,
As her daughter,
No matter how many personal feelings she had, Hayasaka Ai couldn't ruin her mother's plans over petty emotions.
There was no other way, as Hayasaka Ai had always deeply admired her mother.
"Moshi moshi, Yukima onii-chan, so early in the morning... yawn... what's up?"
Hayasaka Ai pretended she was still half-asleep.
Trying to convey that bothering her at this hour was very rude.
"Hayasaka, introduce me to the anime production team collaborating with the Shinomiya family."
From the other end of the line came Yukima Azuma's voice.
His words didn't sound like a request.
They sounded more like an order.
On Hayasaka Ai's forehead, a vein became visible, clearly showing her anger.
Was the person on the other end of the line even human!?
How could he make such an unreasonable, shameless request right off the bat?
Do I look like a spy planted in the Shinomiya household by Laplace Corporation?
Kono hito de nashi!!!
Suppressing the urge to hang up immediately,
Hayasaka Ai took a deep breath and asked:
"Why do you suddenly need an anime production team? Besides, wouldn't it be easier if you handled this yourself?"
Given Yukima Azuma's current status,
The so-called unprecedented king of the light novel world,
Surely, countless anime production companies would be clamoring to work with Laplace Corporation.
Has he gone mad? Forsaking the close ones to seek the far?
Or does he simply want to make things difficult for her?
Hayasaka Ai didn't hesitate to think the worst of Yukima Azuma, feeling no psychological burden about it whatsoever.
"Because I need to ensure quality while standing out from the rest. Negotiating with each studio is too bothersome."
Yukima Azuma explained.
Hearing this, a big question mark popped up in Hayasaka Ai's mind.
"Ensuring quality, I get. But what do you mean by 'standing out'?"
"I'm planning to write a new volume of the light novel and simultaneously produce an anime movie adaptation."
"And you want the Shinomiya family to handle this for you?"
"It's all up to you, Dora-Hayasaka."
Hayasaka Ai muted the phone.
Then
"This lunatic, is his brain even functioning properly!? How can he even say something like this out loud!? Just how shameless, brazen, and thick-skinned can he be!? --- BEEP--- BEEP--- BEEP!" (6.9k vulgar words have been omitted.)
What Yukima Azuma meant was,
He planned to turn his new work into an anime movie.
However, since the new work hadn't been released yet, the anime production had to happen simultaneously.
This meant the anime production team couldn't rely on the original work's popularity.
There was a chance that the anime would be completed, but the original work might not be well-received by the market.
On this basis
Yukima Azuma also demanded that the production team consist of the best staff,
And that they rearrange their schedules to start production immediately.
With such demands, renowned and capable anime studios would certainly have to think carefully.
Because producing a movie based on an unproven script risked damaging the production team's reputation if the audience didn't accept it.
And Yukima Azuma didn't want to negotiate this himself.
So he wanted the Shinomiya family to step in on his behalf.
Using the Shinomiya family's credibility, the famous studios would tactfully agree to the job.
Just like the last time he relied on Hayasaka Ai.
These were all things Yukima Azuma could have done himself, given more effort and time.
But for the sake of convenience and speed, he asked someone else to do it for him.
Hayasaka Ai was truly exasperated.
This was the second time she had been turned into a "convenient tool."
Does he think she looks like a blue tanuki?
She unmuted her phone.
"I understand."
Hayasaka Ai could imagine that if she refused,
The same line would echo on the other end of the phone: "Hayasaka, you don't want your mother to suffer losses, do you?"
Just thinking about it made Hayasaka Ai want to punch him in the face.
"Thank you, Hayasaka. You're truly a good person."
Yukima Azuma awarded Hayasaka Ai a "good person card."
"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now."
Hayasaka Ai's voice was cold and firm.
"Just kidding. I'll remember these two favors you've done for me, and I'll prepare a thank-you gift for you later."
Yukima Azuma's tone lost its teasing edge and became more serious.
But Hayasaka Ai didn't care and simply replied, "Mm."
Then the call ended.
Hayasaka Ai put her phone back into her pocket, then walked to the mirror to adjust her skirt.
After tidying up, she opened her room door and walked down the long hallway.
Each step Hayasaka Ai took was light and precise, as if every movement had been measured with a ruler.
She was a model maid.
Every action and gesture adhered to the strict etiquette of a maid.
Furthermore, her loyalty to the mistress she served, Shinomiya Kaguya, was genuine and unwavering.
However, this perfect maid carried a heavy secret in her heart.
One that added pressure to her life every single day.
Stopping before the large, dark-red door,
Hayasaka Ai knocked.
"Kaguya-sama, it's time for breakfast."
From inside, a voice responded.
"Hayasaka, come in."
Hayasaka Ai pushed open the door and stepped inside.
She saw her mistress, Shinomiya Kaguya, already awake and sitting at the edge of her bed.
Moving to the wardrobe, Hayasaka retrieved Kaguya's daily outfit.
"Hayasaka, review my schedule for today," Kaguya said, raising her arms so Hayasaka could help her change.
"After breakfast, you have a two-hour flower arrangement lesson," Hayasaka began.
"Then a twenty-minute break, followed by archery practice until right before lunch."
"After a forty-minute lunch break, a private tutor will come in the afternoon for additional lessons. That's your schedule for today."
Hayasaka Ai summarized efficiently.
Shinomiya Kaguya's daily schedule was nearly airtight, leaving no room for idle time.
The so-called "private tutor" sessions in the afternoon weren't for regular subjects required by Shuchiin Academy.
Most high school subjects had long been mastered by Kaguya, who was already at a graduate-level proficiency.
Her current schooling at Shuchiin was purely for maintaining class rank.
The private tutor instead taught subjects like economics and political science, typically introduced only briefly in university.
And such a life...
Shinomiya Kaguya had been following a relentless schedule like this since she was six years old.
Occasionally, she would attend evening banquets and participate in social activities.
This rigorous routine would continue until she turned twenty.
Afterward, her schedule would grow even more suffocating.
Lessons would be replaced by real-world responsibilities like business management, corporate operations, and personnel recruitment.
By then, Kaguya would often travel extensively, even taking flights during particularly busy periods.
As the official heir to the Shinomiya conglomerate, Kaguya was born with a gold spoon in her mouth, but that gold spoon demanded endless dedication.
"I understand." Kaguya nodded calmly.
Then, as if recalling something, she asked:
"What about the upcoming Shuchiin Academy election?"
Hayasaka Ai's mouth twitched slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Recently, this was the third time her mistress had brought up the subject.
It was obvious that the position of Student Council President at Shuchiin was virtually guaranteed for Kaguya.
With her personality, Kaguya would never mention it repeatedly unless something else was on her mind.
This could only mean that what Kaguya truly cared about wasn't the election itself.
And as for what might be related to it, Hayasaka could think of only one thing:
The authority to decide the student exchange program allocation, a privilege granted to the Student Council President.
Could it be that her mistress was overly preoccupied with that man?
As an all-capable maid with a keen understanding of human nature, Hayasaka couldn't help but think:
Fixating too much curiosity and competitiveness on a member of the opposite sex was surely unwise.
However maybe it wasn't a big deal.
Hayasaka glanced at her mistress.
It was hard to imagine someone like the "Ice Princess" Shinomiya Kaguyawho had always evaluated people solely based on their valuefaltering in dealing with the opposite sex.
"Rest assured, Kaguya-sama. The votes from all divisions have been arranged, and this election will undoubtedly be successful," Hayasaka replied.
Kaguya nodded, her gaze drifting toward the window, the corner of her lips curling slightly.
Hayasaka Ai thought: Perhaps... it'll be fine... perhaps...
Chapter 123: Understanding and Compliance Are Two Different Things
A few days passed in a blur.
During this time, Yukima Azuma and Kurokawa Akane never left the vacation house, not even once.
All necessitiescooking ingredients, books, and other daily itemswere addressed by placing delivery orders.
Gradually, Kurokawa Akane no longer needed threats or coercion; she began willingly taking care of Yukima Azuma.
For instance, when she noticed the boy gently rotating his wrist after working, she would instinctively reach out to massage it, helping him relax.
After a few cooking attempts, Kurokawa Akane started preparing meals for the two of them, steadily learning Yukima Azuma's dietary preferences.
Although her cooking skills couldn't compare to Yukima Azuma's, who had reached cooking level 7, the convenience of being cared for and the delicious meals left nothing to complain about.
After sharing a bed and blanket for several nights, Kurokawa Akane no longer waited for Yukima Azuma's requests; she naturally wrapped her arms around his neck at night.
Their communication also gradually increased.
Initially, only Yukima Azuma would ask questions, and Kurokawa Akane would selectively answer some of them.
Later, Kurokawa Akane began answering every one of his questions seriously.
Nowadays, there were even times when Kurokawa Akane initiated conversations.
Occasionally, the two would sit at the desk or beside the bed, chatting casually like familiar acquaintances.
Yukima Azuma would sometimes compliment Kurokawa Akane's cooking, while Kurokawa Akane occasionally shared details from light novels.
Just observing how they coexisted, one wouldn't think there was anything unusual about their relationship.
The skies outside were becoming clearer, with sunny periods gradually increasing.
The storm's impact was fading.
"LoveforReal" had temporarily suspended filming due to the storm, and no specific date for resumption had been announced.
Part of the reason was Kurokawa Akane.
Even though she had signed a contract with the production team, if she declared her withdrawal now, it was unlikely anyone on the team would object.
After all, Kurokawa Akane had once considered suicide due to the program's pressures.
She was still just a high school girl 17 yo, not even an adult.
Fortunately, the storm had postponed the program. Otherwise, it was hard to imagine what kind of chaos might have ensued.
In this room that felt isolated from the outside world, Yukima Azuma stared at the computer screen, where a document had just been completed.
He still felt something was missing.
A faint sense of emptiness seemed to linger between the lines.
Even though he had filled the draft with information about Kurokawa Akane from his memories of his previous life, it still felt incomplete.
After pondering for a moment, Yukima Azuma tilted his head to the side.
Noticing his gaze, Kurokawa Akane, who was sitting nearby reading a light novel, turned her head and met his eyes.
"What's wrong? Are you thirsty?"
She asked, her voice clear like the chime of silver bells.
"No, I just wanted to askdo you have a habit of keeping a diary?"
The question came without warning, but Kurokawa Akane responded almost immediately:
"Yes, I think I've been doing it since I was seven."
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma clicked his tongue lightly.
Since she was seven years old?
That made it a full ten years now.
What an admirable and persistent habit.
"Can I take a look at those diaries?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
Only after the words left his mouth did he realize how abrupt his request was.
Sure enough, Kurokawa Akane lowered her head slightly, seemingly lost in thought.
Even as a "guardian," there was no justification for handing over one's personal diary to a "child."
Moreover, given Kurokawa Akane's current psychological state, revisiting old memories might only cause her pain.
Realizing his request might have been inappropriate, Yukima Azuma was about to change the subject.
But at that moment
"Sure. It's just that retrieving them might be a bit of a hassle. We'd have to go back to my house. Is that okay with you?"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma could only smile wryly.
Go back to her house?
He had a strange feeling that once the lease for this vacation house ended, Kurokawa Akane would take him to her home and continue caring for him like a single mother raising her child.
The thought was both amusing and slightly bitter.
"No problem."
And so, after many days living like hikikomori, the two finally stepped outside the room.
....
After the prolonged heavy rain, the streets carried the faint scent of damp earth.
A fragrance that was neither pleasant nor unpleasantjust the distinct aroma that followed a storm.
Tokyo's drainage system was efficient; only a few small puddles remained scattered on the streets, with no severe flooding in sight.
Yukima Azuma let Kurokawa Akane hold his hand as they walked closely along the inner side of the pedestrian lane.
He looked down at her feet.
Kurokawa Akane was wearing short white socks paired with sandals that had ankle straps.
The day she ran away, she hadn't worn shoes.
Fortunately, there were no sharp stones along the way to injure her feet.
The shoes she wore now were ones Yukima Azuma had chosen and ordered online.
Since receiving them, there hadn't been a chance to try them on.
Now that she was wearing them, they fit perfectly.
With each step she took, the straps around her ankles tightened and loosened slightly.
The heels weren't very high, making the sandals comfortable for walking.
Kurokawa Akane noticed Yukima Azuma's gaze fixed on her feet.
Normally, such attention would make anyone feel self-conscious.
But she only wondered what he was noticing.
Did he like her feet? Or was there something else?
Could he be thinking about something negative again?
Gripping Yukima Azuma's hand, Kurokawa Akane unconsciously tightened her hold.
The outside world was dangerous.
Speeding cars, rushing rivers, and imposing wallseverything required extra caution.
The two continued walking until they reached the Kurokawa residence.
When they knocked on the door, Mrs. Kurokawa opened it quickly.
Seeing her daughter and the boy standing outside, Mrs. Kurokawa looked momentarily surprised, followed by overwhelming joy.
She embraced her daughter and then turned a grateful gaze toward the boy.
Kurokawa Akane stepped in front of her mother, shielding Yukima Azuma from her view.
Mrs. Kurokawa seemed puzzled but didn't press further.
She simply asked if her daughter wanted to have dinner at home.
Kurokawa Akane looked at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Only then did she nod back.
It was at this point that Mrs. Kurokawa sensed something was amiss.
But she merely led them inside, preparing house slippers for them.
Afterward, she glanced at her daughter, who was now pulling the boy toward her room.
Kurokawa Akane's room was devoid of femininity.
One side of the room housed an enormous bookshelf filled with booksmostly specialized texts, primarily focused on the entertainment industry.
There were no posters on the walls, only sticky notes.
These notes contained training goals, script analyses, and character development ideas.
The desk was cluttered with papers and stationery, though a large portion of it was clearedlikely where her computer would usually sit.
A full-length mirror was mounted on the wardrobe, next to which lay a rolled-up yoga mat.
Calling it a bedroom felt inaccurateit was more like a multifunctional workspace.
The only place to rest was a small single bed, entirely devoid of decoration.
Kurokawa Akane guided Yukima Azuma to sit on the bed.
Then, she went to a cabinet beneath the desk and began searching.
Yukima Azuma looked around the room, almost able to picture Kurokawa Akane's daily life.
Was she too hard on herself?
Perhaps not.
It wasn't harshnessit was simply determination.
Kurokawa Akane, often labeled a prodigy in the entertainment industry, actually knew nothing beyond acting.
The truth behind her so-called talent lay not only in her innate understanding but also in her relentless effort over an extended period.
In the days they had spent sleeping together, with her in his arms, Yukima Azuma had noticed something.
Kurokawa Akane's body was incredibly flexiblebeyond his imagination.
Though not trained in ballet, she could execute movements that professional dancers found challenging.
Her slender, toned legs could easily stretch to a full 180 degrees.
To achieve such flexibility, one could only imagine how much pain and hardship she had endured.
A minute of performance on stage equates to ten years of practice behind the scenesa principle that never changes.
Observing the objects in the room, Yukima Azuma suddenly realized why the novel he was writing still felt lacking.
At that moment, Kurokawa Akane brought a large box and placed it in front of him.
Inside the box were neatly arranged notebooks, ranging from childish doodles to professionally bound black notebooks.
Yukima Azuma picked the top-left notebook.
Then, he looked up at Kurokawa Akane.
She showed no particular reaction, seemingly implying that he could look through them.
So, Yukima Azuma opened the notebook in his hands.
Immature notes filled the pages, written in shaky handwriting that barely conveyed anything concrete, just simple descriptions.
Yet, the emotions contained within were unmistakable.
As a child, Kurokawa Akane had been an ordinary little girl.
She admired the idols on television, and her favorite idol had been a talented child star her own age.
It was pure, unadulterated admiration.
This love for her idol was what led Kurokawa Akane to step into the entertainment industry.
In her early days as a child star, Kurokawa Akane didn't stand out.
She simply persisted because of her love for acting.
Fortunately, she met a good manager.
They tirelessly sought opportunities for her.
Gradually, through her relentless passion, Kurokawa Akane began to gain some recognition.
Over time, she built up her reputation.
The title of "genius actress" gradually took shape and was bestowed upon Kurokawa Akane.
That period was the happiest time of her life.
But then
Simply being a "genius actress" wasn't enough; money came in too slowly.
Although she was famous, she couldn't generate massive revenue for her management company.
This led to dissatisfaction within the company.
As a result, they began pushing Kurokawa Akane to explore other ventures.
Singing, reality shows, and more.
Unfortunately, Kurokawa Akane wasn't skilled at anything other than acting.
The pressure began to build.
And eventually
From that point onward, everything in the notebook came to a halt.
Yukima Azuma closed the notebook.
The bright, cheerful girl from the pages was sitting right in front of him.
But for a fleeting moment, the smile on her face vanished, replaced by a blank, expressionless look.
What was heartbreaking was that this emotionless expression was the best possible outcome.
Her beautiful, vacant faceat one point, it had almost shattered, almost been drenched in blood.
Yukima Azuma had come here intending to gather material for his light novel.
But now, he felt his actions were anything but wise.
Psychologists and their patients were required to maintain a strictly professional relationship.
If a romantic relationship were to develop, at the very least, it should occur three years after the end of treatment.
Yukima Azuma suddenly understood why such strict regulations existed.
But understanding and following them were often two entirely different matters.
He placed the notebook back.
Then, Yukima Azuma looked up at Kurokawa Akane again.
His gaze met her deep, ink-black eyes.
"Guardian, shall we go eat?"
Seeing her daughter skillfully serving the meal to the young boy, Mrs. Kurokawa seemed to want to say something but decided against it.
Fortunately, recently, Kurokawa Akane had been gradually adjusting the level of pampering she gave to Yukima Azuma.
The two had stopped the feeding game.
If they hadn't, the atmosphere of this meal would have definitely become ten times stranger.
"Thank you for the meal."
After finishing eating, Yukima Azuma thanked Mrs. Kurokawa.
Kurokawa Akane took the plate into the kitchen.
Mrs. Kurokawa hurriedly tried to stop her, saying she would wash the dishes.
But Yukima Azuma raised his hand to stop her.
Once Kurokawa Akane entered the kitchen, Yukima Azuma spoke up:
"Mrs. Kurokawa, please consider letting Kurokawa Akane transfer to a new management company."
Hearing this, Mrs. Kurokawa fell silent.
Although the artist was not of legal age, every contract in the entertainment industry required the signature of a guardian.
But Mrs. Kurokawa truly didn't understand these things.
She always let Kurokawa Akane decide on her own.
This was also the reason why, despite the serious situation, she only found out about her daughter's suicidal intentions after the event had occurred.
After the incident, Mrs. Kurokawa naturally held some resentment toward her daughter's current management company.
However, when it came to switching companies, Mrs. Kurokawa still had no understanding of it.
She feared her lack of knowledge might cause trouble for her daughter.
"As for this... let Akane decide."
In the end, Mrs. Kurokawa gave such an answer.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
That was enough.
Earlier, he hadn't lowered his voice when speaking.
The girl in the kitchen surely heard it.
"I will persuade Akane."
Yukima Azuma said.
As long as Mrs. Kurokawa didn't object to this, that would be sufficient.
.....
After lunch.
Kurokawa Akane and Yukima Azuma left.
The two returned to the vacation house.
The sky was again covered with gray clouds.
It seemed like it was about to rain.
But this was the end of the storm.
It was like throwing a stone into the waterdrops of water splashing up, then falling back down, creating the last ripples.
On the way, Kurokawa Akane seemed silent.
Yukima Azuma made a phone call, instructing Laplace Corporation to prepare the necessary arrangements.
Around 3 p.m.
A contract was sent to the vacation house.
Laplace Corporation had negotiated with Akane's current company.
Laplace would pay a considerable penalty for breaking the contract.
Kurokawa Akane only needed to sign, and she could leave her old company and join Laplace's new company.
Placing the contract in front of Kurokawa Akane.
Kurokawa Akane, who had been obedient in the past few days, still didn't sign.
"Guardian, don't worry about your manager, she won't be affected."
"In fact, she will start managing more profitable artists, and her salary will increase."
"These details are specified in other contracts, as part of the deal."
Yukima Azuma didn't beat around the bush, directly addressing things that Kurokawa Akane might care about.
"Why... do we have to do this?"
Kurokawa Akane didn't look up, her voice a bit hesitant, not clearly expressing her emotions.
But Yukima Azuma knew she just needed one reason.
"If you stay with the old company, after the storm, there will definitely be a lot of work that will be handed over to the guardian."
"In that case, the guardian won't be able to take care of me anymore, right?"
He spoke with extreme arrogance.
And Kurokawa Akane.
After receiving the reason, immediately signed the contract without hesitation.
Even if this could cost her entire acting career.
After signing the contract.
Life in this house continued.
It seemed as though nothing had changed.
Yukima Azuma edited the manuscript, and Kurokawa Akane sat beside him reading a light novel.
She had started reading "The Metronome in Love."
During breaks, Kurokawa Akane would go wash some fruit.
The two ate and chatted about light novels.
For dinner, they had pork bone ramen.
As night fell, Yukima Azuma rested his head on Kurokawa Akane's neck.
He noticed that the smell of blood around Kurokawa Akane had faded significantly.
His head was buried in her neck, and now he could only sense a light fragrance.
The fragrance of a high school girl.
Yukima Azuma drifted into vague thoughts and eventually fell asleep.
.....
The next morning.
As usual, Kurokawa Akane woke up early.
She got up and prepared to make breakfast.
But as she sat up, she noticed that Yukima Azuma had already woken up, and he pulled her back down onto the bed again.
Kurokawa Akane looked at Yukima Azuma in confusion, bewildered as to why this "mischievous child" was doing this.
Yukima Azuma had woken up early but had simply been gazing out the window.
Since he was lying down, he couldn't see the street outside or the lush trees on either side.
He could only see the vast sky.
The sky was clear, without a cloud, and the sunlight shone brightly from above in the morning.
Golden light streamed through the window, shining on the floor and reflecting off the two pairs of slippers inside the room.
A crow flew over the roof, its sound inaudible through the glass.
Speaking of which, there were really a lot of crows in Tokyo.
Kurokawa Akane followed Yukima Azuma's gaze.
She looked outside, the sky was bright, but her heart tightened.
Even though the sky was so beautiful.
To Kurokawa Akane, it wasn't as safe as the black clouds that would soon come, and the heavy rain that would pour down.
During those days of raging winds.
Time in this room seemed to have pressed the pause button.
But the storm would eventually pass.
And time could never truly stop flowing.
"Guardian, I'm going out for a while."
"Running away from home? Is it a rebellious age?"
"It's just going out to work and travel."
"Pretending to work and travel, actually running away from home?"
Kurokawa Akane pressed her forehead against his, her forehead touching Yukima Azuma's.
Her small white nose was right before his eyes.
The soft breath from one person was exhaled, and then absorbed by the other.
"You need to behave, be a good boy, don't be rebellious."
She reminded him.
If this had been before, Yukima Azuma would have remained calm.
Because he only thought of treating Adolescence Syndrome.
Using the girl in front of him as an experimental case, accumulating experience.
But now.
Yukima Azuma's breath began to become disordered.
After looking through the box full of diaries, it seemed he started to see the girl in front of him, from childhood to adulthood, piece by piece.
That beautiful face, when filled with various emotions and past experiences, became clearer and more vivid.
Her charm increased many times over.
"It's not really rebellion. After all, 'children' should occasionally go out for a walk."
"They need to have things to do, friends, social interaction, that's what makes you healthy, right?"
He blinked once.
His long eyelash tips lightly brushed against her skin.
Perhaps feeling itchy, she slightly lifted her head and distanced herself a little.
"Don't think about things you shouldn't be doing, okay?"
She was worried that he would start thinking negatively after leaving and then quietly disappear somewhere she couldn't see.
"As long as you give me a little more love, fill my heart, I won't have the mind to think about anything else, Guardian."
He smiled softly.
Yukima Azuma's gaze flickered with a hint of mischief.
Clearly, he was up to no good.
"What should I do?" Kurokawa Akane asked without hesitation.
"Hmm... give me a kiss?" Yukima Azuma hesitated again as he spoke.
Even though he was deceiving this girl, he had to think of a clever way, slowly and gradually.
But in reality, he didn't need to do anything.
Kurokawa Akane bowed her head, closing the small distance just now in an instant.
And that distance kept shrinking.
Eventually, there was no distance left.
Then, that distance even crossed into the space itself.
Her kiss was naive and inexperienced, just a light touch.
As for him, the fraud, he was extremely skilled.
But she didn't push him away, on the contrary, she learned from him and gradually fell into rhythm.
After a long while, they had to separate.
Kurokawa Akane was panting.
Since it was her first time, she didn't know how to breathe in this situation.
"Is this okay?"
Her breathing became disordered.
"I'll be leaving for a few days, is that all? At least, you should fill this space up first."
Yukima Azuma pointed to his chest.
So, Kurokawa Akane kissed him once again.
By midday, the two finally had to part ways.
Kurokawa Akane looked at the smile curling on the teenager's lips.
Just like that, he surely wouldn't think of anything else anymore.
She raised her hand, lightly touching her lips.
"Then, my guardian, I'm going now, I'll be back very soon."
Yukima Azuma waved at Kurokawa Akane.
"What's your name?"
Kurokawa Akane suddenly realized she didn't know his name yet.
"Arere~, aren't you my guardian?" Yukima Azuma teased with a smile.
Kurokawa Akane awkwardly lowered her head.
That action caused Yukima Azuma to freeze for a moment.
"My name is Yukima Azuma, like 'snow will fall from the sky in the east.'"
"My name is"
"Kurokawa Akane, my foolish guardian, I already know."
"Um just call me Akane."
This time, Yukima Azuma was surprised.
"Alright, Akane-san, goodbye."
He smiled and replied.
"Remember to come back soon, be careful on your way."
Kurokawa Akane didn't forget to give thorough instructions.
Just like a good guardian.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
After Yukima Azuma left.
Kurokawa Akane stood motionless by the roadside.
She felt a little lost.
During this time, all her thoughts had been focused on the young man.
Worrying for his safety, paying attention to his every need.
After he left, she didn't know what to do anymore.
She looked toward one side, where cars were speeding down the road.
The desire for liberation she once had was no longer there.
The day he appeared, he brought back her fear of death once again.
When seeing the prospect of death from a third-person perspective, Kurokawa Akane lost the courage to liberate herself easily.
Moreover, now, she couldn't truly liberate herself.
Currently, standing next to the overpass guardrail, she would surely think, if she died, what would happen to him?
If no one took care of him, he definitely wouldn't be able to make it through.
Even if it was just to continue filling his heart, she had to survive.
Kurokawa Akane returned home.
After a not-so-tasty lunch.
That afternoon, someone visited the Kurokawa house.
The visitor claimed to be an employee of Laplace Corporation, inviting Kurokawa Akane to participate in filming a promotional MV for the movie, taking on the role of voice acting.
Kurokawa Akane intended to decline.
But the other party said that it was because Yukima Azuma, the President of the company, had sent them.
Thus, Kurokawa Akane, unsure of what else to do, went to Laplace Corporation to continue helping the young man fulfill his wishes.
Chapter 125: Departure! Summer Trip! Hokkaido!
Laplace Corporation.
Yukima Azuma handed the first draft of the light novel to Yukino and then asked:
"Are you really not going? You should take a little time to relax!"
Yukino shook her head calmly.
"It's fine, Azuma-kun. You go ahead, don't worry about me. This is my decision."
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma could only nod.
Yukino silently sighed in her heart.
The boy in front of her was the one who had invited her on this trip to Hokkaido.
Moreover, it wasn't a sudden invitation; it was something he had mentioned before.
How could Yukinoshita Yukino not want to go on a trip with the person she liked?
During her high school years, except for the graduation trip, she had turned down all outings and group vacations.
Her entire youth lacked even a hint of the vibrancy of being young.
Thus, the boy's invitation moved her even more.
But Yukino also understood.
Right now, instead of spending time with the boy she secretly liked, she should stay at Laplace Corporation.
Laplace Corporation was still rapidly expanding.
The boy's passion and her freedom were both tied to the name Laplace.
One day, if Laplace could bring its works into every household
At that time, she could truly act on her feelings, free from any constraints, to pursue the boy she cherished and the vast blue sky.
Moreover, this was also Yukima Azuma's expectation.
She couldn't betray that expectation.
Looking at Yukinoshita Yukino sitting silently, saying nothing.
Yukima Azuma extended his hand, using two fingers to lightly press on Yukinoshita's cheeks.
"Talking big and noble, but in the end, still wearing that melancholy expression."
"If you've decided to stay, then endure it for a while, Yukino."
"When winter comes, we'll still have a chance. We can visit the hot springs then."
"If by winter Laplace Corporation still can't give Yukino some time off"
"Well, then Laplace Corporation might as well shut down!"
Yukino's mouth was lifted into a strange smile by Yukima Azuma's fingers.
Hearing his words, she couldn't help but glare at him.
Such nonsense.
Talking as if Laplace Corporation wasn't his company.
Saying things like shutting it downwhat bad luck!
However, Yukima Azuma's words truly moved Yukino.
Hot springs in the winter sounded wonderful.
And so, the genius yet silly employee was once again enchanted by the sweet words of her heartless boss.
.....
The storm passed.
Laplace Bunko began preparing for the release of the second volume of the "Youth" series.
In fact, the first volume of the light novel was still selling incredibly well.
Releasing the second volume now, under normal circumstances, wouldn't be the most opportune timing.
However, the situation required flexibility.
This could only be seen as a special case for a special situation.
Work at the company was bustling.
As for Yukima Azuma, after a long time, he finally returned to the Yukima residence.
Before he even reached the door
From afar
Yukima Azuma saw a figure with blonde twin-tails.
Today, Eriri was dressed entirely for travel.
She wore a short t-shirt with a sheer, semi-transparent sun-protective shawl over it, her fair skin faintly visible beneath the fabric.
Below, she had on fitted black capri pants that highlighted her slender legs.
With this outfit, if her legs weren't long enough or if she were even slightly chubby, it would undoubtedly look quite ordinary.
But when Eriri wore it, it exuded a youthful beauty that made it impossible to look away.
On her twin-tails, she wore a wide-brimmed hat.
How cute.
The Sawamura family car was parked nearby.
Beside the car, Sayuri saw Yukima Azuma and waved at him.
Yukima Azuma nodded in response before pointing towards Eriri, who stood by the door.
Sayuri lifted her chin slightly, signaling for Yukima Azuma to go over himself.
So, Yukima Azuma walked closer.
As he got nearer, he heard Eriri muttering to herself.
"Azuma, that guy what is he even doing? He didn't reply to my Line message this morning. We're clearly about to leave for a trip."
Yukima Azuma glanced at his phone.
Sure enough, there was a message from Eriri. He just hadn't noticed it all morning because he'd been so busy.
"Seriously, it's so rare to get a date, and I'm dying of excitement! Azuma wouldn't stand me up, right no, no way."
Eriri kept muttering.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
Eriri jolted in surprise and quickly turned around.
She discovered Yukima Azuma standing right behind her.
Her pale face immediately turned red.
"Eh! Azuma! W-when did you get here!?"
"When Eriri said something about a date and being so excited you could die."
"Forget it! Just forget it already! I didn't say anything like that!"
Eriri was so flustered that her hands and feet were all over the place.
She completely lost her usual oujou-sama demeanor.
Her wide-brimmed hat was even accidentally knocked off by her own hand.
Yukima Azuma reached out, catching the cream-colored hat and gently placing it back on Eriri's head.
This made Eriri's face flush so red it seemed like it might catch fire.
He lightly patted her head.
Yukima Azuma smiled and said, "Wait for me a bit. I'll call senpai and Megumi, and then we'll head to the airport."
Eriri reflexively nodded.
But then she realized something was wrong.
She immediately grabbed the corner of Yukima Azuma's shirt.
"Hold on!" Eriri widened her eyes at him. "Wait! That fat woman is coming too? Why didn't I hear about this?!"
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma showed a hint of confusion.
"You didn't know, Eriri? But I told you a few days ago on Line."
At this, Eriri hastily pulled out her phone.
She scrolled back through their Line chat history.
After skimming through dozens of messages, Eriri was shocked to discover that Yukima Azuma really had told her.
But she had absolutely no recollection of it.
Upon carefully checking the timestamp
Eriri felt like her head was spinning.
It was sent at past 11 PM a few days ago.
At that time, Eriri had been rushing to meet a manuscript deadline, trying to finish all her work.
She had poured all her energy into drawing.
To the point that every night, her mind was hazy, unable to think straight.
That night, she had chatted with Yukima Azuma for a bit and then promptly passed out.
In their Line chat history, right after Yukima Azuma's message, all her replies were nonsense phrases.
That message had slipped right past her.
So the next morning, she hadn't noticed anything unusual.
Eriri: "Uwaaahhh! No way! I'm not okay with this!"
Yukima Azuma stood beside her, the corners of his mouth lifting in a subtle, amused smile.
Yukima Azuma knew Eriri far too well.
As soon as her response times on Line became erraticsometimes short, sometimes longit was a sure sign that this twin-tailed blonde girl was dozing off.
"Don't be ridiculous! Who are you calling 'that fat woman,' huh?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha stepped out of the front door, her tone calm yet slightly provocative.
She had heard the commotion outside for quite some time.
Eriri shot Utaha a glare but refrained from engaging in their usual verbal sparring for now.
Yukima Azuma glanced inside the house, looking a bit surprised.
Because Kato Megumi was also there.
At the moment, Megumi was carrying a pet carrier containing Shiratamaru, following behind Utaha.
When Shiratamaru saw his owner, whom he hadn't seen in days, he raised a paw and scratched at the transparent panel of the carrier, as if to greet him.
On the other hand, Hogyokumaru, whom Utaha was holding, reacted much more enthusiastically.
Its tail wagged wildly like a blazing red flame, reaching toward Yukima Azuma.
The travel group was now complete.
Yukinoshita Yukino had to stay behind to handle work at Laplace Corporation.
As for Kirisu Mafuyu
Ever since the start of the vacation, Kirisu-sensei hadn't made an appearance.
With the special training system of the three major private academies, teachers were required to participate in one intensive training session annually.
They could choose between the summer or winter break.
Kirisu Mafuyu had chosen to train during the summer break and was currently at the Shuchiin area, having not returned home for some time.
And Bocchi
There was no need to even mention it. Between Gotoh Hitori being busy with Kessoku Band's performances during summer break and the idea of traveling with Yukima Azuma and three other girls, it was more than enough to overwhelm her. Sparing Bocchi from this was definitely for the best.
"Sayuri oba-san, good morning!" *x2
The two girls bowed politely to Sayuri, Eriri's mother.
Although Kasumigaoka Utaha often teased Eriri, she always remained courteous in front of elders.
"Good morning, girls. These must be Shiratamaru and Hogyokumaru? They're adorable," Sayuri greeted with a smile before quickly shifting the topic to the cats.
Sayuri used pet-related small talk to ease the atmosphere when interacting with others. At the same time, Shiratamaru and Hogyokumaru would be entrusted to her care during the trip.
As the conversation continued, everyone began boarding the Sawamura family car.
The vehicle was spacious, and even with five people and two cats, it didn't feel crowded at all.
"Sayuri oba-san, we're counting on you to take care of these two little ones. As a thank-you, I've prepared a gift."
"Around this afternoon, someone will deliver it to your house. Don't mistake them for a scammer and send them away," Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
"You Fine, I'll look forward to Yukima-kun's gift!" Sayuri replied cheerfully.
Sayuri smiled gently, her hand resting lightly on her cheek.
In truth, she was curious about the gift Yukima Azuma had prepared.
If it were just a simple, polite gift, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to mention it.
But since he had brought it up, it must be something he had put a lot of thought and effort into.
A gift from a young man like him naturally piqued Sayuri's curiosity and expectations.
Eriri leaned in close to Yukima Azuma, lowering her voice as she questioned him:
"Hey, what's the gift? Why don't I know anything about it?"
Yukima Azuma motioned for her to come even closer.
When Eriri leaned in further, he tilted his head, whispering the details of the gift into her ear.
The gift itself didn't surprise Eriri too much.
But the intimate gesture in front of everyone
Especially when his warm breath brushed against her ear
Eriri's body stiffened involuntarily, her pale cheeks instantly turning as red as Hogyokumaru.
"Ara, ara," Sayuri chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
After dropping everyone off at the airport, Sayuri drove back home with Shiratamaru and Hogyokumaru.
Just as Yukima Azuma had said, someone knocked on the door that afternoon.
When Sayuri opened it, she saw a large delivery truck parked in the driveway.
On the side of the truck was a prominent logoa pictographic design of a name:
Laplace Corporation
"Excuse me, are you Ms. Sawamura? Here's the shipping invoice; please review and confirm."
The delivery staff, dressed in a crisp white shirt, handed Sayuri a paper invoice.
Sayuri glanced at it, noticing a long list of furniture items.
"Once confirmed, our team will assist with installation," the staff continued.
"This is a tablet preloaded with a dedicated app for the furniture. If needed, we can also install the app on your phone."
The staff member pulled out a standard tablet, opened the app interface, and handed it over.
Sayuri took it, her eyes widening slightly in surprise as she scanned the sleek interface filled with neatly arranged functions.
"Alright, go ahead and start the installation."
She guided the staff into the living room and other designated rooms to begin setting up the furniture.
"Yukima-kun is truly thoughtful. This is such an impressive gift."
Watching her home gradually transform with the addition of the specially designed furniture, Sayuri couldn't help but admire the young man's attentiveness and effort.
Chapter 126: Eriri: Why Are You So Familiar with This?!
It didn't take long in the airport waiting room before the flight Yukima Azuma had booked was ready for an on-time departure.
Using the first-class boarding gate, the group quickly boarded the plane.
The first-class seats were incredibly spacious, allowing each person to have their own space.
There were even partitions that could be lowered to create a private area.
However, the group didn't use them and instead chose to sit together.
After saying goodbye to her mother, Eriri turned off her phone.
Kato Megumi took a camera out of her backpack.
"Kato-san, you're so well-prepared. I completely forgot about this."
Seeing the camera in Megumi's hand, Eriri couldn't help but regret.
If she had brought her own camera, she could have taken tons of photos without worry.
"My sister stuffed it into my bag," Megumi explained.
This camera belonged to Kato Hiromi.
When she heard that her little sister was going on a trip to Hokkaido with her club friends, Hiromi gave her a mischievous smile before running to her room.
Not long after, she returned with a camera fitted with a new memory card and shoved it into Megumi's hands.
Hiromi even said to take plenty of photos in Hokkaido as inspiration for her honeymoon destination later.
She also added something about snapping a few portraits along the way.
Although she was used to her sister teasing her, Kato Megumi still felt a little shy.
But bringing the camera along turned out to be a good idea.
At this moment, Yukima Azuma was sitting by the window, resting his cheek against his palm, with one hand on the windowsill.
The plane had taken off, and the scene behind the young man was nothing but a vast blue sky and brilliant golden sunlight.
Kato Megumi turned on the camera, focused on Yukima Azuma's profile, and pressed the shutter.
A virtual exclamation mark appeared over Eriri's head as she regretted her carelessness even more.
Kasumigaoka Utaha leaned closer to Kato Megumi, looking at the photo on the camera's screen.
After viewing it, she tilted her head to Megumi's ear and whispered:
"Could you send me the photo after we land?"
Kato Megumi gave an "OK" hand gesture.
As the altitude continued to climb, the view outside the window transitioned from clear skies to thick layers of clouds.
Once the plane rose above the clouds, it stabilized.
A flight attendant approached, offering everyone a menu of complimentary food and drinks with a polite smile.
The most premium drink available in first class was top-tier champagne.
However, unfortunately
None of the four passengers here were over 20 years old.
In Japan, drinking alcohol is prohibited for those under 20.
Thus, Yukima Azuma ordered iced tea, Kato Megumi chose orange juice, and Kasumigaoka opted for black tea.
As for Eriri?
It felt unnecessary to mention her drink choice specifically.
Regarding food
Given the short flight time, none of the four felt hungry or thought about making the most of their first-class fare.
Instead, they only ordered some sweet, fruit-filled mochi.
"Are we going out tonight?" Kato Megumi asked curiously about the plans ahead.
"Of course! Tanuki Koji Shopping Street is famous as a shopping paradise. Exploring it at night will definitely be fun."
"And we can eat ramen too. Hokkaido is the birthplace of miso ramen, and the taste must be amazing."
Before boarding the plane, Eriri had been sulking about not being able to go on a private date.
But now, she was entirely in the mood of an elementary schooler on a field trip.
She grabbed Kato Megumi and chattered non-stop.
If Kasumigaoka didn't always tease her, she might have been chattering endlessly with her too.
Sitting across from Yukima Azuma, Kasumigaoka Utaha reached out and lightly touched his cheek.
"What are you thinking about?"
Yukima Azuma tilted his chin slightly, gesturing toward the window.
"I'm thinking about comets. If one flew by here, the scene would be stunning."
Above the clouds, aside from the radiant sunlight, there was only the endless expanse of the blue sky.
The clouds below, refracting the sunlight, shimmered with a mystical white glow.
Kasumigaoka imagined a comet streaking across this setting with its vibrant colors.
Umu, it would indeed be beautiful.
"Cough, cough, cough! It's so bitter!"
At that moment, Eriri choked and started coughing violently.
A small puff of light green powder escaped from her mouth, and her tiny tongue, now sticking out, had turned green.
Yukima Azuma glanced at the matcha mochi on the table.
Hmm, found the culprit!
The culprit was none other than the matcha mochi!
"Baka," Kasumigaoka said as she pulled a tissue from the side.
"Cough, cough." Eriri was still coughing uncontrollably, even showing signs of matcha powder spewing from her nose.
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently patted her back.
When Eriri felt a bit better, Kato Megumi handed her own lemon tea to Eriri.
After taking a sip of lemon tea, Eriri finally felt much more comfortable.
While her body recovered, she was thoroughly embarrassed.
Covering her little nose with her hand, Eriri hurried to the restroom to fix her makeup.
The remaining three exchanged glances and couldn't help but chuckle softly.
When Eriri returned from the restroom, adhering to the principle of not wasting food, she resumed her challenge with the remaining half of the matcha mochi.
This time, while she didn't choke to the point of creating a meme-worthy expression, it was clear that the matcha coating on the surface was indeed very bitter.
Her dainty nose wrinkled completely in response.
"Is it tasty?"
After taking a large sip of lemon tea, Eriri looked at the strawberry mochi in Kato Megumi's hand and curiously asked.
Kato Megumi nodded.
Although it couldn't compare to the desserts in Yukima Azuma's fridge, it was still quite delicious.
So, Eriri grabbed another strawberry mochi and happily began eating.
Hearing the girls' conversation, Yukima Azuma also became a bit intrigued by the strawberry mochi.
He instinctively rested his chin on one of the girl arms and let out a soft "Ah."
This action made Kato Megumi pause momentarily.
Then, she took her remaining strawberry mochi and held it to Yukima Azuma's mouth.
Yukima Azuma took a bite.
"Umu umu, not bad, not bad," he murmured as he evaluated it.
The result?
Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha were left staring in shock.
The fork in Eriri's hand dropped into her bowl.
"F-Feeding each other like an indirect kiss... How are you all so familiar with this?!"
Eriri was so stunned that she stuttered.
Yukima Azuma froze for a moment, then quickly realized something was off.
Recently, he'd gotten used to being cared for by Kurokawa Akanemeals brought directly to him, clothes prepared in advance.
He'd forgotten to recalibrate his behavior.
'Damn it, have I fallen this far?'
'Am I about to be spoiled into uselessness by Guardian?'
Yukima Azuma let out a soft cough.
"Ahem, isn't this just normal?"
Eriri's eyes widened, her small mouth slightly agape. "What's so normal about"
Before she could finish her sentence, he quickly poked the remaining mochi from her bowl into her mouth.
Eriri's words were blocked by the mochi, leaving her to mumble as she chewed.
Yukima Azuma raised his hand.
"See? I told you it's perfectly normal."
At this moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha handed her mochi, along with her bowl, directly to Yukima Azuma.
Then, with one hand, she tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, leaned forward slightly, and parted her rosy lips.
Yukima Azuma, of course, didn't hesitate. He picked up a perfectly sized piece of mochi and brought it to Kasumigaoka Utaha's mouth.
Kasumigaoka Utaha took a bite.
When no one else was paying attention, her tongue briefly licked Yukima Azuma's thumb.
Yukima Azuma withdrew his hand and gently rubbed his thumb.
The feeding game gradually calmed down.
"Megumi, what's wrong? Do you want a piece too?"
Noticing Kato Megumi staring at him intently, Yukima Azuma picked up the last piece of mochi from his bowl and offered it to her mouth.
Kato Megumi flinched, then bit into the mochi.
She murmured softly, "It's fine."
So, what is Kato Megumi thinking?
Others only think Kato Megumi is very skilled at feeding him.
But Kato Megumi knows well that she can only truly understand Yukima Azuma's intentions.
After all, she understands this young man quite deeply.
Just like how, with a single glance, Yukima Azuma can understand her thoughts.
She also knows exactly how to coordinate with his actions.
Even so, she can't help but wonderwhere did Yukima Azuma's habit of being fed come from?
Judging by his reactions, it doesn't seem to be from Kasumigaoka-Senpai or Sawamura-san.
Kirisu-sensei is still training at Shuchiin, and Yukinoshita-san spends her days at the company.
Could it be from Shimokitazawa? But Kita-san mentioned that Azuma-san hasn't been to live house STARRY these past few days.
So, who could it be? These days, Azuma-san doesn't even seem to be home. It's strange.
Kato Megumi pondered these things in her mind.
"Megumi, your gaze... looks a little scary."
"Eh? Really? But there's nothing I can do; after all, I'm an Assassin."
She said this while putting on a serious face.
The other three couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Kato-san, have you read the Fate series?"
"Umu, I have a bit of interest in light novels, so I asked Azuma-san to recommend some famous ones for me to try."
"That's great! We share the same hobby now! Megumi-san, what have you read so far? Let me suggest some books girls would enjoy!"
"How realistic of youseeing signs of someone 'entering the field' and immediately changing your way of addressing them. You really live up to your title, otaku Eriri."
"AHH! You rough brute! What's wrong with being an otaku? Did I eat your family's rice or what?"
Clearly, in modern life, living without the internet would be quite uncomfortable.
However, for these people here, even without the internet, they laughed and joked throughout the entire flight.
Until the moment they felt a slight bump.
That's when everyone realized the plane had landed.
Yukima Azuma pulled out his phone and turned it on.
"Let's go; the person picking us up is already here."
Hearing that, the three girls were a bit curious.
"Azuma, do you have a friend in Hokkaido?"
Eriri asked, curious.
Yukima Azuma shook his head and replied.
"No, but I found a local university student with a driver's license and hired them as a guide and driver."
"This time in Hokkaido, I've booked a seaside villa instead of a hotel in the city."
"That way, it's convenient for beach activities, though getting to the city center will be a bit harder."
"Since none of us have a driver's license yet, I thought of this solutionit's convenient, isn't it?"
Hearing this, the three girls were amazed.
This arrangement was quite thoughtful, truly providing a sense of safety and maturity.
After all, the young man before them was the same age as they were (except for Utaha), yet he seemed so mature and considerate.
Meanwhile, some of their peers might still have a touch of chunnibyou and remain quite naive.
After getting off the plane, they waited for their checked luggage and then walked down the long airport corridor.
As soon as they reached the pickup area, they saw a cute blonde girl holding a sign with the name Yukima Azuma.
Seeing the blonde hair, Eriri had a slight startled reaction.
"Azuma! Are you hiring her as a guide just because she's pretty?" Eriri exclaimed, questioning sharply.
However, when she looked at Yukima Azuma, she noticed he also seemed a bit surprised.
"No, I've only chatted with her on Line, this is the first time I've met her in person," Yukima Azuma replied.
Hearing that, the other three girls were somewhat skeptical.
After all, who would hire a guide and easily end up meeting such a beautiful girl?
The blonde girl holding the sign also noticed the four people and tentatively waved at them.
Yukima Azuma raised his hand in response.
Soon after, the two sides met.
"Hello there, are you Yukima Azuma-san? I'm Kitagawa Marin, you can call me Kitagawa or simply Marin," Kitagawa Marin said.
"I'm the Hokkaido tour guide introduced by MEM, hehe. Although I've only been studying here for a year, I look forward to working with you."
Kitagawa Marin appeared very energetic.
Whether her personality had always been like this or if she was just passionate about her job, she displayed a very enthusiastic attitude.
At least, she made a very good impression on the four of them.
"Kitagawa..." Eriri felt like she had heard that name before.
Yukima Azuma nodded normally and asked, "Has the car been rented?"
"Umu, it's just nearby!" Kitagawa led the group toward it.
Yukima Azuma had rented a large car that could comfortably fit the four of them.
However, the procedures were handled by Kitagawa Marin.
She opened the trunk, and Yukima Azuma began placing the three girls' luggage inside.
Kitagawa wanted to help, but Yukima Azuma politely declined.
Normally, the girls' luggage would be quite heavy.
But this time, there wasn't anything heavy in the suitcases.
Shower products and villa supplies would all be provided fresh.
Products like sunscreen were also available.
Sleepwear and similar items were also prepared.
The only things they needed to bring were the clothes they wanted to wear.
With this light load, Yukima Azuma had no trouble carrying the luggage.
Once in the car, the three girls immediately fell silent due to the presence of a stranger.
They had been talking non-stop on the plane, but now, no one said a word.
Yukima Azuma noticed the atmosphere and decided to break the ice.
If he let the girls feel uncomfortable throughout the trip, it would be better to have Kitagawa Marin quit her job.
After thinking for a moment, Yukima Azuma chose a topic that could create an opportunity for communication.
"Kitagawa-san, you're studying at Hokkaido University, right? Why did you take up a tour guide job?"
Hearing this, Kitagawa Marin, who was driving, froze for a moment.
She quickly replied:
"Did MEM not tell you, Yukima-san? Actually, there's no special reason, I'm just a bit short on money."
After saying this, she sighed.
"Haizz, I love anime and am passionate about cosplay, but cosplay costumes and wigs are really expensive!"
This topic immediately caught Eriri's attention, being a long-time otaku.
After all, she was a stranger, and they were in Hokkaido.
Eriri instantly switched from her refined oujou-sama persona to that of a veteran otaku.
"Kitagawa-san likes anime too! I'm a fellow enthusiast! It's so hard to find someone with the same interests!"
"I knew it, your name sounded so familiar! Kitagawa-san, were you the one cosplaying a character from 'Fantasy Demon Sword Legend' at the Tokyo anime exhibition last year?"
At this, Kitagawa Marin, who had been sighing, instantly became lively.
"Yes, did we meet at the exhibition?"
"I even collected your stamps!" Eriri exclaimed.
"Hehe, stop flattering me, it's a bit embarrassing," Kitagawa Marin chuckled.
The two immediately hit it off.
Their relationship progressed quickly.
In fact, when Kitagawa Marin learned that Eriri loved anime but had never tried cosplay, she offered to bring her own cosplay costumes for Eriri to try out.
"Right now, my favorite characters are Sayaka and Kujou Megumi!"
"I took this tour guide job specifically to prepare a Sayaka cosplay!"
"Kujou Megumi is just so gentle, with her white dress and beret, it barely costs anything, she really made me cry!"
Kitagawa Marin seemed to be healed from her worries.
While the two girls, Kato Megumi and Kasumigaoka Utaha, didn't quite understand what was happening, they were suddenly pulled into the conversation.
Kasumigaoka Utaha crossed her arms in front of her chest, with an expression that seemed to acknowledge Marin's ability to judge people.
Normally, when this icy-senpai made such a face, it meant that even if someone started a conversation, they wouldn't be scolded mercilessly.
Kato Megumi, meanwhile, placed her hand on her white beret.
With her other hand, she secretly reached over to Yukima Azuma's hand, lightly scratching the palm of his hand with her pinky.
The atmosphere in the car immediately became lighter.
"Tell me, Yukima-san, are we going straight to the villa or will we stop by Otaru first?"
After driving a little way from the airport, Kitagawa Marin remembered her job.
"We'll be strolling around Otaru. Eriri mentioned on the plane that she wanted to visit Tanuki-koji shopping street," Yukima Azuma answered with a gentle smile.
Kitagawa Marin nodded.
"Eh? Aren't we going back to drop off our luggage first? I'm... not in a hurry!" Eriri, hearing Yukima Azuma's words, felt a bit embarrassed.
"This is experience," Yukima Azuma said firmly. "Even if it feels like there's plenty of time, if we get to the villa and lie down on the bed, then want to get up and continue the trip, it'll be very hard. I'm sure Eriri won't be able to get up before 10 AM tomorrow."
Eriri, who had been a bit embarrassed, immediately became angry at this.
"Definitely not!" Eriri huffed, showing her small fang. "It's you, Azuma, who's lazy!"
"You're the kind of fool who always procrastinates until the last minute to finish drafts, so not being able to get out of bed is no surprise."
Kasumigaoka Utaha added a teasing remark from the side.
Eriri:!
She was furious and wanted to argue back, but the words were, unfortunately, true.
"If it's about enthusiasm, Sawamura-san wouldn't be chased by deadlines either," Kato Megumi said gently, trying to mediate.
Eriri hugged Kato Megumi tightly.
This world is so cold!
Only Megumi is this gentle!
Up ahead, Kitagawa Marin was driving, glancing in the rearview mirror at everything in the car.
Her lips involuntarily curled into a smile.
As an otaku, she usually wouldn't be interested in these kinds of casual conversations among "realistic" people.
But Kitagawa Marin felt that these four had a special kind of youthful atmosphere, like something straight out of a light novel.
There was a feeling that even standing on the sidelines, she would be drawn in.
Speaking of the black-haired young lady over there, she kind of resembled Kasumi Utako-sensei, right?
And then the gentle girl.
Before getting in the car, Kitagawa Marin hadn't even noticed her existence.
Her presence was subtle, but once noticed, she was incredibly cute... almost like Kujou Megumi!
Kitagawa Marin shook her head and smiled bitterly as she thought.
What was she even thinking about?
This tour guide job was just a random job she picked up, and it was already strange enough that she had met Kasumi Utako-sensei.
Let alone meeting a girl who only existed in a light novel, the cute Kujou Megumi.
If this gentle girl was Megumi...
Could the young man beside her be Yukimi, The Lonely Boy, the protagonist from the light novel?
There had to be limits to daydreaming.
Although she knew these were just random thoughts, Kitagawa Marin honestly wanted to become friends with these four people.
When she was first introduced to the job of being a tour guide online by MEM, Kitagawa Marin had felt some hesitation and worry.
But now, she just felt incredibly happy to have taken this job.
.....
The car stopped in Otaru.
Hokkaido, known as the best tourist city in Asia.
There are plenty of travel guides online.
The most popular suggestion is, when you come to Hokkaido, ride the snow train and visit the romantic Otaru.
In winter, you can see the stunning scenery from afar, where snow and the sea meet.
You can also admire Mount Tengu, which looks like Mount Fuji, with its snow-covered landscape that's truly mesmerizing.
However, it's summer right now.
Not the best tourist season as most people would think.
On top of that, the recent storm had passed.
Now, in Hokkaido, there aren't many tourists around.
But that doesn't mean the summer scenery in Hokkaido isn't beautiful.
As soon as Eriri got out of the car, she immediately ran toward the Otaru directional sign.
Kato Megumi handed the camera to Kitagawa Marin.
Then she pulled Yukima Azuma and Kasumigaoka Utaha to go with her.
The background was a bustling shopping street, with bright neon lights, and in front of them, there were extremely good-looking young men and women.
Kitagawa Marin looked through the camera lens, taking a deep breath.
It felt like she was shooting for a live-action movie.
Just a quick snap, and it could be a perfect wallpaper.
Yukima Azuma stood behind the three girls, raising both hands to make a V-shape above Eriri and Utaha's heads.
It looked like rabbit ears.
After making the pose, he realized his hands weren't enough.
So he pulled Kato Megumi into the picture.
Kato Megumi silently extended her hand, helping Utaha and Eriri form the rabbit ears.
Yukima Azuma smiled happily.
As Kato Megumi posed, her gaze shifted to the young man beside her.
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked helpless, but there was a smile in her eyes.
Eriri, on the other hand, didn't seem to know where to look.
When the photo was finally taken, Yukima Azuma noticed where Eriri was staring and saw that it was a souvenir shop in the shopping street.
The shop had a huge penguin plush toy at the entrance.
Clearly, Eriri was captivated by the object.
So, Eriri got hit on the head.
Kitagawa Marin found the scene amusing, so she snapped a few more shots.
As a result, the photo of Eriri being "bullied" became Yukima Azuma's phone wallpaper throughout the trip.
"Azuma!"
"We are taking pictures, Eriri, what are you looking at?"
"But... that thing is really cute, don't you think?"
"What's so cute about a penguin? In my memory, penguins always open their mouths and ask, 'Do you want to recharge money?'"
"Huh? What kind of penguin is that?!"
Eriri immediately imagined a penguin asking if she wanted to recharge money, giving Yukima Azuma a pitiful look.
To make up for the mental scar,
Eriri headed toward the souvenir shop.
"I'll buy a cute penguin plushie or a keychain to erase this mental scar!"
Kitagawa Marin returned the camera to Kato Megumi.
Hearing the conversation, she asked:
"Eh? You like penguins? You could go to the Hokkaido zoo, they have live penguins there."
"Also, the small animal area doesn't have barriers, so you can observe and interact closely."
"If the staff agrees, you can even raise your hand and touch them."
Hearing this, even Kato Megumi and Kasumigaoka Utaha were clearly intrigued.
"Let's go tomorrow morning!"
Eriri raised her hand and called out excitedly.
Chapter 128: The Effect of Pineapple Cake!
"Let's head out tomorrow morning, okay?"
People who make declarations like this often don't follow through well.
The truth proved Yukima Azuma's thoughts to be extremely accurate.
Yesterday, they had just arrived in Hokkaido, wandered around the Otaru shopping district, bought some souvenirs, and took plenty of pictures.
That evening, after returning to the villa, Eriri had her face pressed against the window, gazing at the sea outside.
She swayed back and forth until late at night before finally falling asleep.
As a result, the next morning, no matter how much he called, she refused to get up, only responding with whines like a little puppy.
Thus, their plan to visit the Hokkaido Zoo in the morning was a failure.
Aho-Baka-Tsundere-Stubborn-Overslept-Eriri!
"This idiot." Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed, massaging her forehead.
Kato Megumi, standing nearby, offered some specialty Hokkaido cookies to ease the tension. "Senpai, don't be mad. We're on vacation; having fun is the most important thing."
"I think we should just leave this idiot at the villa. When she wakes up, we can show her pictures from the zoo."
Kasumigaoka said this while biting into a cookie with noticeable annoyance.
"If we do that, Eriri will definitely cry. At that point, Utaha-senpai, you'll have to take responsibility for consoling her," Yukima Azuma added, chuckling as he fanned the flames.
Hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha grew even more frustrated.
Console that idiot? Whoever wants to do it can go ahead!
However, leaving a friend behind while going out felt wrong.
It seemed too much like intentionally ostracizing someone.
Kasumigaoka wasn't someone who could do such a thing.
That left her with no choice but to compromise.
"Kitagawa-san, could you show me the cosplay outfits you brought?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha turned toward Kitagawa Marin.
Kitagawa Marin nodded after hearing the request.
After they returned yesterday, Kitagawa had indeed brought her cosplay costumes over from her university dormitory this morning.
Opening a large suitcase, she revealed neatly organized, adorable outfits inside.
There were even wigs, each stored carefully in its own bag.
Not a single accessory was missing.
Kasumigaoka Utaha picked up each item to inspect, then carefully put it back in place after examining it.
Kato Megumi also moved closer, intrigued.
She didn't know much about cosplay, but it seemed quite fascinating.
"Um... is this also a cosplay outfit?"
After browsing for a while, Kato Megumi noticed something odd.
She picked up an extremely revealing outfit from the pile.
The top consisted of a piece of fabric barely enough to cover the chest. Calling it a top was generousit was more like a chest cover.
The bottom was just a small inverted triangle-shaped piece of cloth.
Meanwhile, the puffy sleeves and white collar were crafted with meticulous detail.
Places that should have been covered weren't, while areas that didn't need coverage were completely concealed!?
It even included small devil wings and a heart-shaped tail as accessories.
Looking at the outfit in her hands, Kitagawa Marin first widened her eyes, then avoided eye contact in embarrassment.
"That... uh, that's actually... the costume of a little succubus from a game. I accidentally brought it along."
Kato Megumi slightly parted her lips, looking very surprised.
It seemed quite different from what she knew about succubi.
Coming from Kato Megumi, who had never encountered R18 galgames, her adorable expression of surprise made Kitagawa Marin even more flustered, her cheeks turning bright red.
After all, everyone here was younger than her.
Elsewhere, Kasumigaoka Utaha had already found an outfit she was satisfied with.
It was a black-and-white maid uniform.
The neckline featured a large bow, and the skirt wasn't the traditional long style but a short one resembling JK uniforms.
At a glance, it was clearly a cute-style maid uniform.
"Kitagawa-san, may I borrow this outfit for a bit?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha held up the maid costume and asked.
Kitagawa nodded.
Then, they saw Kasumigaoka Utaha take the maid outfit and head toward Eriri's room.
After a series of rustling noises filled the air
Kasumigaoka Utaha poked her head out of the room.
"Is there any pineapple cake or something? Bring me two."
The three people in the living room exchanged puzzled glances but eventually fetched two cold pineapple cakes from the refrigerator.
Kasumigaoka took the cold pineapple cakes and went back into the room.
This time, a sharp scream erupted from inside.
Then came a cacophony of chaotic noises.
"Ahh! Kasumigaoka Utaha! What are you doing?!"
"What is this? It's so cold! Don't shove it in there!"
"Pervert! Help me! Azuma, help me!"
After a series of pitiful cries, Kasumigaoka Utaha emerged from the room, dusting her hands with a satisfied look.
A while later, Eriri peeked her head out, now wearing a maid's headband.
"You hateful fat woman! What exactly do you want?!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha folded her arms across her chest and snorted coldly.
"Take a look at what time it is now. Weren't you the one confidently declaring yesterday that you'd never oversleep?"
"As punishment, you'll be the maid this afternoonresponsible for pouring tea, massaging shoulders, and giving back rubs."
Hearing this, Eriri bared her small fang and glared fiercely, but in the end, she couldn't argue back.
In this world, there is such a thing as being "indefensibly in the wrong."
Oversleeping was indeed her fault; even Eriri could admit that.
So, after lingering for a long while, she finally stepped out from behind the door.
As soon as she did, her adorable outfit lit up the room.
Eriri truly suited this kind of cute attire.
The black-and-white maid uniform highlighted her petite figure while adding a uniquely charming touch.
The "Zettai Ryouiki" between the maid skirt and her legs wrapped in white stockings made it hard for anyone to look away.
But was Eriri's figure always this good?
Without realizing it, everyone's gaze landed on Eriri's chest.
It was as if a flat plain had suddenly sprouted a skyscraper.
The large bow beneath her neckline was now round and full, stretched taut.
Realizing where everyone was looking, Eriri immediately covered her chest with her hands, blushing furiously.
"Umu, it suits you quite well."
The instigator of it all chuckled softly from the side.
"AHHHHH! You're such a hateful fat woman!"
Eriri's face burned bright red with embarrassment.
At this point, Kato Megumi and Yukima Azuma finally understood the truth behind the "skyscraper."
It turned out those pineapple cakes had been used for this purpose.
"There was no other choice," Kasumigaoka shrugged. "Otherwise, it wouldn't have fit at all, right?"
Hearing this, Eriri's gaze involuntarily drifted toward Kitagawa Marin, who was standing off to the side.
Compared to Kasumigaoka Utaha, Kitagawa Marin wasn't particularly tall.
She had the average build of a young girl.
But in certain areas, her development was particularly astonishing.
Umu, based on estimates from "battlefield reporters," the difference between Kitagawa's bust and underbust measurements was 18.6 cm.
That was the legendary E-cup.
A terrifying size that Eriri could only match thanks to the "power of pineapple cakes."
"I'm heading to the kitchen. Maid, come help me."
Yukima Azuma stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
Eriri hung her head and trudged after him.
She had clearly been excited about spending time alone with him in the kitchen earlier,
but now, given the circumstances, she couldn't muster any enthusiasm.
"Well then, I'll take my leave. Let me know if you need anything," Kitagawa Marin said, sensing it might be awkward to stay any longer.
"Kitagawa-san, stay! Azuma's cooking is delicious!"
Eriri called out, hoping to keep her fellow hobbyist friend around.
Even though she had just suffered a minor humiliation regarding "measurements,"
it was still hard to find a friend who shared the same interests.
"Uh..." Kitagawa Marin hesitated for a moment.
Yukima Azuma glanced at Kato Megumi and Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Seeing both of them nod in agreement, he spoke:
"Kitagawa-san, you should stay. Constantly moving back and forth must be inconvenient. Why not just stay at the villa for now? It'll be much more convenient for us to go anywhere together."
His tone was calm, yet left no room for refusal.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Kitagawa Marin nodded in agreement.
And then
"This is amazing! It's so delicious! Yukima-san, are you secretly the legendary Master Chef?"
With a shrimp tempura in her mouth, Kitagawa couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes sparkling.
She had never tasted anything so delicious.
Forget about her own cooking, even famous restaurants couldn't compare to the feast before her.
It was so delicious she was almost moved to tears.
Kitagawa Marin began to wonder how she would survive if she couldn't eat food this good in the future.
"Kitagawa-san, you're overpraising me," Yukima Azuma replied with a soft smile, not taking her compliments too seriously.
"It's not overpraise at all!" Kitagawa Marin insisted and turned to the other girls at the table for confirmation. "Right? Isn't it true?"
"Actually, Azuma-san's cooking is really good," Kato Megumi calmly affirmed while savoring her meal.
"It's just so-so. This guy only got better with practice. Back when he started cooking, it was terrible," Eriri chimed in, recalling their middle school days.
During that time, Yukima Azuma had just started learning how to cook.
As his girlfriend back then, she had endured quite a bit.
No matter how bad the food tasted, she forced herself to eat it all and even managed a smile.
It was as if she were the protagonist of a light novel, enduring hardships for the sake of love.
Fortunately, Yukima Azuma's cooking skills improved rapidly, and the suffering didn't last long.
Kasumigaoka Utaha cast a sharp glance at Eriri.
So it was her.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had always wondered where Yukima Azuma had honed his remarkable cooking skills.
Not only that, but his attentiveness and ability to understand women as well.
At first, he had known nothing about these things.
During their first relationship, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt like she was teaching a studentguiding Yukima Azuma step by step in the art of romance.
But now, those very skills were being used to cater to some dumb blonde twintail girl.
And that girl didn't even seem to appreciate what she had.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
No, holding back only made her angrier, and backing down just felt unfair.
Beneath the dining table, Kasumigaoka Utaha's long legs, wrapped in black stockings, subtly searched for a target.
Then she placed her foot on Eriri's white-stockinged leg and pressed lightly.
Eriri, who had been blissfully enjoying her meal, almost spat out her food.
She glared, her eyes wide, at the source of the sudden pressure under the table.
What's wrong with this crazy fat woman?!
Thus, the small, white-stockinged legs of Eriri began to retaliate.
In the hidden space beneath the table, an unspoken battle had commenced.
--------------------------------------------
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Yukima Azuma borrowed a camera from Kato Megumi.
He copied the data from the camera onto his phone.
Then, he selected a few landscape photos of Hokkaido and some portrait-style scenic photos featuring only himself.
These photos were sent one by one to Kirisu Mafuyu, Yukinoshita Yukino, and Gotoh Hitori.
On Bocchi's side, the "read" notification appeared immediately.
But after a while, there was still no reply.
Who knows what she was doing with the photos.
The first to reply was Kirisu-sensei.
Mafuyu: [Hokkaido, huh? The scenery is truly beautiful.]
Azuma: [It's a pity Sensei couldn't come.]
Mafuyu: [You all went on a trip together. If Sensei joined, wouldn't it ruin the atmosphere?]
Azuma: [Not at all. After all, Kirisu Mafuyu is my friend.]
Mafuyu: [Really, you're such a cheeky student!]
Yukima Azuma felt that Kirisu Mafuyu's comment on the scenery was too polite.
The fact that she didn't mention the portrait photos of him...
Maybe she had zoomed in and stared at them for a while.
Yukima Azuma was confident enough in his own looks.
Next was Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukino: [Very beautiful.]
This straightforward compliment made Yukima Azuma pause for a moment.
Although he knew Yukino was someone who spoke her mind, to be this direct about it?
Or was she talking about the scenery?
Azuma: [Do you mean Hokkaido or me?]
Yukima Azuma decided to ask directly.
Yukino: [You.]
Yukima Azuma blinked several times.
Wow.
As expected of Yukinoshe was always so straightforward. That was exactly what he liked about her.
Come to think of it, Yukino had been unusually gentle with him lately.
Could it be... time to push his luck a little further?
Azuma: [In return, can you show me your feet?]
Yukino: [Picture of Yukinoshita Yukino's feet.jpg]
Azuma: [Itadakimasu!]
Yukima Azuma opened the photo and zoomed in to look.
It was a photo taken in the office of Laplace Corporation, probably just recently.
It showed Yukino wearing high heels and a pencil skirt.
And, of course, her long, slender legs.
A dazzlingly fair white.
Yukima Azuma silently admired it for a while and then saved the photo.
At the same time, in the president's office of Laplace Corporation...
Yukino was lying face down on her desk, hands covering her face.
At this moment, the snow-like girl's cheeks were burning red.
One touch, and you could feel the heat.
"Am I okay...?" she muttered to herself. "Could this be considered indecent?"
Never having experienced love before, the young lady now felt as if she had tried to act confident in front of the boy she liked, only to feel regret afterward.
These experiences that her teenage years had missed were now being added little by little.
After finishing his conversation with Yukino,
Yukima Azuma stared at Bocchi, who was still typing a message, and shook his head.
Azuma: [Bocchi, are you doing something weird with my photos? That's fine, but just don't overdo it.]
Bocchi: [No way!]
Bocchi: [Ah! It's not like I don't have any desires toward Azuma-kun, but doing something like that feels kind of offensive.]
Bocchi: [Anyway, I didn't do it, but I really like Azuma-kun, Red Bean Paste Secret Marseille!]
This time, she replied immediately.
But her explanation seemed a bit flustered.
She wanted to clarify that she wasn't doing anything weird, while also worrying that having no earthly desires might disappoint Yukima Azuma.
Azuma: [Just kidding. Do you think the scenery here is beautiful?]
Bocchi: [Very beautiful, it feels like something out of a movie.]
Azuma: [Next time, let's come here together, just the two of us.]
Bocchi: [Huh? You don't have to be so kind to me Just staying home and looking at the photos is enough for me.]
Azuma: [So, Bocchi, you really didn't do "something" with my photos?]
Bocchi: [I didn't do anything with the photos, but I did imagine the things we've already done.]
At first, Yukima Azuma only intended to change the subject.
But now, as he stroked his chin, he appeared thoughtful.
After all, Bocchi was still in her youthful years.
Anyway, he decided he would visit Bocchi after returning home.
With this thought, Yukima Azuma opened the photo album on his phone.
Eventually, he found a few selfies he had taken after showering, meant to check his hair length, and sent them to Bocchi.
Azuma: [It's okay, Bocchi, feel free to use them.]
At Gotoh's house.
Initially, as the chat box remained silent for a while, Gotoh Hitori felt like her life was nearing its end.
Then, suddenly, a few photos came through.
She opened them and saw photos of the young man right after his shower, water droplets still visible on his white shirt.
It looked like the cover of a provocative photobook.
Accompanied by the photos was a statement permitting "use."
"EHHH!? What am I supposed to say to this?"
Staring at the young man's photos, Gotoh Hitori was thrown into unprecedented confusion.
But remaining silent for too long wasn't something Bocchi could do.
So...
Bocchi: [Itadakimasu!]
....
Closing the LINE interface, Yukima Azuma logged into his Twitter account.
With his return from Hokkaido, the release of his new book was approaching.
Thus, if he wanted to create buzz, now was the right time.
Conveniently, the official verification for his account, which he had applied for last night, was also completed.
In fact, Yukima Azuma should have created a personal Twitter account long ago.
He simply hadn't cared to, nor had he anticipated needing it so soon.
A few hours had passed since verification, yet despite the account having no tweets, it had already gained several thousand followers.
The speed of this follower growth would surely make professional social media managers green with envy.
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment, then crafted his first tweet.
[Hello, everyone! I'm Yukimi Azuma, the author of Saekano. Thank you for your support! Volume 2 of the series Seishun Kodoku Shounen (The Youth of The Lonely Boy) will be released next week. Please look forward to it!
Special Announcement: The plot of Volume 2 is set in the high school era before Volume 1, so Kujou Megumi will not appear in this installment. I hope you all understand. This volume will center around the childhood friend, Kurokawa Akane.
And one more thing: Kujou Megumi is my wife!]
Three minutes after posting the tweet,
The likes and shares began to surge rapidly.
Meanwhile, the comments section seemed to scroll by at lightning speed.
"'Kujou Megumi is my wife': WOC! Yukimi-sensei! Just started a Twitter account, and it's already like this? This should be suspended immediately."
"'Kujou Megumi is mine': Huh? A new volume already?!"
"A twisted fan of Megumi:" Megumi not appearing? Then what am I even reading this for?! Yukimi-sensei has definitely taken a bribe!
"Random passerby:" Is this Kurokawa Akane the one I'm thinking of? How much did you get paid to clean her up? The author too, always taking money!
"World's Best Megumi Saint:" Yukimi-sensei, where do you live? I don't mean anything else; I just want to take a photo together.
"I'm Kujou Megumi's Dog:" I propose we gather forces to lock this guy in a dark basement.
Yukima Azuma scrolled through the comments.
Most were noisy arguments.
The announcement that Megumi wouldn't appear in the new volume had clearly left fans emotionally unstable.
However, this was precisely the effect Yukima Azuma wanted.
A simple promotion for Volume 2 wouldn't have generated this level of buzz.
As for whether anyone would actually buy Volume 2...
Tsk, online chatter was just for entertainment anyway.
"Azuma-san... can you help me? The zipper on the back won't go up."
The voice of Kato Megumi echoed softly.
Yukima Azuma turned off his phone.
Exiting his room, he saw the girl who resembled a tuberose flower standing in the hallway.
At this moment, she had her back to him.
A scene as pure and white as snow left Yukima Azuma momentarily breathless.
The zipper Kato Megumi referred to was on the back of her swimsuit.
Not the one-piece kind, but a two-piece design.
Although the swimsuit wasn't overly revealing, the graceful curve of her back was clearly visible.
Kato Megumi's figure was well-proportionednot overly striking but with a subtle balance of curves in all the right places.
Seeing the scene in front of him, Yukima Azuma became even more certain of one thought:
Megumi is my wife!
"Azuma-san?"
"Ah, coming right away!"
Snapping out of it, Yukima Azuma quickly stepped forward.
He tugged at the zipper a bit before easily pulling it all the way up.
Kato Megumi felt the warmth of his hand from behind, and her head lowered slightly.
Even though she hadn't turned to look, she could guess Yukima Azuma's reaction.
That brief moment he froze made Kato Megumi feel a bit happy.
Turning around, Kato Megumi tried to remain natural, casually showing off her figure.
Her swimsuit was pure white, adorned with adorable trims.
The pristine color, strangely enough, evoked a sense of forbidden allure.
"How does Azuma-san think it looks?"
"It suits Megumi perfectly. But are you planning to wear this out tomorrow?"
"Of course not. This outfit is a 'special privilege' just for Azuma-san."
"Eh?"
"I mean, tomorrow I'll wear a jacket over it when we go out."
Kato Megumi reached behind her, revealing a long ivory jacket in her hands.
Yukima Azuma swallowed audibly.
Kato Megumi holding the jacket looked even more captivating than before.
She draped the ivory jacket over her shoulders, covering most of the mesmerizing view.
Then, Kato Megumi quickly stepped closer to Yukima Azuma.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him directly.
The possessive feeling Yukima Azuma had accidentally revealed earlier made Kato Megumi's heart race.
She realized how well they fit together.
Earlier, while standing in front of the mirror in her swimsuit, Kato Megumi had already thought about adding a jacket.
This look was something meant only for Azuma to see.
The kiss lasted for an indeterminate amount of time.
Until the sound of a door opening echoed down the hallway.
Kato Megumi quickly let go.
With flushed cheeks, she touched her lips lightly with her fingers and made a playful "shh" gesture.
Then, she quietly tiptoed back to her room.
"Azuma, what are you doing standing here?"
Eriri asked curiously, looking at Yukima Azuma standing frozen in the hallway.
"Eriri, don't you have something to show me?"
Instead of answering, Yukima Azuma turned the question back on Eriri.
Eriri blinked, a question mark practically floating over her head.
What would she show Azuma?
Seeing Eriri's clueless expression, Yukima Azuma chuckled and shook his head slightly.
"It's nothing. Eriri, get some sleep; we're going to the beach tomorrow."
"Oh, uh, okay."
Eriri replied briefly and headed straight into the bathroom.
When she returned to her room and was preparing her things for the next day, her gaze fell on the swimsuit she had carefully picked out.
Suddenly, a big exclamation mark popped into her head.
Eriri: "No!"
The third day of the Hokkaido trip.
On a nearby beach.
"You can see a bit of the shape now, right?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha, wearing a long coat and swimwear, looked toward the distant horizon, squinting.
Yukima Azuma also looked in that direction.
From afar, in the sky, he could indeed see the bright blue silhouette, different from the sky.
It was the comet named Charlotte approaching.
Tonight, it would pass through the skies of Hokkaido.
These days were all an opportunity to watch it, but tonight in Hokkaido, it could be said to be the best time and place for observation.
They say you can see the details of the comet as it passes.
Comets only appear every 1,200 years.
"Do you want some shaved ice?"
Eriri carried a pile of colorful shaved ice toward them.
"Did you ask before buying?"
Yukima Azuma smiled wryly, choosing a bowl of green apple-flavored shaved ice.
"Of course! How can you not eat shaved ice when you're at the beach?"
Eriri held a bowl of lemon-flavored shaved ice and spun it around, but quickly stopped and held her head, sitting down.
Clearly, the cold was giving her a brain freeze.
Yukima Azuma shook his head helplessly and reached out to rub her forehead.
Kato Megumi held a bowl of strawberry-flavored shaved ice, and Kasumigaoka Utaha held a bowl of grape-flavored shaved ice, exchanging glances.
Is this the type of "foolish people are blessed" moment?
Both of them thought to themselves.
They rented a sunshade on the beach.
The four of them lay under the shade of the umbrella, gazing at the sparkling sea, enjoying the lazy passage of time.
Normally, when you go to the beach, you'd at least go into the water a bit.
Among the four, only Eriri couldn't swim, but she had brought a swimming float.
But since they would be moving soon, no one felt like playing in the water right now.
Yukima Azuma had purchased tickets for the big cruise ship today.
To see the comet, aside from climbing high mountains,
it was best to go out to the open sea.
That way, there would be no obstacles blocking the view.
Although Hokkaido also had mountains like Tengu-yama,
summer on the mountain,
just thinking about it made people hesitate.
Not to mention the mosquitoes.
There were all sorts of insects, and really, just using mosquito repellent wouldn't be enough.
"So boring."
Eriri finished applying sunscreen, repeatedly testing the boundaries between the umbrella's shade and the summer sunlight.
"How about we build a sandcastle, maybe bury Eriri in it?"
Yukima Azuma said absentmindedly.
"That's a good idea."
"Sounds fun."
As a result, the other two girls enthusiastically supported the idea.
"Hey!" Eriri immediately stopped being bored.
After a noisy, fun time, they played on the beach for two to three hours before packing up and heading to the port.
The long sound of a ship's whistle echoed, and the gigantic cruise ship slowly docked.
"That's impressive..." Kato Megumi looked up. "It's much bigger than I imagined."
You couldn't get a sense of its scale just from pictures.
No matter how you looked up, you couldn't see the top of the enormous luxury cruise ship.
Even the chains used to anchor the ship were as big as a person.
"Kind of nostalgic, huh?" Eriri sighed.
Her words made Kato Megumi blink.
Although she knew the Sawamura family was very wealthy,
it was moments like this that really made the difference more obvious.
"Don't mind that, Eriri is a baka, when she was in middle school, she invited me to a party."
"Then I asked her who would be attending, and she said it was just a few of her mom's friends, aunts, and uncles."
"So, I asked Sayuri oba-san, and only then did I realize, the people attending were all famous politicians or business tycoons."
"I almost got fooled."
Yukima Azuma whispered into Kato Megumi's ear.
Hearing that, Kato Megumi imagined the scene.
Back in middle school, Yukima Azuma was just an ordinary student.
It was easy to picture...
Eriri clearly wasn't trying to show off, she just lacked a bit of self-awareness.
"But now, Azuma-san attending those kinds of parties doesn't seem out of place at all."
Kato Megumi said lightly, her fingers brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear.
"Megumi, do you know? The time I remember the most was when I first came to Tokyo, sitting in a friend's bookstore, reading light novels while avoiding the heat."
Yukima Azuma said seriously.
Kato Megumi's fingers froze, then she naturally lowered her hand.
The corners of her mouth curled into a smile.
That's right, with him, she didn't feel any distance at all.
It wasn't material wealth that created distance between people, but rather perceptions and intentions.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had intended to approach and interrupt when she saw the two of them whispering.
But as she got closer, she heard Yukima Azuma's words.
She knew Yukima Azuma was speaking from the heart.
She too missed that time.
Even though she had later become a famous light novel author, when she thought back to that time, she didn't feel poor or lacking in any way.
What remained was only the joy from the bottom of her heart.
...
They boarded the cruise ship.
The group entered the cabin to store their luggage.
The tickets Yukima Azuma had purchased were for a one-day, one-night cruise.
They would sleep on the ship and disembark the next morning.
After organizing their things, the group headed to the ship's pool.
Not playing in the water at the beach, they could now finally enjoy the cool waters.
The water in the pool on the cruise ship was much cleaner compared to the beach or regular pools.
Time quickly passed until evening.
The sky gradually quieted, and the last light faded as the sun sank behind the horizon.
The moon suddenly became prominent.
Under the bright moonlight, the calm sea seemed to hum its own melody.
"Wow, it's so beautiful!"
Standing on the ship's deck, Eriri exclaimed, voicing the feelings of the entire group.
In the distant night sky, a brilliant streak of purple-blue light, trailing a magnificent tail, left a mark across the dark sky.
That trace burned little by little, then vanished, but still left a lingering afterimage on the viewer's retina.
If they were to recall and describe this visual scene later, countless beautiful words would surely come to mind.
But at this moment, all that remained in the minds of the boys and girls was a simple exclamation: "It's beautiful."
Kato Megumi picked up her camera, aimed at the comet in the sky, and pressed the shutter button.
Click!
The sound rang out repeatedly.
There were many others around also taking photos.
"A meeting 1,200 years apart..." Kasumigaoka Utaha murmured in awe.
Yukima Azuma looked at the vibrant colors in the sky, his thoughts, like the comet's tail, flaring up and then quickly fading.
"Let's take a picture together!"
He suggested.
The three girls nodded in agreement without any need for words.
Kato Megumi had brought a camera tripod.
She chose a good angle on the ship's deck, set the camera in place, and adjusted the focus.
After setting the timer mode, she quickly ran back to the others.
Under the bright moonlight stretching across the deck of the cruise ship, behind the boys and girls, the night sky was filled with a brilliant comet streaking across the sky.
That moment was captured in a photo.
Kato Megumi ran to check the photo she had just taken.
Seeing the clear image of Yukima Azuma, she smiled with satisfaction...
As long as the focus wasn't off, no matter how Yukima Azuma posed or what expression he had, he always exuded a captivating charm.
While adjusting the camera, Kato Megumi suddenly froze.
In the frame of her lens, the sparkling lights in the distance suddenly turned into two parallel streaks of light.
Suspicious that her sister's camera might be broken, she looked up and checked with her naked eye.
When she clearly saw what was happening in the sky, she couldn't help but take a deep breath.
"This... doesn't seem quite right."
Kato Megumi's words made the three people who had been joking freeze in place.
Yukima Azuma quickly turned his head toward the sky.
He saw the comet in the sky, and as it passed a certain point, it suddenly split into two.
The main part continued on its original trajectory, speeding through the planet's sky.
But the separated part seemed to have burned through all its remaining energy.
From above, the flames shot down, turning into a blazing meteor.
Eriri, tense, gripped Yukima Azuma's arm tightly.
Kasumigaoka Utaha also focused intently on the burning streak as it faded into the distance.
"Something's definitely wrong." Yukima Azuma took a deep breath.
The meteor, with its current size and mass, didn't seem like it would burn up completely before it pierced through the atmosphere.
As it passed through the clouds, creating a large hole in the sky, everyone's eyes were fixed on its trajectory.
Finally, the flames fell somewhere far beyond the horizon.
The noise aboard the cruise ship suddenly stopped, and the entire space fell into silence.
Seconds ticked by.
Yukima Azuma made a few phone calls, gathering the exact details.
"The meteor fragment that separated from the comet Charlotte has fallen onto Japanese territory."
"To be precise, it fell in Gifu Prefecture, causing significant damage. Rescue teams are currently operating there."
Upon hearing Yukima Azuma's words, the three girls let out a relieved sigh.
A feeling of surviving a disaster passed through them, though there was a hint of guilt for Gifu.
Since none of them had family or friends there, their initial reaction was relief.
Afterward, their sympathy for the disaster took over.
After witnessing the event, no one had any desire to continue playing.
They returned from the deck and headed back to their rooms.
Eventually, the three girls gathered in Yukima Azuma's room.
"I feel it's going to be hard to sleep tonight," Kato Megumi voiced her true feelings.
"That's not surprising after seeing something like that," Eriri, usually full of energy, now felt drained.
Kasumigaoka Utaha gently ran her fingertips over Yukima Azuma's palm, her gaze full of curiosity.
She knew Yukima Azuma seemed to have a special interest in this comet.
Though Yukima Azuma didn't know why he had been so focused on the comet Charlotte before, everything seemed clearer now after the incident.
However, he simply shook his head lightly, signaling for Kasumigaoka Utaha to be at ease.
At this point, it was still impossible to determine the full impact of the comet fragment.
After contacting Laplace Corporation, he learned that Kurokawa Akane appeared to be unaffected.
The "Adolescence Syndrome" caused by the comet Charlotte seemed to have shown no significant changes.
Perhaps, the meteor fragment's fall was just a simple disaster.
Yukima Azuma thought about the direction where the meteorite had fallen.
To investigate potential changes, the most direct way was to head to Gifu Prefecture and search for the core of the comet that had fallen there.
However, taking control of the disaster zone in Gifu was beyond the current capabilities of Laplace Corporation.
"Maybe we should monitor it further," he thought to himself.
...
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The next day.
Upon leaving the yacht, Yukima Azuma received accurate information:
"That meteorite fell in a mountainous area with sparse population."
Upon hearing this, the three girls sighed in relief.
However, Yukima Azuma did not tell them the whole truth.
Although it was a mountainous area with few people, the impact zone had covered about a third of the nearby town.
This disaster had caused the death of about 500 people.
Yukima Azuma decided to keep this information to himself, as revealing it would only cause more worry.
To ease the mood after the incident, the final leg of their journey in Hokkaido was planned to be in Asahikawa.
"Huh? You guys are going to Asahikawa Shrine? That's a great choice!"
Kitagawa Marin commented when she learned about the next plan.
As the final stop, a place full of life surrounded by trees and nature like Asahikawa Shrine was certainly a reasonable decision.
When thinking of Hokkaido, people usually picture the snowy landscapes.
But the summer in Asahikawa also had beautiful scenery.
The car left the villa, heading toward Asahikawa Shrine.
The tall buildings of the city gradually faded into the distance.
On both sides of the road, forests replaced concrete and steel.
Through the window, one could occasionally spot small brown creatures with fluffy tails, swiftly moving between the tree branches.
"Is that a squirrel?"
Eriri pressed against the window, staring intently at the nimble brown figure without blinking.
"That's a squirrel. There are a lot of small animals here, and I heard they're not too afraid of people."
"Especially around the shrine, some baby squirrels even dare to climb onto people's shoulders. It's quite amusing."
Kitagawa Marin's explanation only heightened their excitement for the upcoming trip.
The car stopped in front of a low hill.
The shrine was situated on this hill.
They could either walk or take the cable car up.
There was no escalator here.
Because want to saw the small animals, everyone decided to walk.
The hill wasn't very high, and even Eriri, who wasn't fond of physical activities, could make the climb.
Just as they got off the car and walked a few steps up the stairs, a rabbit suddenly dashed out from the grass beside the steps and ran across in front of them.
After running a few steps, it stopped and turned its head to look at the people on the stairs.
Finally, before Eriri could step forward, it had already run away.
"Darn it!" Eriri puffed her cheeks in annoyance.
Yukima Azuma gently patted her blonde hair. "Were you planning to roast it if you caught it?"
Hearing this, Eriri widened her eyes.
"Of course not! A cute rabbit like that, how could I eat it?!"
"Then there's nothing to be upset about. By the way, let's have spicy rabbit head for dinner tonight."
"Gokuri~... Azuma! You're so cruel!"
"You just swallowed your saliva, didn't you?"
Eriri immediately fell silent.
She felt her willpower weakening.
If she really caught a rabbit later, she might ask Yukima Azuma to cook it.
There was no other way. Yukima Azuma's cooking skills were truly amazing.
When they reached the top of the mountain, the vast green forest below came into clear view.
Kato Megumi looked at the forest scenery and took a photo.
Eriri ran over to the fortune slip booth and stood in line.
After getting in line, she waved her hand to call everyone over, signaling for Yukima Azuma and the others to join her.
Following the mentality of "since we're here, we should try it," everyone decided to draw a fortune.
The fortune slips at Asahikawa Shrine were divided into categories: fate, career, and relationships.
Eriri had gotten in line early.
But when it was her turn to draw a slip, she hesitated and stepped back.
"Senpai, do you want to try the relationship one?" Yukima Azuma asked with a smile.
Kasumigaoka shot Yukima Azuma a glare.
Her relationships, did she really need to check that?
Without looking back, she stepped straight to the career fortune bin.
After tossing a coin into the prayer pond beside her, she drew a slip randomly.
"So, how is it? What does it say?"
Eriri leaned in eagerly to listen.
Yukima Azuma was also curious, leaning down to look over.
Before his rebirth, Yukima Azuma didn't believe in any divine matters, purely an atheist.
But now
The events surrounding Yotsuya Miko made Yukima Azuma realize that perhaps, believing in a little bit wouldn't hurt?
Kasumigaoka Utaha flipped over the fortune slip in her hand.
The two characters "Daikatsu" (Great Blessing) appeared before her eyes.
This was the best fortune, equivalent to the greatest luck.
Seeing the good fortune, everyone exclaimed in unison: "Wow!"
However, Kasumigaoka herself didn't seem to care at all.
She looked down at the fortune and read it aloud:
"Like a crane escaping the cage, escaping the cage, the path is wide and unobstructed; North, South, East, and West do not hinder, you may rise straight to the nine-tiered palace."
Looking up, Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed a little confused. "What does this mean?"
"If we interpret it literally, it's saying that senpai has escaped from a bad environment, and from now on, the future will be smooth and uninterrupted," Yukima Azuma translated the old text, a role he was quite familiar with.
After translating, Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow.
It seemed... quite reasonable, didn't it?
Recently, Kasumigaoka Utaha had switched from Fujikawa Publishing to Laplace Bunko.
Since the move, her literary skills had reached level seven.
Changing the environment, with level seven literary skills, the future would surely be bright and expansive.
Upon hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha tucked the lucky fortune slip into her handbag.
She looked toward the relationship fortune bin.
Kato Megumi, without hesitation, walked toward the relationship fortune bin.
After tossing in a coin, she chose a slip based on her feelings.
When she flipped it over, the two characters "Daikatsu" appeared again.
"Day and night, thinking of it, with a jewel in hand; hearts and minds in mutual understanding, wisdom leads to destiny."
After reading the fortune, Kato Megumi tilted her head and looked at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma clicked his tongue.
"The first half means, if you keep overthinking and searching endlessly, it's not as good as looking within yourself, you're already good enough."
"The second half means that those with wisdom will recognize good people, and when two people's minds align, the best fate will come."
Upon hearing this, Kato Megumi's mouth couldn't help but curl into a smile.
She then carefully placed the slip into her handbag, keeping it safe.
"Hearts and minds in mutual understanding." She whispered to herself.
Kasumigaoka Utaha saw this scene and couldn't help but feel a bit regretful and slightly jealous.
She couldn't hold back and drew another relationship fortune slip.
When she flipped it over, it was still "Daikatsu."
This fortune was easy to understandit was an ancient poem.
"During the snow butterfly season, the willow branches bind with golden threads, laughter fills the air, fragrance spreads far. Among the crowd, searching for that one person a thousand times. Suddenly, turning back, that person is there, in the dim light."
This time, Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't need Yukima Azuma to translate, she understood the meaning of the fortune.
The corner of her mouth curled up slightly.
Kasumigaoka Utaha also placed the fortune slip into her handbag.
"Daikatsu, that's all there is to it!"
Eriri, seeing that both of them had consecutively drawn "Daikatsu" three times, immediately felt at ease.
In her heart, she silently thought:
"This shrine must be the type that comforts tourists. All the fortune slips in the bin are Daikatsu."
After tossing in a coin, Eriri eagerly drew a slip from the relationship fortune bin.
The result, when flipped over
"Makatsu" (Small Blessing)
"Why is this happening!!!"
Eriri looked at the slip in her hand, almost ready to burst into tears.
Yukima Azuma tried to hold back his laughter and comforted her:
"Makatsu also means that you will gradually move toward something better, and through effort, you can achieve good luck."
"So, the Makatsu fortune means you need to put in effort, and through your own strength, you can change your fate."
Hearing this, Eriri pouted, feeling somewhat dissatisfied.
"Effort! Right, I have to earn my own relationship luck!"
But how do I put in effort?
A big question mark appeared over Eriri's head.
"Azuma-san, aren't you going to draw a fortune?" Kato Megumi, noticing that Yukima Azuma wasn't stepping forward, asked curiously.
"Hm... since we're here, I might as well try."
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment, and in the end, decided to draw a fortune from the "Fate" bin.
After drawing it, he glanced at the result:
"Makatsu."
It turned out, even he had to make an effort.
The fortune slip truly seemed to fit Yukima Azuma's current mood.
Luck, after all, was unreliable.
To achieve something, one must strive for it themselves.
Whether it's wealth or relationships, whatever Yukima Azuma wanted, he would take it into his hands, leaving no opportunity for it to be reversed.
He casually tucked the fortune slip back into the bin, then clapped his hands and said:
"Let's go, we'll take the cable car."
"Compared to walking down, the cable car offers a better view."
Once everyone boarded the cable car.
In different corners of the shrine, a few white rabbits vaguely appeared, slowly peeking their heads out.
They watched as the cable car gradually moved away, their front paws moving as if wiping nonexistent cold sweat. Afterward, those rabbits seemed to sigh in relief.
On the cable car.
Yukima Azuma slowly retracted the aura of shogi that he had spread out.
If not for Yukima Azuma, Yotsuya Miko might have been overwhelmed by evil spirits, forced to seek help at a shrine.
The one who helped her was originally a being akin to a mountain deity there.
Essentially, such entities seemed to be a higher evolutionary state of vengeful spirits.
This time at the shrine, Yukima Azuma intentionally expanded his aura from his "shogi board," hoping to find any traces of such spirits.
But he found nothing.
It was unclear whether the shrine didn't have a deity protecting it, or if his perception had become skewed.
Perhaps entities like mountain deities were fundamentally different from spirits, so he couldn't sense them.
There was no way to verify this for now.
Yukima Azuma set aside this speculation for the moment and prepared to return to Tokyo.
However, before leaving, a small incident occurred.
....
That night.
Since the second volume of the "Youth" light novel series was to be released the next day, Yukima Azuma stayed up later than usual.
He carefully checked the marketing plan one last time.
As he was about to stand up to turn off the lights, he heard a faint sound outside his room.
With the security of this villa, it couldn't possibly be a thief.
The window was also securely locked, so no small animals could have gotten in.
So, Yukima Azuma opened the door, intending to see what was going on.
But as soon as the door was halfway open...
"Thud!"
The door hit something, making a dull sound.
Yukima Azuma immediately heard a soft whimper and sobs from a girl.
He gave up on pushing the door open, instead leaning his head outside to investigate.
Outside, Eriri was crouching on the hallway floor, wearing her pajamas, her hands clutching her head.
Yukima Azuma stepped out through the open door, bent down, and helped Eriri to her feet.
"What's going on? It's late, and you're not sleeping, standing in front of my room. Could it be... this is the 'night raid' of legend?"
The statement was meant to be a joke, teasing Eriri's tsundere personality.
The usual reaction would have been:
"Who... who wants to raid you, BAKA!"
Or:
"What nonsense are you talking about! So shameless!"
But tonight, Eriri was different.
She just kept her head down, trying to pull her head deeper into her collar, as if trying to hide from something.
Seeing this reaction, Yukima Azuma blinked in surprise.
So... Eriri really came for a raid after all?
So, did Eriri really come to "raid" after all?
This thought crossed Yukima Azuma's mind.
Following the philosophy that "opportunities don't come twice," this was definitely a moment to take a step forward.
After all, getting Eriri to take the initiative was as difficult as reaching the sky.
He took a step back, signaling for Eriri to enter his room.
Eriri's pale face was now flushed red as if it could bleed at any moment.
Her hands were covering her forehead, unsure if she was soothing the pain from the earlier collision or trying to hide her blushing face.
After a moment's hesitation, Eriri finally entered the room.
Yukima Azuma was once again taken aback.
It really was like the sun rising from the West.
He went into the kitchen, took some ice from the fridge, and returned to the room.
Eriri, still in her pajamas, was curled up on the chair in the room.
She hadn't used the chance while Yukima Azuma was away to run away.
Yukima Azuma placed the ice bag he made himself onto Eriri's forehead.
"Uwawa~!" She let out a small, surprised sound.
Her golden locks of hair fluttered slightly.
Eriri took the ice bag herself and began pressing it against her forehead.
Thanks to the cooling effect, Eriri appeared to be calming down a little.
"So, did Eriri really come to 'raid the night' after all?"
Yukima Azuma smiled faintly and moved closer to Eriri's cheek.
Eriri, still holding her forehead, was now just an arm's length away from Yukima Azuma.
She looked at the boy right before her at such close range.
Eriri really wanted to admit it right there.
Because she truly had planned it this way.
The fortune-telling at the shrine had really put a lot of pressure on Eriri.
No matter how oblivious she was, Eriri understood that her situation was dangerous.
She had already given her first kiss to this boy in the movie theater.
But since then, nothing had really progressed.
Every plan was either interrupted unexpectedly, or she became too tsundere and shy, giving up halfway.
If this kept going, she really would be seen as a fool.
Eriri, who had memorized ACG works, understood at least one thing.
When a character is associated with traits like "foolish" or "adorably dumb," their appeal is much less than real cuteness.
At the same time, humorous characters often find it hard to be loved.
The atmosphere between Yukima Azuma, Megumi, and that fat woman made Eriri unable to stop worrying.
She felt like she had been excluded from that circle.
She really couldn't stand it any longer.
"I" Eriri's cherry lips parted slightly, trying to say something impressive.
But after some stuttering, she ended up getting stuck at the final step.
A tsundere like Eriri inherently lacked the courage to go further.
Her gaze no longer dared to rest on the boy's face. As she looked around the messy room, she finally stopped at a novel on the table.
"I just came to borrow Azuma's book, couldn't sleep, what is Azuma thinking about!"
In the end, Eriri still acted tsundere.
Yukima Azuma wasn't surprised to hear this and straightened up.
He reached for the novel on the table.
"Is this the one Eriri meant~?"
Eriri glanced at it, feeling it was somewhat familiar, and nodded.
She remembered that this was the book Yukima Azuma had read on the plane.
Yukima Azuma stroked the title on the cover, his gaze carrying a hint of nostalgia.
"A Letter from an Unknown Woman."
A short novel by the famous Austrian author, Stefan Zweig.
"But this book, didn't Eriri already read it?"
Yukima Azuma's words made Eriri, who was deep in her own regret, freeze.
"Huh? I already read it?"
Eriri pointed to herself in confusion.
She had no memory of this book whatsoever.
To be honest, she read very few famous novels that didn't have a "2D" vibe.
If she had really read it, she would have at least some recollection of it.
Yukima Azuma heard this and just gave a helpless smile.
He sat down on the edge of the bed.
Yukima Azuma flipped the cover of the book.
"So you've forgotten? It was at my place when Sayuri oba-san said she couldn't pick up Eriri that day."
"So Eriri came over to my place for a while, and in my room, we read this book together."
"I remember, Eriri even said it was the first time she came to a boy's room."
"Forgetting a first like this Could it be that Eriri's actually lying to me?"
Yukima Azuma's words acted like a key unlocking Pandora's box.
Eriri's memories quickly came flooding back.
"I didn't lie to you! That really was my first time!"
She immediately retorted without thinking.
How could she forget that?
That afternoon, her mother had suddenly texted her, saying there were guests visiting at home and she couldn't pick her up.
After Yukima Azuma found out, he invited her to his house for a bit.
What kind of mood was Eriri in when she came here?
Anyway, at that time, Eriri had taken on the role of "Kashiwagi Eri-sensei."
Her mind was full of hentai thoughts.
After all, being invited to a boy's house with no one else around...
In a situation like that, no matter how you looked at it... it was bound to lead to that.
So, with all these non-child-friendly images filling her head, Eriri couldn't focus on reading the book at all.
"So, at that time, was Eriri too busy thinking about dirty things to read the book?"
"Ecchi~"
Yukima Azuma smiled and lightly shook the novel in his hand.
"I'm not a pervert!!!"
"Isn't it your fault, Azuma? You suddenly invited me into your room and even said the bed was very soft."
Eriri's embarrassment erupted, and she decided to speak out without holding back.
"By saying things like that, didn't you mean to do something to me?"
"You pulled me to sit on the bed, wasn't that supposed to lead to that kind of situation?"
Eriri lowered her head, letting out small, embarrassed noises, her golden hair gently swaying.
But after saying all of this...
After a long pause, she didn't hear any response.
Eriri cautiously lifted her head.
She saw Yukima Azuma wearing an awkward smile.
This was the first time Eriri had seen such an expression on him.
"To be honest, I did think about it. Even saying the bed was very soft, I realize now that was embarrassing."
"The weather was nice, the place was perfect, I had everything prepared, but in the end, I didn't dare to go further."
Yukima Azuma's words left Eriri wide-eyed.
"Huh... Huh!?" She gasped, her mouth open in shock, revealing her small canines.
The images of that day suddenly flashed in her mind.
Eriri didn't think and let the words slip out of her mouth:
"So why didn't you do it? I had made up my mind before I even stepped into Azuma's room!"
"Because at that time, you were so stiff, your caution was practically written all over your face. I had to think about your feelings."
"Huh? That was just because I was nervous! How could I not be nervous? That was the place I was going to leave a memory of my life! I had already prepared myself!"
Eriri jumped up, her emotions rushing out as she grabbed the hem of Yukima Azuma's shirt.
"I was ready to create that memory! And in the end, nothing happened!"
"After I went home, I cried to my mom so hard, I started doubting myself!"
"Then, until I met you again, I kept thinking: Am I not attractive enough? Not enough to make Azuma react?"
Yukima Azuma looked at the girl in front of him, who had completely thrown away her pride.
A pause filled his mind.
At that time, Azuma had only experienced one relationship, so his understanding of girls' psychology was still limited.
This inevitably led to some misunderstandings.
Although he had gained more experience later...
Things that became memories often made people reluctant to delve deeper.
Memories would slowly shape the beliefs that remained in the heart.
There was no doubt about it: Yukima Azuma liked Eriri.
But he rarely took the initiative, and most of the time, he was the one being pushed and pulled by her.
He wanted Eriri to be a little more proactive.
And this wasn't without reason, stemming from what happened back then.
As a result, it seemed like a misunderstanding had occurred.
Take a deep breath.
Yukima Azuma smiled his usual smile.
"Ara~, so Eriri has come here today, and you've already prepared yourself, right~?"
Yukima Azuma's words made Eriri, who had just given up everything, suddenly regain the shy feeling of a girl.
She tightly grasped the hem of Yukima Azuma's shirt.
Lowering her head, after a long while, she let out a small "Mm."
Perhaps it was because of the collapse that led to the recovery, anyway, Eriri had seized this opportunity.
After receiving Eriri's affirmative response, Yukima Azuma took her soft hand.
He pulled her forcefully towards him.
Her bright golden hair naturally fell into his embrace.
Her body remained stiff, unable to handle the situation.
Yukima Azuma raised his hand and gently lifted Eriri's delicate chin.
Then he lowered his head.
The breathing grew deeper.
Eriri's body, which had been stiff due to tension, gradually softened, like it was melting.
Yukima Azuma shook his head and smiled helplessly.
This matter was now settled.
His clever fingers rested on the button of her blouse.
Once unbuttoned, nothing stood in the way.
From this, one could see how much determination Eriri must have had to gather the courage to come here.
Well, taking lessons from previous times.
If I wrote any more, I fear the appearance of the legendary "censorship beast."
But if it's stopped here, and still "killed," it would truly make one want to vomit blood.
At this point, let's look out at the night sky in the distance, the meadows under the starlight, and the melodious call of the night bird.
By the way, sharing a poem with everyone:
"Hold hands, gently pulling into the curtain, shyly smiling, the light dims slightly."
"Gold needles pierce the peach blossom's stamen, not daring to speak loudly, silently frowning."
Alright, today's sharing ends here.
(Note: No seggs for you and me.) ()
....
The next morning.
Kato Megumi approached Eriri and gently sniffed with her small nose.
Then she exclaimed:
"Eriri smells really nice, like a ripe pear."
"Eh? Really? Oh, right, I just switched to a new shampoo, it smells like pear."
Eriri's eyes flickered slightly.
This fragrance! The scent of a lie! Sawamura Spencer Eriri!
"Is that so? Sounds nice," Kato Megumi nodded thoughtfully.
At the door of the villa, Kasumigaoka Utaha waved:
"What's taking so long? We need to catch the flight today."
They all carried the luggage they'd prepared and set off for home.
This trip to Hokkaido, though there were obstacles, could still be called a perfect ending.
Before leaving, the three girls all turned back to look at the villa one last time.
Especially Eriri, who stared at one particular room, lost in thought for a moment.
However, when leaving, there was no sadness as imagined.
After all, this was just a comma.
Whether it was Toyogasaki's future school break trip or the camping trips during the semester.
There would be many more opportunities for the whole group to travel together.
So, it was completely unnecessary to cling to a moment and not let go.
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 133: Yukinoshita Yukino: Am I being seduced by a handsome man plan!?
Tokyo.
July.
Laplace Corporation.
July at Laplace Corporation was as busy as the sweltering heat of the weather.
Laplace Bunko was putting all its efforts into promoting the second volume of the light novel series "Youth."
At the same time, they were pushing forward with the project to make a movie version of the anime.
Typically, from scheduling the shoot to the official release in theaters, a movie would take one to two years.
But Laplace Corporation wanted everything done in one month.
Unfavorable voices from the outside had started to grow louder.
The related keywords had appeared on the hot search more than once.
The head of the business department had asked Yukinoshita Yukino several times whether they needed to spend money to remove those hot searches.
But she simply replied: "No need."
Beyond the publisher Laplace, the most important part of Laplace Corporation's actual business had also stepped into the spotlight.
Currently, the company was working to resolve relationships, register various patents and trademarks.
"Haizz." Yukinoshita Yukino sighed softly.
Yukima Azuma placed a souvenir from Hokkaido on her desk and casually asked:
"What's wrong?"
Yukino hugged the gift box in front of her.
Then her entire body collapsed onto the box, looking like a young girl who was disappointed after trying her best but getting a terrible result.
"Am I really fit for this position?"
The question seemed like Yukino was asking Yukima Azuma, but also like she was questioning herself.
This kind of low mood was nothing surprising.
Laplace Corporation was struggling with patent registrations and other business matters.
Let's mention it again:
In Japan, this is a society heavily influenced by hierarchy and personal relationships.
(Note: This is true for every country, not just Japan.)
Laplace Corporation had now grown too large.
It was inevitable that they would eventually be targeted by some people.
Those wanting a share of the profit pie, of course, were not few.
It was just that now they had found an opportunity.
Laplace Corporation was involved in a vast amount of work and labor positions, so violent measures could not be used.
If that happened, it would likely cause instability in society.
However, that did not mean there were no ways to exploit.
Currently, being rejected for a registration application was the most basic form of indirect exploitation.
If you don't have enough background or proper connections, the only choice is to spend money to get it through.
Otherwise, even the simplest application could be delayed for one or two years.
After all, those procedures would only be processed at the last time limit.
Anyway, those people always had time.
These things had almost become "unspoken words" in society.
Yukinoshita Yukino was now lying flat on the desk, her face full of exhaustion, as she understood these truths.
Yukino, who was always righteous, despised such things.
But she also did not have the ability to solve the problem in a fair and just manner.
If she persisted, it would only hinder the development of Laplace Corporation.
After graduation, Yukino had been "tortured" by society for a whole year, almost unable to survive in Tokyo, but she still didn't waver from her righteous principles.
But now, with Laplace Corporation on her shoulders, the young girl began to doubt herself.
Would continuing like this yield good results?
Maybe sometimes being too rigid makes you break; perhaps flexibility is needed at the right time?
These inner struggles, of course, Yukino couldn't share with anyone.
But the boy in front of her was an exception.
He might understand.
Yukima Azuma approached the desk and poked Yukino's cheek as she slumped on the desk.
When Yukima Azuma touched her cheek, Yukino's fair, snow-white skin quickly flushed a pale pink.
But after waiting for a while, no response came.
Moreover, the boy's finger seemed to be "advancing" more and more.
So, Yukino took a breath, lifted her cheek, and pushed Yukima Azuma's finger away.
"President! I'm being serious here!"
Her tone, like a concubine advising the emperor to focus on state affairs.
"Don't worry, I've already handled those things. Yukino doesn't need to doubt yourself, you haven't done anything wrong."
Yukima Azuma's words made Yukinoshita Yukino raise her head.
She blinked her jet-black eyes, which resembled precious stones.
"What did you do?" She asked curiously, her eyes filled with exploration.
If Yukima Azuma were planning to bribe someone, he would definitely not tell her.
Instead, the two would maintain a mutual, unspoken understanding.
But the fact that he was speaking now proved that this was not a solution based on the usual unspoken rules.
This piqued Yukino's curiosity.
"Hmm... just sell a little handsome?" Yukima Azuma murmured half-jokingly.
As a result, Yukino immediately jumped up.
She pulled Yukima Azuma, who was standing by the desk, closer, carefully checking him from top to bottom.
She flipped up his collar to check for any strange marks on his neck.
She even considered unbuttoning his shirt to check his physical condition.
As the young lady of the Yukinoshita family, Yukino understood the dark depravity of the upper class.
The wealthy ladies in Tokyo had tricks that were no different from torture.
Seeing the situation escalate in a strange direction, Yukima Azuma quickly reached out to hold Yukino, who was becoming agitated.
"I'm just kidding!" Yukima Azuma gently pressed her shoulder, forcing her to sit back down. "That kind of thing can't possibly happen, right?"
Not finding anything unusual on Yukima Azuma's body, Yukino slowly regained her composure.
With his personality, there was no way he would do something like that.
She had overreacted earlier.
Yukino widened her eyes, feeling frustrated that he could say such nonsense.
"In fact, I asked the mother of a friend. She holds a lot of power but is almost never involved in investments."
"I think Laplace Corporation could collaborate with her, working together to overcome difficulties as both investor and investee."
Yukima Azuma's words were vague, but Yukinoshita Yukino roughly understood the situation.
She even guessed who the friend Yukima Azuma was referring to was.
This solution could be said to be perfect.
If she had to find a problem, it would be: Why would the other party want to invest in Laplace Corporation?
Yukino knew the answer to this question.
Because the person they were investing in wasn't the company with vague prospects, but Yukima Azumathe radiant person was the real reason for the investment.
If she were an investor, she would also bet on Yukima Azuma, and it would be a big bet.
"I understand. The rest, I'll try my best to handle."
Yukino's voice was somewhat melancholic.
In such gray areas, she truly couldn't help Yukima Azuma much.
The only thing she could do was, in the bright light, try her best to do everything well.
"Yukino, I Can't Be Without You."
Having been told this, Yukino naturally didn't want to disappoint Yukima Azuma because of his choice.
Just as Yukino was about to turn her gaze back to the mountain of documents piled on her desk...
Yukima Azuma's finger pinched her cheek again.
"Been a few days since we met, have you lost weight?" Yukima Azuma asked, his tone was firm.
"You must be overworking yourself lately, not eating properly, right?"
"Come back early tonight, I'll cook soup for you."
Yukino sighed lightly.
She tilted her head, letting it lean towards Yukima Azuma's finger.
She always felt that Yukima Azuma was using some kind of "handsome man strategy" to keep her working.
If not, why would he be so kind to her out of the blue?
Flirting with her over and over, why not just marry her already?
Yukinoshita Yukino suddenly froze.
She just remembered something.
It seemed Yukima Azuma next to her was still not of marriageable age.
Realizing this, Yukino couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, as if she were a "middle-aged cow liking young grass."
Oh well, even if it's a "handsome man strategy."
Since hearing the words "I Can't Be Without You," she had no other choice but to stay by his side.
Therefore, even if it's bait, she would willingly bite without hesitation.
About half an hour later, Yukima Azuma left Yukino's office.
After he left, Yukino went to the restroom to wash her face.
Then, she returned to her desk.
Her gaze fell on the gift box on the table.
With a sense of expectation, she reached out to open it.
Inside the box was a cute penguin-shaped stuffed animal.
Its expression resembled that of a certain boy.
There was no distinctive feature of Hokkaido.
But Yukino really liked it.
She looked around the office.
Finally, Yukino placed the penguin-shaped stuffed animal, which resembled Yukima Azuma, in a corner of her desk.
It was placed where she could easily reach out and pinch it anytime.
Just as she finished setting it up, a knock echoed at the door.
"Director Yukinoshita, there have been some recent changes in the company's senior management. I brought the list for you."
A pleasant female voice came in.
"Umu, come in."
Yukino withdrew her hand and returned to her usual cold demeanor as the "Icey goddess."
Isshiki Iroha pushed open the door and walked into the office, handing Yukinoshita Yukino the list.
As Yukino glanced over the list, Iroha's gaze inadvertently fell on the penguin on the desk.
A slight disturbance stirred within her.
Isshiki Iroha had also graduated from Toyogasaki Academy.
Although she was a year older than Yukinoshita Yukino, she had heard of the person who created the "year of Yukinoshita."
After joining the company and interacting a few times, Isshiki Iroha had gradually developed admiration for this kouhai.
But this beautiful, icy woman who had once been completely solitary during her school years...
Did she like toys like this?
And even placed it in her office, a non-private space?
Isshiki felt that this wasn't like Yukinoshita's style at all.
Or perhaps, she was subtly showing a contrast.
Like... a young girl just starting to feel the first stirrings of love.
Who could it be?
The one who had melted the cold heart of this director.
Curiosity surged within Iroha.
...
Meanwhile, after leaving Laplace Corporation, Yukima Azuma headed toward the Sawamura house.
He had been invited to lunch at the Sawamura household today.
Sayuri's invitation was within Yukima Azuma's expectations.
But what surprised him was that last night, Eriri suddenly changed her attitude and actively "approached" him.
Now that he had "eat" Eriri, facing Sayuri made Yukima Azuma feel an extra three layers of pressure.
He rang the doorbell at the Sawamura house.
The door at the entrance immediately opened.
"Oh, it's Yukima-kun! Come in, come in!"
Sayuri greeted him with a genuine smile, extending her hand to pull him inside the mansion.
"Sayuri oba-san..."
"Ehh, why call me '-san'? It sounds so distant. From now on, just call me Sayuri."
"Is that really alright..."
"Of course, what's wrong with it? You know, our Sawamura family doesn't have those complicated rules."
"Then, please just call me Azuma."
Seeing the smile on Sayuri's face almost stretch to her ears, Yukima Azuma understood that Eriri had definitely spilled the beans.
Or at least Sayuri had noticed a slip-up.
But that wasn't too surprising.
Eriri was never the type to keep things secret.
Sayuri was smart, and more importantly, she understood her daughter better than anyone else.
From the moment Yukima Azuma "eat" Eriri, he did not expect this to be hidden from Sayuri.
Chapter 134: Declaring the Harem in Front of Sayuri!
Sayuri had stayed at home for the past two days while her daughter was traveling.
Each night, she slept on the new smart bed.
After cooking meals, she didn't even need to wash the dishes herself.
The experience was truly wonderful.
Upon receiving this gift from Yukima Azuma, Sayuri began to ponder.
Should she "bet" on him?
If Sayuri had a son, she wouldn't hesitate to place all her trust in Yukima Azuma.
Letting a "high-quality stock" like this slip away would truly be a loss.
But for her daughter, all she wanted was for the girl to live a peaceful and happy life.
No matter how high-quality a "stock" may be, there's always the risk of it dropping in value.
For years, Sayuri hadn't gambled because she didn't want Eriri to face even the slightest risk.
The Sawamura family's assets were already enough for Eriri to live carefree for a lifetime.
But this time, the gamble was different.
Her daughter had long since fallen into the quagmire calling love.
Sayuri didn't hesitate for long.
After a brief moment of deliberation, she almost immediately decided to take the gamble.
It was inevitable, after all.
No matter how much she tried to hold her ground, it was meaningless now.
Sayuri only hoped her daughter could fight for herself a little in the future.
Tsundere attitudes rarely have happy endings.
After all, the girls around that boy were simply too exceptional.
This should have been a full-blown "Harem carnage" long ago.
The fact that it remained peaceful until now was entirely due to how outstanding that young man was.
But if things kept stagnating...
Even without a "Harem carnage," her foolish daughter would struggle to secure an important position.
Over the past few days, while Sayuri was pondering how to encourage her daughter to take a more proactive approach, Eriri returned from Hokkaido.
The moment Eriri stepped into the house, Sayuri noticed something was off.
The aura around her daughter had completely transformed.
The sour little pear from before had suddenly matured into a sweet, fragrant one that couldn't be hidden.
This sudden change left Sayuri slightly stunned.
She hadn't expected her daughter to make such progress during this trip.
If it had just been the two of them, there was a chance of some youthful "accidental gunfire."
But this time, there were four people on the trip.
To make progress in such a situation, something must have happened.
Out of curiosity, Sayuri asked a few probing questions.
As a result, Eriri barely got a few words out before her face turned bright red with embarrassment, and she ran straight to her room.
Sayuri didn't manage to extract any concrete information.
But it didn't matter.
Wasn't there still someone else involved?
Sayuri smiled "kindly."
....
At the Sawamura residence.
Dragged inside by Sayuri, Yukima Azuma had just finished changing into indoor slippers when two "fluffy bundles" rushed into his arms.
Hogyokumaru nimbly climbed onto Yukima Azuma's shoulder and squatted down.
Shiratamaru lay on Yukima Azuma's arm, affectionately rubbing against him.
"They're not bothering you... Sayuri... are they?" Yukima Azuma still wasn't used to addressing her by name directly.
"Not at all. These two are so well-behaved. Now that you're back, I almost don't want to let them go," Sayuri replied with a smile.
These two intelligent little cats had given Sayuri the full joy of owning pets.
But as for whether she wanted to have one at her own house...
Sayuri felt it was better to pass on that idea.
She didn't think spending a fortune on a cat would necessarily bring satisfaction.
Finding the right one was a matter of luck.
Her daughter's luck, however, seemed to be quite good.
If she really wanted to have one, perhaps Eriri could try her luck.
The two of them entered the Sawamura living room, one after the other.
This is the first time Sayuri invited Yukima Azuma to her house, yet she didn't urge him to go see Eriri.
"Have a seat, let's have a little chat."
Sayuri sat down on one side of the table.
She first picked up the teapot she had prepared earlier and poured two cups of tea.
One of the cups was pushed toward Yukima Azuma.
Then, Sayuri rested her elbows on the table, propping her delicate face up with both hands.
Yukima Azuma sat opposite her, not tense, but very serious.
"So, you two have done it, haven't you?"
"Yes."
Right from the start, she dropped a heavy bomb.
But Yukima Azuma, fully aware of Sayuri's personality, wasn't surprised at all and simply nodded calmly.
"Honestly, I shouldn't meddle, but I just can't hold back my curiosity. Can you tell me the reason?"
"Why did you suddenly change, Azuma-kun? Weren't you waiting for Eriri to take the initiative?"
"Of course, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine too. Really, it's fine."
Sayuri spoke as she motioned for Yukima Azuma to drink his tea.
This wasn't just a question born of curiosity.
More importantly, she wanted to understand what Yukima Azuma truly thought.
In the past, Eriri and Yukima Azuma's relationship had fallen apart.
The main issue had always been Eriri's personality.
Since their reunion, it was clear that Yukima Azuma had been trying to guide Eriri toward maturity, helping her shed some of her childish tendencies.
Sayuri knew this well and fully approved.
A little maturity in Eriri was undoubtedly a good thing.
But now, Yukima Azuma had quietly "eaten Eriri clean."
Sayuri needed to know what he was thinking.
Had Azuma given up on changing Eriri's personality?
Or had he decided to embrace her tsundere nature and spoil her to the end?
Or was it simply that he had taken her without any promises for the future, risking another collapse like before?
Yukima Azuma lifted the teacup and took a sip.
Sayuri's tea was excellent, made from high-quality leaves imported from the best sources.
The flavor was truly exquisite.
After placing the teacup down, Yukima Azuma smiled wryly.
"You've misunderstood, Sayuri. It's not that I've changedit's that Eriri has changed."
Yukima Azuma's response left Sayuri momentarily stunned.
He then recounted the story of drawing fortunes at the shrine.
After understanding the whole story, Sayuri couldn't help but hold her forehead.
If she had known things could be this simple, she would have taken Eriri to visit every shrine in Japan to draw fortunes long ago.
Of course, Sayuri also understood that her daughter's transformation wasn't solely due to one fortune slip. It was the result of small changes accumulating over time.
The shrine visit was merely the final straw that tipped the scales.
But now, all of Sayuri's prior assumptions had to be discarded.
If the change had been Eriri's initiative, then based on Sayuri's keen judgment of people and her understanding of Yukima Azuma, she was certain:
No matter what happened, Yukima Azuma would never let go of Eriri.
However.
"So, what do you plan to do next, Azuma-kun? Don't you still have other girls around you?"
"The novelist who went on the trip with you, and Kato Megumi, the heroine of the light novel you wrotethey're even friends with Eriri."
For someone of Sayuri's standing, asking this was akin to posing a deadly question.
Yet Yukima Azuma's gaze didn't waver.
"I will open a harem!"
Without a hint of hesitation, he declared.
Yukima Azuma had never considered the idea of choosing.
Only children need to choose, he want it all.
Having once tasted loneliness, he never wanted to return to those days again.
Whether it was Kasumigaoka Utaha, Kato Megumi, Eriri, Bocchi, or Yukinoshita Yukino, Yukima Azuma wanted to keep them all close.
This had been his intention from start to finish, and he never planned to hide it.
"To say something like that in front of Eriri's mother?" Sayuri pointed to herself, feigning shock.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Sayuri stared at Yukima Azuma for a moment, then her smile returned.
"How nice. If Eriri's father had half your courage, perhaps we all could have lived together."
(note: she means herself and Mr. Spencer's harem, she is the winner in harem war)
Sayuri picked up the teapot and poured more tea into Yukima Azuma's cup.
"Even if you want to open a harem, I'll support you. But there's just one conditionyou know what it is, don't you?"
Yukima Azuma finished the freshly poured tea in one gulp and nodded.
"I will bring happiness to Eriri."
"That, I believe, Azuma-kun. Good luck!"
Sayuri encouraged the young man in front of her, the one who had just declared his intent to create a harem and taken her daughter.
As long as Eriri could be happy.
A harem? Well, then a harem it shall be.
Sayuri wasn't the least bit conservative!
In fact, she even thought that Eriri had difficulty finding genuine friends.
If her daughter could get along well with her "new sisters," it might actually be a good thing.
"Alright then, I need to cook lunch now. You can head up to the second floor and find Eriri yourself."
Sayuri stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
But halfway there, she turned back.
"Oh, right. There's a party in Tokyo tonight. Would you like to go, Azuma-kun?"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma gave an awkward smile and shook his head.
"Not tonight. I just got back from Hokkaido, and I've got a lot to catch up on."
Sayuri didn't seem to mind his response.
As she entered the kitchen, her voice drifted out lightly.
"Suit yourself. Remember to ask someone to bring your things this afternoon."
"Alright," Yukima Azuma replied, not asking what things to send.
Sayuri had made it clear enough.
...
Before lunch.
There was still a little time left.
Yukima Azuma climbed the stairs of the Sawamura house, heading toward Eriri's room on the second floor.
Unlike last time, when he had politely knocked on the door,
this time, Yukima Azuma pushed it open and walked right in.
Eriri was sprawled over her desk, intensely focused as she moved her pen across the tablet.
As Yukima Azuma approached, he realized she was once again working on a doujinshi.
Hearing footsteps draw closer behind her,
Eriri glanced up briefly.
Seeing that it was Yukima Azuma, her gaze wavered slightly,
but instead of yelling out in embarrassment like before,
she simply lowered her head a little, allowing her golden hair to hide her reddened cheeks.
"Azuma... why are you here?"
Yukima Azuma effortlessly pulled Eriri into his embrace, then sat down where she had been before.
"Of course, because I missed you."
"But... we... didn't we just this morning..."
"Yeah, we just said goodbye this morning, didn't we? Hmm? Wait, Eriri, are you thinking about something... ecchi~?"
"I am not! I wasn't thinking that!"
Eriri started squirming, refusing to sit still in Yukima Azuma's arms.
She genuinely thought he had come over because he couldn't resist himself.
Yukima Azuma didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
All he could say was, "Sasuga Kashiwagi Eri-sensei."
His eyes shifted toward the digital tablet Eriri had been working on.
It wasn't the usual dark-themed doujinshi she often drew.
This time, it seemed to be a pure love storyvanilla.
And the content of the doujinshi was...
"Eriri, your storytelling skills have improved quite a lot. Are you planning to sell this one at Comiket?"
"How could I sell this! This is just... just something I'm drawing for fun, to practice!"
Embarrassed and annoyed, Eriri flashed her small, sharp canine tooth and bit down on the arm wrapped around her.
This time, however, there was no bloodshed.
Yukima Azuma didn't feel any pain. In fact, it only tickled slightly.
At this point, Eriri's tiny fang could no longer hurt Azuma at all.
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 135: Sayuri Decides to Take a Gamble
After Yukima Azuma left the Sawamura residence, Eriri saw her mother, Sayuri, walking into the kitchen with a tray of dishes.
But instead of putting them into the sink, Sayuri placed them into a machine that looked very familiar to Eriri.
Leaning against the kitchen counter, Eriri asked in surprise,
"Mom, where did this machine come from?"
Sayuri, after washing her hands, turned to her daughter.
"Of course, it's a gift from Azuma-kun."
Hearing that, Eriri immediately broke into a sweet smile, as if she had just received a treat.
Seeing her daughter smile so happily, Sayuri could only shake her head in exasperation.
Too easily pleased.
Just a bit of sweetness, and this girl could be cheerful for the entire day.
Sayuri thought to herself that if she were a man, she would also choose an innocent girl like Eriri to build a harem with.
A little more coaxing, and perhaps this girl would even agree to let him hold another girl's hand right beside her.
Sayuri shook her head, pushing those unhealthy thoughts out of her mind.
She turned back to glance at the dishwasher.
A gift from Yukima Azuma was not something easily obtained.
"Speaking of which, Mom, why did you suddenly start calling him Azuma-kun too?"
Eriri asked awkwardly, her curiosity tinged with suspicion, as if she was worried her mother had discovered something.
Sayuri shot her a glance but didn't bother answering.
Instead, she changed the subject.
"There's a banquet tonight. Come with me, Eriri."
Hearing that, Eriri could only nod blankly.
Usually, for such events, Sayuri would casually ask her if she wanted to go.
Eriri, on the other hand, would only occasionally attend if she had free time.
The atmosphere at these banquets wasn't exactly to her liking.
She had to maintain the demeanor of a proper oujou-sama, unable to freely play around or act childlike as she did at home.
She even had to conceal her true self more skillfully than when she was at school.
However, the peers at these banquets generally only exchanged a few polite words, and nothing too troublesome ever happened.
So, Eriri didn't exactly dislike these events.
What Eriri didn't realize was that the courteous and graceful behavior of the people at these banquets wasn't because they were particularly cultured or noble.
It was simply because she bore the name Sawamura Spencer.
...
That evening.
Eriri donned an elegant evening gown that covered her entire body, not even exposing her collarbone.
Such attire would undoubtedly be stifling in the summer.
But in the air-conditioned banquet hall, with even the car ride there being climate-controlled, there was no major issue.
"Mom, what's going on today?"
When Eriri descended the stairs and saw her mother, she couldn't help but stop in her tracks.
Usually, Sayuri attended banquets in a simple long dress.
Although Sayuri was naturally beautiful, her charm untouched by time, and could look stunning in anything, tonight she had truly dressed to impress.
A black, form-fitting dress, a luxurious short jacket, her hair styled in an elegant updo, and an ornate hairpin as a refined finishing touch.
Even Eriri, her own daughter, was left speechless.
"Let's go. There's much to do tonight."
Sayuri, holding a folding fan, lightly waved it through the air.
With her other arm, she gestured for Eriri to follow.
Eriri understood nowtonight's banquet was unlike the usual ones.
She obediently linked arms with her mother.
The two stepped into the car and headed toward the banquet.
...
Tokyo, Shinjuku District.
The heart of Japan's capital.
In this bustling area, there was a grand hall used for hosting banquets, but it only opened a few hours each day.
Half the year, the venue remained closed, leaving many puzzled.
How did this place manage to stay operational?
How could they cover electricity and water, let alone the expenses for maintenance costs?
Yet as night fell, luxury cars began to slowly pull into the venue, even though it had officially ceased operations.
Tonight's banquet was hosted by a veteran Japanese politician.
Recently, the elections for regional representatives had concluded.
The candidate backed by this politician had risen in the ranks, securing strong support in central Tokyo.
This banquet is essentially a networking event,
An opportunity for young politicians in the Tokyo area to showcase themselves.
The guest list was extensive, including figures from both politics and business.
Moreover, the invitees were not limited to Tokyo alone.
Major neighboring areas like Chiba and Kanagawa Prefectures also had attendees at the event.
When Sayuri appeared in the banquet hall with Eriri on her arm, they immediately attracted considerable attention.
The younger men held their breath, while those over 37 years old showed visible surprise.
"Lady Sawamura, welcome!"
A member of parliament, brushing aside the sycophants around him, approached Sayuri and greeted her.
Sayuri extended her hand for a light handshake with him.
"Senior Kobayashi, you truly are a teacher of extraordinary students."
Sayuri's compliment brought a smile to MP Kobayashi's face.
"Aiya, I wouldn't say I'm such an extraordinary teacher. It's just that the young ones put in a little effort themselves."
After exchanging a few modest pleasantries, MP Kobayashi looked back at Sayuri with curiosity and continued the conversation.
"Lady Sawamura, it seems you've made quite the preparation for tonight's banquet. Would you like to have a word with my students?"
Sayuri opened her folding fan, gently covering her mouth, and replied,
"I brought my daughter with me tonight, so it's not convenient to chat with these young talents."
"However, I do wish to borrow the space provided by Senior Kobayashi for a brief discussion."
Hearing this, MP Kobayashi looked slightly disappointed.
However, Sayuri's response was reasonable.
For someone like Sayuri, who rarely attended such gatherings, it made little sense for her to suddenly take an interest in a provincial MP's protgs.
Although his student, a graduate of the University of Tokyo, had achieved an impressive feat by becoming a provincial MP in Tokyo at such a young age, it still wasn't enough to leave a profound impression compared to others.
That said, Sayuri's desire to speak about something intrigued MP Kobayashi and sparked other thoughts.
"Of course, Lady Sawamura, feel free to say whatever you wish. I'll have someone prepare an extra microphone."
MP Kobayashi smiled as he spoke.
To him, no matter what Sayuri Sawamura intended to say, it was undoubtedly a good thing.
The Sawamura family was a prominent household with significant influence among the upper class.
As the sole heir to the Sawamura family, Sayuri's status had only risen after marrying a British diplomat.
But a few years ago, the Spencer family's son had met with an accident.
And Lady Sawamura, who had married a diplomat without changing her surname,
Gradually withdrew from the public eye afterward.
(Note: Okay, okay, I feel like I can already see the future with just this passage.)
Figures like Kobayashi had spent years attempting various methods to draw Sayuri back into the political arena.
But Sayuri skillfully evaded all their efforts.
For a prestigious family to suddenly retreat from politics was something people like Kobayashi found difficult to adapt to.
However, as the years passed, there was little they could do.
But tonight, Sawamura Sayuri suddenly expressed an interest in sitting at the table.
Naturally, Kobayashi welcomed this wholeheartedly.
For people like Kobayashi,
They weren't afraid of powerful, influential families making waves in the political arena.
What they worried about were individuals like Sayuri, who never stepped onto the board.
Because by staying off the board, they had no way to influence or touch the cards in her possession.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Kobayashi moved elsewhere.
He was looking forward to what would unfold next.
....
Sayuri, meanwhile, took her daughter to enjoy the buffet.
In a corner of the banquet...
Two women with strikingly similar appearances were engaged in conversation with others.
Upon closer inspection, one would notice that the skin of these two women was exceptionally fair, akin to snow.
Yukinoshita Haruno and her mother, Mrs. Yukinoshita.
Mrs. Yukinoshita was currently the sole MP in the Yukinoshita family.
As an MP from a major district adjacent to Tokyo, she had been invited to tonight's banquet.
Since she already had plans to visit Tokyo, Mrs. Yukinoshita naturally accepted the invitation to the banquet.
Yukinoshita Haruno, however, seemed somewhat distracted.
Her gaze frequently wandered toward the golden figure in the center of the hall.
Nevertheless, her social skills were impeccable.
Even while distracted, Yukinoshita Haruno's conversation and demeanor revealed no flaws.
About Yukima Azuma.
Yukinoshita Haruno had conducted thorough investigations.
She was, of course, aware that Yukima Azuma once had an ex-girlfriend named Eriri.
Currently, the two were even living together.
However, what Yukinoshita Haruno had not known before was that
The "Eriri" in question was actually Eriri from the Sawamura family.
Information about Eriri had been deliberately restricted by Sawamura Sayuri, making it impossible to uncover details through conventional means.
It wasn't until today, when Eriri appeared at the evening banquet, arm-in-arm with Sayuri,
That Haruno finally understood this crucial detail.
Her gaze flickered slightly.
Beside Yukima Azuma, there was someone like her.
With just a bit of assistance from that person, he could easily ascend without limits.
The Sawamura family was a prestigious clan even more powerful than the Yukinoshita family.
Moreover, Sawamura Sayuri was the one in powera truly influential figure.
Eriri was Sayuri's only daughter.
This further elevated Eriri's status, and the resources Sayuri could provide were nearly limitless.
If Eriri had been a son, perhaps she wouldn't even need to lift a fingercountless wealthy young women would line up to have their hearts broken by her.
Even as a daughter, given Sayuri's attitude,
Eriri was entitled to do whatever she pleased.
So then, what role was Eriri playing by Yukima Azuma's side?
Furthermore, if Sayuri intended to bet everything on Yukima Azuma,
Then where would that leave Yukinoshita Yukino, who was currently by Yukima Azuma's side?
Haruno pondered these questions.
Unconsciously, she began to think of everything from a dark perspective.
Because, in the political world, she had been exposed to countless murky undercurrents in the shadows.
But every time her thoughts turned to that young man,
They were interrupted without fail.
Because she simply couldn't imagine that the boy under the sunlight that day,
The boy spreading his golden wings so brilliantly,
Would wield her younger sister as a pawn in his grasp, to be dangled until the moment came for disposal.
If such a thing were to happen to anyone else in the world,
Yukinoshita Haruno wouldn't be surprised.
But if it were Yukima Azuma, Haruno couldn't picture such a scene.
"Haruno... Haruno?"
The voice of Mrs. Yukinoshita brought Haruno back to reality.
"Yes, Mother?"
Haruno responded.
"What's going on with Yukino? Why haven't you brought her back yet?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita frowned.
Hearing this, Haruno forced a wry smile.
"I'm trying to persuade her, but I need more time."
Even though she hadn't seen Yukino or done anything covert since then,
Haruno replied as such.
"Persuade?" Mrs. Yukinoshita's dissatisfaction was evident. "If persuasion doesn't work, just bring her back directly Never mind, I'll go myself in a few days."
Hearing this, Haruno sighed quietly in her heart.
There was nothing she could do.
Chapter 136: From Today, Get Familiar with Laplace Corporation
In recent years, the situation of the Yukinoshita family has not been very favorable.
Mrs Yukinoshita, considered the backbone of the family's revival, has been under immense pressure.
A few years ago, Japan's economic bubble burst.
The real estate industry, once inflated to extraordinary heights, collapsed into ashes in the blink of an eye.
Many families far wealthier than the Yukinoshita family were completely ruined or severely damaged by this bubble burst.
However, thanks to Mrs Yukinoshita's sharp insight, the Yukinoshita family did not plunge headfirst into the real estate industry but withdrew in time, thereby preserving their wealth.
Nevertheless, in Chiba, where the Yukinoshita family's foundation lies in construction, they could not escape signs of decline amidst the significant economic shifts.
After painstakingly stabilizing the family's current ventures, Mrs Yukinoshita constantly searched for new directions for the family's future development.
Expanding business into neighboring districts seemed like a good step forward.
However, in Tokyo, which borders Chiba, entering the market was exceedingly difficult for the Yukinoshita family.
Thus, Mrs Yukinoshita shifted her focus to Gifu.
Recently, an unexpected incident occurred, one that no one could have predicted.
This disruption might cause unpredictable repercussions throughout the whole melody of their plans.
Madam Yukinoshita seized an opportunity and proactively approached a member of parliament named Kobayashi.
"Legislator Kobayashi, good day. You look particularly healthy today," she greeted.
Kobayashi turned his head, saw Mrs Yukinoshita, and took a moment to recall her identity.
"Oh, it's Mrs Yukinoshita. Good day to you," he responded.
The two exchanged simple pleasantries. Kobayashi had no intention of fostering closer ties with Mrs Yukinoshitait was merely social etiquette.
After all, outside the Yukinoshita family circle, Mrs Yukinoshita's political influence was even less significant than one of Kobayashi's protgs.
Though the Yukinoshita family was highly regarded in Chiba, they truly held no weight in Tokyo.
Mrs Yukinoshita had anticipated Kobayashi's attitude.
"I've come from Chiba and brought some local specialties as a small gift. I hope Legislator Kobayashi will kindly accept them," she said.
"The items have been placed near the garage. It's just a token of goodwill; I hope Legislator Kobayashi won't refuse," she added.
Hearing this, Kobayashi instinctively raised an eyebrow.
"Is it something valuable? If so, Mrs Yukinoshita, I'd kindly ask you to take it back," he said.
Gifts from Chiba didn't hold much significance to him. If there were strings attached, he would certainly refuse.
"Oh, no, no. It's just a few local specialties," Mrs Yukinoshita quickly assured him and then casually asked, "By the way, have you heard about the recent comet incident? It seems to have fallen in Gifu."
Kobayashi immediately grasped the implication behind her words.
She wanted to know if the national assembly had any plans regarding the comet disaster in Gifu and what the future prospects in the area might be.
This wasn't a major secret, so he didn't mind sharing.
"Of course, I've heard. The national assembly has been grappling with this issue, though thankfully the disaster hasn't spread widely," he said.
"The meteor fell in the mountains of Gifu, affecting a nearby inland lake. Rescue efforts are still ongoing there."
"The local mountain residents have to be relocated, and infrastructure will certainly need to be rebuilt. But, as you know, after the economic bubble burst"
"There's a businessman with the surname Suou who donated a piece of land after the disaster to temporarily resettle the locals. It has truly eased the country's burden," he explained.
At this point, Kobayashi seemed satisfied but refrained from elaborating further.
Mrs Yukinoshita echoed his sentiments with a few remarks and then took her leave.
Kobayashi's message was clear.
Gifu had suffered a disaster.
The national assembly intended to provide emergency relief and stabilize the population's morale.
After all, once the local council elections concluded, the national assembly elections would follow shortly.
However, the national assembly had no money for such efforts.
The only solution was to rely on others to foot the bill, with the government potentially issuing some favorable policies in return.
Currently, the prestigious Suou family in Gifu had already taken the lead in this effort.
As the most prominent family in Gifu, the Suou family was an old, noble lineage with a much deeper foundation than the Yukinoshita family.
Furthermore, they were firmly rooted in Gifu.
If the Yukinoshita family wanted to make an impact in Gifu and gain rewards in the future, the best choice was to collaborate with the Suou family.
How to establish this collaboration, however, was not something Kobayashi cared about.
He had already shared all the relevant information.
As for the gift from Chiba, he accepted it without any guilt.
Back in a corner of the evening banquet hall, Mrs Yukinoshita fell into deep thought.
The Suou family.
Previously, the Yukinoshita family had almost no ties with the Suou family.
How could she establish this relationship now?
...
Conversations like those between Kobayashi and Mrs. Yukinoshita were countless in this evening banquet hall.
The atmosphere was unusually harmonious.
No one dared cause a disturbancethis was, after all, a party hosted by Kobayashi.
Regardless of the circumstances, no one would dare create trouble here.
As the banquet reached its midpoint, Kobayashi stepped onto the raised platform in the banquet hall.
He lightly tapped his fork against his wine glass.
A crisp sound echoed, gradually quieting the conversations below.
All eyes turned toward him.
"Thank you all for attending tonight's banquet. Today, we have a guest in this hall who would like to say a few words to everyone."
"So, I kindly ask for two minutes of your time. I appreciate your cooperation."
After speaking, Kobayashi downed the champagne in his hand.
The entire hall was filled with curiosity.
Everyone wondered who could be significant enough for Kobayashi to personally make such an introduction.
The more perceptive attendees shifted their gazes toward one corner of the room.
Sawamura Sayuri stood up and stepped onto the platform.
"Thank you, Senior Kobayashi," she said with a smile.
"Oh, it's a minor matter. Since you're a junior of mine, there's no need to thank me for something so trivial," Kobayashi replied, waving his hand dismissively.
His words were heartfelt. For such a small favor, Kobayashi had no intention of leveraging it for any advantage.
Sayuri calling him "senior" indeed had a basis.
Before Kobayashi entered the national assembly, the Sawamura couple had been his juniors in their field of work.
Given this connection, along with Sayuri's status, Kobayashi was more than happy to extend a small favor.
After a brief exchange, Sayuri stood at the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I am Sawamura Sayuri. May I take two minutes of your time? Thank you for your cooperation," she began.
Upon seeing Sayuri take the stage, the audience exchanged glances.
Those familiar with Sayuri were particularly puzzled.
For years, the head of the Sawamura family had kept a low profile, seemingly retreating from both the political and social stages. Why would she suddenly stand up to address everyone tonight?
Could it be that she was finally making her move?
And if so, who would be the fortunate recipient of her support?
Even Mrs Yukinoshita, known for her sharp insights, couldn't hide her curiosity as she gazed at Sayuri on the stage.
However, Mrs Yukinoshita failed to notice the complicated expression on her eldest daughter Yukinoshita Haruno's face as she stood beside her.
"Recently, a junior in my family has been working on some small creations, and I found them very intriguing," Sayuri continued.
"Joy shared is joy doubled. So, for this banquet, I brought a few completed products to share with everyone."
"Consider them small gifts. If you find them useful after trying them, perhaps you might also consider similar products in the future."
"Currently, within the Sawamura household, we've fully embraced the products from this junior's company. Please take a moment to view this demonstration video."
With that, Sayuri turned on the large screen in the banquet hall.
She played an advertisement video showcasing smart home furniture produced by Laplace Corporation.
All eyes in the room turned to the video.
However, most attendees initially focused not on the content but on the small logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen:
Laplace Corporation
Some had heard of it; others had not.
But from this night onward, everyone would undoubtedly remember this name.
As for the video itself?
Some viewers recognized the potential in the smart furniture line; others were merely intrigued by its novelty.
Regardless of their focus on the product, many had already begun contemplating investments in the brand.
The idea of offering support or collaboration didn't even need to be spoken.
After all, forget about smart furniture
Even if the video had been about handmade straw sandals, as long as Sayuri introduced them and mentioned they were made by a junior in her family, people would be willing to place orders for seventy or eighty pairs.
Whether they used them or not didn't matterat worst, they could give them away as gifts.
No one cared about the product's uniqueness.
What mattered was who introduced it.
By extending support to Sayuri now, they expected her to return the favor in the future.
"Have you heard of this company before?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita turned to ask her daughter.
Haruno, who had arrived in Tokyo a bit earlier, swallowed hard and nodded.
"Yes, it's a newly established company... growing very quickly. Currently, its market value has exceeded 100 billion yen."
Mrs. Yukinoshita nodded, showing some interest.
This 100 billion yen figure carried a special significance.
It was enough for the Yukinoshita family to take note of but not enough to fully prioritize.
If supported by the Sawamura family, achieving this 100 billion yen mark wouldn't be a difficult feat.
Thus, she was only mildly curious and didn't think much more about it.
After all, the current business fields of the Yukinoshita and Sawamura families didn't have any clear connections.
However, Haruno's eyes showed a flicker of unease.
She knew that what she had just said wasn't entirely true.
That 100 billion yen figure didn't come from the Sawamura family's support.
It was the achievement of a young man who built it entirely on his own within less than a year.
What was even more noteworthy was that the majority of this market value came from investments in products that hadn't officially launched yet.
When the actual products of Laplace Corporation entered the market, combined with strong support from the Sawamura family, the market value of the company could rise to unimaginable levels.
Haruno felt overwhelmed.
Sayuri had placed a significant bet on Yukima Azuma, someone she was willing to invest not only resources but also time and effort in.
The Sawamura family, which had maintained an attitude of gradually withdrawing from politics for many years, was now making a complete 180-degree turn because of Yukima Azuma.
This was beyond Haruno's imagination.
The person making the decisions was still Sayuri, not Eriri, the daughter who always stayed close to Yukima Azuma.
Haruno didn't know that Yukima Azuma had not yet brought any tangible benefits to Sayuri.
Sayuri had chosen to place unconditional trust in him.
If Haruno knew this, she would likely be ten times more astonished.
When the video ended, Sayuri said a few more polite words.
After that, she leisurely stepped down from the stage.
Eriri immediately ran up to her mother, her eyes shining brightly.
"Mom, did you dress up like this today to promote Azuma's products?"
Sayuri nodded.
Upon hearing the answer, Eriri smiled brightly.
That smile resembled that of a girl in love, who had just received approval from her parents.
"You're already proud of him even before getting married."
Seeing her daughter grinning foolishly, Sayuri sighed and gently pinched Eriri's cheek.
"Oh, come on, it's not called being proud. Mom is helping Azuma now; later, he'll definitely help Mom back."
Eriri, her intentions exposed, immediately tried to justify herself.
"That, I don't doubt... but that's not what matters."
Sayuri understood Yukima Azuma well. But in reality, the primary reason she invested in him was largely because of Eriri.
This was, to her, like a dowry for her daughter.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
"The gifts have all been sent, and the rest, Azuma-kun, you'll handle from now on."
Sayuri spoke over the phone.
She felt that Yukima Azuma no longer needed further help.
If she interfered, it might only cause more trouble.
"Umu, no problem, Sayuri... Do you want to invest in Laplace Corporation?"
Yukima Azuma wasn't yet accustomed to calling Sayuri by her name without honorifics.
"I'll pass. Azuma-kun knows I don't invest for profit."
Sayuri rejected the stock offer that Yukima Azuma had intended to send her.
She truly wasn't interested in investing for the benefit of Laplace Corporation.
Although she understood that Laplace Corporation might become a giant conglomerate beyond imagination in the future, at this moment, she was turning down unimaginable benefits.
But Sayuri didn't care.
The Sawamura family's wealth was already large enough.
Sayuri was not the type to be greedy and climb higher.
On the contrary, she felt content with what she had.
Compared to enormous profits, the thing she wanted most was for her daughter, Eriri, to live happily.
"Alright."
Yukima Azuma didn't press the matter any further.
Since Sayuri had refused, the stock would be given to Eriri instead.
Umu... when working on the next part of the White Album, he will trick Eriri into signing the contract.
After all, the foolish Eriri would never read the contract's contents.
Yukima Azuma had made his decision.
The "eating" of Eriri was one matter.
And the gift from Sayuri was another one.
Yukima Azuma had no intention of mixing these two things.
After hanging up the phone.
Yukima Azuma looked at the clock in his apartment.
It was past the usual dinner time at home.
But the person he was waiting for still hadn't returned.
Yukima Azuma frowned.
....
On the other side.
In a private room of a high-end restaurant in Shibuya.
Yukinoshita Yukino walked into the room with a dark expression.
"Sister, what do you want..."
Her words suddenly stopped.
Yukino saw the person seated at the head of the table.
It wasn't her older sister who had arranged the meeting.
It was Mrs. Yukinoshita.
This made the words Yukino had prepared stick in her throat, unable to be used.
She stood frozen in place as though struck by a spell.
Haruno was seated at the corner of the table, her face devoid of any emotion.
"Out of the house for over a year, and now you've forgotten even basic manners?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita's voice was very stern.
Yukino took a deep breath.
Then, she bowed her head to her mother.
After bowing, she sat down opposite her.
Without saying a word, she craned her neck to stare at Mrs. Yukinoshita.
This scene surprised Mrs. Yukinoshita slightly.
Her youngest daughter, who had always been terrified of her, now looked at her without hesitation.
In the past, Yukino would never have dared to make eye contact like this.
It seemed like living outside had made her stronger.
But what good was irrational courage?
"You've caused enough trouble. Come home with me."
Mrs. Yukinoshita's words were non-negotiable, clearly an order.
"I won't go back to the Yukinoshita house."
Yukino said each word slowly.
Resisting her mother was extremely difficult for her.
After all, since she was a child, her mother's authority had created a psychological shadow over her.
But now, even if it wasn't for freedom...
It was because of that young man.
Yukinoshita Yukino absolutely couldn't give up so easily and return to the golden cage called the Yukinoshita family.
Yukino's resistance was to be expected.
Mrs. Yukinoshita casually threw several photos and a stack of documents onto the table.
"You're still stubbornly resisting while following this boy who's not even fully grown. What does it even mean?"
"He's just a boy who needs the protection of the Yukinoshita family. Even if he's lucky enough to become famous, do you think he can resist me?"
"When will you give up this nave idea... fine, if you remain so stubborn and refuse to come home..."
"I won't do anything to you since you still bear the Yukinoshita name, but I will make sure that boy has nothing left. His honor, his wealth, his fame will all be ruined."
Mrs. Yukinoshita's words made Yukino leap to her feet.
She placed both hands on the table and stared directly at her mother.
Her fingers tightened into fists, her knuckles turning white, nails nearly digging into the palms of her hands.
No matter how ruthless Mrs. Yukinoshita had been toward her, Yukino could endure.
But if it involved Yukima Azuma...
Yukino could never accept it.
A wonderful boy like him didn't deserve to suffer any harm.
He deserved to shine and to have everything go smoothly for him, without any obstacles.
Yukino's breath became more rapid.
"Don't touch him!"
"Your words are just a joke. If you don't want anything to happen to him, then come back home quietly."
Mrs. Yukinoshita aimed for Yukino's upright nature.
If it were a matter concerning Yukino herself, with her personality, no matter how much harm she had to endure, she would stubbornly endure it.
She wouldn't back down even if she were covered in injuries.
But if her own desires caused harm to those around her...
That was something Yukinoshita Yukino could never accept.
With this type of coercion, Mrs. Yukinoshita would definitely make Yukino yield.
Mrs. Yukinoshita was certain of her victory.
At that very moment.
Bang!
The door to the room was kicked open.
"This guest... cannot enter!"
The voice of a service staff member was heard from behind.
All three people in the room were stunned by this unexpected situation and looked toward the door.
They saw a young man with sharp brows like a sword and eyes bright like stars, walking in swiftly.
Yukino was both overjoyed and surprised when she saw Yukima Azuma arrive.
Her hands, which had been clenched tightly, unconsciously loosened.
But soon, in her worry, she clenched them again.
Haruno's expression was unclear.
She hid herself in the corner of the room, not wanting to make eye contact with him.
Mrs. Yukinoshita frowned.
She looked toward Yukima Azuma, who had just burst in.
Suddenly, she recalled the proud image of him from a few years ago.
"Excuse me, this..."
The service staff chased after him, repeatedly bowing and apologizing to the three women in the room, but upon seeing Yukima Azuma enter, she appeared flustered, unsure of what to do.
Haruno waved her hand at the service staff.
Signaling her to leave.
The service staff immediately understood and closed the door, quickly leaving.
Yukima Azuma walked over to Yukino's side.
He extended his hand, holding her hand gently, and carefully pried each of her fingers open.
His fingers ran along the palm of her hand, opening her clenched fingers.
He gently caressed the palm of Yukino's hand, where the marks from her nails were still visible.
Then, he gently took her hand, their fingers intertwining tightly, holding onto her cold hand.
"What are you all talking about?" Yukima Azuma asked as he grabbed one of the photos of himself from the table.
"Talking about me? Well, that's great. Now that I'm here, let me hear what you have to say."
Yukino silently watched Yukima Azuma, her gaze following him for a long while.
Mrs. Yukinoshita frowned, then spoke:
"This is a matter for the main Yukinoshita family. What right do you have to be here?"
Yukima Azuma did not react to her words.
Just like many years ago.
He still didn't care at all about the Yukinoshita family.
"A family matter? Then it's all the more reason for me to listen, since, after all, Yukino is mine."
Yukima Azuma took Yukino's hand and raised it.
Their hands were intertwined, as if showing off.
Mrs. Yukinoshita was so furious that she let out a laugh.
Mrs. Yukinoshita pointed a finger at Yukima Azuma, laughing coldly, and asked:
"Haa, are you saying you want to marry her?"
Yukima Azuma nodded naturally.
"That's right."
Yukino's gaze no longer lingered on her mother.
To be more precise, ever since Yukima Azuma appeared, Yukino's eyes hadn't strayed from him.
Now, hearing Yukima Azuma confirm that he would marry her, her emotions became a bit complicated.
A fog quickly clouded her vision.
Then, her nose stung, and tears started to fall down her cheek.
It was just too... unfair.
Without even asking her opinion, he declared that he would marry her.
Now, she didn't know what to say to oppose or stop him.
She could only stand there, watching him, facing her mother so recklessly.
What else could she do?
If she opposed him?
Yukino would rather die than do that.
"Alright, alright," Mrs. Yukinoshita clapped her hands. "What makes you think you're worthy of marrying a daughter of the Yukinoshita family?"
Upon hearing this, Yukima Azuma's face showed disdain.
Just like many years ago.
He raised his hand and gave Mrs. Yukinoshita the middle finger.
"What era are we in? Stubbornly pushing arranged marriages? Wake up, the Tokugawa shogunate ended a long time ago!"
Mrs. Yukinoshita gritted her teeth and angrily said:
"You brat, aren't you afraid of the Yukinoshita family?"
"Don't think that just because you got lucky and have some assets, you can do whatever you want."
Yukima Azuma rolled his eyes.
"Do whatever I want? I'm not that reckless."
Then, Yukima Azuma pointed at Mrs. Yukinoshita.
"I've done my best up until now, and that's why I say no to people like you, who just do whatever they want."
"The Yukinoshita family? There's no one good in it. I witnessed that years ago, and my answer still stands."
"There are birds that are never trapped in cages, each feather shines with the light of freedom."
"Today, I'll take her with me, and I want to see who has the courage to stop me!"
"Alright, enough talking. If you want Yukino, come and take her, try all you want."
"Of course, if you extend your hand, be prepared for it to get broken. I don't need to spell it out, do I?"
Yukima Azuma grabbed Yukino's hand and walked out of the room.
As they reached the door, Yukima Azuma seemed to remember something.
He put his other hand into Yukino's bag, rummaged around for a while, and pulled out a dark gold business card, throwing it onto the table.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. Remember this emblem, so you won't fail to recognize it later, hag."
With that, Yukima Azuma opened the door and dragged Yukino outside.
Mrs. Yukinoshita was so furious she was almost gasping for breath.
After taking several deep breaths, she stood up and grabbed the dark gold business card from the table.
On the front was an emblem that looked very unique.
After a quick glance, Mrs. Yukinoshita clenched the card and crumpled it.
It was definitely him.
Mrs. Yukinoshita immediately recognized itthe emblem she had seen at the dinner party the night before.
Laplace Corporation.
Again, Yukima Azuma, and again, Laplace Corporation.
Mrs. Yukinoshita was someone who didn't hesitate to use underhanded tactics.
But she truly didn't dare to lay a hand on Yukima Azuma.
Not to mention that Laplace Corporation already had incredible power.
Moreover, behind Laplace Corporation was the Sawamura family.
Mrs. Yukinoshita found it hard to believe.
Why would the Sawamura family support a child from the Yukinoshita family branch like this?
But no matter the reason, Mrs. Yukinoshita had to think of a way to deal with it.
Yukino's arranged marriage might no longer continue...
"You... You, how did you find this place?" Yukino had too many questions she wanted to ask.
A flood of questions surged in her mind.
But in the end, she asked something entirely unrelated.
"Your sister sent me the location..."
When Yukima Azuma answered this question, his expression was somewhat unusual.
Haruno had informed him.
She had sent him the restaurant's information and the private room number.
That's how Yukima Azuma was able to arrive so quickly.
Why Haruno did this, Yukima Azuma somewhat understood.
But his feelings toward Haruno were truly complicated, so Yukima Azuma decided not to dwell on it.
He simply saw it as a debt he needed to repay.
The two held hands.
Walking all the way outside the restaurant.
Though it was summer, night had already fallen.
A cold evening breeze blew by, and Yukino couldn't help but shiver.
Noticing this, Yukima Azuma pulled her closer.
The two were practically embracing each other.
Feeling the warmth from the young man beside her.
Yukino lightly bit her lower lip.
Embarrassment and joy flooded her heart simultaneously.
The two made their way to Yukino's car and got inside.
But they still didn't start the car.
Sitting inside, Yukino gazed at Yukima Azuma.
Her eyes held an emotion.
Love for the young man that was almost overflowing.
"So... Azuma-kun has actually known me from before?"
When she previously heard Mrs. Yukinoshita mention a child who needed the Yukinoshita family's protection, Yukino had vaguely sensed something.
As the conversation continued later.
Yukino had also confirmed one thing.
The boy in front of her.
Was actually the youth who, many years ago, had passed through her life in the garden of the Yukinoshita family.
A fleeting meeting from many years ago.
The "golden feather" of the young man fell into her palm.
Turning into a golden hope that pulled her out of the Yukinoshita family, like a birdcage.
Giving her courage.
Sinking deep in her heart, transforming into the bright moon in the sky.
And many years later.
When she fell into poverty, nearly losing her freedom.
The boy threw her an olive branch.
He had helped her grasp the last chance to survive.
Resolutely choosing her.
Telling her: "Only Yukino."
Burning fiercely in his chest, leaving behind an indelible red mark.
Now, looking back, she finally realized.
The bright moon in her heart and the red mark on her chest were the same person.
Two wishes fulfilled at once.
Yukino felt that just asking this one question made her want to cry again.
"Hehe, that's right, I remember. Because I couldn't forget. After all, Yukino is so beautifulseeing you once would definitely leave a lasting impression."
"Should I blame myself for not telling you? Or... do you want me to call you Yukino-onee-chan~?"
The boy's use of "onee-chan."
Completely shattered Yukino's defenses.
Her face flushed, and her ears turned red as the evening sky.
If possible, she wanted to hear Yukima Azuma call her that forever.
After all, she'd first listen for a hundred hours to her heart's content and then think about the rest!
However, the side effects were too great.
The feeling of embarrassment seemed unbearable for her.
It took a long time for her to calm down.
Yukino thought she had returned to normal, but her cheeks were still as red as ripe apples.
"You said you'd marry me... Is that true?"
Yukima Azuma blinked.
He did have that thought.
But whether reality would allow it was another matter.
Because he would have to marry many people.
Once he gained a large enough influence, he would nurture a few more members of parliament, then push for reforming the polygamy laws.
And the response here is:
"I really think so, but I can't guarantee if it will work. What about Yukino-onee-chan? Do you want to marry me?"
"Of course, if you don't want to marry me, it's fine. Even without marriage, the Yukinoshita family won't be able to take Yukino away."
"By next spring, I think Laplace Corporation's money will be enough to buy the Yukinoshita family."
"When it's time for marriage, Yukino might say, 'It's cold now, the Yukinoshita family will go bankrupt soon.'"
The remark about "it's cold and the Yukinoshita family will go bankrupt" made Yukino shoot a strangely glance at Yukima Azuma.
However, when she heard that Yukima Azuma genuinely wanted to marry her, Yukino felt as if she would melt.
Even if it may not be achievable.
As long as Yukima Azuma had that intention.
No, to be precise, as long as Yukima Azuma had feelings for her.
That was enough to satisfy her.
The pure moonlight!
The red lipstick mark in heart!
Loving me!
Yukinoshita Yukino showed the silly smile of a girl in love.
And at that moment, Yukima Azuma leaned toward her.
His nose nearly touched her cheek.
Yukino widened her eyes.
"What's going on?"
There was a mix of trembling and shyness in her voice.
Though she was thrilled by Yukima Azuma's sudden action, Yukino still felt a little tense due to embarrassment.
"Eh? Is it not okay?"
Yukima Azuma asked, looking confused.
Yukino looked into the boy's eyes, so close.
Finally, she chose to close her eyes.
"Okay... okay then."
In the dark world, the other senses were more strongly stimulated.
Yukino waited for the miraculous feeling that was about to come.
As a result, in the darkness, there was a light rubbing sound.
That sound was very close, just to her right.
Yukino opened her eyes.
She found that Yukima Azuma was fastening her seatbelt.
"Ahhh! You jerk, aho, bakaaa!"
Teased, Yukino immediately became angry.
But Yukima Azuma pretended not to understand.
"Eh? What's going on?"
"You still ask what's going on!"
"I already asked Yukino if it's okay to fasten the seatbelt."
"What do you think? The question was about kissing! Is kissing okay?"
Yukino pouted and stared at Yukima Azuma.
Though embarrassed, there were things that needed to be said.
Yukinoshita Yukino was not someone to back down just because she was embarrassed from being teased!
"Eh? Really, a kiss?"
Yukima Azuma leaned down again: "Did Yukino really say yes?"
"Mm, yes..." Yukino looked away and gently nodded.
This time, Yukima Azuma did not pull away but came down.
The soft feeling of his lips reached her.
Their breath gradually became longer.
She didn't know how much time had passed.
Only when Yukima Azuma finally released her did she start to pant heavily.
In the car, with each breath, the pink atmosphere spread further.
Yukima Azuma looked at his work with satisfaction.
After all, this was Yukino!
She was that person: just like her name, snow under the snow.
If you were to talk about her beauty, it was an unreachable, unachievable beauty. It only made others admire her from afar.
"We... should go home."
Yukino spoke in a low voice.
"Yeah, let's go home. Yukino probably hasn't had dinner yet, so I'll make you something to eat when we get back."
Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
Yukino nodded upon hearing this, feeling warmth inside.
The car had been silent for a long time, but it slowly started up and drove down the road in the night.
...
Back at Yukima's house.
Yukima Azuma went to cook a bowl of noodles for Yukino.
Watching the beautiful girl eat her noodles, Yukima Azuma's thoughts drifted far away.
Laplace Corporation was currently developing smoothly.
There was nothing particularly urgent to do.
Let things unfold naturally.
This means that next year, the money required to buy the Yukinoshita family is definitely not a fantasy.
Therefore, at the beginning of next year, exactly on New Year's Day, Microsoft will release the computer operating system they developed.
After the Microsoft system is launched, the stocks controlled by the Laplace Corporation headquarters will be worth enough to buy the Yukinoshita family.
It is foreseeable that in the future, Laplace Corporation's capital will never run short.
As for promoting smart home appliances, Yukima Azuma was not very optimistic.
They should sell decently, but calling it a "boom" in sales seemed unrealistic.
After all, home appliances are large items, and the market is limited.
You can't just throw away an old bed because you see an ad for a smart bed.
However, with support from Sayuri, the development of this industry just needed some time.
Of course, if there was a model promotion, the smart appliance brand could quickly gain more recognition.
But this was something Sayuri couldn't help with.
The promotion task would best involve a large hotel.
Yukima Azuma quickly thought of his young disciple, whom he hadn't officially accepted yet.
Hinatsuru Hotel was quite famous in Japan.
After all, it was the first hot spring hotel.
Even if it's only the first in the hot spring industry, it's still impressive in some regard.
Perhaps they could discuss this.
But that would come after he took Hinatsuru Ai as his disciple.
And at least after the Ryuou title tournament concluded.
When was the tournament starting again?
Yukima Azuma took out his phone to check.
Ah, mid-July.
It lasted for a month.
The final outcome would be decided at the end of August.
And Meijin wouldn't be participating in the Ryuou tournament this time.
With his current 9th level Shogi skills, Yukima Azuma could easily claim the Ryuou title.
To be honest, Yukima Azuma now hoped that Meijin would participate in the Ryuou tournament.
Would Meijin, the greatest Shogi player in history, be stronger than him? Or would his 9th level Shogi skills displayed on his system be more powerful?
He was very curious about the outcome of that match.
Moreover, facing Meijin would surely accelerate the progress of his Shogi skills.
Aside from the Ryuou tournament, there was also another important matter to handle.
That was Kurokawa Akane's adolescence syndrome.
Today, the second volume in the "Youth" series, "The Young of A Lonely Boy Won't Dream of A Bunny Girl Senpai," was officially released.
At the end of the day, the first day's sales would also be announced.
However, most of the voices on the internet were pessimistic.
The most popular heroine from the previous work didn't appear in the next volume.
This was truly a strange change.
Some even said that the heroine of this new volume was a currently low-rated actress online.
It seemed this new volume had been released hastily.
The internet was filled with opinions claiming the author was just trying to make a quick, bad profit.
While other publishers were celebrating, thinking this was the case.
That morning, the first day's sales of "The Young of A Lonely Boy Won't Dream of A Bunny Girl Senpai" were updated.
Three million one hundred thousand.
The heroine from the first story had broken the historical record, becoming the highest first-day sales record ever.
This record was held for less than a month before being broken by the second heroine in the same series.
When this number was updated online, the entire light novel industry was shocked.
They wondered, looking at the comments, why it was so different from reality.
Didn't you all say that, right?
Didn't you say that anyone who bought it was a fool?
Is this what you call a boycott? Keeping Yukimi-sensei locked in the basement?
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
"You told me, anyone who buys the new works is a fool, right? I really believed in you guys!"
"Up there, you guys are just fooling yourselves, how could anyone actually believe that? It's Yukimi-sensei, It's not bad if you buy it, okay?"
"I woke up at 6 AM this morning to queue for the first print books, I was very careful, and in the end, I only got two copies."
"LOL, I sat outside the bookstore from midnight last night, got fifty copies of the first print edition."
"Up there, do you still have any first print books left? I'll buy them at double the price."
"Are you dreaming? The first print books online have already been marked up three price, and I still aren't any available."
"Does no one care about the plot? Even though volume two doesn't have Saint-Megumi, it's still really engaging."
"You can always trust Yukimi-sensei. Akane-chan's effort is so adorable too."
"How can you still laugh, I couldn't laugh a bit after reading it, will she be saved in the end?"
"Probably... she'll be saved... I think so... Yukimi-sensei, where are you? Come here and take responsibility!"
"So, is the character in the book really Kurokawa Akane, who's being criticized online?"
"Did you all watch the video from LoveforReal? It seems like things have reversed."
...
While social media was abuzz with discussions.
A video quickly went viral.
It was the official account of MEM-Cho, a participant in the LoveforReal program.
The video content was simple, just behind-the-scenes clips from outside the main show.
In the behind-the-scenes scenes, there were warm and peaceful moments.
All the participants of LoveforReal were high school students.
(note: not MEM-Cho :v)
The tricks and calculations were much fewer compared to those of adults.
Especially the three girls participating: Sumi Yuki, Kurokawa Akane, and MEM-Cho.
In fact, they were close friends in real life.
If it wasn't for that.
When Kurokawa Akane got into trouble, Sumi Yuki and MEM wouldn't have rushed to the police station so quickly.
The behind-the-scenes video stopped at a scene in the police station.
Sumi Yuki anxiously hugged Kurokawa Akane with a sorrowful expression.
If this video had been released before the light novel was sold.
It would have been heavily criticized.
But now.
The winds on the internet had started to change.
"Is it true? Are they really that good in real life? Then why was the show so intense?"
"Clearly, they're cleaning up their reputation. What kind of background does Kurokawa Akane have to invite so many people to do this?"
"As a light novel fan, I rewatched LoveforReal from start to finish, I don't think it's fake, Kurokawa's character is really like that."
"Could you all just disappear if you're so obsessed with light novels? Can real people be as good as in books?"
"Forget the book, it was just an incident during the show, does Kurokawa Akane really deserve to die for that?"
"I also think the criticism is a bit much, Kurokawa Akane is only 17, how can people on the internet say she deserves to die?"
"LMAO, isn't this just reputation cleaning?"
"Yes, yes, yes, the people involved have forgiven her, but the netizens won't let go, they've already sentenced her to death."
The criticism was mostly one-sided.
What was being spread on the internet were mostly parts of the event used to get views.
There were people angry at those attention-seeking parts.
And they said harsh words.
They hid behind the internet, criticizing from their supposed moral high ground.
But in reality, those giving opinions often made up only a small fraction of the people who understood the event.
Most people would remain silent.
Because this didn't concern them.
Things that don't affect them, and they only hear part of, of course, they wouldn't rush to speak up.
But, Yukima Azuma's actions made everyone truly understand Kurokawa Akane.
Once they really understood.
Most people couldn't remain indifferent.
It was like a child you've seen grow up, suddenly being falsely accused.
You know full well that child isn't like that.
At this moment, even if that child isn't related by blood to you.
Could you still just calmly stand by and do nothing?
When the silence of the crowd started to erupt loudly.
People who previously had different views on the event also began to have a chance to speak out.
The one-sided views on the event would be dismissed.
Conclusions that had been finalized would be reopened and could be explored again.
This is a difficult but long-lasting method.
When the winds completely changed, the stain on Kurokawa Akane would become a special adornment.
Maybe when this story is mentioned later, some people won't like that kind of special image.
But surely no one would look at it and instantly feel disgusted.
MEM was following the situation online.
Occasionally, she would send messages via Line to Yukima Azuma to share good news.
Yukima Azuma's responses, however, seemed somewhat brief.
At the moment, he was on his way to Laplace Corporation, preparing to visit the film crew.
The anime production team, introduced by Hayasaka Ai, was busy working in a professionally rented space.
The director and producer of this anime were both well-known figures.
Although it was an anime production location, they were also filming live-action scenes.
In recent days, Kurokawa Akane had been moving back and forth between the film set and her home.
Kurokawa Akane's job was to shoot the opening part of the music video for the movie.
Before the movie premiered, it would be shown alongside the anime as part of a promotional campaign.
In addition to shooting the music video.
Kurokawa Akane also had to do voice acting for the main female character in the movie.
She had no experience as a seiyuu.
But since the character was based on herself, her emotions could make up for part of the technical skill.
The rest, in recent days, had been taught to Kurokawa Akane by professional trainers.
When Yukima Azuma arrived at the film set.
Almost no one noticed him.
Due to the tight schedule, the working area was busy every day.
Yukima Azuma didn't speak up to disturb anyone.
He just quietly stood aside and watched.
In the recording studio, Kurokawa Akane was focused on her work.
There were a few experts around, slowly adjusting her performance.
While the atmosphere seemed fine.
Because Kurokawa Akane was very cooperative, learning voice acting skills tirelessly.
But in Yukima Azuma's eyes.
She looked like a delicate doll, being controlled by strings to perform.
It had been a few days since they last met.
Kurokawa Akane's condition hadn't improved from before.
The good thing was, it wasn't worse either.
She seemed like a beautiful doll.
Working according to the instructions of others.
Unaffected by the expectations of others or any other emotions.
After a long period of work, everyone on the set took a short break.
At this point, the director finally noticed Yukima Azuma's sudden appearance near the film set.
Although they hadn't met before, he knew that this was the investor and planner for this project.
He intended to approach and greet Yukima Azuma.
But as soon as he stood up, he saw Yukima Azuma wave at him.
The director was momentarily stunned.
Then, he saw the girl, referred to by the crew as the "robot doll," quickly running toward Yukima Azuma.
This scene made everyone in the film set freeze.
"Guardian..."
Yukima Azuma smiled and greeted Kurokawa Akane as she ran toward him.
However, Kurokawa Akane did not stop when she reached him.
She rushed straight to Yukima Azuma.
Hugging his face, then pulling his hands up, down, and back and forth to check him carefully.
It was like a mother checking to make sure her child was still intact.
After checking and confirming that Yukima Azuma was fine.
Kurokawa Akane finally stopped.
Right after that, without any warning.
The girl suddenly stood on her tiptoes and kissed Yukima Azuma on the lips.
The kiss was so sudden that even Yukima Azuma was taken aback.
Wow!
Aaaaa!
Awawawawa!
Naruhodo, so this is how it is?
After spending many days together, the girl called the doll suddenly took the initiative to kiss the young man visiting the film set.
This unexpected contrast left all the staff present in disbelief.
Those who knew a bit about the situation were stunned.
After a few seconds.
Kurokawa Akane finally set her feet down and started breathing heavily.
"Guardian, this is...?"
Yukima Azuma touched his lips, asking in surprise.
"Just a supplementing more love."
Kurokawa Akane replied seriously.
Yukima Azuma was stunned for a moment.
He remembered that there was indeed a setting like this.
Once her breath had steadied.
Kurokawa Akane asked: "Is that enough? Do you need a little more?"
Yukima Azuma glanced around at the staff.
Most of the female staff were now covering their faces, spreading their fingers to peek through the gaps in their hands.
It was as if they were waiting for candy as a reward.
"That's enough for now."
Yukima Azuma gently stroked Kurokawa Akane's face, saying.
Upon hearing this, Kurokawa Akane nodded.
Soon after, the director came over to ask if Yukima Azuma wanted to introduce anything.
Yukima Azuma shook his head in refusal.
He simply requested that the director pretend he wasn't there.
So, after a short break.
Everyone on the set went back to work.
This time, the staff, who had already been busy, now seemed even more motivated.
Kurokawa Akane also resumed her work.
But unlike earlier, when she had been an "emotionless doll."
Now, Kurokawa Akane clearly showed more initiative.
Yukima Azuma could certainly guess what his "Mommy" was thinking.
As her guardian, she had to set a good example for the child to follow.
...
Time passed slowly.
By the time it was dinner, the production team finished work for the day.
Some post-production tasks had to be taken home to continue.
There was no choicetime was too tight, and the workload was too heavy.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma had already paid for overtime.
There was nothing to complain about.
As soon as work ended, Kurokawa Akane immediately returned to Yukima Azuma's side.
"Shall we go home?"
She asked.
Yukima Azuma knew that when Kurokawa Akane said "home," she didn't mean the Kurokawa family's house, but the place where both of them lived.
The proposal was truly tempting.
After all, "Mommy Guardian" was very obedient and took great care of others.
Yukima Azuma had to use a lot of willpower to shake his head and refuse the temptation.
Seeing Yukima Azuma turn her down.
Kurokawa Akane's eyes were full of concern.
She gently raised Yukima Azuma's face, and the two of them looked at each other.
"A rebellious phase?"
"No, it's just that we can't always stay at home, and the guardian has to work too. You can't always take care of me."
"Then I'll quit my job."
"Of course not. If the guardian quits, how will you support me? Are we going to sleep on the streets?"
Yukima Azuma's words made Kurokawa Akane fall into deep thought.
She was thinking of a way to take care of Yukima Azuma while also earning money.
Noticing her thoughts.
Yukima Azuma gently pinched Kurokawa Akane's cheek.
"Didn't we just add a little more love today? As long as we can regularly add love, that's enough."
"For our future, please continue working, guardian."
Hearing this, Kurokawa Akane finally nodded.
Seeing her agree.
Yukima Azuma handed her a light novel and a mobile phone.
(note: I want a sugar mommy too) _
Seeing what Yukima Azuma brought.
Kurokawa Akane had no special reaction, simply took it.
Her phone, since it was taken from her at the police station, had been confiscated by Mrs. Kurokawa.
Yukima Azuma had visited the Kurokawa house once and retrieved it.
Now, it had reached Kurokawa Akane's hands.
For an item that could access the internet, something that once forced her almost to death.
Kurokawa Akane felt neither fear nor disgust as she had imagined.
Since it was brought by Yukima Azuma, she just calmly took it.
However, Kurokawa Akane would absolutely never open the social media apps again.
Because if she did, she might die.
And if she died, no one would take care of Yukima Azuma anymore.
Without a guardian, the young man would surely spiral into despair.
At that point, it would be like the stormy rain again.
When the young man was forced to awaken her fear of death.
Kurokawa Akane would not be able to accept facing her own death.
She put the phone away.
Kurokawa Akane looked at the light novel in her hand.
It was the second volume in the "Youth" series.
Having read the previous work, Kurokawa Akane grew fond of it.
This was also one of the rare feelings she had since climbing up the bridge railing that day.
"Guardian, after reading, could you please write a review for me?"
"My number and Line are saved on your phone, you can call or text me."
Yukima Azuma pointed at the book's cover.
Similar to the book sent to Kato Megumi.
This was also a manuscript of a light novel.
This time they met again, Yukima Azuma could smell the lingering scent of blood from Kurokawa Akane.
Though she had not been in contact with the internet, and no new wounds appeared.
Her condition was still not healed.
Would she feel better after reading the light novel written for her?
Would things improve after seeing the changes on social media?
Before, Yukima Azuma just wanted to test treating adolescence syndrome on Kurokawa Akane.
But now, he really hoped she could be successfully treated.
When hearing Yukima Azuma's words.
As always, Kurokawa Akane nodded without hesitation.
The two had dinner at an ordinary family restaurant.
Afterward, they temporarily parted ways.
Before they separated, Yukima Azuma once again asked for a little love.
Not entirely just for the flavor of a young boy.
More than that, it was to reassure Kurokawa Akane.
.....
After parting ways.
Kurokawa Akane returned to the Kurokawa house.
When she got to her bedroom.
She turned on the desk lamp.
Placed the book from her arms on the desk.
In the past days, Kurokawa Akane had sat here countless times, reading and rereading each book.
But at that time, most of the books she read were professional ones.
Or scripts, backstories.
It was the story of someone else.
Now, Kurokawa Akane knew nothing, turned the page, and dived into her own story.
When she saw her name appear in the text.
She paused, her eyes fixed on it, stopping for a long while.
To be honest, Kurokawa Akane really didn't remember why she entered the entertainment industry.
She had almost forgotten the question herself.
In the lines of text.
The young girl recalled the reason and regained that reason.
It was simply her passion.
Just a simple love.
She loved acting, dreamed of showcasing her brilliance under the camera, the dazzling lights that moved her.
That was the initial reason Kurokawa Akane entered the entertainment industry.
Compared to the expectations she had to bear or the achievements she had to attain.
Her passion was the reason she continued to strive forward.
But when she truly forgot this reason.
Every step forward felt incredibly heavy, as if there were countless sharp blades underfoot.
For her own passion, Kurokawa Akane pushed forward.
As the story gradually progresses, the darkness outside the window also deepens.
The moon gradually rises, finally hanging suspended in the sky.
The bright moonlight shines through the window glass, casting down on the floor, stretching the tense shadow of the young girl.
Inside the book.
Kurokawa Akane gradually lost her direction, only left with blind effort.
Like a headless fly, crashing everywhere until, in the end.
After a mistake caused by trying too hard.
The rage began.
The words, invisible, danced on the paper.
Outside the book.
The young girl lowered her eyes.
She tried to restrain herself from closing the book and tossing it aside, and insisted on reading on.
Her mind was pulled back to those days.
The excellent paragraphs, like small hammers.
Bit by bit, they shattered the protective layer that kept Kurokawa Akane from thinking.
Knowing this was dangerous, but Kurokawa Akane began to think again.
Yukima Azuma said to read seriously, he even asked her to write a review.
So, she had to take it seriously.
Inside the book.
The teenage girl, attacked by thousands of people.
Couldn't avoid the thought, "My life ends here."
So, Kurokawa Akane thought.
If no one knew me, how wonderful would that be.
Entering the entertainment industry was definitely a mistake.
I'd rather disappear.
Such thoughts turned into a real illness.
The supernatural disease created in the "Youth" series, adolescence syndrome.
The young girl named Kurokawa Akane began to gradually disappear from this world.
Kurokawa Akane realized, sometimes, the people around her couldn't perceive her existence.
With the passing of time.
The range of invisibility, from school, expanded to the whole area, the city.
The time she was invisible stretched from a few minutes to hours, and even half a day.
Though still existing in this world, it was as though she was out of sync with the world.
When realizing this.
Kurokawa Akane took her final self-rescue action.
She changed into a bunny girl outfit and went to the Tokyo library.
If anyone saw her, this outfit would definitely attract attention.
With that thought.
Kurokawa Akane met her childhood friend.
Outside the book.
Because of the boy's appearance.
The young girl was in great pain, but finally found the source of healing for her heart.
The burning thoughts gradually reconnected.
The story of peaceful life in the storm, bit by bit, was liberated.
The young girl's cheeks flushed red.
The emotionless doll finally learned to feel embarrassed.
The days together flashed like photo in her mind.
Making her gently bite her lip, also giving her courage to continue reading.
Inside the book.
The boy and Kurokawa Akane tried many ways.
They faced the whole world.
But all those efforts proved useless.
The world was gradually losing Kurokawa Akane.
The boy realized that if he fell asleep and his thoughts stopped, he might forget Kurokawa Akane.
So, the boy began to avoid sleep.
At first, through willpower, then by drinking caffeine.
The longest record for a human without sleep was eleven days.
But in reality, only three days passed, and the boy's nerves were completely disordered.
After realizing this, Kurokawa Akane made a decision.
She decided to put sleeping pills in the boy's coffee.
When the boy fell asleep and woke up again.
He would truly forget Kurokawa Akane's existence.
In a world without Kurokawa Akane.
The boy unconsciously walked to the bridge.
He stepped on the bricks they once walked on together.
It felt like a sudden premonition, like waking up from a dream.
On the crowded street, where there was no place for that girl, but it was vast and desolate.
The boy called out Kurokawa Akane's name desperately.
Meanwhile, Kurokawa Akane stood on the bridge railing, bidding farewell to the world.
In the end, the boy ran as fast as he could towards Kurokawa Akane who was falling, stretching out his hand as far as possible.
Would he catch her?
No one knows.
Only an open-ended conclusion remains...
The world may have lost Kurokawa Akane forever.
Maybe the young man, with all his strength, grabbed Kurokawa Akane's hand, and together, they could face the entire world.
No one else knows how it ends.
But.
Outside the book.
She is the only one who knows the ending.
She trembled as she closed the book.
At this moment, Kurokawa Akane couldn't stop crying.
Her fingers wiped away the tears sliding down her cheeks.
After struggling to regain clear vision.
Kurokawa Akane took out her phone.
She logged into her Twitter account.
She had given up once.
But the young man had taken her hand and pulled her back into this world.
She would not give up anymore.
Even if she couldn't succeed, Kurokawa Akane would not give up.
No matter how difficult the path ahead is.
From today, Kurokawa Akane would take one step at a time.
But when she actually logged into her account.
The imagined obstacles didn't appear as she had thought.
Under her account, the number of comments had increased several times compared to the period when she was boycotted.
But they weren't just insults.
"On stage, Kurokawa-san shines, she is the girl who works hard and has always been the one I support. She truly isn't as unpleasant as people say online, I hope everyone will understand her more, I'm sure there will be more from her."
"Telling stories about bullying in the industry, selfishness, messy social interactions, and affairs with many men. Do those who say these things have any basis? Do the people who claim to be Kurokawa's friends truly understand her? Do you just want to see her die?"
"I'm a fan of Yukimi Azuma-sensei's book. I can only say, from the writing, finally loyal to her character, looking at Kurokawa Akane's record, I don't think she's a bad person, I will definitely continue to support her in the future."
Long reviews dominated the top posts.
Kurokawa Akane stood frozen in place.
What is this?
The book... Yukimi Azuma.
Kurokawa Akane vaguely remembered that Yukima Azuma had contacted MEM during the stormy period.
Not knowing what her was feeling.
Kurokawa Akane called MEM.
"Moshi moshi, nyan grr?" On the other end, MEM was clearly fast asleep.
"MEM-chan..." Kurokawa Akane's voice was dry, almost not sounding like her own. "It's me, Akane."
There was some noise on the other end of the phone.
Then, MEM's voice clearly became more happy.
"Akane-chan! What's wrong? Are you okay?"
The caring voice made Kurokawa Akane's heart tremble.
"Yeah, I'm okay... I've been a little depressed these past days, but I'm fine now."
"If you can, could you tell me what happened during this time?"
"Yukima... Azuma, what did Azuma do? I don't know anything, like a fool."
Hearing this, MEM clearly sighed with relief.
Then, her tone became a little strange.
"Yukima, huh..." MEM thought for a moment, Yukima Azuma hadn't prohibited her from revealing anything.
So, like a true gossip expert.
MEM recounted everything Yukima Azuma had done during this time to Kurokawa Akane.
The light novel written for Kurokawa Akane.
Three million copies sold on the first day.
And the collaboration with "LoveforReal" for promotion.
During that process, there was a lot of pressure from social media.
Most of it was mixed with personal selfishness, so what MEM said was fairly detailed, even somewhat exaggerating the difficulties Yukima Azuma had faced.
"Overall... he did his best for Akane-chan, but don't tell him I told you this."
After the call ended.
Kurokawa Akane blinked, stunned.
In her days of insensitivity, there had been someone who, for her, had faced the entire world.
--------------------------------------------
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The next morning.
"Guardian..." Yukima Azuma smiled brightly and greeted Kurokawa Akane.
Just like last time, Kurokawa Akane quickly ran up to him.
As the distance closed.
Yukima Azuma noticed something different.
The sharp smell of blood that used to cling to Kurokawa Akane's body had completely disappeared.
It wasn't suppressed, but completely gone.
It seemed that the light novel had worked.
As long as the illness in her heart was resolved, it seemed like the adolescence syndrome could be eradicated.
As he thought about this.
Suddenly, Kurokawa Akane lunged at him.
The slender arm of the girl wrapped around Yukima Azuma's neck, pulling him into a tight embrace.
In that position, it was as if she wanted to merge forever into the boy's embrace.
The distance was slowly erased.
Yukima Azuma could even feel the girl's fast heartbeat through the soft fabric.
His thoughts were completely interrupted.
After a moment of being stunned, Yukima Azuma lifted his hand and gently patted Kurokawa Akane's back.
After all, this was good.
Kurokawa Akane had so many things she wanted to say.
She wanted to thank Yukima Azuma for saving her from that dark world.
Or perhaps, she wanted to express the emotions she had bottled up all this time.
But when she actually met him, the words caught in her throat.
Her arms around Yukima Azuma's neck.
Kurokawa Akane couldn't hold back and burst into tears.
Tears fell, with feelings of emotion, joy, fear, and relief.
After crying for a long time, Kurokawa Akane finally stopped crying.
When she pulled away from Yukima Azuma's embrace, she was still choking up.
She took a thick envelope from her bag and handed it to Yukima Azuma.
It was her feeling after reading the book.
In the end, she chose this method, the simplest way.
Actually, Kurokawa Akane wanted to say it directly to Yukima Azuma.
But now that the guardian had regained his emotions, she felt too embarrassed.
So she chose this intermediary method.
Yukima Azuma took the envelope and put it away.
"I'll find some time to read it carefully. Let's go, we should have breakfast first. You have work later, right, guardian?"
"Do... do you want a little love? My today..."
Kurokawa Akane had vaguely realized that the boy in front of her might not be the kind of person she once thought.
But she still quietly brought it up.
Yukima Azuma was a little stunned and then nodded.
The two silently agreed to this little lie.
Kurokawa Akane pulled Yukima Azuma's collar, making him bow his head, then shyly kissed his lips.
She had never felt this way before.
Now, perhaps this was the real first kiss of Kurokawa Akane.
....
After breakfast.
Yukima Azuma took Kurokawa Akane to the anime production site.
"Guardian, goodbye."
"Azuma, goodbye."
The two waved goodbye.
This scene, for the staff on-site, still felt somewhat unreal.
After all, that doll-like girl really didn't show much emotion.
But right after that.
The staff were stunned.
When they saw Kurokawa Akane arrive.
The staff member in charge of directing the voice acting politely said:
"Kurokawa-san, let's start today's work, good luck."
Previously, Kurokawa Akane would only nod indifferently.
But today.
"Yeah, let's do our best together!"
Kurokawa Akane said seriously, with a full energetic smile on her face.
Her voice was full of vitality, making it clear to everyone that the girl was determined to give her all.
The staff member chatting with her rubbed his eyes.
Nani kore, who are you?
Where did the emotionless doll go?
Did someone get kissed by Truck-kun and isekai into her body!?
.....
The other side.
After leaving the workplace.
Yukima Azuma went to the Chiyoda area in Tokyo.
Today, Yukima Azuma had an appointment.
Yesterday, when he visited the studio.
Yukima Azuma happened to ask the anime director about the progress of the movie production.
Overall, there hadn't been any major changes.
The only minor issue might be with one of the designers.
This person was a famous illustrator who had worked on the illustrations for much romantic-comedy anime series.
They was the core artist for this movie.
Eromanga-sensei.
It wasn't that Eromanga-sensei's drawings were problematic.
In fact, the issue was the communication between the production team and Eromanga-sensei, which was extremely difficult.
Normally, the work for an anime movie like this would be carried out through in-person meetings.
The artist would submit their work, the director would review it, and then they would discuss any issues.
But it seemed Eromanga-sensei couldn't meet in person.
Most of the communication was limited to messages on Line.
One could only say that Eromanga-sensei's drawing skills were excellent.
If not, such a lack of communication would certainly lead to the collapse of a production step.
After Yukima Azuma understood the issue, he arranged to meet with Eromanga-sensei.
The plan was to talk about the problems that had accumulated on the current illustrations.
Perhaps because of Eromanga-sensei's recognition of Yukima Azuma.
The famous artist, always "headless and tailless," agreed to meet Yukima Azuma.
The meeting location was decided to be Eromanga-sensei's house.
It was located in an apartment in Chiyoda.
After paying for the ride and getting out of the car.
Yukima Azuma looked up at the apartment before him.
This was not a large apartment, at least much smaller than Yukima's own house.
It also had two floors.
There were some plants around the entrance.
But it was clear that it hadn't been cleaned for a long time.
The weeds were overgrown, and the trees that had been planted weren't pruned, looking quite unkempt.
Next to the door was a family name sign, Izumi.
This was Eromanga-sensei's home.
Yukima Azuma walked up and pressed the doorbell.
The bell rang for a long time with no sound from inside.
Instead, his phone vibrated.
Yukima Azuma took out his phone to check.
It was a message from Eromanga-sensei.
"The key is on the grass to the left."
Yukima Azuma looked to the left.
It took him about three minutes to search.
Finally, under a patch of weeds, he found the key.
He picked it up and examined it closely.
The end of the key had a thin string tied to it.
The string was loose and stretched towards a window on the left side of the second floor of the apartment.
Now Yukima Azuma could imagine how this key ended up here.
He used the key to open the door.
Upon entering, he arrived at the entrance area.
There were only two pairs of slippers in the entrance area, and the air was somewhat cold.
On the right side, on a shelf, there was a picture frame.
Yukima Azuma's attention was drawn to the picture.
It was of a man, a woman, and a small girl.
A happy family photo, the standard of a three-person family.
The woman and the girl both had silver hair, their cute faces looked nearly identical.
Yukima Azuma recognized that this was Eromanga-sensei from both the past and present.
However, what caught Yukima Azuma's attention wasn't the mother and daughter.
It was the man standing next to them.
He looked at the photo for a moment, feeling surprised.
The man in the photo, Yukima Azuma recognized him.
He was someone Yukima Azuma knew in this life.
His last name was also Izumi.
When Yukima Azuma first arrived in Tokyo, he didn't connect this Izumi with Izumi Sagiri's Izumi.
After meeting Kasumigaoka Utaha and beginning to pursue her, Yukima Azuma frequently visited the bookstore that Kasumigaoka Utaha often went to.
He went there to read books and also to meet Kasumigaoka Utaha and make progress in courting her.
One-third of the books in the library corner on the second floor of Yukima Azuma's house were from that bookstore.
The owner of that bookstore was the person in this family photo.
Because he went there often, Yukima Azuma was quite familiar with the bookstore owner.
Since Yukima Azuma was a regular, the bookstore owner, Izumi, had often helped him by keeping him updated.
Whenever Kasumigaoka Utaha appeared at the bookstore, Izumi, the owner, would send messages to Yukima Azuma.
"No wonder... I haven't been able to reach him recently."
Yukima Azuma muttered to himself, his gaze dropping.
At that moment, a series of knocks echoed from above.
Yukima Azuma looked at his phone.
Eromanga-sensei had sent more messages.
"Go to the farthest room on the second floor."
"Don't run around in someone else's house!"
"What are you doing?"
"Don't mess around!"
Looking at the messages, Yukima Azuma chuckled softly, a helpless smile forming.
There was really no other way.
Inviting a strange man into your home was indeed a risk for a small girl.
If it weren't for the passion and dedication that she had for her work, this silver-haired girl likely wouldn't have allowed him into her apartment.
Yukima Azuma obediently didn't wander around, but went straight to the second floor.
Finally, he stopped in front of the door at the far end.
This door had a pink flower-shaped nameplate.
It read "Izumi Sagiri."
Looking at the nameplate, Yukima Azuma smiled.
"Eromanga-sensei, I'm standing outside the door now." Yukima Azuma called out.
However, there was no response, only more messages.
"If there's anything, just say it. I'm listening."
Looking at this message, Yukima Azuma sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Eromanga-sensei, don't be too unreasonable! If this is how you're going to communicate, why did I come all the way here?"
"Even if you don't want me in your room, at least open the door, we can talk through it."
Yukima Azuma didn't press her to come out.
He cleverly avoided the sensitive topic.
Asking a Hikikomori to leave her room was like asking Bocchi to hug strangers on the streetit was an impossible task.
"Is this... not okay?"
"Of course not! Please take your work seriously!"
"But..."
"No buts! Eromanga-sensei, you know how much effort I've put into this project!"
There was complete silence on the other end.
A moment later, strange noises could be heard coming from inside the room.
Objects clattered against each other.
After a long while, the door finally creaked open just a tiny bit.
The gap opened, but there was no further reaction.
Yukima Azuma tried to push the door a little more.
Immediately, he saw inside the pink-colored room.
Izumi Sagiri, dressed in sportswear, looked like a little green dumpling.
She wore a large pink cartoon mask.
Sitting in the corner of the room, far from the door.
She was leaning against her small bed.
Still vigilantly watching the door like a frightened little animal.
Yukima Azuma had a moment where he wanted to rush into the room and tease the cute little girl.
But in the end, he restrained himself.
That would be too cruel.
Moreover, it might create a psychological trauma for Izumi Sagiri.
Yukima Azuma sat down on the floor outside the door.
As he had said before, one person inside the room, one person outside the door.
He took a tablet out of his bag.
Yukima Azuma began to briefly explain the points the anime director had communicated, as well as his own requests and suggestions for the illustrations.
At this moment, Izumi Sagiri, who had been cautious earlier, saw that Yukima Azuma was truly talking about work.
She clearly relaxed much more.
She grabbed the tablet from the corner of the room, started taking notes, and began adjusting the illustrations according to what Yukima Azuma had said.
"Is this... okay?"
The girl's voice was a bit hesitant.
Because there was no longer the barrier of the internet,
Even Eromanga-sensei from the legend could no longer maintain her tough demeanor.
The sound was as soft as a whisper.
Fortunately, Sagiri had a livestreaming device, wore headphones, and connected it to the room's audio system.
It wasn't impossible to hear the voice.
It was just that the headphones' output couldn't use a voice changer, so she had to speak with her real, soft voice to communicate with Yukima Azuma.
As she spoke, her small fingers raised the drawing board, presenting it to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
The issues the director had raised had mostly been dealt with.
Additionally, the character emotions Yukima Azuma mentioned had been perfectly adjusted.
At this level, the draft was already a work of art.
However...
"By the way, why are all the characters in Eromanga-sensei's drawings... flat-chested?"
Kurokawa Akane's character was designed with a B-cup.
But the feel that Izumi Sagiri drew was almost like an A-cup.
Though it was a minor flaw, it felt strange when such small issues appeared in Izumi Sagiri's otherwise perfect artwork.
Upon hearing Yukima Azuma's question, Izumi Sagiri hesitated.
She noticed Yukima Azuma was staring at her.
And it was related to her work.
Izumi Sagiri closed her eyes and yelled:
"Because there are things I've never seen in real life, I can't draw them!"
Yukima Azuma glanced at Izumi Sagiri's flat, unremarkable body.
Umu, after all, she's just a little girl.
Come to think of it, in the past, Eromanga-sensei's works always had similarly styled characters.
Looks like she's using herself as a reference for the drawings.
Seeing Yukima Azuma nodding as if in thought,
Izumi Sagiri immediately crossed her arms, warily stepping back a bit.
She looked like she was guarding against a pervert.
However, since she was wearing a large cartoon mask, her actual facial expression couldn't be seen.
But, this little skit unexpectedly had an incident.
Izumi Sagiri suddenly stood up, and her small body unexpectedly staggered.
As if she couldn't stand properly, she fell forward.
Initially feeling a bit embarrassed, Izumi Sagiri suddenly felt dizzy.
Soon, the world before her seemed to flip.
The distance between her and the tatami mat on the floor was getting closer.
She reflexively shut her eyes.
She waited for a long time, but the pain never came.
Her body didn't feel the impact of the tatami either.
Instead, it felt as though she had fallen into a soft sofa.
Carefully opening her eyes, Izumi Sagiri realized Yukima Azuma, who was previously standing at the door, was now right in front of her.
She had fallen into the arms of the young man, which explained the soft feeling.
Having never experienced close contact with the opposite sex,
Let alone hugging, she had never even had a boy's finger touch hers.
Not to mention being someone with severe social anxiety, to the point of not daring to leave her room.
For someone like Izumi Sagiri, suddenly falling into the arms of a young man, one could imagine what would happen.
As soon as she realized the situation, Izumi Sagiri nearly "exploded."
She struggled to break free.
But after only a few movements, dizziness hit again.
Her small hand, which had risen, went limp and dropped.
Her eyes rolled back, and Izumi Sagiri passed out on the spot.
Even Yukima Azuma was startled by this unexpected situation.
He didn't recall Izumi Sagiri having any serious medical conditions.
After removing the large cartoon mask,
Yukima Azuma immediately understood why the girl fainted.
In the summer heat, even though the room had the air conditioner on,
It wasn't enough to handle the fact that Izumi Sagiri had wrapped herself up like a sticky rice cake.
She must have been too focused on drawing and not noticed her condition,
Standing up and moving around caused her to suffer from heatstroke.
Yukima Azuma quickly helped her remove the soaking wet sportswear,
Leaving just the inner clothes, which were drenched in sweat.
He didn't want her to misunderstand the situation when she woke up, as those typical scenes in anime.
If heatstroke wasn't dealt with in time, it could lead to serious issues.
Afterward, he laid her down with her limbs spread out on the tatami mat.
Yukima Azuma went downstairs and found some ice from the fridge.
He placed the ice on Izumi Sagiri's forehead, soaked a towel in cool water, and wiped her hands and feet.
Izumi Sagiri only felt a vague dizziness,
Her body felt hot and hard to breathe.
It wasn't until a cool breeze blew through
That she began to feel a bit better.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but Izumi Sagiri drowsily opened her eyes.
By reflex, she looked toward the cool breeze.
She saw Yukima Azuma, holding her paper fan in his hand, gently fanning her.
She tried to move her body but still felt weak and nauseous.
At the same time, Izumi Sagiri noticed that the cartoon mask on her face was gone.
Immediately, she tried to sit up and resist.
Yukima Azuma extended his hand, placing it gently on her forehead, and gently pressed her back down.
"Don't try to move anymore. You've got heatstroke, it's very dangerous, do you understand?"
Normally, Izumi Sagiri would definitely be embarrassed and angry, refusing to listen.
But now, because of the heatstroke, she had no strength left to get up.
She could only lie there like a dried fish, allowing Yukima Azuma to take care of her.
Not to mention her emotions, this state also allowed her to hear him speak more clearly.
The cool breeze from the paper fan blew across Sagiri's silver hair.
Each gust of cool air made her feel more exhausted.
From being unable to move to not wanting to move at all.
"I've handled your first aid, but if you still feel unwell tomorrow, we should go to the hospital for a check-up."
"Don't think this is a small matter. Severe heatstroke can.... In any case, you need to be careful about staying cool in the summer."
As he spoke, Yukima Azuma lightly tapped Izumi Sagiri's forehead with the paper fan.
"Th-thank you."
Izumi Sagiri's small pale pink lips moved.
Her voice was so quiet it couldn't be heard clearly.
But Yukima Azuma could tell from the shape of her mouth that she was thanking him.
Since Sagiri was now a "patient," he didn't tease her by saying, "Huh? What did you just say?"
About half an hour later, Izumi Sagiri sat up.
Her head still felt a bit dizzy,
But most of the symptoms had subsided.
Regaining some strength, Sagiri no longer reacted strongly.
If it were before, she would have tried to force Yukima Azuma out of the room by any means.
But now, they had been sitting next to each other for a while.
Sagiri understood that Yukima Azuma wasn't a bad person.
So even though she was still embarrassed, she no longer wanted to act aggressively toward him.
Seeing Sagiri's shy demeanor,
Yukima Azuma quietly thought to himself that today was indeed lucky.
If it weren't for Sagiri getting heatstroke, trying to have a face-to-face conversation with this little girl would certainly take a lot of effort.
If this were a galgame, the relationship progress bar would have definitely jumped up significantly.
"My... My name is Izumi Sagiri."
Sagiri softly spoke, her voice as quiet as a mosquito's buzz.
Perhaps she thought that since Yukima Azuma had come into her room, it would be difficult to just maintain a purely professional relationship.
"My name is Yukima Azuma."
Yukima Azuma said, using the paper fan to write his name in the air.
Izumi Sagiri seriously committed the name to memory.
Then, just as she was about to say something,
Guru guruuu~~~!
Sagiri's stomach betrayed her first.
The protest from her stomach immediately made Sagiri's small face turn bright red. She quickly placed her hand over her stomach and cautiously glanced up at Yukima Azuma's reaction.
If he dared to laugh at her,
Then she would... she would... definitely get mad!
However, Yukima Azuma clearly had no intention of mocking her.
"How does Sagiri usually handle meals?"
Yukima Azuma noticed that Sagiri hadn't left her room, and the house didn't seem like it was regularly lived in.
It seemed like the aunt who adopted Sagiri wasn't home every day.
"I order takeout," Sagiri mumbled, her gaze instinctively drifting toward the windowsill.
There, a basket was tied with a long nylon rope.
Yukima Azuma followed her gaze and immediately understood the system.
After ordering the food, the basket would be lowered through the window, the food placed inside, and then the basket pulled back up.
Should he praise Sagiri for being such a clever girl?
She even thought of this method.
"Is there anything for cooking in the fridge?" Yukima Azuma asked casually. "Eating takeout all the time isn't good. Let me cook for you, change it up a bit."
Hearing that, Sagiri gently shook her head.
"I don't know."
Yukima Azuma smacked his forehead.
Of course, this girl never leaves her room.
"Then I'll go check downstairs."
"No need... it's too much trouble."
"It's fine. We're probably friends now, right? It's nothing."
"Friends... friends..."
"Isn't that so?"
"It's..."
(Note: Why do I feel like I've experienced dj vu at this part?)
Sagiri felt that Yukima Azuma, who shared her interests and even entered her room, truly fit the image of a friend she had in mind.
Yukima Azuma smiled and waved, then went downstairs.
Sagiri's kitchen was clearly not used often, but there were some fresh ingredients in the fridge.
They must have been stored for convenience.
Yukima Azuma quickly took a look.
In the end, he decided to make grilled mackerel with miso soup, along with a small serving of rice.
These were traditional Japanese dishes.
Yukima Azuma didn't eat them much himself, but considering Sagiri's usual takeout choices, simple traditional Japanese food like this seemed like the best option.
Even a basic dish needs the right hands to make it.
When Yukima Azuma, with his cooking level 7, started preparing, the aroma of grilled mackerel immediately filled the air, tempting everyone nearby.
It didn't take long before Yukima Azuma placed a plate of fragrant grilled mackerel, a bowl of miso soup, and a small bowl of rice on the table.
"Enjoy~."
Yukima Azuma placed the food on the small table and smiled.
The smell of the food enticed Sagiri so much that she couldn't take her eyes off it.
The aroma was truly irresistible.
Normally, Sagiri would never eat in front of others.
But with a dish made by someone with cooking skills like Yukima Azuma, the little girl was completely defeated.
She picked up a pair of chopsticks, grabbed a small piece of fish, and put it in her mouth.
The wonderful taste spread across her tongue, making Sagiri close her eyes in pleasure.
"So delicious!"
She murmured in awe.
Yukima Azuma sat down beside her, maintaining a respectful distance so she wouldn't feel pressured and could take her time to adjust.
After Sagiri had eaten a few bites, Yukima Azuma smiled and said:
"By the way, I don't think you've ever signed a contract with any company, right?"
Sagiri, captivated by the taste of the food, unconsciously nodded.
But immediately, she realized something.
Wait!
She had fallen into a trap!
However, the food was already in her mouth. Could she really spit it out now?
Having eaten someone else's food, it felt like she was in a vulnerable position.
"Umm, never signed... for some special reasons."
Sagiri replied quietly.
"Is it because you're not good at communicating?" Yukima Azuma said bluntly.
Sagiri swallowed a small bite of rice, staring at Yukima Azuma, unsure how he knew this about her.
Seeing her confusion, Yukima Azuma seized the opportunity to continue:
"Why not try signing a contract with my company? I'll handle all the communication issues for you, and then there won't be any problems, right?"
"If there's a company managing the contracts and revenue sharing, you'll be able to focus more on drawing, which would be better, wouldn't it?"
After hearing this, Sagiri tried to imagine it.
It seemed... not too bad?
Seeing the hesitant expression on the girl's face, Yukima Azuma secretly smiled very Aizen, thinking:
Everything Just According to Keikaku!!!
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"Sagiri will definitely want to focus on drawing rather than contracts or any other communication," Yukima Azuma said.
"Besides, even if we sign a collaboration contract, I will make sure Sagiri retains her freedom to only draw what she wants to."
Yukima Azuma's words were full of temptation.
Especially since Sagiri saw Yukima Azuma as a friend and was enjoying the meal Yukima Azuma had prepared.
She thought for a long time.
Finally, Sagiri turned her head away and whispered:
"If you can do what you said, and we sign the contract... then that's fine."
Yukima Azuma smiled lightly.
Wasn't that already a sign of persuasion?
When Sagiri finished the delicious meal,
It was time for Yukima Azuma to leave.
He took the empty plate,
And was about to step out of the room.
Sagiri's call made Yukima Azuma stop.
"You... when will you bring the contract?"
Her voice held a hint of expectation.
Yukima Azuma turned back, facing Sagiri's bright eyes.
It was easy to guess,
How small Sagiri still was.
She was still just a little girl.
Since that incident, she had locked herself up at home.
She couldn't even step out of her room.
At home, only her aunt took care of her.
Her aunt had a strong personality and was difficult to communicate with.
Even though Sagiri might have social anxiety, she surely wanted to interact with others.
Now, suddenly having a friend,
It was understandable for her to look forward to the next meeting.
Thinking of this,
Yukima Azuma took out his phone and shook it.
"Sagiri has my Line, right? We can arrange a convenient time."
"Besides, we're friends, if Sagiri needs anything, just call me."
"As friends, even if it's midnight and raining heavily, if Sagiri calls, I'll come right away."
Yukima Azuma's words made Sagiri widen her eyes.
The scariest thing for people is when, after feeling like they have nothing, they find a place to rely on.
It becomes easy to fall into it, which is dangerous.
Right now, little Sagiri felt like that too.
The promise had deeply etched itself into her heart.
Her heartbeat started to race.
"I... I understand."
"Umu Umu, I look forward to your guidance in the future, Eromanga-sensei."
"I don't know anyone with that name!"
"Hahaha."
With Yukima Azuma's laughter, Sagiri finally got angry and pushed him out of the room.
After Yukima Azuma finished washing the dishes and neatly arranged them,
He went to the entrance to change his shoes.
Before leaving, he glanced at the photo by the door.
He pulled open the large entrance door and left Izumi's house.
Yukima Azuma took a few steps, then immediately turned around and looked at the second-floor window.
Sure enough, behind the glass, he saw a small silver head.
Sagiri realized she had been spotted and immediately pulled her head back.
She crouched down below the windowsill for a few seconds.
Then, she stuck her head out again.
As a result, she saw Yukima Azuma hadn't moved and was still standing in place.
He even raised his hand, forming a gun shape with his thumb and index finger.
Accompanied by an inaudible "bang."
The bullet flew towards her.
Sagiri pulled her head back again.
This time, when she raised her head, Yukima Azuma had already gone far.
Watching his silhouette,
Sagiri raised her hand, pointed her little finger at his distant figure, and "bang"-ed.
The initial feeling of separation suddenly vanished.
Waiting until Yukima Azuma's figure completely disappeared from sight,
Sagiri rushed to her bed, hugging her pillow and rolling around.
On her cute face was the brightest smile she had worn in the entire year.
...
On the other side.
After returning home, Yukima Azuma began thinking about the next steps.
The progress of the movie version of Bunny Girl Senpai was stable, and there were no concerns at the moment.
Mommy Guardian... Kurokawa Akane, the symptoms of adolescence syndrome were almost gone.
And this was achieved just from the light novel.
Yukima Azuma felt he had possibly overdone it.
At first, he thought the light novel's audience might not be sufficient.
It might not be able to fully change the direction of online discussions and extinguish the initial flame.
That was why he prepared the movie version, which targeted a much wider audience.
Once the film was released,
Everything would be completely turned around.
After all, compared to the light novel world, the audience for anime was on a completely different level.
It would be enough to make the people who were initially involved in the loud controversy speak up in support, dozens or even hundreds of times.
But looking at it now, adolescence syndrome didn't necessarily require changing the objective facts completely.
It was enough to heal the wounds in the heart.
Although it was a bit heavy-handed, it was fine.
The good news was that adolescence syndrome was relatively easy to treat.
Moreover, after the film's release, it would bring profits to Laplace Corporation.
It could even help Kurokawa Akane gain fame.
And now, Kurokawa Akane was an artist contracted with Laplace Corporation.
She was also the best promoter for the Youth series.
Two volumes had been released, and the sales of the upcoming volumes might even increase.
A twofold benefit.
After all, this wasn't a losing deal.
So there was nothing to complain about.
And it seemed that there was nothing else left to do.
Yukima Azuma's thoughts then wandered back to the fallen comet.
The fragments of Charlotte.
His gaze unconsciously drifted toward the window, in a particular direction.
It was the direction of Gifu Prefecture.
Yukima Azuma had asked someone to investigate the situation of the comet crater.
But there had been almost no news.
The comet fragments had fallen, but it was unknown whether they had been recovered and sent for research.
Or if they were still lying at the bottom of the lake, hidden from sight.
Yes, because it was related to an inland lake.
The crater where the fragments of Charlotte had fallen had now become a new inland lake.
Should he go see it himself?
Yukima Azuma briefly considered this thought.
But immediately shook his head.
Even if something could truly be discovered from the fragments of Charlotte,
He didn't need to compete for that ability.
He had the system; as long as he followed the steps to upgrade his skills, he would have a stable supply of supernatural abilities.
Laplace Corporation was also thriving at present.
The structure of modern society was truly not something easily disrupted.
After all, what if the comet could help someone achieve magic or supernatural abilities?
The greatest wizard, the great Dumbledore, might be able to use legendary magic Firestorm.
But old man, how much power could your Firestorm actually have?
Yukima Azuma shook his head and smiled bitterly.
It was better to focus on the future development of Laplace Corporation.
Even though, looking at the present, Laplace Corporation had risen very quickly in a short time,
There was still a fundamental gap between it and the real business tycoon families, a gap that couldn't be erased.
Many families had reached this point.
After several generations of effort, they had only stopped here.
So far, in the Land of the Rising Sun, there were only four major tycoon families.
Apart from the Shimonoya family, most were traditional families with histories spanning hundreds or even thousands of years.
These were noble families that had existed since the time of the shogunate and had passed down through the generations until today.
However, there were advantages.
Yukima Azuma's vision for the future, as a "Laplace Demon," was an advantage.
Proactively preparing in advance, recruiting talent in fields like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things was an advantage.
"We'll create a short video platform."
Yukima Azuma tapped his hand on the table and made his decision.
The short video platform has an advantage over current video platforms.
Moreover, it has its own inherent superiority.
Fragmented information makes it easier for viewers to immerse themselves.
Currently, some people have started pursuing this idea.
However, the core competitiveness of the current short video platform has yet to be grasped by anyone.
That is the big data model.
Laplace Corporation has the capability to build a user data model.
This is a little-known theoretical topic, and Laplace Corporation has been continuously training talent in this field.
Additionally, creating a video platform in Japan is also an advantage.
Because, right now and in the future, all video platforms or video websites in Japan are... very bad.
Niconico video organization, is referred to as N.
These platforms only launched 720p online video quality in 2024.
And the data storage media of their servers still use floppy disks.
It's really... ridiculous.
Another advantage is that video platforms have a social nature.
They are channels for expression and information platforms.
Currently, in Japan, most of the political leaders and officials still cling to traditional media.
They don't realize that the focus of data and channels of expression is gradually shifting.
If they can create a quality short video platform and put it into operation before most people realize that short video will be an important channel for information,
Yukima Azuma could avoid some trouble and gain significant power from this channel of expression.
Thinking about the beginning of next year, Laplace Corporation would have a large amount of money.
No matter how much money they spent, it wouldn't be an issue.
A short video platform would definitely be the best development direction for Laplace Corporation.
After careful consideration, Yukima Azuma had confirmed this direction.
He simply made a plan and prepared to hand it to Yukino the next day.
Then, Yukima Azuma looked at his two cats, hugged them, and "sniffed" them for a while until he was "high" and then prepared to go to sleep.
"I just entered high school, no need to rush. There's plenty of time."
Before falling asleep, Yukima Azuma thought to himself.
The future was long.
Even Shimonoya Gan'an, when building their family business, was already over fifty years old.
But he, he was still a teenager.
With that belief, he fell into a deep sleep.
Then...
When he opened his eyes again.
Yukima Azuma saw a strange ceiling.
Yukima Azuma: ()?
"Is this really happening? A second Isekai with no chance to enjoy it?"
"What is this? Raised a flag and locked it immediately? Was I about to build a harem and then die? Kono hito de nashi!"
He sat up, looking around the unfamiliar room.
Before him was a completely different room from his own at home.
There was no bed, and the blankets were directly spread over tatami.
There were Japanese-style sliding doors and windows that were frosted like paper.
Yukima Azuma recalled that most old houses in Japan had this kind of style.
On the desk, there was a lamp, textbooks, and office supplies.
In the large closet, there were several skirts and JK uniforms hanging.
Although the room was a little messy, it was clear this was definitely a girl's room.
Yukima Azuma felt very confused.
Had someone broken into his house last night, knocked him out, and then brought him to some girl's house to make him her husband?
With his shogi skill range and sensitivity, the person who could do this would have to be at least level 10 in stealth, with peak proficiency.
As Yukima Azuma was lost in thought...
The sliding door of the room opened from the outside.
"Onee-chan, it's time to eat!"
A black-haired girl said to Yukima Azuma.
After speaking, she didn't turn back and walked straight out.
"Onee-chan?"
Yukima Azuma repeated this form of address in his mind, and a new question arose.
"Ohaiyo."
Yukima Azuma entered the unfamiliar living room and greeted the kind elderly lady.
"Onee-chan, why so late!"
The unfamiliar little girl looked at Yukima Azuma and uttered a teasing reproach.
Yukima Azuma sat down at the empty spot next to the low table.
He looked at the dining table.
There was grilled fish, smoked meat, and egg soup.
For a breakfast, this was quite a hearty meal.
Yukima Azuma opened the rice cooker next to him and served himself a bowl of rice.
He also kindly added another bowl for the elderly lady.
As he ate, Yukima Azuma thought about the current situation.
Earlier, he had rummaged a bit through the room.
And he had somewhat understood the situation of the room's owner.
Miyamizu Mitsuha.
The eldest daughter of the Miyamizu family, the heir to the Miyamizu shrine, a Miko, and also a high school girl.
It seemed like it was the vacation before Miyamizu Mitsuha entered high school.
Yukima Azuma naturally knew of Miyamizu Mitsuha.
Since he knew Mitsuha, Yukima also had some understanding of his current situation.
At first, Miyamizu Mitsuha had a miraculous fate.
She was the Miko of Itomori, a town in Gifu, and the heir of the Miyamizu family.
Every time she reached puberty, she would undergo a brief body swap with a fated person.
This was a hereditary event in the Miyamizu family.
It was a favor received from the gods worshiped at Itomori.
Miyamizu Mitsuha would initially swap souls with her fated person, crossing through time.
Then, the town of Itomori would be struck by a meteorite and destroyed.
Miyamizu Mitsuha and her fated person would work together to save the people of the town who were supposed to die.
It wasn't clear whether it was because Yukima Azuma often looked towards Gifu, but now, it seemed that Yukima was the chosen fated person for Miyamizu Mitsuha.
However, it wasn't a soul swap.
Rather, Yukima Azuma's body had truly been brought into this space as well.
But to others, Yukima Azuma was now Miyamizu Mitsuha.
At the same time, as long as Yukima Azuma closed his eyes, he could see the scenes on the other side.
Those were the scenes that Miyamizu Mitsuha, who had been brought into Yukima Azuma's space, saw.
Yukima Azuma felt it.
As long as he used his supernatural skills, it seemed that he could sever this connection.
Once severed, he would immediately be returned to his own space.
But when Yukima Azuma was about to do so, a gentle voice sounded in his head.
The voice was not like normal speech.
Though he couldn't understand the words, Yukima could grasp the meaning.
It seemed that the speaker was asking Yukima Azuma to stay and help save the town of Itomori.
Indeed, the fragment of Charlotte had fallen onto the town of Itomori.
It could be inferred that the owner of this voice was most likely the god of Itomori.
With the act of being pulled into unpaid labor like this, Yukima Azuma felt embarrassed.
But after all, the other party was a deity.
Yukima Azuma decided to show respect.
It was just a formality.
Helping the deity this time.
In the future, when he needed the deity's assistance, could the deity refuse?
Miko Miyamizu Mitsuha knew the location of the Itomori shrine.
If the other party returned and refused, Yukima Azuma wouldn't hesitate to overturn their shrine.
It seemed that because Yukima Azuma had agreed to help save Itomori, the god of Itomori continued to explain a few things.
For example, the time-space exchange this time would last for forty-seven days.
But that was forty-seven days for Miyamizu Mitsuha.
Miyamizu Mitsuha's time here, each seven days equaled one day for Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma could operate for forty-seven days, while Miyamizu Mitsuha could only act for seven days in total.
This was also to minimize the disruption to Yukima Azuma's life.
And maximize the ability to save Itomori.
During the exchange period, they would swap identities, like gaining an extra layer of consciousness.
Just like now, Yukima Azuma.
Though it was truly his body, the grandmother and younger sister of Miyamizu Mitsuha thought that the person in front of them was Miyamizu Mitsuha.
But in reality, the body hadn't changed.
The voice of the god of Itomori grew fainter.
It seemed to take a lot of effort.
Yukima Azuma also felt that this god, whom he had never met, seemed to have good intentions.
If the forty-seven days of Yukima Azuma's time were wasted, or the bodies not swapped
Yukima Azuma would certainly stop helping.
For now, the conditions set by the god of Itomori were something Yukima Azuma could reluctantly accept.
However, what Yukima Azuma found strange was...
The time on Miyamizu Mitsuha's side.
It was three years before the comet Charlotte arrived.
This time-space exchange was very peculiar.
He had to carry out the plan from three years ago to save the town of Itomori three years later.
The difficulty level was definitely higher compared to preparing when the comet was near.
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but wonder if the god of Itomori had some sort of restriction, or if there was another reason.
Three years, affecting a third of Itomori, the planning needed to be done.
Yukima Azuma pondered how to save the town of Itomori.
"What's wrong? Mitsuha, you look worried."
The kind grandmother spoke up.
Yukima Azuma froze.
His expression should be fine, right?
Miyamizu Mitsuha's grandmother... probably called Miyamizu Hitoha, right?
The Miyamizu family was a miko lineage, and this grandmother seemed very sharp.
"It's nothing, just a little distracted."
Yukima Azuma waved his hand to decline.
It was fine; denying it didn't matter.
After all, it was normal for a high school girl to be concerned about various things, so he could just brush it off.
Sure enough, when Miyamizu's grandmother heard Yukima Azuma say that, she didn't pay much attention.
After breakfast, Yukima Azuma still hadn't returned to Mitsuha's room.
Then, someone arrived at the Miyamizu house.
It was Miyamizu Mitsuha's friends.
A boy and a girl.
Yukima Azuma didn't remember their names.
Luckily, there was a diary of Miyamizu Mitsuha in the room.
It mentioned them.
"Teshigawara, Sayaka, good morning."
Yukima Azuma greeted them.
The boy, Teshigawara, Yukima Azuma didn't know his first name, so he just addressed him by his last name.
The girl's name was Natori Sayaka, who had a close relationship with Mitsuha, and they called each other by their first names.
"Mitsuha, Ohaiyo!"
Sayaka waved back cheerfully.
"Yo."
Teshigawara's response was rather normal.
After greeting, both of them headed outside.
It was obvious they had an appointment with Miyamizu Mitsuha.
As for the details of the appointment, Yukima Azuma didn't know yet.
But for now, he lacked information, so it would be good to follow them and see if there was anything related to Itomori.
With this thought, Yukima Azuma decided to follow them.
Itomori was a town nestled in the mountains.
Although Gifu Prefecture was one of the larger prefectures in Japan, the town of Itomori, located in the mountains, could hardly be described as bustling.
There were no trains, and buses only ran every two hours.
The whole town didn't have a single coffee shop, nor any stores like dentists; it only had two shops selling snacks.
On the other hand, it did have three izakayas. (Note: An izakaya is a type of informal Japanese bar that serves alcoholic drinks and snacks. Izakayas are casual places for after-work drinking, similar to a pub, a Spanish tapas bar, or an American saloon or tavern. Wiki)
The town only had one junior high school and one high school, and most of the children in the town were classmates.
Along the narrow road by the rice fields, the three of them walked toward a destination Yukima Azuma didn't know.
"We'll be in high school soon; I wonder if there will be new classmates," Teshigawara muttered.
"Mostly, the people from this town continue to study here, so it will probably be kids from our old class. There are no other students in the town," Sayaka exposed Teshigawara's illusion.
Yukima Azuma could only shake his head upon hearing that.
The environment was truly difficult; entering high school and starting a career seemed almost impossible.
As the three were chatting, a group of people appeared ahead on the road.
There were both boys and girls, and based on their ages, they were probably around Mitsuha's age.
"Haizz," Teshigawara sighed.
The group noticed the three of them as well.
Each of them looked with curiosity.
As the distance between the two groups narrowed, one of them said:
"Ah, isn't that the mayor's daughter? And the son of a businessman, the broadcaster's little sister."
"Oh, it really suits them, what's the term? Ah yes, birds of a feather."
"Haha, that's not how that term is used!"
"Just a little closer."
The mocking voices were loud and unhidden.
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow.
The mayor's daughter?
Ah, it seemed there was some background like that.
Miyamizu Mitsuha's father, a man who had joined the Miyamizu family, gave up inheriting the shrine and entered politics, becoming the mayor of Itomori.
Teshigawara's family seemed to be involved in construction, and their business was quite well-known in town.
Natori Sayaka's older sister was a news anchor for the Gifu Prefecture TV station.
Due to these identities, the three of them had often been teased by their classmates.
Yukima Azuma felt a bit helpless.
Middle school kids really couldn't understand.
What was there to tease about the mayor's daughter?
Yukima Azuma glanced at the group.
The teasing laughter gradually faded.
The people in that group began to feel chills from being stared at.
In the past, Miyamizu Mitsuha, whenever she was teased, would lower her head and hurriedly walk away.
She had never dared to face them.
But now, "her" gaze felt like sharp knives, sweeping over their faces, bringing a cold, painful sensation.
Yukima Azuma didn't even use any skills like shogi aura.
For something as childish as teasing, he handled it effortlessly.
Just a little psychological pressure was enough to have a clear effect.
In reality, if it were the real Miyamizu Mitsuha, just occasionally raising her head a little would suffice.
Those people wouldn't dare say anything bad anymore.
It was only through constant endurance and self-doubt that these people became more and more unreasonable.
The silence lasted for several seconds.
Yukima Azuma withdrew his gaze and sighed dramatically.
Sayaka, who was standing next to him, thought Mitsuha was upset and softly comforted her:
"Mitsuha, don't mind them."
But Yukima Azuma shook his head.
"I'm not bothered, I just think it's a pity."
This time, Yukima Azuma didn't say it quietly.
Sayaka was stunned for a moment, and without thinking, asked:
"What do you mean, pity?"
"Our parents achieved success through hard work. What's so funny about that?"
"We don't brag about relying on our parents' pampering, so what's there to mock?"
"They laugh at us? It's strange, their perspective is wrong. It's really a pity."
After saying that, Yukima Azuma sighed again.
As soon as those words left his mouth, the people who had been laughing earlier all turned red.
For these kids who hadn't even entered high school, they really wanted to jump up and scold them.
They wouldn't mind, and could even retort.
But if someone looked at them with pity and said their perspective was wrong, and sighed as if feeling sorry for them...
That would strike straight at their hearts.
The reason they teased Mitsuha and the others was essentially due to their own inferiority complex.
Now, being made to feel pitied by "Mitsuha" was truly a devastating blow.
"Mitsuha! So cool!"
Sayaka's eyes seemed to sparkle like tiny stars.
"They must be so furious right now!"
Teshigawara also laughed joyfully.
Yukima Azuma didn't really care much.
Now that they had switched identities, he decided to go ahead and solve the youthful troubles of Miyamizu Mitsuha too.
But what Yukima Azuma didn't worry about
Mitsuha's two close friends were clearly very excited.
"Today, Mitsuha seems different somehow."
Sayaka hugged one of Yukima Azuma's arms, laughing as she spoke.
Even though Mitsuha was normally very cute,
Today, "she" was especially captivating.
Since they were Mitsuha's friends, Yukima Azuma just let Sayaka hug him.
His other hand gently drew a line in the air.
"It's just a little change in determination, like standing up straight while walking, or adjusting the pace of your steps."
"Even small changes like that can affect a person's aura. It's a little tip I read online to help boost confidence."
Sayaka's gaze was subconsciously drawn to Yukima Azuma's finger.
By the time Yukima Azuma finished speaking, she suddenly realized.
Recalling his words,
She unconsciously stood up straighter.
Boosting confidence wasn't that important,
But Mitsuha was so cool, it made one want to imitate "her".
"Hey, speaking of which, where are we going today?"
Yukima Azuma thought asking such a question now wasn't out of place.
"Weren't we supposed to go to the caf on the street?"
Teshigawara answered casually.
"Right, right!" Sayaka nodded eagerly. "Mitsuha is looking forward to it too, right?"
Yukima Azuma smiled slightly and nodded.
Well, changing the environment a bit to think about countermeasures was also fine.
The three of them waited at the bus stop.
The bus came every two hours, so if they missed it, they would have to wait another two hours.
The only good news was that the bus was on time.
The three didn't miss the morning bus.
As the bus started moving
Looking out the window, the rural scenery stretched before them.
Yukima Azuma blinked.
It seemed that saving Itomori wouldn't be an easy task.
In the eyes of many, this small town was cramped and inconvenient.
Perhaps some people would want to move to a more bustling place to live.
But at the same time
There were definitely people who loved a life detached from the world.
Not to mention the leisurely comfort and ease of living in such a small, quiet town.
At least, there were not few people with deep affection for this land.
Telling them to leave would not be easy.
But there were still three years before the comet would fall, there was still time.
.....
The scenery outside the window gradually changed.
Though the mountains and forests still dominated, some tall buildings began to appear in the distance.
The three of them got off the bus at a station.
The streets here already had the semblance of a city.
Following the directions on the map, they arrived in front of a small caf.
Looking at the fancy sign in front
Teshigawara and Sayaka swallowed, looking a bit guilty.
"Do we have enough savings for this?"
"Probably enough, we've been saving for a long time!"
While the two of them whispered and discussed
Yukima Azuma had already walked up and pulled open the caf door.
"Welcome."
The voice of the waitress rang out from inside.
The two of them froze in place.
But with the spirit of "sharing the burden when there are difficulties," they quickly followed Mitsuha.
Inside, the caf had a rather unique decoration style.
But Yukima Azuma didn't care much.
Leading the two of them, he sat down at a four-seat table by the window.
Sayaka instinctively hugged Yukima Azuma's arm tightly, feeling somewhat uneasy.
"Mitsuha, aren't you scared?"
Yukima Azuma lightly tapped Sayaka's forehead.
"Be confident, gambare gambare."
Upon hearing that, Teshigawara was the first to perk up!
"Confidence Ahhhhhh!" He sat up straight, looking around nervously, trying to act like he wasn't scared at all.
But the next second
When he saw the waitress walking toward them with the menu
He immediately deflated, burying his face on the table and pretending to be dead.
Yukima Azuma took the menu.
"Two donuts, one cappuccino." After ordering expertly, he handed the menu to Sayaka.
Sayaka looked at the variety of items before her, momentarily overwhelmed.
But after hesitating for a while, she realized it would be awkward to not choose something.
As she was debating
"Choose either the milk cream cake or fruit cream cake. Things like macarons may look pretty, but honestly, the taste is just average."
"And for coffee, the canned coffee has the same sweetness as a latte with added sugar."
"If you can't handle the bitterness, definitely don't go for espresso or americano. Mocha has chocolate in it."
Thanks to Yukima Azuma's explanation
Sayaka, who had been confused, finally made her choice.
"Mango cake and... a latte."
She had originally planned to order a macaron.
It looked beautiful.
But when eating it, it might not taste as expected.
This kind of thing happened quite often.
Being deceived by its flashy appearance and hastily making a decision.
Only to regret it once receiving the result.
But all we could do was accept it, silently making a mental note.
The so-called "learn a lesson after one experience."
After all, the three of them had saved up for a long time for the chance to go to the caf.
Yukima Azuma still tried to preserve some of that expectation.
On Teshigawara's side, they quickly made their choices too.
After all, Yukima Azuma had guided them.
Once the waitress left with the menus
The two of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Sayaka looked at Yukima Azuma with eyes that sparkled like stars.
Her feelings of fondness were clearly surpassing just friendship, rising in an instant.
When the desserts arrived at the table
Sayaka immediately took out her phone and started snapping pictures.
Yukima Azuma also took his phone out to snap a picture.
After all, this was money Mitsuha had saved up over time.
She couldn't enjoy it, so he, who had switched identities and was enjoying what was meant for her, should take a picture as a memory.
Although in Tokyo, such things could be eaten to the point of getting tired of them
The meaning was completely different.
"So delicious," Sayaka ate a small piece of the mango cake, her eyes squinting with delight.
The anticipation was finally worth it.
Yukima Azuma took a sip of his cappuccino, his gaze unconsciously drifting outside the window.
His thoughts wandered.
Buying back the affected area in Itomori, perhaps that was the most direct and feasible way.
Even so, earning that money within a month and a half wasn't difficult, but buying land was another matter.
After all, Mitsuha was still just an ordinary high school girl.
Unless he received help from Mitsuha's fatherbut that was even more difficult.
Purchasing land personally was very complicated, requiring someone's help, that person needed to have enough status, and more importantly, shouldn't look down on a high school student.
In the midst of his thoughts
Yukima Azuma's gaze suddenly froze at a corner outside the window.
The motion of him biting into the donut paused.
The next moment, he jumped up and dashed out of the caf.
"Eh!? Mitsuha, what's wrong?"
Sayaka's voice rang out behind him.
Across the street
A girl with long black hair was sitting on the ground, breathing heavily.
She looked in great pain, cold sweat dripping continuously from her forehead.
Thinking quickly, Yukima Azuma immediately crossed the street, bracing himself on the guardrail, and leaped over it.
He quickly rushed to the girl's side.
"Do you have any emergency medicine?"
Squatting down, Yukima Azuma asked bluntly.
Asking "Are you okay?" would be wasting time at this point.
The girl struggled to shake her head.
Seeing her gasping for breath
Yukima Azuma had already figured out her condition.
Asthma.
And the nearest hospital is
He looked up.
Fortunately, the city hospital was just a street away.
Asthma is a condition where every second counts.
Yukima Azuma slid his hands under the girl's thighs and back
Gently lifting her up in a princess carry.
He tried to make sure her upper body wasn't constricted or blocking her breathing.
Holding this posture
Yukima Azuma rushed toward the hospital with the girl in his arms.
Sayaka and Teshigawara quickly caught up.
"What's going on?"
"She has asthma; we need to get her to the hospital immediately!"
While running, Yukima Azuma explained.
Upon hearing this, Sayaka and Teshigawara immediately assisted.
One ran ahead, clearing the path and parting the crowd.
The other stayed by his side, watching over Yukima Azuma to make sure he didn't exhaust himself.
Fortunately, this was Yukima Azuma's body
Years of training were not in vain.
Even while carrying a girl, his speed could still be described as "lightning fast."
In less than three minutes
Yukima Azuma dashed straight into the emergency room of the hospital.
The attending doctor quickly understood the situation at a glance.
Without asking many questions, they immediately prepared a hospital bed and instructed Yukima Azuma to lay the girl down.
Then the nurse swiftly retrieved the inhaler for asthma.
Placing the inhaler over the girl's nose and mouth, they proceeded with the emergency treatment
Her rapid and labored breathing gradually calmed down.
"Thank goodness you got her here in time. Acute asthma like this could cause permanent damage."
"Is this her first time? Has she had similar issues before? Has she used any medication?"
Once the girl's condition was stabilized, the doctor let out a sigh of relief and turned to Yukima Azuma.
He could only shrug helplessly.
"I don't know. She suddenly had an attack on the street; I just brought her here."
Upon hearing this, the doctor looked at him with a sense of respect.
It was truly an act of heroism.
Yukima Azuma looked at the girl, his mind already calculating.
Saving her could be a highlight to get the mayor's attention.
It wouldn't be a problem if this made it into the news.
For a politician like Mitsuha's father, this might actually be a good thing.
Gaining some reputation would give him the opportunity to meet people beyond the reach of a high school student.
This would be helpful for his future plan to save the town.
To reiterate Yukima Azuma was not the kind of person to jump into action whenever he saw injustice.
But
His plans immediately crumbled.
After using the medication, the girl's condition greatly improved.
She set the inhaler aside.
Took a few breaths of normal air.
Then coughed lightly a few times.
After adjusting for a bit
She looked up at Yukima Azuma with bright eyes, like two purple gems, staring at him intently.
"Thank you. I'm Suou Yuki. I truly appreciate you saving my life."
Yukima Azuma blinked.
Suou Yuki?
In that case, there was no need to build a reputation.
The girl before him gradually matched the image in Yukima Azuma's memory.
The young lady of the Suou family, the most prestigious family in Gifu PrefectureSuou Yuki.
Looking at her, Yukima Azuma's thoughts became clearer.
He extended his hand, taking her delicate, pale hand in his.
He gave a small smile.
"It's nothing, just a small thing. Don't worry about it, Yuki."
Her face, which had been slightly pale from the asthma attack, immediately turned a light pink.
She coughed softly twice, looking a little embarrassed.
A question mark appeared above Yukima Azuma's head.
Suou Yuki, before high school, was she always this shy?
Just holding hands and her face was already turning red.
O'kawaii koto~.
--------------------------------------------
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The girl Yukima Azuma happened to save on the street turned out to be Suou Yuki, the eldest daughter of the Suou family.
Yukima Azuma was quite pleased with this unexpected joy.
With this, did he still need to go through the trouble of building a reputation to find a partner?
In Gifu Prefecture, was there any better partner than the Suou family, the most prestigious family here?
But...
Why would a highborn lady like Suou Yuki be walking alone on the street?
To the point of having an asthma attack and needing help from a stranger?
It seemed her understood the question in Yukima Azuma eyes
Suou Yuki softly said:
"It's too stuffy at home, so I secretly snuck out for a walk. I didn't expect my body to have an issue"
Upon hearing this, Yukima Azuma immediately understood.
The Suou family was an aristocratic family, and the pressure on its descendants was truly overwhelming.
Moreover, in the original story, Suou Yuki's parents often argued over work and love affairs.
Suou Yuki said she went out to relax.
But in reality, she had left home without informing the Suou family.
The overwhelming pressure was also one of the causes of her asthma.
"Too much pressure, and asthma will relapse. Just go with the flow, don't force yourself too much."
Yukima Azuma gently patted Suou Yuki's head.
After all, at this moment, he was still in Mitsuha's form.
It was normal to have some light contact between girls, right?
However, just like earlier, Suou Yuki's face turned a little red.
Her gaze occasionally glanced at Yukima Azuma's face, as if observing something carefully.
This reaction made Yukima Azuma feel a bit suspicious.
On the other hand, Natori Sayaka and Teshigawara, who were standing beside him, didn't think much of it.
Suou Yuki was even a little younger than them.
It was normal to show more care to someone younger.
...
Not long after, footsteps echoed down the hospital hallway.
The footsteps stopped in front of the door.
Only one beautiful woman and a girl about Suou Yuki's age entered.
The beautiful woman and the girl looked about seven or eight parts alike.
At first glance, they seemed to be mother and daughter.
But they didn't resemble Suou Yuki much.
"Oujou-sama, how are you feeling?"
The beautiful woman bowed to Suou Yuki, who was lying in bed, then asked her condition with concern.
"Kimishima-san, don't worry, I'm fine."
Suou Yuki said, then looked over at Yukima Azuma: "Thanks to this person... who brought me to the hospital."
The woman called Kimishima turned her gaze toward Yukima Azuma.
Then, she bowed deeply.
"Young lady, thank you so much."
Yukima Azuma waved his hand dismissively.
"It's no big deal."
At this point, the girl accompanying the woman was bowing her head low, stepping closer to Suou Yuki.
She seemed to be blaming herself.
Suou Yuki gently patted the girl's head.
"It's fine, I ran out on my own, don't blame Ayano."
Seeing this scene, Yukima Azuma felt a bit weird.
The Kimishima family.
It was a branch family of the Suou family.
This beautiful woman was a maid who was close to Suou Yuki's mother.
The girl standing next to Suou Yuki now was Suou Yuki's close maid, Kimishima Ayano, who had grown up alongside her.
Did prestigious families like to do this kind of thing?
Yukima Azuma thought of Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai.
If his family grew stronger in the future, maybe he should also look for a family with a daughter to be his maid?
While lost in thought, Natori Sayaka tugged lightly on Yukima Azuma's sleeve.
Yukima Azuma turned to look at her.
At this moment, both Natori Sayaka and Teshigawara seemed uneasy.
"Mitsuha, did you save someone important?"
Natori Sayaka whispered.
She had just noticed several men in black suits waiting in the hallway.
No matter how awkward it was, it was clear that Suou Yuki's identity wasn't ordinary.
"It's nothing, just lending a hand. Whether they're a regular person or a princess, it doesn't make a difference."
Yukima Azuma answered casually.
Natori Sayaka paused for a moment.
Right, she hadn't expected anything in return from Suou Yuki.
So, Suou Yuki's identity didn't seem to matter much.
The woman called Kimishima subtly moved her ears.
At this moment, the Suou family had arrived.
Yukima Azuma also had no intention of staying any longer.
There was nothing to say to the Suou family.
The only person he wanted to converse with was Suou Yuki.
Yukima Azuma stood up and said:
"It's getting late, Suou-san is fine now, we should leave. Goodbye."
Upon hearing this, the beautiful woman didn't try to stop him.
She only bowed to Yukima Azuma once more.
"Thank you very much for saving her life."
This time, her words were much more sincere.
Yukima Azuma nodded and prepared to leave.
But at that moment, Suou Yuki suddenly sat up.
"Um... may I have your Line?"
This request was exactly what Yukima Azuma had hoped for.
Therefore, he took out Mitsuha's phone and exchanged Line details with Suou Yuki.
After seeing Yukima Azuma and the three others off.
Suou Yuki lay back down on the hospital bed.
"Oujou-sama, the family car is getting ready to handle the asthma treatment. It will be here in about half an hour."
"And about that girl's identity... should we investigate a bit? What do you think, should we repay her?"
The woman asked.
Suou Yuki blinked her pale purple eyes.
"First, investigate, but don't tell my parents. As for the repayment, I'll decide once I have more information."
The woman nodded and turned to leave.
Kimishima Ayano walked up to Suou Yuki's side.
She looked like she wouldn't leave Yuki for a moment.
As a close maid, she felt very guilty for not being present when Oujou-sama faced misfortune.
Kimishima Ayano felt deeply self-blaming.
Suou Yuki pulled the girl's hand, gently comforting her.
"It's fine, don't blame yourself for this."
Suou Yuki wasn't at all embarrassed this time, unlike when Yukima Azuma had held her hand.
After comforting her maid, her words suddenly changed.
"By the way, tell me, what do you think of that person?"
Kimishima Ayano, recalling Mitsuha's appearance, responded.
"In terms of general impression, she's a beautiful girl, probably around high school age."
"Her speech and behavior are very mature, with an air of confidence, suggesting she either comes from a prestigious family or is herself quite exceptional."
After hearing Kimishima Ayano's analysis, Suou Yuki smiled mischievously.
"Really? Is that how Ayano sees their?"
"Yuki-sama, was I wrong in my assessment?"
"No, not at all."
....
Half an hour later, the Suou family car arrived.
Suou Yuki went through the discharge procedures and left the city hospital.
The luxurious car was spotless, almost sterile.
When they arrived back at the Suou mansion.
Suou Yuki noticed that her room had undergone significant changes.
Everything in sight was neat, tidy, and predominantly white.
Because she had suddenly suffered from asthma.
All items that could potentially cause asthma attacks had been removed.
If it were before, Suou Yuki might have felt lonely.
But now, her mind wasn't focused on that.
A while later.
The beautiful woman brought Mitsuha's documents.
Suou Yuki skimmed through them quickly.
Her eyes finally stopped on a picture of Mitsuha.
Looking at the cute girl in the photo.
Suou Yuki licked her lips.
"Oujou-sama, what do you think?"
After the woman asked,
"Don't do anything for now. Forget about it, there's no need to worry about it."
Suou Yuki waved her hand in reply.
The woman paused for a moment, then nodded and left the room.
She took out her phone.
Suou Yuki opened her LINE interface, thinking about what to say.
Her small, white feet gently swayed on the bed, making soft sounds.
...
The next day.
Due to Yukima Azuma's body swap that lasted 7 days, he was still using Mitsuha's identity.
As usual, he went downstairs to have breakfast with her grandmother Hitoha and her younger sister Yotsuha.
While eating, his phone suddenly vibrated.
Yukima Azuma picked it up to see who it was.
It was Suou Yuki.
Yuki: [I'm so bored, I'm grounded and stuck in my room like a salted fish.]
Azuma: [A salted fish? You better go out and get some sun, or you might go bad.]
Yuki: [Puhahahaha!]
The two of them had chatted all night the previous evening.
Their relationship had quickly gone from strangers to friends.
Suou Yuki might appear to be the dignified Oujou-sama on the outside.
But in reality, she was very active and had been an otaku for years.
She was also very humorous and could joke around freely.
She was the kind of person everyone instantly liked.
Azuma: [Has your asthma flared up again?]
Yuki: [No, I'm much better today, hardly coughing anymore.]
Azuma: [That's good then. (Happy cat emoji).]
Yuki: [But I'm so bored! How about a video call, let's watch anime together.]
Azuma: [I have a better idea.]
Yuki: [Eh! What's your idea?]
Azuma: [Send me your location and a map of your house, then tell me how you managed to escape from home yesterday.]
Yuki: [Are you serious?]
Azuma: [Try it, you have nothing to lose.]
Yukima Azuma smiled softly.
The quickest way to improve the situation was through Suou Yuki.
Not long after, Suou Yuki sent him her location and a few hand-drawn maps.
The maps clearly belonged to the Suou family estate, with a very detailed layout, even including the names of the household staff.
Looking at the map, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but click his tongue in surprise.
As expected of Suou Yuki, even escaping from home was like an elaborate prison break.
After breakfast, Yukima Azuma set off again, heading to the bus station he had visited yesterday.
After a few bus transfers,
Yukima Azuma finally reached the back wall of the Suou estate.
He looked at the not-too-tall wall,
Rubbing his hands together.
He had made it! He found a shortcut into the Suou mansion!
Though calling it a shortcut, in reality, the process was pretty simple.
The Suou estate was vast, and he hardly encountered anyone on the way.
The walls were no obstacle for Yukima Azuma's physical ability.
After all, if Suou Yuki could sneak out, the difficulty level wasn't that high.
Before long, Yukima Azuma arrived at the window of Suou Yuki's room.
He raised his hand and knocked on the window.
Immediately, the sound of hurried footsteps came from inside.
The window was flung open from the inside.
Suou Yuki looked out at Yukima Azuma, her eyes full of joy.
"I really managed to sneak in."
"I've looked down from the top of the Church of the Holy Mother, leaping over challenges before!"
"Haha, you're really a master."
Suou Yuki extended her hand.
Yukima Azuma took her hand, with his other hand holding the window frame, and he quickly leaped into Suou Yuki's room.
"Great athletic ability, Onii-chan."
Suou Yuki laughed, her eyes shining brightly.
"Hehe, it's nothing much." Yukima Azuma waved his hand without thinking.
But immediately after, he realized something was off.
"Yuki, did you just call me something?"
Yukima Azuma asked, a little confused.
"Onii-chan? What's wrong, is something wrong?"
Suou Yuki smiled mischievously, her eyes sparkling with playful intent.
"Great athletic ability, Onii-chan."
Suou Yuki lightly covered her mouth and smiled, her eyebrows arched with a mischievous look.
Yukima Azuma tumbled into the room, and as soon as he touched the ground, he heard Suou Yuki's words, almost losing his balance.
"Yuki, did you just call me something?"
"Onii-chan? What's wrong, is something wrong?"
After confirming again, Yukima Azuma understood.
In Suou Yuki's eyes, he was just himself with his natural appearance.
As for how this girl managed to avoid the cognitive exchange mechanism of the Itomori god...
Yukima Azuma didn't know.
Looking at Suou Yuki, maybe she didn't know either.
At this moment, Yukima Azuma finally understood.
No wonder just holding hands or patting her head made Suou Yuki, who was usually lively, feel so embarrassed.
It turned out, in her eyes...
He was always an opposite-gender boy.
If it weren't for the fact that he was her life-saving benefactor...
These little gestures, she might have scolded him by now.
Looking at the hand he had been holding all this time.
Yukima Azuma let go of her hand.
"What's wrong, onii-chan, are you shy~?"
Suou Yuki's eyes curved into crescent moons.
"If you knew I was a boy, why didn't you pull away when I patted your head?"
"Eh, onii-chan is my life-saving benefactor, so don't say that even if I let you pat my head, I would repay you with my body..."
She said halfway through, blinking innocently.
She made a face like "do whatever you want."
Yukima Azuma reached out and poked her forehead.
This girl was really too mischievous.
If anyone else were in such a strange situation...
They would definitely panic, maybe even be scared.
But she, on the other hand, found it interesting and even invited him over.
After being poked on the forehead, Suou Yuki obediently backed off a little but then curiously asked:
"So, onii-chan, what's your real name?"
"Yukima Azuma."
"Nice name! What about Miyamizu Mitsuha? What's her relationship with you?"
"Right now, she's over there being Yukima Azuma."
"That's so light novel-like! But isn't it supposed to be a body swap?"
Suou Yuki said while pressing her hand on Yukima Azuma's arm.
The feeling of his firm muscles transferred to her.
It definitely didn't feel like fake stuff.
Looking at Suou Yuki's curious face, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but complain:
"You're catching on too quickly, you should feel strange. Also, why is it that out of so many people, only you can see through this?"
In response to the complaint, Suou Yuki struck a pose, hands on her hips, smugly.
"I'm an otaku veteran, okay! I've watched hundreds of anime, read thousands of light novels, what do you think?"
"That's nothing to be proud of."
"Of course it is!"
And so, the two continued talking and laughing.
Clearly, this girl hadn't met anyone who clicked with her like this in a long time.
However, as they laughed, Suou Yuki suddenly started coughing lightly.
Yukima Azuma immediately stopped smiling.
He helped Yuki sit down at the edge of the bed.
He gently patted her back.
Her back looked rather frail.
Earlier, when he carried her while running desperately, he had noticed that.
Could it be that she wasn't eating properly?
There was a knock on the door.
"Yuki-sama, may I come in~?"
With the voice, a girl named Kimishima Ayano entered the room.
When she saw the two sitting at the edge of the bed, Kimishima Ayano froze.
She hurried over.
"Yuki-sama..." she called, still somewhat wary of Yukima Azuma.
At that moment, Yuki's coughing finally subsided.
She waved her hand to Kimishima Ayano.
"I'm fine, Ayano, you can go outside."
"But..." Ayano looked at Yukima Azuma.
Her gaze was somewhat melancholy.
As a close maid, she hadn't noticed anyone sneaking into her lady's private room.
"It's fine, Ayano, you have to keep this a secret for me."
Suou Yuki proactively hugged Yukima Azuma's arm, winking at Kimishima Ayano.
Seeing her Ojou-sama like this, Kunishima Ayano could only nod and leave the room.
A smile reappeared on Yuki's face, but deep in her eyes, there was a hint of darkness that showed up unconsciously.
She was the Ojou-sama of the Suou family.
She would one day shoulder the responsibility of the entire Suou family.
But right now, due to the immense pressure, she had fallen ill.
It was truly pathetic.
"Take care of yourself, once you grow a little more, your asthma will be fine."
"Your illness, aside from the immense pressure, may also be due to your weak constitution."
"You probably don't eat properly, do you? You're still in the development stage after all."
Yukima Azuma spoke gently.
These words of concern.
They pierced through the girl's facade and reached her heart.
It could be said that it was very rare.
Most of the darkness in Suou Yuki's heart gradually dissipated because of this.
Her light purple eyes shifted around.
Then, she pretended to look down at her chest.
It seemed a little flat.
Usually, because of her busy schoolwork, her schedule was always packed.
So, her meals were often hurried and just a few bites.
Then she would hurry to finish her homework or take the chance to read her favorite light novels.
"Azuma-nii, do you like big breasts?"
Although there were many things on her mind and she had indeed been persuaded by Yukima Azuma, in the end, Suou Yuki still responded with a teasing remark.
She was the type of girl who always liked to hide behind a smile and didn't want others to worry.
Yukima Azuma could only sigh helplessly.
"Don't sigh like that! Although they're still a bit small now, at least in two years, I'll develop into a C-cup!"
Suou Yuki decided that from today on, she would eat properly.
After a bit of commotion due to Suou Yuki's health condition, the two had to take a break.
The girl, exhausted, lay on the white bed like a princess from a fairy tale.
"Ah, I'm so tired, Azuma-nii, you can do it yourself."
"Don't say things that could be misunderstood like that."
"Ehh, but otherwise, it would be boring, so Azuma-nii, tell me a story."
"Hmm... okay."
Yukima Azuma paused for a moment, then agreed.
Suou Yuki clearly didn't expect that Yukima Azuma would accept this request.
The girl tilted her head and stared at him, bewildered.
Yukima Azuma casually grabbed a stack of paper from the nearby table.
Then he took a high-quality fountain pen from the pen holder.
Suou Yuki followed Yukima Azuma's actions, her eyes blinking, filled with anticipation.
Opening the pen, Yukima Azuma dipped it onto the paper, seemingly thinking.
In fact, he was recalling whether there was any story suitable for telling a girl at this moment.
After a short period of contemplation.
Yukima Azuma began to write.
And then spoke:
"Let me tell you a story about magic. It all began with a boy named Harry Potter..."
At first, Suou Yuki thought Yukima Azuma was just saying something casually.
But when the story of "Harry Potter" began, even just for a short while,
The girl became completely captivated by Yukima Azuma's storytelling.
The owls delivering letters, Hogwarts School of Wizardry, Platform 9.
The story of the wizarding world had only just begun to unfold.
But that was enough to make Suou Yuki, a young girl, become so absorbed in it that she forgot the world around her.
Time passed bit by bit.
In the room, the only sounds left were Yukima Azuma's clear voice and the scratching of the fountain pen on the paper.
A morning seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye.
Until Kimishima Ayano knocked on the door again.
She asked what Yuki wanted for lunch.
At this moment, Yuki finally came to her senses, realizing how quickly time had passed.
The girl sat up on the bed.
Then she cheerfully ran over to Yukima Azuma, lowering her voice and asking softly:
"Azuma-nii, what would you like to eat? I'll ask Ayano to prepare it."
The girl wanted to keep Yukima Azuma around for a meal.
Not to mention how captivating his story was.
Just having someone tell her a story had been a new experience that Suou Yuki had never had before.
Her parents, due to their busy work, had never sat down to tell her stories like that.
If Yukima Azuma were to leave now.
Suou Yuki would definitely feel reluctant.
"How about this, You'll ask Ayano to secretly bring me down to the kitchen, and I can pick the ingredients and cook whatever you like."
Yukima Azuma leaned close to the girl's ear and whispered.
His breath against her ear made Suou Yuki instinctively swallow.
"Cook myself?" The girl widened her eyes, looking at Yukima Azuma in surprise.
After thinking for a moment, she immediately nodded eagerly.
Suou Yuki then walked to the door, pulling Kimishima Ayano, who had been waiting outside, into the room.
She whispered a few words to Ayano.
Kimishima Ayano was the epitome of a professional maid.
Her face rarely showed any expression.
Her long, curly black hair hung down, looking extremely cute, with a lock of hair sticking up like an ahoge.
But even this professional maid had clear emotions in her eyes at that moment.
As if saying, "This isn't right."
However, Suou Yuki's attitude was firm.
Kimishima Ayano could only nod.
She then went to fetch a set of kitchen clothes and brought them to Yukima Azuma to change into.
The kitchen in the Suou household was like the back kitchen of a five-star hotel.
The stove, pots, and pans were all fully stocked.
There were even several top chefs in charge.
Kimishima Ayano led the unfamiliar face into the kitchen.
Seeing this "young girl" dressed in a chef's uniform.
The chefs, all in their forties, looked at each other in confusion, their faces full of skepticism.
Yukima Azuma didn't greet them.
He walked straight to the freezer, selecting ingredients.
The freezer was so stocked that its contents could rival a supermarket.
Since Suou Yuki had a weak constitution, Yukima Azuma chose easy-to-digest foods, prioritizing high-quality proteins.
Moreover, given her condition, strong or spicy foods were probably not suitable.
Finally, Yukima Azuma picked a bass fish.
He took a kitchen knife from the knife rack next to him.
Without exerting much effort, he easily scaled the fish.
He then sliced open the belly and cleaned the innards.
In an instant, the fish, which had been wriggling on the chopping board moments ago,
Was now perfectly prepared as an ingredient.
The extraordinary knife skills made the chefs watching involuntarily gasp.
These chefs were all specially invited by the Suou family.
At this moment, they started to wonder whether their own culinary skills would be outclassed.
Yukima Azuma placed the fish into a steamer.
While the fish was steaming, he also picked some vegetables rich in vitamins and fiber.
He even added some special cashew nuts.
These two ingredients were essential for Suou Yuki's body.
Just in time, they could be used to make a stir-fried cashew dish.
By the time the cashew nuts were stir-fried, the steamed bass was perfectly cooked.
The aroma filled the entire kitchen.
When Yukima Azuma brought the plate of food out,
Kimishima Ayano tried to follow but was blocked by a few of the chefs.
"Kimishima-san, about this... do you think we'll still have our jobs?"
"Right, her cooking skills might soon surpass my master's."
"Such extraordinary cooking skills! If we get fired, I'd have nothing to say, but at least tell me which famous chef she's been trained by?"
"I'm dying to know the truth!"
Kimishima Ayano was overwhelmed by the barrage of questions from the chefs.
She was at a loss for words.
She's just... Umm... oujou-sama's lover!
--------------------------------------------
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The seventh day of the identity exchange between Yukima Azuma and Miyamizu Mitsuha.
"Ittadakimasu... A~ mu~... No matter how many times I eat it, it still tastes so unbelievably good."
Suou Yuki hugged a bowl of rice and ate eagerly.
At the same time, her mouth kept mumbling, though her voice was slightly unclear.
"With cooking skills like this, you could definitely charm many beautiful women."
"Anyway, after eating this once, I won't be able to stand normal meals anymore."
"People would definitely do anything just to eat something delicious."
Suou Yuki confirmed.
"That's not cooking, that's a criminal drug!"
Yukima Azuma blurted out in mockery.
After spending time together these past days.
He had gotten used to Yuki's random remarks.
The dignified young lady who appeared so proper.
In reality, no matter how strange her words were, no matter how "wild" she acted, it was all perfectly normal.
In the past few days.
Yukima Azuma visited Suou's house every day.
His wall-climbing skills had improved significantly.
[Acquired Infiltration Skill lv1.]
Every day, he wrote drafts of "Harry Potter" at Suou Yuki's house.
While doing that, he would also tell stories to Suou Yuki.
When lunchtime came, he would make a meal for both of them.
Of course, it wasn't because Yukima Azuma liked cooking or wanted to improve his cooking skills.
It was after Suou Yuki ate the steamed bass and stir-fried cashews that Yukima Azuma made for the first time.
Suou Yuki eagerly looked forward to it every day.
She even acted like a puppy, hugging Yukima Azuma's leg and crying out:
"As long as you cook, I'll offer my body and soul."
Such a strange statement.
Making a meal wasn't much effort, so Yukima Azuma agreed.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma had something he wanted to ask Suou Yuki for help with later.
It was like paying her a reward in advance.
After a week.
Suou Yuki's frail body and illness showed some initial changes.
Her small, delicate face started to gain a bit of flesh.
"It's really delicious, it feels like I've been raised into a useless person."
After eating, Suou Yuki lay on the bed, looking like a salted fish.
Yukima Azuma walked over to the table and collected the draft, now a thick stack.
Yukima Azuma had completed the plot of the first volume of "Harry Potter."
And, after getting used to it.
The speed of continuing the story grew faster.
Although he only vaguely remembered the plot of "Harry Potter."
With his level-seven literary skill as a foundation.
He only needed to tweak the story in his head a bit, and the product would surely be famous everywhere.
He folded the draft of the first volume and set it aside.
But Yukima Azuma didn't rush to continue the next part.
"Yuki." He called her.
Suou Yuki, who had been like a salted fish, immediately sat up and looked toward Yukima Azuma.
Waiting for the next installment from Yukima Azuma.
"I'll be going back tomorrow, and Mitsuha will return too."
Yukima Azuma spoke about the main topic.
Suou Yuki's lazy smile suddenly stiffened.
But before her expression turned gloomy.
She quickly adjusted herself.
"Hmm, I see, well, to be fair, exchanges like this usually don't last long, do they?"
She spoke with her usual cheerful tone, adding a hint of teasing.
"After tomorrow, the day after, it will switch back to me, and it will continue to alternate every seven days, unless something unexpected happens."
Yukima Azuma's words caused Suou Yuki's tense body to relax a bit.
But the room fell silent for a while.
Yukima Azuma's words forced Suou Yuki to face the current situation.
Their meeting was an unusual event.
And since it was unusual, it was bound to be corrected one day.
Although the farewell day hadn't come yet, it would eventually have a deadline.
Suou Yuki couldn't help but want to ask when that day would come.
But immediately, she restrained herself.
If she knew exactly when, she might spend each remaining day living in worry and fear of loss.
In fact, it was probably better to leave that deadline vague.
"Hey, Azuma-nii, do you have a little sister?"
Yuki's voice was soft, with no sign of any complexity in her thoughts.
"No... I'm not sure, but if I did, I've never met her."
Yukima Azuma thought about the Yukima family.
Such a large family must surely have some blood relatives somewhere.
But Yukima Azuma wouldn't accept a stranger as his sister. (note: sound like flag)
"I've always wanted an older brother since I was little, but unfortunately, I'm an only child."
Yuki turned around and looked up at the roof.
The garden at Suou's house had seemed vast to little Yuki.
But in that vast space, no one had been there with her.
Although Kimishima Ayano had grown up with Yuki from a young age.
Suou Yuki understood that Ayano's philosophy couldn't be in perfect harmony with hers.
If only I had an older brother.
Such a thought naturally arose.
However, even if she asked her parents to have another child, it would only be Yuki's younger brother or sister.
Suou Yuki was not the type of person to trouble her parents just because of her own thoughts.
She looked up at the ceiling for a moment, feeling lonely.
Suou Yuki pouted, turned her head, and looked at Yukima Azuma.
"At this point, even an idiotic protagonist in a light novel would know what to say!"
Yukima Azuma pointed at himself.
"Do you want me to say: 'Let me be your Onii-chan, Yuki!' Is that what you want?"
Suou Yuki snapped her fingers.
"Alright! From today, you're my older brother!"
"Hey hey, that was the question."
"Onii-chan, please love me a little more!"
"Do you think you can just change the subject like that?"
"Onii-sama, let's go to the hot spring and talk honestly!"
Suou Yuki wouldn't ask about Yukima Azuma's personal matters.
Questions that crossed boundaries would only annoy others.
But Suou Yuki really couldn't bear it.
She had no choice but to use a little trick.
If there were a cute little sister like her.
Surely, he wouldn't really leave.
Maybe one day, he would remember and come back to find her.
Suou Yuki thought to herself.
Although it had only been seven days.
Yukima Azuma had left indelible marks in the little world of Suou Yuki.
As they were arguing, they were interrupted by a soft cough from Suou Yuki.
Although she had been resting to recover these past days.
Illness came like a truck, but it left as quickly as a turtle.
Acute asthma, a condition that could follow someone for their entire life, would take a long time to heal completely.
Yukima Azuma stood up and walked over to Suou Yuki, patting her back to help her breathe steadily.
Once the coughing stopped.
Suou Yuki lightly tugged at the hem of Yukima Azuma's shirt.
She looked at him with bright eyes.
"Onii-chan?"
"Umu, Onii-chan desu."
Yukima Azuma yielded.
...
In the afternoon.
Before leaving, Yukima Azuma handed the first draft of "Harry Potter" to Suou Yuki.
"Take it, publish it, and you can choose the author's name, Yuki."
Suou Yuki took the manuscript and smiled, nodding.
As the kawaii imouto, of course, Onii-chan's request would always be accepted.
Leaving Suou's house.
Yukima Azuma returned to Mitsuha's house.
"Mitsuha, tomorrow we'll do the protective knot."
Grandmother Hitoha reminded.
"Yes, I know, I'll stay home tomorrow," Yukima Azuma replied.
The protective knot was a special knotting technique passed down through generations in the Miyamizu family.
It was said to be a string symbolizing the connection between the divine and humans, between people, and between people and spirits.
It was a special symbol.
Every hair tie Mitsuha used was made from these protective knots.
After returning to Mitsuha's room.
Yukima Azuma took out Mitsuha's diary.
Tomorrow, he and she would swap identities back to normal.
Mitsuha's time had passed seven days.
It was also time to explain the situation to her.
Anyway, let's keep the conversation simple.
Yukima Azuma flipped to a new page in the diary, took a pen, and began writing.
[To Miyamizu Mitsuha, hello there, I am Yukima Azuma.]
After writing the first line.
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment about Mitsuha's situation.
He couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
Mitsuha's life in Yukima Azuma's body.
Yukima Azuma could see it.
But after the first day, the situation there had been at a standstill.
[First, what you experienced wasn't a dream, but real events that actually happened, please understand this.
One day for you in Tokyo, seven days have passed in Itomori.
Time passes so quickly.
This swap won't last long, it only takes up part of your summer vacation, so don't worry.
Below is what happened in these past seven days.]
Yukima Azuma summarized and wrote down the events of the past seven days.
He didn't expect Mitsuha to help with anything.
It was simply to provide a summary of the situation for a girl he had never met.
A normal person suddenly losing seven days of their life would certainly feel anxious.
At the end, Yukima Azuma wrote a line:
[At this point, let's fully experience this extraordinary life together.
Yukima Azuma]
After closing the diary.
Yukima Azuma placed it by the pillow.
Then, using Mitsuha's phone, he set an alarm.
The alarm would go off at 8 AM tomorrow, with the title:
[Your diary has received a letter.]
After everything was set.
Yukima Azuma stretched a little, then lay down and fell asleep.
When he opened his eyes again.
The surroundings had completely changed.
No longer was there a strange ceiling before him.
He sat up and looked out the window, seeing the familiar scene.
Shiratamaru was squatting at the door, seemingly alert, watching the owner who had just woken up.
Yukima Azuma waved at it.
Shiratamaru stared for a moment, then immediately ran over to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma reached out and scratched Shiratamaru's chin.
Shiratamaru let out a pleased "grr grr" sound.
Its little head started rubbing against Yukima Azuma's palm.
After petting for a while, Yukima Azuma went outside to feed Shiratamaru cat food.
Then, as he stepped outside, he took out his phone.
He glanced at the screen, seeing an overwhelming amount of notifications.
Yukima Azuma looked through the order notifications and patted his head.
He opened Amazon, searched for the orders.
He returned everything that could be returned.
Once the returns were complete, Yukima Azuma changed his shoes, stepped outside, and began his morning jog.
A small and cramped town, with a bus only once every two hours.
There are no coffee shops, no dental clinics, nothing at all.
But there are three izakaya bars.
Living in such a town might be a good choice for middle-aged or elderly people.
But for a girl in her youth, it's hard not to feel discouraged.
"In the next life, please let me be a handsome guy in Tokyo!"
At sunset, atop a mountain, Miyamizu Mitsuha shouted to the sky while walking with her two best friends.
Teshigawara and Natori Sayaka exchanged glances and then burst into laughter.
Today was the day Miyamizu Mitsuha had to perform the prayer ritual as the Miko of Miyamizu Shrine.
On the high platform of the shrine at night, she wore the Miko outfit and danced gracefully.
Her dance was beautiful, after all, she had been practicing since she was little.
But performing in front of so many people from the town still made her feel incredibly embarrassed.
After all, Miyamizu Mitsuha was just a teenage girl.
Especially with her classmates below in the courtyard.
Her desire to go to Tokyo grew even stronger.
And then, as the night passed
Thud!
Miyamizu Mitsuha hugged her small head, feeling a little confused.
Where did I just fall from?
But when she opened her eyes
"Ehh?"
Looking up at the unfamiliar ceiling, Miyamizu Mitsuha was stunned.
Unlike the wooden ceiling of the Miyamizu house.
Before her was a lavishly decorated ceiling, with a magnificent chandelier hanging above.
She sat up.
Miyamizu Mitsuha realized she was lying on a clean wooden floor.
Right beside her was a large, pure white bed.
No time to think much.
By the time she regained her senses
She had rolled over and over on that bed.
Completely different from the futon at home.
This bed was as soft as a giant cloud.
Lying down gave the feeling of sinking into a pile of fluffy white cotton candy.
Miyamizu Mitsuha thought that if she slept on this bed every day
She would definitely never wake up early in the morning.
She'd probably be late for school all the time.
It can't be helped, right?
So soft, so smooth, and it also had a pleasant scent.
She wanted to be killed by this bed!
Rolling over a few more times, Miyamizu Mitsuha finally reluctantly stopped.
She sat up and looked around the unfamiliar room.
The layout was completely different from her own room.
Moreover, everything in sight was incredibly expensive-looking furniture.
But what caught Miyamizu Mitsuha's attention the most was the window.
More specifically, the view outside the window.
No sign of any mountains.
Instead, there were tightly packed skyscrapers and clean, paved streets.
Farther away, the Tokyo Tower stood tall in the scene, piercing straight into the clouds.
Miyamizu Mitsuha pressed herself against the window, staring at the view in a daze.
"Ah! It's Tokyo!" she exclaimed softly, excited.
But right after that, she immediately took a deep breath: "I must stay calm! I absolutely must stay calm! This must be a dream! I can't get so excited that I wake up right away!"
Looking at the Tokyo Tower, Miyamizu Mitsuha's eyes shone brightly: "If I wake up right now, I'll regret it for the whole year!"
By instinct, she reached out to search for her phone, intending to take a picture.
But instead, she touched empty space.
Miyamizu Mitsuha then realized, maybe in dreams, there wouldn't be sophisticated things like mobile phones.
But just as that thought crossed her mind
Her gaze swept over to the bedside table.
On it was a black smartphone.
She quickly walked over and picked it up.
Miyamizu Mitsuha was a bit excited.
"Wow, this is amazing! I've only used flip phones before!"
"I wonder if I can turn it on? Wow, it really works! So cool!"
She turned the screen on.
Miyamizu Mitsuha happily jumped up and down.
Displayed on the screen was a group photo as the wallpaper.
A teenage boy with sharp eyebrows and three extremely beautiful girls appeared in the photo.
Miyamizu Mitsuha's gaze was immediately drawn to the young man.
In the photo, the corners of his mouth carried a mischievous smile as he tapped the forehead of a blonde girl.
It seemed he had successfully teased her.
Miyamizu Mitsuha stared for a long time.
Then, she finally unlocked the phone.
What appeared before her were a series of unfamiliar apps.
At first, she planned to immediately go out and visit Tokyo Tower.
But now, her attention was captured by the smartphone, one she had only heard about before.
Amidst the pile of unfamiliar apps
Miyamizu Mitsuha found something familiar.
She opened Line.
A list of contacts appeared.
Miyamizu Mitsuha tried clicking on one of the chat windows.
Azuma: [Hello There!]
Mafuyu: [What's up?]
Azuma: [Can you send me a picture of you?]
Mafuyu: [Huh? A picture? What kind of picture?]
Azuma: [Cute, beautiful, any type is fine, as long as it's a picture of Mafuyu.]
There was no reply from the other side for a while.
Next to the display name, the words "typing..." kept appearing.
Miyamizu Mitsuha waited for a while, feeling stuck.
After all, this was a dream; not knowing the person's face and not being able to dream it up made sense.
She closed Line and continued browsing through other apps.
"Is this a game? There's even a map... Oh, this app lets you buy things."
She opened Amazon, and Miyamizu Mitsuha felt like she had entered a new world.
A variety of items appeared before her.
She casually clicked on one of the suggested products.
Wacom Intuos Pro drawing tablet, priced at 573,000 yen.
Seeing the exaggerated number, Miyamizu Mitsuha swallowed.
She clicked the purchase button.
The payment interface appeared.
She selected the fingerprint payment method.
Then placed her finger on the screen.
The payment circle spun once
Ding-dong
Along with the reminder sound, the payment confirmation page appeared.
A message popped up from her bank, showing a deduction from her account.
Looking at the long account balance, which resembled a phone number in the message
Miyamizu Mitsuha was completely sure: This was indeed a dream.
So
BUY IT ALL!
Alienware laptop?
Buy!
High-end gemstone earrings?
Buy!
Curse Chef Patreon?
Buy!
3090 Ti graphics card?
Huh, what's this used for?
Forget it, who cares, just buy it!
Miyamizu Mitsuha wildly spent money, regardless of whether she needed it, not even knowing what it was.
After all, with the balance in the message, even if she picked all the expensive items
She could buy for the whole day and still not run out.
Moreover, this was a dream, who cares! As long as she's happy!
After scanning and buying a bunch of things
Miyamizu Mitsuha sighed in satisfaction and turned off the phone.
"Let's go out! A dream as real as this, I might never experience it again in my life!"
"I have to hurry and stroll around Tokyo! There are so many places I want to go!"
"Tokyo Tower, Sky Library, Ginza, Meiji Shrine, Sensouji Temple!"
Miyamizu Mitsuha murmured to herself as she walked out of the room, quickly heading towards the entrance.
But just as she took a few steps
A voice called from behind.
"Lonely-kun, going for a morning jog?"
Miyamizu Mitsuha turned around in surprise.
Before her
Was a beautiful girl with long black hair, wearing a nightgown and tights, so stunning it was hard to believe.
Her appearance was truly awe-inspiring.
Even though Miyamizu Mitsuha was a girl, she couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
"Lonely-kun?"
The long-haired girl didn't receive a response and showed a puzzled expression.
Miyamizu Mitsuha then snapped back to reality:
"Oh, right!"
Seeing her reaction
The long-haired girl became even more suspicious and even stepped closer.
Miyamizu Mitsuha felt a bit panicked.
Her first instinct wasNigerundayo!
She quickly said, "I'm going out!" and immediately rushed out the door.
Leaving behind the long-haired girl and two cats who poked their heads out, both looking confused.
...
Stepping out of the house, Miyamizu Mitsuha looked around at the unfamiliar street and the tall buildings in the distance.
She took a deep breath
Tokyo! This is Tokyo!
Then, she thought about the long-haired girl from earlier.
She was one of the three girls in the wallpaper photo.
She called her "Lonely-kun."
Although she wasn't sure about "Lonely," the "-kun"
In her eyes, she thought she was a boy!?
Thinking about it, Miyamizu Mitsuha immediately understood.
This dream had set her up as the handsome young man in the photo with three beautiful girls!
"Tokyo's Prince Charming! This dream setup is so perfect, it's incredible! Sasuga Watashi!"
Miyamizu Mitsuha felt an overwhelming sense of pride.
Without delay, she ran down the street.
There were so many places she wanted to go
But as soon as she stepped onto the road, she was mesmerized by the scenery.
It was completely different from the small town she was from.
Just walking down the street
Miyamizu Mitsuha felt a rush of excitement.
At first, she planned to take the train to Tokyo Tower.
But halfway there
She was distracted by a large caf by the side of the street.
"Wow, a caf!"
She felt like her dreams were coming true.
Before, she had always wanted to go to a caf with her friends in the small town
Why not experience it here, in this dream?
She pushed the door open.
The sound of a violin playing softly filled the air.
Miyamizu Mitsuha saw a lady in a ball gown
Sitting on a raised platform at the corner of the caf, playing a familiar soft melody.
"Welcome, may I ask how many people?"
A waiter in a vest approached and asked politely.
"O-one person."
Miyamizu Mitsuha was stunned by the luxurious atmosphere of the caf.
"Right this way, please, watch your step."
Led by the waiter, she sat at a table for one.
A menu was handed to her
It looked no different than a luxurious book.
Turning a few pages
The sweets and drinks inside were exquisitely designed.
She wanted to try every dish!
Finally, Miyamizu Mitsuha ordered a small piece of cake and a green grape parfait.
Soon after
Two desserts so beautiful that she almost didn't want to eat them were brought to her table.
She immediately pulled out her phone and snapped several pictures.
Then, after hesitating for a moment
She finally picked up a spoon and, with a bit of guilt, scooped up a spoonful of parfait.
The moment the cold cream and fresh green grapes melted in her mouth
All feelings of guilt disappeared!
"So delicious!"
The corners of Miyamizu Mitsuha's mouth couldn't help but curl upward.
She continued to eat a few more bites
Suddenly, she realized there were many eyes on her.
This made her feel somewhat puzzled.
Was there a bug?
If this were real life, being stared at like this
Miyamizu Mitsuha would surely lower her head and shy away.
But now
This is a dream!
Of course, there was no need for self-consciousness.
Finally, under the curious gazes of Miyamizu Mitsuha
Two girls from a nearby table walked up to her.
"Excuse me... Can I add you on Line?"
The girl in front, looking quite cute, shyly asked.
She held out her phone, ready to scan her QR code.
Miyamizu Mitsuha instantly snapped back to reality.
Oh, right! I'm Tokyo's Prince Charming now!
She quickly pulled out her phone and opened her QR code.
The two girls successfully added her and jumped with joy.
Miyamizu Mitsuha was still a little stunned.
Am I really so handsome in this dream?
Is it really that exciting just to exchange contacts?
But thinking back to the group photo she saw
It made sense.
Just then
"Hello, I'm Smithy A. Hasaka, can I add you on Line?"
--------------------------------------------
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
"Hello, I am Smithy A. Hasaka, may I exchange Line friends with you?"
Upon hearing this, Miyamizu Mitsuha looked up.
It was a super beautiful blonde woman.
In that instant, Miyamizu Mitsuha froze.
Not only was her hair a rare shade of blonde, but her skin was also exceptionally fair.
Her beautiful face had a Western charm, different from the Land of Cherry Blossoms, with a tall nose and sparkling eyes.
Adding to that long and complicated name...
Could she be mixed-race!?
The thought flashed through Miyamizu Mitsuha's mind.
Such a stunning mixed-race beauty...
And now, she was shyly looking at her, proactively holding out her phone, wanting to be friends.
Miyamizu Mitsuha suddenly felt a little lightheaded.
Her character setup at this moment was truly too powerful.
As expected of a handsome guy from Tokyo, so impressive!
"Of course, it's fine."
Miyamizu Mitsuha said as she took out her phone and became friends with the mixed-race beauty.
"That's great!" The mixed-race beauty hugged her phone tightly, smiling brightly like a flower. "I was just thinking I might be rejected, and if so, I'd probably be sad for a whole week."
While speaking and laughing, the girl sat down beside Miyamizu Mitsuha.
This action did not make Miyamizu Mitsuha object.
After all, it was just a beautiful woman.
And she liked her (according to the character setup).
What bad intentions could she have?
"Um..."
"Just call me Hasaka."
"Umu umu, Hasaka-san, my name is... Azuma, just call me Azuma. Want to try a piece of this cake?"
Miyamizu Mitsuha paused a little when introducing herself.
She had no idea what her character's name was in the dream.
Fortunately, the nickname on Line looked like a real name.
So, Miyamizu Mitsuha just went with it.
As she spoke, she scooped a spoonful of cake and brought it to Hasaka's mouth.
Hasaka clearly froze for a moment.
But right after, a pink blush spread across her fair face.
Her cherry-red lips parted slightly, accepting the food from Miyamizu Mitsuha.
"It's delicious, want to try mine?"
Hasaka said while scooping a spoonful of parfait she had brought and offering it to Miyamizu Mitsuha.
Miyamizu Mitsuha initially intended to feed the beautiful woman.
Now, receiving a return, of course, she did not refuse.
Moreover, she wanted to try that parfait too.
Taking a bite, Miyamizu Mitsuha hugged her cheek and smiled happily.
Seeing Miyamizu Mitsuha easily accept the "feeding play"...
Hasaka's gaze briefly showed suspicion.
But she quickly hid it.
The two chatted while finishing their dessert.
Afterward, Miyamizu Mitsuha stood up, preparing to leave.
"Ah... Azuma-san, where are you going next? Maybe we're going the same way?"
Hasaka asked mischievously.
This playful demeanor from the girl would definitely be a lethal blow to any high school boy.
But unfortunately, those flirtatious eyes were wasted on a blind "man".
"I'm planning to visit Tokyo Tower for a bit."
Miyamizu Mitsuha casually replied.
"Aha!" Hasaka clapped her hands. "What a coincidence! I was planning to visit Tokyo Tower as well. How about we go together!"
Miyamizu Mitsuha, without thinking much, immediately nodded in agreement.
So, the two of them took the train and headed straight for Tokyo Tower.
Along the way, Hasaka repeatedly chose the right moments to say things that would make a guy's heart flutter.
Miyamizu Mitsuha just kept nodding continuously.
Their day trip in Tokyo proceeded very comfortably.
They took the elevator straight up to the highest observation deck of Tokyo Tower.
After enjoying the view, they walked down from top to bottom for more sightseeing.
When they left Tokyo Tower, it was already two in the afternoon.
Hasaka suggested going to Ginza for lunch.
Hearing this, Miyamizu Mitsuha smiled so much her mouth almost twisted.
So, the two of them went to Ginza.
They had an extravagant sushi meal.
Afterward, they began strolling around the streets.
They walked the entire Ginza street.
Until it started to get dark.
The two of them... No, to be precise, only Miyamizu Mitsuha felt satisfied and stopped.
She was carrying a lot of things, looking extremely content.
Meanwhile, Hasaka was also holding a bunch of large and small bags, but her expression was nearly falling apart.
"Thank you, Hasaka-chan."
"It-It's nothing, Azuma-kun, as long as you're happy."
"Well, I'm going home now. We... will have the chance to meet again, right?"
"Umu, there will definitely be a chance."
The two waved goodbye.
Miyamizu Mitsuha got into a taxi.
Once Miyamizu Mitsuha was out of sight...
Hasakano, it should be called Hayasaka Ai
Hayasaka Ai almost collapsed onto the ground.
She casually threw the pile of things aside and sat down on the steps.
A day of shopping, and even a professional maid trained since childhood like her could feel her legs go numb.
They say women are scary when shopping.
But why are men so terrifying to shop with as well?!
Hayasaka Ai silently cursed in her heart.
But immediately after, she flashed a confident smile.
"Heh, what's all this 'onii-chan' stuff, it's nothing special!"
"Under my beauty and perfect strategy, isn't he just an ordinary simp after all?"
"Next step is just to speed up the conquest, make him kneel at my feet."
"By then... Hump! Let's see if he dares to threaten me with my mom again, and then he'll just have to let me mold him however I want!"
Hayasaka Ai was incredibly pleased with herself.
As a maid with multiple personas stacked on top of each other.
At school, Hayasaka Ai never appeared in her true form.
While at Shuchiin, she constantly changed her hairstyle, makeup, and disguise to hide her true self.
This was the legendary form "Hasaka".
Changing hairstyles, wearing colored contact lenses, and adding makeup and style changes.
She completely transformed into a different person.
Even her classmates, if she changed into another form, would not recognize her.
Today, Hayasaka Ai went out to socialize with her classmates from Shuchiin.
After all, the students in Shuchiin were mostly descendants of nobles with power and influence.
As a maid of the Shinomiya family, Hayasaka Ai needed to expand her network.
This would help with gathering information.
When needed, she could also help Kaguya recruit personnel.
But today, after the social event ended, Hayasaka Ai accidentally discovered Yukima Azuma.
Recalling everything that happened before and Yukima Azuma's annoying behavior.
Hayasaka Ai, in her changed appearance, decided to try setting a trap for Yukima Azuma.
And that's how Hasaka took the initiative to exchange Line accounts.
Unexpectedly, Yukima Azuma fell for it so easily.
"Feeding play," sure, she was up for it.
A few small tricks, and the other party seemed to be completely oblivious, even enjoying it immensely.
Throughout the entire day,
Aside from being genuinely exhausted,
Hayasaka Ai had to admit that she had a lot of fun.
As long as she used Hasaka's identity to make Yukima Azuma fall madly in love,
Not only would it be an easy way to take revenge for everything that happened before,
But if Yukima Azuma ever tried to suppress her again
Hump, dream on!
Hayasaka Ai's confidence swelled like never before.
That little Yukima Azuma, she could easily have him in the palm of her hand!
After resting for quite a while,
Hayasaka Ai stood up, carrying the big and small bags, preparing to head back to the Shinomiya house.
In the coming days, Hayasaka planned to ask her lady for time off.
Taking advantage of the current momentum, she would strive to successfully conquer Yukima Azuma.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side,
Miyamizu Mitsuha returned home to the Yukima residence, carrying a pile of things.
Luckily, she had saved the address on her phone...
Otherwise, she would've definitely gotten lost.
She used the key to open the door.
Miyamizu Mitsuha entered the hallway, changed her shoes, and then returned to her room.
She threw herself onto the soft, cloud-like bed.
Miyamizu Mitsuha let out a deep sigh.
So satisfying!
Visiting a super fancy caf, touring Tokyo Tower and Ginza.
This dream has been so worth it!
It's truly a gift from the heavens.
So, even if she were to wake up right now, she wouldn't regret a thing.
Lying face down on the bed, her eyes fluttered shut from sleepiness.
Even though she was born in a small town with great stamina,
After a day out like today, she felt a bit worn out.
Just as she was about to drift off to sleep
"Nyan?"
A clear meow made Miyamizu Mitsuha wake up.
Shiratamaru jumped onto the bed, using its little paws with soft pink pads to pat its owner.
It hadn't been fed dinner yet.
It was time for the master to dish out the food!
But Miyamizu Mitsuha didn't understand Shiratamaru's signal.
Looking at the cute round white fluff in front of her, she opened her eyes wide in surprise.
A moment later, she hugged Shiratamaru and buried her face in its soft fur.
Who would've thought, even in a dream, there'd be a cat to sniff!
Shiratamaru: ?
Being buried by its owner and sniffed at, Shiratamaru froze for a moment.
This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
Moreover... if she's already sniffing, why not feed me already!
However, after a moment of excitedly petting the cat, Miyamizu Mitsuha gradually drifted off to sleep.
.....
The next morning.
Yukima Azuma woke up in his room.
He grabbed his phone and immediately refunded all the items Miyamizu Mitsuha had bought that could be returned.
As for the items that couldn't be refunded...
"Then I'll just leave them at home."
"They're not worth much anyway."
Yukima Azuma's gift stockpile was getting a bit empty.
The items Miyamizu Mitsuha picked were decent for future gifts, so they worked out.
Afterward, he added some food to Shiratamaru's bowl.
Shiratamaru buried its head in the bowl, eating hungrily.
Once finished, Yukima Azuma went out for his morning run.
When his run ended, his phone vibrated.
He checked and saw a message from Hasaka on Line.
Hasaka: [Azuma-kun, are you free today? My mom gave me two movie tickets.]
Hasaka: [My friends are all busy today, so if you don't go, it'll be a waste.]
Yukima Azuma stared at the message, a small smirk forming on his lips.
Heh, Hasaka, huh?
Or should I call her Hayasaka Ai, the treacherous maid? Is she planning something with me again?
He laughed coldly.
But Yukima Azuma didn't call out Hayasaka Ai just yet.
Instead, he replied:
Azuma: [Oh? I'm free.]
Hasaka: [Great! Let's meet at 10 AM in Ginza.]
Azuma: [Okay.]
Hasaka: [Alright, it's settled then, hehe!]
Yukima Azuma turned off his phone screen.
"A game of cat and mouse, huh? Fine, let's see who's the hunter and who's the prey."
...
Back at the Shinomiya mansion,
Hayasaka Ai stared at the Line screen, blinking in doubt.
She felt like Yukima Azuma's tone today was... different from yesterday?
She quickly dismissed that odd feeling.
Because Yukima Azuma had agreed to her invitation.
That meant the next step in her conquest plan would be much easier.
The cinema was dimly lit, the theater spacious.
Heh, with just a little maneuvering, he'll be obedient and take the bait!
Chapter 151: Hayasaka Ai The Conquest Campaign Begins
"Azuma-kun, over here!"
Standing on the bustling streets of Ginza, Hayasaka Ai waved at Yukima Azuma.
Her face lit up as if she was genuinely happy to see him again.
Even her heels lifted slightly, her whole body brimming with anticipation for the upcoming date.
But it was all a lie.
Hayasaka Ai wasn't just faking it with her appearanceshe meticulously controlled even the smallest gestures.
These seemingly unconscious actions
Though hard to notice
Could make others feel valued, naturally fostering goodwill.
Yukima Azuma quickly approached and greeted her:
"Good morning, Hasaka."
Hayasaka Ai blinked.
"Good morning~!"
Again.
Today, Yukima Azuma felt completely different from yesterday.
How strange.
But Hayasaka Ai temporarily set that thought aside.
She pulled out two tickets from her skirt pocket and handed one to Yukima Azuma.
They were tickets to a currently trending anime movie.
Choosing an anime movie was a double-edged sword.
Japan was a paradise of 2D culture, but not everyone liked anime.
Those who did would be delighted to meet a fellow enthusiast.
Those who didn't might even feel repulsed by the genre.
However, Hayasaka Ai had prepared meticulously, leaving no room for mistakes.
Of course, she was well aware that Yukima Azuma belonged to the anime-loving group.
In fact, he was an extremely famous light novel author himself.
So this choice carried only advantages, no downsides.
Moreover, choosing an anime movie made it easier to extend their conversation later.
Yukima Azuma took the movie ticket.
But his reaction wasn't what Hayasaka Ai had expected
There was no excitement, no enthusiastic discussion about the world of 2D.
Just a calm response.
"This uniform is...?" Yukima Azuma's gaze shifted to Hayasaka Ai.
Today, she was wearing the summer uniform of a Japanese high school girl.
A cute sailor-style blouse paired with a pleated gray skirt.
The skirt's length was subtly adjusteddefinitely folded up a little.
"I'm a first-year student at Filis Girls' Academy. Azuma-kun is a first-year too, right?"
"This is our uniform. What do you think? Cute, isn't it? I heard most boys have a soft spot for school uniforms."
Hayasaka Ai gently pressed down her skirt, tilting her body slightly forward.
And added a wink!
Such a move would make her youthful charm even more captivating.
Combined with her delicate facial features, it created an irresistible allure.
Normally, when faced with such a situation, a high school boy would
Instinctively take a step back, then stammer out a response.
But Yukima Azuma
"You look adorable. This style really suits Hasaka."
He answered seriously, then smiled.
Hayasaka Ai straightened up, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her skirt.
"Really? As long as Azuma-kun likes it, that's good. I hesitated for a long time before coming out."
Something's off!
Why is Yukima Azuma playing it so straight from the start today!?
Could it be he already likes her!?
But if he did, he shouldn't be this calm.
Did her words and actions just now actually increase his affection?
Today, she couldn't read him at all.
Hayasaka Ai suddenly felt less confident than before.
.....
After a brief exchange of greetings, the two walked toward the Ginza movie theater.
Yukima Azuma led the way, while Hayasaka Ai followed half a step behind, on his right.
Perhaps because it was summer vacation,
The streets outside the Ginza movie theater were quite crowded.
Middle-aged parents guided their children out of the theater, while high school couples like them laughed and chatted as they entered.
People bustled back and forth,
And Hayasaka Ai gradually inched closer to Yukima Azuma,
Planning to create some light physical contact.
But just as she was looking for the perfect moment
Yukima Azuma's hand suddenly reached out.
A warm sensation spread from her wrist. Looking down, Hayasaka Ai realized that her wrist had been gently grasped by his hand.
His fingers were long, with clearly defined knuckles,
The kind of hands that seemed perfect for playing musical instruments.
He gave her wrist a slight tug, pulling her behind him.
"It's too crowded. Walk behind me, Hasaka. This way, you won't get bumped into."
Yukima Azuma's voice came from ahead.
Hayasaka Ai looked up, glancing at his profile.
The sense of reassurance he gave her
Wait!
Hayasaka Ai shook her head.
Wait, what am I thinking right now?
I said I would lead him, right? I said I would conquer him, right? Why do I suddenly feel goodwill towards him?
She immediately suppressed the feeling that had just emerged.
Hayasaka Ai took a deep breath.
It's fine.
If he tends to be proactive, that would only benefit her plan.
The two of them lined up at the ticket gate.
Yukima Azuma and Hayasaka Ai both presented their tickets.
Aside from the hand they were holding, their other hands gently brushed against each other in the air as they handed over the tickets.
Despite the situation seeming tense, it was this very tension that made their hearts flutter.
The staff member glanced at them both for a moment and then smiled warmly as if they were family.
She took the tickets, tore them, and handed them back.
"Enjoy your movie. There's a special promotion right nowcouples who buy popcorn will get a 50% discount on the second serving."
Hayasaka Ai gently scratched the back of Yukima Azuma's hand with her finger.
She wanted to convey her subtle intentions to him.
The scene where they were mistaken for a couple.
Once accepted, many subsequent actions would naturally make sense.
"Then, please give us two servings of popcorn."
Yukima Azuma followed Hayasaka Ai's lead.
The staff quickly brought the two servings of popcorn.
They went to their seats according to the numbers on their tickets.
At this moment, their hands finally parted.
Hayasaka Ai sat down, her fingers gently brushing over the spot on her wrist where Yukima Azuma had just held it.
She lowered her head, her expression slightly bashful.
Yes, this was all acting.
At this point, acting shy would encourage the guy to make a move.
However, there was no reaction.
Yukima Azuma showed no interest in discussing the misunderstanding that they were a couple.
Still, he ate the popcorn with a very cheerful expression.
Hayasaka Ai bit her lower lip.
This guy!
He should have acted on this opportunity!
Suddenly, the surroundings darkened.
The large screen before them began to show images.
The movie started.
It was a slice-of-life anime movie.
There were no heavy plot points or major twists.
But it was made very well, enough to make the viewers smile easily.
On screen, the male and female leads were in a somewhat ambiguous phase, sitting on a couch, their fingers gradually moving closer together.
A classic scene testing the waters to hold hands.
Hayasaka Ai's slender fingers, like tender buds, slowly reached toward Yukima Azuma.
When her fingertip gently touched his finger,
Hayasaka Ai glanced sideways at Yukima Azuma's reaction.
What would he do?
Would he be shy? Or would he happily grab her hand?
"What's wrong? Want some popcorn?"
Yukima Azuma pulled his hand back and brought his popcorn box to Hayasaka Ai's face.
Hayasaka Ai forced a smile and nodded.
She picked a piece of popcorn, threw it into her mouth, and bit down hard with her white teeth.
Popcorn you mother!
Looking at me, you can only see me as popcorn!
Is it really that I don't have popcorn either!?
What is this guy even like? A stiff man made of reinforced concrete!?
And then, as Hayasaka Ai was still fuming, gritting her teeth in frustration,
Her hand, clenched tightly to vent her anger, suddenly felt a warm and strong sensation.
Hayasaka Ai looked down.
The hand of that boy had reached out, taking hers.
His beautiful fingers nimbly slipped into her palm, intertwining with her fingers.
Ten fingers woven together.
Hayasaka Ai blankly looked up at Yukima Azuma.
"Ahem... actually, you wanted to hold hands, right, Hasaka?"
Yukima Azuma lowered his head, giving a small cough as if trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Now that I think about it, Hasaka also has popcorn, I don't know what I was saying earlier."
"Sorry, I almost wasted your courage and feelings, Hasaka."
Hayasaka Ai looked away, her little head turning to another direction.
"Ah... it's fine, you don't have to apologize."
Well it seems like it worked, right?
Though the process was a bit different from what I imagined.
But the result should be fine.
Deep inside, Hayasaka Ai felt a little unsure, so she told herself this to reassure herself.
When the movie ended,
The two of them naturally walked out of the cinema, still holding hands.
Their fingers remained tightly intertwined.
No one mentioned it.
"It's really interesting, you know, even though none of my classmates are interested in anime, I still like it."
Hayasaka Ai lowered her head, sighing.
These words were spoken to someone who understood her.
Stories that easily evoke sympathy.
She was saying them to Yukima Azuma.
"I feel the same. No matter what others say, I still like it."
Yukima Azuma responded.
Hayasaka Ai silently sighed in relief.
Now she really couldn't guess how Yukima Azuma would react.
Plans that were carefully calculated, but not many things went according to plan.
Even though the results seemed fine.
But for someone like Hayasaka Ai, who was a planner, she was truly not good at dealing with unexpected chaos.
Fortunately, Yukima Azuma's reaction at this point was still within her expectations.
"Well how about we go to the movies again next time?"
"Do you know the 'Youth' series? The second volume of the light novel will be released around mid-month."
"I'm a huge fan of the 'Youth' series, let's go together then, okay?"
Hayasaka Ai smiled.
So?
I'm a fan of yours!
In a field you love, having your accomplishments recognized by a cute girl.
No matter how you think about it, it's just a joyful feeling.
Moreover, beyond the relationship between the author and the fan,
The level of intimacy will increase beyond the initial "friend" boundary.
It's usually difficult to cross the "close friend" line, but by using this little trick, it's easily broken.
As long as we reach the level of "best friends."
Then, the romantic relationship will smoothly follow.
"Umu, sure."
Yukima Azuma simply nodded normally.
Hayasaka Ai: ?
Wait, what's this reaction?
Where's the heart fluttering? The surprise mixed with joy? The feeling of secret happiness?
Aren't you the author of the "Youth" series?!
Stiff.
She fists are clenched!
All the intricate plans I meticulously set up,
The end result only got me an "Umu."
Taking a few deep breaths,
Hayasaka Ai finally managed to pull herself together.
"Alright, it's decided then!" She forced a smile. "It's already noon, Azuma-kun, are you hungry? How about we go get something to eat?"
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Today's lunch, Hayasaka Ai ate without any sense of taste.
At first, while eating, she had planned many small interactions.
But in the end, she completely lost the mood to do anything.
As someone who always has a plan, Hayasaka Ai likes to calculate everything before taking action.
She had investigated Yukima Azuma thoroughly, without missing a single detail.
Adding to that was the day of interaction yesterday.
Hayasaka Ai was confident that she had grasped Yukima Azuma's personality and psychology.
Based on Yukima Azuma's personality, she had devised a step-by-step conquest strategy with tight connections.
But as it turned out, the plan, although seemingly perfect step by step
None of the steps actually connected with each other.
Hayasaka Ai felt as if the progress bar for conquering Yukima Azuma was flashing erratically before her eyes.
Sometimes full, sometimes disappearing.
His attitude truly left her unable to understand what he was thinking.
Frustrated, she took out her anger on the food in front of her.
...
As Hayasaka Ai angrily ate in a frenzy
Yukima Azuma simply sat next to her, smiling as he observed her.
This girl's intention to conquer was so obvious that it couldn't be hidden.
But thanks to her thorough intelligence work, the effectiveness of her conquest was actually quite good.
It could even make someone's heart flutter a little.
After all, in the art of conquest, information is extremely important.
If Yukima Azuma didn't know Hayasaka Ai
If the person who interacted with Hayasaka Ai yesterday was truly Yukima Azuma himself
Then today, perhaps he would have actually been swayed by her.
Unfortunately, there were no "ifs."
Yukima Azuma knew very well that the person before him was the multi-layered actress maid, Hayasaka Ai.
He knew that this dark-hearted maid was acting from head to toe.
When you already have the answer in mind while analyzing a situation, naturally, you won't fall into Hayasaka Ai's trap and have your heart race.
Moreover
A bigger issue was
The one who interacted with Hayasaka Ai yesterday wasn't Yukima Azuma.
It was Miyamizu Mitsuha, the simple and innocent cute girl from the town of Itomori.
Using Miyamizu Mitsuha's personality to design a trap
It was only natural that Yukima Azuma wouldn't step into it.
As for Yukima Azuma's unpredictable attitude
It was precisely to throw Hayasaka Ai off balance.
If Hayasaka Ai had been able to cling tightly to her plan
Then no matter what happened today, she would have remained steady at the top, unshaken.
But now
Yukima Azuma looked at Hayasaka Ai, puffing her cheeks in frustration as she ate.
Now, Hayasaka Ai was clearly no longer calm.
In a game of chess, when the mind is in turmoil
Whether due to anger or excitement
It means you've stepped into the game.
At that moment, the roles between the player and the chess piece would be reversed.
Lunch quietly passed.
Hayasaka Ai adjusted her emotions and looked toward Yukima Azuma.
No matter what, based on Yukima Azuma's behavior today, she had indeed made him waver a little more toward her.
Even though the plan was a mess
As long as the success rate remained high, there was no reason to give up.
The afternoon plan would proceed as scheduled!
"Azuma-kun, let's go for a walk at the bookstore. How about checking out some light novels together?"
Hayasaka Ai extended an invitation.
"Sure."
Yukima Azuma readily agreed.
And so, the two arrived at a large bookstore in Ginza.
This bookstore not only had a rich collection of books
But also had a caf and a relaxation area for customers.
Hayasaka Ai picked up a volume of Saekano.
Although she considered herself a fan of the "Youth" series
In reality, she had never read Saekano or Bunny Girl Senpai.
After all, as the personal maid of Shinomiya Kaguya, her work was very busy.
The moments of leisure to read light novels were almost nonexistent for Hayasaka Ai.
On normal days, the pressure was so high that whenever she had time to relax, she mostly watched entertainment videos or soaked in the bath to unwind.
Information about those two book series, she had only skimmed over online.
Now, picking up the book was merely to score points in front of Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma picked up a copy of The Legend of the Phantom Blade.
This was a fantasy battle light novel series that had once been very popular, but it hadn't existed in Yukima Azuma's previous life.
Now, with some free time, it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.
After all, it was a work that had once stirred the market, it must have some unique aspects.
"Finally, I can read it again. I've wanted to re-read it for a long time, but never had the time~"
"Hasaka, are you usually so busy?"
"Yes, the studies are very intense. After all, it's a private girls' school, where academic performance is very important, and I have to study around ten hours a day."
"Ten hours... That's really tough. Is today a rare holiday?"
"Yep! It's an incredibly rare holiday! Spending time with Azuma-kun is truly wonderful."
At this point, not everything Hayasaka Ai said was a lie.
At least, her complaint contained some real emotion.
As the close maid of the Shinomiya family,
Ten hours of waiting with high intensity in one day was considered little.
There were times, such as when Shinomiya Kaguya attended high-class galas,
In the daytime, Hayasaka Ai had to prepare outfits and arrange schedules for Kaguya, and at night, she had to ensure her safety.
She had experienced days spinning non-stop for twenty-four hours.
That was completely normal.
Today was also a day she took off to go out.
Saying this, Hayasaka Ai suddenly realized that it seemed like all her vacations this year...
Had been used to spend time with Yukima Azuma.
Immediately, she gritted her teeth.
When she conquers Yukima Azuma...
She would make him pay back this debt a hundredfold!
Vengeance Will Be Mine!!!
"I'm the same, usually so busy. To be able to enjoy a rare holiday with Hasaka"
"Really, it's truly wonderful."
Yukima Azuma's voice then sounded almost like a whisper to himself.
Hayasaka Ai paused for a moment.
Suddenly, she remembered that the young man before her was the president of Laplace Corporation.
This person... Does he really have it easier than her?
Hayasaka Ai understood how difficult it was to run a corporation.
Perhaps, the young man before her was even more exhausted than she was.
Thinking about that,
Hayasaka Ai unconsciously felt a bit of sympathy.
At the same time, she couldn't help but feel curious.
He was so outstanding, why did he still have to work this hard?
Yukima Azuma didn't need to look at Hayasaka Ai's expression to know that she had definitely fallen for it.
This cunning maid, in reality, was very sensitive inside.
As long as he disturbed her reasoning,
It would become incredibly easy to stir her emotions.
Hayasaka Ai pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered that she was still in the middle of her conquest plan for Yukima Azuma.
So, she suppressed all the emotions in her heart,
Pretending to be tired, slowly resting her head on the table.
Her voice in the conversation also gradually grew softer.
After a while of staging, she pretended to fall asleep.
Saying she was tired was just an excuse to fake sleeping.
She was confident that if she slept here,
Yukima Azuma would never leave her side.
In this way, she could create the scene of "sleeping soundly without any defense, while Yukima Azuma stays by her side, watching over her."
If she could successfully recreate this moment,
Then when she woke up,
She could pretend to be shy and moved, and take the opportunity to confess her feelings.
Such a confession would become completely natural.
Moreover, it could blur the lines between "friends" and "lovers."
This would significantly increase the chances of a successful confession.
Once they entered a romantic relationship,
The subsequent steps of the conquest would become incredibly simple.
Everything just according to keikaku!
Hayasaka Ai lay on the table, smiling with a very Aizen-like expression, silently cheering for her plan.
With such a tight plan, how could she possibly fail?
Time slowly passed.
Hayasaka Ai squinted her eyes, secretly glancing at Yukima Azuma.
He... had been sitting beside her reading a light novel the whole time.
This made Hayasaka Ai sigh inwardly.
Does he even like her?
If he did, she was sleeping right next to him, why was there no reaction?
And if he didn't, then what about the hand-holding at the movie theater?
Could it be... that the upcoming confession would fail?
As Hayasaka Ai was lost in thought, Yukima Azuma suddenly closed the light novel.
His gaze turned toward her.
Hayasaka Ai immediately closed her eyes, adjusting her breathing, not revealing any flaws.
Just as she was wondering what he would do
She felt a gentle warmth brush past her cheek.
Hayasaka Ai suddenly froze.
This guy...!
He actually touched her cheek while she was sleeping?!
Holding hands was one thing, because she initiated it.
But this action... it was clearly crossing the line, right?!
Could it be that he was just pretending to be righteous, but deep down he was a pervert?
Just as she was thinking this
"Are you really asleep Looks like your daily work must be very tough, huh?"
Yukima Azuma's voice gently reached her.
It was so warm it was almost unbelievable.
If recorded, it would surely become a lullaby for countless young girls.
Hayasaka Ai's heart skipped a beat.
But it wasn't because of the gentle voice.
It was because...
'Work?'
Why did he say she worked hard?
Didn't she say she was just a high school student?
Before she could think further
Yukima Azuma's next words directly answered her question.
"Hayasaka, you've worked hard. Just sleep peacefully."
Yukima Azuma said.
The hand on the other side of Hayasaka Ai tightened.
She wanted to jump up immediately.
How did he know?!
Did she slip up somewhere?
She had disguised herself as Hasaka so perfectly, no one should have seen through it!
Then when did he realize?
If he knew she was Hayasaka Ai, then what the hell was this guy doing the whole time?!
Hayasaka Ai recalled what had happened in the past two days.
She only felt like she had been toyed with.
A tremendous sense of embarrassment surged within her.
She wanted to jump up right away, pin Yukima Azuma by the neck with her thighs and twist hard.
Just as her fingers tightened to the point of turning white
"I wish the person dating me was Hayasaka Ai, not Hasaka."
Yukima Azuma gently caressed Hayasaka Ai's cheek, his voice full of regret.
The soft touch of his finger, as if it contained all his love.
"At the Shinomiya house, you must have suffered a lot, huh?"
"Having to live behind all those layers of masks every day must be exhausting."
"You're clearly a young lady of the Hayasaka family, why do you have to endure such hardships?"
"Hayasaka Ai, I like you."
"I will definitely take you away from the Shinomiya family."
"No matter how difficult it is, no matter how many obstacles there are on that path."
"You, and the entire Hayasaka family, I will definitely take you back. Definitely!"
Hayasaka Ai's breath became completely disordered.
(note: This chapter has a very strong Kaguya-sama: Love is War feel)
Chapter 153: Playing with a Young Girl's Feelings
"Hayasaka Ai, I like you."
"I will definitely take you back from the Shinomiya family."
"No matter how difficult it is, no matter how many obstacles stand in my way."
"You, and the entire Hayasaka familyI will take them back with my own hands. Definitely!"
"As long as I can help Hayasaka live a free life in the future, without having to struggle like this anymore, I am willing to do anything."
Yukima Azuma's voice was soft, yet incredibly resolute.
Each word, each sentence reached Hayasaka Ai's ears clearly.
She felt the warmth of his hand placed gently on her face.
Hayasaka Ai's breathing was completely thrown into disarray.
If one observed carefully, they would surely notice she was only pretending to be asleep.
But at this moment, Hayasaka Ai no longer had the mind to worry about such trivial matters.
Her mind was now filled only with Yukima Azuma's words.
He likes me?
Not Hasaka.
But Hayasaka Ai!
Just realizing this
The strange occurrences over the past two days, Yukima Azuma's unpredictable changes in attitude
Everything, everything could now be explained.
Because from the very beginning, Yukima Azuma had recognized her.
Even though she used the false name Hasaka and deliberately displayed a completely different personality
Yukima Azuma could still talk to her so naturally.
Simply because this boy liked Hayasaka Ai.
Hayasaka Ai didn't know what her mother had said to the boy in front of her.
But most likely, he had already learned about the Hayasaka family's past.
He knew that the Hayasaka family had become vassals of the Shinomiya clan.
Perhaps, he even knew that she was not only Shinomiya Kaguya's close maid, but was also forced to spy for Kaguya's older brother.
Hayasaka Ai didn't know when Yukima Azuma had started liking her.
But she knew one thing
The boy before her had undoubtedly seen through all of her masks.
He had recognized her true self.
And because of that, he was now trying his best to help her break free from those facades.
So then, why did such an outstanding boy have to struggle so much?
Hayasaka Ai suddenly felt a sense of unreality.
For her?
To stand against the colossal Shinomiya family?
To reclaim the Hayasaka family and Hayasaka Ai?
This affectionwas so overwhelming that it made Hayasaka Ai's nose sting.
"Today, Hayasaka is especially cute, but she seems to be plotting something."
Yukima Azuma's tone became lighthearted again.
"Whether it's an annoyed Hayasaka or a slightly mischievous Hayasaka, both are adorable."
"So much so that I can't help but want to tease heram I being too mean?"
"When Hayasaka wakes up later, will she confess to me? Most likely, yes."
"In retaliation, she might even dare to use seduction against me. What should I say to her?"
"Should I take this chance to agree to her confession?"
"If so, then I'll be able to date Hayasaka No, wait, it should be Hasaka."
At this point, Yukima Azuma's voice hesitated slightly.
"What am I even thinking? Hayasaka is already exhausted." His voice now carried clear self-reproach and gloom. "Yet here I am, selfishly making her do even more What kind of person does that make me?"
The young man sighed. "I should probably turn her down later."
He was clearly talking about rejecting a confession.
Yet these words were sweeter than any confession could ever be.
The boy's hand left Hayasaka Ai's cheek.
But she could still feel the lingering warmth, her face burning.
....
After some time had passed
Hayasaka Ai followed through with her plan and pretended to wake up.
She groggily lifted her head.
"Ehh? Did I fall asleep?"
She mumbled in surprise, simultaneously glancing at the watch on her wrist.
"No way! Three hours have already passed?!"
Realizing this truth
Hayasaka Ai raised both hands to cover her face, as if feeling embarrassed for having dozed off while reading with Yukima Azuma.
On her beautiful, fair cheekspaler than mostan unmistakable blush had spread.
This wasn't an act.
It was genuine embarrassment.
Only the reason and the way she expressed it were slightly different.
As if she was finding an excuse to release her emotions, making it feel all the more real and touching.
"I was going to wake Hasaka up, but I figured you must be really tired, so I let you sleep."
Yukima Azuma smiled as he spoke.
"So embarrassing... uwu..."
Hayasaka Ai buried her face in her hands, letting out a soft whimper.
She waited until the embarrassment faded just a little.
Then, she spoke the line she had already prepared in advance:
"Someone like me... You could have just ignored me and gone home, you know."
But the moment the words left her lips, she realized their meaning had changed completely from what she originally intended.
"There's no way I could leave Hasaka alone."
Yukima Azuma replied with the exact line that Hayasaka Ai had planned for him.
"Azuma-kun..." Hayasaka Ai lifted her head.
On her face was the expression of someone falling hopelessly in love.
It was a look that, with just a glance, made it clearhe was different from everyone she had met before.
This was an expression Hayasaka Ai had practiced many times.
But now, the pure, love-filled gaze she gave him
Was more real than any of her rehearsals.
"Ne, Azuma-kun, would you like to try dating me?"
A confession too difficult to refuse flowed from her lips.
"I know, we haven't known each other for long, so this might seem sudden."
"But we can try itninety percent as friends, ten percent as lovers."
"If Azuma-kun likes someone else, you don't have to feel guilty. Just go ahead and pursue her."
"Think of me as a backup girlfriend or something. I wouldn't mind."
Hayasaka Ai spoke words laced with ambiguous affection.
Every single one of them had been rehearsed in advance.
But according to her original plan
She was supposed to flash a sweet smile.
Look Yukima Azuma straight in the eyes as she said those words.
Yet at this moment, Hayasaka Ai lowered her head, squeezing her eyes shut.
This was a trial where she already knew the verdict.
But when the moment of judgment truly arrived
Her heart still felt like it was being crushed.
No matter what Yukima Azuma said next
Her emotions would be thrown into turmoil.
If he rejected her
She would wonder, just how much does this boy actually like her?
Like her so much that he would rather turn her down just to spare her from exhaustion?
If he accepted
She would wonder, just how much does this boy actually like her?
Like her so much that he let his emotions override his reason, plunging in despite knowing it was a mistake?
"I'm sorry, but... I already like someone else."
Yukima Azuma's answer rang out.
Hayasaka Ai lowered her head in silence.
After a while
She placed her hands on the table, pushed herself back, and stood up from her seat.
Then, she quickly walked toward the bookstore's restroom.
Her steps grew faster and fasteruntil she broke into a small run.
Behind her, she left a trail of silent tears.
Crystal-clear droplets fell onto the floor, shattering into countless tiny fragments.
...
Watching Hayasaka Ai's retreating figure as she ran off
Yukima Azuma clicked his tongue.
Had he been too harsh?
He had messed with her emotions, then struck directly at the heart of a girl who was only pretending to be asleep.
Doing something like that He felt a little cruel.
After all, Hayasaka Ai had willingly walked into this situation.
Thinking for a moment, Yukima Azuma let out a small sigh.
Oh well. In the end, he had only spoken the truth.
It wasn't a complete lie meant to toy with a young girl's feelings.
His intention to take the Hayasaka family back from the Shinomiya clanthat was real.
And when that day came Maybe he'd bring Hayasaka Ai over to his side as well.
As for what would happen after that
He'd think about it when the time came.
With that thought, Yukima Azuma gathered his belongings.
Then, picking up the first volume of The Legend of the Phantom Blade, he made his way to the bookstore's checkout counter.
By the time he left Ginza and returned to the Yukima house
His phone chimed with a notification from LINE.
Hayasaka Aior more precisely, Hasakahad removed him from her friends list.
Yukima Azuma swiped the red notification dot to the side.
Then, he let go.
With a soft pop, the unread message indicator vanished without a trace.
After a brief moment of thought
He opened the chat window with Hayasaka Ai on LINE.
Azuma: "Hayasaka, good evening. Have you eaten?"
Hayasaka: "Azuma onii-chan, do you need something?"
Azuma: "Why so cold?"
Hayasaka: "Because that's the extent of our relationship now."
Yukima Azuma closed the LINE app and stretched.
...
Meanwhile
At the Shinomiya mansion.
"Hayasaka, what's wrong?"
Shinomiya Kaguya eyed her maid with suspicion.
Though, calling Hayasaka Ai her maid
Kaguya had practically grown up with Hayasaka Ai.
In reality, her feelings toward Ai were far closer to those of siblings than a master and servant.
If anything, Kaguya felt more like the younger sister, while Ai was the elder. Something like that.
And today, Hayasaka Ai had requested leave to go out.
After returning, she hadn't immediately reported to Kaguya.
Instead, she locked herself in her room.
On top of that, when they finally met, Shinomiya Kaguya noticed clear traces of tears on Hayasaka Ai's face.
She hadn't even finished wiping them away.
Naturally, Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't help but worry.
"Kaguya-sama, I'm fine..."
Hayasaka Ai replied in a hoarse voice.
That answer was completely unacceptable.
Someone who was actually fine would never say, "I'm fine."
That much was common sensesomething Hayasaka Ai definitely knew.
But when her voice was still raw from crying, what else could she even say?
Shinomiya Kaguya furrowed her brows deeply.
Had someone bullied Hayasaka?
That was absolutely unforgivable!
First, she had to investigate
Then she would exact revenge tenfold!
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 154: A Heart Stirred Without Ever Meeting
In the morning, the sound of the alarm clock pulled Miyamizu Mitsuha out of her sleep.
She opened her eyes and saw the ceiling of her room.
Her consciousness gradually returned.
Even though she was awake, at this moment, Miyamizu Mitsuha had no desire to move.
She just wanted to close her eyes again and recall the experience in the dream she had just had.
That dream was so vivid that it was hard to believe.
Even after waking up, every scene remained as clear as ever in her mind.
It was as if she had truly been to Tokyo.
Thinking about the luxurious caf, the exquisite desserts, and the view from Tokyo Tower
Miyamizu Mitsuha couldn't help but feel her heart race.
She had to study hard in high school, then get into a university in Tokyo!
The alarm kept ringing for a long time before Miyamizu Mitsuha finally opened her eyes again.
"Eh? Yesterday did I set an alarm?"
"Or was it because I made plans with Sayaka and the others to go to a caf, so I set an alarm specifically for that, but then forgot about it?"
She muttered in confusion.
Miyamizu Mitsuha sat up and picked up her phone.
[Your journal has received a letter.]
Seeing the message displayed on the screen, Miyamizu Mitsuha frowned in puzzlement.
Who had touched her phone?
That name sounded like some kind of strange joke.
She casually dismissed the alarm.
Then she got up from the tatami mat, intending to go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
But the moment she stood up, she felt her legs go weak and immediately collapsed back down.
A wave of soreness spread from her calves throughout her entire body.
Miyamizu Mitsuha froze in shock.
Why did her legs feel so sore, as if she had walked dozens of kilometers?
Did she push herself so hard yesterday?
She was sure she barely exercised at all yesterday.
If anything, it was only in her dream
At that moment, Miyamizu Mitsuha finally realized the gravity of the situation.
The sensations were far too real.
And the soreness spreading through her body.
All of these things were telling her
That experience wasn't just a simple dream.
Miyamizu Mitsuha suddenly remembered the message on her phone's alarm.
She immediately looked up toward her desk, searching for her journal.
But no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't find it.
It was supposed to be right there on the desk!
Just as Miyamizu Mitsuha was about to push herself up again
Her fingers brushed against the familiar texture of a book cover.
She picked it up and saw that it was indeed her journal.
Carrying a sense of doubt, she slowly opened it.
The previous pages still contained the diary entries she had written.
But when she reached yesterday's entry
She turned to the next page.
On what was originally a blank sheet of paper, unfamiliar handwriting had appeared.
The handwriting had a very distinct style.
The kanji looked as if they had been written by a calligrapher, with each stroke carrying a unique elegance.
But the katakana was incredibly messy, no different from the scribbles of a young child.
[Miyamizu Mitsuha, hello. My name is Yukima Azuma.]
This first sentence made Miyamizu Mitsuha's eyes widen.
"Yukima Azuma Is that his name?"
She recalled in the dream um, perhaps it wasn't a dream.
In any case, it was the boy whose identity she had taken on.
The one with outstanding looks, living in a luxury apartment in Tokyo, and even having beautiful girls approach him on the streets.
That person was called 'Azuma.'
But until now, Miyamizu Mitsuha had never known his full name.
[First of all, what you experienced was not a dream, but an actual identity swap. Please understand this.]
A swap?
So everything was real?
No wonder it had felt so incredibly vivid!
[While you spent one day in Tokyo, seven days have passed in Itomori.]
Huh!?
Seven days have already passed!?
She hurriedly picked up her phone to check the date.
Sure enough, seven days had gone by.
She opened the photo library on her phone.
Inside, there were several pictures she had never seen before
Photos of a caf and desserts.
Even a group photo of her with Teshigawara and Natori Sayaka.
"Is this the caf in town? It can't even compare to Tokyo What am I thinking!?"
Miyamizu Mitsuha lightly patted her cheeks to calm herself down.
Now was not the time to be thinking about that!
She recalled what she had done while in that boy's identity.
From the bottom of her heart, she felt incredibly guilty.
Casually making friends with other girls under his name.
Hugging his cat tightly and sniffing it nonstop.
Most importantly spending his money recklessly, buying tons of things on shopping apps that even she didn't know how to use.
If Yukima Azuma were standing right in front of her now
Miyamizu Mitsuha thought she might have to seiza kneel down and apologize immediately.
This was no longer just a simple matter of being rude.
It was outright inhumane.
A deep sense of guilt filled Miyamizu Mitsuha as she continued reading the words left behind by Yukima Azuma.
When she read the part where he said the swapping could last until the end of summer vacation
Her heart immediately hung in the air.
She was happy to have another chance to go to Tokyo.
But this time, that happiness no longer came from admiration or longing.
Instead, it was because at the very least, she would have the chance to properly apologize to the boy she had never met.
At the same time, she also felt anxious and uneasy.
She had no idea how he would react when he discovered how much of his money she had wasted.
She imagined the scene of him getting angry after swapping back and checking his account.
"I'm definitely going to get scolded But I totally deserve it."
"How much money did I even spend? I have no idea. If I have to pay it back, I'll probably need to work part-time for a long time"
Miyamizu Mitsuha let out a heavy sigh.
But if she did something wrong, she had to take responsibility.
She was the type of person who faced the consequences of her actions.
At that moment, the door to her room suddenly slid open from the outside.
Her younger sister's voice rang out.
"Onee-chan, it's time for breakfast!"
"Ah, umu, I'll be right there."
Miyamizu Mitsuha pushed herself up and walked over to Yotsuha.
"Onee-chan, the way you're walking looks so weird."
"My legs are just a little sore. Oh, right, Yotsuha Have I been acting strange lately?"
"Huh? Not at all. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, it's nothing, just small talk."
Hearing her sister say that she had been acting normal lately
Miyamizu Mitsuha let out a sigh of relief.
But the guilt in her heart only grew deeper.
When that boy had swapped into her identity, he had lived normally for seven whole days.
So much so that even her sister hadn't noticed anything unusual.
Meanwhile, she had caused a complete mess in just one day.
...
After finishing breakfast,
Miyamizu Mitsuha planned to return to her room to continue reading the journal and think about what to do next.
But just as she stood up, her grandmother called out to her.
"Mitsuha, today you have to make Kumihimo, remember?"
Mitsuha froze for a moment before nodding.
So it was already time to make Kumihimo?
Time really flew by so fast
Would that boy like Kumihimo? It was, after all, a specialty of her hometown.
Miyamizu Mitsuha unconsciously thought about Yukima Azuma.
"After we swap back, I'll ask him. Maybe I can use Kumihimo to pay off part of my debt."
Mitsuha muttered to herself and let out a small sigh.
"What are you talking about, Onee-chan?"
Yotsuha looked at her with a confused expression.
"Ah, it's nothing."
Mitsuha waved her hand dismissively, acting as if nothing had happened.
So, after their grandmother finished eating,
Mitsuha and Yotsuha accompanied her outside, preparing to head to the Miyamizu Shrine.
Walking along the narrow path,
There were a few people coming from the opposite side of the road.
Miyamizu Mitsuha looked closely and recognized them.
She unconsciously pouted.
They were classmatespeople whom she, Sayaka, and Teshigawara didn't get along with.
They would definitely start whispering and badmouthing her again.
Ugh! I already have enough to worry about!
Thinking that, Mitsuha was about to avert her eyes,
Just like always, lower her head, and walk past them without paying attention.
But before she could do so
Those people instinctively moved aside, stepping far away from Mitsuha.
All of them lowered their heads, pretending not to see her.
Miyamizu Mitsuha blinked.
"Huh?"
This strange reaction left Mitsuha feeling puzzled.
Meanwhile, the boys and girls who were being stared at
Were now drenched in sweat.
Seven days ago, they had endured a direct confrontation from "Miyamizu Mitsuha."
After that, they had wanted to regain their dignity.
But every time they encountered "Miyamizu Mitsuha," her words would leave them speechless, unable to lift their heads.
Moreover, "Miyamizu Mitsuha" carried an unbelievably strong presence.
Every time they faced "her," it felt as if they were facing their own parents.
These past few days, these kidswho weren't even in high school yet
Whenever they saw Mitsuha, they would quietly avoid her.
And now, being stared at by Mitsuha, they unconsciously felt anxious.
"Are, this rock really is just a rock."
"Of course, a rock is just a rock."
Those people stared at a rock on the ground as if it were their lifeline.
Only after Mitsuha passed by did they finally relax their gazes.
She had seen their reactions clearly and felt a sense of satisfaction.
No more annoying taunts today.
Her whole day instantly felt brighter.
But at the same time, Miyamizu Mitsuha understood.
There was no way these people had suddenly changed their personalities.
That boy who had swapped identities with her must have done something.
Social relationships had always been a struggle for her,
Like a thorn embedded in her flesh
Not life-threatening, but painful every time it was touched.
And yet, that boy had effortlessly removed this troublesome thorn that she had endured for so long.
Miyamizu Mitsuha felt both relieved and curious.
Yukima Azuma What exactly did he do?
After that, Mitsuha became even more intrigued by this boy.
Were all handsome guys in Tokyo this capable?
It felt like there was nothing he couldn't do!
"Mitsuha, focus."
Her grandmother's voice snapped her back to reality.
Mitsuha quickly regained her composure.
The three of them had arrived at Miyamizu Shrine.
Inside a room deep within the shrine, there were threads of various colors.
These threads, when woven using a special technique, would become Kumihimo.
According to legend, this was a medium for communicating with the gods.
It symbolized the connection between gods and humans, between people, and between souls.
When weaving, one must calm their mind and pour their intentions into each thread.
Only then could a true Kumihimo be created.
As Mitsuha listened to her grandmother's words, she looked at the red-orange thread in her hands.
When weaving Kumihimo, any kind of thought or feeling could be embedded within.
Love for a partner, friendship for a friendit was all possible.
Mitsuha thought of Yukima Azuma and infused her curiosity about him into the delicate threads.
Slowly, a red-orange thread intertwined, forming a beautiful cord.
On the other side, Miyamizu Hitoha watched Mitsuha weave and was momentarily dazed.
Then, the old woman smiled in satisfaction.
Before long, a red-orange Kumihimo cord was completed.
Mitsuha placed it beside her.
If Yukima Azuma was interested in Kumihimo,
She wanted to give this cord to him.
Chapter 155: You are not Yukima Azuma, who are you?
She had been braiding kumihimo cords all day.
It wasn't until the evening that she returned home.
Miyamizu Mitsuha continued reading the diary left by Yukima Azuma.
It recorded the events of the past seven days.
He had visited a caf.
Then, he saved a stranger, a girl he had never met before.
The girl's name seemed to be Yuki, and a few days later, he even visited her house.
Yukima Azuma's notes were brief but still quite interesting.
Miyamizu Mitsuha felt like she was reading a light novel.
It was hard to imagine that the things written on paper had actually happened to her.
After reading through the entire diary,
Miyamizu Mitsuha picked up a pen and continued writing after Yukima Azuma's last entry.
[Hello Yukima Azuma, I am Miyamizu Mitsuha.
First, I want to apologize to you. I'm sorry for treating this like a dream and acting recklessly.
Regarding the damages I have caused, I am willing to compensate fully, though it may take some time to make things right.
I have read through the notes you left behind.
It was an incredible experience... I can't think of any other words to describe it.
Having gone through this, perhaps we should set some rules that both of us must follow.
But I feel that I am not in a position to criticize you.
From now on, I will also record what I have experienced.]
After writing what she wanted to convey,
She placed the diary and the orange-red kumihimo cord next to the pillow.
Miyamizu Mitsuha lay down on the tatami mat.
Her heart was filled with anxiety.
She was both hopeful and uneasy about the world she would see when she opened her eyes again.
She only hoped that he wouldn't completely hate her.
The mixed emotions inside her kept Miyamizu Mitsuha from falling asleep immediately.
It took about two or three hours before she gradually drifted off to sleep.
When she opened her eyes again
Miyamizu Mitsuha almost fell off the bed.
She had been sleeping on the tatami, and when she turned over, she didn't feel anything.
When she saw the intricately decorated ceiling
Miyamizu Mitsuha jumped up in shock.
It had switched again.
This time, she was more cautious with the expensive-looking furniture around her.
She sat upright at the edge of the bed, her whole body stiff, not knowing what to do.
This was his house.
Only at this moment did Miyamizu Mitsuha realize
This seemed to be the first time she had stepped into a boy's room.
In that moment, countless emotions mixed together, making her too nervous to touch anything.
Fortunately, when her gaze swept across another corner of the room
Miyamizu Mitsuha noticed a notebook placed next to the pillow.
It looked brand new, probably just unwrapped.
She reached out to touch the notebook but immediately withdrew her hand as if shocked by electricity.
After taking a deep breath
She finally dared to pick it up.
"I'm definitely going to get scolded."
With a sense of resignation, she gathered her courage and flipped to the first page.
And the first line she saw was
[Miyamizu Mitsuha, welcome to Tokyo.]
Miyamizu Mitsuha blinked several times.
She wasn't scolded.
She let out a sigh of relief.
Her feelings of affection for this stranger quickly grew.
The first page only had that one line.
Miyamizu Mitsuha was a bit confused.
Didn't he notice how much money she had spent?
But when she turned to the second page
[Are you thinking about money? Of course, I noticed, but it's fine. You probably still don't understand the situation.
Most of the things you bought, I've already returned. As for the things that couldn't be returned, well, I can still use them.
I'm not blaming you, so don't blame yourself anymore. Now, turn to the next page of the notebook.]
Miyamizu Mitsuha stared at the words, instinctively holding her breath.
'He's too nice...'
She turned to the third page.
[Do you think I'm super nice?]
The feeling of being touched inside her heart immediately turned into another kind of emotion.
Miyamizu Mitsuha smiled bitterly.
But it was also thanks to this that the burden in her heart was somewhat relieved.
And then
"Can you read my mind!?"
She blurted out in complaint while flipping to the next page.
["Were you thinking, 'Can he read minds!' right?"]
Miyamizu Mitsuha pouted.
Though her face showed dissatisfaction
In her heart, the image of Yukima Azuma took on a few more colors.
She continued turning to the next page.
This time, the page was full of text. It was no longer a series of guesses about the girl's thoughts
But a very detailed Tokyo travel guide.
[Such a rare opportunity, as a guest in Tokyo, please enjoy yourself to the fullest.
Here are some small tips I've gathered over the years of living in Tokyo:
The cinema in Ginza offers an excellent experience, and if you book your tickets online, you get free popcorn.
On holidays, Meiji Shrine is always packed with tourists, and sometimes people even hold weddings there, so you can check it out.
I recommend visiting Ochanomizu near Meiji Shrine. That street has a very unique style and is quite peaceful on holidays.
The candy apples at the entrance of Sensouji Temple are delicious, but the vegetarian meals inside the temple are just average.
Apart from tourist spots, Toyogasaki Academy, where I study, is also worth visiting, and you can still tour it on holidays.]
Reading through each of these personal suggestions
Miyamizu Mitsuha suddenly felt an indescribable emotion.
Even though it was only communication through written words.
Even though she had never met Yukima Azuma in person.
Through each of these pieces of advice, she could almost imagine the figure of the young man.
Closing the notebook
Miyamizu Mitsuha took a deep breath.
After all, as long as it doesn't affect him, she could visit the places suggested here.
Once again, she was filled with anticipation for Tokyo.
But this time
The anticipation was sparked by a young man.
...
Miyamizu Mitsuha stepped out of the room.
At that moment, Shiratamaru jumped down from the stairs and ran over to her.
Miyamizu Mitsuha squatted down and gently petted Shiratamaru's head.
"I'm really sorry about last time."
She bowed her head, apologizing for hugging the cat too much and sniffing it.
Shiratamaru: Nyan nyan?
Shiratamaru tilted its head, looking a bit confused.
After petting it a couple more times, Miyamizu Mitsuha opened the front door and left the house.
Outside, the brick-paved streets mixed with the asphalt road stretched before her.
Miyamizu Mitsuha didn't know where to go first.
Toyogasaki Academy
Hmm, she didn't know when the swapping would end.
Well then, she might as well check out his school.
Clumsily, she opened the map app on her phone.
Miyamizu Mitsuha looked up the route and then took the subway to the station nearest to the academy.
Turning around a street corner
In front of her was a slope.
The sides of the slope were lined with cherry blossom trees.
Miyamizu Mitsuha could imagine what it would be like when the spring wind blew through here.
The cherry blossom petals flying in the air would surely be beautiful.
But now, it was summer, and all she could see were the green leaves. She couldn't see the cherry blossoms.
She walked up the slope, continuing for a while
Miyamizu Mitsuha stood in front of the gate of Toyogasaki Academy.
Though it was a holiday, a few students were still coming in and out of the school.
Passing through the grand gate
What first caught her eye was not the classroom building, but a massive fountain.
In the pond, koi fish of various colors swam gracefully.
On the left was a large bulletin board, covered with all kinds of information
From club promotions to the academy's holiday announcements.
Walking around the koi pond
In front of Miyamizu Mitsuha was a magnificent lecture hall building.
She looked up, counting from the bottom to the top
There were five floors in total.
Just this building alone was probably bigger than her entire school combined.
"Azuma-san!"
A sudden voice called out from beside her.
Miyamizu Mitsuha jumped in surprise.
Turning her head
A girl with a gentle demeanor, who seemed to have appeared next to her without her noticing.
Looking closely
Miyamizu Mitsuha recognized the girl in front of her.
She was one of the three girls on Yukima Azuma's phone lock screen.
She tried to recall the friend list on Line.
Finally, she matched the name with the person in front of her.
"Kato-san, hello."
Hearing that, Kato Megumi blinked in confusion.
Kato-san? That was an... unusual way to address.
"Did Azuma-san come to school to pick up something too?"
"You're not participating in any summer training clubs, are you?" Kato Megumi asked.
Though it was summer break
Toyogasaki Academy still had a few clubs running normally.
For instance, the baseball club, aiming for Koshien.
Or the instrumental club, whose members were striving for the national competition.
But Kato Megumi felt sure that Yukima Azuma wasn't part of those clubs.
If he were truly involved
With Yukima Azuma's ability, he'd probably become the ace of any club within a month. It would be impossible for him to have no news at all.
"U-Umu, that's right,"
Miyamizu Mitsuha nodded, feeling a bit awkward.
She wasn't sure how to respond.
Kato Megumi rarely frowned.
.....
The two of them entered the lecture hall.
Walking up the stairs
Miyamizu Mitsuha unconsciously observed Kato Megumi.
Her gaze slowly focused, and the image of the girl in front of her became clearer.
Even though both of them were girls
Miyamizu Mitsuha couldn't help but think that this girl was really too cute.
But then, why did a girl this cute
At first, give off such an ordinary feeling that it seemed almost unbelievable?
She felt suspicious.
With Kato Megumi leading the way, the two reached classroom 1-E.
Opening the door and stepping in
The inside of the classroom made Miyamizu Mitsuha's eyes widen.
The room was bright, with desks and chairs neatly arranged, looking completely new.
The podium was equipped with an integrated computer, and beside the blackboard was a multimedia whiteboard.
Even the floor was made of expensive wood.
This scene made Miyamizu Mitsuha subconsciously worry if she would dirty the floor.
Kato Megumi entered first and went to her seat.
She took a few books out of her desk drawer and put them into her bag.
Miyamizu Mitsuha also went in
But she had no idea where Yukima Azuma's seat was.
"Aren't you taking anything?" Kato Megumi asked.
"Eh... I just remembered, I actually took the books home already, not leaving them here in class,"
Miyamizu Mitsuha quickly thought of an excuse.
Kato Megumi furrowed her brows again.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became quiet.
Miyamizu Mitsuha instinctively held her breath.
After a brief moment of silence
"I see, then let's go, Azuma-san,"
Kato Megumi said, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she headed for the door.
Miyamizu Mitsuha quietly sighed in relief.
She had managed to get away with it.
But just as she reached the classroom door
Kato Megumi suddenly turned back.
"Azuma-san." She gently called.
The slight tilt of her head, about eight degrees, made her hair slide behind her ear with the movement.
Miyamizu Mitsuha blinked.
'She's so cute.'
She thought to herself.
But in the very next moment
"You... who are you?"
Kato Megumi's voice lost its warmth.
"You're not my Azuma."
--------------------------------------------
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"Who are you?" Kato Megumi's voice lost its warmth. "You're not my Azuma."
As soon as she said that
Kato Megumi took a step back.
She withdrew from the brightly lit classroom, retreating into the somewhat dim corridor.
The light and shadows obscured her face, making it hard to discern her expression in that moment.
The brilliant sunlight streamed through the classroom window, casting a golden glow on the wooden floor.
Standing amidst such golden light, one would normally feel warmth.
But at that moment, Miyamizu Mitsuha felt a chill to the bone.
Outside the window, the crisp sound of strikes echoed.
It was the sound of a baseball being hit during practice at the baseball club behind the classroom building.
Along with that, there were distant cheers.
But in this moment, those chaotic sounds only made the classroom, where Miyamizu Mitsuha stood alone, feel even more silent.
"W-What are you talking about?"
Miyamizu Mitsuha's voice was tinged with confusion.
"Where is Yukima Azuma?"
"I-I don't know what you mean..."
"Answer me! Where is Yukima Azuma really!?"
Kato Megumi's voice pierced through the air, cracking with tension.
At that moment, Miyamizu Mitsuha's eyes slowly adjusted to the light.
She could now clearly see the figure of the girl hiding in the darkness of the corridor, a place the sunlight couldn't reach.
That fragile girl, like a gust of wind, now showed no expression.
But in her deep, dark eyes, there was an overwhelming sense of fear, anger, and confusion.
Her hand tightly gripped the strap of her backpack.
She was holding it so tightly that her fingers turned pale.
That delicate, fragile girl had disappeared.
Now, Kato Megumi exuded an intense sense of pressure.
Miyamizu Mitsuha's breath seemed to halt.
Though their interaction had been brief,
The image of Kato Megumi's cuteness from before still lingered in her mind.
But now, the girl standing before her
The gaze in her eyes.
In Miyamizu Mitsuha's life, she had only seen it once before.
It was the gaze of a friend she once knewSuzume.
Suzume's mother had passed away when she was young, in a devastating earthquake.
The only things left for Suzume were a wooden chair missing a leg and an old phone that held a few photos and messages.
One day, Suzume's phone fell from the top floor of the school building.
Suzume raced down the stairs, running madly to retrieve it.
But when she picked it up, the phone, which held all her important memories, was shattered.
It was an old model, one that couldn't be repaired anymore.
At that moment, Suzume had that same look in her eyes.
The eyes of someone who had just lost the most important thing in their life.
Miyamizu Mitsuha couldn't quite recall the exact scene from that day.
But the expression of her friend had seemingly etched itself into her heart.
Not long after that, Suzume left Itomori town and transferred to another school.
Miyamizu Mitsuha had buried that memory deep within her.
She had always felt guilty for not being able to help her friend at the time.
And now, that same gaze appeared again before her.
Miyamizu Mitsuha's heart trembled violently.
She hoarsely said,
"I-I'm so sorry, I don't know how to explain it, but I'm sure Yukima-san is fine."
"We just swapped for a little while. He'll be back tomorrow."
Hearing Miyamizu Mitsuha's words,
Kato Megumi's heart eased slightly.
But her brows quickly furrowed again.
At this moment, as Kato Megumi looked at the person before her,
It seemed like something had shattered.
The person in front of her, who had the appearance of Yukima Azuma, suddenly crumbled and transformed into an adorable young girl.
Looking at her, she appeared to be around the same age.
Kato Megumi stared intently at this stranger.
Kato Megumi took several deep breaths, trying to steady her emotions.
"So, what about you? Who are you?"
"I'm Miyamizu Mitsuha, from Itomori town, Gifu Prefecture."
Miyamizu Mitsuha felt that she couldn't keep the truth hidden any longer and decided to straightforwardly reveal her identity.
Hearing this, Kato Megumi's heart stirred slightly.
Gifu Prefecture.
"Can you tell me more about yourself?" Kato Megumi asked further.
"Umm, actually I don't know much either. Since the day before yesterday, I suddenly swapped places with Yukima-san..."
Miyamizu Mitsuha honestly recounted everything that had happened in the past few days to Kato Megumi.
She felt that anyone who could show such a deep emotion for Yukima Azuma surely deserved to know the truth about him.
Kato Megumi listened intently as Miyamizu Mitsuha spoke.
Meanwhile, she quietly took out her phone, opened the map, and searched for "Itomori, Gifu Prefecture."
The search results matched exactly what Kato Megumi had remembered.
During her trip to Hokkaido, when she witnessed the Charlotte comet split in two and fall, Kato Megumi had sensed there was something Yukima Azuma had yet to tell her.
At that time, she hadn't felt it was the right moment to ask more.
She understood that if Yukima Azuma was hiding something, it was most likely for their sake.
So, after returning from Hokkaido, Kato Megumi had done a bit of research into the incident of the Charlotte comet fragment falling.
And the truth proved that she wasn't wrong.
The fragment of Charlotte had indeed fallen in the mountainous region of Gifu Prefecture.
But it had affected nearly a third of a small mountain town.
Around five hundred residents of that town had lost their lives because of this disaster.
Had she known about the tragedy she had witnessed during her trip, it would have certainly affected the rest of the journey.
And Kato Megumi clearly remembered.
The town that had been devastated by the Charlotte comet fragment.
It seemed to be called Itomori.
The girl in front of her.
She was likely not just swapped in space but also in time.
After grasping this, Kato Megumi vaguely guessed what Yukima Azuma might have done in Itomori from the past.
Looking at Miyamizu Mitsuha, who still knew nothing, Kato Megumi didn't say anything.
She took several deep breaths, fully calming herself.
Her voice returned to its usual gentle tone.
"I see now, I'm sorry, earlier I was too anxious and acted a little rude."
Upon hearing this, Miyamizu Mitsuha immediately waved her hand.
"It's okay! It's really okay! You don't have to apologize!"
She sighed. "I understand. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably react the same way."
Kato Megumi blinked.
She really is a kind person.
At this point, whether it was for Azuma or for this person in front of her, she should treat her well.
"If that's the case, then Miyamizu-san, you're like a guest in Tokyo now."
"Let me take you around a bit, show you Toyogasaki and even Tokyo itself."
Kato Megumi said with a smile.
Miyamizu Mitsuha's eyes widened upon hearing that.
The girl in front of her.
Her words and actions.
They seemed to eerily align with Yukima Azuma.
Just earlier, she hadn't mentioned anything from Yukima Azuma's notebook.
But Kato Megumi's thoughts were nearly identical to Yukima Azuma's.
Miyamizu Mitsuha suddenly understood why Kato Megumi had shown such emotions towards Yukima Azuma.
The two of them must be a very well-matched couple.
Not just emotionally close.
But it seemed like their souls were in sync too.
While Miyamizu Mitsuha was still lost in her thoughts, Kato Megumi waved her hand to get her attention. Without hesitation, Miyamizu Mitsuha rushed to catch up.
...
Kato Megumi began to take her role as a tour guide seriously.
Toyogasaki Private Academy was a high school, but it truly rivaled any tourist destination. In addition to the usual facilities such as the large sports field, gymnasium, swimming pool, and other common amenities, the school also had a small hill and an artificial pond at the back.
On the hill, there were no cherry blossoms, but instead, there were many fruit trees. Perhaps it symbolized the meaning of "peach trees filling the world" (Note: meaning a teacher of good caliber would have students everywhere by ChadGPT).
However, due to growth issues, the trees that flourished the most were apple trees. During this season, although there were no fruits, the trees still had a unique beauty.
As for the pond at Toyogasaki, it was at its most beautiful right now because a variety of lotus flowers were blooming. From a distance, the scent of the flowers could already be smelled.
In addition to the lotus flowers, there were also several swans on the pond. This was Miyamizu Mitsuha's first time seeing swans. After just walking around the school grounds, she already felt thoroughly satisfied.
Before she knew it, under Kato Megumi's guidance, Miyamizu Mitsuha had spent the entire day touring the Toyogasaki campus.
It wasn't until dusk that she snapped out of her daze.
"Umm..."
"I guess it's time to head back, right?"
"Umu, you're right."
"Let's go, together."
"Eh?"
Miyamizu Mitsuha was taken aback.
Seeing her expression, Kato Megumi explained:
"I've rented a room at Azuma-san's place, sometimes I stay there."
This wasn't something that needed to be hidden. Although living together as high school students might be considered too casual by many, Kato Megumi didn't care what others thought. She only cared about the opinions of those who mattered to her.
After hearing Kato Megumi's explanation, Miyamizu Mitsuha couldn't help but widen her eyes.
Living together as high school students?
But then, thinking it over, Miyamizu Mitsuha felt that it made sense. The girl in front of her was incredibly cute, and she had a close relationship with the boy in question. It wouldn't be surprising if they lived together.
But then, just as she was processing this, Miyamizu Mitsuha recalled the girl with long, straight black hair whom she had met at Yukima's house.
"By the way Is there anyone else at Yukima-san's house?" Miyamizu Mitsuha asked cautiously.
"Are you talking about Kasumigaoka-senpai? Senpai also rents a room at Azuma-san's place. You must have met her," Kato Megumi blinked.
She was a bit surprised that senpai couldn't see through Miyamizu Mitsuha..
"Umm Yes, I did meet her once, but I barely managed to say a few words before I running away," Miyamizu Mitsuha blurted out.
Her mind was in a chaotic mess. The two girls in the picture on Yukima Azuma's phoneboth were living with him. What was the relationship here?!
She was genuinely curious.
Chapter 157: We Should Be Considered Lovers, Right?
"What is the relationship between Kato-san and Yukima-san?"
In the end, curiosity could not be suppressed.
On the way home, Miyamizu Mitsuha curiously asked.
Kato Megumi, the one being asked, placed a finger on her cheek and thought for a moment.
"Probably lovers, I guess." After some thought, Kato Megumi gave that answer.
This response was not surprising.
On the contrary, Miyamizu Mitsuha found Kato Megumi's way of phrasing it confusing.
Why say "probably"?
"That's strange. Aren't you two dating?"
Miyamizu Mitsuha felt that if someone as deeply affectionate as Kato Megumi were ignored and not given enough sense of security
That would be nothing short of a crime against heaven and earth.
Moreover, Kato Megumi was so gentle and adorable.
Kato Megumi saw through Miyamizu Mitsuha's thoughts.
Although explaining was a bit troublesome, Kato Megumi did not want others to misunderstand Yukima Azuma.
"Dating? The relationship between me and Azuma-san probably can't be defined that simply."
Kato Megumi gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
At the beginning of the school year, Kato Megumi had a cute bob haircut.
Now, her hair had grown a bit longer.
"Ne, Miyamizu-san, you got scared by me this morning, didn't you?" Kato Megumi said while tucking her hair, her finger pointing at herself.
Miyamizu Mitsuha nodded slightly.
She had indeed been frightened this morning.
A girl as grown as Kato Megumi
Silently appearing right beside her without making a single sound.
If the other party hadn't spoken first,
Miyamizu Mitsuha felt that she would not have noticed Kato Megumi's presence at all.
Seeing Miyamizu Mitsuha nod, Kato Megumi slightly lowered her eyes:
"Because I have very little presence."
Hearing this, Miyamizu Mitsuha opened her mouth
Wanting to refute.
After all, how could a girl as cute and gentle as Kato Megumi have a low presence?
But thinking it over carefully
Today, while walking around Toyogasaki with Kato Megumi,
There were indeed a few times when she spaced out and forgot about Kato Megumi's existence.
Her mouth, which was about to speak, suddenly didn't know what to say.
She even took a cold breath, finding it a little unbelievable.
"I've been like this since I was very young. In class group activities, I was almost always alone."
"Sometimes, even the teacher forgot to call my name during roll call, and my elementary school classmates completely failed to recognize me after moving up to middle school."
Kato Megumi lowered her eyes as she recounted her past.
The things that happened to Kato Megumi
Hearing them made Miyamizu Mitsuha feel sorrowful.
She herself felt a little down just from being teased by classmates a few times a day.
She couldn't even imagineif she had been ignored by others since childhood, how devastating that would be.
"But Azuma-san was able to notice me."
Kato Megumi's words made Miyamizu Mitsuha, who had been about to offer words of comfort, momentarily freeze.
"Azuma-san transferred into my class in middle school."
"Everyone had been with me for over two years, yet almost no one knew my name."
"But on the very first day he transferred in, Azuma-san came up to me and said: 'You're Kato Megumi, right?'"
"At that time, I found it unbelievable, but that was only the beginning."
"From the day he knew me, he never once forgot me. He always paid attention to me."
"He always said I had some kind of magic, but to me, the real magician was Azuma-san."
Kato Megumi's tone was very gentle.
A girl who was always light and subtle, never revealing her emotions
Yet now, she exuded a sweetness filled with happiness.
Because she was lowering her head
Miyamizu Mitsuha could not see Kato Megumi's expression.
At this moment, Kato Megumi's eyes were overflowing with emotions.
This morning, she had truly been startled.
The moment Miyamizu Mitsuha was scared by her
Kato Megumi felt a sense of emptiness inside.
Her Azuma, who could always notice her existence.
Her Azuma, who would gently smile at her and say that she had the pleasant scent of tuberoses.
Her Azuma, who had only her in his heart and in his eyeswhenever she tilted her head, he looked as if he had been struck by Cupid's arrow.
So, even if the person in front of her had the same appearance as Azuma, the same voice as Azuma, everything was the same
Kato Megumi could still immediately recognize that this was not her Azuma.
Up until now, Kato Megumi's heart was still empty.
She could feel that Yukima Azuma, the one who always noticed her, was not here.
But Kato Megumi still calmly conversed with Miyamizu Mitsuha.
She simply didn't want to cause any more trouble for her Azuma.
"What happened next? What happened next?"
Miyamizu Mitsuha had been completely drawn into Megumi and Azuma's story.
Kato Megumi withdrew her emotions, lifted her head, and blinked.
"I'll continue the story later. We're almost at the station."
...
The bullet train arrived at Shibuya Station.
The two got off and walked toward Yukima's house.
Seeing the silhouette of the apartment building from afar
Miyamizu Mitsuha suddenly remembered something important.
Inside that apartment, there was also another girl with long, straight black hair.
"Ah, how should I act to resemble Yukima-san the most?"
Miyamizu Mitsuha asked.
"The senpai in the apartment probably doesn't know about my situation yet."
"To avoid causing more trouble for Yukima-san, I want to try pretending a little."
Hearing this, Kato Megumi could only shake her head helplessly.
"I don't think you'll be able to fool her. Kasumigaoka-senpai is very smart."
Hearing this, Miyamizu Mitsuha looked unconvinced.
Yukima Azuma had stayed at her house, facing Yotsuha and her grandmother for seven whole days without exposing a single flaw.
And yet, for her, everyone could immediately tell something was off?
The reason she got exposed by Kato Megumi was simply because this gentle girl cared too much!
There was no way that everyone could see through her that easily!
Seeing Miyamizu Mitsuha's unconvinced expression,
Even though she knew it was probably futile, Kato Megumi still explained a little.
"Normally, Azuma-san calls Kasumigaoka-senpai 'Utaha-senpai' or simply 'senpai.'"
"Azuma-san and Kasumigaoka-senpai are very closeholding hands, head pats, that kind of thing is normal."
"And Kasumigaoka-senpai usually calls Azuma-san 'Lonely-kun.' If she refers to him as 'you' or 'him,' or if she keeps tapping or shaking her leg, it means she's angry."
After hearing this, Miyamizu Mitsuha's jaw dropped.
She really wanted to ask Kato Megumi if she ever got jealous when other girls were this close to Yukima Azuma.
But before she could ask
The two had already arrived at Yukima's doorstep.
Before they could even open the door, it was pushed open from the inside.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stood with her arms crossed,
Her wine-colored eyes staring at the two of them.
Miyamizu Mitsuha suddenly felt a chill down her spine.
It was clearly the middle of a sweltering summer, yet it felt as if a cold breeze from the Arctic was creeping through her collar.
Cautiously stepping into the apartment
She hadn't even had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief
When she heard Kasumigaoka Utaha speak:
"You, go stand over there. I have something to say to you."
Hearing this form of address, Miyamizu Mitsuha shuddered.
Tsk tsk tsk...
She looked down.
A pair of white slippers was tapping rhythmically against the wooden floor.
Judging by the speed of that leg shaking, she could already tell how irritated the owner was.
Why!?
Miyamizu Mitsuha obediently walked to the spot Kasumigaoka Utaha had pointed at.
But Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't look at her.
Instead, her gaze settled on Kato Megumi.
In those eyes, there was a hint of questioning.
Kato Megumi turned away and softly whistled.
Receiving no information, Kasumigaoka Utaha turned back to Miyamizu Mitsuha.
"Aren't you going to explain?"
"Senpai, um... explain what?"
"Yukima Azuma?"
"Senpai, could you give me a hint?"
"Stop calling me 'senpai' over and over. I don't know you. Who are you?"
"Eh? That is..."
"You. Are. Who!? Where is Yukima Azuma right now?"
Miyamizu Mitsuha froze, startled as she looked up.
Had she really been seen through after just a few sentences?
But the moment she lifted her head
Kasumigaoka Utaha had already walked into the kitchen at some point.
At this moment, she was holding a kitchen knife, gripping it tightly in her hand.
Even though she was holding it upside down, with the blade pointing toward the floor,
Miyamizu Mitsuha had absolutely no doubt that the long-haired girl in front of her would dare to stab her.
Kato Megumi hurriedly ran over and wrapped her arms around Kasumigaoka Utaha's waist.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's breathing was slightly ragged.
But perhaps because Kato Megumi was here, she was still holding onto a sliver of rationality.
Knowing the story behind the 600-page Love Letter
Kasumigaoka Utaha understood clearly that if something had really happened to Yukima Azuma, Kato Megumi would not be standing here so calmly.
But reason was one thing.
At this moment, the fact that she was gripping the knife wasn't just for show.
Miyamizu Mitsuha's face turned slightly pale.
She hurriedly, as quickly as she could, recounted the entire story of the identity swap.
Kasumigaoka Utaha listened halfway before putting the knife back in its place.
However, her gaze toward Miyamizu Mitsuha remained far from friendly.
Since the day before yesterday, she had already felt that something was off.
Today, after just two sentences, she was absolutely certainthe person in front of her was definitely not Yukima Azuma.
The personalities were too different.
Thinking of Hogyokumaru,
Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately linked the situation to supernatural phenomena.
After a brief silence, she turned away and left.
Even though she understood that the swap wasn't Miyamizu Mitsuha's fault,
Kasumigaoka Utaha still didn't want to talk to her.
Watching her retreating figure ascend the stairs and disappear onto the second floor,
Miyamizu Mitsuha let out a sigh.
"Kasumigaoka-senpai doesn't actually have anything against you. She's just taking out her anger elsewhere."
Kato Megumi spoke up to explain.
Miyamizu Mitsuha nodded.
"I get it. Honestly, that kind of reaction is normal. Kato-san, you're a little too gentle."
Hearing this, Kato Megumi simply smiled quietly without responding.
She was being this kind to Miyamizu Mitsuha because of Yukima Azuma.
In reality, her feelings weren't all that different from Kasumigaoka Utaha'sit was just that she expressed them differently.
"I I'll go to sleep first. Hopefully, I'll switch back soon."
Miyamizu Mitsuha slumped and walked toward her room.
"At least eat dinner first."
Kato Megumi pulled her back.
Then, she stepped into the kitchen, opened the fridge, took out the ingredients, and started preparing dinner.
Nighttime.
Miyamizu Mitsuha lay on the bed, eyes closed, trying to fall asleep.
Kato Megumi sat at the edge of the bed.
To avoid putting pressure on Miyamizu Mitsuha,
She didn't look at her,
But instead picked up the Bunny Girl Senpai book on the table and buried herself in reading.
Even though Miyamizu Mitsuha was tense,
She had been exhausted from the entire day.
About half an hour later, she finally drifted into sleep.
Once Kato Megumi confirmed that Miyamizu Mitsuha was fast asleep,
She finally lifted her head,
Fixing her gaze on the girl lying on the bed, her eyes never wavering for even a second.
Before long, the door to the room was pushed open.
Kasumigaoka Utaha also stepped inside, pulled up a chair, and sat down beside Kato Megumi.
Yukima Azuma's room.
Miyamizu Mitsuha had fallen into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, Kato Megumi and Kasumigaoka Utaha were still sitting by the edge of the bed.
"...What do you think?"
"Azuma-san must have his own reasons. I don't want to cause him any more trouble."
"Oh."
"Actually, I can understand Kasumigaoka-senpai's feelings."
"You don't need to comfort me."
"Um."
After this brief exchange, neither of them said anything more.
Time quietly passed by.
It was nearing midnight.
The two girls sitting by the bed gradually began to feel the onset of sleep.
Fatigue quickly took over their minds.
Kato Megumi propped her hands on the bed, furrowing her brows, trying to keep her eyes open.
Kasumigaoka Utaha tried to stand up, but her body wouldn't listen to her will.
In a daze, the moment when the old day transitioned into the new one arrived.
Unable to resist the sleepiness, both of them slumped down by the edge of the bed, falling into a deep sleep.
In the silent room.
Yukima Azuma opened his eyes and slowly sat up.
He looked at the two girls who had fallen asleep by the bed.
His emotions were tangled.
He was surprised by their sharpness and also moved by their feelings for him.
With just a few brief exchanges, they had realized that the person they were talking to, though with the same face and voice, was completely not him.
This, perhaps, could only be called love.
But at this moment, Yukima Azuma felt a little scared.
The past few days had passed peacefully.
It was because he had always stood in the middle, balancing everything.
Giving each girl special attention.
That's why the relationship issues could be delayed until now.
But this time, even just leaving for a short while.
Everything was exposed right before his eyes.
Between these two girls, which one should he choose?
This question, in fact, Yukima Azuma had already had an answer for a long time.
He chose all of them.
But that was only his own thought.
Would these two girls, and even Eriri, Yukinoshita Yukino, agree with that?
Normally speaking, there would be no way that could be acceptable.
These girls, in his memory, were all Heroines.
They were not possessions of anyone.
They had their own feelings, their own love.
Kasumigaoka was proud.
Kato Megumi was sharp.
Eriri was arrogant yet clumsy.
Yukino was righteous yet cold.
Could people like them truly compromise their feelings for a single person?
Yukima Azuma had declared his intent to form a harem, but whether it would happen was still an unknown.
Even he himself could only say that he would try his best.
Temporarily pushing aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind.
Yukima Azuma gently sat up without making a sound.
Then, he leaned down, wrapped his arms around the slumped Kasumigaoka Utaha, and placed her on the bed.
Next, he picked up Kato Megumi, placing her on the outside.
Finally, he laid down in the middle.
No matter what happens tomorrow.
He still had to do this.
After all, he couldn't let these two girls just sleep by the edge of the bed until morning.
They would surely wake up with sore backs.
It was a big mistake to let them worry like this.
How could he let them suffer physical pain?
And why not carry them to their own rooms?
It could only be said that the things one must face, sooner or later, must be faced.
...
The next morning.
Kasumigaoka Utaha sensed the change in light, her eyelashes trembling slightly as she gradually woke from her sleep.
Before even opening her eyes, she smelled a familiar and pleasant scent.
Something warm stirred in her chest.
It felt like she was hugging a large body pillow.
And this pillow was truly comfortable to sleep with.
Kasumigaoka almost wanted to fall back asleep.
But wait, did she have a pillow like this in her room?
Something felt off, and Kasumigaoka opened her eyes.
She looked down and saw the sleeping face of a young man.
No wonder it felt so incredibly comfortable.
Yukima Azuma had curled up into her arms.
Becoming a living body pillow.
The corner of Kasumigaoka's mouth couldn't help but curl into a slight smile.
Her arm that had been draped over his neck gently lifted, intending to stroke his cheek.
However, as soon as she raised her hand, she met a gaze from the opposite side.
No matter how subtle it may be,
The bed wasn't that big.
Kato Megumi's presence couldn't be ignored.
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kato Megumiwho had no idea when she woke upstared at each other.
The air was a little awkward.
But after that brief moment of eye contact, Kasumigaoka couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph rise within her.
Whether Yukima Azuma had intentionally curled up against her,
Or simply unconsciously shifted toward her while sleeping,
No matter what...
He was in her arms now.
Kato Megumi saw through Kasumigaoka-senpai's thoughts.
But she didn't say much.
She just gently pulled herself out of Yukima Azuma's embrace under the blanket.
She had woken up early.
And as soon as she opened her eyes, Kato Megumi realized she was being tightly held in his arms.
She buried her head into the blanket to check.
She found that his hands were holding her tightly, almost as if he didn't want to let go.
At first, Kato Megumi was quite happy about it.
But when she lifted her head out of the blanket...
She saw Yukima Azuma's body nestled in Kasumigaoka's arms.
Immediately, the girl, with a face like tuberoses, pouted slightly.
But when she saw Kasumigaoka-senpai waking up,
Kato Megumi quickly hid her expression.
She also took this opportunity to gently pull herself out of Yukima Azuma's embrace.
If she didn't do so, he'd be in big trouble later.
But deep down, Kato Megumi couldn't help but sigh quietly.
She wasn't the type to be this accommodating.
Maybe it was because she loved him so much.
Spoiling him to the point where even her own limits had become blurry.
...
After a few seconds of facing each other,
Kasumigaoka Utaha also released Yukima Azuma.
She reached out and poked his forehead.
Yukima Azuma gradually woke up, his eyes darting around as he took in the scene before him.
"Utaha-senpai, Megumi, good morning."
Kato Megumi sat up, quietly covering her mouth as she smiled to herself.
Kasumigaoka, being more direct, glared at him, then sat up and lightly kicked his leg with her little foot, wrapped in black stockings.
So, Yukima Azuma obediently sat up, giving the impression of someone who was about to seriously face the consequences.
Seeing his demeanor,
The anger Kasumigaoka Utaha had been feeling...
Suddenly dissipated by more than half.
The remaining anger, she directed at Yukima Azuma, coldly asking:
"Don't you plan on explaining yourself?"
She was only angry because something like this had happened, and he hadn't said a word to her about it.
When something like this happens, shouldn't they face it together?
He hadn't even bothered to discuss it with her.
It felt like he was treating her as an outsider.
Kato Megumi had similar thoughts.
The swap was something Yukima Azuma couldn't control.
But if he were to explain, at least they could help in some way.
"I was wrong, please forgive me this time."
Yukima Azuma clasped his hands together, looking as though he was sincerely apologizing.
"Oh and... Utaha-senpai and Megumi haven't had breakfast yet, right? How about I make some wontons?"
"And while we eat, I'll explain everything."
No excuses.
No pretending not to understand what they were talking about.
Yukima Azuma directly expressed his attitude.
Then, he obediently tried to make up for his mistake.
This was the Way of Yukima Azuma.
After all, what had happened couldn't be changed by any explanation now.
Since everything had already been exposed, it was better to fix things quickly before it was too late.
Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed helplessly.
Kato Megumi simply smiled faintly.
Despite being angry earlier, in this moment, both girls were soothed by the boy's efforts.
....
The three of them moved to the living room.
Yukima Azuma finished making the wontons and placed them in front of the two girls.
Then, he went back to the kitchen, got his own portion, and sat at the table.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma began to briefly recount the story of Itomori Town.
In short, he had been entrusted by the guardian god of that place.
He traveled to Itomori Town three years ago.
Attempting to save the town which was being affected by fragments of the comet Charlotte that had fallen.
After hearing Yukima Azuma's story,
Kasumigaoka Utaha furrowed her brow.
Although she had encountered supernatural abilities before, things related to gods were somewhat beyond her comprehension.
Meanwhile, Kato Megumi, hearing about such miraculous things for the first time, couldn't help but be amazed.
Even though she had witnessed it with her own eyes, she was still in awe.
After a moment of processing the story,
Kasumigaoka Utaha was the first to speak up:
"What if you don't succeed? Will there be any consequences? Does that god... threaten you in any way?"
In Kasumigaoka's eyes,
Although the lives lost in the disaster in Itomori Town were tragic and she sympathized with them,
But in her heart, they were no match for Yukima Azuma's well-being.
Kasumigaoka Utaha may have a kind nature, but she could easily disregard everything for the one she cared about.
Therefore, compared to the town of Itomori, she was more concerned about whether this would affect Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
"It won't affect anything. To put it plainly, I can stop this swap whenever I want."
"Although I say it's a god, it seems their abilities are very limited, otherwise, they wouldn't have needed my help."
"Even if I fail, that guardian god of Itomori would probably just sigh about it, but can't do anything."
Upon hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt much more relieved.
If it was just an effort-based commission like this, then there was really no major problem.
"Has Azuma-san come up with any plans? Do you need our help with anything?"
Kato Megumi asked.
"I have a few ideas for now." Yukima Azuma replied, sighing.
"If we were in the same timeline, Megumi and senpai would definitely be able to help a lot."
"But from three years ago, it's really a bit difficult to reach."
The two girls glanced at each other.
Both understood that Yukima Azuma was probably just comforting them.
But if he said it that way, then there was a high chance they really couldn't help much.
"When will this swaped end?" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked.
"Five more times." Yukima Azuma answered truthfully.
Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded, not saying anything further.
.....
After finishing breakfast,
Kasumigaoka Utaha hugged Hogyokumaru and returned to her room.
Yukima Azuma got up, preparing to take Kato Megumi home.
Last night, Kato Megumi had stayed out all night.
Moreover, it seemed like she hadn't informed her family about the urgent situation.
As they left Yukima's house, the two walked towards Kato's home.
Today, Kato Megumi seemed somewhat quieter.
Yukima Azuma of course noticed this.
Throughout the walk, he kept wondering how he should approach the subject.
It wasn't until they reached Detective Hill,
Looking up at the hill where the fateful meeting had taken place,
That Yukima Azuma seemed to see the figure of a girl amid the cherry blossom rain from that day.
"Megumi, we're lovers, you know?"
Yukima Azuma suddenly said something abrupt.
But Kato Megumi immediately understood.
Yukima Azuma was referring to the conversation she had with Miyamizu Mitsuha yesterday.
At that time, she had vaguely described their "lover" relationship.
And now, Yukima Azuma was bringing it up again, but with an incredibly firm tone.
The summer breeze blew through the cherry trees along the slope.
The leaves rustled softly.
A sparrow flew from the distant sky and landed on a branch.
There was already another sparrow sitting there.
The two birds stood together, seemingly leaning on each other.
"Why suddenly bring this up?"
Kato Megumi's fingers began to twirl a strand of her hair.
This small action of hers was often a sign of unease within her.
Yukima Azuma looked seriously into Kato Megumi's eyes, carefully observing even the smallest changes in her expression.
Here, he had to be as cautious as possible.
One small slip-up could result in losing everything.
"Why suddenly? Since Megumi accepted my love letter, aren't we already a couple?"
Yukima Azuma deliberately mentioned the "love letter."
He wasn't bringing it up to soothe Kato Megumi's dissatisfaction.
Rather, he was trying to provoke her emotions to the surface.
As expected, when the love letter was mentioned
Seemed to be touched at her weak point.
She immediately looked up, staring straight at Yukima Azuma with her clear, watery eyes.
Six hundred pages of love letters had led her into this without a way out.
But the one who started all of thisYukima Azumaseemed to easily step back from the situation.
Could she and he really be called a couple?
If so
"Then, what about Kasumigaoka Utaha, Yukinoshita Yukino, Sora Ginko, how are their? Oh and also Sawamura Eriri?"
Kato Megumi looked straight into Yukima Azuma's eyes, reading out each name one by one.
She seemed to be forcing him to give an answer.
With Kato Megumi's personality, when it came to someone she liked, she would never openly say such things.
Instead of declaring her stance clearly and making her lover feel troubled,
she usually preferred to quietly stay by their side.
Like a gentle spring rain, softly melting away all obstacles bit by bit.
But this time, Kato Megumi spoke up.
Because not long ago, she had realized something.
And that washow deep her feelings for Yukima Azuma had grown.
It was no longer just a simple liking; it had become a love she couldn't let go of.
When she realized Yukima Azuma could be replaced by a stranger,
Kato Megumi felt her heart hollow out, as if everything had been drained from her.
She was not only afraid of losing Yukima Azuma, but also afraid of his very disappearance.
Once she realized her love had reached this point,
the issues she had deliberately ignored before,
Kato Megumi could no longer avoid them.
There were many exceptional girls around Yukima Azuma.
Could they really just keep living like this forever?
If one person was to eventually be pushed out of that circle...
Kato Megumi thought that the sooner she clarified things, the better, as it would lessen the pain.
If she wasn't important to Yukima Azuma,
then being discarded right now would be the best option.
In the future, her Azuma would suffer less heartache.
As for herself, she would rather cut off things once and for all than let the dull knife keep cutting bit by bit.
With this thought, Kato Megumi's voice became resolute.
"Azuma-san, would you be able to maintain your friendship with all of them for my sake?"
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
That wasn't realistic.
At least, Utaha-senpai and Eriri, the two of them had already crossed the boundary of friendship.
To ask them to return to that boundary
It would be better to kill Yukima Azuma.
Seeing him shake his head,
Kato Megumi puffed out her lips.
"That's too straightforward! At least pretend to hesitate a little!" She said with some dissatisfaction.
Even though she had expected the answer,
hearing such a firm response felt too harsh!
She let out a small sigh.
Suddenly, Kato Megumi felt that this might be for the best.
Her Azuma wouldn't be too heartbroken, which could be considered a small blessing in the midst of misfortune.
"So, Azuma-san, please don't bring up the 'lover' thing anymore."
"I'm fine, but if others hear it, it will definitely cause misunderstandings."
"If that happens, Azuma-san will have a headache, you'll see... I'll go ahead now, bye bye."
With that, Kato Megumi began to step up Detective Hill.
At the top of the slope, just a little further, and she'd be home.
For Yukima Azuma to continue walking her backshe thought that would be too cruel.
Even she couldn't be so forgiving.
As a result, before she could take another step,
Kato Megumi felt her hand being held back.
The grip was tight, and she couldn't easily pull away, unable to just leave.
So, Kato Megumi turned her head and blinked, looking at Yukima Azuma.
"We're definitely a couple, and that can't be changed no matter what."
"Azuma-san, don't be underhanded, you're the one who said you couldn't keep a normal relationship with the others."
"Um, I did say that."
"Then, Azuma-san, stop being capricious. Do you want everyone to be your lover too?"
"Yes, I want that."
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Kato Megumi froze for a moment, then puffed her cheeks in anger.
She looked at Yukima Azuma with an expression of helplessness.
"Azuma-san, are you a child? Only children would say something like that."
Her tone was light, with no reproach.
There was no anger in her heart, just a simple sense of confusion.
Kato Megumi thought Yukima Azuma wasn't the type of person to say something so impulsive.
Because how could that possibly become a reality?
"Exactly because I'm not a child, that's why I can say 'I want everything'!"
Yukima Azuma tightened his grip on Kato Megumi's hand, refusing to loosen it even a little.
"When I was a kid, I had nothing. I experienced enough loneliness."
"So now, when I have the ability, I won't let go of anything I want."
"I like Kato Megumi, I love a gentle Megumi. No matter who tries to separate us, I won't accept it."
"Even if it's you, I won't agree. I have many ways to make that happen!"
As he spoke, Yukima Azuma raised his other hand and gently touched Kato Megumi's cheek.
Kato Megumi's breath became quick, her emotions tangled like a ball of yarn.
She could only stare at Yukima Azuma's hand as it reached toward her.
Although her heart was still pounding,
she didn't feel sweetness.
This forcefulness had an effect on her, but if used on others, it would definitely backfire.
Kasumigaoka-senpai was a proud person, not easily bent.
Sawamura-san had a fragile heart, if handled too roughly, she would only shatter.
As for Sora Ginko Kato Megumi didn't know her well, but she didn't think that person would accept such mere coercion.
Even if she were by Yukima Azuma's side,
she would only watch him sink into sorrow every day.
Just as Kato Megumi sighed inwardly.
Yukima Azuma's fingers brushed her cheek, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Then, suddenly, he pulled his hand back.
All she saw was his empty hand.
Suddenly, a bright red rose appeared.
Its vivid color bloomed before her eyes, causing Kato Megumi to freeze for a moment.
Yukima Azuma gently shook the rose in his hand.
The light fragrance of the flower reached Kato Megumi's nose.
"Impressive, right? This one's for you, Megumi. I have many more tricks up my sleeve, ways to make you willingly stay by my side."
Looking at the beautiful flower swaying before her eyes.
Kato Megumi suddenly burst out laughing.
Well, it was trueAzuma-san wasn't a child.
He had many ways.
How could it be like a child, just clutching tightly to what they liked without letting go?
She reached out to take the rose.
She sighed softly.
"So, Azuma-san, are you determined to build a harem?"
"You all are my wings!"
"Azuma-san, saying it so bluntly, even I would get angry!"
Kato Megumi's fingers touched Yukima Azuma's waist, giving it a gentle twist.
Earlier, Yukima Azuma had told her not to spoil him too much.
If she was angry, she could pinch his soft waist.
But Kato Megumi had never been able to do that.
Now she realized that he had been scheming from the start.
Back then, he had just given himself an escape route.
A little pinch, wouldn't it soothe the anger?
And Yukima Azuma immediately grimaced, acting as though it hurt terribly.
Kato Megumi let go of him, not having used much force at all, and she found herself feeling both angry and amused.
She took a deep breath.
Then, she reached out to poke Yukima Azuma's cheek.
"Words like thatit's fine to say them to me, but if you say them in front of the other girls, I'm sure Azuma-san will be hated. Please don't do that."
Yukima Azuma nodded seriously.
Seeing him nod,
Kato Megumi let out a small snort.
Then, she took Yukima Azuma's hand and pulled him up Detective Hill.
"I baked some cookies. Azuma-san, take some with you. They should be pretty good."
Yukima Azuma found himself being led by Kato Megumi as they walked up the Detective Hill.
In that moment, his heart ached again.
He had prepared himself to be scolded by Kato Megumi, to hear harsh words, or even to be slapped.
He was also prepared for how to comfort her afterward.
But all his preparations were for nothing.
The girl in front of him accepted it all too calmly, making Yukima Azuma feel heartbroken.
Kato Megumi deserved to be with someone better.
But he truly didn't want to let her go.
He was sure this had hurt her.
All he could do was make it up to her later.
"I agreed, yet Azuma-san is sulking. Should I make a bigger fuss instead?"
Kato Megumi's soft voice rang out.
Yukima Azuma suddenly looked up.
But he realized that Kato Megumi, walking ahead, hadn't looked back at all.
Mostly because she understood him too well.
She could guess exactly what he was thinking.
"No need for Azuma-san to use such little tricks. I've already realized I can't live without Azuma-san."
Kato Megumi's voice was light and joyful.
When was it?
Maybe from the very first day she met Yukima Azuma.
The moment that young boy transferred into the class and took the initiative to talk to her.
From that moment, she knew she couldn't leave the boy who introduced himself as Yukima Azuma.
She just hadn't realized it before.
After all, when you love someone, you don't recognize it immediately.
It wasn't until she was standing under the gymnasium after a physical fitness test, watching his figure, that she suddenly realized:
"Ah, so I like him."
It wasn't until she saw the young boy walking toward her, injured, that her heart tightened, her face turned cold, and she finally understood:
"So I can feel this heartache for him."
Confessions have always been an unnecessary display; love letters can never fully express the depth of one's feelings.
Because confessing isn't the beginning of loveit's simply an honest declaration after recognizing love.
And love letters aren't tools to speed up the process of winning someone's heart, but a keepsake after success.
Kato Megumi had already sunk deep into it.
"Have I spoiled you too much, Megumi?"
"Well, what can I do? Because I like Azuma-san. I love Azuma, so I can't help but be like this."
.....
(note: This chapter feels both sweet and bitter...and, umm, how should I put it... shameless?)
Detective Hill.
Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi held hands, standing on the slope, looking down below.
In fact, not only does the view of the slope look beautiful from below, but it's also stunning from above.
Yukima Azuma looked towards a day during spring break, the spot where he had once stood.
At that corner, there was a cherry blossom tree behind him.
When the wind blows in the spring, it seems that a beautiful cherry blossom rain would fall there.
The slope was not smooth at all, filled with many rough and uneven spots.
What is the probability that a white beret would roll down the slope all the way to the corner of the street?
Yukima Azuma couldn't figure it out, but it was definitely a rare event that could only happen with luck.
"Before spring break, one day I met Azuma-san here."
"Azuma-san didn't just pick up my hat, but also helped me put it back on."
Kato Megumi's recollection carried a sweet feeling.
"The legendary fateful meeting!"
Yukima Azuma blinked at Kato Megumi.
"For me, the day Azuma-san transferred here was truly a fateful meeting."
The corner of Kato Megumi's mouth slightly curved up.
The two of them admired the scenery for a while, then looked away.
After walking down the street for a while, they reached Kato's house.
"Are Megumi's parents home?"
As he asked, Yukima Azuma rummaged through the backpack he was carrying.
He had deliberately brought the bag today. Inside were some gifts prepared for meeting the parents.
For example, canned tea, alcohol, and some beautiful jewelry.
Speaking of which, some of these were bought by Miyamizu Mitsuha.
The rose he had just conjured using "magic" to give to Kato Megumi was also something he had prepared earlier in the bag.
"They're not here. Azuma-san doesn't need to worry, my parents are at the company during the day."
Kato Megumi smiled slyly beside him.
Upon hearing this, Yukima Azuma zipped up his bag.
Umu, well then, next time.
Meeting the parents didn't have to be rushed.
Kato Megumi took the key and opened the door to her house.
She then pulled Yukima Azuma inside.
From the shoe rack, Kato Megumi took out a brand-new pair of indoor slippers that had been prepared in advance and handed them to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma changed into the slippers and went into the living room with Kato Megumi.
Sure enough, there was no one home.
Kato Megumi pressed him to sit on the sofa.
Then, she went into the kitchen to prepare tea.
Yukima Azuma sat on the sofa, curiously looking around, when he suddenly remembered something and asked:
"Megumi's parents aren't home, so what about your sister? Isn't she supposed to be on break at home recently?"
At that moment, Kato Megumi came out of the kitchen with the tea.
As she handed the cup of tea to Yukima Azuma, she replied:
"She said yesterday that she had a class reunion today and won't be back until the evening."
"She definitely isn't home right now. Okay, Azuma-san, just sit here and wait for me for a bit, I'm going to make cookies."
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma smiled and shook his head.
"You're making them right now?"
"I was supposed to make them yesterday, but you were causing trouble, Azuma-san!"
Yesterday, Kato Megumi had come to Toyogasaki to get the cookbook she had left in her desk drawer.
She had brought it to school last time and flipped through it during break.
As a result, she had forgotten to bring it back.
"Umu, I feel really guilty. Let me help out as compensation?"
"Azuma-san, just sit quietly. I'll make it myself. What's the point of you helping?"
The two of them chatted lively in the living room.
But neither of them knew that on the other side of the hall
The door to a room quietly cracked open a small gap.
Kato Hiromi peeked her head out, sneaking a glance.
At first, she really had planned to go to the class reunion at university.
She was about to graduate this year, and everyone had arranged to meet up before graduation.
However, Kato Megumi hadn't returned home last night.
When she woke up, no one was home.
Normally, in the morning, Kato Megumi would wake Kato Hiromi up for breakfast.
So today, Kato Hiromi hadn't set an alarm.
As a result, she had slept straight through until now.
She definitely had skipped the class reunion.
But that wasn't the main point.
The main point was
Kato Hiromi listened to the cheerful conversation in the living room.
She felt it was best to pretend she wasn't home.
With her younger sister's personality, she knew for sure that before she was completely certain of her feelings, Megumi wouldn't bring anyone home.
Moreover, after hearing that exchange
The level of intimacy was already too much.
Knowing her sister well, Kato Hiromi understood that Kato Megumi, when talking to ordinary friends, was much more careful with her expressions.
But when talking to the boy she brought home, her tone was overly natural.
It was even more comfortable than when talking to her own sister.
It was like an old married couple who had been together for many years.
She stuck her head out to peek.
But she really couldn't see the situation from the sofa.
Kato Hiromi quietly closed the door to her room.
She then went to the window of her room.
If she could, she really wanted to climb out and go sit at the family restaurant nearby for a while.
But unfortunately
Even though her room was on the first floor,
There was a burglar-proof mesh outside the window.
The gap was only wide enough for a child to squeeze through.
She tried but couldn't.
Kato Hiromi reluctantly sat back down on the edge of the bed and sighed.
Well then, she would just stay in her room.
Once they left, she would go out and pretend she had just come home.
As someone with experience,
Kato Hiromi knew all too well that at times like this, her sister absolutely didn't want to be disturbed.
However, after sitting for a while
Kato Hiromi's stomach started growling loudly.
Thinking about having a big meal out today,
She had eaten very little last night.
And she hadn't eaten anything this morning.
Now, it was almost noon.
At that moment, from the crack in the door, the sweet scent of cookies wafted into the room.
Kato Hiromi felt entranced and collapsed onto the bed.
This was torture!
She endured for a while.
Finally, Kato Hiromi couldn't stand the growling hunger anymore.
She quietly sneaked to the door again.
She opened it a little, peeking outside.
She thought that her sister had brought a guy home.
They couldn't just be hanging out in the living room, right?
Either they had gone outside with the cookies, or they had gone to Kato Megumi's room.
Whichever it was,
Once they were distracted, she would seize the chance to sneak out first.
She needed to eat, after all.
At that moment
Kato Hiromi suddenly saw, behind the sofa, a young man stand up.
She finally got a clear view of his appearance.
He was definitely over 1.8 meters tall, which was quite a striking height in Japan.
He was wearing only a simple white t-shirt and black shorts, but his figure suited the outfit perfectly, leaving a great impression.
His looks were undeniable
His skin was so smooth that even a girl like Kato Hiromi would envy him. Adding to that were his sharp, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, making him extremely handsome.
Having seen him clearly, Kato Hiromi couldn't help but gasp.
Did her sister really bring her boyfriend home?
Was he not just some male host hired to come home with her?!
The thought flashed in her mind but was immediately dismissed.
After all, Megumi wasn't the type of girl like that.
Moreover, this boy would be wasting his talents if he were a host.
"Done, try it!"
"So it's Pocky!"
"Umu, Azuma-san gave me a box last time, so I wanted to try making it myself."
"Hmmm, it looks good, but these cookies... if I were eating them alone, they wouldn't be much fun."
The conversation between the two of them reached Kato Hiromi's ears.
Soon after, she saw her younger sisterwho was nibbling on a Pocky stickmove closer to the guy.
Without hesitation, he bit the other end of the stick.
The distance between them gradually shortened with each piece of the biscuit being "devoured."
Finally, as expectedtheir lips completely met.
Kato Hiromi's face turned a bit warm.
She quietly pulled her head back into the room.
"My sister is being too forward... No, looking at this, it must be mutual feelings."
"But calling this eating a biscuit? Ridiculous!"
She mumbled in dissatisfaction.
A few seconds later, she couldn't help but peek her head out again.
The resultthose two still hadn't separated.
Kato Hiromi quickly retracted.
This time, her face turned a little red.
It's been too long!
Not to mention eating Pocky, even a normal kiss probably wouldn't last this long, right?
Another twenty seconds later, Kato Hiromi stuck her head out for the third time.
Still not done?!
This time, she decided to wait a full forty seconds.
Finally, when she peeked out for the fourth time
The two of them finally pulled apart.
Moreover, they were holding hands, walking up the stairs, seemingly heading for Kato Megumi's room.
Kato Hiromi sighed in relief, quietly sneaking out of the room.
As she passed the kitchen
She grabbed two Pocky sticks, quickly chewing them down.
"Just three seconds!"
She muttered with frustration, then rushed out the door, trying to open it as quietly as possible and slip outside.
.....
On the other side
Yukima Azuma was being pulled up the stairs by Kato Megumi.
They went straight to her room's door.
"This is the first time a boy has been in my room," Megumi whispered.
Azuma wasn't nervous at first, but after hearing this, he felt a little anxious.
What would Megumi's room be like?
Various images of a cute room appeared in Azuma's mind.
But soon, those images started to become more ordinary.
Megumi opened the door.
The scene that greeted his eyes was almost exactly what he had imagined.
"Just as I thought, it's Megumi's style, a very ordinary girl's room."
"There's no helping it, I'm just a normal girl."
"But if you look closely, there are many details that are distinctly Megumi."
"Really?"
"Small details that touch the heart, only noticeable when you observe carefullyjust like Megumi."
Kato Megumi's cheeks involuntarily flushed.
She pulled Azuma into the room.
Before he could observe everything
He saw Megumi sit on the edge of the bed and gently pat the empty space beside her.
Azuma instinctively swallowed.
This action... is it a hint?
No matter how you think about it, it can only be that.
Azuma stepped forward and sat next to Megumi.
Before he could say anything
He was pulled down by Megumi, and they both fell onto the bed, bathed in the soft pink hue of a girl's room.
Megumi took the initiative to kiss him.
Then, there was the sound of fabric rubbing.
Beside the bed.
On Kato Megumi's desk.
In the pencil holder, there was a yellow bamboo card.
The Relationship Fortune Telling: Daikatsu!
"Day and night, thinking of it, with a jewel in hand; hearts and minds in mutual understanding, wisdom leads to destiny."
--------------------------------------------
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"The lovers entangled in bed at night, a pear tree crushes the begonia."
Kato Megumi, of course, had made up her mind.
She was the type of person who wasn't good at hiding her feelings.
After she had clearly understood Yukima Azuma's attitude today
If she couldn't be apart from him, then she should boldly claim him, decisively keep him by her side.
Of course, there was still some shyness.
But compared to the love that was deeply ingrained in her bones
A little girl's embarrassment meant nothing.
By the time the evening light had faded outside the window
Kato Megumi pushed Azuma out of her house.
Although she really wanted to stay wrapped up with him
At this moment, she needed to calm down a little.
After sending Yukima Azuma away, Kato Megumi leisurely returned to the living room.
On her fair and beautiful face, there were still traces of tears, and a hint of blush that hadn't faded.
No one knew what was going through her mind
Her expression constantly changed.
It started with bashfulness, then joy, happiness, and finally, a gentle reluctance.
Passing by the kitchen, Kato Megumi suddenly stopped.
Why were two Pocky sticks missing from the plate?
She stepped in and carefully counted again.
Sure enough, two sticks were missing.
She had made a total of thirty sticks.
Yukima Azuma took ten.
The two of them had eaten one.
But now, only seventeen were left.
Kato Megumi glanced toward her sister's room.
Immediately, her cheeks turned bright red.
She set the box of cookies down,
Then quickly ran upstairs, back to her room to clean up the "mess."
.....
Evening.
When Kato Hiromi returned from outside
She saw her younger sister sitting on the sofa in the living room, her expression somewhat dark?
"Sis, were you home this morning?"
Kato Megumi asked, her tone sounding light.
But for some reason, there was a hint of a frightening gloom in it.
"No, I went to a class reunion early this morning!"
Kato Hiromi immediately shook her head in denial without thinking.
Upon hearing this, Kato Megumi simply responded with an "oh."
Then, she turned and went into the kitchen. Not long after, she brought out two portions of dinner.
"Come eat dinner."
Kato Megumi called.
Kato Hiromi hesitated for a moment.
If she hadn't quickly denied it earlier
Would there still be any dinner left?
.....
Another day passed just like that.
The days that followed
After Miyamizu Mitsuha swapped with Yukima Azuma, thanks to Kato Megumi's help, everything went very smoothly, with no more incidents.
As for Yukima Azuma
His plan was also progressing steadily, step by step.
Days passed without anything noteworthy.
On days of identity swaps, Yukima Azuma would mostly run over to Suou's house.
He stayed with Suou Yuki
Telling stories, writing drafts, and cooking.
Time just passed like that.
The first volume of Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, published by Suou Yuki, began to create a stir.
Although there was no grand promotional campaign initially
The sales didn't break any records.
But just relying on the quality of the story
The magical fever started to spread across Japan.
Since it was a serious novel and not a light novel, it leaning more toward Western literature
After Yukima Azuma solved the translation issues, the export process also went smoothly.
But he wasn't in a hurry.
After all, he still had three years.
By the last seven days of the identity swap
Harry Potter had become extremely famous.
Yukima Azuma had also completed the entire series.
....
At Suou's house.
"The story can be temporarily concluded here," Yukima Azuma said, drawing a circle to mark the end on the manuscript.
Then, he gathered the final pages and set them aside on the table.
Suou Yuki was no longer lying on the bed but sitting next to the table.
She was resting her head on the table, tilting it to look at him.
More than a month had passed.
Her asthma had nearly completely healed.
Even after intense physical activity, she no longer had any issues.
Moreover
Thanks to over a month of careful care from Yukima Azuma
Suou Yuki's body had undergone noticeable changes.
From a slender girl
She now had healthier, more balanced proportions.
And
Yukima Azuma's gaze unintentionally lingered on Suou Yuki's chest.
It had only been a little over a month...
The rate of growth... was honestly a bit too much.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes every day
Yukima Azuma might even have suspected that Suou Yuki had something stuffed inside her shirt.
Noticing his gaze
Suou Yuki didn't get angry.
Instead, she proudly puffed out her chest.
Yukima Azuma looked away, reaching out to tap her forehead lightly.
"Nyan!"
Suou Yuki held her forehead and let out a cute whine.
"I didn't use that much force, stop pretending," Yukima Azuma said helplessly.
"Hmph! As my onii-chan-sama, you should care for me more!" Suou Yuki removed her hand from her forehead, speaking with righteous indignation.
Yukima Azuma lightly pinched her cheek.
The elasticity was noticeable
Her face had gained some flesh, soft and smooth, making it hard not to touch.
It seemed that the nutritious meals were worth the effort he put into planning every meal.
After a moment of inner admiration
Yukima Azuma's mood gradually calmed.
Only one more week
He would have to say goodbye to this cute little sister of his.
Suou Yuki, sensitive to the change in his mood, immediately sensed the shift.
For a moment, her heart fluttered in anxiety.
But she quickly regained her composure.
"Onii-chan-sama, what are you going to do with the royalties from the sales? It's accumulated to quite a considerable amount now," Suou Yuki said, pulling out a revenue report from the drawer and handing it to Yukima Azuma.
He took it, glancing over it
From the preliminary estimates, it was definitely more than enough.
After setting the report down
"Is the map of Gifu Prefecture ready?" Yukima Azuma asked.
Suou Yuki nodded.
She pulled out a prepared map from the drawer.
Yukima Azuma unfolded the map
After observing for a moment, he quickly found the location of Itomori Town on the Gifu Prefecture map.
Right next to Itomori Town
There was an inland lake, called Lake Itomori.
Speaking of which
Lake Itomori was not a natural lake.
It was the result of a fragment from a comet that fell to Earth twelve hundred years ago, altering the geography of the area.
Yukima Azuma picked up a pen
He drew a few lines around the area near Itomori Town by Lake Itomori.
He circled part of the region.
Then, he pushed the map toward Suou Yuki.
"Yuki, can you help me with something?"
Suou Yuki didn't hesitate and immediately nodded.
"Just tell me, Onii-chan, as long as it's something I can do, I'll definitely complete it."
Suou Yuki knew well
Yukima Azuma didn't come to her every day just to be by her side.
He had his own goal.
And once that goal was achieved
This extraordinary encounter across time and space would come to an end.
But even so
If Yukima Azuma asked for her help with anything
She would still do her best to fulfill it.
Even if it was something she couldn't accomplish right away
She would try her best to make it happen in the time left.
"It's not really that difficult," Yukima Azuma said, pointing at the area he had marked on the map.
"I want you to buy this plot of land."
"We'll use the royalties from Harry Potter to pay for it."
"The deadline is three years. As long as it's completed before then, it's fine."
"If the royalties aren't enough, just sell part of the movie adaptation rights, that should cover it."
"The remaining money, consider it a gift from me to you. As your onii-chan-sama, I've never given you a present before."
"Once you've bought it, just announce it's for building a resort."
"But no construction is needed, just make sure no one lives in that area."
After hearing Yukima Azuma's instructions
Suou Yuki nodded seriously.
She carefully noted down every detail.
Although Yukima Azuma's request was a bit strange
Suou Yuki didn't ask a single question.
She simply prepared to carry it out.
Once everything that needed to be said was done
Yukima Azuma fell silent.
What needed to be done
Was essentially finished.
Suou Yuki was the eldest daughter of the Suou family.
As long as there were enough funds, buying part of the land in Itomori Town wouldn't be a big issue.
As for the stubborn people who refused to leave
They would be compensated appropriately.
Then, the god of Itomori would pull them into a dream, sending them visions.
If even that didn't convince them to leave
Then it could only be said that it's hard to convince those who are about to die.
Thinking this
Yukima Azuma felt the god of Itomori probably wouldn't mind.
So the plan to save Itomori Town was now complete.
But at the same time, he had to think
How to explain this to Suou Yuki?
Before he could figure it out
Suou Yuki spoke first.
"Onii-chan... how many days are left?"
She had deliberately avoided asking about the time limit before.
But now
Yukima Azuma's attitude showed the deadline was drawing near.
So it was time to clarify things.
Yukima Azuma sighed helplessly.
Suou Yuki was a very smart girl
Of course, she had figured out some things.
"Seven... six and a half days," he said honestly.
Suou Yuki nodded.
The room fell silent again.
Suou Yuki, usually full of energy
Now couldn't find the words to say.
She lowered her head
Her locks of hair hung down, like a silk curtain, hiding her face in that moment.
No one knew what she was feeling inside.
Time passed, but how long, no one knew.
Suou Yuki finally lifted her head again.
On her face
She forced a smile.
"I seethen, for the time left, Onii-chan has to stay by my side and take care of me properly, okay?."
Seeing her like this
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently patted her smooth, black hair.
"My name is Yukima Azuma, I live in... Shibuya, Tokyo," he said, a bit helplessly.
At that,
The dullness in Suou Yuki's eyes
Immediately lit up with life.
The corners of her mouth also instinctively curved upward.
"But right now, I don't know Yuki."
"You'll have to wait for three years. Only then will I recognize you again."
"Before that, you can't look for me. If you can accept this"
"Then, three years later, we will meet again."
"Got it?"
Yukima Azuma said seriously.
Suou Yuki
"UMU~."
Nodded without hesitation.
Chapter 162: Have You Started Liking Him?
"Not being able to see onii-chan for three years will definitely be a little lonely."
"But I will try to endure it, please rest assured, onii-chan."
Suou Yuki solemnly promised Yukima Azuma.
Growing up in the prestigious Suou family, Suou Yuki's personality far surpassed that of other girls her age.
As long as there was hope of meeting again, three years would pass quickly.
Yukima Azuma nodded slightly.
Then, as if remembering something, he spoke:
"On the last day, I probably won't be able to stay with you. I have to make a trip to the mountains."
Hearing this, Suou Yuki's eyes immediately lit up.
"Is it to the shrine in the mountains of Itomori?"
Yukima Azuma nodded and replied, "Umu, I have to go to the shrine for a ritual."
Recently, during their conversations, Suou Yuki had also heard Yukima Azuma talk about the god of Itomori.
After all, this was a supernatural swapping.
Being someone who knew the truth, Suou Yuki was naturally curious.
Besides asking Yukima Azuma, she had also used the Suou family's influence to gather some information.
In fact, many details about the god of Itomori were told to Yukima Azuma by Suou Yuki herself.
So, the moment she heard that he was going into the mountains, she immediately understood that it was to visit the shrine.
The shrine worshiping the god of Itomori was not located in Itomori town but on a large mountain nearby.
Ordinary shrines were built for easy access.
Even if they were on mountains, there would still be trails and torii gates leading the way, meant to help people reach them for worship and offerings.
But the god of Itomori was different.
The shrine was located inside a hidden cave.
For nearly a hundred years, aside from the successor Miko of the Miyamizu Shrine making annual visits, no one else had ever set foot there.
In fact, aside from those from the Miyamizu Shrine, perhaps no one in this world even knew the exact location of the Itomori Shrine.
According to the timeline
After the Miyamizu Shrine completed the ritual dance and finished weaving the Kumihimo, it would also be time to enter the mountains for the ritual.
That day coincided with the final day of Yukima Azuma's identity swap.
"Can I come with you?" Suou Yuki seemed quite excited. "I promise I won't cause trouble, just bringing my eyes, not my mouth."
Suou Yuki herself wasn't particularly interested in the god of Itomori.
But this god had clearly manifested, bringing Yukima Azuma to this place.
Suou Yuki thought that if something unpredictable happened three years later, she could go before the god of Itomori to find a way to change the situation.
"There's no issue with the Miyamizu Shrine, but will the Suou family let you go that far?"
Yukima Azuma was doubtful.
Recently, he had also gained some understanding of the Suou family's situation.
Suou Yuki was not only the legitimate eldest daughter but also a strong candidate to become the future heir of the family.
Her importance to the Suou household was unquestionable.
Moreover, last time, when Suou Yuki secretly ran away, she suffered an asthma attack.
Based on that precedent, Yukima Azuma found it hard to be optimistic about her chances of leaving home.
"Onii-chan has sneaked in here so many times, taking me out once shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Suou Yuki playfully winked.
Without thinking, Yukima Azuma immediately shook his head.
"Then forget it."
"Why is that?!"
"Taking you out isn't the problem, but you'll definitely be punished when you return. So just stay home and focus on recovering."
"I've been fine for a long time now! I'm a healthy bishoujo now!"
Suou Yuki placed her hands on her hips and spoke with confidence.
After all, the pale complexion from her past illness had completely disappeared.
Instead, she now had a healthy rosy glow.
"I heard that if you sneak out again, you'll be under house arrest for an entire year."
"It's fine, one year is one year. I can take the opportunity to focus on studying."
"Please, onii-chanonii-sama!"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma felt a bit helpless.
Suou Yuki's attitude was clearly like this
Since Yukima Azuma was leaving anyway.
And she had to wait three years.
If that was the case, being under house arrest for one year wasn't a big deal; she could use the time to focus on studying the required subjects for inheriting the Suou family.
Completing these courses in advance and reaching the level needed to manage the Suou family.
That way, three years later, she would have time to look for Yukima Azuma.
Yuki's plan was meticulous.
But if she were really placed under house arrest, then the next year of her life would basically become a dark period.
No relaxation at all, only burying herself in harsh lessons every single day.
After all, this little girl hadn't even entered high school yet.
A childhood like that would be nothing but dull and lifeless.
As the person she called "Onii-chan-sama," Yukima Azuma didn't want Suou Yuki to have such a bleak past.
"Actually, whether I get locked up or not, I was planning to focus on my studies anyway."
Just as Yukima Azuma was about to offer more advice, Suou Yuki suddenly spoke up.
Enduring these gloomy days now
Would allow her to chase after brighter colors in the future.
Before meeting Yukima Azuma, Suou Yuki had merely been passing her days.
But now, she had suddenly gained this awareness.
Looking at the young girl's face, still slightly childish, yet already exuding a determined expression
In the end, Yukima Azuma nodded.
"Zeee, alright then, I'll come pick you up that day."
Hearing that, Suou Yuki immediately raised her hands and cheered: "Yatta, Onii-chan-sama Saikou, Onii-chan-sama Banzai!"
...
And at the same time
On the other side.
Tokyo, Sensouji Temple.
During the recent identity swaps, Miyamizu Mitsuha had visited Meiji Shrine and strolled around Ochanomizu.
She had been to Tokyo Skytree, admiring the panoramic view of the city from above.
She had also stopped by the Tokyo Library, spending some time surrounded by a sea of books.
And her final destination in Tokyo
Miyamizu Mitsuha wanted to visit Sensouji Temple.
She also intended to pray to the gods a little.
After all, the identity exchange had happened.
What if gods actually existed?
Miyamizu Mitsuha wanted to get into a university in Tokyo. She would do her best, of course, but if the gods could manifest and help out a little, that would be even better.
Sensouji Temple wasn't some hidden temple deep in the mountains.
It was located right in the bustling heart of Tokyo.
Nestled within the city, yet it remained one of the best-preserved large temples in Japan.
Outside the temple was a lively commercial street.
Vibrant neon lights stretched all the way to the temple's gate.
Standing before the entrance of Sensouji, Miyamizu Mitsuha bought a candied apple.
She took a biteit was far tastier than any candied apple she had ever eaten before.
"This is amazing! You should try one too!"
Miyamizu Mitsuha handed the second candied apple she had bought to Kato Megumi.
Though they had only known each other for a few days
The two had already become quite close friends.
Partly because they got along so well, and partly because Kato Megumi was simply too gentle.
Kato Megumi accepted the candied apple and took a small bite.
The sweetness was just rightnot overwhelming, but perfectly balanced.
She carefully examined the bite mark on the apple's surface.
Trying to figure out a little secret from it.
So that she could make some herself later
And give them to her Azuma.
"Speaking of which, how did things go after that? After the physical fitness test?"
Miyamizu Mitsuha asked casually.
These past few days, Kato Megumi had told her many stories about Yukima Azuma.
To help her get into character better.
The girls who were close to Yukima Azuma were fineeven if they found out about the identity exchange, it wouldn't be a big deal.
But he knew way too many people.
From his classmates at Toyogasaki
To those he met as the president of Laplace Corporation.
To avoid causing trouble, Miyamizu Mitsuha needed to understand things even more thoroughly.
At the moment, the story had reached the Summer Comiket event.
But suddenly, Miyamizu Mitsuha asked about the physical fitness test at school.
"After that?"
Kato Megumi blinked in confusion.
Miyamizu Mitsuha nodded.
"Umu, I mean after you helped Yukima-san apply medicine in the classroom. Didn't Sawamura-san get angry and run off back then?"
"So what happened afterward? How did they end up getting along and running the club together?"
This question didn't come out of nowhere.
It was becausetwo days ago
Eriri had come to Yukima's house to freeload and draw her manuscript.
And the moment Miyamizu Mitsuha saw those twin-tailed blonde locks, exactly as described
She immediately turned around and ran away.
She thought it was simply because she was afraid of acting poorly and exposing a flaw.
But two people already knew about it.
Would adding one more really make that much of a difference?
And now, Miyamizu Mitsuha brought up the events after the physical fitness test.
For some unknown reason, Yukima Azuma had been bitten by Eriri so that he got injured.
In the end, it was Kato Megumi who helped him apply medicine.
Yet after that, the two somehow made up as if nothing had ever happened.
"According to Azuma-san, Sawamura-san took the initiative to apologize."
"Azuma-san accepted her apology and conveniently invited Sawamura-san to join the club."
Kato Megumi spoke in a light tone.
But the way she looked at Miyamizu Mitsuha was somewhat intriguing.
"I see, Yukima-san really has a good temper."
Miyamizu Mitsuha muttered under her breath.
Deep inside, she felt a bit indignant on Yukima Azuma's behalf.
Thinking that Eriri had gone a little too far.
Even if Kato Megumi explained that it was a personality type called 'tsundere.'
"Miyamizu-san, do you like him?"
Kato Megumi suddenly asked.
Even though it was phrased as a question, her tone sounded more like a statement.
After speaking, Kato Megumi calmly took another bite of her candied apple.
Miyamizu Mitsuha was so startled that she froze.
By the time she fully grasped the implication of Kato Megumi's words
She immediately shook her head like crazy.
Her tied-up ponytail swayed back and forth with the motion.
"Haha, Megumi, what are you even saying? How could I possibly like Yukima-san!"
Miyamizu Mitsuha laughed loudly, as if she had just heard a joke.
"I haven't even met him before, where would I get the chance to like him?"
After adding one more retort
She quickly took two bites of her candied apple, then turned her head toward Asakusa.
"Let's go inside and have a look. I heard they serve vegetarian meals in the temple."
Kato Megumi didn't say anything more.
From the very beginning, she hadn't even mentioned Yukima Azuma's name.
Yet Miyamizu Mitsuha didn't need to ask who she meant
She brought up Yukima Azuma all on her own
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
In the final days of swapped.
Early in the morning, Yukima Azuma led Suou Yuki, who had secretly snuck out, to the Miyamizu Shrine.
"Grandmother, I want to bring a friend along, is that okay?"
Yukima Azuma asked Miyamizu Hitoha.
As expected
The kind old woman did not hesitate and nodded in agreement.
Even though it was a worship ceremony for the deity, which sounded solemn
It seemed that Miyamizu Shrine did not have too many rigid rules for outsiders.
Even the ritual dance of the previous festival could be watched by all the townspeople.
And no matter what they discussed below, it didn't matter.
Perhaps it was because Itomori's guardian deity was not too strict.
Thus, the group of fourSuou Yuki, Yukima Azuma, Miyamizu Hitoha, and Miyamizu Yotsuhawalked up the mountain together.
The mountain path in Itomori was not easy to traverse.
At the very least, vehicles could not go up; they had to walk.
Miyamizu Hitoha was already elderly.
By the time they reached halfway up the mountain, she was already showing clear signs of exhaustion.
Yukima Azuma didn't think much and immediately crouched down in front of her.
"Let me carry you on my back."
The four of them would walk a bit, then rest for a while.
Yukima Azuma had excellent stamina, but Yotsuha was still young, and Suou Yuki's health, though improved, could not yet be called strong.
After a few stops
They finally reached the mountain's peak.
From there, just by turning around, they could see the entire view of Itomori town and Itomori Lake.
And on the other side of the mountain, not too far away, there was a cave.
That was their destination this time.
Yukima Azuma set Miyamizu Hitoha down.
As the old woman stepped down, she glanced at Yukima Azuma's wrist.
There, a thin, reddish-orange braided cord was wrapped around it.
It was looped several times, resembling an ornament.
"Mitsuha, you're wearing that braided cord again today?"
The old woman asked curiously.
This braided cord had been specially brought back from the shrine by Miyamizu Mitsuha.
On the day they made kumihimo, Miyamizu Hitoha had seen Mitsuha bring this cord home.
She had asked her what she intended to do with it.
Mitsuha said she wanted to give it to someone.
Yet today, it appeared on "her" wrist.
"Ah, since today is the day of worship, I thought I'd wear it."
Yukima Azuma replied casually.
This cord
Was the very thing Miyamizu Mitsuha had deliberately left by the bedside before the identity swap ended.
She had even written in the diary, instructing him to wear it on the last day of the ceremony.
Even though he didn't know what it meant
Yukima Azuma still wrapped it a few times around his wrist.
"I see."
Miyamizu Hitoha gently nodded, her expression seeming thoughtful.
Then, the four of them continued into the cave.
Around the cave entrance were decaying wooden remnants.
In the past, there must have been a torii gate or something similar.
But too much time had passed, and no one had repaired it, leaving only ruined remains.
Following the path inside the cave, they soon saw a stone shrine.
This shrine was seamlessly connected to the cave's foundation.
Yukima Azuma thought
There must have been a massive rock here once, which had been carved into this shrine by human hands.
Miyamizu Hitoha placed the offerings she had brought in front of the shrine.
Then, she closed her eyes and silently bowed in worship.
Yukima Azuma and the others followed suit, bowing before the shrine.
As for whether they were sincere or notthat depended on each person.
While bowing, Yukima Azuma silently called the name of Itomori's deity.
But there was no response.
Thinking back, ever since swapped and that brief conversation with the deity of Itomori
He had never been able to make contact again.
Now, right before this shrine
There was still no response at all.
When he opened his eyes, Yukima Azuma looked at the tightly shut stone door of the shrine.
A sudden urge arose within himhe wanted to push it open and see what was inside.
But the thought only flashed by
In the end, he held himself back.
The swap was still ongoing.
Miyamizu Mitsuha's grandmother was right beside him.
Even though worshiping the deity of Itomori did not have strict rules, such a disrespectful act was surely forbidden.
Better to wait until the swap was over.
After returning to the other side, he could come back to check later.
After all, Yukima Azuma had already memorized the path.
***
The worship ceremony ended.
Miyamizu Hitoha sat outside the cave to rest for a while.
"Grandmother, I'm going to take a few pictures."
Yukima Azuma pointed toward the forest on the slopes of Itomori Mountain.
"Umu, don't go too far, be careful not to get lost."
Miyamizu Hitoha reminded him.
So Yukima Azuma walked toward the forest.
Suou Yuki followed along.
The two of them strolled for a while, until the cave was no longer in sight
Only then did they begin to speak.
"See anything strange?"
Yukima Azuma asked curiously.
Suou Yuki could see through the perception concealment caused by the identity swap.
Though the exact mechanics were unclear
Maybe she could spot something different.
Suou Yuki simply shook her head.
"I didn't see anything. It just looked like a normal shrine to me. Is that really the shrine of the Itomori deity?"
A being capable of swapping two people across a three-year gap in time
Yet living in such miserable conditions.
Suou Yuki couldn't help but wonder if there was some kind of mistake.
"Miyamizu Shrine has worshiped it for generations, so there's no way it's the wrong one."
Yukima Azuma waved his hand dismissively.
In the Miyamizu lineage, every generation had a woman who experienced the swap.
If they had been worshiping the wrong deity, the divine phenomenon wouldn't have lasted through so many generations.
"How about raising some money to renovate the shrine and temple?"
"Forget it, that deity doesn't seem like the type to care about incense offerings."
"Really? So, onii-chan, what are you doing here?"
"Umu, I have a few things to do."
With that, Yukima Azuma took out a notebook and a pen from his backpack.
Suou Yuki curiously looked over.
He opened the notebook, placed the pen on a fresh page,
Took a deep breaththen slowly closed his eyes.
The Harry Potter novel had already published one volume.
Discussions flooded the internet.
Across the world, countless people believed in and longed for the magical world described in the books.
Many sought to find Platform 9 3/4 in real life.
The conditions for the Literary Skill
Had been met.
When Yukima Azuma opened his eyes
His pen lightly glided across the page.
The soft scratching of the pen echoed.
And at that very moment
Brilliant streaks of light suddenly burst forth from the strokes of his pen.
The notebook in Yukima Azuma's hands
Transformed into a Pandora's box that had just been opened.
One by one, shimmering rays of light emerged, then began to swirl around him.
Suou Yuki stared wide-eyed at the scene before her
It was like witnessing actual magic.
For a moment, she was stunned.
And then
The radiant lights began to transform.
They morphed into countless creatures.
One stream of light descended onto Suou Yuki's shoulder, turning into an owl.
Looking at the owl perched on her shoulder, and the other mystical beings circling around Yukima Azuma
"This is" Her eyes widened in astonishment. "The fantastic creatures from Harry Potter?"
Yukima Azuma stopped writing, closed his notebook, and gave a small nod.
This was the first time he had truly used the supernatural abilities granted by his Literary Skill at level seven.
In total, he had summoned seventeen magical creatures from the books.
Each of them retained the abilities described in the novel.
Furthermore, they were entirely under his control.
It had to be saidhis Literary Skill was undoubtedly a product of the system.
Compared to Kasumigaoka's Literary Skill, the difference was staggering.
However
This was also the limit of level seven.
If he wanted to summon creatures with more powerful settings or increase the number
He would need to level up his skill even further.
Suou Yuki reached out and gently stroked the owl on her shoulder.
"This is amazing Could it be that onii-chan is actually a god?"
Her eyes were filled with awebut also a trace of disappointment.
A godwas simply too distant.
"Nah." Yukima Azuma shrugged. "Rather than being some god, I'd much rather be human."
Hearing that, Suou Yuki couldn't help but laugh.
After her laughter faded, she continued petting the owl, already guessing Yukima Azuma's intention.
"These magical creatures are they meant to drive people away from this area?"
"Exactly. Once you buy out the town of Itomori, they will remain in the forest to keep outsiders from entering."
"Then can I keep the owl?"
"Umu, it was meant for you from the start."
"Uwawa, Onii-samaI'm going to cry!"
"Come here, let your Super-Cute Imouto give you a gift in return~"
Overcome with emotion, Suou Yuki immediately pounced toward Yukima Azuma.
Judging by her pursed lips, it seemed like she intended to offer a kiss.
But Yukima Azuma simply raised a hand to press lightly against her forehead
Holding her back with ease.
"Bad Onii-sama, don't reject a girl's heartfelt gratitude!"
"Wait three years. If you still feel this way then, we'll talk."
After a brief moment of teasing
Yukima Azuma waved his hand.
The magical creatures immediately scattered, vanishing into the Itomori mountain forest.
They would take their assigned mission seriously.
For the next three years, before the comet fell
They would do everything in their power to ensure no one stepped into the impact zone.
Once they were gone
Yukima Azuma spread open his palm.
Just moments ago, he had grasped a strand of light in his hand.
Now, as he opened it
A golden metallic sphere appeared.
On either side of the sphere
Glistening golden wings were attached.
"Oa~ It's the Golden Snitch!"
Suou Yuki leaned in closer. Recognizing the object in Yukima Azuma's hand, she gasped in admiration.
"Umu, it has a different mission."
Yukima Azuma flicked his wrist.
The golden sphere transformed into a streak of light, shooting off into the distance.
Suou Yuki followed its trajectory with her eyes.
It seemed to be heading toward Tokyo.
"Won't this cause a butterfly effect?"
She asked.
"Probably." Yukima Azuma watched as the light disappeared into the horizon. "But some things still have to be done."
Chapter 164: Izumi Sagiri and Izumi-mama
After returning from Mount Itomori
The sky had already turned dark.
Yukima Azuma returned to Miyamizu Mitsuha's room, waiting for the swap process to end.
Time gradually passed
It was not long until midnight.
Yukima Azuma felt drowsiness creeping in.
But this time, he did not close his eyes and drift off to sleep.
Instead, he activated his shogi skill, dispelling his fatigue.
Resisting it was somewhat difficult.
Several times, Yukima Azuma almost fell asleep.
But in the end, he managed to endure until dawn.
And then, before Yukima Azuma's eyes, the world was swallowed by pitch-black darkness.
Within that darkness, a brilliantly colored butterfly flew in.
That butterfly was the only source of light in this dark world.
Its colors constantly changed, without any discernible pattern.
Yukima Azuma watched as the butterfly approached, landed on his head, and began to flap its wings.
Immediately afterward, shimmering, multicolored dust fell.
The moment his body was completely covered by that dust.
The world before Yukima Azuma suddenly changed.
No longer an empty darkness, nor Miyamizu Mitsuha's room.
"So, I'm back, huh."
Yukima Azuma sat up from the bed, looked around, then clicked his tongue in appreciation.
This transition scene was a bit crude, wasn't it?
That magnificent butterflywas it the true form of the god of Itomori?
Yukima Azuma reached out to turn on the light in his room.
But just as he raised his hand, he noticed an orange-red braided cord tied around his wrist.
Did this kumihimo return with him as well?
In previous experiments, aside from himself, it seemed that no other objects could be swapped.
This was truly strange.
Yukima Azuma held up his hand and carefully examined the braided cord.
The more he focused.
He faintly heard the voice of a girl.
That voice, Yukima Azuma had never heard before.
But he guessedit must belong to Miyamizu Mitsuha.
Kumihimo symbolizes the connection between people.
It can carry thoughts and emotions.
Yukima Azuma gazed at the cord for a long while before removing it.
He found a brocade jewelry box in a drawer, placed the braided cord inside, and stored it carefully.
After putting it away.
He took out his phone.
He did not immediately search for information about Itomori Town.
Instead, he first opened the Line interface.
He searched for the name Izumi Sagiri.
Seeing that the contact still existed, Yukima Azuma was slightly surprised.
He clicked to check their chat history.
The content of old messages had completely changed.
Their relationship had reverted to a professional work partnership.
Now, Izumi Sagiri was a collaborating illustrator for Laplace Corporation.
The person responsible for communicating with her was Yukima Azuma himself.
But the two only addressed each other by their pen names.
They never became friends.
Yukima Azuma closed the Line interface.
This changehe had already anticipated it.
The butterfly effect.
In fact, even still having contact with this girl was an unexpected miracle.
He used his phone to search for news about Itomori Town.
All the articles online had changed.
The description of the comet fragment's impact site.
Had changed from Itomori Town to a developing resort area.
The number of casualties in this disaster.
Had dropped from five hundred to zero.
As expected, two years after the swap timeline ended, Suou Yuki had successfully purchased the land affected by the comet fragment.
This mission to save Itomori Town could be considered a perfect success.
Yukima Azuma turned off his phone screen and lay down.
Time to sleep.
Everything else could wait until tomorrow.
...
At the same time.
Somewhere else in Tokyo.
The Izumi Household.
Izumi Sagiri was holding her digital drawing tablet, working on a somewhat provocative illustration.
Suddenly, a knocking sound came from the door.
"Come in."
Without looking up, the girl said.
The door was pushed open.
A beautiful woman, bearing a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Izumi Sagiri, stepped inside.
"Sagiri, you're staying up late again. Go to bed early."
"Just a bit longer, Mom. I'll sleep after I finish this!"
"Is this the promotional poster for the Bunny Girl Senpai movie?"
"Yeah, it's about to be released, and it seems like the deadline is really tight."
Hearing that, the beautiful woman walked over to Izumi Sagiri and sat down beside her.
She tilted her head and glanced at the tablet screen.
Izumi Sagiri instinctively flinched slightly.
But then she quickly remembered.
This time, she had taken on a project suitable for all ages.
Moreover, she had to restrain her usual drawing style a bit.
There didn't seem to be anything that couldn't be shown to others.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Izumi Sagiri turned back and actively showed her tablet to the beautiful woman.
"This part here looks a bit empty, doesn't it?"
The woman pointed at a corner of the screen and gave a suggestion.
Izumi Sagiri took a look and felt that her mother had a point, so she began making adjustments.
"Show me the request details, I'll help you out."
The woman said with a smile.
As the first-generation Eromanga-sensei.
And at the same time, the mother of Izumi Sagiri.
Mrs. Izumi's drawing skills were even superior to Izumi Sagiri's.
Helping out as an assistant was, of course, no problem.
Hearing that, Izumi Sagiri handed her phone to her mother.
Mrs. Izumi scrolled through the drawing request that Yukima Azuma had sent while smiling.
Then she asked, laughing:
"So, how are things between you and Azuma-kun? Do you two get along well?"
Hearing that, Izumi Sagiri's face immediately turned bright red.
"What do you mean how are things? It's just a normal work relationship! I don't even talk to him much!"
"Eh? But last time, didn't Sagiri have a video call with Azuma-kun?"
"That guy called out of nowhere. I only reluctantly responded because he was being serious about the project."
"Is that so? That's a shame. I think Azuma-kun is a good kid. It would be nice if you two became friends."
"I don't need that!"
Izumi Sagiri pouted and turned her head away in annoyance.
She had always been a shy person, so she didn't have many friends.
To the young girl
Her mother was clearly trying to set her up.
However, she didn't exactly have a bad impression of the person being matched with her.
His attitude toward his work
Was completely identical to hers.
It felt like if they became friends, they would definitely get along well.
Thinking that, Sagiri shook her head.
No, why did it suddenly turn into having to be friends?
They hadn't even spoken to each other that much!
Seeing her daughter's reaction
The corners of Mrs. Izumi's lips curved up in a meaningful smile.
Since childhood, Sagiri had always been extremely shy, and she had put in a lot of effort trying to help with that.
But even now, Sagiri still didn't have a single like-minded friend.
However, it seemed that had finally changed.
After finishing the poster
Mrs. Izumi set down the tablet and patted Sagiri's head.
"Alright, go to bed early."
"I know already!"
(note: This chapter is short :( )
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 165: Waking Up in a Panic, Seeing Sora Ginko in a Maid Outfit!
Morning.
Yukima Household.
It was already 9:30 AM.
The sun had risen high, and its golden rays streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a bright streak on the floor.
On a normal day
With Yukima Azuma's biological clock, he would have been awake by now.
He might have even finished his morning jog.
But perhaps due to overexerting himself the day before, Yukima Azuma was unusually exhausted today, sleeping all the way until now.
In his drowsy haze
He vaguely heard someone calling him.
His consciousness gradually returned.
Yukima Azuma woke up.
Beside him, sure enough, someone was calling him.
A girl's voiceso clear and pleasant, like the chime of silver bells, carrying a captivating allure.
"Wake up... it's time."
Hearing that voice, Yukima Azuma reluctantly opened his eyes.
As his vision adjusted to the light, a breathtaking sight entered his view.
A beautiful girl with short silver hair was leaning over the edge of his bed, reaching out, seemingly about to wake him.
Her fair face was slightly flushed.
That shy, bashful expression sparked an irresistible urge to tease her.
Moreover, she was wearing a black and white maid outfit.
The soft frills and delicate lace swayed gently with her movements.
She was like a little maid straight out of a dream!
Yukima Azuma gradually widened his eyes.
"...Ginko-senpai?"
Hearing him call her name, Sora Ginko's face turned an even deeper shade of red.
The hand she had extended was about to pull back.
"...Y-you're finally awake. That's good. Hurry and get up..."
Sora Ginko spoke while attempting to retreat from the bedside.
A glint flickered in Yukima Azuma's eyes.
The next moment, he reached out and grabbed Sora Ginko's retreating hand.
"Mm!"
Caught off guard, Sora Ginko let out a soft whimper.
Yukima Azuma used the momentum to pull her into his embrace.
Originally, half of Sora Ginko's body was leaning over the bed.
Now, with a single tug from Yukima Azuma, she lost her balance completely.
And just like thatshe tumbled straight into the blanket.
By the time Sora Ginko lifted her head again
Yukima Azuma's face was right in front of hers.
The overwhelming shyness and unexpected situation rendered Sora Ginko utterly defenseless.
Her entire body curled up in his arms
Like a startled little white rabbit.
Her soft lips parted slightly, momentarily at a loss for words.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma, "still groggy from sleep", narrowed his eyes and mumbled:
"Senpai in a maid outfit... so cute... This must be a dream..."
As he spoke, he tightened his embrace around Sora Ginko.
And then
He casually planted a kiss on her cheek.
Muah~.
With just that soft sound
Sora Ginko's rationality instantly evaporated.
Her body went completely limp, melting like water
As if she was ready to be at his mercy.
Just then
"Oba-san, what's taking so long? We're going to be late!"
The bedroom door suddenly swung open.
A long ahoge strand peeked in first.
Then, Hinatsuru Ai's small head followed.
When she saw the scene on the bed
Her eyes widened in shock.
For a child like Ai, even though no one was undressed, this level of intimacy was already scandalous.
However, this time
Hinatsuru Ai didn't scream.
She squeezed through the doorway and swiftly shut the door behind her.
Then, she sprinted toward the bed.
With a small leapshe wedged herself right between the two of them.
"Ai wants to be hugged by Shishou too!"
And with that declaration
Hinatsuru Ai proudly claimed her fair share of the benefits.
The little girl's sudden leap finally pulled Sora Ginko back to her senses.
"Azuma! This isn't a dream! Wake up already!"
She struggled to lift her arms from between the two of them.
Then, grabbing Yukima Azuma's shoulders, she forcefully shook him.
Yukima Azuma realized he could no longer keep up the act.
So he pretended as if he had just awakened from a wonderful dream.
He released Sora Ginko from his embrace.
Then, feigning surprise, he asked:
"Senpai? Why are you here?"
Freed from his grasp, Sora Ginko immediately jumped off the bed.
She retreated straight to the door
Not forgetting to grab Hinatsuru Ai along with her.
With a loud bang, she flung the door open and dashed out.
Only after the door closed did her voice ring out from outside:
"Today is the Ryuou Match! Hurry up and get dressed! If you don't hurry, you'll be late!"
Yukima Azuma sat up.
He stretched his arms.
Only now did he remember
Today was the first day of the Ryuou title match.
Lately, he had been so busy with matters in Itomori that he almost forgot about the tournament.
But then again, even if he lost one match today, he would still claim the Ryuou title as usual.
That said, since Ginko and Ai had already come for him, it was best to get ready quickly.
...
Yukima Azuma entered the changing room.
He took out his professional shogi attire and put it on.
When he stepped out of the room
The red on Sora Ginko's face had yet to fully fade.
But her expression carried a trace of urgency.
Clearly, due to the tight schedule, she had tossed aside the events from earlier.
Seeing Yukima Azuma step out
She quickly approached him.
She reached out and adjusted his collar and belt.
She straightened the collar properly and tightened the belt neatly.
Then, Sora Ginko took Yukima Azuma's hand and pulled him toward the entrance.
"Awawa~, holding hands!"
Hinatsuru Ai, standing nearby, widened her eyes in admiration.
As Yukima Azuma was pulled along, he casually grabbed Ai's hand as well while passing by her.
Hinatsuru Ai immediately showed a satisfied expression
Just like Yukima Azuma, she too was pulled along.
Early in the morning, the three of them hurriedly took a taxi toward the Tokyo Shogi Association.
Fortunately, the Ryuou Tournament's opening ceremony was held in Tokyo.
Otherwise, they might have really been late for the first match.
Only after getting into the car did Sora Ginko finally breathe a sigh of relief.
It was only then that she realized
She was still holding Yukima Azuma's hand.
She hurriedly let go.
However
Even though she let go, Yukima Azuma had no intention of doing the same.
Her fair, slender fingers remained firmly clasped in his, their fingers intertwined.
Sora Ginko bit her lip lightly
But said nothing.
"Ginko-senpai, you were so adorable in that maid outfit, like something straight out of a dream."
"But why did you dress like that to wake me up today?"
Yukima Azuma first offered the highest praise for Sora Ginko's maid attire.
Then, he voiced the question lingering in his mind.
Sora Ginko hesitated.
Her fingers instinctively tensed.
"That it's because I lost a bet with Master... Hmph!"
As she spoke, she lowered her head.
Even the tips of her ears, hidden beneath her beautiful silver hair, were now flushed red.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma immediately understood.
Deep in his heart, he sincerely thanked the one Sora Ginko called MasterShakando Rina.
The Master Sora Ginko referred to wasn't the same Master that both of them shared.
It was a female shogi player named Shakando Rina.
For nearly 20 years, she had held the title of Jouryuu Myouseki.
She had achieved the status of Eternal Four-Crown in women's shogi, once dominating every single title, thus earning the name "Eternal Queen."
She was an incredibly formidable senior.
She often studied shogi with Sora Ginko.
And was someone Sora Ginko deeply respected.
On a side note
Despite being so powerful
She was still only a women's shogi player and had never attained professional status.
This fact alone showed just how difficult it was for a female player to become a professional in the world of shogi.
Shakando Rina believed that Sora Ginko had the highest potential to become a professional female shogi player.
It could be said that she had placed great expectations on her.
Therefore, she wholeheartedly mentored her without expecting anything in return.
Thanks to this, the two of them shared a very close relationship.
And naturally, this Master was also well aware of Yukima Azuma's existence.
In the past, she had proactively helped with Sora Ginko's matters on multiple occasions.
This time was no exception.
Yukima Azuma thought for a momentperhaps he should buy a small gift and personally visit Shakando Rina later.
Just to thank her in person.
After all, he had just witnessed an unbelievably beautiful sight.
As for the little girl sitting beside him
Hinatsuru Ai was currently using her phone to search for maid outfits on Amazon.
But after browsing through several stores, none had sizes suitable for children.
In the end, she had no choice but to give up in frustration.
....
About fifteen minutes later.
The taxi stopped in front of the Tokyo Shogi Association.
The three of them got out and quickly walked inside.
By now, there weren't many people outside the association.
However, quite a few reporters were gathered at the entrance, waiting for news.
The moment they saw Yukima Azuma approaching, the reporters immediately swarmed around him.
The association staff quickly stepped in to disperse the crowd.
The opening ceremony of the Ryuou Tournament had already ended, and the first preliminary match was scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM.
Late players would be given a maximum grace period of five minutes.
If they were still absent after five minutes, they would be declared an automatic loss.
Right now, it was already 9:55 AM.
In truth, these association staff members were waiting here specifically for Yukima Azuma.
"Yukima 7-dan, please follow this way."
Under the staff's guidance, Yukima Azuma quickly made his way down the tournament hall corridor.
Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai stopped walking.
Both of them checked the timethen let out a sigh of relief in unison.
"We finally made it Shishou, mou~!"
Hinatsuru Ai puffed up her cheeks and grumbled.
She had been looking forward to this match for a long time.
As long as Yukima Azuma won the Ryuou title, as promised, she would officially become his disciple.
"Rather than worrying about Azuma, you should be more concerned about yourself."
Sora Ginko gazed at Yukima Azuma's back as he walked away.
She knew he had been extremely busy lately.
The fact that he overslept today was clearly due to sheer exhaustion.
She wasn't good at explaining these things
But she also couldn't stand hearing anyone complain about Yukima Azuma.
"When Azuma wins the Ryuou title and officially takes you as his disciple"
"You'll be stepping into the world of professional shogi."
"As the disciple of Ryuouof Azuma."
"If you don't become a professional female player within three years, wouldn't that be a disgrace to Azuma's name?"
Hearing that, Hinatsuru Ai suddenly tensed up.
She played shogi because she loved it and admired Yukima Azuma.
So she had never been too concerned about titles or ranks.
But if it meant tarnishing Yukima Azuma's reputation
That was something she could never accept!
"Ai won't bring shame to Shishou!"
Hinatsuru Ai whispered in protest.
But deep inside, she felt a little anxious.
Right now, she was simply learning shogi from Yukima Azuma.
The only people she regularly played against were Yukima Azuma, Sora Ginko, and Kiyotaki Kousuke.
So when it came to her actual skill level
Hinatsuru Ai had absolutely no confidence at all.
Chapter 166: Stand Proud Child, The Future is Yours
Exactly 10 o'clock.
Yukima Azuma arrived at the competition venue just in time.
The audience had been quiet, but the moment Yukima Azuma appeared, a commotion erupted.
In this Ryuou tournament, if one were to name the most anticipated player...
There was no one else but Yukima Azuma.
He had achieved total victory in the previous official tournament to claim the championship.
The youngest to ever reach 7-dan.
Many people wanted to witness it.
To see just when Yukima Azuma's undefeated streak would finally come to an end.
Would he continue writing his legend in the Ryuou tournament, winning consecutively to seize the Ryuou title...
Or would he fall along the way, a genius hitting an impassable wall?
Amidst everyone's watchful eyes.
Yukima Azuma walked toward his match table.
"Hello... Eh? An acquaintance! I remember you, Kawai Kenichi 1-dan, right?"
As soon as he sat down, Yukima Azuma saw the young man sitting across from him and smiled.
As for this young man...
Yukima Azuma still had some impression of him.
In the preliminary rounds of the official tournament, he had faced this opponent in his very first match.
Back then, Yukima Azuma played aggressively, and the game ended quickly.
Even though it was a one-sided slaughter...
Yukima Azuma could sense that this young man's skills were not weak at all.
Originally, after the preliminaries.
Yukima Azuma had intended to give this player some guidance if they ever met again.
After all, he had been treated as nothing more than a "sacrificial lamb" to make an example of.
But as it turned out, Kawai Kenichi 1-dan had been eliminated in the very first round.
There was no opportunity to meet again after that.
When Yukima Azuma found out about this, he had been quite puzzled.
After all, with a skill level around 3-4, even if he had the misfortune of facing him in the first round, it shouldn't have led to outright elimination.
And now...
Kawai Kenichi 1-dan, sitting across from Yukima Azuma, was sweating profusely.
Back in the preliminary rounds of that tournament, after his match with Yukima Azuma...
His "shogi spirit" had nearly collapsed.
In the two matches that followed, he played erratically.
Eliminated early from the preliminaries.
After returning home, he shut himself in, devoting himself entirely to analyzing moves to stabilize his mindset.
It wasn't until a few days ago that he finally regained his "shogi spirit."
After that, he registered for the Ryuou tournament.
Kawai Kenichi 1-dan hadn't even been aiming to win the Ryuou title.
He simply wanted to play a few solid games of shogi to rebuild his confidence.
However, earlier, during the drawing of matchups, his first-round opponent had not yet appeared.
When he asked the organizers, he was told that a competitor had arrived late and had missed the drawing.
Checking the list.
That late competitor was none other than Yukima Azuma 7-dan.
Upon learning this, Kawai Kenichi 1-dan felt as if the sky had collapsed.
"You even remember someone as insignificant as me? I'm truly honored."
Kawai Kenichi 1-dan shot up from his seat, trembling as he bowed deeply to Yukima Azuma.
His attitude made Yukima Azuma freeze.
This kid that polite?
"Please, take a seat."
"No, no, no, you first!"
"Eh? Do I look that intimidating?"
"No, no, getting to play against you is my honor!"
Yukima Azuma was still bewildered but eventually sat down.
Only after seeing him sit did Kawai Kenichi dare to do the same.
"Well then, now that both players are present, let the match begin!"
The referee placed the game timer in position and announced the start.
"Please guide me!"
Kawai Kenichi bowed deeply.
"Uh please guide me."
Yukima Azuma gave a slight, symbolic nod.
Kawai Kenichi went first.
In theory, once a player has established their own playing style, the opening moves from both sides should be familiar and played swiftly.
However, Kawai Kenichi hesitated for a long time on the very first move.
In the end, he advanced a bishop pawn.
Last time, he had played Aigakari and was utterly crushed by Yukima Azuma's Aigakari.
It seemed he had developed a psychological shadow.
But if he didn't use Aigakarihis best strategy
Then he would probably lose even more miserably.
So, after much hesitation, Kawai Kenichi still decided on this move.
Seeing his opponent enter an Aigakari formation,
Yukima Azuma immediately switched to Furibisha.
His opponent had been so polite; he couldn't bring himself to be too ruthless.
With Yukima Azuma's shogi skill level of 9
If he played the same style as his opponent,
It would surely crush his opponent's shogi spirit, making him doubt his entire existence.
It would be just like what happened to Meijin before.
By the next game, he might completely lose his sense of the game.
By using a different playing style, even if he lost, his spirit might waver, but at least he would still retain his feel for shogi.
On the audience stands.
"Oh, it's Furibisha! Shishou rarely uses that move!"
Hinatsuru Ai watched Yukima Azuma's board intently on the big screen.
"It's not that rare."
Sora Ginko was also staring at the broadcast screen, unconsciously recalling her recent matches against Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma had always been a versatile player, able to play in various styles with ease.
But recently, he hardly ever repeated the same opening.
In every match, he seemed to be experimenting with a new sequence of moves.
And despite all the chaos in his playstyle, she still saw no hope of victory.
Sora Ginko could feel it clearly.
Yukima Azuma had gone even further ahead.
Even though she was desperately trying to catch up.
The gap between them only continued to widen.
"Really? Shishou almost never uses it against me!"
"You haven't played against him much lately."
"Oba-san, are you showing off?"
"You little brat Just wait, play two games against him and you'll understand."
While they were chatting
The situation on the board had already become clear.
Kawai Kenichi's Aigakari formation had been utterly shattered.
Yukima Azuma's Furibisha strategy was nearly at a transcendent level.
No matter how tight his opponent's defense was, he could break through with ease.
However, since Yukima Azuma had deliberately given up some moves
Kawai Kenichi managed to hold out until the 200th move.
After struggling for a while longer
Kawai Kenichi could only smile bitterly and place his piece down in surrender.
"I lost."
"That was an excellent match."
"Eh? R-Really?"
"Umu, stand proud. You are strong. I will remember you. The future is yours!"
Yukima Azuma stood up and patted Kawai Kenichi on the shoulder.
Poor kid, another disastrous opening match.
Might as well give him a little motivation.
...
After giving his unfortunate opponent a dramatic, fraudkuna-style encouragement
Yukima Azuma immediately left the venue.
There was still some time before the second match began.
Meanwhile, Kawai Kenichi remained frozen in his seat.
"The future is mine?" he repeated the words.
Then, his gaze gradually became resolute.
"That's right! Even though I lost, last time I only lasted forty moves, but this time I made it to two hundred!"
"I'm not standing still, I'm moving forward! No matter how hard it is, I'm still advancing!"
"Even Yukima-senpai praised this as an excellent match! My efforts weren't in vain!"
"I will keep fighting! Tatakai! One day, I will stand before Yukima-senpai with pride once again!"
Spurred by a single "compliment"
Kawai Kenichi, a mere 1-dan player, was instantly set ablaze with fighting spirit.
Even though he had lost the first match of the Ryuou preliminaries
As long as he won the next two matches,
He still had a chance to enter the main tournament.
Unlike previous official tournaments, this time, Kawai Kenichi was not discouraged at all. On the contrary, he was brimming with determination to fight!
On the other side, Yukima Azuma left the match venue
He sneaked straight into the spectator seats.
Then sat down next to Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai.
"Shishou! That was amazing!"
Hinatsuru Ai immediately threw herself at Yukima Azuma, beaming with joy.
Once this Ryuou tournament was over, she could officially become his disciple!
Sora Ginko, however, looked a bit doubtful.
"Why did your moves seem a bit drawn out? You could have transitioned into the endgame by move ninety."
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma immediately smiled.
"Ginko-senpai, you'll definitely defend your 'Queen' title again this time. The day you become 'Eternal Queen' isn't far off."
Sora Ginko tilted her head in confusion.
She didn't understand why Yukima Azuma suddenly brought this up.
Moreover, in this year's Queen tournament, she was certain to face Sainokami Ika head-on.
By her own assessment
Her chances of winning didn't look great at all.
Seeing Sora Ginko's puzzled expression
Yukima Azuma explained:
"In that match just now, I did intentionally hold back. After all, my opponent was very polite."
"But that 1-dan player on the other side didn't notice at all. To be precise, even a professional 4-dan player would struggle to notice."
"But Ginko-senpai, you were sharp enough to see that the game could have ended by move ninety."
"Ginko-senpai, you're probably the strongest female player right now. Becoming a professional player is just around the corner."
Hearing this, the gloom in Sora Ginko's heart instantly faded.
If she could really become a professional female shogi player
Then she would have fulfilled Shakando Rina's wish.
Moreover, the gap between her and Yukima Azuma would shrink.
Just being able to see Yukima Azuma's back was enough.
However, soon after, Sora Ginko felt that something was off.
"But I just lost to Shakando-sensei last night."
Sora Ginko pouted, feeling like Yukima Azuma was just trying to console her.
It was precisely because of that loss
That she had worn a maid outfit to find Yukima Azuma today.
"Eh?" Yukima Azuma was momentarily stunned. "No way, Ginko-senpai, were you distracted during the match?"
With his shogi skill level of 9, Yukima Azuma was certain he hadn't misjudged Ginko's strength.
By now, Sora Ginko should be at the level of a professional 4-dan player. Her skills were just shy of reaching level 7.
Sora Ginko recalled last night's match
She did seem... a little distracted.
What was she thinking about at the time?
Something about Azuma's Ryuou match and the maid outfit
The moment that thought surfaced, Sora Ginko's face turned bright red.
It seemed she had unconsciously wanted to lose that match.
Because if she lost, she would have a legitimate reason to wear a maid outfit to see Yukima Azuma.
She had wanted to see Yukima Azuma's surprised reaction, to hear him praise her.
Realizing this
Sora Ginko turned completely red.
Her little head, adorned with a cute maid headband, looked as if it was about to overheat.
"Shishou, Shishou, you're definitely a maid uniform fanatic, aren't you?"
At that moment, Hinatsuru Ai suddenly blurted out.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma fell into deep thought.
"I don't know, I never realized I had such a preference."
"Shishou absolutely loves maid uniforms! Oba-san wore a maid outfit today, and Shishou kept staring!"
"You brat, shut up!"
Chapter 167: I Pledge the Future of Hinatsuru Ai
After chatting for a while with the maid girl and the mischievous little kid in the audience
The second round of the preliminary quickly began.
Yukima Azuma's opponent in the second round was a professional 4-dan shogi player.
But the opponent's dan rank didn't really matter.
To Yukima Azuma
There were only two types of shogi players in the world.
One type was "Meijin," the other type was "the rest of the players."
As long as they belonged to "the rest of the players"
Yukima Azuma would crush them absolutely.
His level 9 shogi skill encompassed all playing styles and techniques, reaching a near-peak level.
If this were a different setting
A character like Yukima Azuma would almost certainly be a deceased shogi master, whose soul was bound to a ring, appearing as an old master to train a genius disciple on a quest to find "The Hand of God."
After swiftly advancing through the second and third rounds
Yukima Azuma officially entered the main tournament of the Ryuou Championship.
The main tournament of the Ryuou followed a standard single-elimination format.
A total of 32 players qualified for the main bracket.
From the round of 32, each round eliminated one losing player.
There were six rounds in total, with the finals being a best-of-all match.
As long as he kept winning
He would become the Ryuou.
The Ryuou title was the most fiercely contested among all shogi titles.
It also had the highest prize money.
This year, with additional sponsorships, the total prize pool reached 300 million yen.
As Japan's national-level championship, the Ryuou tournament received attention from the entire country.
However, Yukima Azuma didn't expect
The level of attention to be this high.
Just after finishing an interview following his qualification for the main tournament
As he stepped out of the Shogi Association
He came face to face with a beautiful woman and a middle-aged man.
The beautiful woman wore a traditional Japanese kimono, predominantly deep blue.
The kimono had no visible brand, but anyone knowledgeable about clothing could tell that the fabric was extraordinarily expensive.
Although she was a stunning beauty, standing there, she did not evoke any frivolous thoughts.
The aura of this woman was overwhelmingly strong, carrying a sense of superioritywithout needing to express anger, she exuded authority.
Seeing these two
Hinatsuru Ai's eyes immediately widened, and even the ahoge on her head drooped.
She wanted to hide behind Yukima Azuma.
But in the end, she didn't move, standing frozen in place.
"Dad, Mom..."
Hinatsuru Ai softly called out.
These two
Were Hinatsuru Ai's parents.
"Hello there, I am Hinatsuru Takashi, Ai father."
"I am Hinatsuru Akina."
Of course, they couldn't just stand and talk in the middle of the street.
After a simple introduction
Everyone moved to a nearby private tea house.
This tea house seemed to be a members-only establishment, where only those with a certain account balance could enter.
And to use a private room, an even higher balance was required.
This place was typically a venue for the upper class to discuss business.
Yukima Azuma wasn't sure if Laplace Corporation had a membership here.
But the Hinatsuru family certainly did.
The group went up to the second floor.
"Our daughter has been troubling you all this time. We sincerely apologize."
"We've heard about her apprenticeship, but we still have some objections."
Hinatsuru Ai's father calmly spoke.
Hearing this, Hinatsuru Ai immediately became agitated.
"Dad!"
She called out, then quickly turned to look at her mother.
Hinatsuru Ai understood clearly
Even though her father was the one speaking
But... the one making the decision
Was her mother.
After all, her father was merely a son-in-law who had married into the family.
Hinatsuru Akina.
A name that carried significant weight even within Japan's upper class.
The current head of the Hinatsuru family.
The person in charge of Hinatsuru Ryokan.
In Japan, anyone involved in the ryokan (JP inn) business at a certain scale
Could not ignore this woman.
Her daughter was staring at her with pleading eyes
But Hinatsuru Akina's expression remained unchanged.
As still as a tranquil lake.
She shifted her gaze to Yukima Azuma and slowly spoke:
"Before making a decision, we conducted an investigation."
"Currently, in the world of shogi, no female player has ever become a professional player."
"While it is possible to become a female shogi player, unless one wins a title, their status remains unstable."
"Yukima-sensei, you are still just a high school student, and you likely have no teaching experience."
"In such a situation, we cannot entrust Ai to you."
Her words were firm, leaving no room for retreat.
Even somewhat harsh.
Hinatsuru Takashi, standing beside her, cleared his throat lightly.
"Ahem, dear, saying that is a bit disrespectful to sensei."
But Hinatsuru Akina did not even turn her head as she coldly replied:
"Silence."
Hinatsuru Takashi immediately fell obediently silent, lowering his head.
Hinatsuru Ai also lowered her head.
She pouted, refusing to speak.
Seeing her puffing up her cheeks like she was sulking
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently patted Hinatsuru Ai's head.
To an ordinary person, the words just spoken might have been difficult to hear.
But to Yukima Azuma, he could understand them.
In fact, he even felt that the head of the Hinatsuru family in front of him was already being both indulgent toward her daughter and reasonable.
One had to understandHinatsuru Ai was the heiress of the Hinatsuru family.
Moreover, if Hinatsuru Akina did not have any other children
Hinatsuru Ai would be the sole future successor of the Hinatsuru family.
In such a situation
The heir suddenly declared she didn't want to inherit the family business but instead wanted to pursue shogi.
This was no different from Musk clan son saying he wanted to drop out of school to become a professional eSports player.
And not even joining the youth division of a well-known team
But going to some obscure "training camp."
Agreeing to such a thing would be absurd.
If this were Mrs. Yukinoshita
If Yukinoshita Haruno had said she wanted to play shogi
She would undoubtedly have been locked in a dark room immediately.
For this reason
Yukima Azuma had originally planned to win the Ryuou title first before meeting Hinatsuru Ai's parents.
After all, if she was going to pursue shogi
What could be more convincing than learning from one of the very best in the field?
At the very least, it would carry some weight when spoken.
But
It seemed that plans could never keep up with unexpected changes.
Yukima Azuma continued to pat Hinatsuru Ai's head.
He had promised to take her as his disciple
And he would definitely keep his word.
However, he also needed to make additional commitments.
"Hinatsuru Ai is a child I truly like, and I want to take her as my disciple."
"You two are Ai's parents, so it's understandable that you're worried. I completely understand."
"Therefore, in order to take Ai as my disciple, I am willing to offer a corresponding guarantee."
Yukima Azuma did not speak much about Hinatsuru Ai's talent.
To Hinatsuru Akina
That factor held little value.
Hinatsuru Ai might become a female shogi player who wins a title.
She might even become the first female professional shogi player in history.
But
All of that was merely a possibility.
As long as Hinatsuru Ai remained within the Hinatsuru family
Her future was almost certainly set as the heir to the Hinatsuru Ryokan business.
Even if she did not manage it well, "a dead camel is still bigger than a live horse."
Even if Hinatsuru Ryokan's scale were reduced by half
Its heir would still hold a status far higher than a female shogi player.
On one hand, there was a gamble on probability, with a reward that wasn't particularly ideal.
On the other, there was a massive and stable profit.
Hinatsuru Akina had no reason to choose the first option.
Unless there were additional conditions attached.
Yukima Azuma reached into the pocket of his coat, pulled out a golden business card, and placed it in front of Hinatsuru Akina.
"If Hinatsuru Ai does not achieve any notable results in her shogi career"
"I am willing to guarantee her futureboth in terms of material wealth and status."
Hinatsuru Akina picked up the business card from the table.
On the front was a single symbol.
Flipping it over, the meaning of those characters became immediately clear.
Laplace Corporation.
She carefully put the business card away.
Then, after taking a deep breath, she nodded slightly.
"I see. If you are willing to go this far for Ai, then refusing any further would be truly discourteous."
"May I ask one impolite questionwhat is your company's revenue this year?"
Hinatsuru Takashi lifted his head. "Isn't that a bit too much?"
Hinatsuru Akina shot him a glare.
The live-in son-in-law immediately lowered his head again.
Yukima Azuma, however, remained unfazed.
"Laplace was founded this spring. Over the past six months, our total revenue is approximately..."
"The total stock and cash assets currently held by the company are estimated as follows..."
"Laplace Corporation was established this spring. It has been half a year now, and the total revenue is roughly as follows..."
"The total number of shares and cash flow currently held by the company is also approximately this much..."
Yukima Azuma briefly summarized the financial status of Laplace Corporation.
These figures were accessible to anyone who wished to look them up.
The core assets of Laplace Corporation consisted of several original investment stocks that had yet to reveal their potential, along with copyrights and patents for a number of original works.
These assets had not yet been realized.
When the time came for them to take effect, what seemed insignificant now would help Laplace Corporation grow dozens of times over.
Aside from these key assets, the rest of Laplace Corporation's financial information was not particularly confidential.
Moreover, even without considering those core assets, the amount of cash currently recorded in Laplace Corporation's books was already an astonishing figure.
After Yukima Azuma finished presenting the company's assets
The man sitting opposite, Hinatsuru Takashi, was left wide-eyed and slack-jawed.
Although he was only a live-in son-in-law, he had still married into a prestigious family.
Hinatsuru Ai's father, despite appearing timid in front of Hinatsuru Akina, was still considered a rare young talent in society.
He had graduated in economics and business administration from the University of Tokyo and continued his studies there for a master's degree. During his university years, he had also been a prominent figure.
Otherwise, how could he have caught the eye of Hinatsuru Akina?
However, despite being a young and talented man with a family, the gap between him and Yukima Azuma was like night and day.
Given the scale of Laplace Corporation
If Azuma and Hinatsuru Ai were to be together in the future, the Hinatsuru family would not have the standing to demand Yukima Azuma to marry into their household.
On the contrary, it would have to be Hinatsuru Ai marrying into the Yukima family.
And from the moment she appeared until now, maintaining her icy demeanor, Hinatsuru Akina finally showed a hint of surprise.
After a brief moment of astonishment
A sharp glint flashed in the eyes of this beautiful woman.
"Yukima-sensei, I can clearly feel your determination. To be honest, even I think Ai is being given too much favor."
"If that's the case, entrusting Ai to you is, of course, not a problem. However, there are some conditions that need to be discussed first."
Hinatsuru Akina's icy attitude gradually thawed.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
Hinatsuru Ai, hearing her mother's agreement, secretly lifted her head.
She saw that her mother was actually smiling.
At that moment, even the ahoge on top of her head stood straight up in shock.
From childhood until now, she had never seen her mother smile at an outsider.
Even toward herher own daughterit was only an occasional occurrence.
"Shishou, you're amazing!"
Hinatsuru Ai didn't understand much but could only whisper in admiration.
Yukima Azuma gently stroked the girl's hair.
Reality proved that all unfavorable situations in this world stemmed from the incompetence of the parties involved.
"Please go ahead." Yukima Azuma responded.
Hinatsuru Akina nodded slightly.
"Although it may seem strict, Ai is our only daughter, so there are some matters that must be clarified in advance."
"If Ai does not earn the title of Queen before she comes of age, she must give up shogi."
"At the same time, Yukima-sensei, you must marry Ai. One of your children must take the Hinatsuru surname."
Yukima Azuma nodded slightly.
The conditions were not unexpected.
As the future heir of the Hinatsuru family
Hinatsuru Ai bore the responsibility of continuing the family lineage.
If Yukima Azuma wanted to take her along the path of shogi, he also had to take on a corresponding responsibilityto ensure the continuation of the Hinatsuru family.
Living as a son-in-law was not realistic, so the only option was to raise a child to become the future successor of the Hinatsuru family.
If they got married, Hinatsuru Ai would take on the Yukima surname.
Taking away a Hinatsuru meant returning a Hinatsuruthis was entirely reasonable!
Meanwhile, sitting beside Yukima Azuma
Hinatsuru Ai's ahoge was now spinning like a propeller.
Even when Yukima Azuma tried to hold it down, it refused to stay still.
Her sapphire-blue eyes, despite not being in the middle of a shogi match, gleamed with a faint purple light out of excitement.
Her petite body was brimming with enthusiasm.
"Shishou, let's do our best together!"
As she spoke, Hinatsuru Ai's small body twisted restlessly.
The corners of her mouth curled up uncontrollably.
"You'd better be talking about working hard in shogi!"
Yukima Azuma was caught between laughter and tears.
"Hehe, of course!"
Hinatsuru Ai nodded enthusiastically.
At this moment, she looked as if she wanted to throw away all sense of shame and jump straight into Yukima Azuma's arms.
But when it came time to actually play shogi
This little girl would surely give it her all with absolute seriousness.
Through the time they had spent together
Yukima Azuma had gained some understanding of Hinatsuru Ai.
Despite her cheerful laughter
Deep down, she was undoubtedly feeling immense pressure.
And as it turned outYukima Azuma was right.
At this moment, deep within her heart, Hinatsuru Ai had already made up her mind.
She was determined to win the Queen title as promised.
Shishou had placed such trust in her and had even dared to stand up and vouch for her.
She absolutely could not let Shishou down.
. . .
After settling the matter regarding Hinatsuru Ai
The atmosphere around the tea table immediately became much more harmonious.
Everyone sipped tea and exchanged small talk.
Even though it was just casual conversation
Yukima Azuma spoke with remarkable wit, his knowledge far beyond that of an ordinary high school student.
Instead, he conversed effortlessly with the Hinatsuru couple.
The more Hinatsuru Akina observed Yukima Azuma, the more satisfied she felt.
Initially, when she arrived, she had carried some lingering anger.
She had thought her daughter had been lured away by some unknown blond-haired brat.
But now, the situation had completely turned around.
"Yukima-sensei, when do you think would be an appropriate time to hold the official disciple ceremony?"
Hinatsuru Akina asked.
She had already planned out the arrangements for the ceremony in her mind.
"Let's do it in September. After the Ryuou Tournament concludes, I'll win the Ryuou title, which will be more beneficial for Ai."
Yukima Azuma replied.
Hinatsuru Akina smiled and nodded.
She had also considered this but had refrained from bringing it up.
Being accepted as a disciple by an ordinary professional shogi player versus being accepted by the Ryuou
The reputation that would spread would be completely different.
And Yukima Azuma had confidently brought it up on his own.
That alone showed how much he truly cared for Hinatsuru Ai.
As Ai's mother, this naturally pleased her.
"Then we'll wait until Yukima-sensei returns victorious. At that time, we'll hold a grander banquet to celebrate both the ceremony and your Ryuou title."
Hinatsuru Akina's words finalized the decision.
By now, everyone's teacups had been emptied.
Hinatsuru Akina could tell that Yukima Azuma had no intention of lingering.
So she did not take the initiative to invite him to stay for dinner
Or to visit the Hinatsuru household.
However, as she stood up, Hinatsuru Akina's gaze instinctively drifted toward Hinatsuru Ai.
Seeing her daughter clinging to Yukima Azuma like superglue,
Hinatsuru Akina's eyes shifted slightly before she spoke:
"Now that I think about it, Ai is currently on summer break."
"She had been asking to stay at Yukima-sensei's place to study shogi, but we didn't agree."
"After all, back then, we hadn't met Yukima-sensei yet, so we were naturally worried about our daughter."
"But if it's Yukima-sensei, of course, we can be at ease. The only question isdo you have the time to teach her?"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma was genuinely a bit surprised.
No matter how outstanding he was, surely it wasn't enough to make someone entrust their daughter to him this easily.
Most prestigious families still valued propriety and formality.
At the moment, Yukima Azuma hadn't even officially taken Hinatsuru Ai as his disciple.
They ought to be more concerned about their reputation.
Just as he was still pondering
He felt a light tug on the hem of his sleeve.
Turning his head, he met a pair of round, sparkling eyes.
Hinatsuru Ai.
This little girl was just one step away from outright writing "Please, Shishou" across her face.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma finally understood.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly
This Hinatsuru woman always wore a cold, unreadable expression.
But in reality, she doted on her daughter to an extreme degree.
To the point where she was almost on the same level as Sayuri.
"Umu, during summer break, she can stay at my place. I still have a spare room."
Yukima Azuma nodded in agreement.
"Then I'll be counting on Sensei to take care of her. I'll send Ai's personal belongings to your residence today."
Hinatsuru Akina said, then pulled out a black card from the sleeve of her kimono.
She placed the card on the table and slid it in front of Yukima Azuma.
"This is my daughter's disciple fee, as well as her daily living expenses. Please accept it, Yukima-sensei."
Yukima Azuma did not refuse and picked up the card without hesitation.
He accepted the money with dignity.
As for the exact amount inside the card
Yukima Azuma didn't care in the slightest.
Rather than the specific figure, he was far more curious about the card's original purpose.
There was no way Hinatsuru Akina had prepared a disciple fee in advance.
Letting Hinatsuru Ai stay at his place had clearly been a spontaneous decision.
Which meant this card
Could it be that legendary type of card!?
"There's five million in the card. Stay away from my daughter."
As Yukima Azuma took the card, Hinatsuru Akina smiled slightly, a subtle emotion flickering in her eyes.
As expected, Yukima Azuma had guessed correctly.
Originally, this card had been prepared to drive someone away with money.
Hinatsuru Akina knew her daughter's personality very well.
She was incredibly stubbornonce she set her heart on someone, it was nearly impossible to change her mind.
If Yukima Azuma had really been some delinquent Gyaru-oh, she would have used this money to make him leave, crushing Hinatsuru Ai's spirit in the process.
However
There wasn't just five million in the card.
There was a full one hundred million yen.
But now, Hinatsuru Akina felt like that amount might not be enough.
When the official disciple ceremony was held, she would add more.
(note: I'm not sure what to say... I just don't like this chapter)
Stepping out of the tea room.
Sora Ginko had been waiting outside for a long time.
Regarding Hinatsuru Ai's family matters, she naturally couldn't eavesdrop.
Initially, Hinatsuru Akina had arranged another tea room for Sora Ginko.
But out of concern for Yukima Azuma, she truly couldn't sit still.
She had stepped out of the tea room, waiting in the hallway.
Seeing everyone walk out, chatting and laughing together
Sora Ginko let out a sigh of relief.
She quickly approached Yukima Azuma and softly asked:
"They didn't do anything to you, did they?"
Yukima Azuma held Sora Ginko's hand.
He gently stroked the back of her hand, soothing her emotions.
"Of course not, they're Ai's parents, we only discussed the apprenticeship."
Hearing that, Sora Ginko finally felt at ease.
After all, no matter how you looked at it, Hinatsuru Akina didn't seem like an ordinary woman.
Aside from her status in the shogi world, Sora Ginko was just an ordinary girl.
Her family background couldn't exactly be called prestigious.
Faced with a situation straight out of a manga, confronting power and influence, it was natural for her to be nervous.
But when Yukima Azuma held her hand and gently reassured her
Sora Ginko immediately felt at peace.
She knew that if Yukima Azuma said there was nothing to worry about, then there truly was nothing to worry about.
Hinatsuru Akina glanced at the tightly clasped hands of Yukima Azuma and Sora Ginko.
Then, she turned her gaze toward her daughter.
The matter of age, huh...
But it wasn't too concerning. They were still young, after all.
By the time Hinatsuru Ai grew up, Yukima Azuma would only be twenty-five.
What happens then is still uncertain.
"And this is?" Hinatsuru Akina asked politely, as if trying to learn more about Yukima Azuma's acquaintances.
"This is Sora Ginko, my Shogi Senpai. After Ai becomes my disciple, she'll be our fellow apprentice as well."
Yukima Azuma introduced her.
"Ginko-senpai, this is Lady Hinatsuru Akina, Ai's mother."
Hinatsuru Akina hadn't expected this.
She was momentarily stunned, but then she slightly bowed in greeting.
Sora Ginko maintained a serious expression and returned the gesture.
"So, a fellow apprentice of Yukima-sensei... That means we'll be like family from now on."
"I came too hastily this time and didn't prepare a meeting gift. After the apprenticeship ceremony, I'll be sure to make up for it."
"My daughter, I'll be counting on you two to take care of her."
Sora Ginko gently nodded.
Though she usually carried a cold and aloof aura, she was actually quite shy.
When facing strangers, she was easily flustered.
Seeing Sora Ginko looking a bit awkward, Yukima Azuma smiled slightly.
He pulled his adorable Senpai behind him
Casually cutting off the formal pleasantries.
"It's getting late. We'll take our leave now. Thank you both for your hospitality."
...
After bidding farewell to the Hinatsuru couple
The three of them boarded a train back to Yukima's home.
"Why is this little brat tagging along too?"
Now that they were among familiar people, Sora Ginko had returned to her usual self. She glanced at Hinatsuru Ai and asked in confusion.
"Oba-san, Ai will be living with shishou from now on!"
Hinatsuru Ai hid behind Yukima Azuma and boasted.
Hearing that, Sora Ginko's gaze instantly turned cold.
She stared at Hinatsuru Ai, as if trying to freeze the smug little girl in place.
The temperature around them seemed to drop by a few degrees.
Hinatsuru Ai shivered slightly, then immediately scooted closer to Yukima Azuma, clinging to his other arm.
Seeing this, Sora Ginko pouted.
The atmosphere gradually became filled with gunpowder.
"Ginko-senpai, next spring, you'll be entering high school, right?"
Yukima Azuma suddenly asked.
Sora Ginko was slightly puzzled but still nodded.
"At that time, apply for a school in Tokyo. Toyogasaki offers direct admission for shogi players."
"That way, next spring, we can experience school life together."
As he spoke, Yukima Azuma pulled out his phone and scrolled to the admission regulations page of Toyogasaki Private Academy.
Sora Ginko's academic performance might be a bit weak.
But with a special shogi admission slot, the entry requirements would be loweredit shouldn't be a problem.
Sora Ginko took the phone from Yukima Azuma's hand and carefully read through the details.
After confirming the information
The corners of her lips immediately curled up.
"Umu, since Azuma is inviting me like this... it's not like I can't consider it."
She murmured softly.
In her mind, the image of sharing school life with Yukima Azuma had already begun to take shape.
At school, the labels of "older sister senior" and "younger brother junior" would naturally fade away.
At that point, letting him call her "kouhai" would be fine too.
That way, she could escape from the forbidden position.
The more she thought about it, the happier Sora Ginko felt.
That stupid little brat
She still hasn't realized how much of a disadvantage the master-disciple relationship is, huh?
Sure, it creates a natural sense of closeness, but at the same time, it also imposes natural restrictions.
If it weren't for being a "sister, senpai," sheSora Ginkowould have made her move long ago!
...
The train passed by the statue of the loyal dog, Hachiko, and gradually slowed to a stop.
The three of them disembarked and exited Shibuya Station from the North Gate.
After turning onto a side street and walking a short distance, they arrived at Yukima's home.
Yukima Azuma took the key from his pocket.
He inserted it into the lock, and with a click, the front door opened.
"Okaeri!" 5
Before he could even take a clear look inside the apartment
A synchronized greeting rang out.
Just as Yukima Azuma mentally prepared himself
Boom!
Boom!
Two bursts of confetti poppers exploded.
Golden streamers shot up to the ceiling before gently fluttering down.
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri each held a small party popper, standing on either side of the door.
Kato Megumi and Yukinoshita Yukino stood in the hallway.
Kirisu Mafuyu, who hadn't been home for a while, was also present in the living room.
It was clear they had planned this in advance.
They had even thought things through carefully.
If the confetti had been fired the moment he stepped in, Yukima Azuma would definitely have been startled.
But by calling out first before setting off the poppers, it turned into a pleasant surprise instead.
Truly considerate.
"What's all this?"
Although Yukima Azuma asked with some curiosity, the smile on his face was impossible to hide.
"It's a celebration for your promotion to the Ryuou league. Actually, it's also for your previous official match."
Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke while stepping forward, brushing the golden streamers off Yukima Azuma's hair and shoulders.
"Azuma, seriously... something this worth celebrating, why didn't you say anything?!"
Eriri leaned in, poking Yukima Azuma's cheek.
Her voice carried a hint of sulkiness.
Clearly, she still hadn't forgotten about the last time
When she had barged in, oblivious, demanding to play shogi with Yukima Azuma
Only to be utterly defeated.
"Ah... I'm just used to it."
Yukima Azuma replied helplessly.
Before the spring break, there had been no one truly close to him.
No matter what achievements he attained, there was no one to share them with.
He was not the type to boast about his accomplishments just to receive praise.
Over time, it became a habitto silently achieve great things.
"What do you mean 'used to it'? From now on, there will always be people celebrating with you, Lonely-kun."
Kasumigaoka Utaha picked off the last bit of confetti from Yukima Azuma's hair, then gently placed her hand on his cheek.
Used to it?
He was clearly far too accustomed to solitude.
So much effort had been spent gathering people around him, yet he didn't even know how to enjoy it.
She really couldn't understand what went on in Lonely-kun's head.
"Don't just stand at the door talkingcome in already."
At this moment, Kato Megumi reminded them.
Only then did the two realizeYukima Azuma and the others were still standing outside.
After the three changed into indoor slippers and stepped into the living room
Before them was an enormous cake placed on the dining table.
"Well? Well? What do you think? We made it ourselves!"
Eriri stood proudly, hands on her hips, puffing out her small chest in triumph.
She looked as if she was eagerly awaiting praise.
"Kono baka-riri, you contributed more to the mess than to the actual baking."
"The majority of the work was done by Yukinoshita-senpai and Kato-san, yet you still dare to boast."
Kasumigaoka, standing beside her, mocked.
Hearing this, Eriri immediately puffed up her cheeks, took a deep breath, and let out a little huffrevealing her small fang-like teeth.
"Ara mama~, just taste it first."
Yukinoshita Yukino picked up a kitchen knife and carefully cut a small piece from the giant cake, then handed it to Yukima Azuma.
He took a spoon, scooped up a bite, and placed it in his mouth.
He tasted it seriously.
It was delicious.
Even without considering the effort behind it, just in terms of flavor, this cake was better than most store-bought ones.
Their skill was evident.
Both Yukino and Megumi were naturally adept at household tasks, and their cooking skills were outstanding.
It was just that, usually, their abilities were overshadowed by Yukima Azuma's own talents, so they rarely had the chance to shine.
"This is probably the best cake I've ever had. Thank you."
With Yukima Azuma's way with words
He could have easily come up with something far more poetic.
But in this moment, he only wanted to say a simple "thank you."
Lifting his gaze, he looked at the girls standing before him.
His heartbeat quickened.
This scene
Three years ago, he wouldn't have even dared to dream of it.
The reason he had worked so hard all this time perhaps it was for this very moment.
As long as he was no longer alone, he was willing to do anything.
(note: I... feel so bitter inside)
Chapter 170: It's Just Plum Wine, How Could It Make You Drunk?
"Don't stare at me like that, even I feel embarrassed at times like this!"
Yukima Azuma laughed as he took the knife and plate.
He cut the cake and handed pieces to each of the girls beside him.
Hearing that, everyone burst into cheerful laughter.
Kato Megumi and Kasumigaoka Utaha went back to the kitchen and brought out more dishes.
Dinner became extremely lively.
Kato Megumi sat next to Yukima Azuma.
While everyone was chatting happily
She gently waved her hand, signaling Yukima Azuma to lean down.
He complied.
Kato Megumi moved close to Yukima Azuma's ear and softly said:
"This, Miyamizu-san also helped out. She asked me to pass along her congratulations to you, Azuma-san."
"She couldn't sit down and eat with us, so you have to eat Miyamizu-san's share too."
After saying that, Kato Megumi winked at Yukima Azuma.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma was slightly stunned.
In his mind, the image of that red-orange kumihimo cord suddenly appeared.
A moment later.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
"I'll do that."
Then, he cut another piece of cake and calmly continued eating.
"Now that I think about it, Eriri suddenly ran over here yesterday just to make a cake?" (Azuma)
"Hehehe, Azuma didn't notice, right! My disguise was perfect, wasn't it?" (Eriri)
"Hmph." (Utaha)
"Hey, you fat woman! Are you picking a fight with me?!" (Eriri)
"Kirisu-sensei, did you come all the way back just for this? I'm really touched!" (Azuma)
"Umu, after all, I am a teacher. When a student achieves something, of course, they should be congratulated." (Mafuyu)
"Oh right, Azuma-san, what is this drink? I found it in the corner of the kitchen." (Megumi)
"Oh, that's plum wine I brewed myself." (Azuma)
"Azuma-kun isn't of drinking age yet." (Yukino)
"That kind has very low alcohol content, it's fine." (Azuma)
"No! Even if the alcohol content is low, it's still alcohol. Confiscated!" (Mafuyu)
Watching the bottle of plum wine being taken away by Kirisu Mafuyu, Yukima Azuma could only sigh helplessly.
He wasn't particularly fond of alcohol.
But he did quite like the taste of this homemade drink.
As someone who had been reincarnated
Drinking a little wine didn't seem like a big deal to Yukima Azuma.
But Kirisu Mafuyu was a teacher.
Getting caught red-handed, he could only accept it.
After taking the bottle away
Kirisu Mafuyu curiously opened the lid and took a sniff.
There was no strong alcoholic scent; instead, a fresh, mellow aroma of plums lingered at the tip of her nose.
Kirisu Mafuyu unconsciously swallowed.
It smelled so good!
Thinking about Yukima Azuma's cooking skills
The appeal of the bottle of plum wine in her hands skyrocketed exponentially.
Watching Kirisu Mafuyu gulp, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Kirisu-sensei, since it's already been confiscated by the teacher, drinking it should be fine too, consider it disposal."
Yukima Azuma spoke at just the right moment.
Giving Kirisu Mafuyu a way out.
Hearing that, Kirisu Mafuyu was immediately convinced.
"Umu, this is disposal!"
As she spoke, she took out two tall glasses.
Among those present, only she and Yukinoshita Yukino were of legal drinking age.
The plum wine was poured.
The clear liquid rippled as it flowed down.
The fresh fragrance of plums spread across the table.
"It smells so good! I want to drink too!"
Eriri sniffed twice and immediately held out her glass.
"Well... just a little then."
Kirisu Mafuyu had already taken a sip, so refusing now felt a bit difficult.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma had said the alcohol content was very low, and she hadn't noticed any strong alcoholic smell.
It should be fine.
Thus, except for Hinatsuru Ai, the other girls each received a small portion of plum wine.
The little Hinatsuru Ai pouted in grievance.
Yukima Azuma handed her a bottle of orange juice.
Elementary school students really shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
Everyone raised their glasses, lightly clinking them in midair.
Then, they took small sips.
Eriri, Kato Megumi, and Sora Ginko each took a sip first, and their eyes immediately lit up.
Normally, they didn't like alcohol, even had some aversion to it.
But the plum wine made by Yukima Azuma had no bitterness at all.
On the contrary, it carried a uniquely refreshing sweetness.
Everyone instantly loved it.
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Yukima Azuma had drunk together before.
So this time, they simply enjoyed it.
Kirisu Mafuyu took a small sip, and her eyes immediately brightened.
She quickly finished her entire glass of plum wine.
Her fair skin gradually flushed pink.
Yukima Azuma, in the middle of picking up food with his chopsticks, suddenly froze.
Wait a minute, Kirisu Mafuyu's setting in the manga wasn't she supposed to have an extremely low alcohol tolerance?
Glancing at Kirisu Mafuyu, whose face was gradually turning red
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
It seemed like that setting was true, but it should be fine.
This plum wine had an extremely low alcohol content.
Even Eriri, that aho baka, could handle one or two glasses just fine.
Kirisu Mafuyu was a professional teacher; she couldn't possibly get drunk from just a bit of plum wine.
That's what Yukima Azuma thought.
But then he saw Kirisu Mafuyu pouring herself a second glass.
Her hand wobbled as she held the bottle, struggling to pour the wine into her glass.
Yukima Azuma immediately realizedthis was bad.
"Kirisu-sensei, you don't handle alcohol well. Have some juice instead."
Yukima Azuma quickly stepped forward and took the bottle from Kirisu Mafuyu's hand.
"Who says so! I can still drink! Give it back! I'm totally not drunk!"
Kirisu Mafuyu wobbled and lunged toward Yukima Azuma.
Her voice was starting to slur.
Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
Truly an absurd level of alcohol tolerance.
If this had been stronger liquor, she'd probably be out cold from just dipping a chopstick into it.
Yukima Azuma handed the bottle to Yukinoshita Yukino beside him.
Then he reached out to support Kirisu Mafuyu, who nearly collapsed to the floor.
"I'll take Kirisu-sensei to her room to rest," Yukima Azuma said to the group.
The girls all nodded in agreement.
Even though Kirisu Mafuyu's alcohol tolerance was ridiculously low.
She was still a teacher.
They couldn't let her get drunk and embarrass herself in front of her students.
Even if there wouldn't be any serious consequences.
Meanwhile, Kirisu Mafuyu reached out and pinched Yukima Azuma's cheek.
"You problematic student! I don't need to rest! I still want to drink eighteen more glasses!"
As soon as she said that, Kirisu Mafuyu wobbledthen dozed off.
Well, that made things easier. Yukima Azuma no longer had to support her.
He simply picked her up with both arms and turned toward the group at the table, smiling helplessly.
Then, carrying Kirisu Mafuyu, he headed for the stairs.
In just a moment, he had reached the second floor.
Yukima Azuma stopped in front of Kirisu Mafuyu's room.
This room hadn't been opened in a long time.
Recently, Kirisu Mafuyu had been staying at Shuchiin Academy for an advanced teacher training program and hadn't returned here.
The door was still locked.
Without Kirisu Mafuyu's permission, no one else had entered to clean or touch anything.
Yukima Azuma tried turning the doorknob.
As expected, it was locked.
"Kirisu-sensei, where's your room key?"
Yukima Azuma gently shook Kirisu Mafuyu in his arms, trying to wake her.
"Mm problematic student"
Clearly, she was still out of it.
With no other choice, Yukima Azuma released one arm and steadied Kirisu Mafuyu.
Then, he reached into her coat pocket to search for the key.
"Mm Ugh Hmnn"
He wasn't even using any force, yet Kirisu Mafuyu let out strange sounds.
Combined with her flushed face from the alcohol
The atmosphere wasn't just tinged with pink anymore.
It had completely crossed into black-and-white-striped territory.
Especially now, with Kirisu Mafuyu being drunk, her entire body was limp as if all her bones had melted away.
She was leaning completely against Yukima Azuma.
The figure of a fully grown woman For a high school boy, this was quite the challenge.
Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
Why did escorting a teacher back to her room require him to practice self-control?
Fortunately, it didn't take long. Yukima Azuma found a set of keys.
He pulled them out and tested them on the door.
On the third try, the door unlocked smoothly.
Yukima Azuma supported Kirisu Mafuyu and prepared to step inside.
Right now, he just wanted to lay Kirisu Mafuyu on the bed as quickly as possible.
Then rush straight to the bathroom and splash his face with cold water.
However, when Yukima Azuma fully opened the door
Cold water was no longer necessary.
Yukima Azuma immediately regained his composure.
He still needed self-control, but any stray thoughts had vanished.
This room There wasn't even a place to step.
Books and miscellaneous items were piled up in towering heaps everywhere.
Finding a path to the bed seemed impossible.
Yukima Azuma tilted his head and glanced at Kirisu Mafuyu.
He reached out, pinched her cheek, and gently tugged to the side.
"Muguggugu!"
Kirisu Mafuyu, her cheek pulled, groggily opened her eyes.
Seeing the state of her room, she instantly sobered up by half.
"Dear, esteemed Kirisu Mafuyu-sensei,
Would you mind explaining to me why your room has ended up like this?"
Yukima Azuma asked with a smile.
The fact that Kirisu Mafuyu is a disaster at housekeeping...
Yukima Azuma almost forgot about it.
It can only be said that, as a dignified and imposing ice-cold female teacher
Kirisu Mafuyu's usual demeanor is far too deceptive.
To the point that even Yukima Azuma overlooked the daily life of this aging single young woman.
And the truth proves that letting one's guard down comes at a price.
"Dear esteemed Kirisu Mafuyu-sensei, could you kindly explain to me why your room ended up like this?"
Yukima Azuma flashed a "holy" smile.
Kirisu Mafuyu, having just sobered up a little, now only wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
As a teacher, for her room to be like this
What a disgrace!
But what could she do?
Kirisu Mafuyu lowered her head,
A growing sense of shame swelling inside her.
Until it reached a breaking point, and her psyche completely collapsedshe simply gave up.
Thanks to the effects of alcohol, she opened her mouth and said:
"It's not like I want it to be like this! But the more I clean, the messier it gets!"
"If I could tidy up, of course, I would have done it already!"
"I'm such a terrible teacher! Boo hoo hoo~! I'm almost thirty and still can't even find a boyfriend!"
"If only someone would marry me, that would be great! That way, I wouldn't have to clean my own room anymore!"
"Hey, you troublesome student, why don't you just marry me? I'll even let you handle my salary card..."
In a drunken stupor
Kirisu Mafuyu once again passed out.
Her current intoxicated state completely exposed the true desires within her heart.
"Truly, alcohol loosens the tongue."
But to want to get married just to avoid cleaning
Is this the true terror of aging single women?
Yukima Azuma helplessly picked up Kirisu Mafuyu once again.
Amid the chaos, he tried to find a path wide enough.
After carefully laying her properly on the bed,
Yukima Azuma glanced around at the messy piles of stuff, made a simple plan, and then got to work cleaning.
Fortunately, Kirisu Mafuyu was only a disaster at housekeeping, not a true slob.
Her room was cluttered, but it wasn't actually dirty.
Yukima Azuma picked up the books scattered on the floor and neatly placed them on the shelf.
The clothes piled on the chairhe took them to the closet to hang up.
"Has this been worn already or not?"
Looking at the wrinkled dress in his hand, Yukima Azuma pondered.
The usual way to check was to bring it up to his nose and sniff it.
But doing that with Kirisu Mafuyu's clothes didn't seem appropriate.
After a moment of deliberation
Yukima Azuma grabbed a laundry basket and tossed the dress inside.
Even if it hadn't been worn, it was so wrinkled it would need ironing.
Might as well wash it to save the trouble of overthinking.
After picking up stuff for a while
Yukima Azuma suddenly found himself holding a bright red lace item, his mind momentarily going blank.
"What the hell kind of battle armor is this!?"
Why was something like this just lying around so casually!?
Yukima Azuma quickly tossed it into the laundry basket and continued tidying up.
"Yukima-san, I'm home..."
A sleepy voice murmured.
Yukima Azuma froze at the strange way he was being addressed.
He turned to look toward the bed
Only to see Kirisu Mafuyu still deep in slumber.
That earlier line must have been sleep-talking.
It's just... what exactly was this icy female teacher dreaming about?
This felt like some kind of weird character setup.
Even the way she unconsciously called out "Yukima-san" was quite something.
Carrying the laundry basket out of the room,
Placing it in the laundry room, Yukima Azuma then headed downstairs, walking into the kitchen to grab a can of red bean soup and some hangover medicine.
This hangover remedy was originally bought for the alcoholic bass player Hiroi Kikuri.
Unexpectedly, it was coming in handy right away.
Having preparations in advance really does pay off.
The girls sitting around the dining table had all stopped eating, their eyes fixed on Yukima Azuma.
He had helped Kirisu Mafuyu upstairs and had been gone for quite a while.
Even though they were certain nothing inappropriate had happened
They still couldn't help but feel a little concerned.
"Kirisu-sensei was really drunk, so I went up to give her some hangover medicine. Otherwise, she'd definitely wake up with a headache tomorrow morning."
Yukima Azuma gave a simple explanation.
The girls exchanged glances before turning their eyes toward Kato Megumi in unison.
Now was the perfect time for Saint Kato Megumi to step in.
"Need any help?" Megumi asked gently, living up to expectations.
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"It's okay, it seems like Kirisu-sensei doesn't like other people entering her room."
"I just gave her the medicine and left immediately."
Kirisu Mafuyu took her image as a teacher very seriously.
Whenever she came to Toyogasaki to teach, her suit was always neatly ironed, without a single crease.
The fact that she kept her suit so pristine showed that she was quite meticulous in her appearance.
Given that
Yukima Azuma figured it was best to keep quiet about Kirisu-sensei being a disaster at housekeeping.
Among the girls present, two were current students in Kirisu Mafuyu's class.
One was a former student of hers.
And one, although not in Kirisu Mafuyu's class, was an outstanding student at Toyogasaki.
If they went up to help clean
Then when Kirisu Mafuyu woke up, she would definitely be so embarrassed she'd want to disappear on the spot.
Carrying the hangover medicine and red bean soup
Yukima Azuma returned to the room on the second floor.
Pushing the door open
He immediately saw Kirisu Mafuyu, who was supposed to be lying still
Sitting up instead.
Her beautiful eyes were now open.
Though a little dazed
She seemed to be somewhat awake.
"Kirisu-sensei, perfect timing. Here's the hangover medicine and red bean soup, please have some"
Before he could finish his sentence
Kirisu Mafuyu cut him off.
"Don't call me sensei" Her soft voice sounded like she was acting spoiled. "We already have that kind of relationship."
Yukima Azuma: "_?"
A giant question mark immediately popped up above his head.
What kind of relationship?
Another weird character setting popping up again.
Sensing that the situation was getting out of hand, Yukima Azuma immediately pulled out his phone.
He opened the camera, switched to video mode, and started recording.
"If I can't call you sensei, then what should I call you?"
Yukima Azuma played along and asked.
"Of course my love."
As she spoke those words, Kirisu Mafuyu looked a little shy.
"Ah, so it's this kind of setting My love, please have the hangover medicine."
"Darling, feed me~!"
(`)
"Alright, here, open your mouth and say 'ah~.'"
~(~)
"Ah so bitter, prprpr. My shoulders are sore, massage them for me~."
( )
"Okay, then lie down. You've worked hard."
"Mmm mmm right there, that's perfect!"
(ЂЂ)
"All done. Anything else?"
"Mmm mmm! I want darling to clean my ears for me."
"(;_)" (`)
....
The Next Morning.
Kirisu Mafuyu bolted upright in bed, eyes wide in horror.
Kirisu Mafuyu: ?
A bit of glistening drool still clung to the corner of her mouth.
She parted her lips slightly, her mind blank, her entire being frozen in a daze.
"This is a disaster! I just had a dream indulging in the pleasures of life."
"My desires have become way too obvious!"
"But why was it that delinquent student?"
Kirisu Mafuyu vaguely recalled
She had dreamed of marrying Yukima Azuma.
He was her husband, helping her clean up her room.
When she came home from work, he served her tea, massaged her shoulders, and even cleaned her ears.
Just thinking about it felt so good No, wait, that's not the point!
Kirisu Mafuyu shook her head furiously, trying to snap herself back to reality.
They had a clear-cut teacher-student relationship! How had things developed into that kind of dynamic?!
She let out a deep sigh.
"Could it be that I've been too exhausted lately? Was the training at Shuchiin too intense?"
Muttering to herself, Kirisu Mafuyu finally regained her composure.
But as she became fully conscious, she was met with
A spotless, unbelievably tidy room.
Everything that had been scattered messily across the floor had disappeared without a trace.
Her clothes were neatly hung in the closet.
Textbooks, notebooks, and teaching materials were carefully categorized on the shelves.
Even the half of the bed she hadn't slept on was perfectly smooth.
Kirisu Mafuyu froze once again.
(®®) ???
She rubbed her eyes.
(>)
The sight of a clean, orderly room remained unchanged.
She pinched her cheek lightly.
Ouch! Not a dream.
Kirisu Mafuyu's pupils trembled violently.
Just then
Her gaze drifted to the edge of her blanket.
Right next to her pillow
Lay an ear-picking spoon with a fluffy cotton tip.
"Hiii!" She inhaled sharply.
()
Kirisu Mafuyu tried to analyze the situation calmly.
She carefully reconsidered, pondered for a moment
And then, enlightenment struck.
Total realization!
It wasn't a dream!
What had she said to her student last night?!
At that moment, Kirisu Mafuyu felt like her utter incompetence at housekeeping was no longer the biggest issue.
What did I do with Yukima Azuma yesterday?!
The scariest part wasn't getting drunk.
It was getting drunkand remembering everything afterward.
Perhaps it was because the plum wine had too low of an alcohol content.
The more she recalled, the clearer her memories became.
She had clung to Yukima Azuma, a teacher making her student call her "my love."
She had called him "darling" and shamelessly acted spoiled!
€ЂЂ€ ( -) (®-® €ЂЂ€
A A A A A A ! !%^#!#!^@!%#
(`Д)
Kirisu Mafuyu felt like her life had turned completely gray.
Everyone has to die someday, but not from embarrassment!
(note: I was bored so I sat around playing with emojis)
-------
Yo, Gourmet readers, I have a new fanfic called "Fate: Livestream in Chaldeas".
Please help me by reading it and saving it to your collection, throwing some power stones if you can.
Thanks, have a nice day.
Crouching in the corner of the room.
Kirisu Mafuyu opened her mouth but couldn't scream, only letting out a sound like a mole's squeak.
Kirisu Mafuyu, what on earth have you done?!
That was your student!
Moreoverit was someone Yukino liked!
A deep sense of guilt flooded her.
If possible...
She truly wanted to dig a hole and live in it for the rest of her life.
But obviously, that was impossible.
People still had to face reality.
After twenty minutes of internal struggle,
Kirisu Mafuyu decided to confront her shame.
She timidly took small steps toward the door.
Using all the courage she had left, she gently pressed down on the doorknob, pulling it open just a crack...
Through the small gap, Kirisu Mafuyu cautiously observed the outside world.
She was afraid Yukima Azuma would be standing right outside, grinning mischievously as he waited for her to open the door.
Fortunatelythere was no sign of Yukima Azuma outside.
Kirisu Mafuyu let out a sigh of relief.
"Mafuyu-sensei?"
A voice suddenly rang out, making Kirisu Mafuyu's entire body tremble.
She slowly turned her head.
Good news: the person outside wasn't Yukima Azuma.
Bad news: the person outside was Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at Kirisu Mafuyu with a puzzled gaze, as if wondering why she was acting so guilty, like a thief.
"Mafuyu-sensei, you're awake? There's some plain porridge downstairs that Azuma-kun prepared."
"Azuma-kun said that even though he gave you a hangover remedy, you'd probably only want to eat something light when you woke up."
Upon hearing that, Kirisu Mafuyu tried to feel her condition.
It seemed to be true.
She had gotten drunk at home before.
Every time she woke up, her head would feel like it was being hammered.
But this time, there was no such feeling at all.
Thinking back to last night...
Yukima Azuma had thoughtfully fed her the hangover remedy.
Even though her room was a mess, he hadn't been angry at all. Instead, he had helped her clean everything up.
Kirisu Mafuyu's heart skipped a beat.
Suddenly, she could understand why her former student liked Yukima Azuma.
But precisely because she understood, she didn't dare to look Yukino in the eyes.
"He's not home?"
Kirisu Mafuyu asked in a small voice.
"He left early in the morning. Today is the premiere of the anime film adaptation of his light novel."
Yukino, as the branch manager of Laplace Corporation in Japan,
naturally knew all the details regarding the release of the company's works.
She also planned to head to the company later to check the response data from the premiere.
But todayMafuyu-sensei seemed strange.
Kirisu Mafuyu, upon hearing that Yukima Azuma wasn't home,
let out a sigh of relief, but at the same time, felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
She quickly shook her head, trying to drive away those strange thoughts.
"Then I'll go eat."
After saying that, Kirisu Mafuyu hurriedly ran downstairs.
....
On the other side.
Today was the premiere of the "Bunny Girl Senpai" movie.
There was still exactly one hour until the screening,
but the Ginza theater was already packed with people.
"Azuma."
Standing in front of the theater, Kurokawa Akane smiled sweetly when she saw Yukima Azuma approaching.
Today, Kurokawa Akane was dressed in a pure white dress.
The girl who was once called an emotionless doll needed only a white dress to leave others breathless.
To avoid being recognized, she wore large sunglasses and a sun hat.
But at this moment, her sunglasses had slipped down to the tip of her nose, revealing a pair of bright eyes focused intently on the young man in front of her.
She had been working seriously all this time just so she could watch this premiere together with Yukima Azuma.
The movie that he had written specifically for her.
The achievement he had earned by single-handedly overturning the prejudices of tens of thousands of people.
No matter how cold a heart might be, when you witness these things, you will definitely be warmed by that young man.
In the past, Kurokawa Akane had only focused on work,
completely clueless about anything related to love.
But in the face of such deep emotions,
no matter how oblivious she had been, she could now understand her own heart.
She had fallen in love with the young man who had saved her twice.
The first time, on the bridge, Yukima Azuma had saved her body.
The second time, outside the window, Yukima Azuma had saved her soul.
So, starting today,
Kurokawa Akane was willing to offer both her body and soul, devoting herself wholeheartedly to loving Yukima Azuma.
"Good morning, Akane-san."
Yukima Azuma waved at Kurokawa Akane, flashing a smile.
Kurokawa Akane was mesmerized by that smile.
But at the same time, she felt a bit puzzled.
Why did he call her "Akane-san" instead of "Guardian"?
Speaking of Guardian
Kurokawa Akane suddenly recalled something else.
Her earlier doubts were quickly overshadowed, replaced by an intense sense of embarrassment.
"Uhm do you want to add a little more love to it"
Kurokawa Akane whispered, her voice so soft that it was almost inaudible.
The doll girl was no longer just a doll.
Of course, she fully understood what she had done.
But she had done so completely willingly.
Even though bringing it up now was a little embarrassing
If it was Yukima Azuma, then it didn't matter.
However, just as Kurokawa Akane was waiting for Yukima Azuma's response
"Akane-chan! Waaaah! You're finally okay!"
A petite figure suddenly dashed out from behind Yukima Azuma, throwing herself straight at Kurokawa Akane.
Kurokawa Akane was startled and instinctively raised her hand to block.
Taking a closer look
She finally recognized who was in front of her.
It was MEM-Cho, the YouTuber who had filmed "LoveforReal" with her.
Their private relationship was quite good.
Kurokawa Akane had even asked MEM about things related to Yukima Azuma.
On any other day, meeting MEM again would have made her very happy.
But right now
Why the hell was this girl here!?
"Akane, I'm so glad you're okay!"
Sumi Yuki also stepped forward from the side.
Upon seeing Sumi Yuki, Kurokawa Akane immediately understood.
Yukima Azuma must have invited the "LoveforReal" members,
the ones who had helped produce the video clarifying the truth.
That made perfect sense.
But still
Kurokawa Akane pursed her lips slightly, looking somewhat resentful.
MEM, who had been all excited just moments ago,
slowly began to realize that something was off.
"Uhm Akane-chan, are we interrupting you two?"
She asked Kurokawa Akane in a small voice.
Even though it was a little embarrassing
Kurokawa Akane still gave a small nod.
"Yes."
"Uwaa, that was way too straightforward."
MEM sighed in exasperation.
But right after, she realized it wasn't surprising at all.
Just looking at everything Yukima Azuma had done for Kurokawa Akane
Even as an outsider, she found this couple way too adorable.
The perfect example of a great hero riding a seven-colored cloud to rescue a princess.
For Kurokawa Akane, who was actually living in this story,
it was completely understandable for her to be deeply immersed in these feelings.
If only, in her younger years, she had met a hero like that
The high school girl who had long since passed the proper age let out a small sigh.
Even though they were interrupting
The premiere tickets had already been purchased,
so MEM and Sumi Yuki couldn't just turn around and leave.
In the end, the four of them entered the movie theater together.
The ticket line stretched endlessly,
extending from the ticket counter all the way to the popcorn stand.
Seeing the massive crowd ahead,
MEM couldn't help but marvel with admiration in her eyes:
"Looking at this turnout, the box office is going to explode! So jealous, Nyan~!"
"That's only natural."
Sumi Yuki glanced at Yukima Azuma.
"After all, the original work has already sold seven million copies up to this point."
Seven million original fans.
Even if only one-seventh of them came to watch the movie,
the revenue would already be astronomical.
Not to mention, fans of this series were known to be fanatical across the internet.
And beyond that, the theater audience wasn't limited to just the original fans.
As a theatrical anime movie,
its audience would be many times larger than that of a light novel readership.
"Boss, has anyone contacted you to write scripts?"
MEM asked curiously.
On a side note, the reason she called him "Boss"
was because she had officially been poached by Yukima Azuma
leaving her old company to join Laplace Corporation.
"Seems like it. My work LINE account has received quite a few offers."
As Yukima Azuma spoke, he pulled out his phone,
switching his LINE account to work mode.
A tidal wave of messages flooded the screen.
Handing the phone over to MEM, Yukima Azuma nonchalantly added:
"But I haven't paid any attention to them."
MEM blinked as she stared at the screen.
Immediately, she spotted invitations from several major talent agencies.
The figures they were offering were absolutely outrageous.
Moreover, they were only asking him to write scripts
there were no unreasonable conditions attached.
At this point, the name "Yukimi Azuma" had practically become the dark horse of the industry.
Any company that could get their hands on a script written by him
could easily create a superstar adored by millions.
As for character development?
Just follow the script, and everything would fall into place!
Because of that, the script offers sent to Yukima Azuma
had become increasingly insane.
Staring at the mind-boggling numbers on the screen,
MEM swallowed hard.
"Boss, you've struck gold! Just by writing a few scripts, your annual income would be over 1 billion yen!"
"Nah, at this point, even if I do absolutely nothing, my annual income will still exceed 1 billion yen."
"Aaaaah! You filthy capitalist! Why hasn't anyone hung you upside down on a Streetlight yet?!"
"First of all, please call me an entrepreneur. Second, if you keep slandering me, your bonus this month will disappear."
MEM instantly fell silent.
She looked at Yukima Azuma with pitiful eyes.
"Nooo! Please don't cut my bonus!"
MEM could only feel that joy and sorrow between people were fundamentally incompatible.
For a YouTuber, an annual income of 100 million yen
was already enough to be considered one of the top creators.
If they reached 1 billion yen, they would be in the absolute upper echelon,
a dream that every YouTuber longed for but was nearly impossible to achieve.
And yet
For her boss, 1 billion yen for a script?
He didn't even bother to check the offers.
Unforgivable!
MEM: "There are already so many rich people in this world! Just let me be one of them too!"
Meanwhile, Kurokawa Akane, walking beside them, felt nothing but excitement in her heart.
He doesn't even want to write scripts for anyone else!
Chapter 173: Official Premiere, Bunny Girl Kurokawa Akane
The three of them lined up to enter the theater.
They sat in the last row of seats.
From this position, they could not only enjoy the movie but also clearly observe the audience's reactions.
Those from the production team who secretly attended the premiere usually chose this spot.
As the theater lights dimmed,
a school setting under a youthful filter appeared on the big screen.
"Wow, this lighting! Wow, this effect! Wow, this bunny girl!"
MEM exclaimed randomly.
But she wasn't just blindly praising.
The image quality truly exceeded everyone's expectations in the theater.
It was nothing like an anime that had been produced and scheduled for release in just a mere month.
Every frame felt as if it could be taken out and used as a wallpaper for the Youth series.
Even though the movie had yet to fully immerse the audience in its atmosphere,
the distinct feeling of youthful school days had already struck intensely.
"It's like an anime version of Akane! So beautiful!"
Even Sumi Yuki couldn't help but exclaim.
On the screen, a graceful figure in a Bunny Girl outfit
was weaving between the bookshelves in the library.
Kurokawa Akane's face heated up slightly.
(>/////<)
She had never worn such a special outfit before.
But seeing it like this...
It didn't seem too bad, did it?
Would he like this style?
Yukima Azuma: I love it! )
"After all, the illustrations were done by Eromanga-sensei."
Yukima Azuma's tone was a little strange.
Eromanga was no longer a Hikikomori.
How on earth was he supposed to lure her back to the company? Yukima Azuma had no clue.
But once he had made a decision, he had no regrets.
He would just go with the flow.
Who knew? Maybe he would have a special encounter in the future.
...
A girl in a Bunny outfit appearing right from the opening sceneundoubtedly, it was a dazzling entrance.
The indifferent attitude of others toward Bunny Girl.
The uniqueness of the male protagonist.
These heightened the anticipation in the theater to a visibly noticeable level.
The concept of "Adolescence Syndrome"a supernatural affliction introduced through the male lead.
For audiences who hadn't read the original Youth light novel series, this concept was both fresh and intriguing.
But as the phenomenon of being ignored spread further,
the sensation of numbness in the limbs, like slowly sinking into water, gradually took over everyone's minds.
As the male lead began his investigation,
a flood of online informationedited clips, fabricated rumors, baseless slander, sensationalist clickbaitwas exposed.
But because of her supernatural power, information about her gradually disappeared
Yet, the very gaps in the information made it more concrete than ever.
When the whole world had forgotten the girl in the Bunny outfit, leaving only the male lead to remember her.
When merely falling asleep meant forgetting, he was forced to rely on caffeine to stay awake, his mind growing increasingly hazy.
In the theater, the noisy chatter had disappeared, leaving only the sound of subdued breathing.
Bunny Girl Senpai had seen through the boy's struggle.
When she silently dropped a sleeping pill into his cup
"Don't..."
"Don't tell me he's really going to forget her!"
Soft murmurs echoed, mirroring the emotions of the audience.
And as the male lead drifted into sleep, memories of Kurokawa Akane from the past flashed before his eyes.
He saw a small girl who poured everything into her passion for acting.
Saw her carrying a notebook on set, meticulously jotting down every piece of advice from the staff.
Saw her staying up late under the lamp, flipping through pages and diligently practicing.
Saw her staying in the practice room until late at night, enduring pain to perfect difficult movements, silently sweating without uttering a single complaint.
The baseless information on the internet that everyone had previously seen
Had now turned into a fire that burned in the hearts of every audience member.
The moment the male lead truly forgot Kurokawa Akane.
The theater was filled with the sound of muffled sobs.
Kurokawa Akane quietly watched the film.
As someone who had lived through it, she didn't feel too overwhelmed.
Because she truly had worked that hard, and she would continue to do so for her passion.
But Kurokawa Akane herself never thought it was anything extraordinary.
On the contrary, the person next to herMEMwas already crying so hard that her face was a blur of tears.
"UWU... Akane-choan... hic~hic!" (Ї Ї)
Kurokawa Akane took a tissue from her pocket and handed it to MEM.
As a result, MEM cried even harder.
The movie endedjust like in the light novel.
The final scene froze at the moment the male lead remembered Kurokawa Akane and frantically rushed toward the falling girl.
The outstretched handwhether or not it truly grasped Bunny Girl Senpai's hand
No one knew.
It wasn't until the full credits had rolled.
The theater lights came back on.
Yet hardly anyone stood up to leave.
Most of the audience remained staring at the dark screen, hoping for just one more scene.
Was this really the ending?!
Could this kind of ending even be called a movie?!
Many people pulled out their phones, unable to suppress the emotions welling up inside them.
But when they accessed review sites and discussion forums about the movie
The top postsabout Kurokawa Akane's true identity and the actual existence of the online smear campaign against her
Had completely seized their attention.
Because now, they finally understood who Kurokawa Akane really was.
They wouldn't just believe in fragmented, misleading internet rumors anymore.
They would seek the truth.
And as long as they dug deeper, they would inevitably find the clarification video posted by MEM.
As someone directly involved in the flame war.
Sumi Yuki had long since forgiven Kurokawa Akane.
The two of them were even close friends in real life.
But that flame war had nearly pushed Kurokawa Akane to the brink of suicide.
Even under her suicide note post.
There were still countless cruel, mocking comments.
Many audience members seemed to realize why Bunny Girl Senpai's ending was left ambiguouswhether the male lead caught her hand or not.
The ability to save Bunny Girl Senpai was never in the hands of the male protagonist.
It lay in each and every person who had paid attention to the flame war this time.
If the flame war continued, then what if the hand was grasped this time?
What about next time? And the time after that? Eventually, there would come a moment when it couldn't be held onto.
On the first day of the Bunny Girl Senpai movie premiere.
The long-standing flame war had been completely overturned.
...
As they walked out of the theater.
MEM, like most people, was bowing her head, rapidly searching for information on her phone.
When she saw the tide of public opinion on Twitter completely shift.
The original attack posts were either deleted or torn apart by counterarguments.
MEM smiled sincerely.
"That's really great, Akane-chan!"
"Mm." Kurokawa Akane nodded slightly. "It really is."
Even as she said that, Kurokawa Akane wasn't paying any attention to what was happening online.
Her gaze remained fixed on Yukima Azuma's profile.
And she realized something.
Yukima Azuma was not the kind of person who would seek death.
In terms of acting, Kurokawa Akane had some talentshe could completely immerse herself in a character and portray their emotions.
And she had read something deep within Yukima Azuma's very corean unshakable confidence and an unyielding determination, one that would never back down, no matter what happened.
A person like thathow could they ever choose suicide?
Thinking back to that fleeting moment through the rain-streaked window that day
It was nothing more than a performance by a young actor.
Kurokawa Akane pouted.
She couldn't believe she had been fooled in her own area of expertiseacting.
Then again, her mind had been almost completely numb at the time.
But Kurokawa Akane didn't feel angry about being deceived.
On the contrary.
Yukima Azuma had extended his hand to her.
To pull her back, he didn't hesitate to use that kind of acting.
Not only was she not angry, but she was truly moved from the bottom of her heart.
However...
Even if what she saw that day was just acting, the loneliness she felt from itthere was no way that was fake.
Was that boy... a very lonely person?
Looking at him now, he didn't seem lonely at all.
Something must have happenedsomething that changed Yukima Azuma's fate.
Just like how Yukima Azuma had changed hers.
Kurokawa Akane suddenly recalled a quote from Haruki Murakami:
"A man's maturity happens in an instant, and it is almost always because of a woman."
Unfortunately, based on the timeline...
Kurokawa Akane knew very well that the woman who changed Yukima Azuma wasn't her.
But even so, she had no intention of giving up.
"It feels like... Akane-chan is on fire,"
MEM whispered to Sumi Yuki.
"Umu."
Sumi Yuki had the same feeling and nodded in agreement.
....
The reality show LoveforReal, which had been put on hold due to the storm and accident, was finally back on track.
With the flame war overturned and the hype from the Bunny Girl Senpai movie,
The number of viewers interested in this season of LoveforReal skyrocketed.
But with this explosion in followers...
Came the inevitable wave of criticism directed at the show's production team.
After all, the broadcast had been edited in a way that seemed intentionally manipulative.
Even so, the ratings had increased.
Though the show's reputation took a hit, after careful consideration, the LoveforReal team decided the trade-off was acceptable.
That was why they finally relented and allowed MEM to upload the clarification video on the official account.
For adults, it was never about right or wrongonly about benefits.
As long as there was profit, shamelessness wasn't a problem.
The director of LoveforReal was a young man in his early twenties.
A rising talent in the industry, known for his bold and daring approach.
That day, Yukima Azuma visited the LoveforReal set.
The young director enthusiastically invited him to appear as a guest on an episode.
If they could get a big name like Yukima Azuma on the show, it would undoubtedly create a sensation.
Unfortunately, Yukima Azuma declined immediately without a second thought.
Being rejected wasn't surprising, so the young director didn't push. Instead, he brought up something else:
"Oh, right, Yukima-san, I heard you're also a professional shogi player?"
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
"That's right. But not many people associate my identity as a light novel author with my identity as a professional shogi player."
Hearing that, the young director's mouth twitched.
Of course, not many people did.
What kind of connection could there possibly be between those two professions?
A shogi genius. A king of the light novel industry.
It almost sounded like two completely different people.
The only reason he even knew about this was because he had been following shogi news recently for work.
--------------------------------------------
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
If it weren't for his recent focus on shogi news due to work, the young director would never have been able to associate the young shogi genius with the king of light novels.
The two didn't seem to have any relation at all.
And as for the recently released anime film,
This young director had heard about it too.
Upon inquiring, he found out that the well-known studio handling the film was hired for the project thanks to the young boy before him, who had invited them through the Shinomiya family's connections.
How could someone be this badass?
The young director thought to himself, feeling his legs tremble slightly.
Fortunately, when Yukima Azuma had approached him to discuss the correction video, the director had immediately agreed, hoping for more views.
If not, it was likely that the LoveforReal team would have been "exposed" in a disastrous way.
Clearing his throat, the young director wiped the sweat from his forehead and then got to the main point.
"Recently, there's been a project in the industry for a drama about shogi."
"The script is about a six-year-old boy who accidentally meets the spirit of a shogi master and then embarks on his journey into the world of shogi."
"After facing countless hardships, he eventually becomes the youngest Ryuuouan entirely orthodox coming-of-age story about reaching the top."
"It just so happens that the Ryuuou tournament is coming up soon, so we're casting for the show. I'm one of the supervising directors for this project."
"I've also had the chance to meet with the President of the Shogi Association, Tsukimitsu, to ask if there's a shogi player who fits the image of a young genius."
"And President Tsukimitsu introduced Yukima-san... To be honest, you are the true prototype of this script."
When he reached this point, the young director looked at Yukima Azuma with a peculiar gaze.
He started to wonder if Yukima Azuma had really been blessed by some kind of spirit.
Because, based on what President Tsukimitsu had told him about Yukima Azuma's entrance into the world of shogi, it was even more badass than the script of the movie.
It was absurd!
Yukima Azuma, on the other hand... his lips twitched in disbelief.
What kind of look was that?
How could he be accused like this?!
Everything he had achieved today was purely due to his innate talent and relentless effort!
There was no such thing as a shogi master's spirit!
No way...
No way...
...System, please add points! ( )
"So, does the screenwriter want to discuss the story with me?" Yukima Azuma asked.
The young director nodded... then shook his head.
"Actually, if possible, the production team wants to invite you to act in the film."
As he said this, the young director eyed Yukima Azuma from head to toe.
This image... it was perfect!
As long as it's released, with proper promotion and image management...
It would be strange if he didn't become famous!
Clearly, he could make a living off his looks, but this "young master" was adamant about relying on his talent.
And his talent was just... too unreasonable.
"Appear? You want me to play the lead?" Yukima Azuma pointed to himself.
If he really took this role...
The entire shogi community might suspect that a shogi master's spirit was behind him.
Plus, if he accepted the role, Yukima Azuma would definitely only be playing the adult version of the main character.
But what bothered him was whether the production team could find a child actor with similar charisma to portray the younger version of the main character.
Would it feel awkward if they switched actors?
However, the next words from the young director immediately dispelled Yukima Azuma's doubts.
"No, the team wants you to play the spirit of the shogi master."
Yukima Azuma: Oh, so I'm playing the "old man cheat" of the MC.
"Umu, I understand. I'll think about it."
Yukima Azuma replied.
The young director nodded.
But he didn't expect much from Yukima Azuma accepting the role.
After all, the person before him...
Was a genius whom countless people in the industry had begged to appear with scripts and money in hand, but he remained unmoved.
He was definitely not lacking money.
As for fame, as long as he appeared at the film's premiere and gave interviews...
This young master would be famous everywhere.
Unless it was out of personal interest, it would be hard for him to agree to a project like this.
Although, to others, this was a rare opportunitya leading role in a high-budget, quality film.
But, contrary to the young director's expectations
Yukima Azuma was actually seriously considering it.
Because President Tsukimitsu had personally introduced him to the production team.
That meant the President hoped he would take part.
There was no way he had just casually thrown Yukima Azuma's name out there for no reason, right?
If this was a personal request from President Tsukimitsu, then out of respect, Yukima Azuma was willing to participate.
As long as the filming schedule wasn't too long and he had some free time.
....
Just as their conversation wrapped up
The final episode of LoveforReal officially completed filming.
Even though the production team had been cursed at beyond recognition, the show could still be considered a success.
In this episode of LoveforRealnone of the couples ended up together.
MEM-Cho was just there as a mascot.
Her goal in joining the show was to win over audience affection and boost her YouTube channel's subscriber count.
As a JK (25 years old) working in social media operations,
of course, she had no interest in drama or romanceher main focus was maintaining her adorable mascot image.
And as it turned out, this was a very smart move.
When the scandal broke out, MEM wasn't dragged into it at all.
On the contrary, she gained even more love from the audience, causing her YouTube views to skyrocket.
MEM: Keikaku Doori! (With Yagami Smile) ( )
As for Kurokawa Akane
During the first half of the show, she was practically a background character.
In the second half, though she had more screen time, it was clear she had no interest in interacting with the male contestants.
Everyone on the production team was at least somewhat aware of the fact that Kurokawa Akane had attempted suicide after the scandal,
and was later saved by a genius light novel author, completely shifting public opinion online.
No one could miss the feelings Kurokawa Akane had for that author.
Sumi Yuki was probably the one with the highest chances of forming a couple.
During the early stages of the show, she was always at the center of attention.
She had good relationships with two of the three male contestants
and was even the focal point of the show's marketing campaign.
Although she had a natural presence on camera and knew a few small tricks, she was still considered a genuine person.
But when it came to the final confession round, Sumi Yuki still turned everyone down.
Even so, it didn't really matter that LoveforReal ended without any successful couples.
As long as the ratings skyrocketed, that was all that mattered.
A large portion of the audience watched just to see Kurokawa Akane happy and healthy.
After being left on a cliffhanger in the movie adaptation,
those tuning in to LoveforReal this time were basically just trying to climb back up.
As usual, after filming wrapped up, there was supposed to be a celebration party.
But in the end, all three female contestants declined
And escaped together with Yukima Azuma.
Leaving the male contestants and the entire production team standing there in stunned silence.
...
"I'm heading out first, don't mind me."
After leaving the set with everyone, Sumi Yuki said her goodbyes.
In truth, this was just an excuse to slip awayshe had no interest in attending the afterparty.
Even though she could chat casually with the male contestants,
after witnessing the scandal firsthand and meeting Yukima Azuma,
Sumi Yuki suddenly lost all interest in romance.
Attending the celebration party would mean having to make small talk, and that would just be awkward.
"Yuki-chan, bye-bye~!" ().
MEM waved as she bid farewell.
Kurokawa Akane stared at MEM with the same expression Kaguya had when looking at Chika.
You're not planning to leave too!? (_ )
"Boss, what were you and the director scheming just now? I saw everything! Spill it!"
MEM turned around, flashing a sly grin at Yukima Azuma.
By now, she was completely used to hanging out with Yukima Azuma,
showing none of the nervousness she once had when facing the Big Boss.
"Said they wanted to shoot a drama, trying to drag me into acting."
Yukima Azuma answered nonchalantly.
It wasn't exactly a secret.
If he really joined, these two girls would find out sooner or later anyway.
Upon hearing this, Kurokawa Akane's heart trembled slightly.
MEM-chan, good thing you stayed! ( )
If MEM hadn't been here, she would've missed this information!
"Is it a drama series or a movie?"
Kurokawa Akane immediately asked.
She wanted the chance to work alongside Yukima Azuma.
Doing what you love with the person you like, double the happiness!
( )
Yukima Azuma briefly explained the TV drama Hikaru no Shogi to them.
The two girls were left speechless.
"Boss, you know how to play shogi!?"
( ®®) !!
MEM's face was filled with utter disbelief.
Her bright eyes stared daggers at Yukima Azuma, filled with resentment toward the unfairness of the world.
( _ )
He already had so much moneywhy did he have to be ridiculously talented too!?
Under MEM's piercing gaze, Yukima Azuma simply smiled back.
"Filming's over, MEM. Shouldn't you treat us to a yakiniku feast to celebrate?"
Hearing this, MEM's eyes widened in shock. ( )!!!
Aaaa! Boss is exploiting me! How could he say something like that!
While internally wailing, MEM shot Kurokawa Akane a desperate look for help.
"Don't look at Akane-san! You know, back at her old company, she only got 20% of the cut."
The moment MEM heard that, she quickly retracted her pleading gaze.
20%? That's way too harsh.
How could someone have such rotten luck in this world!?
"Then what about you, Boss? How much money do you have!?"
MEM made one last desperate attempt.
"Want Boss to treat you to a meal? You're not a kid anymorestop saying shameless things like that."
Yukima Azuma's words were a double-edged strike.
MEM felt like an arrow had just pierced her knee.
"Fine, fine! I'll pay!" (;`)
Yukima Azuma glanced at Kurokawa Akane with a playful look in his eyes.
Kurokawa Akane couldn't hold back her laughter.
Why hadn't she noticed before? This boy was that scheming.
...
The three of them entered a yakiniku restaurant together.
Yukima Azuma showed no hesitation in claiming his "reward" from MEM.
A9 and Wagyu beefhe ordered without a second thought.
As the beautifully marbled, pink-and-white slices of beef were served,
MEM's gaze gradually transformed into that of an assassin
( _ )
Chapter 175: MEM, You Don't Want Fans to Know Your Real Age Either, Right?
"Eat up! Everyone, just eat as much as you want!"
MEM spoke generously while flipping the meat with tongs.
Since she had no choice but to treat them, she might as well enjoy it.
Turn frustration into appetite instead.
MEM inside: (ЇЇ)$$$
Yukima Azuma casually adjusted the stove's temperature, helping MEM grill the meat.
After watching for a while, he noticed that MEM was flipping the meat too often, which was wasting ingredients.
So he decisively snatched the tongs from MEM's hand and took over the grilling himself.
"By the way, now that the variety show is over, do you guys have any plans?"
Yukima Azuma asked casually while grilling.
Right now, both of them were artists under Laplace Corporation.
As their boss, he had to help his employees find a good direction.
"Not yet, but I want to join the Hikaru no Shogi film crew."
Kurokawa Akane answered straightforwardly.
Initially, she had joined the dating show because her fame was limited to dramas, and she wasn't receiving many other job offers.
She wanted to boost her popularity to gain more acting opportunities.
Moreover, she had no reason to hide her desire to collaborate with Yukima Azuma.
"Umu, then I'll have the company reach out to the film crew later."
Yukima Azuma nodded in agreement, then turned his gaze to MEM.
"What about you? Want to try acting?"
MEM immediately shook her head like a spinning top.
"No, no, I have no talent for acting. I'd better stick to making YouTube videos."
Watching the demon horns on MEM's head sway back and forth, Yukima Azuma nodded slightly.
"That makes sense. You don't want to be an actress, but you want to be an idol, right?"
MEM: ( ®®) !!!
The moment she heard the word "idol," MEM's eyes widened.
She looked at Yukima Azuma in surprise.
The dream of becoming an idol
This was something MEM had always kept buried in her heart.
Normally, she acted carefree and optimistic, but now that her true feelings had been exposed, her eyes reflected the dreams of a girl chasing her aspirations.
"How does boss know? No, wait, I don't want to be an idol at all!"
After spacing out for a long moment, MEM finally reacted.
But her explanation was completely unconvincing.
Her expression just now had already given everything away.
()
"So, MEM wants to be an idol?"
Kurokawa Akane was a little surprised.
After all, MEM's YouTube channel was doing very well.
She seemed to really enjoy making videos.
Moreover, in all her videos, she had never mentioned wanting to be an idol.
"Well I just thought about it before, that's all."
MEM said, somewhat embarrassed.
"Then why not debut? MEM is so cuteshe'd definitely have a lot of fans!"
Kurokawa Akane suggested.
After all, she had entered the entertainment industry because she admired acting.
MEM lowered her head, her expression somewhat gloomy.
( )
Yukima Azuma reached out and flicked Kurokawa Akane's forehead.
Kurokawa Akane held her forehead, looking at Yukima Azuma pitifully.
She was supposed to be the guardian here, so why was she being lectured by the "child" instead?
"Akane-san, you should maintain a consistent image in front of the camera. Think carefully before you speak and act."
"A lot of times, people can't do what they want. Reality forces them to compromise."
Hearing this, Kurokawa Akane immediately understood.
She blamed herself inwardly.
She had already noticed before that MEM's family wasn't well-off.
Why hadn't she thought a little deeper?
"It's really nothing, don't worry about it."
MEM lifted her head and smiled. ()
Yukima Azuma picked up a piece of meat for her.
She popped it into her mouth right away and immediately started hissing from the heat.
After swallowing the meat, MEM's eyes lit up again.
Yummy! ( )
Then she ate a few more pieces.
Her mood quickly stabilized.
Indeed, when feeling down, good food is the best remedy.
She smiled and casually said,
"When I was little, I wanted to be an idol, but then my mom suddenly fell seriously ill."
"Being an underground idol doesn't just mean not making money at firstyou might even have to spend your own money."
"So I had to put my dream on hold and work part-time jobs to earn money. Later, when video platforms started booming, I became a YouTuber."
"By the time I had saved up some money, I had already reached my current agecompletely unsuitable for debuting as an idol anymore."
MEM recounted everything in a calm tone, as if she were talking about someone else's story.
Even though she couldn't fulfill her dream, she still considered herself lucky.
She had been in the right place at the right time when video platforms exploded in popularity, and her content style was well-received.
Becoming a YouTuber had earned her a decent income.
Her mother's illness had also been cured.
So what was there to regret?
Except
"Aaa! Why the hell do you know about all this, boss!?"
MEM pouted and stared at Yukima Azuma. ( )
This was a secret she had buried deep in her heart.
"As an artist signed under my company, of course, I had to do a thorough background check."
"You damn capitalist!" ( Д )*
"I'm a businessman So, MEM, do you want to try debuting as an idol?"
( ) "Stop messing with me! Watch out, or I'll bite you!"
"I'm serious. If you want to try, Laplace Corporation can make the arrangements."
Yukima Azuma spoke firmly.
Laplace Corporation had never trained idols before.
But in this industry, the big corporations held all the power.
With enough money, even someone without outstanding talent could be successfully promoted.
And MEM's online fame already proved that she had her own unique charm.
Spending a bit of money to help MEM become a famous idol wasn't difficult for him.
Besides, Laplace Corporation's future plans already included developing artists and idols
Laying the groundwork for next year's short-video platform.
Once the platform launched, they would definitely need artists and idols to attract users.
Seeing Yukima Azuma's serious expression,
MEM's heart started pounding wildly.
Even though she had spoken about it so calmly,
If she had truly given up, she wouldn't have frozen the moment she heard the word "idol."
MEM truly wanted to be an idol, to stand on a dazzling stage under the bright lights.
"Can I really?" She pointed at herself, her voice tinged with hesitation.
"Whether it's possible or not is my problemyou just need to decide if you want it or not."
Yukima Azuma said decisively.
"I want to!" MEM was genuinely moved and agreed without hesitation.
But the moment she said it, a hint of regret surfaced.
"But in a few years"
"By then, I'll already be an oba-san, and I'll have to retire."
"That's so cruel! Are you just going to throw me away after using me?!"
She complained, but deep down,
Yukima Azuma's firm response had calmed the anxiety in her heart.
If the time came, then she would retire.
After all, no one could be an idol forever.
Even if it was just for two or three years, that would be enough for MEM to fulfill her dream.
Under her golden hair, the girl's eyes sparkled with light.
Suddenly, she understood how Kurokawa Akane felt.
This man really had a way of stirring a girl's heart.
MEM: Doki doki ( )!
Kurokawa Akane: ( ®®) !!!
The mommy guardian had a vague sense that something was off.
Loving an exceptionally outstanding man sometimes came with its own troubles.
The number of love rivals was increasing at an alarming rate.
She took a big gulp of Coca-Cola.
Then, a curious thought popped into her head.
Wait a minutedidn't this mean MEM had lied about her age?
But even if she fudged it by two or three years, was that really enough to be so pessimistic about an idol career?
Sure, being an idol was a "fast-food job for youth"...
Most idol companies only recruited girls between 16 and 20 years old.
But MEM already had a solid fan base as a stepping stone.
Debuting shouldn't have been an issue at all.
Besides, the typical retirement age for idols hovered around 30.
"Right now, MEM still whose image is a JK, so even if she tweaked her age by a year or two, there's no need to be this worried about debuting, right?"
In the end, Kurokawa Akane couldn't suppress her curiosity and asked directly.
MEM, who just moments ago had clutched her heart, eyes shining with longing
Almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
( )
"Eto ne~ to be honest, I may have fudged it just a tiny bit."
MEM held up her thumb and index finger, making a tiny gap.
But her guilty, darting eyes told a different story.
"So that means MEM is 21 or 22?"
Kurokawa Akane raised her estimate.
MEM silently lowered her head. ()
Seeing this, Kurokawa Akane's heart skipped a beat.
M-Masaka ( _ )
"23?" Her eyes widened. "24!?"
"This spring I was still 24"
"Which meansyou're already 25!?"
Kurokawa Akane was stunned.
A "JK" at 25? This wasn't just fudging the numbersthis was straight-up fraud!
No wonder she was so pessimistic about her idol career.
In just four more years, MEM would hit the idol age limit!
But she didn't look 25 at all!?
Aside from her dyed blonde hair setting her apart from actual high schoolers
Her petite frame, her adorable face MEM could absolutely pass as a high school girl!
In fact, she even looked younger than her!
This was downright absurd!
"MEM, you probably don't want your fans to find out that their 'adorable JK'when rounded upis actually pushing 30, do you?"
Yukima Azuma quietly landed the final blow.
MEM: ( )!???
( )
--------------------------------------------
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MEM was like a dried fish, slumped on the chair.
She lifted her small head to look at the ceiling of the barbecue restaurant.
She put on a look of complete surrender.
( '') . ЊЌ‹Ќ
Yukima Azuma felt that
If he wanted to use "hidden rules" on MEM right now, he could probably do whatever he wanted.
After finishing their meal, the three of them went their separate ways.
Yukima Azuma sent a message to Laplace Corporation, requesting the company to prepare for MEM's debut.
As for the drama Hikaru no Shogi
He wanted to review his upcoming schedule before making arrangements.
After the Ryuuou Tournament ended, it would be almost time for school to start.
Time was indeed quite valuable.
Although he could apply for a leave of absence
As soon as Yukima Azuma returned to his apartment
He saw President Tsukimitsu and his female assistant waiting at the door.
"President Tsukimitsu, why are you here? Isn't the next round of the Ryuuou Tournament being held at your shogi association?"
Seeing him, Yukima Azuma was a bit surprised.
He thought he wouldn't see this President again until after the next round of matches.
He didn't expect the other party to take the initiative to come directly to his door.
"Because I have a favor to ask. Waiting at the association would be a bit impolite."
President Tsukimitsu closed his eyes and smiled at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma stepped forward to unlock his apartment door.
He invited the president and his assistant inside.
The three of them sat down on the sofa in the living room.
"I've heard about the TV drama. President Tsukimitsu, you're here because of that, right?"
Yukima Azuma got straight to the point.
President Tsukimitsu nodded.
"That's right. I want to ask you to act in it."
He bowed deeply, performing a formal gesture of request.
Yukima Azuma quickly helped him up.
"There's no need, really. Since you've personally come all this way, how could I refuse?"
"Besides, President Tsukimitsu is only doing this for the development of the shogi worldI understand that."
Convincing Yukima Azuma to act in the drama
President Tsukimitsu wouldn't receive a single cent of compensation.
Yet he still came here himself.
The reason was simplefor the future of shogi.
"As expected of Azuma-kun, your vision is still as broad as ever."
President Tsukimitsu sighed in admiration.
"Recently, due to declining media coverage, the number of new registrations at shogi associations across the country has been decreasing."
"Shogi's rules aren't overly complicated, but there's still a certain threshold. If people don't understand them, many will hesitate and shy away from trying."
"If we can help more people discover and love shogi, the shogi world will gain new vitality."
"That's why, even though it's a bit of a stretch, I've come here to ask for your help. If you have any requests, I'll do my best to fulfill them as compensation."
Yukima Azuma shook his head but then realized the president couldn't see, so he said:
"No need, really. After all, I'm a professional shogi player."
Though, in truth, he didn't feel much professional pride.
But because this was someone who had helped him beforePresident Tsukimitsu
Of course, Yukima Azuma would accept.
In this era, everything required media influence.
Only with enough exposure could more people be drawn in.
If they remained silent and unnoticed, eventually, the entire community would wither away.
"In that case, on behalf of the entire shogi world, I sincerely thank you."
President Tsukimitsu stood up and bowed deeply to Yukima Azuma.
This time, Yukima Azuma didn't help him up.
Since he had decided to do it, this gratitude was well deserved.
President Tsukimitsu had a very simple reason for wanting Yukima Azuma to act in the drama.
Yukima Azuma had a striking appearance and was a true shogi prodigy.
His image was simply perfect.
A natural-born star.
The best way to draw attention to a profession
Was actually to create a star.
As long as there was one person who captivated the public's interest, the entire industry could gain massive attention.
If Yukima Azuma participated in the TV drama
With his image, just a little promotion would be enough.
Countless people would take notice of this shogi prodigy.
And if he won the Ryuuou title this year
The process of "creating a star" would become incredibly easy.
After chatting a little longer, Yukima Azuma saw President Tsukimitsu out.
The decision to act in the dramawas clearly set in stone.
As for the schedule?
When the time came, the production team would just have to adjust to his availability.
....
Two Days Later.
The first qualifying round of the Ryuuou Tournament.
32 players competing for 16 spots.
At the Kanto Shogi Association, Yukima Azuma encountered a familiar face.
Yamato Kajin 8-dan shogi player.
The result of this match held no surprises.
Yukima Azuma won four consecutive games, eliminating Yamato Kajin from the tournament. (Note: Phew, at least there wasn't any shogi.)
Four games, four completely different opening strategies.
Each game was an absolute crushing victory.
By the final game
Yamato Kajin's gaze toward Yukima Azuma had turned strange.
He felt that... the person sitting across from him was not the young prodigy he had played against in an official match before.
But rather
A true Meijin.
Too similar!
Way too similar!
Uncannily similar!
The feeling was exactly the same.
Being so effortlessly dominated, having every move overturned in a way that shattered his understanding
This kind of mind-breaking experience... was something only Meijins could inflict.
Identical.
After being eliminated, Yamato Kajin had only one thought:
This year's Ryuuou Tournament might already have its winner.
By the way, there was a major upset in this qualifying round.
Among all the participants in the official qualifying stage of the Ryuuou Tournament, the lowest-ranked player was Kawai Kenichi 1-dan.
In the first round of the qualifiers, he faced off directly against an 8-dan player.
Almost everyone thought Kawai Kenichi would be eliminated immediately.
But
After losing the first three games, Kawai Kenichi took a short break to use the restroom.
When he returned
It was as if his pressure points had been unlocked.
His moves were godlike, his spirit energized, completely shaking off the sluggishness from before.
He came back from 0-3 to win 4-3, defeating the 8-dan player and advancing to the top 16.
People began calling him "The Potential Man."
Two Days Later.
The round of 16 to determine the quarterfinalists.
Yukima Azuma's opponent this time was a 6-dan player.
Nothing much to say.
See them off.
Meanwhile, Kawai Kenichi 1-dan
Faced one of the only two 9-dan players competing in this year's Ryuuou Tournament.
Everyone sighed:
It's over. There's no way there's another miracle this time.
But
Kawai Kenichi won again!
With a 4-1 victory, he directly eliminated the multiple-time title-winning 9-dan player from the tournament.
After this victory, Kawai Kenichi was promoted from 1-dan to 2-dan on the spot.
After his match, Yukima Azuma heard about this from an interview with reporters.
"Yukima 7-dan, in this year's Ryuuou Tournament, Kawai 2-dan has unexpectedly risen as a phenomenon, becoming the biggest 'dark horse' of the tournament."
"Right now, many people have high hopes for Kawai 2-dan, with some even believing he has a real shot at competing for the Ryuuou title."
"In a recent interview, Kawai 2-dan mentioned that his transformation was inspired by your encouragement. Could you tell us more about that?"
At this moment, Yukima Azuma, who was already quite used to handling reporters, couldn't help but be momentarily stunned.
He thought for a long time before he finally remembered who Kawai 2-dan was.
After a bit of reflection, he connected the name to the young man he had once "encouraged" during the preliminary rounds.
At that time, Yukima Azuma felt a little awkward.
Awkward because his words were just casual encouragement, nothing significanthow did it turn into this?
"Umu, I met Kawai 2-dan during the preliminaries."
"I thought his skills were quite strong, and his shogi style was uniquea potential man."
"Although I was fortunate to win, after that match, I also had a bit of admiration for him."
"I suppose those words must have reached him and became his motivation... probably."
...
Short chapter ( "")
Chapter 177: The Hinatsuru Family's Hot Spring
Yukima Azuma's response immediately made the reporters on-site sense a hot scoop.
"Excuse me, if you face Kawai 2-dan again next time, will Yukima 7-dan be confident in securing victory?"
The reporters hoped Yukima Azuma would throw out some bold words.
Something like: "Nah, I'd Win."
That way, the Ryuuou tournament would have enough material for a story.
A 1-dan player suffers defeat in the qualifiers.
Stimulated by a shogi genius, he resolves to break through his limits.
Then, in the following rounds, he overturns the situation and defeats the genius opponent who once crushed him.
A classic shounen storyline.
The only issue was that the age gap between them was a bit odd.
The one launching the counterattack was a young man in his twenties, while Yukima Azumathe one standing at the topwas still just a high school student.
It lacked the thrill of "taking down someone above you."
But that didn't matter.
As long as Yukima Azuma was willing to say a few arrogant lines,
The news would explode instantly.
The youngest 7-dan player in history.
A genius like that must surely be arrogant, right?
The reporters eagerly awaited Yukima Azuma's next answer.
"I will do my best."
Yukima Azuma answered seriously.
The reporters were utterly disappointed upon hearing this.
After that, a few other reporters attempted to ask sharper questions,
Hoping to extract a sensational quote from Yukima Azuma to make headlines.
Unfortunately, Yukima Azuma's responses were too smooth, leaving almost no room for misinterpretation or misleading edits.
Just as the reporters were about to try one last time,
There was no need for Yukima Azuma to signal them to stop.
The Shogi Association staff had already stepped forward, concluding the post-match interview.
This was the Shogi Association under President Tsukimitsu.
Of course, they wouldn't let Yukima Azuma be at a disadvantage.
Though reluctant, the reporters were ultimately persuaded to leave by the staff.
...
Next was the quarterfinals.
Yukima Azuma's opponent was another 7-dan player.
The result was unsurprising.
Another overwhelming 4-0 victory.
The Ryuuou semifinals were not held at the Shogi Association in Osaka but took place in Iwate Prefecture.
This was a first-tier administrative region in northeastern Japan.
Its specialty was hot springs.
The main estate of the Hinatsuru family was also located here.
Since the Hinatsuru family had long sponsored shogi tournaments,
In a previous official match, Yukima Azuma had also stayed at the Hinatsuru family's ryokan (inn) for competition.
This time, both the semifinals and finals of the Ryuuou tournament would be held at the Hinatsuru Ryokan in Iwate Prefecture.
Right after the quarterfinals concluded, the Hinatsuru family sent a convoy to pick up Yukima Azuma.
Allowing him to settle in early, familiarize himself with the environment, and adjust his state of mind.
At this time, Yukima Azuma had no other engagements.
So, he did not refuse the goodwill of the Hinatsuru family.
Bringing Hinatsuru Ai along, he boarded the Hinatsuru family's car, heading to Iwate Prefecture.
Upon arrival,
Someone immediately stepped forward to open the car door for them.
And outside the door,
Two rows of people stood neatly in greeting.
On one side was Hinatsuru Akina, with young women in kimono behind her.
On the other side was Hinatsuru Takeshi, with young men in black suits standing behind him.
As Yukima Azuma stepped out of the car, both sides simultaneously bowed.
"Welcome home, Yukima-sensei, Hinatsuru Oujou-sama."
This reception was indeed a bit extravagant.
Even the eldest daughter of the main family,
Hinatsuru Ai, was momentarily stunned as she stepped out of the car.
Instinctively, she tightened her grip on Yukima Azuma's hand.
But Yukima Azuma remained unfazed.
Holding Hinatsuru Ai's small hand, he stepped forward to Hinatsuru Akina.
"Hinatsuru-san, isn't this a bit much? There's no need to be so formal."
Hinatsuru Akina glanced at their intertwined hands,
And couldn't help but smile an "Okaa-san" smile.
"This isn't all that formal. After all, sensei is Ai's master."
"If we don't put on at least this much decorum, wouldn't others look down on you?"
"The Hinatsuru family would never do such a thingwe deeply respect Yukima-sensei."
As they conversed, Hinatsuru Akina led Yukima Azuma and Hinatsuru Ai inside the ryokan.
The interior of Hinatsuru Ryokan was not overly extravagant.
Many areas, though made with valuable materials, exuded an air of elegance and humility rather than ostentation.
On the contrary, this only emphasized its long-standing history.
The ryokan business had existed for over a thousand years.
The Hinatsuru family had always used ryokans as their foundation,
Passing it down through generations, making them an old and distinguished family.
Perhaps they weren't as wealthy as Japan's four major financial conglomerates.
But in terms of historical legacy, they were no less prestigious than the three ancient families among the four great conglomerates.
Passing through the front reception hall,
Exiting the corridor, a vast courtyard appeared before them.
A stone-paved pathway, with a rock garden on one side and a koi pond on the other.
Looking further, a bamboo grove came into view.
The bamboo swayed in the wind, producing rustling sounds.
"Behind this is the Hinatsuru family's main residence. This garden was designed by a renowned feng shui master."
Hinatsuru Akina explained casually.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but be surprised.
"Feng Shui master?"
It didn't seem to be called that in Japan.
Here, most people referred to them as Onmyoji.
Seeing Yukima Azuma's confusion, Hinatsuru Akina explained:
"That's right, the ancestors of the Hinatsuru family once invited a Feng Shui master from China."
"We have quite a fondness for Chinese styles."
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but sigh in realization.
So that's how it was.
No wonder during the last official match, there were calligraphy scrolls written entirely in Kanji at the Hinatsuru inn.
Moreover, they contained the opening chapter of the Dao De Jing. (note: Scripture of the Way and its Virtue)
At that time, Yukima Azuma had thought that the owner of this inn had quite a refined aesthetic.
Furthermore, the Hinatsuru family rarely participated in politics.
Despite being such a prestigious and influential family, Hinatsuru Akina herself had never even run for a position in the provincial council.
"Yukima-sensei, you"
Hinatsuru Akina hesitated slightly.
If Yukima Azuma's political views leaned too far to the left, it might be difficult for him to get along with the Hinatsuru family.
That could cause quite a few complications.
Realizing Hinatsuru Akina's thoughts, Yukima Azuma simply let out a helpless chuckle.
"I was just expressing my thoughts. After all, in Japan, a family with a fondness for China is truly rare." (Note: Shouldn't it be the other way around? Or both sides are like that)
Hearing this, Hinatsuru Akina let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Her face broke into a smile once again.
"It seems the Hinatsuru family and Yukima-sensei get along quite well."
Yukima Azuma nodded in agreement.
Then he continued walking through the garden.
Inside the Hinatsuru estate, the decor was entirely in an ancient style.
Just looking at it made Yukima Azuma feel at ease. He casually chose a room and set down his luggage.
Hinatsuru Akina had someone bring him a yukata.
Behind the Hinatsuru estate was a hot spring.
It was said to be a top-tier spring, capable of relieving fatigue and even healing ailments that had silently accumulated in the body.
There was still some time before dinner.
Yukima Azuma changed into the yukata and headed to the hot spring.
After rinsing himself off,
He slid open the bathroom door.
Outside, the scene was hazy with rising steam.
Yukima Azuma slowly stepped into the hot spring.
The warm water gradually enveloped his body.
"Truly extraordinary. Hayasaka would definitely love this place."
Yukima Azuma murmured.
Among the people he knew, only Hayasaka Ai had a particular passion for indulgenceespecially hot springs.
But it made sense. As the personal bodyguard maid of the Shinomiya family, not only was she burdened with daily exhaustion, but she also had to endure immense pressure.
If she didn't learn how to relax, sooner or later, she would collapse from sheer fatigue.
"Shishou, who is Hayasaka?"
As he was enjoying his relaxation, Yukima Azuma suddenly heard a voice filled with curiosity beside him.
A question mark seemed to pop up over his head.
He turned his head to look.
He saw Hinatsuru Ai in a swimsuit, having somehow appeared in the hot spring without him noticing.
At this moment, the petite girl was gazing at Yukima Azuma with curious eyes.
"She's my younger sister. But, Ai, why are you here?"
Yukima Azuma was a little surprised.
Hinatsuru Akina wasn't Sayuri.
Even if she wanted to help, she wouldn't have arranged such a situation where they bathed together, right?
"So she's Shishou's little sister." Hinatsuru Ai smiled again.
Then, she blushed slightly and said:
"I got here before Shishou, you know."
Yukima Azuma facepalmed.
This was the Hinatsuru estate, so naturally, the hot spring wasn't gender-segregated.
Hinatsuru Akina probably hadn't expected that Hinatsuru Ai would rush straight to the hot spring as soon as she got home.
Both of them had unintentionally ended up with the same idea.
The hot spring in the estate had no attendants outside to remind guests.
So the two had directly run into each other in the hot spring.
Fortunately, Yukima Azuma had worn a yukata when he entered.
"Ai, just enjoy your bath. I'll be heading out first."
Yukima Azuma spoke as he moved toward the edge of the spring.
Hearing this, Hinatsuru Ai immediately swam over and clung tightly to Yukima Azuma's arm.
"Hehe, it's a rare opportunity! Shishou, bathe in the hot spring with me!"
Looking at the petite girl in front of him, full of anticipation,
Yukima Azuma didn't mind too muchafter all, they were both clothed.
Staying a little longer to watch the stars wouldn't hurt.
At the dining table.
Instead of Japanese-style tatami seating, it was a long table with chairs.
The dishes on the table were all Chinese cuisine.
Even without tasting them, just by looking at the colors and smelling the aroma,
Yukima Azuma could tell that the Chinese food prepared by the Hinatsuru family was the most authentic he had ever seen in Japan.
"Was the hot spring comfortable?"
Hinatsuru Akina asked with a smile.
Still marveling at the feast before him, Yukima Azuma turned to look at Hinatsuru Akina.
"Umu, the hot spring was wonderful. I quite enjoyed it."
Sitting beside him, the little girl Hinatsuru Ai also nodded and echoed, "Umu."
Seeing this scene, Hinatsuru Akina also nodded in satisfaction. "Umu."
--------------------------------------------
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The next day at Hinatsuru Ryokan.
Yukima Azuma's master, Kiyotaki Kousuke, along with his daughter, Kiyotaki Keika, and Sora Ginko, had all arrived at Hinatsuru Ryokan.
Aside from those within Yukima Azuma's school of shogi, Sainokami Ika also came running over.
"Master."
Yukima Azuma bowed respectfully to Kiyotaki Kousuke.
"Umu, follow me."
Kiyotaki Kousuke didn't say much and walked straight toward a shogi room inside Hinatsuru Ryokan.
Yukima Azuma waved at Sora Ginko and the others as a greeting before following Kiyotaki Kousuke into the room.
As the door opened, a 7-tatami shogi board was already set up.
Kiyotaki Kousuke took a seat on the sente (first-move) side.
"The upcoming Ryuuou matchare you confident?"
Kiyotaki Kousuke asked in a low voice as he looked at Yukima Azuma, who had already sat down.
"I have some confidence, I suppose," Yukima Azuma answered humbly.
Kiyotaki Kousuke let out a soft chuckle, his eyes revealing a hint of anticipation.
"As your master, ever since you turned twelve, I've had nothing left to teach you."
"Thinking back, I really feel unworthy. With your talent, if you had apprenticed under a Meijin, you might have already reached the pinnacle of shogi by now."
Ever since Yukima Azuma's shogi skill reached level 7, Kiyotaki Kousuke had rarely played against him.
Simply put, there was nothing left to teach.
After all, Kiyotaki Kousuke was a 9-dan professional.
But now, as his disciple was about to challenge for the Ryuuou title, Kiyotaki Kousuke couldn't shake the feeling that he was utterly powerless to help.
It was a strange feelinghaving a disciple who was too talented could be quite the headache for a master.
"Master, that's not true at all. Everything I've achieved today is thanks to your guidance."
"If it weren't for your teachings back then, I might have given up midway."
Yukima Azuma waved his hand dismissively.
Before acquiring his system, the only skill he had naturally reached level 7 in was shogi.
The lessons he learned from Kiyotaki Kousuke had indeed been invaluable.
"Alright, alright, no need to dwell on this. I'm getting oldtend to ramble a lot."
"Your next opponent is an old friend of mine. His specialty is piece coordination and positioning."
"My piece coordination probably isn't on his level, but I can simulate about 70% of his style. Now then, let's begin."
As he spoke, Kiyotaki Kousuke picked up a piece from the board and placed it down.
Yukima Azuma didn't stand on ceremony.
He directly met coordination with coordination, holding nothing backcompletely immersing himself in the game.
The match turned out to be more difficult than he expected.
Kiyotaki Kousuke was known for his "Rook and Lance Offense", but when employing piece coordination strategies, he was able to keep up with Yukima Azuma for quite some time.
As expected of a 9-dan player.
Back when Yukima Azuma first stepped into the world of professional shogi, Kiyotaki Kousuke had played several matches with him.
Thinking back now, those times were probably just the master going easy on him to help build his confidence.
After an intense 300-move struggle, Yukima Azuma steered the match into the endgame phase.
Endgame was where calculation skills shined the mostit was also where the true difference in skill between two players became apparent.
As soon as they entered the endgame, Kiyotaki Kousuke had almost no way to turn the tide. In just a few moves, he had no choice but to resign.
"Ha ha, I lost."
Despite his defeat, Kiyotaki Kousuke was smiling with satisfaction.
"Thank you for the match, Master," Yukima Azuma bowed.
"Oh, come on, don't say that. At first, I thought I could use my familiarity with your style to give you some advice."
"But now, I see I was overthinking it. With your level of skill, anything I say would just be pointless overcomplication."
Kiyotaki Kousuke finally understood.
On the surface, their match had seemed evenly matched.
But in reality, he never had a single chance of winning.
Yukima Azuma's shogi style was incredibly solid and unshakable.
If one were to compare it to swordplay in wuxia novels, it would be like "a heavy blade without an edgetrue mastery lies in simplicity"a sword so heavy and refined that it no longer needed sharpness to be lethal.
At first glance, the match seemed like a prolonged struggle.
But in truth, every move had been meticulously calculated, ensuring that the game would eventually transition into the endgame phase.
And once they reached the endgame, every single setup Yukima Azuma had laid out would come into play all at once.
Moreover, his actual shogi ability had long since surpassed Kiyotaki Kousukea 9-dan professional.
At that point, he had already won from the start.
Yukima Azuma casually gathered the pieces and placed them back into the shogi box.
Initially, Kiyotaki Kousuke had intended to give his disciple some special training before the upcoming match.
But now
Well, maybe they'd just chat instead.
"Did the girl's parents agree?"
Kiyotaki Kousuke, as a master, had always been fond of Hinatsuru Ai.
Once Yukima Azuma officially took on a disciple, he would, in a way, be elevated to the rank of Grandmaster.
Hinatsuru Ai's talent, while not on the same level as Yukima Azuma, was still a rare sight in the world.
At last, the Kiyotaki lineage would have a worthy successor.
"Umu, once I obtain the Ryuuou title, I'll officially take Ai as my disciple."
Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
Hearing this, Kiyotaki Kousuke didn't even know what to say to his disciple anymore.
There were still two rounds left in the Ryuuou tournament.
Yet, Yukima Azuma had already casually declared his victory.
But after playing that match just now, Kiyotaki Kousuke found himself unable to refute it.
Because, quite frankly, losing to him seemed impossible.
"Good. You're confident, I like that. Alright, go find Ginko and the others. This old man won't take up any more of your time."
Kiyotaki Kousuke waved his hand, dismissing Yukima Azuma.
Once the boy had left
Kiyotaki Kousuke turned his gaze toward the shogi board.
Back when he had first taken Yukima Azuma as a disciple,
He had never imagined the boy would come this far.
As for the current Meijin, Kiyotaki Kousuke had some understanding.
That man was searching for the ultimate answer to shogi itself.
Under conditions where both players made optimal moves, was shogi a guaranteed win for sente (first-move player) or gote (second-move player)?
Every professional player, upon reaching a certain level, would eventually ponder this question.
But to actually prove it?
Everyone was still leagues away from reaching an answer.
The Meijin, perhaps, wasn't too far off.
But shogi was a game between two players.
One person alone could never reach the ultimate truth.
Yet Kiyotaki Kousuke had a feeling
Yukima Azuma was closer to that answer than anyone else.
When the time came for them to face off
Perhaps the answer would finally be revealed.
Shogi was approaching its end.
Or at the very least
It was about to enter a new era.
(note: So... profound... I don't understand anything.)
....
Yukima Azuma left the shogi room, completely unaware that his master was comparing him to AlphaGo.
But even if he had known
He would've simply laughed it off.
Shogi, like Go and chess,
Would eventually reach a point where AI would surpass human understanding.
There would no longer be a need to study opening sequences
Players could just memorize AI-generated strategies instead.
This was an inevitable trend.
It was only a matter of time.
But if someone could uncover the answer before AI took over
Then perhaps, in the future, every shogi player would look back on it as a moment of glory.
As he stepped outside,
Yukima Azuma found the girls in the middle of a shogi game.
The atmosphere was lively.
It was honestly quite amusing.
Ever since Sainokami Ika had been "conquered" by Yukima Azuma,
She had been dropping by frequently to study shogi with Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai.
Over time, a three-way rivalry had formed between them.
Sainokami Ika relied on instinct to play.
Against Sora Ginko, she had a win rate of over 50%.
But against Hinatsuru Ai, she couldn't win at all.
Hinatsuru Ai, in turn, could defeat Sainokami Ika
But when facing Sora Ginko, she stood no chance.
As for Sora Ginko?
The more she played against these two, the more frustrated she became.
Damn it, is everyone here just naturally gifted at shogi?!
Because of that, when playing against Sainokami Ika,
She would often grow impatient and make mistakes.
And when playing against Hinatsuru Ai,
Her overwhelming presence would make the little girl lose confidence.
Meanwhile, standing off to the side, Kiyotaki Keika could only sigh helplessly.
Watching those three play
For someone with average talent, whose age was already nearing the competitive limit
It was honestly too cruel.
"Keika-neesan, come take a walk with me. I haven't had the chance to explore Iwate yet."
Yukima Azuma gently tugged at Kiyotaki Keika's sleeve
Like a little brother seeking attention.
Kiyotaki Keika, who had been feeling down,
Couldn't help but melt at the sight.
How could she possibly refuse?
While the three others were still distracted,
Kiyotaki Keika quietly slipped away with Yukima Azuma.
The two of them snuck out of Hinatsuru Ryokan
Only letting out a sigh of relief once they reached the streets.
"...I'm supposed to be your senpai, you know?"
"Not to mention, you have an important match coming up."
"And yet, here I am, being comforted by you instead."
Kiyotaki Keika sighed.
"I really am a useless senpai, huh?"
"Master said the exact same thing. Like father, like daughter."
Yukima Azuma chuckled.
Hearing that, Kiyotaki Keika froze for a moment
Then let out a bitter laugh.
"But my father is a 9-dan professional, you know?"
"And I'm already twenty-five."
"If things continue like this, I might never win a single title in my career."
"If it weren't for you and Ginko, I probably would've disgraced the Kiyotaki family name by now."
There was a hint of self-deprecation in her words.
It wasn't as if she was deeply upset
But having a 9-dan father, a genius junior, and a talented junior-sister, while she herself remained stagnant...
If her mentality hadn't been strong enough,
She would've quit shogi a long time ago.
Looking at Kiyotaki Keika, who seemed troubled.
Yukima Azuma spoke up:
"This year, there's an official tournament for women, the Queen tournament. As long as you make it to the main rounds, you can directly become Joryu."
"Keika-nee will definitely participate. Maybe before the end of this year, you'll officially be a Joryu."
Hearing that, Kiyotaki Keika gave a wry smile.
"If things were really that simple, that would be great."
It wasn't that she had never participated in the Queen tournament before.
But every time, she was eliminated in the preliminary rounds.
What Yukima Azuma said was truly too idealistic.
"Actually, I have a surefire way to win." Yukima Azuma whispered.
Kiyotaki Keika shook her head vigorously.
"That's not right! That would be cheating!"
The so-called absolute winning method that Yukima Azuma suggested
Was to prepare opening moves before the matches.
It wasn't much different from Yamato Kajin and the Meijin studying shogi together.
Analyzing the opponents' past games,
Then Yukima Azuma would design a few sequences of moves.
Kiyotaki Keika only needed to memorize them.
Yamato Kajin used the Meijin's move sequences, blindly following fixed openings, and almost crushed Yukima Azuma with his shogi skills.
If Yukima Azuma taught Kiyotaki Keika the sequences,
Wouldn't sweeping through those rookies who hadn't even entered Joryu be as easy as flipping a hand?
But Kiyotaki Keika felt that doing so would be cheating.
The shogi world nowadays, for the most part, thought the same.
It was not yet the era of AlphaGo.
Professional players still held onto their pride.
"Keika-nee, isn't the most important thing in shogi a strong will?"
"The fact that you can reject even my absolute winning methoddoesn't that mean you've found your own way to victory?"
Yukima Azuma pointed at Kiyotaki Keika's heavy heart.
"My own way to victory?" Kiyotaki Keika placed a hand on her chest, feeling emotional.
Was she really just lacking confidence?
The answer was obviousyes.
Since she was young, Kiyotaki Keika had faced too many setbacks.
So much so that whenever she encountered even a little failure in shogi, she would think she wasn't good enough.
If she could just gain confidence, then reaching Joryu wouldn't be a difficult thing at all.
Yukima Azuma quietly walked up behind Kiyotaki Keika.
He gave her a pat on the back.
Along with a startled yelp from Kiyotaki Keika.
Yukima Azuma grinned and said, "Straighten your back! Keika-nee, what kind of posture is this?"
Being lectured like that, Kiyotaki Keika immediately turned around, reaching out to grab Yukima Azuma.
But if she could really catch him
Then Yukima Azuma's seven points in physical stats would just be for show.
The two played around for a while.
Kiyotaki Keika, at twenty-five years old, suddenly lost all her maturity.
She looked just like a little girl.
They ran to a small park and then stopped.
Kiyotaki Keika sat on a nearby swing, looking at Yukima Azuma with curiosity.
"How are things between you and Ginko-chan now?"
Yukima Azuma and Sora GinkoKiyotaki Keika had watched both of them grow up.
Since childhood, Sora Ginko had liked Yukima Azuma.
But her tsundere personality made it hard for her to be honest about it.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma back then was the type to be completely obliviousdense as reinforced concrete.
Kiyotaki Keika had worried about this many times.
But now, things were better.
They were both grown up.
Yukima Azuma's emotional intelligence had even gone from negative to max.
Surely, there had to be some progress, right?
"Next year, when Ginko-senpai gets into Tokyo, things will probably move faster."
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment and could only answer that way.
Thinking about it, his relationship with Sora Ginko was indeed moving a bit slowly.
"It's all your fault. When you were kids, you always bullied Ginko-chan. Serves you right."
Kiyotaki Keika chuckled, recalling the past.
Back then, Yukima Azuma was handsome, so a lot of little girls liked him.
Whenever Sora Ginko saw that, she would get sulky.
()
Kiyotaki Keika remembered that there was a time when a Russian girl had just moved into the area.
Somehow, Yukima Azuma had learned Russian from somewhere.
And he got along really well with that girl.
Sora Ginko sat silently in the shogi club, sulking without saying a word.
( )
Kiyotaki Keika dragged Yukima Azuma over.
Yukima Azuma ran to Sora Ginko and asked if she was angry.
Sora Ginko nodded repeatedly.
Then Yukima Azuma said, "Don't be mad anymore."
(`)
The small Sora Ginko at that time was so angry that she burst into laughter.
Seeing Sora Ginko laugh, Yukima Azuma thought she was no longer angry, so he turned around and ran off to play with the Russian girl again.
As a result, when he got home, the small Sora Ginko kicked him in the butt, leaving him completely dumbfounded.
( Д )*
"I think this was all Keika-nee's fault."
Yukima Azuma argued stubbornly.
"My fault?" Kiyotaki Keika pointed at herself, a little confused.
"That's right, Keika-nee just stood there laughing and didn't bother to teach me anything!"
"Even if I had taught you, would you have listened? You weren't exactly a well-behaved kid who followed instructions back then."
"Of course, I would have! Back then, I liked Keika-nee the most."
In the past, Yukima Azuma did have a bit of a thing for older women.
He wasn't very interested in Sora Ginko.
Instead, he liked Kiyotaki Keika.
Just looking at his first love, Kasumigaoka Utaha, it was clearhe had a definite onee-san preference.
Later on, after gaining more experience, he no longer restricted his preferences.
As long as they were Bishoujo, Yukima Azuma liked them.
Like blonde twin-tails, for example.
Kiyotaki Keika was momentarily stunned by Yukima Azuma's sudden confession.
Her heartbeat skipped two beats.
(>/////<)
Even though they had quite a large age gap, she had always seen Yukima Azuma as a younger brother.
But unfortunately, this younger brother was way too attractivealmost as if he had incubus-like traits.
If Yukima Azuma confessed, any girl would feel somethingit was just a matter of how much.
She tried to steady her emotions.
Kiyotaki Keika shot a sideways glance at Yukima Azuma.
"It's not like you never made me angry when we were kids!"
"I call you Keika-nee, so as my nee-chan, of course, you have to be generous and forgive me!"
"If I weren't generous, back when Ginko-chan kicked you out of the room, I wouldn't have pleaded for you!"
"Eh? Oba-san kicked Shishou out of the room? When did that happen?"
A soft voice unexpectedly interrupted.
Both of them turned to look.
At some point, three girlsHinatsuru Ai, Sora Ginko, and Sainokami Ikahad arrived.
Sora Ginko's face turned slightly red.
As a child, she had no idea how to express her jealousy.
She just followed her emotions, causing a lot of trouble.
Luckily, Yukima Azuma didn't hate her.
Now, looking back, it was truly a dark stain in her past.
But still, it was all Yukima Azuma's fault!
"That happened when Ai-chan's shishou was still little. Back then, he was about your height."
Kiyotaki Keika laughed as she reached out to pat Hinatsuru Ai's head.
Hearing that, Hinatsuru Ai quickly ran over to Yukima Azuma.
She clung tightly to his arm.
"Ginko-oba-san is so scary! If it were me, I'd never kick shishou out of the room!"
( )
Sora Ginko: ( `)
"You little brat!"
Sora Ginko immediately lunged forward.
Hinatsuru Ai stuck her tongue out and hid behind Yukima Azuma.
(>)
The two started a game of chase around Yukima Azuma, who was still sitting on the swing.
Yukima Azuma watched this scene with a smile for a moment.
Then he stood up from the swing and took both of their hands, bringing an end to the chase.
The moment Yukima Azuma held their hands, both Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai immediately calmed down.
Seeing this, Kiyotaki Keika could only click her tongue in amazement.
She had known for a long time that Yukima Azuma had matured quickly in recent years.
But it was still hard to imagine that this guywho now seemed like the main character of a harem storywas once such a dense blockhead as a child.
"Shishou, we came to call everyone back for dinner!"
At that moment, Hinatsuru Ai finally remembered her mission.
Yukima Azuma umu.
Everyone headed back to Hinatsuru Ryokan for dinner.
The Next Few Days
Originally, Sora Ginko and the others had come here to help Yukima Azuma with special training and relaxation.
After all, the Ryuuou semi-finals were coming up, and no matter how you looked at it, it was a nerve-wracking event.
But no matter how they observed, Yukima Azuma showed no signs of nervousness.
It seemed their worries were unnecessary.
Still, these past few days had been funalmost like a training camp vacation.
Time passed, and finally, the Ryuuou semi-finals arrived.
Yukima Azuma's opponent was the only 9-dan player to make it to the semi-finals.
A player from the same generation as Kiyotaki Kousuke.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
On the day of the semifinals.
Unlike the preliminary rounds and knockout rounds, the semifinals were held in a competition room completely isolated from the outside world.
Inside the room, there were only two shogi players and one referee.
All spectators could only watch the match through live broadcast equipment.
This regulation was meant to ensure that the two players were not affected by the outside environment.
Yukima Azuma sat down in front of the standard seven-sun shogi board.
He looked up.
On the opposite side, a middle-aged man around forty or fifty years old had also settled into his seat.
A 9-dan shogi player, an old friend of Kiyotaki Kousuke, but Yukima Azuma didn't know this person.
Unlike Kiyotaki Kousuke, who had won countless titles and retired early,
This 9-dan player had an extremely competitive nature.
Kiyotaki Kousuke had once taken Yukima Azuma to meet many shogi players of his era.
But he had never mentioned this man.
"I look forward to your guidance."
After the two performed the customary greeting ritual, the match officially began.
The playing style of this 9-dan player was quite similar to Kiyotaki Kousuke's. The more Yukima Azuma played, the more he felt something was off.
The way he maneuvered his pieces wasn't just a 70% imitation.
It had to be at least 90%.
In terms of piece maneuvering skills, this 9-dan player might be slightly better than Kiyotaki Kousuke.
But if considering overall shogi ability...
This 9-dan player was still a bit inferior to Kiyotaki Kousuke.
It wasn't hard to understand why Kiyotaki Kousuke had never introduced Yukima Azuma to him.
After all, Kiyotaki Kousuke could completely teach Yukima Azuma this opponent's piece maneuvering techniques himself.
Moreover, his playing style was overly ambitious and impatient.
It was hard to believe that he was a 9-dan player who had competed for many years.
For Yukima Azuma, this match was much easier compared to facing Kiyotaki Kousuke.
After 230 moves, he securely led the match into the endgame.
Then, he easily broke through the opponent's formation, forcing him to resign.
After placing down his pieces to admit defeat, the 9-dan player left in frustration, flinging his sleeve as he walked awaythankfully, he didn't cough up blood or anything.
Yukima Azuma stepped out of the competition room and returned to the waiting area.
He looked at Kiyotaki Kousuke, his tone slightly perplexed:
"This 9-dan player seems to have some mental issues..."
Kiyotaki Kousuke nodded.
"That's right, his mentality has never been stable. It's always been like that, and he still hasn't fixed it."
"Back then, I didn't want you kids to learn from him, so I simply never introduced him."
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
Alright then.
After resting, the second game began.
Perhaps influenced by the first match,
This 9-dan player became even more impatient as he played.
In this game, even before reaching the endgame, Yukima Azuma had already spotted a flaw, immediately advanced his rook (hisha), and tore through his opponent's defenses.
Then came the third game, then the fourth.
The opponent's performance worsened with each match.
In the end, within a single day, Yukima Azuma won with an overwhelming 4-0.
"Shishou, you're amazing! That was a 9-dan player!"
Watching the match on the live broadcast, Hinatsuru Ai cheered excitedly, the ahoge on her head bouncing along.
"It looks like the result for the other match is out too, also 4-0. The winner is that 2-dan player."
Sainokami Ika checked the match commentary on her phone and informed them.
Two 9-dan players and a series of 8-dan players had all been eliminatednone made it to the finals.
This year's Ryuuou finals would be a showdown between two young players.
Genius One vs. Potential Man.
This was completely unexpected for many people.
Fortunately, the betting scene around shogi wasn't too big.
Otherwise, who knows how many people would be heading to the rooftop to "enjoy the breeze."
...
After Yukima Azuma finished his interview and returned, Sora Ginko immediately informed him about his opponent in the finals.
Hearing that his opponent was the Potential Man he had met in the qualifiers,
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched slightly.
A plot straight out of a shounen manga.
Oh no, I'm turning into the villain!
What if, in the finals, I end up getting reverse-swept from 3-0 to 3-4?
Let's hope he doesn't suddenly start shouting: "With this treasure, I summon....."
If he does that, I'm running away immediately.
After all, I have no intention of getting punched by a Big Daddy in white whose catchphrase is "Nah, I'd Adapt."
Yukima Azuma shook his head and laughed.
Come to think of it, ever since the start of the Ryuuou tournament, Yukima Azuma had yet to lose a single match.
He had been winning straight through.
To be precise, since his return to the shogi world, he had never tasted defeat.
Outside, reporters from various news agencies were typing so furiously that their keyboards seemed to be on the verge of catching fire.
This year's Ryuuou finals were truly entertaining.
If Kawai Kenichithe 2-dan playerwon and claimed the Ryuuou title, it would be a historic milestone.
A true shounen story.
And if Yukima Azuma won
That, too, would be a new chapter in history.
Until now, in this country, no one had ever gone undefeated all the way from the qualifiers to claim the Ryuuou title.
Even the current Meijin had lost two games in his most recent Ryuuou tournament appearance.
No matter the outcome, this year's Ryuuou tournament was sure to become a hot topic of discussion.
Public opinion had already exploded like water boiling over on a stove.
Yet, the central figure of all this discussionYukima Azumaseemed to be completely at ease.
He wasn't locking himself in a room to analyze strategies.
Instead, he went to a film set.
The production team of Hikaru no Shogi had reached out to Yukima Azuma.
He agreed to participate in the filming, only requesting that they schedule it around his existing commitments.
The production team didn't even hesitate before agreeing.
After all, Yukima Azuma was just one step away from claiming the Ryuuou title.
If he won the championship before joining the cast
The hype would explode!
Yukima Azuma entrusted the contract negotiations to Laplace Corporation's staff.
He even lowered his own appearance fee in exchange for greater creative freedom.
Laplace Corporation also made an additional investment in the production.
With that arrangement
By the time Yukima Azuma arrived at the set, the director and most of the crew came out to personally welcome him.
( ^) $$$
"Yukima-sensei! Welcome, welcome."
The chief director, a man in his fifties, was a well-known figure in the industry.
Ordinarily, he only worked on large-scale film productions.
But because Hikaru no Shogi had investment from the Shogi Association, they were able to bring in a director of his caliber.
Amidst the warm welcome from the staff, Yukima Azuma stepped onto the set.
At this stage, the production team had largely completed the set construction, but several roles had yet to be cast.
Because of this, official filming had yet to begin.
However, before shooting could start, there were necessary preparations to be made
Memorizing scripts, practicing scenes with co-stars, and so on.
Especially for someone like Yukima Azuma, who had never acted before
He would need extra guidance.
Otherwise, a poor performance could kill the audience's immersion instantly.
"Kurokawa-san, come here for a moment."
The director called over Kurokawa Akane.
The young woman had been intently reading her script, but the moment she saw Yukima Azuma, she immediately set it down and walked over.
"This is Yukima-sensei. He has no prior acting experience, so I'll be counting on you to help him out."
"Yukima-sensei, this is Kurokawa Akane, a renowned acting prodigy in the industry"
Upon hearing the introduction,
The two exchanged knowing smiles.
After the director left
Yukima Azuma chuckled and said:
"Miss Guardian, so you're a genius, huh?"
Kurokawa Akane let out a soft snort.
"Genius? Please. I just work harder than most people. On the other hand, Azuma, you might be the real genius here."
"You've never acted before, yet you managed to fool a professional actress like me into running in circles."
( ,,'',,)
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma gave an awkward chuckle.
There was no helping ithe was actually feeling guilty.
Even though faking his suicide had been to save Kurokawa Akane, which was entirely justifiable,
Logically speaking, she should be grateful to him.
But using acting to intimidate a girl, then stealing her first kiss
There was just no way to justify that.
Fortunately, Kurokawa Akane didn't seem intent on "settling the score later."
"Let's go outside and practice in private."
Kurokawa Akane suggested.
Chapter 181: Fujiwara Chika Soft and Adorable
"It's crowded and noisy here. Let's go outside and practice separately."
Kurokawa Akane suggested.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
After all, he had come to the film crew today just to "get familiar" and pick up the script.
Since filming hadn't started yet, it didn't really matter where they practiced.
And so, the two temporarily left the film crew.
The director, of course, had no objections.
"Let's find a caf with private rooms. Let me see..."
Kurokawa Akane held her phone and browsed for nearby cafs.
In the end, she chose a dessert shop.
Coincidentally, this shop was running an online promotion: making a reservation in advance would earn a 50% discount voucher.
The shop also had private rooms available for customers.
Yukima Azuma glanced at the menu prices and raised an eyebrow.
Wasn't it too cheap?
Even if they were offering discounts to attract customers, this was too much.
Moreover there was a faint feeling of being watched.
Yukima Azuma turned toward the source of that gaze.
He saw two familiar high school girls.
As soon as they made eye contact with Yukima Azuma, the two girls immediately turned away, embarrassed.
( ®®) !!
This made Yukima Azuma wonder if he was just imagining things.
After the two girls left
"Kaguya-sama, the target is moving to the designated location."
The two high school girls spoke into their collars.
At the dessert shop, Kurokawa Akane went to check the reservation and make the payment.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma searched for information about this shop.
After looking it up, he found that this dessert shop was part of a restaurant chain.
And while most people didn't know it,
This restaurant chain was actually owned by the Shinomiya Group.
In other words, this dessert shop was also part of the Shinomiya family's business.
Yukima Azuma immediately understood.
(_ ) Naruhodo.
"All done, let's go in."
Kurokawa Akane ran over, waving the receipt at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma smiled and nodded.
The two entered the private room inside.
The private rooms in the dessert shop were luxuriously decorated.
They looked nothing like ordinary customer seating.
Even Kurokawa Akane was amazed as she glanced around upon entering.
Before long, the server brought over the pre-ordered desserts.
Yukima Azuma ordered a slice of green grape cake and two donuts.
Kurokawa Akane only ordered a cup of black coffee.
And it was sugar-free, cream-free.
"Guardian, aren't you being too harsh on yourself?"
Yukima Azuma took a sip of the black coffee and stuck out his tongue.
He looked like he was suffering from the bitterness.
( ^)
Which made Kurokawa Akane chuckle.
( )
Since they had even shared meals in a "feeding each other" manner before, drinking from the same cup was no big deal.
After laughing, Kurokawa Akane took the coffee cup.
"I don't really have a choice." She shook her head helplessly. "I gain weight easily, so I have to control my calorie intake."
()
"A small bite won't hurt."
Yukima Azuma said as he scooped a small piece of the green grape cake, along with half a grape.
Then, he brought the spoonful of cake to Kurokawa Akane's lips.
"If it's just a small bite..." Kurokawa Akane was tempted.
After all, this was personally being fed to her by Yukima Azuma.
Her slender fingers brushed aside a stray lock of hair.
Kurokawa Akane's eyes locked onto Yukima Azuma's, her lips parted slightly, and she gently bit into the cake.
(®®)
()
The moment carried a hint of sensuality, yet it was also deeply moving.
After gazing at each other for a while, Kurokawa Akane was the first to break.
"Let's read the script!"
She quickly pulled out the script to cover her slightly flushed face.
(>/////< " )
Every time she looked directly into Yukima Azuma's eyes, memories of that stormy night in the motel replayed in her mind.
From the time they handholding and cuddled under the same blanket to the moment that cunning boy coaxed a kiss from her.
Back then, Kurokawa Akane had been able to stay calm, but in truth, the embarrassment had only been building up.
Now that her unusual mental state had subsided, all that accumulated embarrassment was rushing back.
It would probably take a long time to fully digest these emotions.
Yukima Azuma also took out his script and began reading from the beginning.
After he finished, Kurokawa Akane curiously asked, "Azuma, what do you think?"
Even though Yukima Azuma wasn't the scriptwriter,
He was a genius light novel author, so his opinion was worth considering.
"Umu it's pretty good."
Yukima Azuma gave an objective evaluation.
As a television drama script, it was clear that the screenwriter had put in a lot of effort, and the structure was well done.
If Yukima Azuma were to revise the script, he could certainly make it even more outstanding.
However, he had no intention of taking on the role of a screenwriter as well.
Moreover, even in his own assessment, the current script could already be considered excellent.
"Umu, then let's try acting out this scene."
Kurokawa Akane pointed to a scene in the script and said.
This scene takes place when the protagonist is seven years old and meets the spirit shogi player for the first time.
The boy is persuaded by the spirit shogi player to join the shogi association and accidentally defeats a prodigy who was about to enter the professional tournament.
The character of the spirit shogi player, played by Yukima Azuma, has many scenes in this segment.
Yukima Azuma memorized the lines for the scene.
Then, he began acting.
For now, Kurokawa Akane played the younger version of the protagonist to act alongside Yukima Azuma.
About fifteen minutes later, the rehearsal ended.
Yukima Azuma let out a breath and sighed in admiration.
Truly worthy of being called a genius actress.
Clearly, Kurokawa Akane had nothing in common with the character she was playingneither in age, appearance, nor gender.
Yet, the moment she got into character, Yukima Azuma felt as if he were truly standing before an innocent child.
Rather than saying they were acting together, it would be more accurate to say that Kurokawa Akane was guiding his performance.
She deliberately lowered her skill level to match Yukima Azuma.
"In this part, the emotions need to be expressed more intensely."
"And in this part, your expression was a bit stiff."
Kurokawa Akane summarized after the rehearsal.
Yukima Azuma listened attentively.
Before long...
[Notification: Your acting skill has reached the maximum level.]
[Acting (lv2) Acting (lv3).]
Kurokawa Akane noticed Yukima Azuma suddenly spacing out.
"Did I say too much?" She felt a little guilty. "Actually, you did really well. We can take it slow and practice gradually."
Yukima Azuma shifted his gaze away from the system interface.
He smiled slightly and shook his head.
"No, no, I just got a little distracted for a moment. What Guardian said was very helpful, I learned a lot."
Hearing this, Kurokawa Akane thought that Yukima Azuma was just being polite in complimenting her.
In reality, he probably hadn't absorbed much at all.
"Then, shall we try again?"
Yukima Azuma nodded.
The second round of acting began.
As soon as they started, Kurokawa Akane couldn't help but be surprised.
Compared to the previous time, he had improved significantly.
Although it hadn't reached the point of a complete transformation, the progress was visibly noticeable.
The issues she had pointed out earlier had all been adjusted well by Yukima Azuma.
Kurokawa Akane had never seen an actor...
Who could improve so quickly after just one performance.
The boy she had always thought about was truly a genius in acting.
...
The second rehearsal ended.
Kurokawa Akane was a bit excited.
)
"Azuma, you're amazing! This rate of improvement is just too fast!"
"With your current acting skills, you're already better than more than half of the actors in the industry!"
Yukima Azuma chuckled.
"It's thanks to Guardian's great teaching."
"No, it's because you have talent! There are still a few minor issues this time, for example, here"
"Umu umu, I'll think about it more. Ah, right, excuse me for a moment, I need to go to the restroom."
"Alright."
Yukima Azuma stood up and stepped out of the private room.
In the hallway, he glanced at the system's status screen, checking his acting skill progression.
The increase was terrifyingly fast.
After all, he was being taught by a professional, and his skill level was still low.
Yukima Azuma estimated that Kurokawa Akane's acting skill must be at least level seven.
The title of genius actress was indeed well-deserved.
Such an ability to embody a role had nearly reached a supernatural level.
While he was focused on the system screen, Yukima Azuma suddenly froze...
The door of the room next to him suddenly opened.
"I'm heading out for a bit, I'll be back soon!"
A lively voice rang out, and immediately after, a figure dashed out.
At that exact moment, Yukima Azuma was also walking past, and the two collided.
"Uwa!" The girl let out a soft yelp.
( ®®) !!
There was a clear difference in their physiques.
Yukima Azuma was over 1.8 meters tall and weighed more than 70 kg.
Meanwhile, this girl was probably only around 50 kg.
After the collision, Yukima Azuma merely took half a step back and remained steady.
But the girl was sent stumbling backward, almost falling.
Yukima Azuma quickly reached out and caught her waist, preventing her from falling.
"Are you okay?" Yukima Azuma asked while closing the system status screen, then looked closely at the girl's face.
Her long, soft pink hair was as silky as satin, showing clear signs of meticulous care.
A black ribbon bow adorned her bangs.
Her face could be described as "soft and adorable," with exquisite and harmonious features.
Her sapphire blue eyes sparkled with an innocent and pure expression.
Yukima Azuma searched his memory for a moment, and he immediately recognized this girl.
Fujiwara Chika, the second daughter of the Fujiwara family, the cherished darling of a long-standing political family, currently studying at Shuchiin Academy.
The only close friend of Shinomiya Kaguya.
Yukima Azuma blinked slightly.
Umu, he more or less understood what was going on now...
( - )
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 182: The Woman Who Was Ruthlessly Abandoned by Azuma
"Are you okay?"
Yukima Azuma still kept his hand supporting Fujiwara Chika's waist, preventing her from falling to the ground.
Even so, her condition wasn't much better.
Her bright blue eyes were now welling up with tears, looking unusually pitiful.
Her tiny hands covered her nose, letting out a faint whimper.
Clearly, when they collided, Fujiwara Chika had hit her nose.
"I'm okay, I'm really sorry huhuhu"
( )
At first, Fujiwara Chika intended to apologize.
After all, she was the one who suddenly opened the door and rushed out.
But halfway through her sentence, she suddenly burst into tears.
After all, getting hit on the nose naturally makes tears flow.
Yukima Azuma took a tissue from his pocket and handed it to Fujiwara Chika so she could wipe her tears.
He gently pulled her hands down, revealing the nose she had been covering.
( )(._.`)
He carefully observed it.
"It's okay, it doesn't seem broken, and there's no nosebleed. Do you want to go to the hospital?"
Fujiwara Chika shook her head vigorously.
Tears scattered with the movement, sparkling like scattered pearls.
She didn't want to go to the hospital, and besides, this wasn't exactly a serious injury.
"Then let me take you to get some ice, it can help reduce the pain."
As he spoke, Yukima Azuma took Fujiwara Chika's hand and led her toward the counter.
Once they had left
Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai (in Hasaka mode) peeked their heads out.
"The plan is going even more smoothly than expected. Is that man really that gentle? Or do you think this is just acting, Hayasaka?"
Shinomiya Kaguya watched the two walk away, a scrutinizing look in her eyes.
(_ )
But she didn't receive an answer for a while.
This made her puzzled.
"Hayasaka?" Kaguya turned to look at her super-pro maid.
Hayasaka Ai snapped back to reality, forcing down the slightly sour feeling in her heart.
()
"Kaguya-sama, did you call me?"
"I was asking never mind." Shinomiya Kaguya paused, choosing not to continue the question.
She felt that Hayasaka Ai was acting a little strange when it came to this man.
Previously, Kaguya had thought Hayasaka was being bullied by him.
But upon investigating again, she discovered that it was actually her maid who had taken the initiative to disguise herself and meet that man.
What exactly had happened? Kaguya still couldn't understand.
But one thing was certainHayasaka's unusual behavior was definitely related to that man!
So, Kaguya, who had already intended to recruit Yukima Azuma, was now even more determined to carry out this plan.
She had to speed things up!
Thinking it over, Shinomiya Kaguya felt that just using the exchange student invitation from Shuchiin might not be enough.
That man wasn't an ordinary person, and he probably wasn't too enamored with this so-called prestigious noble academy.
So, Kaguya thought of Fujiwara Chika.
The daughter of a political family.
Even Shinomiya Kaguya had to admit that Chika was someone extremely difficult to deal with.
Chaotic actions, completely unpredictable, and an energy level that ordinary people could never match.
Shinomiya Kaguya often secretly complained that Fujiwara Chika was like a "cancer" to this planet.
All she had to do was arrange for Fujiwara Chika to meet that man.
Then become friends.
And at the right moment, reveal his identity.
Fujiwara Chika would definitely do everything in her power to make him accept the exchange student invitation!
Everything Just According to Keikaku!
()
...
The staff brought over ice and clean tissues.
Yukima Azuma wrapped it up a little, then gently applied it to Fujiwara Chika's nose.
"Uwaa~!" Fujiwara Chika let out a startled cry.
( )
The surrounding customers immediately turned to look at her.
Chika quickly lowered her head.
(>/////< " )
The ice pack quickly took effect.
The nose that had been throbbing in pain gradually lost the sensation of pain, and even the swelling reduced.
"Thank you so much! I'm Fujiwara Chika, what's your name?"
Fujiwara Chika wiped away the last tear lingering at the corner of her eye, her mood shifting in an instant, her eyes shining as she looked at Yukima Azuma.
Someone with a personality full of energy like hers was easily moved by acts of kindness.
"I'm Yukima Azuma, nice to meet you."
Yukima Azuma introduced himself.
"Ehh? So you're that Yukima-kun!" Fujiwara Chika's eyes sparkled even brighter.
()
"Fujiwara-san has heard about me?"
"Umu! I'm a student at Shuchiin, my friend told me about you! Top 1 in the inter-school exam, that's really amazing!"
"I see. I'm a student at Toyogasaki Private Academy. Who's your friend?"
"It's Kaguya-chan! Her full name is Shinomiya Kaguya. This is the first time I've ever seen someone smarter than Kaguya-chan!"
"So it's Shinomiya-san."
"Eh? Yukima-kun, you know Kaguya-chan? We're out together today!"
Saying that, Fujiwara Chika immediately grabbed Yukima Azuma's hand, enthusiastically pulling him toward the room she had come from earlier.
( )( )
Being dragged along like this, Yukima Azuma could only smile helplessly.
She really was full of energy.
.....
Before long, the two had returned to the room where Shinomiya Kaguya was.
Fujiwara Chika pushed the door open and shouted inside:
"Kaguya-chan! Look who I ran into!"
"*()*
Shinomiya Kaguya faintly smiled.
( ) * Keikaku Doori!
After Yukima Azuma was pulled into the room,
Shinomiya Kaguya immediately put on a sufficiently surprised expression:
"Yukima-onii-san, I didn't expect to see you here."
"Nani? Onii-san?" Fujiwara Chika widened her eyes in surprise.
(`)
Yukima Azuma simply nodded slightly at Shinomiya Kaguya.
Then, his gaze shifted to Hayasaka Ai.
At this moment, Hayasaka Ai was in the form of "Hasaka."
Speaking of which, the identity of "Hasaka" was originally created just to deal with Fujiwara Chika.
Because the two of them were extremely incompatible.
But that was something to discuss later.
Right now
"This is the Shinomiya family's maid, Hasaka-chan!"
Fujiwara Chika naturally introduced her.
"Hasaka... You're still working as a maid at the Shinomiya household?"
Yukima Azuma looked at Hayasaka Ai, curling his lips into a knowing smile.
( ® ®)
Hayasaka Ai's heart skipped a beat.
()
Damn it! She had forgotten about this!
When Kaguya-sama was discussing the plan, she had been too focused on Yukima Azuma.
She completely forgot about the flaw in her identity setup!
She had told Yukima Azuma that she was a student at the prestigious all-girls academy, Felis.
And that she studied diligently every day, having to study for a full twelve hours.
She never once mentioned working as a maid for the Shinomiya family.
And in Yukima Azuma's understanding, the only maid at the Shinomiya household wasHayasaka Ai!
Hayasaka Ai's brain instantly went into overdrive.
Finally, she came up with a barely acceptable excuse.
"I work part-time as a maid outside of school to earn some... pocket money."
This excuse was full of holes.
A student who could attend the prestigious Felis Academythere were extremely few who actually needed money.
Moreover, "Hasaka's" setup was that she was busy studying every single day, so where would she even find the time to work as a maid?
€Ђ€( _ ) ( L _ ) L €Ђ€
(`Д)
'AAAAAAAAAAAA!!! Watashi no aho-baka!!! AAAAAAAAA!!!!'
Under Yukima Azuma's meaningful gaze,
Hayasaka Ai's heartbeat kept accelerating.
Was she about to be exposed?
But if she really was exposed, how would she face Yukima Azuma?
That day, when she pretended to be asleep, Yukima Azuma's deep confession echoed once again in her ears.
The usual calm and composed Hayasaka Ai had completely vanished.
"Oh, I see."
After teasing Hayasaka Ai for a bit, Yukima Azuma finally gave a slight nod, appearing to accept this flimsy excuse.
After all, Hayasaka Ai already knew she had been caught.
Even if he pretended to believe such a poorly crafted lie, it wouldn't ruin the persona she had established.
Hearing that, Hayasaka Ai let out a relieved sigh.
But at the same time, she shot a resentful glance at Yukima Azuma.
He obviously knew everything.
Yet, even though he had no intention of exposing her, he still deliberately stared at her with that thoughtful look.
He was clearly just messing with her!
()
Just how much did he enjoy watching her panic?
"Oh? Yukima-kun, you know Hasaka-chan too?"
Fujiwara Chika blinked her big round eyes in curiosity.
Yukima Azuma gave a small nod.
But before he could even open his mouth
Hayasaka Ai spoke up first.
At this moment, she looked as if her spirits had completely plummeted, lowering her head with her vacant gaze fixed on some invisible point on the floor.
Pushed to the limit by his teasing, Hayasaka Ai decided it was time for her counterattack.
"Yes, we know each other. I'm someone who was once cruelly abandoned by Azuma-kun."
Hayasaka Ai: () ...inside: (>)
Fujiwara Chika: (`)!
Shinomiya Kaguya: ( _ )!?! NANI
Yukima Azuma: (_ )
The two girls instantly froze in shock.
Yukima Azuma's lips twitched.
Alright, alright, so this was how she wanted to play it.
Seeing that no one spoke up,
Hayasaka Ai secretly chuckled to herself, then decided to twist the knife a little deeper.
( )
"Having to see the person who once cast me aside it must be awkward for you, right?"
Her voice was heavy with sorrow.
As she spoke, her tone turned more choked with emotion.
"I'm right here beside you" A silent tear rolled down her cheek as Hayasaka Ai hastily wiped it away. "And yet, the pain still cuts deep into my heart"
Fujiwara Chika: (o)!!!
Shinomiya Kaguya: ( ®®) !!???
Watching Hayasaka Ai cry so tragically, like a delicate flower drenched in the rain,
The two girls were utterly stunned.
So there was such a tangled romantic past between them!?
Both of them simultaneously turned their eyes toward Yukima Azuma, eager to see how he would respond.
And then
The moment they saw him, they gasped in alarm.
At this moment, Yukima Azuma's entire presence had plummeted to an all-time low.
He didn't shed a single tear, but just standing there, he looked like a shattered fragment that could never be whole again.
The young man bowed his head, emotions swirling in his eyes.
"There was no other choice." His voice trembled slightly, making the air around them tense in an instant.
Like a discarded puppet, his pain wasn't overtly displayed, but just looking at him made one's heart ache.
"Because Hasaka cheating on me, we could never be together."
Following Yukima Azuma's words
The two girls simultaneously turned their gazes toward Hayasaka Ai.
(o.O)!!!
So in the end, you were that kind of person. We wrongly placed our trust in you, Hasaka!
Hayasaka Ai: Huh??
Hayasaka Ai: ( ®® ) ????
Chapter 183: Yakuza Again?
In Fujiwara Chika's mind, an entire heartbreaking script of over a hundred thousand words had already been writtenone filled with abandonment and sorrow.
( )
The fragility, the shattered state of this young manit was enough to make any maiden's heart tremble.
Who could possibly resist feeling compassion?
Shinomiya Kaguya, on the other hand, was slightly surprised.
( ®®) !!
So Hayasaka had been sneaking around behind her back this much?
( )
She had been properly educated, so how could she possibly
Wait a minute?
That couldn't be right!
Where did this deeply affectionate, tragic love come from?
Hadn't the two of them only met a few times?
And even then, it was while she was under the guise of Hasaka.
According to the gathered information, including this time, they had only met a total of three times.
Shinomiya Kaguya raised her left hand, lightly touching her cheek, activating the mechanism to force herself to calm down.
( `)
In an instant, any emotions stirred within her by this young man were completely extinguished.
Looking once again at the boy who could make hearts ache
Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't help but take a sharp breath.
This man! He's terrifying!
()
Hayasaka Ai was finding it difficult to keep her composure.
How could you even say something like that?!
What did I cheat you about?!
Ah, maybe I did, but only about my identity.
(>)
Realizing that Yukima Azuma had long since seen through her identity, Hayasaka Ai found herself unable to come up with a rebuttal.
She could only pout, glaring at the boy who was completely immersed in his role, her expression filled with grievance.
()
Seriously, can't you give me a little leeway?!
Seeing that things had gone far enough, Yukima Azuma withdrew from his act.
A notification from the system appeared in his vision.
[Notification: Your acting skill has reached maximum proficiency.]
[Acting (Lv3) Acting (Lv4).]
[Host: Yukima Azuma]
Physical: 7Intelligence: 8Charm: 8
[Skills]
Language Proficiency (Lv6)
Literature (Lv6)
Cooking (Lv7)
Programming (Lv4)
Shogi (Lv9)
Acting (Lv4)
[Note]: Skills below Level 4 are hidden and do not appear on the skill board.
The acting skill, which had been hidden before, had now appeared on the skill list.
He had officially stepped into the level 4.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but smile.
It seemed that aside from being taught by a master, actual combat experience also greatly contributed to skill proficiency.
The atmosphere in the room had become unbearably awkward.
Fujiwara Chikaas a self-proclaimed "love detective"was someone who couldn't stand witnessing brokenhearted scenes like this.
She even felt the urge to sneak out.
( )
Shinomiya Kaguya wasn't sure whether she should proceed with her plan at this moment.
Even if she knew Yukima Azuma was acting
His performance was too convincing, to the point that the atmosphere had become suffocating!
A long silence followed.
Finally, Shinomiya Kaguya gritted her teeth and spoke:
"Yukima-onii-san, now that I think about it, are you aware of the student exchange program between the top three private academies?"
"I'm the student council president of Shuchiin, and I heard that this year, Shuchiin is considering extending an invitation to you, Yukima-onii-san."
"As the top scorer in the inter-school exams, you could participate in the exchange program and experience studying at Shuchiin."
"At the same time, it would allow us to learn from your study methods and make you an inspirational figure for other students."
After saying this, Shinomiya Kaguya glanced at Fujiwara Chika.
Hoping that this energetic, yet "cancer of the Earth" girl would be of some use.
(.)
However, Fujiwara Chika had already lost all her spirit due to the suffocating atmosphere.
She had no intention of chiming in.
"...I see. I'll think about it carefully," Yukima Azuma responded, bowing his head slightly.
Shinomiya Kaguya's eyelid twitched slightly.
She began to suspect whether Yukima Azuma had already seen through her plan.
That would be way too absurd!
After another brief moment of silence
Yukima Azuma stood up.
"Ah I have a friend in the next room, and it wouldn't be polite to keep them waiting too long. I'll take my leave."
"Umu Alright, take care, Yukima-san."
"Yukima-onii-san, goodbye."
The two girls replied somewhat awkwardly.
Hayasaka Ai remained silent.
Before leaving, Yukima Azuma exchanged Line contacts with Fujiwara Chika.
....
Leaving the Girls' Room.
Yukima Azuma opened the Line app and found the chat with Hayasaka Ai.
Azuma: I'm in a terrible mood today. If only I could see Hayasaka, that would be great.
()
Sitting in her room, the moment Hayasaka Ai saw Yukima Azuma's message, her anger flared up instantly.
Terrible my ass!
And besides, didn't you just see me?!
Hayasaka: Harassment? Our relationship isn't close enough for that. Yukima-onii-chan, saying things like this puts me in a really awkward spot.
( ® ®)
Azuma: So cold.
()
Hayasaka: Yes! Exactly this cold!
( _ )
After venting a little frustration on Line, Hayasaka Ai finally felt a bit better.
She turned off her phone screen.
Yukima Azuma returned to his room.
"Azuma, where did you go?"
Kurokawa Akane asked curiously.
Could it really have just been a bathroom trip?
Why did it take so long?!
It really felt like he had taken the opportunity to do something else.
(_ )
"I ran into someone on the way and stopped by the front desk to get some ice for them to use on their injury."
Yukima Azuma explained briefly.
Kurokawa Akane let out a small "oh."
"I see."
And so, the two of them began their third rehearsal.
The moment they started acting, Kurokawa Akane couldn't help but take a sharp breath.
Last time was just improvement, but this time, it was an actual leap forward.
Even for a genius, this was ridiculous!
An Acting Lv3 skill was enough to surpass half the actors in the industry.
That level was still considered amateur.
After all, more than half of the entertainment industry relied on looks.
But Acting Lv4 was a completely different realmit was professional-level acting.
Now, Yukima Azuma had surpassed 90% of actors.
He had entered the top 10% of actors who could gain fame purely through skill.
It was unbelievable.
Kurokawa Akane simply couldn't imagine how such a skill could improve this much after just three rehearsals.
"That's... kind of shocking!"
She admitted bluntly.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma chuckled.
At that moment, Kurokawa Akane was standing in front of Yukima Azuma.
While he was sitting on the sofa.
Taking the opportunity, Yukima Azuma wrapped his arms around her waist and looked up at her.
"It's all thanks to my Guardian's excellent guidance. Shouldn't a Guardian be happy when their child achieves something?"
Being held around the waist, Kurokawa Akane's heart pounded wildly.
(o)
Looking down at the young man from above, it really did feel like gazing at an adorable child.
Her maternal instincts surged!
()Ara Ara
But... this young man was too handsome.
So this so-called "maternal instinct" was getting a bit... off track.
Kurokawa Akane felt like she was about to get a nosebleed!
(/////" )
...
After three rehearsals, their acting practice came to a temporary close.
A Lv4 Acting skill was more than enough to handle a film crew.
In fact, it might even shock the entire production team.
Moreover, after reaching Level 4, the experience bar had lengthened significantly.
Kurokawa Akane's guidance was also becoming less effective.
To continue improving his skill, he would now need time and accumulated experience.
So the two of them simply decided to enjoy the rest of their date.
As the sun set.
Yukima Azuma put Kurokawa Akane in a taxi.
After watching her leave, he planned to stop by a nearby bakery and buy two cakes to take home.
After all, there were still a few girls at home, and an occasional snack wouldn't hurt.
But just as he reached the bakery's entrance
He suddenly heard a series of footsteps echoing from the alley behind the store.
At the same time.
Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai also stepped out of the bakery.
The footsteps in the alley grew closer.
And then.
A group of burly men in black suits, gripping metal pipes, cleavers, and other weapons, suddenly rushed out from the alley.
For a brief moment, all three groups froze.
Yukima Azuma scanned the men in black.
Ayo, no kidding, there were even some familiar faces.
Clearly, they were from Yamaguchi-gumi.
Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai frowned.
Another attack?
Nitta Yoshifumi.
A young officer of the Yamaguchi-gumi, a yakuza organization in Japan.
Life motto: a man who craves blood, violence, and money.
He has a scar on his left eyebrow but isn't the type to rely on fistshe's more of an intellectual.
The scar on his head came from his time as an underling for Naito Tatsuhiko. He didn't manage to light a cigarette for him in time and got hit on the head with an ashtray.
His hobbies include collecting antiques and occasionally participating in auctions.
His father passed away, leaving behind his mother and younger sister, Nitta Mika, who live in the countryside.
As a young officer, Nitta Yoshifumi rarely takes direct action in violent incidents.
But recently, the gang has been short on manpower.
So, Nitta Yoshifumi had to step into the frontlines twice.
The last time, the mission was to kidnap a rich heiress.
For the yakuza, this was as easy as flipping a hand.
But for Nitta Yoshifumi to personally carry out the kidnapping was a foolish act.
If he had the time to investigate the target's identity and schedule,
he could have made more money by studying the stock market instead.
Moreover, kidnapping was inherently too risky a business.
But since it was an order from the gang, Nitta Yoshifumi had no right to refuse.
And just as he had an ominous feeling
During the kidnapping, he ran into a monster.
A being that looked human.
But could nonchalantly take on over a dozen seasoned gangsters.
That monster was like a cursed chef, treating everything around him as mere ingredients for his cooking.
He could even tear a two-meter-tall muscle-bound thug into a "pile of shredded meat" that didn't even reach his knees.
Nitta Yoshifumi thought that, in the face of such a monster,
running away couldn't possibly be called cowardice.
So, he ran.
Later, he was punished by his superiors.
But compared to his comrades, who had been torn apart into pools of blood,
to Nitta Yoshifumi, that so-called punishment felt completely insignificant.
His judgment had been entirely correct.
And yet, less than two months later, his superiors assigned him another mission.
Another kidnapping.
But this time, the target was just an ordinary child.
Nitta Yoshifumi was speechless.
He wondered if the boss had gone stupid.
Kidnapping a little girl from a regular familywhere was the money in that?
He still had PTSD from the last kidnapping attempt.
Nitta Yoshifumi even considered
Should he injure himself? Break a bone or something?
Just to get out of this job.
But in the end, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Thinking it through, that monster must have been a professional bodyguard for the rich heiress.
Like the kind of character you'd find in a seinen manga.
Orphans abandoned on a secluded island,
trained by professional assassins in every killing technique imaginable,
and ultimately, in their final graduation exam,
they had to slaughter their closest comrades to pass.
Hmm... That actually sounds more like Naruto than a seinen manga. Umu.
This time, it was just kidnapping a little girl from an ordinary family.
There was no way he would run into
...
On the streets.
For a moment, all three sides were stunned.
Shinomiya Kaguya frowned.
The last attack, at least, had some clues to follow.
After all, she had attended a dinner party that night and even stayed out overnight.
No matter how well the Shinomiya family safeguarded information, with so many people around, leaks were inevitable.
But this time, in order to carry out the plan with Yukima Azuma,
she had only brought a trusted driver and a few bodyguards.
The location was even a Shinomiya Group-owned business.
And yet, she was still ambushed.
Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't help but suspectwas someone within the Shinomiya family trying to take her life?
Her three older brothers were not easy opponents.
As for Yukima Azuma,
when he saw those familiar faces, he couldn't help but click his tongue.
Was this yakuza gang really that bold?
Daring to go after the Shinomiya heiress twice in a row.
Did they not fear that the entire gang would be erased by the Shinomiya conglomerate?
He turned to glance at Shinomiya Kaguya.
Then, helplessly shook his head.
If it had been one of the three sons of the Shinomiya family,
even a single ambush would have been enough for Yamaguchi-gumi to be wiped off the map.
After all, in the eyes of most members of the Shinomiya family,
Shinomiya Kaguya was nothing more than a nobody.
Just a tool that would eventually be used for some exchangewas she even worth the trouble of causing a major conflict?
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
He pushed aside these irrelevant thoughts.
Since they had already run into each other, he might as well take care of it.
Consider it a small favor in return for the conveniences he had enjoyed from the Shinomiya family.
"Hey, hey!"
Yukima Azuma called out to the yakuza, his voice carrying the same kind of provocation as a low-level thug.
And yet, among those large, muscular yakuza
a full third of them instinctively stepped back in fear from that completely non-threatening call.
"Brother Nitta, why did you step back?"
"Yeah, Brother Nitta, why are your legs shaking?"
"The legendary 'Shibuya Dragon'could it be that he's scared stiff by some high school brat?"
Seeing their leader retreat,
the low-ranking Yamaguchi-gumi underlings were all dumbfounded.
They had never seen Yukima Azuma before.
At this moment, Nitta Yoshifumi's face had gone pale.
Forget about the fact that his so-called title of 'Shibuya Dragon' was nothing more than a bluff based on the scar on his head.
Even if he really was the 'Shibuya Dragon'
against this guy, he wouldn't even have a chance to make a move before his "dragon tendons" were ripped out.
"You idiots don't get it! That guy is a super-assassin trained by a financial conglomerate!"
"We're executing a strategic retreat! Preserving our forces! That way, we can remain loyal to the organization, got it?!"
While desperately making up excuses, Nitta Yoshifumi retreated behind his underlings.
His behavior immediately made a few yakuzawho usually just stood guard at their turflook down on him.
A leader this cowardly?
Getting scared by some high school kid?
This Yamaguchi-gumi was done for. That officer positionmight as well be mine.
Quite a few people started having such thoughts.
"Super-assassin? Brother Nitta, did you hit your head or something?"
Finally, someone couldn't hold back and voiced their doubts.
"Can't you all feel this terrifying killing intent?! This is real killing intent!"
"This isn't like the petty tricks we usethis is the true horror that has crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood!"
Nitta Yoshifumi trembled.
He realized that the monster was staring right at him.
The overwhelming pressure from last time was crashing down on him again.
But this time, Yukima Azuma hadn't even activated his shogi technique.
That so-called killing intent
was nothing more than Nitta Yoshifumi's own PTSD.
"What the hell are you babbling about? I'm going inlet's see what happens!"
A thug wielding a cleaver shouted loudly and charged straight at Yukima Azuma.
Seeing that foolish brat rush forward,
Nitta Yoshifumi silently took out his phone and opened the camera to record.
This time, he had to capture the entire process of that monster making his move.
Then throw it straight into the boss's face.
Is a yakuza's life not a life, huh!?
Seeing the thug with the cleaver charging in,
Yukima Azuma suddenly rememberedsince his shogi skill had reached level 9,
he had never actually tested the effect of fully activating Aura.
Although he had a rough estimate in his mind,
it wouldn't hurt to practice a little.
And so
Yukima Azuma raised his fingers, mimicking the motion of holding a shogi piece.
The moment his opponent raised the cleaver and closed in
Checkmate.
The thug charging toward Yukima Azuma suddenly slumped.
At the same time, his eyes rolled back, whites fully exposed, and foam formed at his mouth.
In just a blink, he lost consciousness.
His body, driven by momentum, continued to collapse forward, falling straight toward Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma smoothly followed up with a punch and executed a shoulder throw.
Effortlessly, he laid his opponent on the ground.
If one didn't observe closely, it would be hard to notice any flaws in the sequence.
At most, it simply looked like Yukima Azuma was exceptionally skilled in martial arts.
Seeing Yukima Azuma effortlessly take down an armed thug with his bare hands,
the yakuza who had been doubtful just moments ago all took a collective step back.
Being good at fighting wasn't scary.
But having someone constantly whispering ominous things behind your back? That was terrifying.
Earlier, they had heard Nitta rambling about a super assassin and terrifying killing intent.
Now, they had witnessed firsthand how their comrade was subdued as easily as flipping a hand.
Though nothing overtly supernatural had happened,
every single one of them felt a chill down their spine.
"Nani!??"
"Boss Nitta, what do we do now... Nani, where did he go!?"
"Shit, Brother Nitta ran away!"
"Then what the hell are we standing around for!? Run!!"
The gangsters turned their heads, only to catch a glimpse of their boss's car lights fading into the distance.
Watching their leader use the secret technique of the Joestar family,
they immediately scattered like startled birds, each fleeing in a different direction.
Seeing the thugs flee in utter chaos, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but click his tongue.
Running away so soon?
Last time, they showed at least a little more guts.
Just then, Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai arrived, accompanied by the Shinomiya family's bodyguards.
"Are you okay?"
Hayasaka Ai quickly walked over, grabbing Yukima Azuma's hand and checking him from head to toe.
From her vantage point behind him, she had seen him facing off against an armed thug in direct combata situation that looked extremely dangerous.
Even though she knew Yukima Azuma possessed terrifying martial skills, capable of taking on an entire gang alone,
Hayasaka Ai still couldn't help but worry.
Of course, the reason for her concern
was because she cared, which made her anxious.
Being pulled close and checked over by Hayasaka Ai, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
After confirming that he was unharmed, Hayasaka Ai let out a breath of relief.
She lifted her head, only to be met with Yukima Azuma's smiling gaze.
For a brief moment, a deep blush spread across her cheeks.
Even she hadn't expected herself to act so impulsively and show such obvious concern.
"Even though you abandoned me, I still can't stop worrying about you..."
Fortunately, for now, she was still maintaining the persona of "Hasaka."
Even though both of them knew the truth, at least there was still a thin layer of pretense to keep things somewhat concealed.
(note: This chapter feels like I shouldn't have added emojis)
--------------------------------------------
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Shinomiya Kaguya gave Hayasaka Ai a strange look.
Then, she stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Yukima Azuma.
"Yukima-onii-san, thank you for saving me once again."
Yukima Azuma raised his hand and gently patted Shinomiya Kaguya's head.
This action left Shinomiya Kaguya stunned.
"Head patting"a concept she had never experienced before.
Within the Shinomiya family, no one had ever patted her head like that.
The strict restrictions on internet access and the elite education she had received had deprived her of the opportunity to experience such intimate childhood interactions.
So, in her understanding, being patted on the head was probably more of an insult.
But Yukima Azuma's gesture didn't make her angry.
On the contrary, she found it... comforting.
"Shinomiya-san, you've had a tough time too. Go home early."
Yukima Azuma spoke sincerely.
Being a daughter of the Shinomiya family was truly not easy.
If Laplace Corporation were to become a major conglomerate in the future,
would his own daughter have to go through the same struggles?
Yukima Azuma chose not to dwell on it.
Children would have their own fates.
Worrying about such things was completely meaningless.
Withdrawing his hand, Yukima Azuma lightly rubbed his fingertips.
Shinomiya Kaguya's black hair had an incredible texturelike the finest silk, making it hard to pull away.
It seemed like... it could be addictive.
With a wave of his hand,
Yukima Azuma turned to leave.
Watching his figure gradually disappear,
Shinomiya Kaguya felt a strange sensation rise within her.
So strange.
What was strange about it?
That's rightwhy had this person saved her twice without asking for anything in return?
If it were an ordinary person, having saved a member of the Shinomiya family,
they would have long since demanded wealth, power, and status.
No need for repayment? That was completely illogical.
There was no way she had nothing that Yukima Azuma wanted.
"Yukima... Azuma, do you really have nothing you desire?"
Shinomiya Kaguya called out to Yukima Azuma, asking directly.
Now that she thought about it, the personality of "Ice Kaguya" was extremely pragmatic.
She assigned value to everyone.
Only when someone had a high enough value would she take action.
All for the benefit of the Shinomiya family.
So when she encountered someone like Yukima Azumawho acted but did not take any benefits
Shinomiya Kaguya found it incomprehensible.
The so-called "heroic acts without expecting anything in return"
were simply because the person being saved did not hold significant value.
But Shinomiya Kaguya was different.
She was undeniably someone of immense value.
Yukima Azuma stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Shinomiya Kaguya.
"Just take care of yourself. The things I want, I'll get on my own."
"And Kaguya-san, those things... you wouldn't be able to give me."
Here, Yukima Azuma deliberately addressed her as "Kaguya,"
separating her from the name "Shinomiya."
But at this moment, Shinomiya Kaguya's mind was in turmoil,
and she completely failed to notice this detail.
"Impossible!"
Shinomiya Kaguya frowned.
"I am Shinomiya Kaguya!"
Yukima Azuma said nothing more, simply waved his hand, and walked away.
Shinomiya Kaguya furrowed her brows even tighter.
This time, she was no longer thinking about benefits or recruiting Yukima Azuma.
Instead, she was genuinely curious about this man.
At the same time, a strong sense of competitiveness surged within her.
He dared to say that she "couldn't give him what he wanted"?
For the first time in her life, Shinomiya Kaguya felt belittled
and it made her extremely uncomfortable.
"Hayasaka, I must make him submit beneath my skirt!"
Shinomiya Kaguya declared boldly.
Hayasaka Ai had complicated feelings.
She was thinkingwhat Yukima Azuma wanted,
it seemed that Kaguya-sama truly couldn't give.
Because what Yukima Azuma wanted was the entire Hayasaka family,
along with herselfHayasaka Ai.
Unless Shinomiya Kaguya became the head of the Shinomiya family,
otherwise, she really couldn't give Yukima Azuma what he needed.
"Hayasaka, you're zoning out again."
Shinomiya Kaguya's voice pulled Hayasaka Ai back to reality.
"I'm still listening, Kaguya-sama. So, what exactly are we going to do?"
Even though she had been lost in thought, Hayasaka Ai had still caught everything Kaguya said.
That was the professional ability of a maid.
"Well..."
When it came to making Yukima Azuma "submit,"
Shinomiya Kaguya was completely clueless.
In the end, she clapped her hands and made a decision:
"In any case, first, we have to bring him to Shuchiin!"
.....
A few days later.
The Ryuuou Finals.
"Shishou! Do your best! Ai will be cheering for you!"
( ) *
Early in the morning, Hinatsuru Ai carried a breakfast she had made herself
and ran to Yukima Azuma's room.
She was wearing a maid outfit.
A black and white long dress, puffed sleeves, along with the signature maid headband.
She looked... extremely dangerous!
"Brat, what's with that outfit?"
Sora Ginko, who was following right behind, saw Hinatsuru Ai's maid outfit
and immediately looked displeased.
"Hmph! This is a specially tailored outfit for shishou!"
"A special uniform to serve shishou"
(_ )
Midway.
Yukima Azuma instantly covered Hinatsuru Ai's mouth.
( ®®) !!
If she kept talking like this...
something was bound to happen sooner or later.
One had to know, today was the Ryuuou Finals,
and reporters were everywhere in Hinatsuru Ryokan.
Although the Hinatsuru family's main estate was a restricted area,
there was still a chance of an "accident" at any time.
And there was always the possibility of some reckless paparazzi breaking in.
If Hinatsuru Ai's words were recorded,
Yukima Azuma did not want to be branded as "Ryuuou-Lolicon" for life.
Even worse, he didn't want the FBI kicking down his door.
FBI: Smart boy ( )
"Here, take this."
Sora Ginko spoke in a flat tone.
Then, she handed a sachet to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma picked it up to examine it.
It was a hand-embroidered sachet,
with a snowflake pattern at the corner.
He brought it up to his nose for a sniff.
A faint herbal scent emanated from it.
Having just woken up, Yukima Azuma's mind was still a little groggy.
But the moment he caught the scent, he instantly felt more awake.
"Inside are specially blended medicinal herbs. Wearing it will help keep you alert."
"Consider it a permitted tool... D-Don't get the wrong idea, I just made it casually."
"Anyway, you're not allowed to lose!"
(,,><,,)
Sora Ginko spoke while glancing to the side.
A perfect tsundere.
Yukima Azuma clenched the sachet that Sora Ginko had made.
In shogi, certain small tools were allowed,
such as air purifiers,
to help players maintain focus.
Many professional players also had their own personal habits.
But before this, Yukima Azuma had never used any kind of aid.
Because he felt it was completely unnecessary.
But now, after receiving this sachet,
he somewhat understood the mindset of other players.
These tools might not have much actual effect.
But they were a symbol of trust, a form of spiritual support.
"Thank uoy, Ginko-senpai."
Yukima Azuma responded, then hung the sachet on his waist.
After that, he began eating the morale-boosting breakfast that Hinatsuru Ai had prepared.
Once he was fully buffed,
Yukima Azuma left the main house of the Hinatsuru family
and headed toward the competition venue.
...
Outside the tournament hall was swarmed with reporters.
At this moment, Kawai Kenichi was being surrounded for interviews.
Meanwhile, since Yukima Azuma was coming from the main house,
he managed to avoid the reporters entirely.
Just like that, he walked straight to the competition venue without interruption.
He sat down at the 7-shaku board.
"I'm the one waiting for my opponent first?"
"Tsk tsk, isn't this the classic foreshadowing of a legendary reversal?"
He mumbled with amusement and shook his head with a soft chuckle.
Honestly, not only was he fully buffed,
but even if today was filled with death flags,
there was no way Yukima Azuma could lose.
Level 9 shogi, a joke?
After a short wait, Kawai Kenichi entered from outside, looking somewhat disheveled.
Dealing with a swarm of enthusiastic reporters was no easy task.
Yukima Azuma gestured for him to take a seat.
Kawai Kenichi sat down across the board and took a deep breath.
"Finally, I get to play against you again, Yukima-senpai!"
"Your words in the past have always pushed me forward."
"Because of that, I must give it my all!"
"I want Yukima-senpai to see how much I've changed under your guidance!"
"I hope Yukima-senpai won't hold back and will fight with everything you've got!"
( )
Kawai Kenichi spoke with enthusiasm after taking his seat.
Yukima Azuma nodded slightly.
"Umu, I will respond with my full strength."
( )
After their exchange of fighting spirit,
the Ryuuou FinalsGenius One vs. Potential Manofficially began.
....
Kawai Kenichi opened with Kakugyou,
following the most traditional Ai-Kakugyou (Double Bishop Exchange).
This time, Yukima Azuma also pushed his Kakugyou forward,
responding with a symmetrical formation.
Ai-Kakugyou against Ai-Kakugyou.
It was clear that Kawai Kenichi had improved tremendously.
From the qualifiers, he had continuously broken through barriers.
His perception of shogi had evolved significantly.
At the same time, his momentum had grown stronger, his confidence unwavering
as if piercing through heaven and earth.
Perhaps in pure strength, Kawai Kenichi was still not at the level of a 9-dan player.
But he had defeated multiple 9-dan professionals on his journey here.
With his current form, even the Meijin present would be astonished.
"Nah, I'd Win."
That was what Kawai Kenichi thought.
But in front of a Kawai Kenichi who had completely transformed...
Yukima Azuma's answer was
Throughout Heaven and Earth, I Alone Am The Honored One.
()_
.
.
.
"I lost."
Kawai Kenichi bowed his head and placed down his resignation piece.
...
Are you kidding? If passion alone was enough to win,
then Yukima Azuma wouldn't have had to grind his mastery so hard.
LOL LMAO. ()
Not long ago, Kenichi had been shouting about friendship, bonds, and the future...
Charging forward with blazing determination.
And then what?
In just a single game.
Every bit of shogi intuition he had accumulated through his uphill battle was turned to dust.
After losing the first match, Kawai Kenichi became dazed.
He had used Ai-Kakugyou to defeat a 9-dan player.
Up until a few minutes ago, Kawai Kenichi truly believed his Ai-Kakugyou had reached the peak of shogi.
But then...
Yukima Azuma also played Ai-Kakugyou.
And completely shattered his understanding of the formation.
Every move he had calculated carefully
Yukima Azuma only needed a moment to find a more optimal solution.
Halfway through the match, Kawai Kenichi started questioning the three fundamental mysteries of life.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What am I even doing here?
The truth has proven that the protagonist's aura cannot compete against a Fraud.
Originally, Kawai Kenichi 2-dan was still loudly proclaiming the power of friendship.
But after just one game, Yukima Azuma completely shattered his passionate fighting spirit.
At first, he had the strength of about 9-dan.
But when his sense of the game was crushed,
Kawai Kenichi's level immediately plummeted to around 4-dan.
This is exactly the weakness of evolving in the middle of a match.
If one reaches the peak and then suffers a blow,
The faster one rises, the faster one falls.
Without a solid foundation, there isn't even a cushion to break the fall.
So, the next three games were no longer worth discussing.
The first game still seemed somewhat exciting.
But in the next three games, the audience only saw a one-sided match.
There was not a single surprise.
Yukima Azuma claimed this year's Ryuuou title.
After the fourth game ended,
Yukima Azuma looked at the dazed Kawai Kenichi.
He couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.
Ah, well... You were the one who told me to give it my all.
Now that I've gone all out, you're not happy anymore.
Standing up.
He walked over to Kawai Kenichi, and just like during the preliminary rounds, Yukima Azuma reached out and patted his shoulder lightly.
"Hang in there, you're really strong, the future belongs to you!"
)
Hearing this, Kawai Kenichi instinctively felt his passion ignite again.
But his shattered sense of the game immediately doused him with a bucket of cold water.
Kawai Kenichi suddenly calmed down.
It's fine if I can't fire up again.
But after calming down, Kawai Kenichi started to feel that something was off.
This year, he was already twenty-two.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma... seemed to be only sixteen?
What the hell do you mean the future belongs to me!?
What future is even left!?
Kawai Kenichi's vision darkened.
...
Yukima Azuma had no idea that Kawai Kenichi had finally seen through that "encouragement."
He stood up and walked out of the room.
Just as he pulled the door open
Hinatsuru Ai lunged in and hugged him tightly.
"Shishou! Congratulations on becoming Ryuuou!"
( ( `)
Sora Ginko stood behind her, clearly wanting to do something too, but she seemed a bit hesitant.
At that moment, Kiyotaki Keika seized the opportunity.
From behind, she gave Sora Ginko a hard push.
As a result, Sora Ginko lost her balance.
And also fell into Yukima Azuma's embrace.
Yukima Azuma extended his other hand and caught Sora Ginko.
"Mm~..." After a soft groan, Sora Ginko buried her face into Yukima Azuma's chest. "Azuma, congratulations on becoming Ryuuou!"
(>/////<)
"Umu, it's all thanks to Senpai's scented pouch. If not, I might have lost!"
A guy who had just won 4-0 casually remarked.
(>)
After celebrating with hugs for a while
Kiyotaki Keika reminded him, "Azuma-kun, it's time for your interview."
The prize money for the Ryuuou tournament was as high as three hundred million yen.
Most of it was covered by sponsors.
And the biggest sponsor of this year's Ryuuou tournament was Momobami Newspaper.
So, the interview was an absolute must.
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment, then held the hands of both Hinatsuru Ai and Sora Ginko, walking together to the room that had been decorated as a press conference venue.
When Yukima Azuma appeared, leading a little girl and a young girl,
The camera flashes in the room immediately went off in rapid succession.
Fortunately, Hinatsuru Ai was the heir of the Hinatsuru family, and she was already accustomed to facing storms and turbulence.
As for Sora Ginko, she was an idol in the women's shogi world and had long been familiar with interviews.
Both of them showed no signs of nervousness under the flashing lights.
They stepped onto the stage.
The interview began.
...
"Congratulations to player Yukima Azuma-san for officially advancing to 8-dan, winning the Ryuuou title, and at the same time breaking the record for the youngest professional player to reach 8-dan as well as the youngest Ryuuou in history. You truly are an extraordinary genius. May I ask, after achieving such a great accomplishment, how do you feel right now?"
A reporter was the first to stand up.
Summarizing the gathered information, they also used the opportunity to congratulate Yukima Azuma.
At the same time, another familiar question was brought up.
"You've achieved such great success at a young agehow do you feel about it?"
"Very emotional." Yukima Azuma replied calmly.
( )
The corners of the reporters' mouths twitched.
( `)
Looking at him, he didn't seem emotional at all.
He won the Ryuuou title, yet he didn't even shout in excitement once!
"Yukima 8-dan, what do you think is the key to achieving these accomplishments?"
"Diligence to make up for my shortcomings, I think."
( )
Yukima Azuma's answer once again left the reporters speechless.
You call that "shortcomings"?
Seeing that the usual questions weren't yielding any interesting responses, a quick-witted reporter changed direction and turned toward the two people who had gone on stage with Yukima Azuma.
"And these two are...?"
At this mention, Yukima Azuma was no longer sluggish.
"This is my Senpai, Sora Ginko." Yukima Azuma smiled, holding Sora Ginko's hand as he introduced her.
"I'm sure everyone is familiar with her. After all, she's the legendary 'The Snow White of Naniwa.'"
"I was able to come this far in shogi thanks to the dedicated guidance of my mentors. I am deeply grateful to Master Kiyotaki Kousuke and Senpai Kiyotaki Keika."
"But the person I want to thank the most is Ginko-senpai. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be where I am today."
( )
Yukima Azuma's words made Sora Ginko's face flush red.
( - )
That's too much!
The reporters immediately caught onto the key point.
()
They quickly aimed their cameras at Yukima Azuma and Sora Ginko, snapping away continuously.
Especially their tightly clasped handsthose were captured in countless close-up shots!
( )
A Young Ryuuou and the Snow White of Naniwa.
Even without captions, this photo alone would draw an enormous amount of views!
When the camera flashes finally calmed down a little,
Yukima Azuma moved behind Hinatsuru Ai.
He gently pushed her forward, placing both hands on her shoulders.
"This is Hinatsuru Ai, the person I made a promise to before entering the Ryuuou tournament."
"That if I became Ryuuou, I would take her as my disciple."
The camera flashes flared up intensely once again.
The Ryuuou's disciple!
That phrase alone would surely be a sensational headline!
"Shishou~!" Hinatsuru Ai's voice carried a hint of surprise and joy.
She hadn't expected Yukima Azuma to announce her status as his disciple in this way.
Her big, round eyes shimmered with excitement.
()
Yukima Azuma grinned happily.
What was so special about flaunting the Ryuuou title?
Of course, the real flex was showing off a beautiful senpai and an adorable little disciple!
The truth was, Yukima Azuma wasn't without a desire to boast.
It's just that what he wanted to flaunt was a little different from the norm.
After proudly showing off his senpai and his disciple,
Yukima Azuma immediately wanted to slip away.
But the reporters had no intention of letting him go.
This was the youngest Ryuuou, and on top of that, he was very handsome.
If they didn't squeeze out a few more pieces of news, they would be unworthy of their title as reporters.
"May I ask, what is Yukima 8-dan's next goal?"
"Eternal Ryuuou."
Yukima Azuma was already quite close to reaching the highest level of shogi skill.
At most, he would need to play until the second round of Eternal Ryuuou.
At that point, whether he proceeded to the third round or not would mostly depend on whether he had the time.
"Then, may I ask, does Yukima 8-dan have any further goals?"
The reporters pressed on.
Although this time, the Potential Man of the Ryuuou tournament had fallen,
There was still a Meijin in the shogi world.
For this young Ryuuou, if he had long-term goals, they would surely be the same as that Meijin's.
Collecting all the Eternal titles.
That would inevitably lead to a showdown with the Meijin.
Wouldn't the buzz around this topic explode?
Yukima Azuma pondered for a moment: "Prime Minister of Japan."
( ,,'',,)
Reporters: ( ®®) !!?
Taking advantage of the reporters' stunned expressions,
Yukima Azuma grabbed Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai and bolted.
...
Hinatsuru estate.
Early in the morning, upon waking up, Yukima Azuma immediately felt that the decor of the estate was somewhat odd.
It had only been a day, but now looking around
In front of the estate's main gate, red lanterns were hanging brightly.
On both sides of the walls, deep red silk banners were draped.
Inside the estate, drums and gongs were being played, creating an extremely festive atmosphere.
Just at that moment, Hinatsuru Akina stepped out.
Yukima Azuma quickly approached.
"Hinatsuru-san, what is all this?"
"A disciple acceptance banquet!" Hinatsuru Akina replied matter-of-factly.
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
Why the hell does this look like a wedding banquet?!
And not just any wedding, but a traditional Chinese-style one!
"Yukima-sensei, don't just stand there dazed, Ai is still waiting for you inside."
Hinatsuru Akina said.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma simply assumed that the Hinatsuru family didn't fully understand Chinese culture.
They must have thought that decorating this way made the occasion more festive.
So, half-believing, half-doubting, he stepped into the Hinatsuru estate.
The resultjust as he entered the grand hall
Yukima Azuma immediately saw, right in the center of the hall
A little girl dressed in a bright red ceremonial outfit, with a neatly embroidered red bridal veil covering her head.
Yukima Azuma: (") !?
FBI: ( ) ?
Yukima Azuma: ( ®®) !!
FBI: ( `з) "IЂЂ
FBI: ( )- Confiscation of criminal evidence
Yukima Azuma: (Ї Ї)
Your Honor, I have been wronged!!!!!!!!!
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Chapter 187: Kirisu Mafuyu is the Best!
Yukima Household.
Kirisu Mafuyu was reading news about the Ryuuou tournament on her phone.
Seeing her student win the Ryuuou title
On the path of shogi, he had almost reached the pinnacle.
From the bottom of her heart, Kirisu Mafuyu felt happy for Yukima Azuma.
()
Her educational philosophy was that educators should guide students on the path to utilizing their own talents.
Because once upon a time, due to a moment of impulsiveness, she had abandoned her talent in figure skating.
Kirisu Mafuyu had always regretted it.
And now, seeing her student fully realize his talent
As a teacher, Kirisu Mafuyu felt as if she had been saved.
But
Turning off her phone
Kirisu Mafuyu stiffened, pausing for a moment before raising her hands to lightly pat her cheeks.
Trying to use this method to dispel the strange thoughts in her head.
()
Lately, she kept dreaming about Yukima Azuma.
"Kirisu Mafuyu! Even if you want to get married, you absolutely cannot take a student as a romantic fantasy!"
The beautiful female teacher told herself in embarrassment.
(>/////< " )
The impression this troublesome student left on her was truly too profound.
Both saved and taken care of.
A handsome young man who nearly fulfilled all of Kirisu Mafuyu's fantasies.
( ` ) <3
Young, handsome, talented, rich, a great cook, skilled at taking care of others, thoughtful...
Saying she wasn't moved would definitely be a lie.
Ever since that drunken incident, Kirisu Mafuyu had been avoiding Yukima Azuma.
After that, he went to Iwate.
Only then was Kirisu Mafuyu able to breathe a sigh of relief.
But now that the Ryuuou tournament had ended, Yukima Azuma was about to return.
Living together like this, no matter how much she tried to avoid it, being caught was only a matter of time.
Kirisu Mafuyu even entertained the idea of moving out of the Yukima household.
Originally, she had moved into the Yukima house to supervise Yukima Azuma and the other girls.
Yet now, she, the supervisor, was about to fall into the trap herself.
Lifting her head to look around the room.
Wherever her gaze landed, everything began to feel chaotic again.
After being tidied up neatly by her own student
Kirisu Mafuyu had tried to maintain the order according to the standards Yukima Azuma had set.
But after just a few days, everything became messy again.
It seemed she had an innate talent for wrecking household chores.
(,,,,)
If she didn't touch anything, the tidiness might last a few more days.
But once she intended to step in
Everything collapsed.
"Like this, do I even resemble a teacher anymore..."
Kirisu Mafuyu covered her face in embarrassment.
( //>///
Clack...
The sound of the door opening came from the entrance downstairs.
Kirisu Mafuyu immediately sat up straight.
Just like an elementary school student caught off guard by their parents unexpectedly returning home, having spent the whole day watching TV instead of doing homework.
"I'm home... Huh? No one's home~?"
A young man's voice echoed from downstairs.
Only then did Kirisu Mafuyu remember that today, she was the only one at home.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had gone to the Fujikawa publishing house to prepare for the release of the final volume of The Metronome in Love.
Yukinoshita Yukino, as busy as ever, was working at the Laplace Corporation office.
As for Kato Megumi, who had suddenly moved into the Yukima household in the middle of summer break
Lately, she had returned home to help her older sister prepare for her wedding.
Hmm... Wasn't someone else missing?
... Forget it, if she couldn't remember, it probably wasn't important.
Kirisu Mafuyu stood up.
Even though she really didn't want to face this troublesome student at all.
But Yukima Azuma had just won the Ryuuou tournament and returned home full of excitement
Yet there was no one at home to share his joy with him.
()
Just thinking about that feeling, Kirisu Mafuyu couldn't ignore it.
( )
Especially when she knew very well the root of Yukima Azuma's problems.
That boy had always been lonely since childhood.
Taking two deep breaths.
Kirisu Mafuyu pulled open the door and quickly stepped outside.
As a result, the moment she stepped down the stairs
She immediately saw Yukima Azuma looking up at her expectantly.
( ®®)!!
Of course, he already knew that today, only Kirisu Mafuyu was at home.
( )
...
After the disciple ceremony ended, Yukima Azuma had informed the girls in the house about his return.
They had all sent their congratulations to him via Line.
But, the girls had also mentioned that they were busy.
They had their own lives, and Yukima Azuma could certainly understand that.
All things considered, today, only Kirisu Mafuyuwho had been trying to avoid himwas left in the house.
Based on what he knew about Kirisu Mafuyu,
She definitely wouldn't leave him alone.
So, the moment he stepped into the house, Yukima Azuma had deliberately called out.
Then, he stood by the stairs and waited.
Seeing Kirisu Mafuyu hurriedly coming down, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but smile.
"Kirisu-sensei, I'm home!"
Yukima Azuma's tone at this moment was just like a boyfriend returning home.
Kirisu Mafuyu nodded slightly, hesitated for a moment, then still replied:
"U-Umu umu, welcome home."
The situation was completely different from what she had imagined.
The boy in front of her didn't seem lonely at all.
Even so, if repeat again, Kirisu Mafuyu would still have stepped out of her room and come downstairs.
But now, facing Yukima Azuma, she really just wanted to turn around and run back to her room.
"Sensei, have you had lunch yet?" Yukima Azuma asked.
Kirisu Mafuyu glanced at the clock in the living room.
Only then did she realize that it was already close to noon.
"Not yet." She shook her head.
"Then I'll cook. Sensei, just wait in the living room for a bit."
Saying that, Yukima Azuma headed towards the kitchen.
Casually grabbing the apron hanging near the door, he put it on.
Watching the young man reach behind his back to tie the apron strings
His tall figure, firm arms, and that cute apron.
Kirisu Mafuyu unconsciously swallowed.
( ` ).
"Uh... You just got back, don't tire yourself out. I can just order two portions of takeout."
When she made the suggestion, her tone wasn't firm at all.
"It's fine, I didn't get tired on the way home. Besides, takeout isn't as good as my cooking, right?"
Yukima Azuma tied the apron strings into a bow at the back, then turned around.
He winked at Kirisu Mafuyu.
"Mm..." Kirisu Mafuyu only let out a long murmur, but her body was very honest
She had obediently sat down at the dining table before she even realized it.
There was no other choice!
That boy's cooking was simply too good, like magic, tempting the soul.
These past few days, she had been ordering takeout.
Her longing for the taste of his cooking had reached the point where she could no longer hold back her drool.
(ЇЇ)
She was just hungry, not thirsty, believe her!!!
Moreover, this scene was just too much like her fantasies!
After getting married, the two of them would live in an apartment of their own.
Both had their own jobs, and after returning home one after another, they would greet each other with "I'm home" and "Welcome home."
Then, the husband would put on an apron and prepare a simple meal.
Nothing too fancy, just ordinary home-cooked dishes.
Then, the two would sit at the dining table, eating while sharing interesting stories about their day.
This sceneany single woman of marriageable age must have imagined it at least once!
And now, a beautiful young man who far exceeded her expectations was standing right in front of her, wearing an apron...
How could she possibly refuse!!!
"Kirisu-sensei, what are you thinking about?"
Yukima Azuma's voice pulled Kirisu Mafuyu back to reality.
(®® ")
There were already two stir-fried dishes on the table.
Yukima Azuma was scooping rice from the electric cooker.
"Is this enough?" He held up a small bowl of rice for Kirisu Mafuyu to see.
She hurriedly nodded. "U-Umu, that's enough."
Receiving the bowl of rice and chopsticks he handed over, Kirisu Mafuyu's heartbeat involuntarily sped up.
(o)
Yukima Azuma also scooped a bowl of rice and began eating.
He picked up a piece of stir-fried meat and put it into his mouth.
As for Kirisu Mafuyu, the moment she took her first bite, her taste buds felt as if they were bathed in a refreshing rain after a long drought.
After so many days of longing, she was finally satisfied.
Her eyes gently closed, and a look of enjoyment appeared on her face.
()
Taking several more bites of rice, Kirisu Mafuyu suddenly looked up at Yukima Azuma, only then remembering why she had come downstairs.
She slapped her forehead, blaming herself for thinking about nonsense earlier.
"( _ <,, )
Then, she quickly spoke:
"Congratulations on winning the Ryuuou title! It's truly amazing!"
After saying just two sentences, Kirisu Mafuyu realized she really wasn't good at complimenting others.
Luckily, even though her praise was somewhat lacking, the atmosphere didn't become awkward.
"Thank you, Kirisu-sensei. It's all thanks to you for understanding and encouraging me before."
Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
Hearing this, Kirisu Mafuyu could only shake her head helplessly.
"I didn't do anything. This is an achievement you earned yourself."
Even though they had a teacher-student relationship, Kirisu Mafuyu felt that she hadn't actually helped Yukima Azuma much.
From beginning to end, his determination had never wavered, so he never really needed her encouragement.
His goals were extremely clear, with no need for anyone to guide him.
If there was anything she did that could be considered a great help, it was probably just signing his leave application.
But Kirisu Mafuyu never expected
Just as she shook her head,
Yukima Azuma suddenly spoke seriously:
"As long as Kirisu-sensei is by my side, that alone is an immense help."
"Meeting Kirisu-sensei is truly the greatest luck and joy in my life."
"Kirisu-sensei is the number one teacher in the world!"
These words, even though Kirisu Mafuyu knew they were mostly meant to flatter her,
She still couldn't help but feel moved.
(>/////<)
Chapter 188: Mafuyu-sensei, please take responsibility for me!
After the meal, Kirisu Mafuyu cleaned up the dishes and placed them into the dishwasher.
Watching the dishwasher start up, with the dishes inside gradually being cleaned,
She couldn't help but sigh: How convenient.
)
For someone as bad at housework as she was, this was truly an incredibly user-friendly invention.
Since Yukima Azuma had done the cooking, naturally, she should be the one to do the dishes.
But in the past, there had been a precedent.
Leaving dishwashing to Kirisu Mafuyu was a task with extremely high risk.
Not only was she prone to breaking dishes,
But Kirisu Mafuyu herself was also at risk of getting injured by the broken shards.
She had meant to help, yet in the end, it turned into a complete mess, and Yukima Azuma had to step in to salvage the situation.
( )
Just recalling that scene was enough to make Kirisu Mafuyu feel embarrassed.
She wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
(ЇЇ)
Fortunately, now that there was a dishwasher, such embarrassing incidents probably wouldn't happen again.
Speaking of which, this dishwasher was also made by Yukima Azuma.
"Meeting him must have been my luck."
Kirisu Mafuyu truly felt that way in her heart.
Just as she let out a breath of relief
"Kirisu-sensei, let's go to your room." Yukima Azuma's voice suddenly came from behind.
Hearing that, Kirisu Mafuyu's body instantly froze, trembling unconsciously.
Nani?
(O_O)!
Go to her room?
That even if they were going to do it, they should at least wait until the boy graduated.
Besides, her room wouldn't do, it would completely kill the mood.
"Kirisu Mafuyu! What on earth are you thinking!? Right now, if he mentions a room, it can only mean that kind of thing, right!? Are you that desperate!?"
(>/////<)
A deafening explosion echoed in her mind.
Kirisu Mafuyu stiffly turned around.
"H-Huh? W-Why my room?"
She still held onto a sliver of hopemaybe the kid just wanted a quiet place to study?
If that was the case, they could just go to his room instead.
"Because Kirisu-sensei's room is a mess, like the scene of a traffic accident."
"Last time, even though I helped Kirisu-sensei clean up, it's already been a few days."
"The room must have turned into a disaster zone again. Just to be sure, I need to check."
Yukima Azuma looked at Kirisu Mafuyu with an expression that said, you know exactly what I mean.
( )
Kirisu Mafuyu's last hope shattered.
The thing she had tried so hard to hide was now being dragged into the daylight.
Her entire being deflated like a salted fish, completely devoid of energy and dreams.
"Um Can we not go?"
"Nuh-uh! Of course not!"
Under Yukima Azuma's firm stance
Kirisu Mafuyu lowered her head and led the boy upstairs, stopping in front of her room.
She took out the key and unlocked the door.
Kirisu Mafuyu grasped the doorknob, but she really didn't want to push it open.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma could already guess the state of the room inside.
Without hesitation, he reached out and directly placed his hand over Kirisu Mafuyu's fair, slender one.
"Mm~..." The soft moanwhether from her student suddenly holding her hand or from the impending doom of the door being openedwas unclear.
The door creaked open.
A slightly messy room came into view.
Yukima Azuma was a little surprised.
He had expected to see another disaster like last time.
But Kirisu Mafuyu's room was actually only a little messy this time.
It seemed that, given Kirisu Mafuyu's terrible housework skills
She must have worked really hard just to keep it at this level.
Yukima Azuma stepped into the room and began tidying up.
He sorted the books on the deskplacing the ones in use on the desk and returning the unused ones to the shelf.
The clothes that had once occupied the chair were carefully hung up.
This time, Kirisu Mafuyu stood right beside him.
Upon asking, he found out that all the clothes in the room were clean.
As for the worn clothes, she would immediately throw them into the laundry basket and wash them right away.
Watching Yukima Azuma help tidy up her room, Kirisu Mafuyu felt somewhat conflicted.
The previously chaotic room became neat and spotless in the blink of an eye.
Looking at the orderly, clutter-free room
Kirisu Mafuyu suddenly felt a bit of admiration.
If only she could clean her room as well as he did.
Sasuga Azuma, you're amazing!
Wait a minuteYukima Azuma was her student, she was the teacher!
Realizing this, Kirisu Mafuyu felt even more conflicted.
"All done." Yukima Azuma clapped his hands after finishing the cleanup. "Now, Kirisu-sensei can stay here more comfortably."
Kirisu Mafuyu pressed her lips together, struggling to utter a simple word of gratitude:
"Thank you, Azuma-kun."
()
Calling him a "delinquent student" at this moment would be too much.
But calling him "Yukima" felt too distant.
She didn't want to be distant from Yukima Azuma.
"It's nothing. More importantly, from now on, I'll just call you Mafuyu-sensei, okay?"
"Umu... that's fine."
"If Mafuyu-sensei's room ever gets messy again, just call me to help."
"N-no, it's fine, that would trouble you too much. I can just hire a cleaning service."
(,,><,,)
"Mafuyu-sensei has never hired a cleaning service before, probably because you don't want strangers in your room, right? In that case, just leave it to me."
Kirisu Mafuyu slightly parted her lips.
Once again, her thoughts had been completely seen through.
Indeed, the reason she never hired a cleaning service before was exactly that.
She didn't want strangers entering her room.
There were too many things in Kirisu Mafuyu's room that she didn't want others to see.
For example, the trophies and medals displayed in the glass cabinet in the corner.
But could she really keep relying on a student like this?
Kirisu Mafuyu truly felt uneasy.
Moreover
"You don't plan to help me for the rest of your life, do you?" Kirisu Mafuyu mumbled.
No matter how optimistically she thought about it
If throughout high school, she had been living at Yukima's house.
And in two more years
When Yukima Azuma graduated
There would be no more reason for their paths to cross.
By then, Yukima Azuma would go to university and live his own life.
Maybe he'd marry a genius novelist or a blonde-haired noble lady.
When that time came, she should know her place and quietly step away.
And when that happenedshe, who had been taken care of by Yukima Azuma for so longwould finally have to end everything.
Kirisu Mafuyu felt like she would die of sorrow.
( )
So, it was better to reject him from the beginning.
Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.
There was no way Yukima Azuma could have heard that.
And yet
"Why not? Of course, I can."
Yukima Azuma tilted his head, looking genuinely puzzled.
Kirisu Mafuyu's eyes widened in shock.
She never expected her tiny mumble to be heard by Yukima Azuma.
Even more so, she never expected him to casually respond with "Of course, I can."
At that moment, Kirisu Mafuyu's heart poundedfaster and faster.
Doki Doki~~~
"Don't say things like that so casually." She turned her head away. "After you graduate, you'll have your own life. I'm just your high school teacher, nothing more."
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma immediately stepped forward.
Seeing the young man approaching with such momentum
Kirisu Mafuyu instinctively stepped back.
In the end, she found herself leaning against the wall of the room.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma smoothly lifted one hand and pressed it against the wall beside her, cutting off her escape.
That's right, this was the legendary kabedon.
Being subjected to a kabedon, Kirisu Mafuyu's mind was thrown into complete chaos, to the point where it no longer made any coherent sense.
"Could it be that Mafuyu-sensei doesn't plan to take responsibility?"
Yukima Azuma's words left Kirisu Mafuyu utterly stunned.
Take responsibility?
( ®®) !!?
What did she have to take responsibility for?
Could it be
Kirisu Mafuyu immediately recalled that drunken night.
Could it be that, aside from those joyful life moments
During the time when she had lost consciousness from drinking herself senseless, she had also carried out the premium content?!
The premium content that an adult must absolutely take responsibility for?!
Just the thought of that possibility
Kirisu Mafuyu was so embarrassed that she wanted to strangle herself to death on the spot.
She was such a beast! He was still just a high school student!!
()
How could she let herself be seduced by a young man's mesmerizing face and end up doing that?!
But if she had actually done it
Then she would definitely have to take responsibility.
She would wait until he graduated, and then she would marry him.
(Ї Ї)
Kirisu Mafuyu started worrying about whether she could become a proper wife.
After all, Yukima Azuma was too exceptional.
Even if she couldn't support him in the future, at the very least, as his wife, she mustn't become a burden.
While Kirisu Mafuyu was still lost in her chaotic thoughts
"Before, when Mafuyu-sensei asked about my past, you said something, didn't you?"
"You weren't listening as a teacher, but as Kirisu Mafuyu."
"Even after I graduate, Kirisu Mafuyu will still be Kirisu Mafuyu."
"At that point, you may no longer be 'Mafuyu-sensei,' but I could still call you Mafuyu, or Mafuyu-nee."
"If that's the case, spending our whole lives together wouldn't be strange at all."
"Could it be that Mafuyu-sensei doesn't intend to keep her promise?"
"Mafuyu-sensei, please take responsibility for me!"
Yukima Azuma tilted his head, looking at her with puppy-dog eyes, his expression utterly innocent and harmless.
Kirisu Mafuyu slowly widened her eyes.
So this was what he meant by taking responsibility?
Then what about their firstborn child?!
She had even thought of a name already!
(`Д)
.....
(Note: Ehm..... Chapters with inappropriate emotions to add fun emojis and also have nothing to add, I will limit them)
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
"Mafuyu-sensei, please take responsibility for me!"
Yukima Azuma's words still echoed in her ears.
Kirisu Mafuyu, both embarrassed and angry, immediately reached out to grab the boy's ear.
<( _)>
Yukima Azuma swiftly dodged to the side.
Having been kabedon-ed against the wall, unable to move even a bit, Kirisu Mafuyu could finally move again.
She immediately chased after Yukima Azuma.
Today, she was determined to teach this delinquent student a serious lesson!
(Д)
What was that about "taking responsibility for me," making her think all sorts of ridiculous things?!
Give back her Yumiko (if they had a daughter, that would be her name)!
( ®( ® ( ® ®) ®) ®)
After chasing Yukima Azuma for a while
In the end, since the room's size obviously couldn't compare to a sports field, even with his clear physical advantage, Yukima Azuma was still caught by Kirisu Mafuyu.
The two tumbled onto the freshly tidied bed.
The pristine, smooth white bedsheets, originally without a single wrinkle, were now creased beneath them.
Kirisu Mafuyu pressed down on Yukima Azuma, grabbing both of his cheeks with her hands and kneading them for a while.
After satisfying her desire for revenge, she finally calmed down.
And once she calmed down
Only then did Kirisu Mafuyu realize that something about their position was off.
To be precise, it could even be described as inappropriate.
A cow girl position.
( ®®) !!
Her cheeks, already flushed from the exertion, turned an even deeper shade of red.
(>///<)
She was just about to get up, pretend nothing had happened, and adjust her posture.
But things never go as smoothly as one hopes.
Yukima Azuma suddenly rolled over.
Their positions immediately reversed.
Looking up at the young man now pinning her down, Kirisu Mafuyu became truly wide awake.
"N-No, at least wait until after you graduate."
(>/////<)
She let out a soft whimper.
She had taken things too far just now.
Kirisu Mafuyu understood that high school boys couldn't easily control their desires.
But if something really did happen
Kirisu Mafuyu would blame herself for the rest of her life.
"Then, does Mafuyu-sensei want to take responsibility?"
Yukima Azuma heard Kirisu Mafuyu's whisper but didn't answer.
He simply gazed seriously into her beautiful eyes.
His breathing was slightly heavy.
After asking that question, even Yukima Azuma himself realized the issue.
Ever since he made his harem declaration,
His desires had gradually intensified.
Yukima Azuma did not want to let go of any important people around him.
Kirisu Mafuyu said they would part ways after graduation.
This was something Yukima Azuma found difficult to accept.
So he deliberately said ambiguous words to lead Kirisu Mafuyu into foolish thoughts.
Right now, Yukima Azuma was behaving like a yandere.
Using every means possible to keep the person he loved by his side.
They could have their own lives, but they could never leave Yukima Azuma.
This excessive desire was clearly somewhat twisted.
But Yukima Azuma refused to restrain himself.
Kirisu Mafuyu and Yukima Azuma stared at each other.
There were emotions in the boy's eyes that she couldn't comprehend.
Though she didn't fully understand them, Kirisu Mafuyu knew that Yukima Azuma was afraid of losing her.
This thought was as stubborn as a child's.
Normally, this teenager spoke and acted so maturely, completely unfitting for his age.
Yet this slightly childish stubbornness, while seeming out of place, carried a strange harmony.
Kirisu Mafuyu recalled the first day she visited Yukima's home.
It seemed she really had made such a promise.
That, as Kirisu Mafuyu, she would listen to Yukima Azuma's past.
That she would learn about him not as a teacher.
Perhaps she truly had a responsibility to bear.
Kirisu Mafuyu knew very well that this thought was completely wrong.
A stubborn studentshe shouldn't be stubborn along with him.
In the future, Yukima Azuma would surely have his own family.
Leaving aside the question of whether she would ever get married
But when Yukima Azuma started his own family, what role would she have in his life?
These were issues that could not be avoided.
Yet, when she looked into Yukima Azuma's eyes
Kirisu Mafuyu found herself wavering before this incorrect answer.
"It seems something like what you said has happened before."
Kirisu Mafuyu pretended to be lost in thought.
A moment later, she nodded and spoke, "Alright, I understand now. As a teacher, of course, I can't break a promise. I will take responsibility."
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma immediately smiled.
"Thank you, Mafuyu-sensei."
"U-Umu hurry and get up already."
"Oh oh, my bad. Please forgive me, Mafuyu-sensei."
"I-It's fine."
Yukima Azuma quickly sprang up.
The weight pressing on her body vanished, and Kirisu Mafuyu immediately sat up, lowering her head to adjust her collar.
At this moment, she didn't dare to look at Yukima Azuma.
In a moment of impulse, she had agreed to take on a strange responsibility.
Though she didn't regret it, such an ambiguous promise still left Kirisu Mafuyu so embarrassed that she couldn't face anyone.
(,,,,)
"Well then, I'll head out for now. Shiratamaru and Hogyokumaru haven't been fed yet."
Yukima Azuma found an excuse to slip away.
It wasn't until the room's door closed
That Kirisu Mafuyu slowly lifted her head.
She raised a hand and touched her cheek.
So warm.
She didn't need a mirror to guess how red her face had become.
Her fingers slid downward.
Kirisu Mafuyu touched the corner of her lips
Was she smiling?
And not just any smile
A genuinely happy one.
Realizing this, Kirisu Mafuyu suddenly became aware of something.
It felt as if a burden had been lifted from her heart.
Her previous thoughts weren't wrong.
If she had agreed to let Yukima Azuma help clean the room
Being taken care of like this, she would undoubtedly be heartbroken when the time to part came.
But if she thought about it carefully
Even if he hadn't helped clean the room
Could she truly part with Yukima Azuma so easily?
Kirisu Mafuyu realized
She had long been drawn in.
From the day she visited his home, from the moment she began learning about Yukima Azuma's past as simply Kirisu Mafuyu
Bit by bit, she had sunk deeper.
What happened todaywhether it had happened or notwas merely a difference in how deep she had sunk, not in the essence of the matter.
On the contrary, after choosing this "wrong answer"
She felt a sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted.
Because deep down, she did not want to part with Yukima Azuma.
For the first time, Kirisu Mafuyu had a clear understanding of her own feelings.
Thinking of this, she covered her face with her hands.
"Yukino, I'm so sorry!"
Guilt +1.
( )
After the Ryuuou finals ended, summer vacation had practically come to a close.
Only a few days remained before the new school term began.
"Azuma! Help! Lend me your homework to copy!"
."®()®".
On the last day of summer break, Eriri rushed to Yukima Azuma's house, shouting the desperate plea of a lazy student.
She had spent the entire vacation either lazy or binge-watching anime.
Her summer homework had long been tossed to the back of her mind.
It wasn't until Sayuri reminded her that the new school term was about to begin
That Eriri suddenly remembered.
( ®®) !!
Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched slightly.
Sasuga Aho Baka Eriri.
Her guts were impressive.
Or rather, perhaps she hadn't considered who else was living in this house.
() Yare yare~
Just as Eriri was about to say something
Before she could even open her mouth
Kirisu Mafuyu like the storm that is approaching.
"Sawamura-san! Summer homework must be done by yourself! It's an important part of improving your academic performance!"
"Your last semester's exam scores barely passedyou were just a step away from being sent to remedial classes!"
( Д )*
"Eriri-san, can I interview you for a bit?"
"What were you thinking, coming all the way to the homeroom teacher's rented apartment just to borrow homework for copying?"
( )
Yukima Azuma sat next to Eriri, pretending to be a reporter as he curiously asked.
Meanwhile, Eriri looked completely dejected, rushing to finish her homework.
"I forgot!" Eriri complained.
( )
During the past few days staying at Yukima's house, Kirisu Mafuyu had been busy with an advanced teacher training course at Shuchiin.
So, Eriri completely forgot that Kirisu Mafuyu was also renting a place at Yukima's.
And just like that, she walked straight into the trap.
She was caught red-handed by her homeroom teacher.
Copying homework was out of the question.
Eriri had no choice but to do it herself as best as she could.
Whenever she didn't understand something, she asked Yukima Azuma.
Might as well treat it as a supplementary study session.
To be fair, Kirisu Mafuyu wasn't wrong. For a student like Eriri, who had been struggling and barely passed the semester exams...
Summer homework was something she had to take seriously.
Otherwise, when the next semester started, there was a high chance she wouldn't be able to keep up with the lessons.
And when the final exams came around, she would end up cramming in tears again.
Watching Eriri struggling to solve a math problem...
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently patted her signature blonde hair.
It's fine. A little airheadedness is cute too!
After getting her "comforting head pats," Eriri felt a bit better.
And her reaction wasn't anything special.
After all, the two had already shared much more intimate moments before.
These little physical gestures...
As long as no one else was around, even a tsundere like Eriri could accept them normally.
After receiving her "comforting head pats,"
Eriri suddenly remembered something.
She put down her pen and took an envelope out of her bag.
"Azuma, I saw that the mailbox outside was open earlier."
"I thought it was just newspapers or something, so I glanced inside. But it turned out to be a letter."
"So I grabbed it on my way in, but I forgot to give it to you until now."
()
Yukima Azuma took the envelope and flipped it over for a closer look.
There was no sender's name.
But on the recipient's side, "Yukima Azuma" was neatly written.
The handwriting was graceful and pleasant to the eyes.
Staring at the envelope, Yukima Azuma felt a bit puzzled.
Who would send him a letter?
"In this day and age, someone still writing letters instead of just texting on Line... That's pretty rare."
Eriri also chimed in, curiously staring at the envelope in Yukima Azuma's hand.
( )
Yukima Azuma opened the envelope along the sealed edge.
Inside, there were two sheets of letter paper.
Unfolding them, he saw a handwritten letter.
[Dear Onii-chan-sama, I hope this letter reaches you safely.]
Just reading the first line, Yukima Azuma immediately knew who the sender was.
Even though for him, only a little over a month had passed...
For the girl who wrote this letter, it had been a long three years.
Yukima Azuma gently ran his fingers over the letter paper.
He wondered what she had felt when she wrote this letter...
Lowering his gaze, he continued reading.
[As promised, I have patiently waited for three years. Now that the three-year period is over, I am sending you this letter.
Even though you said we would meet again after three years, I can't help but feel a little anxious. After all, the way we met was already so strange.
I have arrived in Tokyo and have heard a lot about you. I wonder if Onii-chan still remembers this little sister of yours?
We will be seeing each other soon. If Onii-chan still remembers me, I will happily give you a hug filled with longing.
If Onii-chan has forgotten me, that's okay too. I will pretend we never met and let us have a new encounter from the beginning.
Dear Onii-chan, I hope this letter reaches you safely. I did not leave my name, but my longing and anticipation are completely real.]
These were the most important lines in the letter.
Aside from that, there were many small things the girl wanted to share.
Every stroke of her handwriting carried deep longing.
Yukima Azuma carefully folded the letter and placed it back into the envelope.
Sasuga Yuki.
Even though they had made a promise for three years, more than three years had already passed.
Yet she still worried that time wasn't enough, so she didn't rush to find him immediately.
Instead, she sent a letter first, preparing for a reunion where they would pretend to be strangers.
If Yukima Azuma recognized Yuki, then that would be wonderful.
But if something unexpected had happened, causing Yukima Azuma to lose his memories of Yuki
She could temporarily use a new identity to get to know him again.
This approach was meant to minimize any trouble for Yukima Azuma as much as possible.
After putting away the envelope,
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but sigh.
Sasuga my Imouto.
She's already in Tokyo?
Saying they would meet again soon just when would that be?
A sense of anticipation rose within Yukima Azuma.
Seeing his expression, Eriri revealed a doubtful look.
"Azuma, was that letter from someone you know?"
Eriri considered herself to have asked in a very subtle way.
"Umu, it's from my little sister."
Yukima Azuma replied.
Hearing that, Eriri blinked her emerald green eyes.
( ®®) !!
Little sister?
Azuma has a little sister!?
Since she didn't know much about Yukima Azuma's family background,
She only knew that he had moved from Chiba to Tokyo
And had been living alone ever since.
So, Eriri wasn't sure whether Yukima Azuma had any siblings.
But thinking about it, it wasn't that surprising.
Even if they weren't biological siblings,
They could be cousins within the family.
Eriri herself had a few like that.
It wasn't anything strange.
She even had an older sister with pure British blood.
Eriri simply assumed that the letter was from a cousin of Yukima Azuma.
"So it's imouto-san. Did she write about something important?"
()
Her sharp eyes twinkled with curiosity.
In the future, she would become Yukima Azuma's wife.
Building a good relationship with his little sister wouldn't hurt!
Hearing Eriri call Yuki "imouto-san," Yukima Azuma's expression turned a bit complicated.
He had a strong feeling that Yuki would never acknowledge Eriri as her sister-in-law.
"Not really. She just wrote to tell me she's arrived in Tokyo."
Yukima Azuma casually brushed the topic aside.
Hearing that, Eriri let out a small "oh."
So, it wasn't anything troublesome.
That meant the most important thing right now was still her homework!
Otherwise, when school started tomorrow, the one needing help wouldn't be the imouto-san
But herself, Eriri!
q(ЇЇ)p
"Azuma, how do I do this?"
(ЇЇ)
Looking back at her workbook, Eriri gave up on thinking and chose to rely on Yukima Azuma instead.
Yukima Azuma chuckled, grabbed a pen and paper, and started explaining the problem to her.
....
The next day.
Summer vacation had officially ended.
The weather still carried a trace of summer heat, but the stifling humidity was gone.
In the early morning and evening, when the wind blew, wearing only a short-sleeved shirt would make one shiver from the cold.
Kirisu Mafuyu had woken up early, dressed in her elegant small blazer, and headed to Toyogasaki Academy.
As a teacher, there was much to prepare on this first day of the new term.
Last night, Eriri had stayed over at Yukima's place.
When Yukima Azuma returned from his morning run, she was still curled up in bed, refusing to get up.
After all, she had stayed up late catching up on her summer homework.
Once Yukima Azuma finished washing his face,
He stood in front of Eriri's door, took out a key, and unlocked it.
Come to think of it, Yukima Azuma now had a total of four room keys.
After returning from Hokkaido, Eriri had given him her room key.
Kato Megumi had handed hers over as soon as she moved in with Yukima.
As for Kasumigaoka Utaha, she had given him hers even earlierright on the day they returned from the book signing event.
The last one to hand over a key was Kirisu Mafuyu.
A few days ago, after a conversation with Yukima Azuma,
For the sake of convenience in cleaning, she had also given him her key.
Even though Yukima Azuma had explicitly stated during the rental agreement that he wouldn't keep copies of his tenants' keys,
At this point, except for Yukinoshita Yukino, nearly all spare keys were in Yukima Azuma's possession.
As for Yukino she would probably hand hers over soon as well.
....
Upon entering the room, Yukima Azuma saw Eriri, whom he had already tried waking up once before his run.
She was sprawled across the bed, limbs spread out in the shape of a giant "" character.
A trace of transparent drool still lingered at the corner of her mouth.
Yukima Azuma approached the bed and poked her cheek.
"Mmm~... Let me sleep a little longer..."
(* *)
Eriri mumbled in a daze.
"If you don't get up now, you'll be late. You wouldn't want to be tardy on the very first day of school, would you?"
Yukima Azuma tried to wake her up by invoking her perfect oujou-sama image at Toyogasaki Academy.
But Eriri simply turned over.
She had absolutely no intention of getting up.
Ojou-sama image?
Who cared about that?
Sleeping was way more important!
^- .-^ -
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
( `)
It seemed like gentle methods weren't going to work on this aho-baka girl.
Just as Eriri flipped over
Yukima Azuma raised his hand and delivered a smack to her rear.
SLAP!
A crisp sound rang out, and Eriri let out an aggrieved whimper.
She stirred slightly.
But instead of getting up
She raised her hips even higher.
ЊЌ‹Ќ
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but laugh.
This otaku girl had she "awakened" already?
During their previous seggs, Eriri had applied every doujin technique she knew to their play. Had she gotten addicted?
It seemed that even when given a choice between "waking up" and "WAKING UP!", Eriri still stubbornly refused to leave the bed.
So Yukima Azuma extended his sinful hands toward her waist.
And then
"AHAHAHAHAHA... S-stop... I... I can't breathe!"
"I'm up! S-stop tickling me! I'm getting up now! J-Just stop already!"
"Yame-YAMEROOOOOOOOO!"
;
--------------------------------------------
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Sitting at the dining table.
While biting into a bun, Eriri resentfully glared at Yukima Azuma.
( _ )
"What's wrong?" Yukima Azuma asked with an innocent expression.
()
Eriri pouted: "Who wakes up a girl like that!"
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma shrugged.
"Who's telling you not to wake up?"
( ) ~
Eriri gritted her teeth, revealing her small canine tooth.
"Can't you use another way to wake me up?!"
()
For example... a morning k-kiss or something!
(o)
Eriri didn't say it out loud, but that's what she was thinking.
After all, the two of them had already done that.
Using a morning kiss to wake each other upwasn't that a perfectly normal thing?
Hearing her complaint, Yukima Azuma unconsciously recalled the posture Eriri had unknowingly made after he smacked her butt.
Oho, so that's the way she wants to be woken up?
( )
Yukima Azuma misunderstood.
"Exercising a little after waking up is indeed very good, but there's not enough time. You'll definitely be late for school."
Eriri: ( ®® ) ????
Exercise what?
Eriri was dumbfounded for a second but quickly understood what Yukima Azuma was implying.
After all, she was "Kashiwagi Eri-sensei."
If only she could understand math problems this fast, that would be great.
Eriri's complexion, naturally fairer than most, instantly turned red.
"W-Who said that kind of way! Azuma, Aho, Baka, Hentai!"
( //>///
Having just finished brushing her teeth and washing her face, Kasumigaoka Utaha returned just in time to hear Eriri shouting something that included the word hentai.
She suspiciously looked at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma innocently shrugged.
Today, he hadn't done anything hentai at all.
*******
After breakfast, the three of them went out together to the train station.
Getting off at the station near the school, they headed toward Toyogasaki.
Around them, quite a few students in Toyogasaki uniforms cast glances in their direction.
Currently, Toyogasaki Private Academy had three widely recognized beauties.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, Sawamura Eriri, and Alya.
And now, beside Yukima Azuma were two out of those three Toyogasaki beauties.
Naturally, they attracted attention.
However, the boys weren't too jealous.
Not to mention Yukima Azuma's appearance.
The three of them were also members of the same club.
After the resounding success of White Album, Toyogasaki Academy had even promoted their game development club at one point.
After all, it was a club from their school. If the club succeeded, the school also gained recognition.
Many people knew about this.
So, seeing members of the same club walking together was only natural.
Since it wasn't a new school year,
This time, there was no opening ceremony, nor was there a need to gather in the main hall.
Upon entering the school, Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately separated from the two of them to head to her third-year class.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma and Eriri went straight back to Class 1-E.
...
As soon as he sat down, Yukima Azuma caught a pleasant scent of tuberose flowers.
He looked in the direction of the fragrance.
Kato Megumi was approaching.
"Good morning, Megumi."
Yukima Azuma greeted Kato Megumi.
Kato Megumi lowered her hand.
"I didn't expect Azuma-san to notice. I was planning to cover your eyes and have you guess who I was."
<()>
Even as she said that...
A beautiful smile still bloomed on Kato Megumi's lovely face.
"Huh? It looks like no one is here. I must be seeing things, how strange."
( )
Yukima Azuma turned his head away.
Kato Megumi giggled.
( )
Immediately after, a pair of soft hands covered his eyes.
"Guess who I am?"
"Hmm... It's Megumi!"
"You guessed right. Good morning, Azuma-san."
( )
The two of them smiled at each other.
"You two sure are close."
Alya, the Russian girl sitting next to Yukima Azuma, twitched the corner of her lips at the scene before her.
( )
It's only morning, and she's already being force-fed dog food!!!
That said...
To be honest, this kind of interaction was a bit childish.
But it also seemed quite fun.
Only very close friends could do such innocent things together.
And as a foreign exchange student, Alya naturally didn't have such friends.
Her words carried a hint of jealousy.
"Pay attention to me too!!" (in Russian)
( )
Kato Megumi blinked her shinny eyes.
She didn't understand Russian.
But for some reason, she could still sense Alya's intent.
She tilted her head and looked at Yukima Azuma.
Her gaze seemed to ask: Is she also part of your harem?
( )
Under that stare, Yukima Azuma felt a little flustered.
Although he had said something like, "You are all my wings," to Kato Megumi...
In reality, after declaring the harem, he felt even more guilty.
"Everyone, return to your seats. The morning self-study session is about to begin."
Kirisu Mafuyu entered the classroom and tapped the blackboard.
The students, who had been chatting excitedly because of the new semester, immediately returned to their seats obediently.
Kirisu Mafuyu still maintained her authority as a teacher.
After ensuring everyone was seated, she subconsciously glanced at Yukima Azuma.
Seeing the boy attending class obediently and even looking quite well-behaved...
She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, while also feeling a subtle emotion rising in her heart.
Clearing her throat softly, Kirisu Mafuyu shook off her distracting thoughts and seriously assumed her role as a teacher.
"Summer vacation is over. Starting today, the new semester officially begins, so everyone should focus again."
"The academic workload for the next half-year will be heavier, and the exams will be even more difficult. You must study hard."
"After the morning classes end, the subject representatives will collect your summer homework."
After announcing the usual matters, Kirisu Mafuyu took out a few forms from her document folder.
"One more thing. You all may have heard about the student exchange program when applying to Toyogasaki Academy, but you may not fully understand it yet."
"The so-called student exchange program means that in the second semester of each year, students can apply for an exchange."
"The three private academiesToyogasaki, Shuchiin, and Hyakkaouconduct academic exchanges with each other."
"If you wish to participate, you can fill out an application form. As long as the target academy accepts you, you can become an exchange student."
At this point, Kirisu Mafuyu paused slightly.
Then, her expression became more serious.
"Although I shouldn't say this, as your homeroom teacher, I must take responsibility for you all."
"Shuchiin Private Academy is a true aristocratic school, where more than 90% of the students come from prestigious families."
These words were already phrased very modestly.
In reality, nearly 99% of Shuchiin's students were from the upper class.
If they weren't the sons or daughters of conglomerates, then they were the grandchildren of politicians.
Unlike Toyogasaki Academy, which places more emphasis on academic performance...
Shuchiin evaluates a student's family background as well.
Aside from a small number of exceptionally talented students admitted as part of an image strategy...
Most of Shuchiin's high school students had been studying there since middle school.
The school even had the concept of "jun'in" and "kon'in" ("Pure" and "Mixed").
"Jun'in" referred to students who had passed the entrance evaluation, entered from middle school, and progressed straight to high school.
Because of this distinction...
The atmosphere of exclusivity in Shuchiin was easy to imagine.
However, compared to another academy...
This situation was actually considered mild.
When mentioning that other school, Kirisu Mafuyu's expression turned even worse.
"As for Hyakkaou Private Academy... I do not encourage any of you to go there for an exchange."
"You may have heard of Hyakkaou's nickname: The Gambling Hell."
"This school is completely different from a normal academy."
"Gambling is legalized within the school, studying is secondary, and only gambling truly matters."
"Stepping into that place... losing everything is just an ordinary occurrence."
At this point, Kirisu Mafuyu stopped speaking.
Logically speaking, as a homeroom teacher, she shouldn't have said such things.
After all, the three private academies had a close relationship with each other.
But she had to take responsibility for her students.
Gambling was just like drugsit was something that should never be touched.
"If anyone is interested in participating in the exchange program, you can come up after class to take an application form."
"Once you've filled it out, submit it to me in the office, and I will forward it to the school board for review."
"That concludes the information about the student exchange system. If there's nothing else, everyone, proceed with self-study."
After speaking, Kirisu Mafuyu left the classroom.
Leaving the students to discuss among themselves.
As soon as she left...
Whispers quickly spread throughout Class 1-E.
"Hey... Yukima-san, is there really a high school that prioritizes gambling above everything else?"
Alya couldn't contain her curiosity and turned to ask Yukima Azuma with a doubtful expression.
He nodded slightly.
It was understandable that Alya, an exchange student from Russia, would find this incomprehensible.
Even Yukima Azuma, who had memories related to Hyakkaou, had found the system absolutely absurd when he first heard about it.
"Hyakkaou Private Academy is backed by the Momobami conglomerate."
"Every year, they don't actively recruit students; instead, students must apply on their own."
"Inside the school, gambling is legalized and is practically the top priority. Moreover, they have some extremely ridiculous rules."
Yukima Azuma gave a brief summary of Hyakkaou.
Upon hearing this, Alya's expression turned slightly strange.
It was truly absurd.
"Kujou-san, it's best that you don't go to Hyakkaou."
Yukima Azuma kindly warned.
Chapter 192: Shuchiin Academy's Exchange Invitation
"Kujou-san, it's best if you don't come to Hyakkaou."
Once again, he sincerely offered his advice.
Hyakkaou was called the Gambling Hell, not just because gambling was considered supreme within the academy.
But also because this place had rules tied to gambling that were extremely cruel.
For example, the Housepets system.
Where there was gambling, there would inevitably be those who lost to the point of bankruptcy, unable to repay their debts.
The wagers in Hyakkaou mainly took place between students or between students and the student council.
Once someone was deeply in debt and failed to repay on time, that debt would be transferred to the student council.
The Hyakkaou student council would pay off the debt on behalf of the debtor.
And once the student council took over the debt, that student would become a pet.
In Hyakkaou, pets were forced to wear humiliating tags, either in the shape of a dog or a cat.
And from that moment on, they lost all their rights as a human being.
The student council could decide the pet's entire future.
Including marriage, bodily autonomy, etc.
Furthermore, because the entire academy was immersed in gambling...
Those who kept winning no longer found satisfaction in mere monetary wagers.
Betting oneself, one's freedom, or even one's lifeeverything could be accepted as long as both parties agreed.
This was the reason why Hyakkaou was called the Gambling Hell.
And in this hell...
Lacking ambition was actually a good thing.
The worst thing was being someone with a strong competitive spirit and a perfectionist mindset.
As long as someone possessed these two traits, no matter how intelligent they were...
In this abyss of gambling, there was only one possible outcome.
Alya and Hyakkaou were completely incompatible.
Hearing the serious warning from Yukima Azuma
Alya, who was sitting next to him, slightly nodded.
"I won't go to places like that."
She had only asked about Hyakkaou out of curiosity.
When it came to gambling, Alya always kept her distance.
...
The morning classes passed quickly.
After the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, no one came to the podium to take the application form.
A normal high school student, upon hearing about Shuchiin and Hyakkaou, might feel a fleeting sense of interest due to their pride.
But the students who were able to pass the entrance exam for Toyogasaki Private Academyno matter how low their rankingwere not actually foolish.
"What's the first class?"
Yukima Azuma leaned back in his chair and turned to ask Kato Megumi, who was sitting behind him.
The new semester's schedule had changed.
And, of course, Yukima Azuma had no motivation to check the new schedule himself.
At this moment, his only option was to ask Dora-gumi!
)
"Literature, then Chemistry, Math, and the last period is Cooking class."
Kato Megumi took out the schedule she had copied into her pencil case and handed it to Yukima Azuma.
"Eh? We have Cooking today? But I already brought a bento..."
Kita Ikuyo, who had just come over after class, frowned upon hearing this.
Cooking class was held once a week, usually as the last period of the morning.
Toyogasaki Academy provided the ingredients, so students didn't need to bring their own.
And the finished dish couldn't just be thrown away.
Normally, it became the students' lunch for the day.
"Kita-chan, what did you bring?"
(^^ ) -
Eriri asked curiously.
"Fried chicken sandwiches." Kita Ikuyo answered as she returned to her seat and took out her bento.
Opening the lid, inside were four slices of sandwiches that looked absolutely delicious.
()
In between, golden-brown pieces of fried chicken could be seen.
"Has everyone had breakfast yet? Help me finish this!"
()
Kita Ikuyo held out her bento, offering it to the others.
Eriri had eaten steamed buns at Yukima's house this morning.
Alya and Kato Megumi had also eaten breakfast at their own homes.
In the end, Kita Ikuyo could only turn to Yukima Azuma for help.
"Are you trying to make me explode from eating too much?" Seeing Kita Ikuyo's pleading eyes, Yukima Azuma pointed at himself, looking utterly shocked.
(®®)
That expression made the girls burst into laughter.
In the end, Yukima Azuma still took a bite.
Then, he grabbed two more sandwiches.
Yukima Azuma walked toward his unfortunate friends.
"Satou, Kunimi, have you guys had breakfast yet?"
Hearing that, Kunimi Yuuma and Satou Kazuma simultaneously shook their heads.
Clearly, these two were the type to sleep in until the very last minute.
Where would they find time for breakfast?
Staring at the fried chicken sandwich in Yukima Azuma's hand
After the morning classes, the two male students were already a bit hungry, and now they couldn't help swallowing their saliva.
"Want some?" Yukima Azuma grinned mischievously.
( )
The two of them obviously knew Yukima Azuma had no good intentions, but they couldn't resist the temptation and nodded.
"If so, you guys know how to call me properly, right?"
Yukima Azuma slowly lured them in.
"In your dreams!" Satou Kazuma pointed at Yukima Azuma. "Do you think we'd throw away our pride just for a sandwich?"
Kunimi Yuuma also umu in agreement.
Yukima Azuma said nothing, only slightly lifted a corner of the bread.
The filling in Kita Ikuyo's sandwich was incredibly generous.
Just one glance inside was enough to make it even more tempting.
"Kita-san made it."
( )
"Honored father!" x2
(- - )
Yukima Azuma smiled in satisfaction and handed them the sandwiches.
Satisfying!
()
Watching those two take a huge bite in a hurry was truly a delight!
As soon as the sandwich went down
Yukima Azuma added, "That'll be 500 yen in total."
"Nani?!" Satou Kazuma's eyes widened.
( ®®)!!
With his mouth still full of sandwich, his voice was a bit muffled.
They had already called him "honored father," yet he was still charging them?!
"The sandwich belongs to Kita-san. If it were mine, of course, I would've treated you both."
\_()_/
Yukima Azuma shrugged.
Only now did Kunimi Yuuma and Satou Kazuma realize they had been thoroughly tricked.
They didn't have to call him that at all!
The two of them dug into their wallets, each pulling out a 500-yen coin and handing it to Yukima Azuma.
After receiving the money, Yukima Azuma was about to return to the girls.
But at that moment, Kirisu Mafuyu pushed the classroom door open and peeked inside.
"Yukima Azuma, come to the office." As soon as she spotted him, Kirisu Mafuyu called him out directly.
Yukima Azuma blinked.
Huh?
Waiting until Kirisu Mafuyu left, Yukima Azuma returned to the girls.
He handed the 1,000 yen he had just received, along with another 1,000 yen from his own wallet, to Kita Ikuyo.
"No no no, Yukima-san helped me out, so how could I accept money?"
Kita Ikuyo quickly refused.
"It's fine, business is business. The sandwich was deliciousit deserves to be paid for."
Yukima Azuma stuffed the money into Kita Ikuyo's hands.
At the same time, he grabbed the last sandwich.
Before leaving, he turned back and asked:
"Do you guys want anything to drink? I can grab something on my way back."
There was a vending machine right next to the teachers' office.
"I'd like black tea, thanks, Azuma-san."
( )
Kato Megumi raised her hand, looking like a well-behaved student.
"I'll take green tea." Kita Ikuyo said and also handed a 500-yen coin back to Yukima Azuma.
Eriri seemed like she wanted to say something but hesitated. Yukima Azuma smiled and nodded.
Got it, got itlemon tea.
Finally, Yukima Azuma looked at Alya.
Alya was slightly startled, clearly not expecting Yukima Azuma to ask her as well.
For a moment, she didn't know whether she should respond.
If she answered and Yukima Azuma ended up saying he wasn't actually going to buy it, wouldn't that be too embarrassing?
"How about red bean soup?"
Without waiting for Alya to respond, Yukima Azuma asked on his own.
Alya often drank red bean soup.
If she really had to choose, the answer could only be that.
She nodded slightly.
"Thanks."
"How wonderful." (Russian)
As usual, her words carried two layers of meaning.
Yukima Azuma chuckled, grabbed his sandwich, and left the classroom, heading toward the teachers' office.
He knocked on the door, then stepped inside.
"Here again so early in the morning?"
A teacher familiar with Yukima Azuma teased him.
"No choice, Kirisu-sensei spoils me too much."
`
Yukima Azuma ran a hand through his hair, feigning helplessness.
Hearing that, the surrounding teachers burst into laughter.
Kirisu Mafuyu quickly walked over and pulled him to her desk.
This brat really didn't know when to stop talking.
It sounded like a normal teacher-student relationship.
But she felt a little guilty.
()
As soon as they both sat down, Kirisu Mafuyu was about to say something
Yukima Azuma had already brought the sandwich in his hand right in front of her.
"Kirisu-sensei, you haven't had breakfast, have you?"
This morning, Kirisu Mafuyu had left the house early and didn't have time to eat at Yukima's place.
And with the busy morning class filled with student exchange program documents, she probably hadn't had the chance to go down to the cafeteria either.
Yukima Azuma's guess was spot on.
Kirisu Mafuyu stared at the sandwich in front of her, unconsciously swallowing her saliva.
Her stomach wasn't shy either, letting out a loud growl guru~.
Hearing that sound, Kirisu Mafuyu's face turned red.
(>/////<)
But thinking about it, Yukima Azuma had already seen far more embarrassing things.
So this time, she didn't feel all that flustered.
"Kuhum."
She let out a small cough to cover her embarrassment, then reached out and took the sandwich from him.
She hadn't even noticed she had skipped breakfast.
But Yukima Azuma did.
That kind of attentiveness felt like a warm stream flowing into her heart.
It made her feel at ease.
( )(._.`)
"I called you here for thistake a look first."
Kirisu Mafuyu handed Yukima Azuma a paper designed like an invitation letter.
He took it and quickly scanned through it.
The content was simpleit was an invitation.
From Shuchiin Academy, inviting Yukima Azuma to participate in a student exchange program at Shuchiin.
The tone was formal, and the invitation was even handwritten.
It was unclear whether Shuchiin simply valued appearances.
Or if they particularly valued him.
By the time Kirisu Mafuyu finished her sandwich, Yukima Azuma had already looked up.
"This is an invitation for the student exchange program from Shuchiin. What do you think?"
Kirisu Mafuyu asked.
--------------------------------------------
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The student exchange invitation from Shuchiin Academy.
Kirisu Mafuyu was somewhat curious about Yukima Azuma's thoughts.
Would he want to go to Shuchiin for the exchange program?
Normally, she didn't encourage students in her class to participate in exchange programs.
But if it was Yukima Azuma
Kirisu Mafuyu felt there was no issue at all.
Even though she always called him a "troublesome student,"
Yukima Azuma was actually the one she trusted the most.
The boy she had summoned to the office on the very first day of school possessed a maturity and capability far beyond his peers.
Even if he went to Shuchiin Academy, a place filled with noble heirs
Kirisu Mafuyu believed that Yukima Azuma would still shine the brightest.
Moreover, this invitation was from Shuchiin, not Hyakkaou.
There was nothing to worry about.
Yukima Azuma stared at the invitation letter, deep in thought.
Should he go to Shuchiin?
It wasn't impossible.
Going to Shuchiin would be beneficial for expanding connections and scouting talents.
This invitation was undoubtedly sent by Shinomiya Kaguya.
If he went to Shuchiin, most of his time would be spent strategizing against Shinomiya Kaguya.
But that wasn't necessarily a disadvantage.
Becoming closer with Shinomiya Kaguya would make it easier for her to entrust Hayasaka Ai to him.
Although they were technically in a master-servant relationship,
In reality, the bond between Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai was stronger than that of real sisters.
If Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't feel at ease entrusting Hayasaka Ai to him
No matter how he managed to take her away,
Hayasaka Ai would never truly be at peace.
As Yukima Azuma was still contemplating,
Kirisu Mafuyu spoke up:
"Go. It's only for one semester, a few months will pass in the blink of an eye."
Since Yukima Azuma didn't reject it immediately,
Kirisu Mafuyu understood his answer.
Going to Shuchiin would definitely bring benefits to him.
His hesitation was mostly because he didn't want to reduce his time with those girls.
But they had all moved into his house already.
Even if they had less time together at school,
They could just make up for it at home.
Kirisu Mafuyu thought the same.
And as a teacher
If something was good for her student,
She had to encourage him to do it.
"Sensei is right."
Yukima Azuma smiled, picked up the pen on the desk, and signed his name on the invitation letter.
After all, it was just one semester.
Going to Shuchiin to take a look wouldn't be a bad idea.
Kirisu Mafuyu put away the invitation letter,
Which would then be sent to the school administration.
"Alright, you have three days to prepare for the exchange program. Tomorrow, Shuchiin will likely send over the uniform."
"By Thursday, you can officially go there to register. At that time, someone will guide you."
"The first day at Shuchiin won't have any classes, just an orientation. When the time comes, just follow the assigned guide."
Kirisu Mafuyu instructed.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
...
After returning to class,
He told the girls about his invitation to Shuchiin.
Knowing that next semester Yukima Azuma wouldn't be by their side,
Whether it was Eriri, Kato Megumi, or Alya, all of them felt a little disappointed.
()
But Eriri and Kato Megumi shared the same thoughts as Kirisu Mafuyu.
Even if they couldn't meet at school,
They could just go to Yukima's house after school, the same for weekends.
The Morning Passed Quickly
Before long, it was already the last period.
The entire 1-E class headed to the cooking practice room.
On the way, the students had already formed their groups in advance.
Grouping in cooking class was decided by the students themselves.
Kunimi Yuuma and Satou Kazuma didn't seek out Yukima Azuma.
After one semester, they were already used to it.
Yukima Azuma always teamed up with Kato Megumi in cooking class.
If there were additional members, they were always girls surrounding him.
Even though they sometimes shouted, "Riajuu should just explode,"
( )
Kunimi Yuuma and Satou Kazuma never actually interfered.
"Megumi, team up with me for this cooking class?"
Yukima Azuma smiled as he invited her.
It was already an unspoken rule.
But Yukima Azuma always made sure to ask first.
Because Kato Megumi had once said that since childhood, she had never been invited to form a group.
So every time, Yukima Azuma would extend the invitation, making up for all those times Kato Megumi had never received one.
"Umu, I agree. Thank you for inviting me, Azuma-san."
(*)*.
Kato Megumi replied gently, radiating a bright and cheerful aura.
Ever since she met Yukima Azuma,
The once quiet girl had started smiling more often.
But if Yukima Azuma participated in the student exchange program,
Cooking classes like these might feel a little lonely.
As Kato Megumi was thinking this
"This is unfair! Two top-tier chefs teaming up is an imbalance in resource distribution!"
Eriri ran over. "Unless you let me join too!"
()
"Can I join as well? I promise I won't get in the way." Alya also asked.
(,,,,)
Just as Kita Ikuyo arrived, the group had already been formed.
Today's cooking class required groups of four.
"Kita-chan"
"It's fine, it's fine! I'll find someone else."
Kita Ikuyo cheerfully waved her hand, genuinely unbothered.
After all, she got along well with the entire class.
As the "super extrovert" of 1-E, she was like the class's little sun.
(())
Sure enough, the moment she stepped away, another girl approached to invite her to a group.
Seeing this, Eriri let out a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Kato Megumi looked at the new additions to their group,
Her tuberose-colored eyes blinking.
It seemed like she didn't need to worry about feeling "lonely" after all.
Come to think of it, it made sense.
Even after entering high school, her presence remained subtle.
But because of Azuma-san, she was no longer just a background character.
Sawamura-san was a close friend she could live with.
Kita-san was someone she chatted with daily.
Even Kujou-san, whom she had met not long ago, could be considered a friend.
Even if Yukima Azuma wasn't at school,
The impact he left behind ensured that Kato Megumi wouldn't have to endure anything alone.
Thinking this, Megumi smiled softly.
( )
The cooking teacher was a middle-aged woman.
Rumor had it that she was a special instructor hired by Toyogasaki Academy.
She held an advanced chef certification along with a teaching license.
She had once been a chef for Japan's national banquets.
"This semester, we will be learning about kaiseki ryori (note: Kaiseki cuisine)."
Unlike ordinary schools that simply read from a cookbook,
Then rushed students through making something simple like curry,
Toyogasaki Academy's cooking course truly taught etiquette in cuisine and the art of hospitality.
The dishes focused mainly on kaiseki ryori, a high-class culinary style originating from the tea ceremony.
What is known as kaiseki ryori was once called kaien ryoria banquet-style meal.
The term "kaiseki" literally means "breast-pocket stone." These kanji were thought to be incorporated by Sen no Riky to symbolize the frugal meal served in the austere style of the Japanese tea ceremony.
A typical kaiseki menu follows the "ichiju-sansai" or "ichiju-nisai" formatone soup with three side dishes, or one soup with two side dishes.
Kaiseki ryori places extreme importance on refinement, from the choice of tableware to the arrangement of the dishes, all requiring meticulous attention to detail.
Of course, one lesson couldn't possibly cover everything.
For the first session of the semester, the focus would be on agemono and nimonofried and simmered dishes.
Yukima Azuma selected ingredients from the refrigerator
He planned to make tempura, oden, and miso soup.
"Megumi, pass me that for a sec."
"Mm, here you go~"
"Is that done yet?"
"Just a little more."
"Hand me"
"I already got it, it's right by your hand, Azuma-san."
Once they started cooking, the conversation between Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi felt almost like a coded exchange.
Alya, standing beside them, was slightly astonished.
How could Kato Megumi instantly understand what "that" meant?
These two were way too in sync!
Watching them work together so seamlessly, Alya felt an invisible yet undeniable wall between her and them.
As an exceptional student, Alya's cooking skills were by no means inferior.
At first, she had planned to showcase her talent.
But now, she found herself with no opportunity to step in at all.
After standing there for a while, she eventually sat down next to Eriri, who was lazily munching on potato chips.
"
"Have they always been like this?" Alya asked, her tone difficult to describe.
Eriri, still chewing on a chip, shrugged.
ѓ()‚
"Well, all of last semester's cooking classes were just like this."
She, too, had once tried to join in.
But eventually, she gave up.
Because their synchronization was downright terrifying.
Eriri held out the open bag of chips to Alya.
Alya silently took one and joined Eriri in eating in the corner.
()
Yukima Azuma adjusted the broth for the oden before adding the ingredients to simmer.
Then, he prepared to make tempura.
But he soon realized that some ingredients were missing.
Turning around, he spotted Eriri and Alya sitting behind him, munching on something.
( )( )
"That was for the tempura batter, you two!"
Yukima Azuma laughed.
"Eh? No wonder there were potato chips on the table, ehe." Eriri scratched her head, grinning sheepishly.
Eriri: (>)
Alya: (®®)!
She had been wondering where Eriri got the chips from.
"I'll go grab another bag."
She stood up, about to head to the ingredients room.
"No need, I already brought another one."
A gentle voice suddenly rang out, startling Alya.
Turning around, she saw Kato Megumi, who had somehow slipped away unnoticed.
Now, she was holding a fresh bag of potato chips, just returning from the ingredients room.
With her usual attentiveness, Kato Megumi had anticipated this happening the moment she saw potato chips on the ingredient list.
So, she had kept an eye out.
When she saw Eriri take the chips, she hadn't stopped her.
She simply went to get another bag.
Watching this scene unfold, Alya gave up completely.
Forget it. She might as well just act like a salted fish and wait to be fed.
()
The tempura pieces were dipped in batter and dropped into the hot oil.
A sizzling sound filled the air as an irresistible aroma spread throughout the room.
Even in the cooking classroom, where various dishes were being prepared, this fragrance stood out unmistakably.
Students at the surrounding tables turned their heads, swallowing unconsciously.
( ` )
They couldn't take it anymore!
Every time they had cooking class, they were tormented like this.
Was Yukima Azuma's cooking skill even fair!?
The cooking teacher sat at the podium, inhaling the scent, and clicked her tongue in admiration.
Since last semester, she had noticed that there was a student in this class whose cooking skills rivaled those of top-tier chefs.
She herself had once been praised as a natural-born culinary genius by her master.
By the time she was in high school, she had already undergone ten years of training.
And yet, back then, the dishes she made could only just barely be considered "delicious."
It wasn't until she earned her chef certification that she was already past forty.
Chapter 194: Bringing the Hinatsuru Family Aboard Laplace's Pirate Ship
"Sensei, how about you have some too?"
Yukima Azuma felt a bit unnatural being stared at by the cooking teacher, so he spoke up.
The cooking teacher, a woman who had entered middle age and was once hailed as a culinary genius but had since hit a wall in her progress, felt a little embarrassed upon hearing that.
After waving her hand to signal that it wasn't necessary, she withdrew her gaze.
Even so, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
This student named Yukima Azuma
At the beginning of his studies, his cooking skills were still slightly below the level of a professional chef.
But after just half a semester, his culinary skills had made a breakthrough.
And now, this student had surpassed even her and was still advancing forward.
Even though she had once been a royal chef of Japan, a highly renowned figure in the country's culinary world, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy.
Indeed, people could not be measured equally.
The cooking teacher raised her head and looked at the ceiling.
Perhaps in another ten years, this student would reach an entirely new level.
By then, all she could do would be to watch from behind.
Ten years later, how old would he be?
Not even thirty.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma, who was plating his dish, had no idea what his instructor was thinking.
But if he did, he would probably just give an awkward laugh.
Because in reality, it had only taken him a year to reach this level.
[Notification: Your cooking skill has reached the maximum level.]
[Cooking (Lv7) Cooking (Lv8).]
So when it came to talent, it was really unreliable.
It still all came down to grinding! Hard work could make up for shortcomings!
Grinding is eternalgrind, grind, and grind some more!
( _)
"It's done, come and eat."
Yukima Azuma waved over the two salted fishif they weren't causing trouble, they were helping out.
( )( )
Eriri had long been overwhelmed by the enticing aroma.
Hearing that the food was ready, she immediately pulled up a chair and sat down.
(^^ ) -
Alya, too, caught the distinct fragrance of the dish.
At that moment, she couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.
()
"Itadakimasu!"
With that, Eriri picked up a piece of oden and put it into her mouth.
Immediately, she narrowed her eyes, her face brimming with delight.
(o)
Seeing Eriri's exaggerated expression, Alya couldn't help but think:
Could it really be that delicious?
No matter how good it is, it can't possibly make someone show a reaction like that.
With that thought, she picked up a piece of crispy fried shrimp tempura and took a bite.
The crispy shell crackled, while the shrimp inside was fresh and juicy.
A perfect explosion of flavor and texture burst across her tongue.
Alya, who was always known for her cold and aloof demeanor,
At this moment, the icy mask she wore completely melted away.
She unconsciously narrowed her eyes, placing her left hand lightly on her cheek in a classic "Ara ara~" pose.
Yummy~! This is beyond imagination!
( `)
It was the first time in her life she had tasted a dish crafted with such an extraordinary level of skill.
Her reaction was even more intense than Eriri's.
"Too good! If I can't eat this again in the future, life will be miserable! (Russian)"
"I love it! I really love it! How can someone be this amazing?! (Russian)"
Luckily, when rambling, Alya had the habit of speaking in Russian.
Otherwise, the reputation she had carefully built at school would have completely collapsed.
....
The next day.
Yukima Azuma requested a leave of absence.
Kirisu Mafuyu sighed helplessly.
Clearly, there were only two days left before the transfer to Shuchiin.
And yet, he was still taking a day off.
However, she knew that Yukima Azuma had important matters to handle, so she naturally approved his request.
On the way, she also stopped by Toyogasaki to pick up the custom-made Shuchiin uniform for him.
Meanwhile, after taking his leave, Yukima Azuma immediately headed to Laplace Corporation.
Currently, Laplace's smart furniture has officially hit the market.
And just as expected.
Even though its futuristic technology and humanized, personalized designs have garnered immense attention and praise,
For a product line like furnituresomething that people don't replace frequently,
No matter how high the quality, the initial phase would bring in compliments rather than a flood of orders.
The best-selling product so far is the fully automatic smart washing machine.
Compared to the semi-automatic washing machines currently available,
A fully automatic washing machine has significant appeal.
In short, the future looks promising, but brand-building takes time.
The reason Yukima Azuma took a leave of absence today to visit Laplace Corporation was
"Good morning, Hinatsuru-san."
Yukima Azuma greeted Hinatsuru Akina.
Hinatsuru Akina smiled and nodded.
As it turns out, no matter how rarely a woman smiles, when she meets someone she genuinely cherishes, she will still show a radiant smile.
"How has Ai-chan been doing lately?"
"Thank you for your concern, Yukima-sensei. She's doing well, but she keeps saying she misses her shishou very much."
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched slightly.
That was a difficult statement to respond to.
After the summer vacation, Hinatsuru Ai had been taken back to the Hinatsuru household from Yukima's place.
After all, she was still an elementary school studentshe needed to focus on her studies.
Even though she had been taken back,
Yukima Azuma still vividly remembered the scene from the apprenticeship ceremony that day.
It was terrifying!
;
Even though Hinatsuru Akina had emphasized multiple times that the red kimono embroidered with gold thread Ai wore was merely ceremonial attire for the apprenticeship ritual.
"Ahem..." Yukima Azuma coughed lightly and quickly changed the subject. "Hinatsuru-san mentioned there was something to discuss today?"
Hearing him bring up the main topic,
Hinatsuru Akina withdrew her smile.
The head of the Hinatsuru family took a folder out of her handbag.
"First, take a look at this."
Yukima Azuma accepted the document and flipped it open.
It was a report on the Hinatsuru family's ryokan system.
Inside were detailed records of the number and locations of Hinatsuru ryokans across Japan, as well as overseas branches.
Along with that was data on the guest traffic at these ryokans.
This could be considered core information of the Hinatsuru family.
By all logic, he shouldn't have been allowed to see these documents.
After carefully reading through everything,
Yukima Azuma slid the folder back toward Hinatsuru Akina.
He couldn't help but be impressed.
As expected of Japan's number one ryokan chain.
Previously, he had tried estimating the number of ryokans the Hinatsuru family owned.
He had even intentionally set his estimates as high as possible.
Yet, the actual numbers still exceeded his expectations.
Moreover, the guest traffic was astonishing.
One had to remember that Japan's tourism industry was not at its peak right now.
Yet, Hinatsuru ryokans were still able to maintain such a large influx of guests.
They didn't rely on favorable market conditionsjust their rock-solid reputation.
"What do you think?" Hinatsuru Akina asked.
Yukima Azuma didn't exaggerate in the slightest:
"Very impressive. The Hinatsuru name truly lives up to its reputation."
Facing his sincere praise,
Hinatsuru Akina simply smiled.
"Laplace Corporation is currently focusing on the furniture industry, correct?"
"Have you ever considered collaborating with Hinatsuru ryokan?"
As she spoke, Hinatsuru Akina carefully observed his reaction.
Yukima Azuma nodded calmly.
Of course, he had considered it.
If Laplace could collaborate with Hinatsuru ryokan,
Allowing their hotels to feature Laplace Corporation's furniture,
It would be the best real-world advertisement.
Hinatsuru ryokan would become a living, breathing showcase for the Laplace brand.
However, even though he had thought about it
"But, at its current scale, Laplace Corporation isn't yet in a position to form an equal partnership with Hinatsuru ryokan."
"It may take more time, but Laplace Corporation won't stop at just furniture."
"That's why I haven't approached Hinatsuru-san yet. I didn't expect Hinatsuru-san to come looking for me first."
Yukima Azuma spoke his thoughts candidly.
Even though he was Hinatsuru Ai's shishou,
Business was businesshe couldn't mix the two.
Teaching Hinatsuru Ai was one thing, but collaborating with the Hinatsuru family was an entirely different matter.
At this stage, if he wanted to partner with the Hinatsuru family,
There were only two possibilities:
One, Hinatsuru Ryokan would have to make concessions out of goodwill.
Two, Laplace Corporation would have to pay an equivalent price.
Before next year, Laplace Corporation still had more pressing financial priorities.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Hinatsuru Akina couldn't help but feel astonished once again.
Was this young man in front of her really just in his teens?
Could it be that her daughter had a better eye for people than she herself did?
After taking a moment to sigh inwardly, Hinatsuru Akina didn't beat around the bush anymore.
"I want to purchase a batch of furniture from Laplace Corporation to replace those in Hinatsuru Ryokan's branches nationwide."
"President Yukima, name your price."
(note: Akina changed the way she addressed the MC when discussing work)
With that statement, she pushed the decision entirely into Yukima Azuma's hands.
Would he bring the Hinatsuru family onto Laplace Corporation's ship or not?
If he didn't plan to, he could simply offer a low price.
Even so, Hinatsuru Akina would still help with promotionconsidering it a goodwill investment in Yukima Azuma.
But if he wanted to pull them in
"Yukino, I need you for a moment."
Yukima Azuma picked up the office phone and used the internal line to call Yukino's office.
Not long after
Yukinoshita Yukino entered, carrying a contract.
"This is the director of Laplace Corporation's Japan branch, Yukinoshita Yukino."
"And this is Hinatsuru Akina of Hinatsuru Ryokan. Yukino, hand the contract directly to Hinatsuru-san."
Yukino shook hands with Hinatsuru Akina.
Then, she handed over the contract in her hands.
Hinatsuru Akina took it and began reviewing it.
It was a pre-prepared contract.
A transaction between Laplace Corporation and the Hinatsuru family.
A straightforward sales agreement.
The Hinatsuru family would invest a large sum of money.
In return, they would acquire a significant amount of furniture from Laplace Corporationalong with a portion of shares.
After reading the contract, Hinatsuru Akina signed it without hesitation, feeling a surge of admiration.
It seemed that from the moment she mentioned visiting Laplace Corporation
This young man had already predicted why she was coming.
He had even foreseen how things would unfold.
As for refusing
The thought never crossed her mind.
She held great confidence in Yukima Azuma's future and that of Laplace Corporation.
This was a high-potential stock that countless people wanted to invest in but had no way in. There was no reason to refuse.
Ever since Laplace Corporation had risen in strength, many had come carrying money, hoping to buy shares in the company.
But up to this point
Aside from the majority stake still firmly in Yukima Azuma's hands
Only three small portions had been transferred:
One, promised early on, was given to Hayasaka Nao.
One was given to Eriri, when the Sawamura family joined.
And the last portion was the one just sold to the Hinatsuru family.
With this contract signed, Hinatsuru Akina would naturally commit her full support to Yukima Azuma.
In terms of scale, there was still a gap between their businesses.
But as for who stood to benefit moreit was too early to say.
After signing the contract
As an ally, Hinatsuru Akina made a suggestion:
"President Yukima, have you ever interacted with the person in charge of Hyakubami Daily?"
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Now, as an ally of Laplace.
The head of the Hinatsuru family, Hinatsuru Akina, made a sincere proposal.
"President Yukima, have you ever been in contact with the person in charge of Hyakubami Daily?"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma shook his head.
At this moment, Yukinoshita Yukino, who was beside him, spoke up:
"I tried to reach out, but the conversation didn't go very smoothly, and the negotiation conditions were not favorable."
Right now, the most important thing for Laplace is to establish a reputation and credibility.
A good reputation and brand recognition are far more important than pure sales.
And the best way to expand fame and enhance credibility is, of course, through promotion.
Although the Internet is widespread nowadays,
and people's channels for receiving information are gradually shifting from traditional media to new media,
traditional media have not yet completely declined at this moment.
It remains a dominant platform for public communication.
Moreover, for the furniture industrya relatively traditional industry
traditional media have an even higher level of credibility.
Therefore, reaching out to these media outlets for promotion is naturally one of Laplace's top priorities.
Among them, Hyakubami Daily is the most ideal partner.
It has a good reputation and a large scale.
Furthermore, Hyakubami Daily's online media platform is also the most well-developed among traditional media outlets.
Unfortunately, as Yukino said, the negotiation was unsuccessful.
Behind Hyakubami Daily stands the Hyakubami Zaibatsu (note: Hyaku = Hundred, Bami = Devouring, Hyakubami Ichizoku = The Hundred Devouring Families).
One of the four major financial conglomerates of Japan.
Its scale is on par with the Shinomiya Zaibatsu.
It is unrealistic for Laplace Corporation to sway Hyakubami Daily with money.
As for collaboration,
the same principle appliesit is asymmetrical.
As a mouthpiece, Hyakubami Daily's top priority is, in essence, serving the Hyakubami Zaibatsu.
Other forms of cooperation or profits are secondary.
Therefore, the chances of collaboration are very low.
However, Hinatsuru Akina took the initiative to bring up this matter.
Moreover, her words were directed toward the person in charge of Hyakubami Daily.
"The person in charge of Hyakubami Daily is a... very interesting individual."
"I think if President Yukima meets her, there might be some progress."
"Want to give it a try? I can act as a bridge and arrange a meeting for the two of you."
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma nodded.
"If Hinatsuru-san says so, then let's give it a try."
After finalizing this matter, Hinatsuru Akina immediately left.
Later, she informed Yukima Azuma that the meeting would take place tomorrow at a caf in the Chiyoda district.
....
Before the meeting,
"Do we have any information on the other party?"
Yukima Azuma looked toward Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukino nodded, went into her office to retrieve a file, and handed it to Yukima Azuma.
Opening the file, the moment he saw the name on the first line, Yukima Azuma quietly closed it again.
In fact, upon hearing the name "Hyakubami," he had already made some guesses.
Among the four major financial conglomerates,
the Hyakubami Zaibatsu is a rather unique case.
Unlike the Shinomiya Zaibatsu or other families, where power is concentrated in a clearly defined lineage,
"Hyakubami" does not refer to a single surname,
but rather a collection of multiple family lines.
Although the Shinomiya family also has branches, such as the Shijo family,
the main power still belongs to the Shinomiya family.
However, the Hyakubami Ichizoku is composed of multiple sub-families.
Among them, the strongest familyMomobamionly holds the head position temporarily.
Besides Momobami, there are also Jabami, Mushibami, Inbami, Totobami, Yobami, Warakubami, Honebami, Komabami, and so on.
These families together form Hyakubami.
There is no clear hierarchy between the families.
Only differences in strength among those who bear the name.
The position of head constantly changes with each generation.
It's like a venomous crucible, where those of the same bloodline slaughter each other to grow stronger.
Yet, this slaughter is maintained in a delicate balance.
Allowing Hyakubami to maintain its standing.
Almost everyone who bears the name "Hyakubami" in title is a lunatic.
After all, in a family where the strong trample the weak to survive,
one cannot live without madness.
And naturally, Hyakubami Daily belongs to Hyakubami.
The one in charge of this newspaper bears the surname: Jabami.
Full name: Jabami Yumeko.
This person, even within the entirety of Hyakubami, is one of the most troublesome individuals.
However, if the opponent is her, Yukima Azuma actually had some confidence that he could succeed in the negotiation.
.....
The next day.
Chiyoda.
Since it was still early, Yukima Azuma did not rush to the caf to wait but instead strolled through the streets.
Located in the center of Tokyo, the northwest of Chiyoda housed the old Imperial Palace, while the southeast led to Ginza.
Most of the streets were adorned with dazzling neon signs.
Even during the daytime, the luxurious and magnificent atmosphere was palpable.
But in contrast to this opulence
Chiyoda also carried a strong sense of nature.
There were many parks and well-preserved green spaces here.
After all, the area was formed by the accumulation of the Arakawa and Edogawa rivers.
The famous Chidori-no-Mori Park was also located in this area.
Yukima Azuma gazed at the distant rows of trees, contemplating strategies for the upcoming meeting.
At that moment
A faint sobbing sound came from nearby.
That sound caught Yukima Azuma's attention.
Turning his eyes toward the source
It was a little girl in a school uniform.
She stood before a pedestrian crossing, lowering her head and rubbing her eyes.
( -)
How should he put it?
It felt as if just approaching her would trigger a side quest.
But since it didn't seem to be anything troublesome, Yukima Azuma stepped forward.
However, someone had already accepted the quest before him.
"Are you having trouble with something?"
A young girl with long black hair and red eyes gently asked.
Yukima Azuma's steps halted.
The young girl noticed his presence, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled at him.
"T-the crosswalk..." The little girl stammered.
(ЇЇ;)
Both of them immediately understood.
Perhaps she was unable to cross the street by herself.
It wasn't unusual; judging by her appearance, she was likely just an elementary school student.
Some elementary school students could travel across several prefectures alone to seek out a master.
But some elementary school students couldn't even cross the street by themselves.
"Why not ask the onee-san next to you? I'm sure she'd be happy to help you cross."
( - )
Yukima Azuma smiled.
"R-really?" The little girl looked up at the black-haired girl.
( ; - `;)
The young girl nodded.
When the traffic light turned green
The three of them crossed the street together.
But even after reaching the other side, the little girl still hadn't let go of the young girl's hand.
"There are still lots of crosswalks before my school..." Her eyes still shimmered with tears.
(Ї Ї)
The young girl patted her head. "There's no helping it, huh?"
( )(._.`)
Thus, the three of them continued along the street.
With someone by her side, the little girl no longer cried and became much more lively.
"This time is fine... but how did you get to school before?"
The young girl looked at her and asked.
Clearly, she was considering how the little girl would get to school in the future.
Upon hearing this question, the little girl's eyes welled up again.
"Before, I held Papa and Mama's hands... But now that I'm in a higher grade, the teachers said I'm not allowed to do that anymore, huhu."
(ЇЇ)
At this, she suddenly burst into tears.
This issue was clearly beyond the young girl's expertise.
She was momentarily at a loss.
Yukima Azuma guessed that, back in elementary school, this young girl was probably the type who could travel across several prefectures on her own.
He took out a tissue from his pocket.
Stepping forward, he helped lighten the young girl's burden.
"Even if you don't go to school in a group anymore, that doesn't mean you have to go alone."
"You can arrange to walk with your friends instead."
While wiping the little girl's tears, Yukima Azuma offered a solution.
"Eh? That's allowed?" The little girl stopped crying.
Just then, on the other side of the street, another little girl waved at her.
That was likely her friend.
"Thank you, kind onee-san and smart onii-san! Bye-bye~"
( ).
The little girl waved at both of them.
Then she crossed the street and ran toward her friend.
The two watched her go, both smiling.
Shortly after, the young girl glanced at her phone.
"Oh no, I'm going to be late." She said, about to wave goodbye to Yukima Azuma.
But he reached out and stopped her.
"Jabami-san, there's no need to go to the caf anymore. Let's just talk while we walk."
Upon hearing this, Jabami Yumeko first widened her eyes at him but soon let out a laugh.
"So it's Yukima-san, what a coincidence."
Her smile was soft and sweet.
It made people feel at ease.
And so, the two continued walking down the street.
"Jabami-san is truly a kind-hearted beauty."
"You're making me shy with that compliment, Yukima-san is the one who's really cool and stylish."
"Jabami-san must be in high school now, right? Which school are you attending?"
"I'm currently a first-year at Felis Girls' Academy."
"What a coincidence..."
"Eh? Does Yukima-san have a friend at Felis?"
"Umu, to be precise... not a single one."
"So you were just messing with me?"
Yukima Azuma and Jabami Yumeko strolled along the streets of Chiyoda.
They were supposed to meet to discuss a business collaboration.
However, since they ran into each other by chance, throughout their conversation, they didn't touch on business matters at all.
Instead, their discussion revolved around school life and getting to know each other better.
Jabami Yumeko truly had no idea who Yukima Azuma was.
So when they met by coincidence, she had no awareness of his identity.
Helping out a random elementary school girl was simply an act of kindness on her part.
Now, standing before Yukima Azuma, this gentle and compassionate girl
She was not pretending.
Jabami Yumeko genuinely had such a personality.
However, if a girl was purely kind and gentle,
She would have long been devoured, not even leaving a single bone behind, in Hyakubami.
Yet, Jabami Yumeko
Despite losing her parents, becoming the representative of the Jabami family even before high school
She still managed to secure the position of chief editor of Hyakubami Daily.
Holding the crucial throat of the Hyakubami conglomerate in her hands.
Clearly, beneath that gentle exterior
This girl possessed something special, something capable of swallowing others whole in the Hyakubami bloodline.
"Come to think of it, weren't we supposed to meet today to discuss a business partnership?"
In the middle of their conversation, Yukima Azuma shifted the topic. "Jabami-san, what do you think?"
Hearing this, Jabami Yumeko merely gave an apologetic smile.
"Regarding the collaboration, I've already discussed it with the representative of Yukima-san's company online beforehand."
"As for the conditions, Hyakubami Daily cannot make any concessions. I apologize."
"If Yukima-san is still interested, please consider Hyakubami Daily's terms."
Her tone was humble, yet her words conveyed an uncompromising stance.
When it came to serious matters, this girl held firm to her position.
Unburdened by any personal relationships.
Yukima Azuma had already anticipated this response.
So he didn't react much.
Gazing into the distance, Yukima Azuma suddenly spoke:
"Jabami-san, do you want to place a bet?"
Jabami Yumeko, mid-step, momentarily paused.
She tilted her head to look at Yukima Azuma.
Her originally gentle, crimson-red eyes seemed to ignite with a fire from the abyss.
A single word had triggered Yumeko's hidden nature.
This gentle, kind-hearted girldeep down, couldn't resist hearing the word bet.
Because she was addicted to gambling beyond control.
So addicted that, even knowing full well this was a trap set by Yukima Azuma,
She would still walk into it without hesitation, just to savor the thrill it offered.
"Eh? Really? What's the bet? How much are we wagering..."
"Ah, my apologies, I got a bit ahead of myself."
Mid-sentence, her eager voice suddenly halted.
Jabami Yumeko realized she had gotten too excited.
Her small pink tongue lightly licked the corner of her lips.
She gazed at Yukima Azuma with eyes full of anticipation.
"I don't usually carry cards or dice with me... and honestly, I'm not that skilled either."
"In that case, let's bet on something simple and easy to observe, like..."
As he spoke, Yukima Azuma raised his hand and pointed into the distance.
Jabami Yumeko followed the direction of his finger.
Over there, in a lush green park, stood a large tree.
Perched on its vibrant branches were two sparrows.
"Let's bet on how many seconds it will take for those two sparrows to fly away. Whoever guesses closest wins. How about it?"
Yukima Azuma tilted his head at Jabami Yumeko.
A wager that seemingly involved no skill whatsoever, relying purely on luck.
And yet, Jabami Yumeko could hardly contain herselfshe immediately nodded with excitement.
"Alright! This sounds fun! So, what's at stake?"
"Hmm..." Yukima Azuma drew out his voice.
"If I win, I hope Jabami-san will grant me a small wish."
"You know, Laplace Corporation needs Hyakubami Daily's publicity to build its reputation."
"But if you win..."
"Laplace Corporation will pay ten times the price that Hyakubami Daily has offered to secure the partnership."
"What do you say?"
At first glance, this condition seemed highly favorable for Jabami Yumeko.
A bet with a 1:10 payout in her favor.
Yet, Jabami Yumeko pursed her lips and stared at Yukima Azuma for a few seconds.
Even so, in the end, she still nodded.
"Alright, let's go with Yukima-san's conditions."
The bet was sealed.
Neither of them signed any documents.
It was merely a verbal agreement.
There were not even any witnessessuch a bet had no legal validity.
But it was still established.
Yukima Azuma believed that Jabami Yumeko would abide by the conditions of the bet absolutely.
As for what Jabami Yumeko was thinking...
Yukima Azuma didn't know, but perhaps this girl just wanted to enjoy the thrill of the bet first.
"Jabami-san, how many seconds do you guess?"
Yukima Azuma pulled out his phone and opened the stopwatch app.
Jabami Yumeko looked at the distant tree branch, simultaneously glancing at the road beside it.
"Fifteen seconds."
Yukima Azuma nodded and pressed the start button.
Then, he bent down and picked up a small pebble from the ground.
"Then I'll guess five seconds."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yukima Azuma made a throwing motion like a baseball pitcher.
A faint clicking sound echoed.
The pebble was launched, tracing an arc through the air, heading toward the tree branch.
The distance from where they stood to the park was quite far.
Even being able to clearly see the two sparrows perched on the branch from this position was thanks to their sharp eyesight.
Yet, the pebble still managed to travel that great distance.
Just as the five-second countdown reached zero
The pebble, without a single deviation, struck the tree branch.
A sudden impact,
naturally startling the birds perched on the branch.
The two sparrows immediately spread their wings, soaring through the layers of green leaves into the sky.
Yukima Azuma pressed the stop button on the stopwatch and smiled at Jabami Yumeko.
Seeing herself lose because of a simple action by the boy,
Jabami Yumeko did not appear the least bit angry.
Her small lips parted slightly, momentarily stunned, then she broke into a delighted grin.
"Yukima-san is truly impressiveI lost!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the timer had reached approximately fifteen seconds.
A large truck rumbled past the park.
With its enormous size, it stirred up a small cloud of dust.
Had Yukima Azuma not acted,
the two birds would likely have been startled by the noise of the truck and taken flight at that exact moment instead.
"Jabami-san, you're not going to complain even a little?"
Yukima Azuma blinked, asking with amusement.
Jabami Yumeko's smile only grew brighter.
"Why would I complain?" she said. "I should be thanking Yukima-san instead!"
She glanced at the tree branch where the sparrows had flown away, her crimson eyes slightly unfocused.
"What a thrilling bet!"
"In just a blink of an eye, Yukima-san set up such a brilliant trap."
"In a seemingly random situation, you managed to use a technique beyond an ordinary person's imagination to overturn me."
"A method of cheating even I didn't think ofa bet where I staked my entire existence, yet it ended in just five seconds!"
"Aah~! Truly wonderful~!"
"Yukima-san, please, take your winnings."
"What is this small wish of yours?"
"Since I lost the bet, I'll accept anything."
"Whether it's my wealth, my body, or even my very personality, it can all belong to you!"
Jabami Yumeko's voice grew more excited with each word.
Her pale skin gradually took on an unusual flush.
Her slender fingers absentmindedly traced her cheek before slipping between her soft lips.
It was almost impossible to believe
that the girl now brimming with feverish ecstasy, on the verge of madness,
was the same gentle and lovely girl from moments ago.
Yukima Azuma watched her, the corners of his lips curving slightly upward.
As expected, this girl was truly insane.
As for the bet, Yukima Azuma's words had already contained a trap.
He had said he wanted Jabami Yumeko to grant him a "small wish."
And he had subtly implied that this wish was for he unconditional cooperation with Hyakubami Daily.
But in reality, the two matters were not directly related at all.
A normal person would naturally assume that Yukima Azuma's wish was free collaboration.
But in truth, he had never explicitly stated what his wish actually was.
This was undoubtedly a form of cheating.
Yet Jabami Yumeko had seen through the trap.
Even more than thatdespite the unfair odds, she had stepped into the bet without hesitation.
Even knowing it was a rigged game, she still enjoyed it.
Or rather, it was precisely because the stakes were so high that the thrill of it excited her even more.
And the way Yukima Azuma had secured his victory? Undeniably a form of cheating.
The bet had no explicit rule against interfering with the sparrows.
Thus, his act of throwing a stone was technically valid.
But the unreasonable part lay within how he threw it.
With his physical strength rated at 7, he should have been completely incapable of throwing a pebble all the way to the tree branch.
The distance was far too great.
It was the middle of summer, and Yukima Azuma was wearing a short-sleeved white shirt.
Jabami Yumeko could clearly see the muscles on his arms.
While he looked strong, he was nowhere near the level of a professional pitcher.
From this, she could deduce that he shouldn't have been able to cross that distance to interfere with the bet.
And if he had run closer, there was no way he could have acted faster than fifteen seconds.
This was where the real cheating took place.
Yukima Azuma had employed a slight supernatural technique.
After his cooking skills had reached level 8,
he had acquired even more formidable supernatural abilities.
Now, not only could he see the structure of living organisms...
He could even alter their composition slightly through external force.
Just like when he threw the stone.
By applying precise pressure, he had subtly modified the structure of his arm.
The effect was as if he had gained extra jointsturning his arm into something like a whip.
Thanks to this adjustment, Yukima Azuma had successfully "cheated" his way to victory.
.....
Note: I only watched Kakegurui when ss1 came out a long time ago, and I haven't watched ss2 either. I just remember a few things:
Gambling school.
Yumeko look insane but that is why she hot.
Hayami Saori-sama's voice is the best.
)
Cheating in betting, and even cheating in the middle of a match.
If an ordinary person encountered such a gamble, most would be furious enough to flip the table and start a fight.
But Jabami Yumeko found immense joy in it.
There were many gamblers in the world.
But most of them indulged in gambling solely for the thrill of victory.
If they lost, they wouldn't be able to smile.
But Jabami Yumeko was different.
She enjoyed everything, whether winning or losing.
Whether she was collecting a pile of winnings into her hands
Or taking a wrong step and losing everything she had
She found it all as sweet as honey.
"Yukima-san, please accept your spoils of war."
(*)*.
The young girl earnestly gazed at Yukima Azuma.
Waiting for him to name the price she had to pay.
A wish with no limits whatsoever.
And more importantly, the one who had to fulfill that wish was an enchanting young girl like Jabami Yumeko.
Yukima Azuma's gaze swept over the alluring figure of the young girl.
Jabami Yumeko possessed an exceptionally perfect physique.
A simple women's suit, when worn by her, exuded an extraordinary allure.
Sensing Yukima Azuma's gaze
Jabami Yumeko became even more excited.
Not necessarily because she was particularly interested in that sort of thing.
But rather, if such a thing became something to be wagered and risked
Then its significance would create an intense thrill.
Looking at this girl with a slightly skewed ideology
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched slightly.
How bizarre.
But if he were to judge her preferences now
It would be no different from benefiting while pretending to be virtuous.
He raised his hand.
Gently pinching Jabami Yumeko's cheek.
Her face had just the right amount of flesh, making it extremely pleasant to the touch.
Though, the temperature was a little high.
Being pinched, Jabami Yumeko did not resist but instead looked up at Yukima Azuma with eager anticipation.
"Then, my wish is Jabami Yumeko, become my possession."
Yukima Azuma was never the type to be noble and selfless.
So at this moment, there was no way he would show leniency toward the girl.
"Yes, Master, I understand!"
Jabami Yumeko immediately slipped into the role of an object belonging to him.
And once Jabami Yumeko belonged to Yukima Azuma
Everything she owned, including Hyakubami Daily and countless other businesses, would naturally belong to him as well.
After finishing their stroll, the two found a hotel and rented a room.
Jabami Yumeko prepared a document listing everything she owned.
Then handed it over to Yukima Azuma.
Looking at the information in the document
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but click his tongue.
Truly, a horse doesn't grow fat without eating night grass, and a person doesn't get rich without money falling from the sky.
This profit was too insane.
As the representative of the Jabami family
The businesses and influence Jabami Yumeko controlled
Even surpassed Laplace Corporation on paper.
Having her in his grasp, even someone with a cheat-like buff such as Yukima Azuma could save years of effort.
Shaking his head, Yukima Azuma suppressed his greed.
This gamble had been built on an absolute information disparity.
At its core, it was a low-risk, high-reward investment.
Even if Yukima Azuma lost, what he had to pay wouldn't be enough to harm Laplace Corporation.
But if he became arrogant and reckless because of this victory
Relying on a slight information advantage to deliberately take shortcuts
Then the chances of failure would be high.
Those who saw others as fools were the true fools.
"Master, do you want to use these now? I can issue the orders right away~."
Jabami Yumeko leaned closely against Yukima Azuma, gently asking.
She looked no different from an obedient maid.
()
"No need. Just keep and use them as you normally would. If I need them, I'll let you know."
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
At present, Laplace Corporation had no need to take in anything extra.
The system was running smoothly, development was stable.
Swallowing such a fat piece of meat whole might not be beneficial and could even backfire.
It was better to leave it in Jabami Yumeko's hands for now.
"In that case, I'll give the orders to the media first."
Jabami Yumeko had already guessed Yukima Azuma's thoughts, so she naturally suggested what he wanted.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Looking at the young girl kneeling at his feet
So this was what it felt like to have a capable maid?
That thought unconsciously surfaced in his mind.
No wonder from the Shinomiya family to the Suou family, everyone liked to keep personal maid bodyguards.
A girl like Jabami Yumeko
Exceptionally intelligent, highly resourceful, and feared by many
If she became a personal attendant, she would undoubtedly be an irresistible temptation.
But
Jabami Yumeko made a call to Hyakubami Daily.
After assigning all the tasks
She lifted her gaze to Yukima Azuma, eyes filled with eager anticipation.
"Master, what's next? The day is still long!"
"Do you want me to devour you right here?"
"Either way, I'm your possession, and being used is one of my functions, isn't it?"
"If you're not using me then how about another bet?"
"There are still some things within the Hyakubami Corporation that don't belong to me. But they can be used as stakes!"
"Let's play, shall we? Consider it a reward for your obedient pet! That way, Yumeko will be even more motivated!"
( )
As Jabami Yumeko spoke, her slender fingers traced up Yukima Azuma's thigh.
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched slightly.
()
A perfect all-purpose maid was indeed great.
But what was the price?
He didn't know the price others had to pay.
But the price of controlling Jabami Yumeko
Was enduring the infernal flames burning deep within her eyes.
Don't be fooled by her current obedient, gentle demeanor.
Acting as if she was ready to offer everythingher body and soulto him.
Because the moment Yukima Azuma lost
The soft and submissive girl, letting him mold her as he pleased
Would instantly turn into a venomous snake, ready to devour the weak.
Jabami
That name wasn't just for show.
Today, the night was still young.
If he withdrew now
Jabami Yumeko's insatiable gambling desire would remain unfulfilled.
And when that happened, who knew what she might do to satisfy her addiction to betting?
A gamble, then.
Even with the stakes kept within a safe range
This girl still had ways to turn the tables if given the slightest chance.
So
Yukima Azuma reached out, lifting Jabami Yumeko's chin.
"Then, let me use you for a bit."
This was the fulfillment of a promise, as well as the continuation of the bet.
On some level, it also satisfied Jabami Yumeko's desire.
Sure enough, the moment she heard those words, her expression lit up with excitement.
()
Her fair, slender fingers
Began to loosen the ribbon at the collar of her vest.
And then
Then came the ero content.
Don't ask. There are no seggs scenes.
()
....
Time passed quickly.
By the time everything was over, the sky had turned to dusk.
Yukima Azuma lazily lay still, too idle to move, and called the hotel's front desk to order food.
Neither of them had eaten lunch yet.
Jabami Yumeko rested her head on Yukima Azuma's arm, sleeping soundly.
Traces of tears still lingered on her cheeks.
Looking at her like this, she didn't seem any different from an ordinary girl.
But the moment those crimson eyes ignited with the flames of the abyss
She became like dazzling fireworks in the night skybreathtakingly beautiful, yet touching them came at a price.
When the food was delivered, Yukima Azuma carefully pulled his arm away.
His arm had gone completely numb.
He shook it slightly before picking up the chopsticks to eat first.
Jabami Yumeko didn't wake up until twilight.
Her drowsy, sleepy expression was irresistibly adorable, her eyes still hazy as she blinked at Yukima Azuma.
It took a moment before she seemed to remember what had happened.
She let out a soft, drawn-out "Master~," her voice carrying a sultry charm that could melt one's bones.
"Do you want to eat something?" Yukima Azuma asked.
Jabami Yumeko smiled. "Anything is fine~."
Yukima Azuma nodded and called the front desk to order another meal.
Normally, after the first time, Yukima Azuma had a habit of cooking for the girl himself.
But with Jabami Yumeko, he didn't bother.
No matter how delicious the dish, when it reached Jabami Yumeko's hands, it could never truly bring her joy.
A complete waste of effort.
That time would be better spent coming up with a new strategythen placing another bet with her.
Be it money or status
To Jabami Yumeko, all of it paled in comparison to a thrilling gamble.
As she was eating, Jabami Yumeko suddenly seemed to remember something and looked up.
"Oh right, Master, I'm planning to transfer to Hyakkaou Private Academy soon."
"Do you want to come along? There's someone from the Momobami family there."
"If Master can turn that person into a 'possession,' it would be very convenient~."
Yukima Azuma chuckled.
Momobami, huh?
The current head of the Hyakubami family.
If he could make her his 'possession,' things would indeed become much smoother.
After all, she was the one overseeing one of the Four Great Financial Conglomerates.
But if Momobami were that easy to deal with
She wouldn't have been able to seize the position of family head in the first place.
Yukima Azuma shook his head and calmly said, "Go play on your own. I have other matters to attend to."
Jabami Yumeko obediently nodded without further protest.
However, Yukima Azuma suddenly recalled
In his memory, Jabami Yumeko was supposed to transfer to Hyakkaou in her second year.
But now, it seemed the timeline had been moved forward?
Had something changed?
"Why the sudden urge to transfer to Hyakkaou?"
Yukima Azuma asked directly.
"Because the bets with Master are too thrilling~... They've completely awakened my desires."
"But since Master isn't planning to satisfy them entirely, I have no choice but to find an outlet myself."
"Master is so mean~."
Jabami Yumeko pouted playfully.
Then, as if teasing him, she stuck out her tongue mischievously at Yukima Azuma.
(>)
--------------------------------------------
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Shuchiin Private Academy.
Located in Minato, Tokyo, this is an integrated academy.
From kindergarten to university, it offers a continuous educational system, while also allowing mid-term admissions.
This academy was established as an educational institution for nobility.
Even though the aristocratic system has been abolished, this place remains the cradle for Japan's elites and politicians.
"By the way, for the past thirty years, ninety percent of Shuchiin's funding has come from the Shinomiya Group."
"The current chairman of the school board is the eldest son of the Shinomiya GroupShinomiya Oka-sama."
These words are part of Hayasaka Ai's explanation.
The sections without quotation marks have been condensed for brevity.
In reality, the introduction is far more detailed and complex.
Today, Hayasaka Ai appears in a new form.
Not as the cold-faced maid of the Shinomiya estate.
Nor as the adorable noble lady "Hasaka" at the girls' academy.
But as an ordinary student at Shuchiin, officially unrelated to Shinomiya Kaguya.
A persona built as a gyaru.
A ponytail, light makeup, and cute nail polish.
According to Hayasaka Ai, her true identity is a maid of the Shinomiya family.
Hiding within Shuchiin Academy to ensure the safety of Shinomiya Kaguya.
This time, she was dragged by the student council to serve as a lackey for greeting the exchange student.
Sounds reasonable enough.
Yukima Azuma happily accepted this setup.
And was also quite intrigued by observing Hayasaka Ai like this.
"Yukima... -san... what are you smiling about?"
(" v ") ?
Seeing Yukima Azuma smirk, Hayasaka Ai couldn't help but curiously ask.
Ever since she pretended to sleep and got struck straight in the heart by Yukima Azuma's Cupid arrow
She had started paying special attention to Yukima Azuma.
Because perhaps he was the only person in this world
Who could see through all the masks she wore.
And still liked the true self behind those masks.
To be confessed to like thatfor her real selfno amount of training
Could stop Hayasaka Ai from overthinking.
"Hayasaka, watching you is quite interesting."
( )
Yukima Azuma responded with a smile.
Hearing this, Hayasaka Ai couldn't help but pout.
()
Did he find it amusing that she switched masks?
If someone else had said that, Hayasaka Ai would have just brushed it off.
But Yukima Azumathe one who had seen through her true selfsaying such things made her a little annoyed.
"So that's how it is, Yukima-san likes gyaru girls?"
"Not at all, it's interesting because gyaru is Hayasaka Ai."
( - )
"This is just a disguise to blend into Shuchiin, a maskwhat's so fascinating about it?"
"Hayasaka, do you know? People cannot pretend or act out something they don't understand."
Yukima Azuma lightly wagged his finger.
"Every disguise and performance stems from one's own self."
"The mask is painted by Hayasaka Ai herself."
"If you aren't blinded by those strokes, you can glimpse a part of the painter's true heart."
"Through this, one can understand a personeven see things they themselves have never realized."
"If someone has a thousand masks, then when pieced together, their true self will be revealed."
"So? Don't you find that fascinating?"
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Hayasaka Ai averted her gaze slightly.
A faint blush spread across her fair face.
(,,><,,)
This guy... what kind of nonsense is he spouting?
A mask is just a maskthere's no such thing as a "true heart."
But can he really see through them?
How impressive!
Hayasaka Ai was completely floored by Yukima Azuma's words.
Walking along the street in front of Shuchiin Academy, it wasn't until they reached the school gate that she finally snapped out of it.
"Yukima-san, would you like to tour the school first, or head straight to the student council to complete the procedures?"
As she asked this, Hayasaka Ai unconsciously fiddled with the hem of her skirt.
That all-capable maidalso had endearing little gestures like an ordinary girl.
Moreover, this time, she wasn't acting at all.
"If we tour the academy, will Hayasaka continue as my guide?"
"That's right."
"Then please guide me around the academy, Hayasaka."
"Alright."
It was currently the morning class session.
Passing by the lecture buildings, the voices of teachers lecturing could be heard.
There was almost no noisy chatter.
The academic atmosphere at Toyogasaki was already considered good.
But Shuchiin was even more disciplined and orderly.
Though strictness didn't necessarily equate to quality, it certainly left an elite first impression.
"The class you'll be in is 1-B, Yukima-san."
As they passed by the classroom corridor, Hayasaka Ai casually mentioned.
Yukima Azuma nodded and curiously asked, "What about you, Hayasaka?"
"I'm in 1-E." Hayasaka pointed to herself before continuing, "Kaguya-sama is in Class A, and Secretary Fujiwara is in Class B."
The corner of Yukima's mouth twitched.
He would be in the same class as Fujiwara Chika...
.....
The two of them finished their tour around Shuchiin.
By the time the morning classes ended, they headed toward the student council.
The student council was located in a separate section of the academic building.
It was an independent room at the end of the hallway, completely isolated from the common student areas.
The door was massive, and the space inside was even grander.
But perhaps the biggest thing there was power.
Looking at the heavy student council room door, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but wonder if this place was fit for building a harem.
The president of Shuchiin's student council had the authority to appoint or dismiss any position within the council.
As well as control the budget allocation for all clubs.
The total annual expenditure for Shuchiin's clubs ranged between 300 to 500 million yen.
The student council had full discretion over how this money was used.
And the only way to become the president was through election.
One had to win over club presidents while painting a vision that appealed to the students during the campaign.
As long as one could secure the student council president's seat
Then, in this secluded corner of the student council...
Wouldn't it only take a single command to do whatever one wanted?
Pull all the girls he liked into the student council and assign them some positions.
Then indulge in a daily life of luxurious depravity
Ahem.
Luckily, the current student council president was Shinomiya Kaguya.
The student council wouldn't turn into a den of degeneracy, alcohol, and debauchery.
Yukima Azuma checked himself for his improper thoughts.
"Please wait inside, Yukima-san. Kaguya-sama should arrive after class."
Hayasaka Ai said, though she had no intention of stepping in.
Within the school, she was just an ordinary student.
Moreover, she had no official connection to Shinomiya Kaguya or Fujiwara Chika.
Yukima watched Hayasaka's figure disappear.
Then, turning back, he pushed open the student council room door.
The antique, heavy door creaked slightly as it opened.
Even before stepping inside, he caught a faint scent of tea.
Gentle sunlight filtered through the window, casting a warm glow over the room.
Inside the spacious room, a girl stood before a display cabinet.
In her hands was an exquisite tea set.
Hearing the noise, the girl turned her head.
The moment she saw the boy's face, her eyes flashed with surprise and joy.
But she quickly suppressed those emotions.
"You must be Yukima Azuma-san, right? Please, have a seat!"
The girl smiled radiantly.
She led Yukima to the long table in the student council room.
Then, she placed a cup of tea in front of him.
The tea had just been brewed, its delicate fragrance drifting through the air.
Clearly, this girl had just prepared tea to welcome him.
"Please, enjoy."
Yukima lifted the teacup and took a sip.
A slight bitterness touched the tip of his tongue, but the aftertaste was refreshingly sweet, making him narrow his eyes in satisfaction.
This tea was a premium blend, exclusively ordered by Shuchiin.
And the one who brewed it was Suou Yuki.
More importantly, she had chosen the exact type of tea Yukima Azuma liked best.
"How is it? Tasty?"
The girl blinked eagerly, watching Yukima with curiosity.
"It's deliciousthe best tea I've ever had."
Yukima genuinely praised.
The girl clapped her hands together. "I'm glad Yukima-san likes it!"
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she began introducing herself.
Her fingers gently pressed against the red ribbon on her sailor uniform collar.
The movement subtly highlighted her curves.
At a glance, at least a C-cup!
"I'm Suou Yuki, currently a first-year student and the Cultural Committee member of Shuchiin's student council."
"Nice to meet you really, really nice! We're classmates now, so just call me Yuki!"
Yukima's gaze flickered with momentary daze.
To him, it felt as if only a short time had passed.
But the changes in the girl before him proved that three years had truly gone by.
Suou Yuki had already been outstanding among her peers in middle school.
But back then, her emotions were always visible in her eyes.
Now, everything was carefully concealed.
The biggest change was in her gestures and demeanor.
Three years had passed, and every movement she made was elegant and composed.
No longer the clumsy girl of the past, she now carried herself with the grace of a refined lady.
Even her physique had changed drastically.
Once frail and sickly, she had now blossomed into a beautiful and graceful young woman.
Gone was the thin, delicate girl from beforeher cheeks now held a healthy pink glow.
A once forgettable silhouette had transformed into the epitome of an aristocratic lady.
The only thing that hadn't changed
Were her eyes.
The way she looked at him was exactly the same as three years ago.
For the past three years, Suou Yuki had diligently undergone the heir training program of the Suou family.
Who knew how much hardship she had endured to become the person she was now?
She had just recently graduated from the strict guidance of the Suou household.
Now, she was a true noble heiress, ready to carry the weight of her family's legacy.
Even with the person she had longed for day and night standing right before her
She could still restrain the fervor of her heart.
She maintained a calm and composed demeanor for their reunion.
Faced with a girl who hid her longing behind an elegant facade
Yukima Azuma couldn't bring himself to tease her.
So instead
"It's been so long, Yuki!"
Suou Yuki felt her heart racing uncontrollably.
Three years of waiting had filled her heart, and every soft emotion seemed ready to overflow.
But when she actually saw that young man
She had to suppress her expectations and maintain a calm appearance.
Until
"It's been so long, Yuki!"
But upon hearing that familiar voice and intimate way of addressing her
Suou Yuki was momentarily stunned.
Immediately after, her composed and elegant facade completely shattered.
At first, she had been sitting on the opposite side of the long table, facing Yukima.
Now, she suddenly jumped over the table and threw herself into his arms.
"Onii-chan-sama!"
As she called out
She burrowed into Yukima's chest like a baby bird returning to its nest.
Her slender yet slightly full arms wrapped around his neck.
Her small head buried deep into his chest.
Her breathing was rapid and uneven.
Yukima Azuma raised his hand and gently patted the girl's back.
It had been three years, after all.
However, their warm reunion did not last long.
Once she had vented some of her emotions, Suou Yuki started to act indecently.
Her small nose rubbed against Yukima Azuma's neck as she deliberately took a deep breath.
"Guhehe~... Onii-chan-sama's smell! It really has been so long!"
( )
Yukima Azuma let out a helpless laugh and played along with a complaint:
"Who are you!? Hentai-san?!"
Straddling Yukima Azuma,
Suou Yuki straightened her back and faced him directly.
"I can't help it!" Suou Yuki looked completely justified.
"Onii-sama abandoned me for three years, of course, my desires would build up!"
( )
A few veins popped up on Yukima Azuma's forehead.
( `)
What the hell did she mean by "abandoned"
And at this moment, Suou Yuki became even bolder. She used both hands to lift her plump, C-cup breasts.
"See! Because I missed onii-sama, my growth rate has been insane!"
"I kept my promise, I'm officially a C-cup now! Want to try?"
( )( )()
This time, Yukima Azuma really couldn't take it anymore.
He flicked her forehead.
"I don't remember making such a perverted promise. That was just you talking to yourself!"
Getting flicked, Suou Yuki pitifully held her forehead.
"You really don't want to try? You're just going to pass up the chance to be the first to touch them?"
( )
"Dear Imouto-san, this is the Shuchiin student council room."
"Oho~, so that means onii-sama wants to choose a more private place... Ecchi~."
()
"I did NOT say that!"
( )
Their reunion had no sense of awkwardness at all.
This proved just how in sync they were.
No matter how long they were apart, they never felt distant.
After rubbing against Yukima Azuma a few more times to satisfy her bro-con symptoms,
Suou Yuki finally got off him.
She lightly patted her sailor uniform skirt.
Then, Suou Yuki raised her wrist to her nose and took a small sniff of the inside.
"A~ I got onii-sama's scent on me. I'm not washing my hands today!"
(o)
Even though he knew she was just playing around,
Yukima Azuma still couldn't help but smile.
()
He adjusted his school uniform tie neatly.
Suou Yuki sat down beside Yukima Azuma.
"Onii-sama, do you want to hear what happened afterward?"
What Suou Yuki was referring to, of course, was what happened after the swap incident.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Even though he already knew the outcome,
he still wanted to hear about the process.
And so, Suou Yuki began recounting the story.
After the swap ended,
Suou Yuki was taken back to the Suou household.
Because it was her second time running away, she was placed under house arrest.
However, the confinement did not last long.
Because in Suou Yuki's hands was a copy of Harry Potter that Yukima Azuma had left behind.
The book's influence and sales far exceeded the Suou family's expectations.
As the later volumes were published one after another,
even for a prestigious family like the Suou, the revenue was no small amount.
By any measure,
as long as one could generate wealth on this scale,
the Suou family would recognize their talent as outstanding.
Not only was her house arrest lifted early,
but many of the harsh educational methods in the succession training were also abolished.
Suou Yuki's growth rate was truly astonishing.
As for the royalties and the land purchase
It took a year and a half after the swap incident for all seven volumes of Harry Potter to be published.
The royalties earned in this period were barely enough to purchase land in Itomori.
Of course, if she had sold the film and game rights,
there would have been a much greater surplus.
But since the royalties were sufficient, Suou Yuki chose not to sell the rights.
When buying land in Itomori, the first step was acquiring the homes of the town's residents.
At this point, some obstacles arose.
Some of Itomori's residents did not want to leave the land their ancestors had lived on for generations.
Even when the offer was raised, they refused to agree.
When negotiations reached a deadlock,
Miyamizu Mitsuha stepped forward.
As the current miko of the Miyamizu Shrine,
it was unclear what Miyamizu Mitsuha discussed with the people of Itomori,
but in the end, she successfully persuaded them.
The acquisition proceeded.
Within two years, Suou Yuki had purchased the entire area that Yukima Azuma had mapped out.
The following year, the area was sealed off, and a redevelopment plan for a resort was announced.
One year after that,
the comet Charlotte passed by Earth, and a fragment of it fell on that very area.
Although it was a natural disaster, there were no casualties in the entire prefecture.
The Suou family, as one of the region's most distinguished households, had made a significant contribution.
So much so that Japan's National Diet proactively granted them certain privileges.
This far-sighted plan
allowed Suou Yuki to completely solidify her position within the Suou family.
Currently, while she was still officially the heir,
the actual power she wielded was nearly equivalent to that of the family head.
There were no longer any succession trials.
Suou Yuki could do whatever she pleased.
And during this year's spring break, Suou Yuki arrived in Tokyo and passed the entrance exam for Shuchiin Academy.
As the young lady of the Suou family,
even though she was attending the Mixed institute, no one dared to underestimate her.
Moreover, Suou Yuki was highly capable,
allowing her to smoothly join the student council.
If not for the fact that Shuchiin was the Shinomiya family's domain
Suou Yuki might have even surpassed Shinomiya Kaguya and taken the position of student council president.
At the end of the previous semester,
Suou Yuki saw the student council's decision regarding the interschool exchange program.
When she saw Yukima Azuma's name, she was overjoyed.
By that time, it had already been three years.
So, Suou Yuki sent that letter to Yukima Azuma.
Besides that
Over the past three years, Suou Yuki had visited the shrine of the Itomori deity several times.
And the result?
How should she put it...
In the end, Suou Yuki concluded that it was nothing more than an ordinary rock.
She couldn't sense even the slightest supernatural presence.
To the point where she began to doubt whether that place was truly the shrine of the Itomori deity.
After hearing Suou Yuki's story,
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow slightly.
Now that she mentioned it, the state of the Itomori deity did seem a little strange.
Perhaps he should go check it out himself.
"Oh right, I have a gift for you, Onii-sama."
Suou Yuki said as she took out her phone. "I'll have Ayano bring it over."
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma was a bit puzzled.
"A gift?"
A gift that Suou Yuki deliberately mentioned so seriously
What could it be?
Suou Yuki nodded slightly but didn't explain further.
At that moment, the student council room's door swung open from the outside.
But the person who entered wasn't Kimishima Ayano.
It was Shinomiya Kaguya and Fujiwara Chika.
Those two girls
One was the student council president, and the other was the student council secretary.
They were also the ones responsible for arranging Yukima Azuma's interschool exchange.
The moment the two girls entered, they saw Yukima Azuma and Suou Yuki sitting closely together.
The distance between them was almost nonexistent.
Clearly, this wasn't a normal level of social interaction.
So, upon witnessing this scene, both of them were momentarily stunned.
"Fujiwara-san, Shinomiya I suppose I should call you Shinomiya-san at school? Good morning."
Yukima Azuma greeted them.
"Umu, likewise. Good morning, Yukima-san"
Shinomiya Kaguya responded,
her gaze subconsciously drifting toward Suou Yuki, who sat beside Yukima Azuma.
This young lady, who had used her own abilities to secure a place in the student council
Even Shinomiya Kaguya had to acknowledge her excellence.
After a whole semester, Shinomiya Kaguya had come to understand Suou Yuki's style.
She was polite and cordial toward everyone.
But beneath that politeness was a strict boundary,
especially when it came to interacting with the opposite sex.
By all accounts, she shouldn't be breaking that boundary now.
And yet, here she was?
Fujiwara Chika, on the other hand, was even more intrigued.
Her love detective radar was blaring nonstop.
()
But as far as she knew, wasn't Yukima Azuma still entangled in a romantic dilemma with "Hasaka"?
"Eto could it be that Suou-san and Yukima-kun know each other?"
Following the principle of "If you don't know, just ask,"
Fujiwara Chika curiously spoke up.
Suou Yuki smiled slightly and nodded.
"That's right. Actually, when I saw Azuma-kun, I was quite surprised as well."
"We've known each other since childhood, we're incredibly close childhood friends."
"But later, Azuma-kun moved to Tokyo. I actually entered Shuchiin with the intention of finding him."
(*)*.
Suou Yuki's words left the two girls completely dumbfounded, eyes wide with disbelief.
Why did this sound exactly like a light novel harem plot?
Fujiwara Chika's small brain instantly plunged into chaos.
As for Shinomiya Kaguya, she was utterly bewildered.
Childhood friends?
One grew up in Chiba.
The other grew up in Gifu.
How in the world are you two childhood friends!?
( ®® ) ?
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 200: No Wonder It's Yuki, So Adorable!
Childhood friends?
How could these two possibly be childhood friends?
Shinomiya Kaguya was full of doubt.
As far as she knew, Yukima Azuma had never set foot in Gifu before.
And Suou Yuki, the young lady of the Suou family, was the complete opposite.
Before entering high school, she had never left Gifu.
So how could these two have known each other since childhood?
Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't help but question this.
Of course, she couldn't ask outright.
Saying it out loud would be no different from admitting she had investigated them.
In noble society, such matters were often understood implicitly,
but they must never be spoken aloud.
Suppressing her doubts,
Shinomiya Kaguya walked over to the student council's desk.
She pulled a stack of documents from the drawer.
"Yukima-san, here are some important details about the exchange program."
"This includes the rules and anthem of Shuchiin Academy, as well as your class schedule."
"It should be useful. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
She handed the documents to Yukima Azuma.
"Oh, got it. Thanks."
Yukima Azuma's response was rather casual.
He flipped through the documents.
Shuchiin Academy's schedule was vastly different from that of regular high schools.
Its regulations were also far stricter.
However, many of the rules did not apply to student council members.
For example, one particularly important ruleattendance requirements.
If a student's attendance rate did not reach a certain threshold, they would be forced to repeat the year.
But student council members were exempt from this rule.
As long as they listed their absence as "student council duties,"
it wouldn't be counted against them.
Looking at the ridiculously high attendance requirement,
Yukima Azuma set the documents down.
What a hassle.
But, well, "Where there's a will, there's a way."
By the time the exchange program ended at the end of the semester, he'd surely figure something out.
At that moment, as Yukima Azuma put the documents aside,
Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly spoke up:
"Yukima-san, would you like to join the student council?"
Her unexpected invitation left everyone in the room momentarily stunned.
But after a brief moment of surprise, the two girls standing nearby quickly reached the same conclusion
They agreed.
Suou Yuki, as the cultural committee member, naturally hoped Yukima Azuma would join the student council.
Because that way, she could spend even more time with him!
Fujiwara Chika, on the other hand, was much simpler.
Ever since their previous encounter, she had developed a great fondness for the gentle young man.
The two could even be considered friends.
Having a good friend in the student council would undoubtedly make things more lively.
Even though, technically, the student council was a workplace, not a hangout spot.
Shinomiya Kaguya looked at Yukima Azuma, feeling certain of her victory.
She had long since learned that Yukima Azuma frequently skipped classes back at Toyogasaki.
Meanwhile, Shuchiin Academy had extremely strict attendance policies.
Joining the student council was the best way for him to bypass this issue.
This invitation was practically irresistible.
As the student council president,
as long as she recruited Yukima Azuma,
their relationship would naturally take the form of superior and subordinate.
Establishing such an impression from the outset would be incredibly useful for keeping him within her sphere of influence.
Most talented individuals were prideful.
At times like these, one had to offer them the perfect ladder to climb.
Shinomiya Kaguya was exceptionally skilled in the art of dominance.
And just as expected
Yukima Azuma gave a small nod.
There really was no reason to refuse.
"However, I'm just an exchange student. Would that be an issue?"
Yukima Azuma casually asked.
Shinomiya Kaguya smiled and shook her head.
"It's not a problem at all."
"After all, Yukima-san ranked first in the interschool exams last semester."
"If you join the student council as a role model, I doubt anyone would object."
"Currently, there are only two vacant positions leftdisciplinary officer and vice president..."
"So, how about you take the position of vice president, Yukima-san?"
Shinomiya Kaguya offered him the role closest to her.
The structure of Shuchiin Academy's student council was as follows:
President, Vice President: the head.
Secretary: in charge of all record-keeping and documentation.
Treasurer: responsible for financial management.
Disciplinary Officer: maintaining school discipline and overseeing financial supervision.
Cultural Officer: promoting the academy's cultural activities and organizing school events.
As for the Vice President, their main duty was to share the burden with the President.
It was the most suitable position for Shinomiya Kaguya's plan.
She wanted Yukima Azuma to get used to supporting her.
For most students,
being suddenly invited to become Vice President of the Student Council would surely make them flustered and excited.
But Yukima Azuma agreed without any reaction.
He casually signed the appointment document for the Vice President of Shuchiin Academy's Student Council.
Soon enough, the official notice would be posted.
Shinomiya Kaguya smiled like Aizen when her keikaku had succeeded.
( )
This was too easy.
As long as she continued with her plan,
before long, this man would become her loyal subject under her skirt.
What was Hayasaka even doing lately? Had she gotten lazy?
How could she have lost to this man?
Suou Yuki blinked.
That Shinomiya Kaguya... actually invited her onii-chan-sama to be Vice President?
No! Something's not right!
This is getting interesting!
()
Just then, a knock sounded on the student council room door.
"Excuse me, is Yuki-sama here?"
From the voice alone, it was clearKimishima Ayano.
"I'll excuse myself for a moment," Suou Yuki said.
Shinomiya Kaguya waved her hand, indicating it was fine.
It was almost the end of the morning break anyway.
It was time to head back to class.
Everyone left the student council room together.
At the door, Kimishima Ayano stood quietly in her Shuchiin Academy uniform.
Her presence was so faint it was terrifying.
Unlike Kato Megumi's natural dullness, this girl was a genuine assassin.
Shinomiya Kaguya and Fujiwara Chika bid their goodbyes and left.
Yukima Azuma examined the Suou family's personal maid and bodyguard.
Compared to Suou Yuki...
This girl had barely changed in three years.
She'd grown slightly taller, but not by much.
Her slim figure remained the same...
Her long, curly black hair cascaded down her back, with a single ahoge sticking up from her head.
Kimishima Ayano was holding a wooden box in her hands.
Clearly, this was the gift that Suou Yuki had mentioned.
Suou Yuki accepted the box and solemnly handed it to Yukima Azuma.
The moment he picked it up, he could feel its significant weight.
Opening the lid
Yukima Azuma paused for a moment.
Inside, the wooden box was lined with soft silk fabric.
Resting on top was a rock, about the size of a soccer ball.
The rock was dark red, irregular in shape.
It resembled some kind of mineral,
but Yukima Azuma couldn't identify what it was.
However, a strange fragrance drifted past his nose.
Inhaling it, he suddenly felt
his mind becoming clearer.
"Onii-sama, this was retrieved from Lake Itomori."
Suou Yuki lowered her voice.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma immediately understood what it was.
A fragment of Comet Charlotte.
He closed the lid of the box.
Holding the heavy wooden box in his hands, his expression turned subtle.
This Charlotte fragment... didn't seem ordinary at all.
"Will it be useful to you, Onii-sama?" Suou Yuki asked curiously.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
A rare supernatural artifact.
He didn't know its purpose yet,
but there was a high chance it would be valuable.
Seeing him nod,
Suou Yuki smiled.
"As long as it's useful to Onii-sama, that's all that matters."
But then, her brows furrowed slightly.
"However, quite a few people have been inquiring about it."
"Some even went to Lake Itomori to search for it directly."
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma's expression grew even more subtle.
For Suou Yuki to notice people investigating
It meant those individuals were anything but ordinary.
Were Japan's elite and powerful so bored that they had nothing better to do than dive into a lake for a meteorite?
Shaking his head, he set his thoughts aside.
Yukima Azuma put the wooden box away.
"Thank you so much, Yuki. I honestly don't know how to thank you enough."
Without Suou Yuki,
this Charlotte fragment would have never ended up in his hands.
And now that people were actively looking for it...
Aside from the Suou family, the dominant local power,
no one else could have taken it so smoothly.
"If you really want to thank me, it's simple." Suou Yuki's voice turned playful.
( )
"It's been ages since I last ate Onii-sama's cooking."
( ` ).
She put on a hungry expression.
"I miss your food so much! Nothing I eat tastes good anymore!"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but laugh.
A flawless setup.
How cute.
He reached out and gently patted Suou Yuki's head.
While ruffling her hair, he promised:
"This semester, as long as I attend school, I'll bring you bento."
"Yay! Onii-chan-sama saikou~!"
Suou Yuki happily raised both hands in excitement.
At first, it was just a ploy to secure a heartfelt thank you
But in truth, she genuinely missed the taste of Yukima Azuma's cooking.
Whether it was delicious or not wasn't the point.
What mattered most was
It was a meal personally made by her beloved Onii-chan-sama!
> <
All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends
Curse_Heian_Chef
Chapter 201: Teasing a Tsundere Is Just Too Fun
The next day.
After registration.
Yukima Azuma officially joined Shuchiin's class and began his school life.
Previously, Hayasaka Ai had given a brief introduction.
Yukima Azuma was placed in Class 1-B.
That meant he was in the same class as Fujiwara Chika.
However, Yukima Azuma's seat was quite far from Fujiwara Chika's.
They were separated by three rows, with one sitting at the very front and the other at the very back.
Yukima Azuma sat in the last row, near the window.
Yes, it was the protagonist's seat.
Next to him sat a girl with black hair tied into twin braids.
Yukima Azuma felt that this girl looked strangely familiar.
"Are you... the exchange student? What have you been staring at all this time?"
"Well, being mesmerized by this young lady is perfectly understandable, Hmph."
The girl glanced at Yukima Azuma with a displeased look and then raised her chin.
That sense of familiarity suddenly became even clearer.
Isn't this just the black-haired version of Eriri?
Hmm... or perhaps a tsundere version of Shinomiya Kaguya?
Yukima Azuma withdrew his gaze.
This girl, just by looking at her, screamed "losing heroine" energy.
For now, he didn't argue.
But in the future, there would definitely be plenty of chances to witness some drama.
At that moment, the classroom door slid open.
A graceful figure in a white blouse stepped into the room.
The classroom, which was already quiet, fell into absolute silence.
The woman stopped at the podium, her gaze sweeping across the room.
Very quickly, her eyes landed on Yukima Azuma.
"You over there, are you the new exchange student?"
The woman asked.
Yukima Azuma stood up and nodded slightly.
"I'm Hiratsuka Shizuka," the woman introduced herself. "I'm the literature teacher and also the homeroom teacher of this class."
"Even if you're only here for one semester as an exchange student, we're still student and teacher. I hope we get along."
"I originally planned to come pick you up, but it looks like you found your way to class on your own."
"Introduce yourself to everyone."
Yukima Azuma blinked.
So it's Hiratsuka Shizuka.
No wonder she felt familiar.
She was just like Kirisu Mafuyuan overaged single female teacher.
A beautiful woman who was wealthy, single, highly intelligent, and had a great personality.
Yet, for some reason, she was still unmarried.
While thinking about Hiratsuka Shizuka, Yukima Azuma casually introduced himself:
"I'm Yukima Azuma, an exchange student from Toyogasaki."
"My hobbies are shogi, literature, and cooking. I look forward to getting along with everyone."
A fairly standard introduction.
However, at Shuchiin, this was considered unusual.
More precisely, as long as a student was "ordinary," their introduction would naturally be considered unusual.
Because at Shuchiin, just hearing a student's surname was often enough to know everything about them.
For example, Shinomiya.
Or Fujiwara.
Daughters of financial magnates, children of politicians.
Anyone with an interest in networking would naturally approach them.
However, Yukima Azuma's case was unique.
The surname "Yukima" was completely unheard of.
But the name "Yukima Azuma" was known by quite a few students in the class.
The top scorer of last semester's comprehensive exams.
The one who had surpassed even Shinomiya Kaguya.
"Umu, sit down. A new environment takes time to adjust to. If you have any difficulties, feel free to come to me."
Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded, signaling Yukima Azuma to take his seat.
The girl sitting next to Yukima Azuma cast a glance in his direction.
So it's him!
The gaze of the girl beside him seemed to carry that exact thought.
Yukima Azuma glanced at her.
"What have you been staring at me for all this time?"
"Well, it's only natural to fall for this young master, hmph."
Yukima Azuma lowered his voice, speaking just loud enough for her to hear.
The exact same words from earlier, thrown right back at her.
The girl's face instantly turned bright red with anger.
Her little head snapped to the side, completely cutting off eye contact with Yukima Azuma.
Tsundere rage: ( Д )*
...
The morning classes passed quickly.
As soon as class ended,
Fujiwara Chika rushed over.
"Yukima-kun, you haven't joined any clubs yet, right? Want to join the Board Game Club?"
Her actions left many classmates stunned.
Although most Shuchiin students were from noble or elite backgrounds,
There was still a hierarchy even among the aristocracy.
And at the very top of that hierarchy, there was no one else but Shinomiya Kaguya and Fujiwara Chika.
Don't be fooled by Fujiwara Chika's always adorable and silly demeanor.
The truth was, she came from a prestigious family of politicians.
Her great-grandfather was a former Prime Minister, her uncle was the current Minister, and her mother was a diplomat.
She was, without a doubt, above the above the above.
And when this above the above the above approached Yukima Azuma,
All the sharp gazes directed at him earlier instantly disappeared.
Even the twin-braided girl beside him looked at him with doubt once again.
"I probably won't join any clubs for now since I might take a lot of leave."
"After all, I only joined the student council for attendance reasons."
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
Hearing this, Fujiwara Chika clapped her hands together.
"Oh right, Yukima-kun is the president of Laplace Corporation, super busy!"
This was something Shinomiya Kaguya had told Fujiwara Chika.
She said it casually, but the listeners took it seriously.
The twin-braided girl sitting next to him widened her eyes slightly.
( _ )
Laplace Corporation was no longer an unknown name.
In fact, Laplace Corporation juniors were already qualified to enter Shuchiin.
More importantly,
Laplace Corporation had been built from scratchmany in the upper class knew about this.
Unlike the aristocratic boys and girls in this class,
No matter how exceptional they were, the reason they could sit in Pure Institute was thanks to the previous generation.
But Yukima Azuma had secured his place here on his own.
With his own strength, he ensured that no one in Pure Institute dared to underestimate him.
Seeing the completely stunned expression of the twin-braided girl,
Yukima Azuma smirked provocatively.
( )
The girl, initially frozen from the unexpected information, snapped back to reality upon seeing his smirk.
Instead, she gritted her teeth slightly, though she didn't show it on her face.
( ) !!!
"Fujiwara-san, could you introduce me to this person?"
Yukima Azuma smiled meaningfully and gestured toward the person beside him.
"Oh oh, this is Shijo Maki-san, a relative of Kaguya-chan!"
"Eh? Come to think of it, didn't Kaguya-chan call Yukima-kun 'Onii-sama' before?"
"So doesn't that mean Yukima-kun and Shijo-san are also relatives?"
Fujiwara Chika excitedly gossiped.
Above Shijo Maki's head, a giant question mark appeared.
( ®® ) ?
She had absolutely no idea that the Shinomiya family had any relatives with the surname Yukima.
The Shijo family was a branch of the Shinomiya family.
She and Shinomiya Kaguya were somewhat distant relatives, but still of direct bloodline.
"Oh, so Shijo-san is a relative of Shinomiya-san?"
"Then Shijo-san should call me Onii-sama too."
Yukima Azuma did not explain the strange relationship between him and Shinomiya Kaguya.
On the contrary, he went with the flow.
Hearing this, Shijo Maki bit her lip slightly.
This guy!
(_)
But even Kaguyathe legitimate Shinomiya family memberhad called him "Onii-sama."
In terms of status, Kaguya was even her superior.
Proper etiquette... She couldn't disgrace the family.
"Oni... Onii-sama."
Shijo Maki muttered softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Are~? Shijo-san, what did you just say? I didn't quite catch that." Yukima Azuma cupped his hand around his ear, mimicking a recording device.
Creak...
The sound of teeth grinding echoed.
Immediately after, Shijo Maki obediently called out: "Onii-sama."
Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
"Umu, good Imouto."
Then, he casually patted Shijo Maki's head.
( )(._.`)
The head pat came swiftly and left just as quickly, dealing a critical hit.
Shijo Maki never expected Yukima Azuma to actually pat her head.
By the time she reacted and was about to explode, Yukima Azuma had already withdrawn his hand and slipped away.
Leaving the girl so furious she just wanted to bite him twice.
<( _)>
Watching Shijo Maki grind her teeth,
Yukima Azuma felt incredibly satisfied.
Teasing tsunderes was really fun.
At home, he couldn't tease a certain someone too much.
Otherwise, she'd cry in an instant.
After all, aho-baka-riri was his girlfriendhe still had to pamper her.
But this twin-braided brat had nothing to do with him.
So he could tease her all he wanted.
....
After the lunch break.
Yukima Azuma brought two bento boxes he had made himself to the student council room.
As soon as he pushed the door open, he saw Shinomiya Kaguya and Suou Yuki already seated inside.
The moment Yukima Azuma appeared, Suou Yuki immediately stood up and quickly approached him.
If there weren't other people around, this girl definitely wouldn't have bothered walking properlyshe would have charged at him like a raging bull.
Yukima Azuma was too familiar with Suou Yuki's childish personality.
So seeing her behave so properly now actually surprised him a little.
"Azuma-kun, is this for me? I'm really touched!"
()
Receiving a bento box from Yukima Azuma, Suou Yuki looked as if she had just received a birthday present.
"Eh? Yukima-kun made a bento for Suou-san!?"
Fujiwara Chika's eyes widened.
()
She sensed it!
Her love radar picked up a signal!
This was definitely a love triangle!
"Umu, I've been taking care of her for a while now."
Yukima Azuma replied casually.
Suou Yuki stuck out her tongue playfully and beamed.
After sitting back at the table, she eagerly opened her bento box.
A delicious aroma instantly filled the room.
Shinomiya Kaguya and Fujiwara Chika, who were just about to open their own lunches, instinctively stopped.
It smelled way too good!
--------------------------------------------
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Tokyo, a renowned Michelin-starred restaurant.
This restaurant is called Kagari.
Its most famous dish is
Well, that doesn't matter.
Because the people sitting at the table right now have no appetite for food.
Yukinoshita Yukino and her mother sat across from each other at the dining table.
The atmosphere was extremely tense.
However, unlike their previous meeting, this time Yukino was no longer frozen stiff in front of her mother.
Although there was still some awkwardness when their eyes met, she now carried an air of composure.
The chains that once bound Yukino's soul had been broken the day she decided to leave her family.
Last time, Mrs. Yukinoshita had attempted to shackle her daughter once more.
But the result was a merciless dismantling by Yukima Azuma.
Now, Yukino no longer feared her mother.
The canary whose wings had grown strong could finally soar freely in the sky.
Witnessing the significant change in her daughter, Mrs. Yukinoshita completely abandoned the idea of bringing her back home.
She understood that such a thing was no longer possible.
She had no cards left to threaten Yukino with.
Laplace Corporation had grown to a level where the Yukinoshita family could no longer interfere at will.
Mrs. Yukinoshita recalled what she had witnessed yesterday at the main house.
Recently, the Yukinoshita mansion had acquired a whole set of new furniture.
The butler had mentioned that it was smart furniture.
She hadn't bothered to listen to the details of its functionality.
Because the moment she saw the bed in the bedroom, she recognized a familiar emblem.
It was the Laplace logo.
The instant she saw that mark, Mrs. Yukinoshita understood that Laplace's rise was unstoppable.
Compared to the Yukinoshita family, whose future was becoming increasingly uncertain
Laplace, though not yet on the same scale, was a rising star.
Its ascent was rapid.
Before long, it would reach the same height as the Yukinoshita family.
Then, it would quickly surpass them, continuing to climb higher.
Upon realizing this
Mrs. Yukinoshita felt a numbing sensation.
As the one who had restored the Yukinoshita family's glory, a business genius known as the "Witch of Chiba"
She simply couldn't fathom how Yukima Azuma had done it.
It felt as if her once-proud arrogance had been trampled underfoot.
But Mrs. Yukinoshita was no longer in her teens or twenties.
She had to face reality.
Thus, this second meeting had come to be.
"Your engagement can be annulled," Mrs. Yukinoshita got straight to the point.
Then, she pulled a contract out of her bag. "All you need to do is sign here."
Hearing this, Yukino immediately furrowed her brows.
She silently took the contract.
Its contents were not overly complicated.
It was about a business collaboration between Laplace Corporation and the Yukinoshita Group.
It involved Laplace's smart furniture and certain commercial rights.
The contract was beneficial to both parties.
However, the Yukinoshita family would benefit slightly more.
Laplace Corporation could use this to establish a reputation in Chiba.
Meanwhile, the Yukinoshita family, after obtaining certain licensing rights, would make a great deal of money.
Currently, Laplace Corporation held several top-tier intellectual properties across Japan.
For example, the "Youth" series and "White Album."
With these licenses, they could produce related merchandise and boost commercial sales.
The concept of "commercial synergy" didn't exist yet in the current market.
The fact that Mrs. Yukinoshita could come up with such a strategy
It could only be said that she was truly worthy of the title "Witch of Chiba."
It was an exceptionally smart business move.
Placing the contract down,
Yukino said expressionlessly:
"I have reviewed the contract. As for collaborating with your company, Laplace will consider it carefully."
Hearing this, Mrs. Yukinoshita immediately frowned.
"Consider? What is there to consider?"
"Regarding the proposed pricing, I think we can renegotiate it later."
"Yukinoshita Yukino, with this kind of attitude, how do you expect to"
"My attitude has always been this way. You should know that better than anyone. Besides, even if I don't change, there are still people who are willing to accept me."
Mrs. Yukinoshita was rendered speechless by the rebuttal.
At present, Yukino was the acting CEO of Laplace Corporation.
One could say she held a position of significant power.
With a personality that was excessively straightforward, almost indifferent to familial ties, it was indeed difficult for her to thrive in society.
But as the CEO of Laplace Corporation, such traits were a perfect fit.
Laplace had abundant capital, and moreover, the products they held were ones others fought over.
If it were anyone else sitting in Yukino's current position
On the contrary, they would be at risk of corruption.
Greed in the face of wealth was truly terrifying.
But Yukino's integrity had instead become Laplace's most crucial pillar.
Mrs. Yukinoshita found it almost unbelievable.
How could someone who built Laplace Corporation from nothing trust Yukino so unconditionally?
This trust
Made her, Yukino's own mother, seem like an outsider.
"Is there anything else? If not, I will take my leave."
Yukino stood up and asked.
Mrs. Yukinoshita waved her hand in frustration.
The life she had arranged for Yukino was, compared to many, already excellent.
Born into the Yukinoshita family yet possessing such a personality
What Mrs. Yukinoshita had said wasn't wrong Yukino was indeed unsuited for survival in society.
But comparisons were the most terrifying thing.
Yukima Azuma had not only completely crushed Mrs. Yukinoshita in the business world.
Even in raising Yukino, he had utterly outclassed her.
(note: sounds wrong)
.....
Yukino gathered her belongings, casually stuffing the contract into her bag, then stepped out of the private room.
The moment she stepped outside
She let out a long sigh of relief.
To say she wasn't nervous would be a lie.
Facing the mother she had feared for twenty years
It was only natural for Yukino to feel hesitant.
But this time, even without Yukima Azuma by her side, she had managed to handle it!
A resounding victory!
Although, in truth, it was still thanks to Yukima Azuma that she had won.
Thinking about this, Yukino couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth curl upward.
With a personality that most would find twisted, if she had never met Yukima Azuma
No matter how vast the world was, she might not have found a place where she belonged.
From the moment Yukima Azuma had told her, "Yukino, I cannot be without you."
Yukinoshita Yukino had been completely captivated.
..
Exiting the restaurant.
A cool autumn night breeze blew past.
Dressed in only a business suit paired with a pencil skirt, Yukino couldn't help but shiver.
"It's getting cold I should remind him to wear more layers."
Yukino murmured to herself.
Then, she took out her car keys, preparing to drive home.
But at that moment, she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder.
Yukino instinctively took a step back in caution and turned around
Only to find that the person who had tapped her was none other than her older sister.
Today, Yukinoshita Haruno was dressed in a hoodie and loose sports pants.
Her entire demeanor exuded a sense of ease and relaxation.
In Yukino's memory, her sister rarely dressed like this.
Most of the time, she meticulously maintained her image, looking like a blooming peony.
"Sis."
Yukino called out softly, her emotions somewhat complicated.
In the past, she had always seen Haruno as a goal to strive for.
Admiring her sister's grace and ability to navigate any situation with finesse.
But now
Yukino was finally free to spread her wings.
While her sister remained bound by the Yukinoshita family.
"...Why aren't you wearing more layers? I already turned on the heater in the car."
"Come on, I'll take you home. I've already arranged for a driver to take your car back."
Haruno gestured for Yukino to follow.
Yukino hesitated for a moment.
But in the end, she still followed her sister and got into the car.
The moment she sat down
The warm air from the heating system immediately drove away the cold lingering on her body.
Haruno leaned over from the driver's seat, intending to help Yukino fasten her seatbelt.
But Yukino stopped her.
"I can do it myself."
As she spoke, she secured the seatbelt on her own.
"Oh dear, you're so cold, Yukino-chan~." Haruno pouted, acting as if she were wounded.
Yukino didn't respond.
If it was a verbal spar, she didn't mind engaging.
But if they kept going back and forth, she'd inevitably end up saying something that would stab at the other person.
Haruno started the car and pulled out of the restaurant's parking lot.
Under the night sky, the vehicle silently cruised through the city streets.
The speed was leisurely.
Streetlights passed by one after another, their glow reflecting on the car windows.
"Yukino-chan, do you like Yukima Azuma?"
Haruno suddenly asked.
Yukino froze for a moment.
Then, almost instantly, her cheeks were tinged with a faint red.
"...Yes."
She decisively voiced the answer in her heart, though her tone was a little soft.
Yukino was someone who could face her emotions head-on.
Liking someone was just that there was nothing shameful about saying it out loud.
"I figured as much." Haruno lightly tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. "So, have you confessed yet?"
As an older sister who had watched Yukino grow up, Haruno naturally noticed her feelings.
The only thing she wasn't sure about was how Yukino would handle love.
After all, Yukino had never liked anyone before never even felt moved by anyone.
"That has nothing to do with you, does it?" Yukino turned her face away.
So she hadn't confessed yet.
Haruno thought to herself.
"Do you plan to confess?"
"I already said it's none of your"
"If you do, you might succeed. But the outcome may not be what you're hoping for."
"What do you mean?"
"That boy has a lot of girls around him, doesn't he?"
Haruno lightly wiggled her fingers.
Hearing that, Yukino immediately fell silent.
Although she had deliberately avoided thinking about it
The truth was, many girls surrounded Yukima Azuma.
Just counting the ones living in the same house, besides herself, there were already four others.
Not to mention the senpais and students from the Shogi world.
"If he happens to like multiple girls at the same time, and you're one of them what will you do then, Yukino-chan?"
"If he happens to like multiple girls at the same time, and you're one of them what will you do then, Yukino-chan?"
Haruno's words left Yukino completely silent.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Yukino unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself.
What should she do?
Yukino asked herself, but she couldn't find an answer.
With her upright personality, she could never accept a lover's betrayal.
But if she were to be told to stay away from Yukima Azuma
For Yukino, that would be no different from being thrown back into hell.
After all, could she really compete with other girls?
Though Yukino wasn't the type to be insecure.
To be precise, she was quite confident in her own beauty.
At the same time, she took pride in her natural talent.
But to Yukima Azuma, those things might not even be an advantage.
The girls around him all had outstanding beauty.
As for talent?
Who would dare call themselves a genius in front of a Laplace Demon?
Setting those things aside, Yukino suddenly realized that the connection between her and Yukima Azuma wasn't actually that strong.
At least, compared to Kato Megumi and the others who studied and lived alongside him at the home and academy.
She was still someone with fewer chances to interact with him.
Yukino thought of "Saekano".
Yukima Azuma had once written a love letter like that.
Yukino wasn't as foolish as Eriri, so of course, she understood the implication within that light novel.
Perhaps, she had already lost a long time ago.
That thought made Yukino's eyes momentarily darken.
"Even Yukino-chan doesn't know what to do, huh?"
"That doesn't sound like something you should say."
"But have you ever considered staying by that boy's side along with the other girls?"
Haruno spoke while glancing at Yukino.
Hearing her sister's question, Yukino was completely dumbfounded.
What was this?
A harem?
That was utterly ridiculous.
This wasn't a light novel world.
"Are you joking? Not just me, but the others wouldn't agree either."
"Besides, Azuma-kun would never..."
Before Yukino could finish her sentence.
Haruno interrupted her:
"Never? Yukino-chan, do you want to think it over more carefully?"
"Yukino-chan, you know by now, right? Yukima Azuma is the boy who came to our house back then."
Hearing that, Yukino fell silent again.
Yukima Azuma was the one who had visited the Yukinoshita household back then.
The boy who negotiated with Mrs. Yukinoshita, wanting his name to be recorded under the Yukinoshita family.
Yukino knew very well what had happened to the Yukima family.
That boy no longer had a single blood relative in this world.
Or perhaps, from the very beginning, he never had any family at all.
Yukino recalled hearing that Yukima Azuma had been sent to Tokyo since elementary school.
The car passed through the streets, with Yukima's house on one side.
But Haruno didn't stop.
The car quickly passed the mansion, continuing forward, taking another round.
"Yukino-chan, can't you see? That boy, no matter how much he uses maturity and intellect to conceal himself"
"Deep inside, he is still unbearably lonely, like an abandoned child."
As Haruno spoke these words.
Her eyes flickered slightly, barely noticeable.
As if she was peeling open an old wound, suppressing the pain.
Why did Haruno understand Yukima Azuma's true state so well?
The answer was very simple.
Because that night, after she had "swallowed him whole."
After the boy fell asleep, he held her tightly.
Pressed his cheek against her neck.
As if he wanted to bind her to himself at all costs.
Afraid that with just one careless moment, she would leave him behind.
A deep attachment that could never be erased.
When Haruno was embraced, she felt as if her entire heart had been filled.
She just kept looking at Yukima Azuma all night.
Until the morning light crept into the hotel room.
She was forced to remove the arms of the boy who was tightly holding onto her.
That was also Haruno's first time.
If she truly didn't care, she wouldn't have risked jumping from the second floor of the banquet hall, despite the possibility of breaking her leg.
The boy's attachment was like the sweetest candy in the world.
Once tasted, it had to be given up forever.
That morning felt like a knife slicing through Haruno's heart.
But she had no other choice.
At that time, the boy was still just a part-time banquet hall worker.
If Haruno had truly stayed and confirmed her relationship with Yukima Azuma.
The Yukinoshita family would have delivered a fatal blow to him.
After leaving, Haruno could only lick her wounds in silence.
She just never expected that
One day in the future.
When she met that boy again.
He had built an entire fortress from nothing.
Stepped into a position where he no longer had to fear the Yukinoshita family.
And even sheltered her younger sister under his wings.
As someone who loved her sister to an extreme degree.
She couldn't help but feel jealous of her own sister.
She was clearly the one who came first!
On one side was her most beloved younger sister.
On the other was the boy with whom she had shared her first time.
The sum of two happinesses should have been the most beautiful dream.
Why did it turn out like this!?
Those bitter lines from White Album unconsciously surfaced in Haruno's mind.
This made her start to doubt
When that boy created that game.
Had he already foreseen this exact situation?
Damn it, why are you so skilled at this!?
Haruno's thoughts became chaotic.
Yukino wasn't much better off.
Though not as deeply as Haruno
She had still been with him for a year.
Regarding Yukima Azuma's issues, Yukino had also noticed some signs.
When dealing with those around him, the boy always seemed excessively eager to please.
As if he was afraid they would leave him.
The car went around for the third time.
Haruno collected her thoughts and asked once again:
"Yukino-chan, are you still hesitating?"
Yukino's eyelashes lowered slightly.
"I don't know, it's just thinking about him being with someone else makes my stomach hurt."
"But if I really had to stay away from him I can't even imagine it."
Hearing that, the corners of Haruno's lips curled up.
It seemed that the situation was much better than she had expected.
She had already prepared herself for the possibility that her younger sister would stubbornly resist to the end with that strong-willed personality of hers.
But it turned out that boy was truly the embodiment of a seductive demon.
His power was formidable.
Even the iron-hard personality of her sister had been bent slightly.
That significantly lowered the difficulty.
"As someone with experience, I have a piece of advice for you, Yukino-chan."
"Actually, only when you abandon your original feelingsthat is the true betrayal."
"If your feelings remain unchanged from start to finish, and you simply develop new emotions, then it's not that big of a deal, right?"
Hearing her sister's justification.
Yukino just stared blankly.
Was that really true?
If Haruno had said these words from the beginning.
Yukino would have immediately retorted with sharp words.
But now, her head was in a complete mess because of Yukima Azuma.
On the left side of her mind was flour, on the right was waterone slight movement and it would turn into a pile of mush.
To the point that even such absurd words started to seem somewhat reasonable.
When the car once again stopped in front of Yukima's House.
Haruno slowly brought it to a halt.
"Alright, it's been a long time since we last met. Talking with Yukino-chan was really fun."
"It's getting quite late, Yukino-chan, hurry inside."
Yukino gently nodded, stepping out of the car in a daze.
Watching her younger sister absentmindedly walk toward Yukima's house.
Haruno stuck out her tongue.
"Oh dear, my adorable little sister, there's no other wayI'll have to trouble you a little."
"But then again, that guy flirts around everywhere, so you can't blame me."
Haruno mumbled to herself.
Back then, due to practical reasons, she had to leave Yukima Azuma.
But now, the Yukinoshita family could no longer threaten him.
Whether it was out of jealousy or the emotions stirring in her heart.
Haruno truly couldn't just stand by and watch anymore.
No matter how shameless it made her seem, she had to get back in the game.
And now, the biggest obstacle
Was none other than her own younger sister.
If Yukino couldn't accept it
Haruno would have no choice but to quietly back down.
Otherwise, even she wouldn't be able to overcome the barrier in her heart.
In any case, the first step was to coax her little sister into accepting the harem, then take it from there.
By that point, compared to letting him fall into the hands of other women
Wouldn't it be much better for us sisters to take the prize?
Yukino used the key to unlock the front door.
As soon as she stepped into Yukima's house.
An irresistibly delicious aroma immediately hit her, making her swallow involuntarily.
"Why are you home so late today? Good thing I made extra soup tonightit's fine to reheat it a little."
Yukima Azuma poked his head out from the kitchen. "Come eat."
Seeing that boy, Yukino's heart trembled slightly.
Earlier, when she wasn't with him, she already felt like she couldn't bear to be apart.
Now that she had just laid eyes on him
That feeling became even stronger.
The ever-righteous Yukino had finally fallen victim to beauty's charm.
Tonight, Yukima Azuma had made corn and pork rib soup.
As soon as Yukino sat down at the table, Yukima Azuma brought over a large bowl of ribs.
"Azuma-kun went to Shuchiin today, right? How was it?"
Yukino's mind was still a mess. Not wanting Azuma to ask why she was home lateafraid she might accidentally let something slip
She quickly found a topic to start the conversation first.
"Umu, it went really well. Let me tell you about it..."
Yukima Azuma started recounting the interesting events at Shuchiin.
At first, Yukino was still lost in thought, but gradually, she was drawn into the boy's lively storytelling.
From time to time, she covered her mouth and chuckled. Before she knew it, the uneasiness in her heart had faded away.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Chapter 204: Yukinoshita Yuki-Nyan
"What is this?"
After dinner, as she was about to go upstairs, Yukino happened to glance at the red stone in Yukima Azuma's hand and asked curiously.
"Ah... this is a long story. Actually, I'm not even sure what it is."
Yukima Azuma twirled the stone in his hand.
This was a fragment of Charlotte.
Yesterday, Suou Yuki had handed it over to him.
After bringing it back, Yukima Azuma had spent some time studying it
But until now, he still hadn't identified any special properties.
In fact, he had even considered taking it up Mount Itomori
To ask the guardian deity of Itomori for clarification.
"It looks like some kind of mineral."
Yukino leaned in closer and gently touched it.
"What if it's a meteorite from outer space?"
Yukima Azuma casually joked.
The two exchanged a few more words.
Yukino waved goodbye and turned to walk up the stairs.
After returning to her room
Yukino let out a long sigh.
Being around that young man was truly comfortable and pleasant.
If possible, she wished she could live like this forever.
Then, she recalled the words her older sister had said.
For a moment, Yukino felt a little lost.
She removed her business attire and stepped into the bathroom.
Yukino looked at herself in the mirror.
Just like her name, snow under snow. If one had to describe her beauty, it was a kind of beauty that was untouchable, something one could never obtainonly marvel at its absolute perfection.
A Yukino like this, of course, had never once worried about her appearance from childhood to adulthood.
But at this moment, she placed her hand on her flat chest.
She bit her lip slightly.
Should she start eating more papayas or something?
She stood there in a daze for a long time.
Until she felt a slight chill and shivered.
Yukino snapped back to reality and quickly stepped under the shower.
After finishing her bath
Wrapped in a towel, Yukino jumped onto her bed.
Her fair legs gently swayed.
If only she didn't have to deal with human relationships, if only she could cling to that young man without a care in the world, how wonderful that would be.
As she thought about it, Yukino gradually drifted into sleep.
The night slowly fell.
The next morning.
The morning sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the pristine white bedsheets.
Yukino felt suffocated, as if a blanket had been completely covering her head.
She reached out to push it away, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn't.
She opened her eyes.
What met her gaze was a layer of soft fabric, blocking her vision.
Yukino frowned.
This texture it seemed to be her towel?
Was someone playing a prank? Placing a towel over her head?
Yukino intended to reach out and pull the towel down.
But no matter how many times she touched around, she couldn't feel herself grabbing onto anything at all.
Suspicious, she looked down at her hands.
Yukino only saw a pair of snow-white, soft paws with pinkish pads.
"Nyani!"
( ®®) !!
A loud cry escaped.
Startled, Yukino struggled to free herself from the towel.
Her bed was still her bed, her room was still her room.
However, everything now appeared several times larger than before.
Yukino looked down at her body.
She only saw a sleek black fur coat, along with a cat's tail swaying behind her.
In an instant, Yukino's eyes widened in shock.
She wanted to speak, but as soon as she opened her mouth, only "nyan nyan" came out.
After adapting to her current cat body, Yukino rolled around a little and then jumped off the bed.
She walked toward the large mirror in the room.
In the mirror, there was no longer the elegant black-haired beauty.
Instead, there was only a small cat with an entirely black body, except for four white paws, looking incredibly adorable.
On a normal day, seeing such a cute cat would certainly make Yukino feel affectionate.
But right now
She tried raising her paw.
In the mirror, the little cat also lifted its white paw.
For a moment, Yukino fell into extreme shock.
She had turned into a cat!
/ Ї Ї
Yukino stared at her reflection, her pupils turning into vertical slits from the shock.
What should she do now?
For a brief moment, Yukino was utterly bewildered.
Just then.
The door creaked open.
Yukino jumped in alarm, cautiously looking toward the door.
Someone was coming.
She tried lifting her small head to see who had entered.
It was Yukima Azuma.
Yukino panicked slightly.
How was she supposed to explain this situation now?
Wait, why wasn't he at school?
Oh, right, today was the weekend.
While she was still lost in her thoughts
Yukima Azuma slowly walked over.
"A cat? Where did you come from?" Yukima Azuma looked at the unfamiliar cat that had appeared in his house, feeling a bit puzzled.
He had just finished his morning training and, while downstairs, had heard some strange "nyan nyan" sounds.
Shiratamaru and Hogyokumaru were still eating downstairs.
Feeling curious, Yukima Azuma had come upstairs to check.
Upon entering Yukino's room, he discovered this unfamiliar cat.
Reaching out to touch it, Yukima Azuma noticed that this cat didn't seem very afraid of people.
So he simply picked it up.
Its fur was incredibly softso unbelievably smooth that the sensation of touching it was unreal.
Unable to resist, Yukima Azuma stroked it a few more times.
The feeling of petting it was truly an indulgence.
Even Hogyokumaru, despite having the bloodline of a magical creature, didn't have fur that felt this good to the touch.
As for Yukino
AWAWAWAWWAWAWAHHHHH!
( )
Inside, Yukino was screaming at the top of her lungs.
Just a moment ago, she had been panicking, not knowing how to face him in her cat form.
And now, she had been directly scooped up into Yukima Azuma's arms.
Being held was one thing.
But where exactly was this guy petting?!
This weird feeling
Somehow it felt kind of nice?
Yukino snapped out of it, shaking her head vigorously.
No, this can't happen. If she started enjoying this, wouldn't she be losing her dignity as a human?!
And just at that moment
Yukima Azuma casually scratched under Yukino's chin.
"Little one, where did you come from?"
"Could it be a cat Yukino adopted? Strange, if that were the case, she should have told me."
Yukima Azuma seemed to be speaking both to Yuki-Nyan in his arms and to himself.
As for Yukino
At that moment, an uncontrollable purring sound of pleasure rumbled from her throat.
Just after letting out two purrs
Yukino immediately used her small paws to push Yukima Azuma's hand away.
This is badhis cat-petting skills are way too advanced.
She couldn't resist at allher instincts were completely taking over!
Being pushed away by the little Yuki-Nyan in his arms,
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow.
"So, you turn out to be a proud little cat, huh?"
"But give up nowno cat can resist my technique! Hehehe"
( )
Saying that, Yukima Azuma began using an even more advanced cat-petting technique.
Yukino: (®®)!!!
.
.
Five minutes later.
Unable to resist the relentless petting, Yukino unconsciously rubbed herself against Yukima Azuma's hand.
/- -
If she were in human form
Then this scene would probably not be suitable for children.
But since she was a cat, everything was still within acceptable limits.
As for whether Yukino's mental state was still normal at this point
Only she knew the answer.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma's phone rang.
He had to pause, holding Yukino with one arm while using the other to grab his phone.
Finally, he stopped. Yukino regained a sliver of sanity.
No, she had to escape!
If this continued any longer, the bigger danger wasn't actually becoming a catit was dying of embarrassment!
She began to squirm uneasily.
Trying to struggle free from Yukima Azuma's arms.
But unfortunately, it was a futile effort.
A cat's strength largely depended on its sharp claws.
But since Yukino had just gotten used to her feline body, she had no control over her claws yet.
At most, all she could do was extend them slightly from her paw pads when trying to exert force.
But she couldn't bear to hurt Yukima Azuma.
So, while struggling, she didn't dare to use too much strength.
Afraid that if her claws fully extended, she might accidentally scratch him.
With just a light press of one finger on her small head, Yukima Azuma effortlessly ended Yuki-Nyan's rebellion.
Yukima Azuma glanced at his phone.
The incoming call was from an unfamiliar number he hadn't saved.
Casually, he pressed the answer button, switched to speaker mode, and tossed the phone onto the bed.
"Yukima Azuma, this is Mrs. Yukinoshita."
Mrs. Yukinoshita's voice came through the speaker.
Hearing this voice, both Yukima Azuma and Yukino froze.
Yukima Azuma, who had been about to resume petting the cat, stopped in his tracks.
Yukino, too, obediently stopped squirming and perked her ears to listen to the voice coming from the phone.
"Oh, Mrs. Yukinoshita, is there something you need?"
Yukima Azuma replied casually, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes.
Then, before Mrs. Yukinoshita could answer
Yukima Azuma suddenly spoke:
"Let me guessdid you just see Laplace's logo in your house?"
"Did you suddenly feel the overwhelming difference and finally see reality for what it is?"
"And so now, you're calling, hoping to ask Laplace for a favor?"
On the other end of the line
A vein popped on Mrs. Yukinoshita's forehead.
<( _)>
She was on the verge of breaking down!
If Yukima Azuma had just lashed out at her harshly
She wouldn't have cared in the slightest. In fact, she might have even mocked him for being childish.
But these wordsthese words stung even worse than insults.
Lies wouldn't hurt peopletruth was the sharpest knife.
Grinding her teeth in fury, Mrs. Yukinoshita spat out each word through clenched teeth:
"Y.E.S, that's right, you guessed correctly."
At this point, she had no choice but to adjust her attitude.
Being stubborn to the end would only lead to a worse outcome.
Yukima Azuma, on the other hand, was slightly surprised.
He hadn't expected Mrs. Yukinoshita to admit it so bluntly.
But immediately after
His expression darkened.
"You went to see Yukino again, didn't you?"
"What did you say to her?"
"Is Yukino with you right now?"
Three consecutive questions.
Yukino, still nestled in Yukima Azuma's arms, suddenly felt her cat heart skip a beat.
Because Mrs. Yukinoshita wanted to find a way to cling to Laplace.
The first person she sought out was definitely not Yukima Azuma, but Yukino.
Understanding this, Yukima Azuma immediately fired off three consecutive questions.
"You went to see Yukino again, didn't you?"
"What did you say to Yukino?"
"Is Yukino with you right now?"
The urgency in his voice was not fake.
On the other end of the line, Mrs. Yukinoshita fell silent for a moment upon hearing this.
Did he think she was a kidnapper or something?
Letting out a helpless sigh,
Mrs. Yukinoshita spoke somewhat wearily:
"She's not with me. She already took the contract home, so go find her yourself."
"Once the contract is signed, I won't force Yukino anymore. Isn't that a great deal?"
Upon hearing this, Yuki-Nyan immediately broke free from Yukima Azuma's arms.
She jumped onto the bed, intending to cut off the call with her cat claws.
Her mother was using her as a bargaining chip against him again!
Unbelievable!
Yukima Azuma reacted swiftly.
The moment Yuki-Nyan leaped away, he reached out and caught her.
As a result, before Yuki-Nyan could land on the bed,
While she was still suspended in midair, Yukima Azuma had already pulled her back into his embrace.
"Nyan!"
( /,,'',,\ )
Yuki-Nyan let out a dissatisfied cry.
Yukima Azuma patted Yuki-Nyan on the head.
Even though he didn't know what was up with this cat, he decided to soothe it for now.
His gaze swept across the room.
Very quickly, Yukima Azuma found the briefcase that Yukino always carried with her.
He took it out and flipped through it.
The contract from Mrs. Yukinoshita was found immediately.
Yuki-Nyan couldn't speak, so she could only use her claws to scratch at Yukima Azuma.
She didn't want him to be troubled because of her.
Glancing over the contents of the contract,
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Oh, Mrs. Yukinoshita's idea was quite interesting.
Brand collaboration.
A very weighty marketing strategy for the future.
Commonly applied in industries like fashion or food.
The most notable examples of brand collaboration that Yukima Azuma knew of
Were probably sneakers and bubble tea. (Note: I don't know anything about business.)
He set the contract aside.
Picked up the phone.
"I just looked over the contents; the idea isn't bad."
"But does the Yukinoshita family even have any products that align with the IPs Laplace Corporation owns?"
"Are you expecting Laplace Corporation to create a custom IP just for the Yukinoshita family?"
"Moreover, even if that were the case, this partnership wouldn't help you sell the house."
Hearing this, Mrs. Yukinoshita froze for a moment.
Not because of the content of his words,
But because of his attitude.
Was this kid actually considering agreeing to this deal?
Even though they had only met twice,
Mrs. Yukinoshita had a fair grasp of Yukima Azuma's personality.
Initially, she proposed the deal without expecting much.
She had even braced herself to be mocked by Yukima Azuma.
But now, his attitude seemed to lean toward agreement.
Recalling their previous meeting,
Mrs. Yukinoshita asked suspiciously:
"You're not seriously thinking about marrying Yukino, are you?"
This conversation had really jumped too far.
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched slightly.
Meanwhile, Yuki-Nyan covered her cat face with her plump little cat paws.
"( _ <,, )
What in the world was her mother saying!
"What are you planning? Even if I do get married, I won't be a live-in son-in-law, so just give up on that idea."
"I'm just reminding you, if you're serious, you should have a proper attitude. If you're not, then make it clear sooner rather than later."
"Since when was this your place to say?"
"You brat, I'm Yukino's mother!"
"A good mother who specializes in forcing her daughter into arranged marriages?"
"Tch... the Yukinoshita family does e-commerce."
Running out of arguments, Mrs. Yukinoshita reluctantly backed off and changed the subject.
Yukima Azuma suddenly had a realization.
So that was it.
It made sensee-commerce would be one of the major trends in the near future.
If Mrs. Yukinoshita could bring the Yukinoshita family back to prominence,
There was no reason she wouldn't seek an alternative path after seeing the real estate industry decline.
Clinging to a sinking industry and dragging the entire Yukinoshita family down with it
Finding a new direction was inevitable.
E-commerce was indeed a promising avenue.
"The Yukinoshita family should establish a fashion subsidiary."
"As for the collaboration contract, we can discuss it later."
Yukima Azuma pointed Mrs. Yukinoshita toward a brighter path.
Among the best-selling products in e-commerce, aside from snacks and cosmetics,
Clothing was at the top.
Using a few IPs from Laplace Corporation for collaboration,
Creating a trending product would be incredibly simple.
Moreover, by next year, when Laplace Corporation's short video platform launched,
Making a product go viral would be even easier.
This was truly a feasible project.
As for why he had to collaborate with the Yukinoshita family for this
By next year, Laplace Corporation would have money, but there would be countless things to handle.
At that point, they wouldn't be able to manage everything alone.
Besides, if Laplace Corporation tried to monopolize every opportunity,
It would only invite jealousy from others.
Sharing some profit-making projects externally would also benefit Laplace Corporation.
And, to be fair, Mrs. Yukinoshita wasn't wrong.
After all, she was still Yukino's mother.
Even if, emotionally speaking, she wasn't exactly worthy of that title,
Yukima Azuma didn't want to completely sever ties with her.
If things really soured, the person caught in the middle would undoubtedly be Yukino.
On the other end of the call,
Mrs. Yukinoshita listened to Yukima Azuma's suggestion, which was more like an order.
She thought for a moment.
After confirming its feasibility,
She didn't hesitate and immediately agreed.
Then, both sides ended the call.
The collaboration contract would have to wait until the Yukinoshita family's fashion company was up and running before they could negotiate further.
After hanging up, Yukima Azuma looked down at the cat in his arms.
Being a cat was so much easierno need to deal with these troublesome matters.
Just as he was thinking that, he suddenly felt something was off.
The cat in his arms seemed to be... deep in thought?
/ - -
Its expressions were so vivid...
It didn't seem like a cat at all, but rather, more like a human.
Realizing this
A series of clues flashed through Yukima Azuma's mind.
Did Yukino really go out today?
Her usual high heels were still by the door.
Moreover, the documents and briefcase she would normally take with her were still in the room.
Yukino had mysteriously disappeared.
And a cat had suddenly appeared.
It was absurd, but Yukima Azuma had already witnessed plenty of supernatural events.
And if he took a closer sniff
This cat carried a faint scent of snow blossoms, exactly like Yukino.
A thought gradually formed in Yukima Azuma's mind.
At that moment, Yukino
Was still lost in her own thoughts.
How could she not understand the boy's intentions?
His impression of the Yukinoshita family was certainly not great.
Yet now, he was agreeing to a collaboration and even actively helping the Yukinoshita family...
Even though this was a mutually beneficial arrangement,
The more important reason was definitely that he didn't want her to feel conflicted.
Yukino had always knownYukima Azuma treated her very well.
But at this very moment
She could truly feel his sincerity.
Yukino didn't know how she should repay him for being so kind to her.
If he always kept this sincerity
Then even if he grew to like another girl...
As long as his heart remained unchanged
Yukino suddenly recalled her sister's distorted philosophy.
"Yukino."
Yukima Azuma's sudden voice startled her.
She instinctively lifted her small head and looked toward him.
And even let out a "Nyan~" as if responding.
The moment she made that sound, Yukino realized
Right now, she was a cat. The Yuki-Nyan.
Instantly, her heart felt like it was hanging by a thread.
Did he realize it already!?
If he did, she might just die of embarrassment today!
But Yukima Azuma
Now, he was completely certain.
This cat was definitely Yukino!
The only thing he didn't know was why Yukino had turned into a cat.
Could it be...?
He suddenly remembered the shard of Charlotte.
Though he couldn't confirm it yet, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but blame himself.
Why did he let her carelessly touch something so unstable?
And now, look what happenedone touch and trouble followed.
"Yukino went to work already? I miss Yukino so much~"
Yukima Azuma didn't expose Yuki-Nyan's identity, casually diverting the conversation instead.
Yuki-Nyan let out a sigh of relief.
But at the same time, a sweet warmth rose in her heart.
So... when they were alone, he always thought about her.
So... this wasn't just one-sided love!
How wonderful! Ehehe~...
/ > <
Thinking that, Yuki-Nyan proactively rubbed her small feline head against Yukima Azuma's palm.
Turning into a cat really did make it easier to act spoiled.
The usually cold and composed Lady Yukino had now completely let her guard down.
Watching Yuki-Nyan rub herself back and forth against his palm
Yukima Azuma widened his eyes in surprise.
So this was the real Yukino!
As he teased Yuki-Nyan, Yukima Azuma continued pondering over Yukino's condition.
If this supernatural change was caused by Charlotte's shard, then it must be similar to Adolescence Syndrome.
The effects of Adolescence Syndrome stemmed from intense psychological fluctuations, manifesting outwardly as physical phenomena.
So what kind of psychological fluctuation had Yukino experienced?
And why did it result in her turning into a cat?
Did turning into a cat mean she didn't have to go to work anymore? No, that couldn't be it.
Was it because she didn't have to deal with social interactions and could freely cling to him instead?
Before long, Yukima Azuma had almost pieced together the truth.
After all, Yuki-Nyan's current clingy behavior was already a clear hint.
If this really was Adolescence Syndrome
Then as long as the psychological fluctuation was resolved, she should return to normal.
Moreover, as long as nothing aggravated that psychological fluctuation, the symptoms shouldn't last too long.
Just like Kurokawa Akane once she quit her internet addiction, the wounds on her body stopped appearing.
For now, the best course of action was to let Yuki-Nyan stay in the room for a while.
And see if she would return to normal on her own.
--------------------------------------------
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Click.
The door gently closed.
On the bed, Yuki-Nyan sat up.
Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?
/ ?
She shook her little cat head, her cat ears twitching slightly.
Finally, Yuki-Nyan escaped from her state of "depravity."
Thinking about her previous act of acting spoiled
She just felt so embarrassed she wanted to disappear.
Fortunately, right now, she was just a cat.
A cat couldn't have any bad intentions, right?
But still, being a cat was truly enjoyableno no no, actually very convenient.
Yet, she couldn't stay a cat forever.
Yuki-Nyan started thinking againwhy exactly had she turned into a cat, and how could she turn back?
It was as if a spark of realization flashed through her mind.
She just needed to relax.
That thought naturally surfaced in Yuki-Nyan's head.
Even though there was no basis for it
But in this situation, there wasn't a better option. Yuki-Nyan decided to trust her own instincts.
So she stretched out her cat body, lay flat on the bed, closed her eyes, and relaxed her mind.
Her tail swayed gently back and forth.
She didn't know how much time had passed
When Yukino opened her eyes again, she found that she had returned to her familiar human form.
She raised her hand
Looking at her smooth, fair skin and slender fingers.
Yukino let out a sigh of relief.
Being able to return to normal was a good thing.
But still, what was going on with this whole turning-into-a-cat thing?
If that embarrassing moment of acting spoiled had never happened
Maybe Yukino would have told Yukima Azuma everything.
She could pour her heart out to himeven if he couldn't offer a solution, at least she could relieve some of the pressure in her heart.
If she told anyone else, they would definitely think she was delusional.
But Yukino believed that if she told Yukima Azuma
Even if he didn't understand, he would surely listen seriously.
But now
Yukino felt that she absolutely couldn't bring it up anymore.
Too embarrassing!
She could only find the reason by herself.
Yukino began recalling last night's events.
Compared to usual, nothing seemed particularly special.
If there was anything different
She rememberedlast night, she had fallen asleep while embracing her intense feelings for that boy.
At that time, it seemed like she didn't want to leave Yukima Azuma's side.
She just wanted to cling to him freely without anyone stopping her.
These wishesif she became a cat, they could come true.
Could it bethis happened because of that wish?
Yukino covered her face in embarrassment.
Her cheeks were so hot they felt like they were about to catch fire.
That was absolutely shameless!
(///// " )
...
Late morning.
Yukino, now fully dressed, walked down the stairs.
Hearing movement, Yukima Azuma peeked out from his room.
Seeing that Yukino was back to normal, he let out a small sigh of relief.
Then, he pretended to be surprised and said:
"Eh? When did you get back, Yukino? I didn't notice at all!"
Yukino's eyes wavered slightly.
She wasn't the type to lie.
Lying didn't fit her sense of integrity.
But if she had to tell the truth right now, she would rather find a hole to crawl into.
"I was probably cooking just now, so I didn't notice."
"Perfect timing, lunch is almost ready. Come eat."
Seeing Yukino looking a bit flustered, Yukima Azuma took the initiative to help her cover up.
Yukino's fair, jade-like toes curled slightly in her slippers, revealing her nervousness.
But in any case, she had managed to gloss over it.
...
The weekend passed
Nothing strange happened again.
Yukima Azuma carefully stored away the Charlotte fragment.
Before heading to Itomori, he had no intention of taking out this strange item again.
Monday morning.
Yukima Azuma left the house, preparing to go to Shuchiin Academy.
But as soon as he stepped out the door
Just as he stepped outside
Yukima Azuma saw a familiar luxury car.
A red-and-white two-tone Porsche sports car.
In Japan, there weren't many of these.
If you counted both the make and color, there were probably only a handful in all of Tokyo.
He turned away, intending to pretend he hadn't seen it.
But before he could take a few steps
A soft voice, carrying a hint of mischief, called out beside him.
"Azuma-kun, good morning!"
Yukima Azuma helplessly stopped in his tracks and turned to look.
Yukinoshita Haruno was standing there, beaming brightly, full of energy, and waving at him cheerfully.
( ).
She was wearing a loose hoodie and comfortable jeans.
She looked just like the friendly older sister next door.
Except she was the gorgeous, wealthy, and perfectly-proportioned kind of older sister.
Haruno could be considered a natural-born "clothes hanger."
No matter what fashion style she wore, she exuded a unique kind of beauty.
This was the first time Yukima Azuma had seen Haruno dressed in such a lazy-beauty style.
Whether from direct impression or past memories
Haruno had always maintained a professional, polished appearance.
Now, she was giving off a completely different vibe.
Yukima Azuma had to admit, he found it somewhat refreshing.
But only just refreshing.
"Do you need something?" His tone remained indifferent as ever.
Haruno keenly caught the fleeting moment in his gazea hint of subtle admiration.
The corners of her lips curled up in amusement.
She patted the luxury car beside her.
"Heading to Shuchiin? We're going the same way. Let your beautiful onee-san give you a ride.~"
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma immediately turned around, ignored Haruno, and continued walking straight toward Shibuya Station.
The sound of footsteps quickly followed behind him.
A soft, slender hand suddenly grabbed his.
"Alright, alright, it's Mom who told me to come and discuss the collaboration with you."
"( )
Haruno's voice was filled with reluctance.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma looked at her skeptically.
Was Mrs. Yukinoshita really that impatient?
There was no way that in just two days, the Yukinoshita family had already found a factory, completed brand registration, designed the outfits, and handled all the miscellaneous details, right?
He stared at her for a long moment but found no flaws.
In the end, Yukima Azuma decided to follow Haruno into the red-and-white Porsche.
As soon as the passenger door closed
That familiar click sound again.
The car doors were locked.
Yukima Azuma immediately shot a glare at Haruno.
Haruno stuck out her tongue playfully.
Clearly, she hadn't been sent here by Mrs. Yukinoshita at all.
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
His acting skill was already at Lv4, yet he still couldn't see through Haruno's performance.
Just how skilled was this sly fox at acting?
Guardian-sensei, I have failed you.
...
The car started.
Judging by the direction, it was indeed heading toward Shuchiin.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma abandoned the idea of forcing his way out.
He simply remained silent.
The car sped off into the distance.
To Yukima Azuma's surprise, Yukinoshita Haruno remained silent the entire ride.
Just when he started to suspect she was up to something again
"Ne, do you really not want to see me that much?"
"Even with strangers, you wouldn't be this cold, right?"
"I know what I did before was too much, and I'm not asking for your forgiveness."
"But even for me, if I'm treated like this it would hurt a little, you know"
Haruno's voice sounded as if she was mumbling to herself.
There was no sign of distress, and certainly no tears.
Her delicate face still carried a faint smile.
But that smile seemed a bit stiff.
And because of that, the impact was even greater.
In that moment, Yukima Azuma even began to wonder if he had been too harsh.
The rest of the ride passed in silence.
Before long, they arrived at Shuchiin.
Yukima Azuma glanced at Haruno, feeling as if he should say something.
At that moment, Haruno leaned over and unfastened his seatbelt for him.
"Thank"
The words "Thank you" hadn't even left his mouth
When Haruno suddenly lifted her head and kissed him directly on the lips.
The unexpected action made his eyes widen instantly.
Since he had been about to speak, his lips were slightly parted.
Which worked out perfectly for Yukinoshita Haruno.
Her small, fragrant tongue slipped in without hesitation.
By the time Yukima Azuma reacted and turned his head to escape
Haruno had already pulled away.
And conveniently opened the car door for him.
"Azuma-kun, study hard~ Bye-bye!"
(^^)
Settling back into the driver's seat, Haruno flashed an innocent smile and waved at him.
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
Now then, where was the heartbroken look on this sly fox's face?
There was only pure, mischievous satisfaction.
Even though he already understood Haruno's nature
Yukima Azuma never expected her to go as far as stealing a kiss.
Stepping out of the car, he walked into Shuchiin with a dark expression.
As he disappeared from sight
Yukinoshita Haruno raised a finger and lightly ran it across her lips.
"Not clumsy at all, and he didn't reject it If anything, his heart was racing like crazy."
She muttered to herself.
The sadness was real, but so was the scheming.
Today, she had only intended to tease Yukima Azuma a little.
At first, she hadn't planned on stealing a kiss.
But when the moment came, she just went with the flow.
And afterward, she found herself enjoying it immensely.
Haruno couldn't help but wonderwas she becoming a bit too much of a pervert?
.....
On the other side.
As soon as he stepped into Shuchiin, Yukima Azuma ran into Suou Yuki.
"Good morning, Onii-sama."
Since no one else was around, Suou Yuki didn't bother using a normal form of address.
Even though she was greeting Yukima Azuma
Her gaze kept flickering toward the sports car parked at the school entrance.
Haruno's car windows were one-way tinted.
So, of course, Suou Yuki hadn't seen the kiss earlier.
But when Yukima Azuma stepped out of the car, she did see Haruno sitting inside.
That Chiba foxwhy is she with Onii-sama?
Could it be Onii-sama got tricked by that fox!?
Suou Yuki looked extremely worried!
><
Chapter 207: Yukima Azuma Must Belong to Me, Shinomiya Kaguya!
As an exchange student, Yukima Azuma was living quite well at Shuchiin.
After the student council's announcement was posted, all the students of Shuchiin Academy learned that Yukima Azuma had been appointed as the vice president of the student council.
As the true governing body of Shuchiin, holding the title of vice president was like an aura surrounding Yukima Azuma.
In the eyes of other students, that aura automatically gave him a "handsome" effect.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma was the top scorer in the previous inter-school exam.
Although Shuchiin was a prestigious academy, at its core, it was still a school.
Academic performance was clearly one of the most important evaluation criteria for students.
Therefore, almost no one was dissatisfied with the decision to appoint Yukima Azuma.
Even though his status as an exchange student was somewhat special, Shuchiin students were already accustomed to valuing competence.
Umu, of course, there were exceptions.
"Oba-sama must have lost her mind to appoint this guy as vice president!"
><
Shijo Maki stared at Yukima Azuma, unconsciously pouting.
She had already asked Shinomiya Kaguya directly.
This so-called "Onii-sama" had absolutely no blood relation to her.
He was merely an adopted older brother.
So she didn't need to call him that at all.
She had totally been fooled.
As for any admiration toward Yukima Azuma?
Shijo Maki had none.
Last semester, she ranked fifth in the inter-school exam.
And that was without even focusing on studying.
If she put in just a little effort, securing the top spot wouldn't be difficult at all! Hmph!
( ,,'',,)
Shijo Maki confidently thought so.
And if Yukima Azuma weren't around, things would have indeed gone that way.
But now that Yukima Azuma was here, that was uncertain.
Yukima Azuma glanced at the twin-tailed tsundere sitting beside him.
He hoped she would keep up that arrogance.
He had already prepared his popcorn.
...
After class, Yukima Azuma went to the student council room.
When he stepped inside, only Fujiwara Chika was there.
"Where's Shinomiya-san?"
Yukima Azuma asked curiously.
"Kaguya-chan has an archery club activity today, so she'll be a bit late."
Fujiwara Chika responded cheerfully.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Suou Yuki was in a similar situation.
Aside from student council duties, she was also part of Shuchiin's literature club.
Perhaps she was influenced by Yukima Azuma.
"Yukima-kun, the budget review for clubs is coming up soon."
"The board game club wants to buy some new board games, but the budget keeps running out too fast."
"Can you approve some extra funds for the board game club? I can treat you to a cola."
Fujiwara Chika handed him a can of cola.
But her eyes avoided his, full of guilt.
"As expected of a politician's daughter."
Yukima Azuma remarked sarcastically.
Fujiwara Chika, upon being teased, pretended to whistle.
(* ) ~~~
Unfortunately, she had never learned how to do it properly.
So all that came out were strange "phew phew" sounds that didn't resemble whistling at all.
The atmosphere suddenly became extremely awkward.
Seeing that her bribery attempt had obviously failed, Fujiwara Chika quickly changed the subject.
"I wonder where this year's field trip will be!"
The so-called field trip was a regulation in Japan.
From elementary school until high school graduation, every year students had to participate in a field trip organized by the school.
The location was decided by the school, and the main purpose was to develop students' practical skills.
It was a combination of reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles.
Nowadays, most schools chose famous tourist destinations.
Not only did it broaden students' horizons, but it also combined classroom bonding activities.
As a prestigious school, Shuchiin was, of course, no exception.
As far as Yukima Azuma knew, last year Shuchiin had gone to London.
"Isn't it a bit too early to be thinking about this?"
Yukima Azuma let out a helpless sigh.
The field trip wouldn't take place until near the end of the semester.
And right now, it was only the beginning of the school year.
"Time will pass in the blink of an eye! Yukima-kun, where do you want to go?"
"I kind of want to go to Hokkaido! We could go skiing! I heard the snowy scenery there is beautiful!"
"Heading a little south doesn't seem bad either, like Hawaii or Jeju, hehe."
Fujiwara Chika's face lit up with excitement.
"Hokkaido, huh." Yukima Azuma also felt a bit of anticipation.
Every day, aside from attending school, he was busy with business matters.
Recently, he even had to occasionally deal with supernatural incidents.
There was nothing remotely ordinary about his life.
If the field trip could be a bit fun, that wouldn't be so bad.
Now that he thought about it, he had even promised Yukino that he would take her to Hokkaido when he had some free time.
(note: Bocchi disappeared in 100+ chapters: ( ))
At that moment
BOOM!
A bolt of lightning suddenly flashed outside the window, followed by a deafening thunderclap.
Fujiwara Chika jumped in fright, immediately clutching her belly button.
Her entire body curled up into a ball.
"Uwaaahhh!" ;'
The little secretary screamed at the top of her lungs.
Clearly, she was the type who was extremely afraid of thunder.
Yukima Azuma looked outside the window.
Raindrops began to fall one after another.
Autumn had arrived, and rain was only natural.
After all, an autumn rain brought a chilly breeze.
It was a sign of the changing season.
He had forgotten to check the weather forecast this morninghow careless.
"Help! Yukima-kun, save me!"
Terrified by the thunder, Fujiwara Chika clutched her belly button and tearfully begged Yukima Azuma for help.
There was an old Japanese belief that thunder would steal children's belly buttons.
Although most high school students no longer believed in such things, Fujiwara Chika was clearly an exception.
Yukima Azuma walked over to Fujiwara Chika.
Since she was busy holding onto her belly button, her hands weren't free to do anything else.
Umu, what a perfect opportunity!
Yukima Azuma reached out his sinful hands.
And... he covered Fujiwara Chika's ears for her.
Are~... Hentai-san, what do you all think he was about to do?
If he had really tried anything weird here, the Fujiwara family would probably have throw him into tokyo bay instantly.
"Thank you, Yukima-kun... No, from now on, I'll just call you Azuma-kun! Thank you so much!"
Fujiwara Chika expressed her deep gratitude for being saved.
Yukima Azuma didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
This Fujiwara Chika... her affection level was really easy to raise.
At that moment, Shinomiya Kaguya and Suou Yuki entered through the main door, one after the other.
"Yukima-kun... what are you doing?"
Shinomiya Kaguya looked at their strange posture, a bit confused.
"Because I had to cover my belly button, I asked Azuma-kun to help cover my ears."
Since she couldn't hear anything, Fujiwara Chika explained loudly.
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded, her expression showing that she had understood everything.
Meanwhile, Suou Yuki leaned in closer to Yukima Azuma.
"Do you need me to cover your ears?"
She asked with a smile.
"Sure, thanks."
Yukima Azuma didn't refuse.
Who could say no to a cute Suou Yuki?
And so, Suou Yuki raised her hands and covered Yukima Azuma's ears.
Due to their slight height difference, Suou Yuki had to lift her arms higher.
As a result, the distance between them naturally became closer.
Yukima Azuma felt two soft, liquid-like masses pressing against his back.
What started as just playful teasing suddenly took on a more ambiguous atmosphere.
Yukima Azuma clicked his tongue.
Three years had passed, and this girl's development was truly getting a bit out of hand.
Shinomiya Kaguya stood beside them, slightly dazed.
She felt like she was being left out.
Should she step forward and help cover Suou Yuki's ears now?
What kind of bizarre play was this?
Shinomiya Kaguya shook her head and got back to the main topic.
"Yukima-kun, the trains have stopped running. What are you planning to do later?"
"Also, I noticed you didn't bring a bag, so I'm guessing you don't have an umbrella either?"
As she spoke, Kaguya reached for the handbag at her side.
Inside was an umbrella.
As a lady of the Shinomiya family, she naturally had people keeping track of the weather forecast for her.
This morning, one of the maids had informed Shinomiya Kaguya about the rain.
And then brought her an umbrella.
Now, Yukima Azuma didn't have an umbrella.
It was the perfect opportunity to naturally trigger the "sharing an umbrella" event.
According to what Shinomiya Kaguya knew, this was one of the few easy ways to break down social barriers.
As long as she activated this event, it would definitely be easier to win over this teenage boy.
After all, she was the heiress of the Shinomiya family.
Who wouldn't fall for her after spending some time with her?
Shinomiya Kaguya was confident in that.
"Nuh-uh, I can just call a taxi, and as for not having an umbrella getting a little wet isn't a big deal."
Yukima Azuma replied casually.
Having money was truly convenient.
He usually took the train just because he had free time.
If he wanted to, he could buy a few more cars and hire a private chauffeur like the Sawamura family.
"Getting wet might" Shinomiya Kaguya started to say.
But someone else cut her off.
"Getting wet might make you sick. You shouldn't take it lightly."
"I have an umbrella, Azuma-kun. Let's share."
"While we're at it, I'll call my driver to take you home too."
Suou Yuki, still covering Yukima Azuma's ears, reached out and gently poked his cheek.
Shinomiya Kaguya: (_ )Tch!
Suou Yuki was originally Yukima Azuma's childhood friend.
Although she highly doubted the legitimacy of this setup.
But since she couldn't expose it, she had no way of interfering either.
Shinomiya Kaguya was slightly annoyed.
Clearly, this prey was hers, yet someone else had snatched him away.
Since when did a member of the Shinomiya family have to suffer such humiliation!
This won't doYukima Azuma must belong to Shinomiya Kaguya!
Initially, she had only intended to recruit Yukima Azuma, but now, her competitive spirit was beginning to burn fiercely.
( _ )
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 208: Suou Yuki: "Onii-sama, so what do you think about President Shinomiya's NTR move?"
"Well then, I'm heading out first."
Though Shinomiya Kaguya was somewhat unwilling, she temporarily held back.
The Shinomiya family's car had been waiting for a long time.
She opened her umbrella, left the school building, and reunited with Hayasaka Ai. The two of them then returned to the Shinomiya estate.
"Ah, my car's here too! Azuma-kun, Suou-san, bye bye~!"
Fujiwara Chika waved goodbye to the two of them before quickly leaving.
That left only Suou Yuki and Yukima Azuma.
"Guhehehe~, onii-chan-sama, now it's just the two of us left in the entire school."
( )
Suou Yuki let out a strange laugh, as if she had been possessed by some dirty old man otaku hentai.
Yukima Azuma eyed her suspiciously and asked cautiously,
"What are you planning?"
"Nuh-uh, the real question iswhat is onii-sama planning to do? A rainy night, an empty school, just a boy and a girl alone No matter how you think about it, something is bound to happen!"
( )
"Happen what, exactly!? That kind of thing only happens in 2D worlds! You baka otaku!"
"Eh? But onii-sama is also a high school boy full of youthful energy, isn't he?"
"Can you not talk about high school boys as if they're some kind of horny beasts in heat!?"
"Is there a difference?"
Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched. He flicked his finger against Suou Yuki's forehead.
"Uwaa!" The girl yelped, immediately clutching her head in a defensive position.
Even though he knew she was just messing around,
Yukima Azuma instinctively reached out and gently rubbed her forehead.
"There, there. Enough fooling aroundit's time to go home."
Hearing this, Suou Yuki stood up.
She took a small three-fold umbrella out of her backpack.
"Then, I'll be relying on onii-sama."
The two of them left the student council room and stepped out of the school building.
Yukima Azuma unfolded the compact umbrella.
But he quickly realizedthe canopy was quite small.
It was fine for covering one person, but for two
Unless they stood very close together, one of them was definitely going to get wet.
Yukima Azuma looked at Suou Yuki with suspicion.
He suspected she had intentionally chosen such a small umbrella.
However, given the usual design of three-fold umbrellas, having a small canopy was normal.
Before Yukima Azuma could say anything,
Suou Yuki had already pressed up close to him.
She directly hugged onto one of Yukima Azuma's arms.
"To keep onii-sama from getting wet, this is the only way."
"This Super-Kawaii Imouto-chanisn't she just so thoughtful~?"
( )
Suou Yuki tilted her head up, her face full of expectation, waiting to be praised.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
And just like that, the two of them pressed close together, stepping into the rain.
Raindrops fell from the sky, tapping against the umbrella with soft, rhythmic sounds.
On either side of the school building, the summer flowers that had bloomed so brightly were now swaying under the downpour.
It was easy to predict
Tomorrow, the staff in charge of maintaining the Shuchiin Academy gardens would have their hands full.
Then again, it was about time for the summer flowers to be replaced anyway.
As they walked through small puddles, they made their way toward the school gates.
The Suou family's car was already waiting.
Kimishima Ayano stood beside the vehicle, holding an umbrella.
Seeing the two approach, she immediately opened the car door.
"Onii-sama, please get in first. I'll hold the umbrella for you."
Suou Yuki took the umbrella from him, holding it above the car door so Yukima Azuma could enter without getting wet.
Seeing this scene, Kimishima Ayano's eyes blinked slightly.
Normally, this kind of task should have been hersher duty as the personal maid.
Since when did oujou-sama personally attend to someone like this?
However, as an exceptional maid, Kimishima Ayano quietly suppressed her doubts.
Once her oujou-sama was about to enter the car, she immediately stepped forward to take the umbrella from her.
Yukima Azuma and Suou Yuki both sat in the back seat.
Kimishima Ayano took her place in the front passenger seat.
The Suou family's driver started the car, then looked into the rearview mirror and asked:
"Ojou-sama, where we to?"
Suou Yuki turned to look at Yukima Azuma.
So, he gave his home address.
"Go to this place." Suou Yuki immediately ordered, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.
Keikaku Doori! ( )
With this, she had successfully learned onii-sama's home address.
And knowing his addresswhat could she do with that?
Well, since they were Brother-sister, dropping by for a visit from time to time was completely normal!
The distance from Shuchiin to Yukima's house wasn't far, so the car quickly arrived outside his house.
Suou Yuki opened the car door first and unfolded the umbrella.
Once Yukima Azuma got out, she held the umbrella and walked beside him.
The two of them walked side by side toward the front door, almost reaching the porch when
A sudden autumn breeze swept through.
"Ah..."
Along with the girl's soft exclamation
The umbrella tilted as the wind blew it aside.
The canopy, already too small to fully shield both of them, now shifted further, making it even less effective against the rain.
Both of them got a little wet.
Under the porch
Yukima Azuma glanced at Suou Yuki.
The hair on her forehead was drenched, strands sticking to her cheeks.
She looked a little pitiful.
Seeing Yukima Azuma looking at her, Suou Yuki immediately put on a miserable expression.
Like a small puppy abandoned in the rain.
(ЇЇ)
"Alright, alright, I get it. Take a shower before you go."
Yukima Azuma shook his head and chuckled.
Hearing that, Suou Yuki immediately raised her hands: "Yay~!"
He took out his keys and unlocked the front door.
After stepping inside, Yukima Azuma switched to indoor slippers, then bent down to the bottom compartment of the shoe rack to retrieve a pair of disposable guest slippers.
Suou Yuki, however, let her gaze linger on the shoe rack.
It had multiple shelves, containing both women's leather shoes and high heels.
She immediately turned to Yukima Azuma with a suspicious look.
As far as she knew, Yukima Azuma had no older sister or female relatives living with him.
"Onii-sama, is there a girl living here?"
She asked curiously while changing into the slippers.
"Umu, there are a few close girls renting rooms here."
Yukima Azuma answered matter-of-factly.
Hearing that, Suou Yuki pouted.
"They must have all moved in within the last three years, right?"
In just a split second, she vaguely understood something.
Why Yukima Azuma had told her to wait three years before coming to find him.
If she had appeared earlier
It might have triggered a butterfly effect and changed the number of tenants living here.
Yukima Azuma nodded, confirming Suou Yuki's guess.
"Ugh, so unfair! It should've been me!!" Suou Yuki blurted out in frustration.
ЊЌ‹Ќ
But she quickly put on a nonchalant expression: "It's fine. Even if onii-sama gets momentarily captivated by other girls, as long as he ultimately comes back to me, it's all good!"
"Which badass CEO romance novel female lead did you just step out of?" Yukima Azuma was speechless, casually opening the cabinet to take out a towel.
He handed the towel to Suou Yuki, then led her to the bathroom on the first floor.
"As for clothes..." Yukima Azuma glanced around the house.
There were plenty of girls' clothes here.
From small, petite sizes to mature onee-san styleshe had them all.
But today, the girls hadn't returned home yet.
Even though he had the keys to their rooms,
Yukima Azuma still preferred to ask for permission before touching their personal belongings.
"Would you be okay with one of my white dress shirts?" he finally asked.
"Hum Hum!" Suou Yuki eagerly nodded her head.
( )
So, Yukima Azuma went to his room and took out a fresh, clean white dress shirt.
Then, the sound of rushing water echoed from the bathroom.
Yukima Azuma also returned to his room.
Each bedroom had its own private bathroom, so he took the opportunity to shower as well.
By the time he finished changing and stepped out
It just so happened that Suou Yuki was also opening the bathroom door to step out.
"You shower really fast Put on your shirt!!"
Yukima Azuma was in the middle of speaking when he suddenly changed to a complaining tone.
Because Suou Yuki wasn't wearing the dress shirt he had given her.
She had only wrapped herself in a single bath towel.
"Doesn't it feel more real this way?" Suou Yuki, still wrapped in the towel, struck a pose.
"Put some damn clothes on!"
"Aww, don't be like that! Look, in all those siscon anime, isn't there always a scene like this? The two of them chat while only wearing towels, then whoops the towel falls, serving up some super deluxe fanservice!"
"That's just a cheap trick to sell light novels with extra illustrations, not a serious plot point."
"Either way, this is fanservice now! Yada!"
"Just who exactly are you talking to?"
"Eh? Obviously, it's directed at the audience perspectivethe unemployed, chubby otaku watching from the sidelines!"
"Onii-sama, don't worry, they can only read this, not actually see it. Ehe~"
In the end, Yukima Azuma grabbed the white dress shirt.
And directly threw it over both Suou Yuki and her towel.
Thankfully, his shirt was oversized enough.
After putting it on, all she had to do was pull the towel out from underneath.
With the chaos settled
Suou Yuki sat on Yukima Azuma's bed.
Holding his hairdryer, she carefully dried her hair.
"Onii-sama, so what do you think about President Shinomiya's NTR move?"
Suou Yuki asked curiously.
It was obvious to anyone that Shinomiya Kaguya treated Yukima Azuma differently.
And with her sharp intuition, Suou Yuki saw even more than that.
She could tell that Shinomiya Kaguya was actively trying to draw Yukima Azuma to her side.
Moreover, it seemed like even Kaguya herself hadn't realized
That this wasn't just a simple recruitment tactic.
There were feelings mixed in.
"NTR? What are you even talking about..." Yukima Azuma twitched the corner of his mouth. "I don't have any special thoughts about it."
Regarding Shinomiya Kaguya's attempts to pull him in
Yukima Azuma remained completely unmoved.
If he really wanted to live off a rich girl,
then marrying Eriri or Hinatsuru Ai wouldn't be any different from marrying Shinomiya Kaguya.
In fact, the first two even offered slightly better benefits.
Although the Shinomiya Group held immense power
Shinomiya Kaguya was still just the youngest daughter in her family.
Meanwhile, Eriri and Hinatsuru Ai were the sole heirs of their respective families.
Leeching off Eriri and Hinatsuru Ai,
not only brings great benefits,
but also allows for "hardcore leeching."
As for Shinomiya Kaguya,
if one were to truly leech off her,
they would eventually have to engage in internal conflicts within the Shinomiya family.
The Shinomiya family has three older brothers.
If one wants to leech in peace,
ultimately, they would have to eliminate all of them.
But then, would it even be called leeching anymore? That would be more like plundering the family fortune.
After understanding Yukima Azuma's attitude,
Suou Yuki finally spoke:
"So, are you aware that Shinomiya Oko is preparing to run for a seat in the National Diet?"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow.
Shinomiya Oko, the eldest son of the Shinomiya family.
Also the eldest brother of Shinomiya Kaguya.
The Shinomiya family has a total of four legitimate children.
Shinomiya Kaguya's mother, Nayotake Shimizu, came from an ordinary background.
As a result, despite being a legitimate child, her status within the Shinomiya family was extremely precarious.
In reality, she had no real authority at all.
Shinomiya Kaguya's third brother was in a similar situation.
His mother was a concubine.
His faction within the Shinomiya family was the weakest.
His stance was simplewavering between factions, struggling to survive in the gaps.
Meanwhile, the eldest and second sons of the Shinomiya family were both born from the official wife.
These two controlled most of the power within the Shinomiya family.
Especially the eldest son, Shinomiya Oko.
Among all the siblings, he was the most powerful.
At the same time, he was also the most ruthless.
In Yukima Azuma's memory, this man could be considered the final boss of Love Is War.
Born under the shadow of male dominance, he was a staunch conservative of feudal ideology.
He viewed women as mere tools, and his behavior and speech were once mocked by Kaguya as "the remnants of Showa-era feudalism."
So, why did Suou Yuki bring up this man?
What was so significant about his candidacy for the National Diet that it warranted special mention?
Of course, it was because there was a conflict between Shinomiya Oko and Yukima Azuma.
And the reason behind it was quite long-winded.
One of Shinomiya Oko's most ruthless actions
was treating the Hayasaka family as nothing more than a pawn in his power struggle.
The Hayasaka family was originally a subordinate clan under the Shinomiya family.
However, in reality, behind the scenes, it had been completely taken over by Shinomiya Oko.
Hayasaka Nao, who was considered the heir to the Hayasaka family,
was forced by Shinomiya Oko to monitor the Shinomiya family's third son.
Initially, Hayasaka Nao and Shinomiya Un'yo had a very good relationship.
But due to Shinomiya Oko's interference,
their relationship ultimately fell apart completely.
Hayasaka Nao was resented by Shinomiya Un'yo and was expelled from the inner circle of the Shinomiya family.
She was exiled abroad, reduced to a mere errand runner for the Shinomiya family.
Additionally, Hayasaka Ai, the daughter of Hayasaka Nao, was also a pawn under Shinomiya Oko's threats.
She was tasked with monitoring Shinomiya Kaguya.
This, Shinomiya Kaguya was completely unaware of.
As for Hayasaka Ai, who saw Kaguya as her own sister, she lived every day tormented by the fact that she was a spy.
Such actions, from an omniscient perspective, might be difficult to judge.
But from Yukima Azuma's point of view
this man was undoubtedly an enemy.
After being expelled from the Shinomiya family, Hayasaka Nao not only severed ties with Shinomiya Un'yo.
In reality, she also completely cut ties with Shinomiya Oko.
One was the exploiter, and the other was the discarded pawn.
Naturally, the exploiter would want to completely bury the pawn,
to prevent it from ever biting back.
Under normal circumstances, Hayasaka Nao, who had been exiled overseas to handle menial tasks for the Shinomiya family,
would have no chance at making a comeback.
But there are always exceptions.
The exception for Hayasaka Nao
was that she met Yukima Azuma.
After joining Yukima Azuma's ranks,
Hayasaka Nao was like a demon crawling up from the abyss.
Even though she hadn't done anything to threaten Shinomiya Oko yet,
the moment Shinomiya Oko found out about this, he clearly couldn't accept it.
Now, the existence of Hayasaka Nao could no longer be tolerated.
The Shinomiya family could dominate Japan,
but extending their reach overseas was a difficult matter.
Taking direct action against Hayasaka Nao was unrealistic.
Therefore, Shinomiya Oko could only target Laplace Corporation.
Fortunately, Hayasaka Nao was extremely discreet.
By the time Shinomiya Oko realized she had joined Laplace,
Laplace was already unstoppable in its rise.
The launch of Laplace's smart furniture product line was delayed.
Behind this, without a doubt, was the shadow of Shinomiya Oko.
Yukima Azuma was, of course, aware of this.
He simply hadn't taken action yet.
First, what Shinomiya Oko could do was still limited.
Currently, within the Shinomiya family, the final authority still rested with Shinomiya Gan'an.
Second, if retaliation against Shinomiya Oko was the goal,
then with Laplace Corporation's current strength, it was still quite difficult.
Although the Shinomiya family did not belong to Shinomiya Oko,
going after him would basically mean declaring war on the entire Shinomiya family.
However, the National Diet election was a different matter.
This election was a critical opportunity for Shinomiya Oko to expand his influence within the family.
Striking at this moment,
the target would be solely Shinomiya Oko himself,
without dragging the entire Shinomiya family into the conflict.
After all, the Shinomiya family already had several members in the current parliament.
Moreover, if Shinomiya Oko were to gain power,
it was obvious that he wouldn't do anything good.
There was a high chance he would propose policies that would make things difficult for Laplace Corporation.
Yukima Azuma quickly analyzed Japan's current political landscape in his mind.
The election would begin in early spring next year.
Shinomiya Oko had to be hindered.
The only question was to what extent
Should they merely reduce his vote count, or go all in and directly support his opponent?
After thinking carefully for a moment, Yukima Azuma suddenly froze.
"Hmm... wait a minute."
Right now, it seemed like there was an even better option.
The two previous approaches wouldn't bring much benefit to Laplace.
At most, they would just help Shinomiya Oko's opponent.
Then, when that person took office, Laplace might gain a friend in the Diet.
But friends were often unreliable.
However, now it seemed that Yukima Azuma could push a senator into office himself.
The Hinatsuru family, the Sawamura familythese were both families that would support Yukima Azuma's decision.
The Yukinoshita family, in theory, could also be persuaded through benefits, since they were already cooperating.
Yukima Azuma glanced at Suou Yuki.
The fact that she brought this up made her stance quite clear.
The Suou family could also provide some level of support.
Adding Laplace into the equation...
With this lineup, even in past years, if they had wanted to put a senator into the Diet, they would have already had a great chance.
More importantly, Yukima Azuma still had one key card in his hand.
Jabami.
Jabami Yumeko was Yukima Azuma's "possession."
The Jabami family she controlled was also a subordinate family under Yukima Azuma.
And the greatest utility of this card wasn't just in her personal power.
It was in the faction she belonged to.
Hyakubami.
With the Jabami card in hand, Yukima Azuma could establish connections and leverage benefits to gain support from other branches of Hyakubami.
With this lineup, even if they were to face the Shinomiya family head-on
Even the Shinomiya family would have to consider whether a single parliamentary seat was worth the heavy price they would have to pay.
Not to mention, this time, the target was only Shinomiya Oko.
The second and third sons of the Shinomiya family were probably even hoping for Shinomiya Oko's misfortune.
Who knows, there might even be some backstabbing from within the Shinomiya family when the time came.
Yukima Azuma's fingers lightly tapped on the table as his thoughts gradually became clearer.
After piecing everything together
Yukima Azuma smiled at Suou Yuki.
"Thanks, Yuki. This information is really useful to me."
Looking at the girl in front of him,
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.
It hadn't been long since their reunion,
yet Suou Yuki had already brought him two surprises.
Thinking back on their first encounter, it truly felt like an incredible stroke of luck.
Hearing this, the corners of Suou Yuki's lips curled into a sweet smile.
Then, she raised the hairdryer in her hand.
"Don't say thanks! Just spoil me more, Onii-sama!"
( - )
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma let out a small chuckle at the girl's playful demeanor.
He stood up and took the hairdryer from Suou Yuki's hand.
Switching it to warm air, he began drying her hair.
Suou Yuki's long, jet-black hair was usually tied in a simple ponytail.
But when left loose, it was actually even more beautiful.
Like a flowing black waterfall, smooth and silky as fine silk.
It was clear that she took great care of her hair.
Yukima Azuma gently gathered her hair with one hand and used the dryer to slowly dry it, bit by bit.
Feeling Yukima Azuma's fingers running through her strands,
Suou Yuki's cheeks flushed slightly.
Having someone dry her hair like this was an experience that struck right at her soft spot.
Since childhood, Suou Yuki had always wished for someone to dry her hair for her.
Not just drying her hair, but also helping her tie it up, drawing her eyebrows for her.
Despite her outwardly mature appearance, deep down, she was incredibly dreamy.
And right now was a moment that aligned perfectly with those dreams.
After thoroughly drying the girl's hair,
Yukima Azuma ran his fingers through the strands to check, making sure he hadn't missed a spot.
Then, he picked up the comb beside him and started brushing her hair.
"Ehehe~... this feels amazing. Maybe I should just move in with Onii-sama!"
Suou Yuki grinned like a lovestruck fool.
"Come if you want, if you can."
Yukima Azuma replied with a smile, not rejecting the idea at all.
This time, it was Suou Yuki's turn to feel conflicted.
Although she was now the clear heir of the Suou family,
and had a certain level of influence within the household,
at the end of the day, she was still just a teenage girl.
Moving out and living on her own
was still a bit of a challenge.
Especially considering that Suou Yuki had a history
of running away from home twice.
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 210: An Irrational Swindler
Morning.
Yesterday, after dinner, Suou Yuki went home.
Spending the night outside was still a bit difficult for this young lady of the Suou family.
But judging by the determined look on her face when she left,
It seemed like she was planning to resist to the very end.
Absolutely determined to move into Yukima's house.
After washing his face, Yukima Azuma prepared to go out for his morning jog.
However, the moment he pushed open the front door
He immediately saw a striking red-and-white Porsche sports car parked right outside.
"Good morning, Azuma-kun~."
( ).
Yukinoshita Haruno poked her head out and waved at Yukima Azuma.
Ignoring her, Yukima Azuma ran along the road beside the house.
But soon enough, the sound of footsteps followed after him.
"So cold, are you going for a morning run? Then I'll join you!"
Haruno ran alongside Yukima Azuma, smiling as she spoke.
She had already changed outfitsher sportswear and running shoes were now perfectly suited for exercise.
"You seem to have a lot of free time these days."
Yukima Azuma made a sarcastic remark.
What time was it right now?
It wasn't even six in the morning yet.
If she was here to wait for him to leave for school,
Then Yukinoshita Haruno would have to stand at the gate for a full two hours.
Even if two hours of Haruno's time weren't exactly "as valuable as gold," they definitely weren't cheap.
After all, this woman always wished she could stretch a day into 48 hours just to use up every minute.
"Umu, I do have some extra energy lately, and that's thanks to you, Azuma-kun."
While running, Haruno answered with a sly smile.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
Seeing his reaction, Haruno took the opportunity to explain:
"The Yukinoshita family has recently given up on part of the business they struggled to maintain."
"They've focused most of their efforts on the fashion industry."
"In the portion that was abandoned, many of the tasks involved me handling communication and negotiations."
"Although some new work has been added, it's much lighter compared to maintaining the previous workload."
Although people often say that beginnings are difficult, in business,
Starting something new is sometimes easier than sustaining it.
Especially when an industry has already entered a stagnation phase.
Currently, Japan's real estate and interior construction sectors are in precisely that situation.
If the Yukinoshita family wanted to keep their existing business afloat, they would have to put in even more effort just to sustain it.
Since the industry was in decline, competition was fierce.
After explaining a few things, Haruno's voice gradually became softer.
Yukino had poor staminathough she was highly skilled in Aikido, she would quickly become breathless when running long distances.
And as her biological sister, Haruno's stamina was only slightly better than Yukino's
But not by much.
After running for a while, it was obvious that she, too, was starting to pant.
Her breathing became more and more labored.
Yukima Azuma turned his head slightly to glance at Haruno.
She was probably about to give up.
Haruno wasn't the type to do something exhausting without any benefit.
Most likely, she would stop here and head back to wait in front of the mansion gate.
Just as Yukima Azuma was thinking this
Haruno suddenly lifted her hand and grabbed onto the hem of his shirt.
Yukima Azuma looked at her in surprise.
Was she really planning to push through to the end?
That Haruno, doing something so irrational.
Yukima Azuma had no intention of slowing down.
He simply let Haruno cling to his shirt.
The two of them completed a full lap, eventually returning to Yukima's front gate.
Finishing Yukima Azuma's entire morning run without a single concession.
Even though Azuma had helped share part of the burden
Haruno was definitely not feeling great right now.
Her chest felt like it was about to explode.
Her legs were so numb that they had completely lost feeling, as if they were filled with lead.
At some point, Haruno had closed her eyes, merely following the rhythm of Yukima Azuma's pace.
Now, she was on the verge of collapsing to the ground, not even having the strength to open her eyes anymore.
Yukima Azuma let out a helpless sigh and caught Haruno as she wobbled, nearly collapsing.
What exactly was she trying so hard for?
[Notification: Your stamina has slightly increased.]
[Notification: Your physical attributes have changed.]
[Physical Strength 7 Physical Strength 8.]
A notification window appeared before his eyes.
Yukima Azuma looked at the notification, then at Haruno beside himthis woman was on the verge of passing out.
Alright, fine. He was in a relatively good mood today.
Supporting Haruno, Yukima Azuma led her into the Yukima house.
After opening the door
He guided her into an empty room and let her lie down.
Then, he went into the kitchen and prepared a warm glass of water with added electrolytes and glucose.
"Don't chug it all at once, or your lungs will explode. Sip it slowly, got it?"
As he spoke, Yukima Azuma helped Haruno sit up.
He brought the glass to her lips.
Haruno obediently sipped it little by little.
She looked just like a small cat lapping up water.
After finishing the drink and resting for quite a while,
Haruno finally regained a bit of her strength.
Seeing that she had recovered somewhat, Yukima Azuma frowned and asked,
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
Although he had helped her inside
It was only because he had just experienced a physical breakthrough and was in a good mood, so he conveniently did a good deed.
It absolutely did not mean that they would start getting along from now on.
"This isn't it obvious...? I... want to pursue you!"
Haruno spoke, her breath still uneven.
Yukima Azuma rolled his eyes.
"At this point, do those words even mean anything?"
He wasn't the type to hold grudges.
But in the past, Haruno had left without hesitation.
And now she was turning back to say these things
Yukima Azuma really didn't need to hear them.
If this had happened a year earlier, maybe she could have taken advantage of the situation.
But now, he had no need for that kind of love.
"It's fine, Azuma-kun, just do as you please. This is just my own business."
Haruno acted as if she didn't mind at all.
Regaining a bit more strength, she lifted her hand to check the delicate watch on her wrist.
"Morning classes at Shuchiin are about to start. Let's go."
"If my situation caused you to waste time, let me at least give you a ride as compensation."
Bracing her hand against the nearby wall, Haruno stood up.
She steadied herself and made her way toward the door.
Yukima Azuma said nothing.
Whatever.
After a while, someone as pragmatic as her would give up on her own.
...
In front of Shuchiin Academy, Yukima Azuma stepped out of the car.
Without saying anything to Haruno, he simply walked straight into the campus.
Watching his retreating figure
Haruno reached down and squeezed her aching calf.
At this rate,
By tomorrow morning, she would definitely be stumbling when she walked.
Damn it, she still had a meeting to attend this afternoon.
More importantly
This was all completely pointless.
Haruno knew that the boy's compassion would never extend to someone unrelated to him.
And right now, she was exactly thatsomeone unrelated.
Doing all this was nothing but self-inflicted suffering, utterly meaningless.
Halfway through the run, of course, she had thought about giving up.
She could have just gone back and waited at the gate.
The result wouldn't have been much different anyway.
But in the end
Haruno still ran all the way to the end.
This was one of the rare times she acted irrationally.
"Oh well, I guess this is what I deserve."
Haruno shook her head.
She would have to slowly find another opportunity.
Getting close to that boy was no simple matter.
Especially for her.
Because she had lied before.
A liar, even when sincere at times, would still be seen as putting on an act.
Even if they cried in sorrow, others would only think they were putting on a show.
And this was exactly what a liar deserved.
Shuchiin.
Lunchtime.
The members of the student council were gathered in the council room.
"Let's play a board game!"
(^^ ) -
"I ordered a super fun one from overseas!"
Fujiwara Chika said as she pulled out a board game box.
Yukima Azuma glanced at it
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Shinomiya Kaguya also curiously took a look.
"This seems to be a Chinese board game, a derivative work based on the Four Great Classical Novels."
"Romance of the Three Kingdoms?" Suou Yuki asked.
Fujiwara Chika nodded enthusiastically.
"That's right! It's Three Kingdoms Kill! A super fun board game!"
"I went through so much trouble to get my hands on it!"
As she spoke, Fujiwara Chika opened the box and began explaining the rules to everyone.
Yukima Azuma took another glance.
Hmm, just the basic generals.
Not a single sight of those 'cheat' generals.
Thinking about it Three Kingdoms Kill had only been released not long ago.
It was still in its prime, wildly popular everywhere.
It hadn't yet reached the stage where everyone started bashing it.
Yukima Azuma remembered that in his past life, he had been addicted to Three Kingdoms Kill for a time.
It was quite nostalgic, really.
And so
"Aaaah! I died again! Why is Azuma-kun so good at this?!"
Fujiwara Chika clutched her head and wailed.
One Slash! Crouching Dragon Emerges!
Yukima Azuma flashed a confident smile.
Hmph, White Horse? Destined to come but never return!
"As expected of Ryuuou."
Shinomiya Kaguya remarked with admiration.
As the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, she was naturally confident, even prideful.
A genius in academics, with countless achievements in various talents.
Yet this year, whether it was the entrance exam or the midterms, she had been surpassed by Yukima Azuma.
Now, even his ability to adapt to a new board game seemed to be a notch above hers.
Shinomiya Kaguya was beginning to feel a bit convinced.
"Eh? Oh yeah, I just rememberedAzuma-kun is also Ryuuou!"
Fujiwara Chika suddenly snapped out of her daze, looking at Yukima Azuma in astonishment.
"Join the board game club! If we have Azuma-kun, our club's budget will increase tenfold for sure!"
()
If the board game club had a Ryuuou
On the sponsorship request form, you could pretty much write down any amount.
Yukima Azuma waved his hand, dismissing Fujiwara Chika's greedy thoughts.
"Speaking of shogi, I might have to take a break next month."
"Speaking of shogi, I might take a leave next month."
Yukima Azuma said.
Hearing that, the three girls in the student council room all turned to look at him.
"Is there a match coming up?" Shinomiya Kaguya blinked and asked.
"Something like that" Yukima Azuma nodded.
Next month was the start of the Mynavi Women's Open Shogi Tournament.
It was the largest open women's shogi tournament in Japan.
No age restrictions, no status restrictions.
Any female shogi player could participate.
The winner would receive the title of Queen.
For female shogi players, this was practically a one-step ascension to the heavens.
Moreover, as long as a player passed the preliminary rounds and entered the main tournament
And managed to win a single match in the main bracket
They could bypass all previous achievements and directly become a professional female shogi player.
By the way, the current Queen title holder was none other than Yukima Azuma's senpaiSora Ginko.
Time passed quickly.
Before long, Yukima Azuma had already requested his leave from Shuchiin.
That morning, as usual, he left his house.
Only to see a familiar red-and-white sports car parked outside.
Recently, every morning, Haruno had been waiting there, she using all sorts of excuses to pull Yukima Azuma into her car and drive him to Shuchiin.
Today, before Haruno could even poke her head out
Yukima Azuma took the initiative to walk over, open the passenger door, and sit inside.
Seeing him get into the passenger seat,
A playful glint flashed in Haruno's eyes.
But before she could entertain any thoughts, Yukima Azuma cut her off.
"Starting tomorrow, you don't need to come anymore."
Hearing that, Haruno slightly parted her lips but found herself at a loss for words.
Lately, even if nothing had really progressed
At the very least, she could still interact with Yukima Azuma, exchange a few words with him.
Haruno had never considered what she would do if he outright pushed her away.
Refuse?
She wasn't so shameless.
But just agreeing to it
Haruno only felt that the cracks in her already fractured heart were now being stabbed deeper.
"I'll be taking leave starting tomorrow. I have to attend a shogi tournament."
Actually, these two sentences were spoken back-to-back.
It was just that the slight pause in between made Haruno feel like she was plummeting into an abyss.
But now, after hearing his explanation
It was as if the sky had cleared, and light had suddenly broken through the clouds.
She started the engine.
A subtle smile curled on her lips.
Compared to winning the lottery, the feeling of thinking she had lost something but hadn't was even sweeter.
After all, luck had never felt real to her.
She had never once won a lottery in her entire life.
Well, maybe there was one time.
But she had been the one to throw that winning ticket away.
The car pulled up in front of Shuchiin's gates.
Yukima Azuma reached for his seatbelt.
"Ne, since we're parting ways tomorrow, doesn't Azuma-kun think I deserve a goodbye kiss?"
Haruno's playful voice teased his ears.
"Heh." Yukima Azuma scoffed coldly. "In your"
The word "dream" never made it out.
The moment he unfastened his seatbelt and lifted his head
Haruno's lips had already pressed down on his.
For the second time.
Wasn't he supposed to be a badass CEO? Why did he keep getting forcibly kissed?
He should be the one pushing women against the wall, saying, "Woman, you have successfully caught my attention!"
Ah, wait. Weren't Nao and Yukino the ones running the company?
Their tongues briefly intertwined.
Yukima Azuma actually considered biting down on that agile tongue to make Haruno remember this moment forever.
But in the end, he let it go.
After that short farewell kiss
Yukima Azuma pushed her away.
"Goodbye, Azuma-kun! I'll miss you!"
Haruno cheerfully waved, then placed two fingers on her lips and blew him a kiss in Frieren's style.
Yukima Azuma waved backbut only to swat away the airborne kiss. He had no intention of collapsing like Himmel.
Seeing that, Haruno didn't mind at all.
She was already more than satisfied today.
The next day.
Yukima Azuma officially took his leave from Shuchiin.
Early in the morning, the doorbell rang.
When he opened the door, standing outside was none other than Hinatsuru Ai.
"Shishou!" she called out before launching herself into Yukima Azuma's embrace.
.o()o
It had been over a month since she last saw her shishou.
Yukima Azuma patted her head in response.
His gaze then shifted to the young woman standing behind her.
Today, Sora Ginko was wearing an icy blue kimono.
A symbol of her seriousness toward shogi.
The obi belt around her waist was tied into a large butterfly bowan emblem of maidenhood.
Because of it, her slender waist was accentuated even more.
A truly delicate, palm-sized waist.
Incredibly alluring.
"L*licon."
(`)
Seeing Yukima Azuma's gaze shift, Sora Ginko pouted slightly, her tone laced with a hint of jealousy.
"Senpai looks absolutely stunning today."
Yukima Azuma spoke with sincerity.
Faced with such a direct attack, Sora Ginko's defenses crumbled instantly.
Her snow-white face flushed a deep red.
"What about me? What about me, shishou?!"
><
Hinatsuru Ai, still nestled in Yukima Azuma's chest, looked up and pointed at herself.
"Umu umu, Ai looks adorable today too."
( - )
Yukima Azuma said before giving her another affectionate head pat.
Hinatsuru Ai's face instantly lit up with joy.
In reality, besides the two of them
There were quite a few others at the entrance.
Sainokami Ika was there, as was Kiyotaki Keika.
Both of them were also participating in the Mynavi Women's Open Shogi Tournament this time.
Additionally, the Hinatsuru family had specially prepared a vehicle to transport everyone.
After a brief exchange of greetings
Yukima Azuma and the group boarded the car.
He sat next to Sora Ginko.
His gaze unconsciously fell upon the oversized butterfly bow tied at her back.
A kimono's bow was a symbol of a young maiden.
When a girl matured, she would typically wear her hair up and no longer tie such bows.
Furthermore
There was an unspoken rule that if someone untied this bow, they would have to take responsibility.
Yukima Azuma reached out and touched the silk ribbon.
Its smooth texture felt rather pleasant, making him reluctant to let go.
Sora Ginko noticed his subtle action.
Her teeth gently bit down on her cherry lips.
If it had been anyone else daring to touch her bow
Sora Ginko would have already pulled out a kitchen knife.
But since it was Yukima Azuma
She let him be.
After all it wasn't a problem.
"Speaking of which, Ai-chan still hasn't joined a workshop, has she?"
At that moment, Kiyotaki Keika, who was sitting in the front, suddenly brought up the topic.
Hearing her own name mentioned, Hinatsuru Ai blinked in curiosity.
"Eh? What's a workshop?"
Hearing that, Kiyotaki Keika sighed helplessly and turned her head, shooting a glare at Yukima Azuma.
This master of hers
He hadn't even explained something as basic as workshops to his disciple?
Although Hinatsuru Ai had only officially become his student for about a month
In reality, she had been learning shogi for a long time.
"A workshop is the introductory system of the shogi world," Keika explained.
"Normally, only by joining one and consistently competing to climb the ranks within it"
"Can someone become an officially recognized female player. There's even a chance to enter Shoureikai and aim for the professional leagues."
Yukima Azuma added a brief explanation before steering the conversation.
"However, there are other ways to become a female player, such as this tournament."
"Today, I plan to take Ai to register for a workshop first, then let her compete in the tournament right away."
"As long as she passes the qualifiers and wins a match in the main tournament, she can immediately become a female playersaving a lot of time and effort."
"After that, with some research matches and official games, her ranking will rise very quickly."
Hinatsuru Ai nodded, half-understanding.
That sounded intense?
Oh well, whatever shishou says, she'll just do it.
Meanwhile, Kiyotaki Keika, sitting in the front row, let out a bitter smile.
It sounded easy when said like that.
But who could possibly skip training in a workshop
And still make it through the official qualifiers to become a female player in one step?
That was just common sense.
However, Hinatsuru Ai was definitely an exception.
Keika understood Ai's talent all too well.
This girl had already reached Shoureikai-level strength long ago.
A girl who hadn't even joined a workshop yet
Was already at the level of Shoureikai.
Meanwhile, Kiyotaki Keika, now twenty-five years old, was still struggling in the workshop system.
Comparison was truly cruel.
Even if they were from the same household.
Still, Kiyotaki Keika couldn't help but feel a sting in her heart.
As a grown woman
She didn't show it outwardly, only lowering her head in silence.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma leaned forward
Placing both hands on Kiyotaki Keika's shoulders.
His fingers gently massaged them, helping her relax.
At the same time, his voice rang out with unwavering certainty:
"Keika-nee, don't be discouraged. This year, you will become a female player."
His tone carried the weight of an undeniable truth.
Kiyotaki Keika felt a surge of motivation from his words.
But soon, doubt crept back into her heart.
If only things could really go the way Yukima Azuma said
But could she really do it?
"Keika-nee, don't worry. After all, it's Azuma saying it," Sora Ginko chimed in.
As Keika's kouhai,
Her feelings toward Keika were no less than Yukima Azuma's.
Of course, she also hoped Keika would become an official female player.
If she missed the age limit and lost her chance
It wouldn't be a matter of status.
What Ginko feared most was that Keika wouldn't be able to bear the blow of failure.
"Keika-nee will definitely make it!" (note: she calls Keika's "-nee" not "oba-san" like she calls Ginko.)
Hinatsuru Ai also cheered her on.
"Umu! I'll do my best!"
Kiyotaki Keika finally felt her fighting spirit ignite.
For these younger siblings alone
As their big sis, she had to be strong!
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
The building of the Tokyo Shogi Association.
Located in Edogawa Ward, the Tokyo Shogi Association occupies an entire standalone building.
Centered around the association, an entire street is lined with stores selling shogi-related products.
Forming a unique cultural district.
The Tokyo Shogi Association building is not only responsible for organizing the opening ceremonies of official matches but also plays a role in training.
From the first to the third floor belongs to the research club.
(Note: Yesterday, I searched the Chinese-Japanese term on Google and found that "workshop" was correct, but today, after checking the Ryuuou no Oshigoto wiki for Kuruno Yoshitsune, I saw it listed as "research club." Goddamn.)
It is considered the starting point of a shogi career.
Meanwhile, the fourth to seventh floors are used to host various shogi matches.
Here, there are open spaces for the public as well as private match rooms.
As soon as she stepped into the association building, Hinatsuru Ai was captivated by the surrounding displays.
"There are so many shogi products here! Even folding fans are being sold!"
The displayed items included shogi sets and seven-sun boards, which went without saying.
Additionally, there were decorations and stationery inspired by shogi pieces.
Among the shogi-themed souvenirs, the most prominently displayed items were folding fans.
Most professional players owned a folding fan that suited them.
Words were usually written on the surface of these fans.
Some were handwritten by the players themselves, while others were gifts from their mentors.
Sora Ginko also had such a folding fan.
The fan bore the characters: "Never Yield Despite a Hundred Setbacks".
This phrase embodied Sora Ginko's spirit.
It also featured her autograph.
As "The Snow White of Naniwa," a beloved idol among female shogi players,
if an autographed fan of hers were to be sold, it would undoubtedly fetch an enormous sum.
Right beside it was a fan of the same design as Sora Ginko's.
Of course, the fans of famous shogi players sold here did not have their actual handwritten inscriptions.
They were merely machine-printed versions.
These were produced in collaboration with the players, with profits shared from the sales.
"Ah, that's Oba-san's fan."
Hinatsuru Ai spotted the fan identical to Sora Ginko's.
Sora Ginko pouted.
( )
She couldn't be bothered to deal with this brat.
That being said, Sora Ginko wasn't much older than Hinatsuru Ai.
But hierarchy was hierarchy.
"Shishou, do you have a folding fan with your own handwriting?"
Hinatsuru Ai searched around and then curiously asked Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
He really didn't have one.
Back when he was in the shogi world
Before becoming a professional player, Yukima Azuma had only focused on grinding for rank points.
After quickly reaching professional status, he played a match against the Meijin and then temporarily withdrew from the shogi scene.
He had no time to bother with souvenirs like this.
By the time he returned, Yukima Azuma's time had become even more precious.
He single-handedly conquered the Ryuuou title, making many eager to collaborate on merchandise related to him.
But Yukima Azuma truly had no time to concern himself with such trivial profits.
As a result, even though Yukima Azuma was now one of the most famous Ryuuou,
the associations still had no commemorative merchandise related to him to sell.
The association staff were on the verge of losing their minds over this.
Since contacting Yukima Azuma yielded no results, some even approached Tsukimitsu.
But Tsukimitsu simply sent them away without hesitation.
Yukima Azuma had already helped promote shogi by starring in a television drama.
Matters of minor profit like these, Tsukimitsu didn't want to bother him with.
Seeing Yukima Azuma shake his head, Hinatsuru Ai blinked a few times.
In other words, no one had a folding fan from Shishou!
The ahoge on her head wiggled.
"Uwaa, isn't that Ryuuou~?"
( )
A childish voice suddenly rang out nearby.
Everyone turned to look and saw a group of kids gathered together, their eyes sparkling as they gazed this way.
"It's really Ryuuou-sama!"
"It's the real one! Amazing!"
"Hello, can I have your autograph?"
"Please shake hands with me!"
Before long, a crowd of children had gathered around.
The bottom three floors belonged to the research club.
And in the research club, the most numerous members were children around Hinatsuru Ai's age.
The chattering of the kids quickly attracted even more attention.
In just a short while, the first floor of the association was nearly blocked off.
"Uwaa, Shishou is so famous! Saguga Shishou, saikou!"
)
Hinatsuru Ai exclaimed in admiration.
Seeing her master being so well-received, she also felt happy.
"Well, he is the youngest Ryuuou ever."
Sora Ginko commented nonchalantly, not particularly invested.
She had already expected this to happen.
Right now, Yukima Azuma could be considered the idol of children in the shogi world.
Not just because of his handsome appearance, which the association had deliberately used to build his image,
but more importantly
Ryuuou.
Everyone admires the strongthis mindset is deeply ingrained in human nature.
"Excuse me, are you Snow White-sama?"
A little girl, who had just received Yukima Azuma's autograph, turned her gaze toward Sora Ginko.
Sora Ginko, who had been standing with her arms crossed, watching the scene unfold, immediately tensed up.
( ®®) !!
"Uwaa, it really is Snow White!"
"So cool!"
"I have a folding fan of Snow White-sama! Can you sign it for me?"
The group of children began to split into two factions.
Sora Ginko was completely terrible at interacting with others.
Even though they were just elementary school kids, she found them somewhat difficult to handle.
The smile on her beautiful face instantly disappeared, replaced by an icy expression.
"Alright, everyone quiet down. If this keeps up, it'll cause trouble for the association."
Amidst the noisy commotion, Yukima Azuma's voice rang out clearly, reaching everyone's ears.
The chattering children suddenly fell silent.
"If you want an autograph, line up properly. Don't block the entrance or the stairs."
The moment Yukima Azuma said this, the children obediently formed a neat line.
Seeing this, Sora Ginko let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Signing autographs was something she could still handle.
After all, as an idol in the shogi world, she had done promotional events like this before.
"Shishou, that was so cool." Hinatsuru Ai marveled.
()
Kiyotaki Keika, who had been accompanying them, also nodded slightly. "Azuma-kun has an aura that naturally makes others listen to him."
...
The autograph session ended quickly.
There weren't actually that many children in the association.
Once they were done, the group didn't linger in the first-floor lobby any longer and instead headed up the stairs.
When they reached the entrance of the research club on the second floor
A middle-aged man waved toward Yukima Azuma.
"Yo, Ryuuou."
Yukima Azuma nodded.
"Kuruno 7-dan, hello."
This man, Kuruno Yoshitsune 7-dan, was the head of the Tokyo research club.
Before coming here, Yukima Azuma had already contacted him.
After all, today he had brought Hinatsuru Ai to take the admission test for the association and register as a member of the research club.
"This is your disciple, huh?"
Kuruno looked at Hinatsuru Ai.
During the post-match interview after the Ryuuou finals, Yukima Azuma had officially announced that he was taking Hinatsuru Ai as his disciple.
So, even though she hadn't officially entered the shogi world yet
Many people were already keeping an eye on her.
"That's right. I brought her here today for the admission test."
"I've been waiting a whole month for this. You sure took your time."
"This girl is different from the others."
"You mean she's like you."
Kuruno chuckled teasingly.
Back when Yukima Azuma joined the research club
Kuruno had already been in charge.
The boy had left an incredibly strong impression on him.
Because Yukima Azuma barely stayed in the research club at all.
The moment he joined, he began sweeping through opponents, rising in rank day by day.
In less than half a year, he had advanced straight to the Shoureikai.
Even though he was joking, Kuruno didn't actually believe that Hinatsuru Ai could be like Yukima Azuma.
The shogi world was filled with countless geniuses.
But an undefeated geniusone who became Ryuuou at 16there was only one.
However, what surprised Kuruno
Was that Yukima Azuma actually nodded in agreement.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Under Kuruno's guidance, everyone stepped into the research club's room.
Inside, several children were already seated properly in front of shogi boards.
"Hinatsuru Ai, you can sit over there."
Kuruno pointed to an empty seat.
Hinatsuru Ai glanced at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma gently patted her head in reassurance.
Encouraged by her master, Hinatsuru Ai took a deep breath.
Then, she walked to the empty seat and sat down neatly.
The children around her all curiously eyed her.
Kuruno stepped further into the research room.
"Good morning, everyone. Today, we have a new participant taking the entrance test."
"Make sure to show the difference between the research club and regular dojo classes."
Hearing Kuruno's words, the young research club members all responded in unison, their expressions serious.
"Yes, sir!"
Watching this scene
Kiyotaki Keika could only sigh inwardly.
She was supposed to be sitting among these children right now.
Just imagining it was already too conspicuous.
But she had no other choiceshe still hadn't reached the level of a female professional shogi player.
In other words, just like these kids, she was still in the process of learning at the research club.
"This time, I have to give it my all."
She whispered to herself.
Kuruno turned his attention to Hinatsuru Ai.
The research club's test consisted of three matches.
Winning all three wasn't necessary.
More importantly, the matches were meant to assess the candidate's actual skill level.
As long as they met the required standard, even losing all three games was acceptable.
Normally, the opponent for the first match would be someone with a weaker record in the research club.
ButYukima Azuma had said Hinatsuru Ai was different from the others.
Kuruno thought for a moment, then said:
"Hinatsuru Ai, for your first match, you'll play against Sadatou Ayano."
Hearing this, a cute girl with glasses stood up.
Sadatou Ayano, an elementary schooler one year older than Hinatsuru Ai, carried the air of a refined oujou-sama.
She was one of the stronger young players in the research club.
And so, the two girls sat at the board and began their match.
"Please take care of me." x2
Hinatsuru Ai faced off against Sadatou Ayano.
There wasn't a shred of suspense in the match.
It was practically a complete overwhelming victory.
Kuruno glanced at the board, the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily.
"Hey, Ryuuou, how exactly do you usually teach this kid?"
Based on her performance in the entrance test
Hinatsuru Ai was even stronger than Yukima Azuma had been back in the day.
A true little monster.
Kuruno couldn't contain his curiosity. Just what kind of training had Yukima Azuma given her to create such a terrifying prodigy?
"Usually, Ai plays against me, Ginko-senpai, um and also Sainokami Ika."
Yukima Azuma answered honestly.
Raising Hinatsuru Ai had been fairly simple.
Aside from training her in fundamental knowledge
She just needed to keep playing against the three of them.
Skill? Just play a lot, and you'll get the hang of it.
Hearing this, Kuruno found himself at a loss for words.
Are you serious?
You let a child train against Ryuuou, Queen, and Emperor?! (Note: I don't know what Ika's title is, wiki doesn't have it. So I leave it as is according to the author.)
This is offense, this is defense, and this is Ashina Isshin.
Aren't you guys just camping at the newbie village gate and farming fresh spawns?!
Any normal kid subjected to this kind of "training" would have quit ages ago!
"I lost."
While they were talking, Sadatou Ayano had already admitted defeat.
Around them, the research club students erupted in astonishment.
"That fast?!"
"As expected of Little Ryuuou!"
"She's way too strong!"
Since Hinatsuru Ai was Yukima Azuma's disciple, she had earned the nickname "Little Ryuuou."
Despite the shower of praise
She didn't show a trace of arrogance or complacency.
Instead, she bowed respectfully to Sadatou Ayano in a properly disciplined manner.
"Thank you for the match."
This attitude made Ayano, who had just lost, feel much better.
"You're amazing..." she sincerely praised.
Hinatsuru Ai smiled. "Not at all, I was just lucky."
At that moment, Kuruno stepped forward.
"Next match, play against me."
Having Hinatsuru Ai face off against the other students no longer held much meaning.
Kuruno had no choice but to step in himself.
Of course, as a professional 7-dan player, he couldn't play against her on equal footing.
He removed his Bishop and Rook from the board.
A two-piece handicapand even sacrificing his Rook on top of that.
Kuruno felt this was a serious way to approach the match.
But Yukima Azuma, watching from the side, shook his head.
"I heard Ryuuou is bringing his disciple for the entrance exam today?"
"Ryuuou, last time you vanished in the middle of an interviewthis time, you're caught."
"Let me see... Kuruno-sensei is playing himself?"
A few people gathered.
They were Tokyo Shogi Association staff, reporters, and professional players.
After all, this was a professional institution.
News spread fast.
At first, these adults were focused on Yukima Azuma, planning to chat with him.
But after a single glance at the shogi board
Their attention immediately snapped to the game.
Because the match had only just begun.
And yet, Kuruno, a professional 7-dan player, was already at a disadvantage.
Cold sweat trickled down Kuruno's forehead.
He had already anticipated that Hinatsuru Ai was extremely stronglikely at Shoureikai level.
But he hadn't expected her to be this strong.
Even with a Rook handicap, he had still been too careless.
Previously, while observing the match between Hinatsuru Ai and Sadatou Ayano
Kuruno had noticed that Ai's playstyle mainly focused on stable defense.
It made sense. After all, the opponents she regularly faced were far stronger than her.
Playing it safe was the only logical choice; otherwise, she'd be crushed in an instant.
So, Kuruno deliberately chose an overwhelmingly aggressive approach.
But unexpectedly
Hinatsuru Ai suddenly changed her style.
Like a sword unsheathed, she immediately pushed Kuruno into a disadvantageous position.
Kuruno had no idea.
When playing against Sainokami Ika, Hinatsuru Ai could achieve nearly a 50% win rate.
If she only knew how to defend, she would have zero chance of winning against Sainokami Ika.
The only reason she had a 50% win rate
Was because she knew how to attack.
And not just attackit was her natural talent.
Of course
If her opponent was Sora Ginko, someone who knew her playstyle inside out, she would be utterly crushed.
But against a genius shogi player who was facing her for the first time
The sword named Hinatsuru Ai was frighteningly sharp.
"I lost."
Kuruno stood up, his expression... difficult to describe.
But judging from his face, he wasn't faring much better than Sadatou Ayano.
Absolutely ridiculous.
What kind of exam was this supposed to be?
The Research Club's training system didn't just focus on fundamental techniques and gradually improving students' skill levels.
The most important aspect
Was to make students hit the rookie wall early.
Many prodigies, when playing in regular dojo clubs, could effortlessly crush their opponents.
This was because
Most of the players they faced in those dojos were strangers.
By relying on their specialized techniques, these prodigies could create gameplay scenarios far beyond their actual skill level.
But once they stepped onto the professional path
They would be thoroughly analyzed and countered.
At that point, when their familiar techniques were dismantled, these prodigies would slam into a brutal wall of reality and could be completely shattered.
The Research Club's role
Was to be that wall, allowing players to face reality sooner.
But for Hinatsuru Ai
She knew both attack and defense, and her strategic range was vast enough to be seen with the naked eye.
Even if she were to hit the rookie wall
It wouldn't be here.
Kuruno was completely convinced.
This childshe was just like Yukima Azuma.
Coming to the Research Club was nothing more than a formality.
"Ryuuou, you handle the third match yourself."
Kuruno spoke.
Originally, he had planned for Sora Ginko to play the third match to analyze Ai further.
But looking at the situation now
Even Sora Ginko, if forced to give a two-piece handicap or more, might not be able to completely crush Hinatsuru Ai.
But if they played without handicaps
That wouldn't be appropriate.
At that point, what would differentiate the Research Club from any random dojo?
So
Whoever caused the problem should solve it.
"This isn't quite right, I'm her master."
Yukima Azuma pointed at himself.
Kuruno rolled his eyes.
What, do I need to run upstairs and drag down an 8-dan or 9-dan player now?
In the end, Kuruno shoved Yukima Azuma into the match room.
When the Research Club students saw Yukima Azuma enter
They immediately became excited.
Meanwhile, Hinatsuru Ai
Who had already been tense, now became even more focused.
"Shishou!"
"Umu, I'll be your opponent for the third match."
"I'll give it my all! Even if you're my Shishou!"
Just like Kuruno, Yukima Azuma removed two pieces from his board.
The match began.
Hinatsuru Ai was fired up!
Yukima Azuma fell into a disadvantage.
Yukima Azuma made blunders.
Yukima Azuma was cornered.
Yukima Azuma struggled desperately.
Yukima Azuma gave his victory speech after winning.
Hinatsuru Ai pouted.
She really lost!
She couldn't even win a little!
Even though the girl was a little saddened by her defeat.
The professional shogi players watching from the sidelines
Couldn't help but be astonished.
Yukima Azuma stepping in
Had fully exposed the true strength of Hinatsuru Ai.
This was not the level a mere elementary school student should have.
The word "prodigy" was no longer sufficient to describe her.
There was only one way to put it
This girl was a monster.
When the two of them stepped outside
Kuruno said, "Let's go, I'll take everyone to complete the membership procedures."
Now he finally understood why, after Yukima Azuma finished his match in the Ryuuou tournament, it took him an entire month before bringing Hinatsuru Ai to the Research Club.
She had truly come here just to go through the formalities.
Tomorrow was the preliminary round of the Mynavi Women's Open Shogi tournament.
If she could make it into the main bracket and win a single match
She would be granted the title of professional female shogi player.
That was equivalent to reaching Class C1 in the Research Club.
A direct leap from Class F to Class C.
If she continued to secure a few more wins in the main bracket
She might even advance straight to Class B in the Research Club.
And if she could reach A1 or A2
She could be promoted directly into the Shoureikai.
After completing the formalities
Yukima Azuma and the others left the Shogi Association.
They needed to rest and prepare for the official match tomorrow.
In the Edogawa district, there was a branch of Hinatsuru Ryokan.
The group headed straight there to rest.
As soon as they stepped into the room
"Wow! These are the new furnishings that Mom mentioned?"
Hinatsuru Ai's eyes sparkled as she ran around the room, inspecting everything.
The Tokyo branch of Hinatsuru Ryokan had officially been equipped with smart furniture from Laplace Corporation.
Yukima Azuma connected to the app.
Out of habit
The curtains automatically opened.
After checking the room's humidity, the humidifier began operating.
Seeing this, the girls couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
After playing around with the features for a while
The novelty gradually wore off, and they calmed down to prepare for rest.
After finishing dinner
Before going to sleep
Suddenly, there was a knock on Yukima Azuma's door.
When he opened it
He saw Hinatsuru Ai standing there in her pajamas.
"What's wrong?" Yukima Azuma patted her head.
( )(._.`)
While patting her head, he also glanced aroundlooking for the FBI.
FBI: ( ® ®)
Hinatsuru Ai seemed like she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Even though she had outstanding shogi skills
And immense confidence in her abilities.
Still, tomorrow was her first official match.
Nervousness was inevitable.
After all, Hinatsuru Ai
Was still just an elementary school student.
Moreover, she was competing in this tournament under the title of Ryuuou's disciple.
If she lost
There would definitely be people saying that she had embarrassed Yukima Azuma.
For Hinatsuru Ai
That was absolutely unacceptable.
So, the pressure on her was immense.
"Shishou could you give me something that would make me feel like you're with me?"
Hinatsuru Ai said something that sounded rather dangerous.
FBI: (_ )
Yukima Azuma, upon hearing this, nodded.
"Umu, go rest early. I'll prepare something for you."
This wasn't a difficult request at all.
Besides, Yukima Azuma had already prepared something in advance.
Hearing this, Hinatsuru Ai cheered happily:
"Shishou is the best!"
()
The pressure in her heart eased significantly, and she returned to her room.
The next day.
Hinatsuru Ai drowsily opened her eyes.
(--)
Her long brown hair was slightly messy after a night's sleep.
Only the ahoge on her head remained full of energy, gently swaying.
Rubbing her eyes, Hinatsuru Ai sat up, preparing to wash her face.
But just as she lifted the blanket
She discovered a large brocade pouch placed beside her pillow.
At first, Hinatsuru Ai was slightly startled.
Then, anticipation filled her face.
( )
Opening the brocade pouch, inside was a folding fan.
She pulled the fan out, her fingers gently caressing the frame
Then, little by little, she unfolded it.
The fan's surface gradually spread open before her eyes.
There were only two simple characters: "Jing Hong."
(note: google: means a startled wild goose. It is used to describe the graceful figure of a beautiful woman. It is also used to refer to a beautiful woman or an old love who has a graceful figure.)
In the corner was Yukima Azuma's signature.
The strokes were bold and decisive, no less than those of a calligraphy master.
After all, these were Kanji characters.
As long as it wasn't written in Katakana, perhaps there was no one in all of Tokyo who could write Kanji more beautifully than Yukima Azuma.
Hinatsuru Ai stared intently at the two characters "Jing Hong," flowing like soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes.
A smile gradually became uncontrollable.
A joyful cheer rang out from her room.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma had just returned from his morning run.
Hearing Hinatsuru Ai's delighted laughter, Yukima Azuma smiled slightly.
In fact, he had spent a long time deciding what to write on the fan for Hinatsuru Ai.
Most shogi players wrote their personal aspirations on their fans.
Or words of self-reminder.
But Yukima Azuma felt that it wasn't necessary.
Hinatsuru Ai, at this moment, lacked neither courage nor confidence.
She would undoubtedly shine.
Her future would be a broad and boundless path.
So what was there to remind her of?
As for wishes, although Yukima Azuma was Hinatsuru Ai's master,
Such aspirations were best left for her to contemplate herself.
After much thought, Yukima Azuma ultimately decided to gift Hinatsuru Ai with a blessing of "Jing Hong."
Her future would be a dazzling spectacle, like a soaring crimson bird.
Retracting his gaze, Yukima Azuma stretched.
Lately, his morning runs seemed to have little effect on him anymore.
Even after extending his running distance,
There was still no notification of an increase in stamina.
After his physical attribute reached eight points,
Yukima Azuma's physique had a small breakthrough.
Now, it seemed that regular exercise was becoming ineffective for further enhancement.
Level seven skills were a milestone.
And for attributes, it seemed that eight points was the threshold.
Even though he had hit a bottleneck, Yukima Azuma wasn't too concerned.
If he couldn't break through, so be it.
It wasn't like he had any plans to compete in the Olympics or anything.
If there was still no progress after a few more days,
Then there would be no need for him to continue morning training.
After all, stamina and physique were provided by the system; they wouldn't degrade just because he stopped training.
That was one of the greatest advantages of the system.
Whether skills or attributes
Once acquired, they would never deteriorate over time just because of a lack of practice.
Just as Yukima Azuma was about to return to his room to change,
Suddenly, a door in the hallway swung open.
Yukima Azuma looked over and then smiled, waving his hand.
"Ginko-senpai, good morning!"
Sora Ginko was still wearing her adorable sky-blue pajamas at this moment.
Upon seeing Yukima Azuma, she instinctively lowered her head, her gaze shifting downward.
(>/////< )
Her left hand grasped her right wrist.
On her wrist was a deep blue bracelet.
It seemed to be woven from silver threads, with a small gemstone inlaid in gold as its centerpiece.
Overall, it resembled a miniature crown.
The gemstone was like the jewel adorning that crown.
This bracelet, of course, was a gift from Yukima Azuma.
Having carefully chosen a present for his disciple,
It was only natural that Yukima Azuma wouldn't play favorites and forget about his Ginko.
Her fingers gently brushed over the gemstone, warmed by her body heat.
The tension in her heart from her upcoming match suddenly eased.
All anxiety vanished completely, leaving only a lingering sweetness.
"I... I really like it."
(>/////<)
Sora Ginko whispered.
"As long as you like it, that's all that matters. I picked this gift especially for Ginko-senpai."
"I figured Ginko-senpai would like it too. After all, you're the Queenyou must love crowns, right?"
Yukima Azuma replied with a smile.
Sora Ginko wanted to say that as long as it was a gift from Yukima Azuma, she would love it no matter what.
But no matter how she looked at it, she couldn't deny it
This particular gift, she liked especially much.
This tiny silver-threaded crown had struck right at the heart of her maiden soul.
What girl wouldn't love such a gift?
Yukima Azuma's thoughtfulness made Sora Ginko want to jump into his arms right then and there.
Her cheeks gradually turned red.
Sora Ginko looked up and weakly gestured toward Yukima Azuma,
As if signaling for him to lean in closer.
Yukima Azuma was a little puzzled.
But he still lowered his head slightly,
Wanting to hear what Sora Ginko had to say.
However, what awaited him was only a soft "Muah~"
( ( `)
The next second, Sora Ginko immediately dashed back into her room.
(o)
Yukima Azuma touched his cheek, the spot where he had just been kissed.
Unbelievable.
His Tsundere-senpai had actually kissed him voluntarily?!
But then again if it had been on the lips instead of the cheek, that would have been even better.
Thinking of this, Yukima Azuma chuckled and shook his head.
That was greedy.
There was no need to rush things.
Senpai was still young, after all.
While Yukima Azuma was still standing there grinning foolishly
Kiyotaki Keika stepped out of her room.
Seeing her kouhai standing in the hallway with such an idiotic expression,
As a Great Senpai, Kiyotaki Keika couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Had something just happened?
If Kiyotaki Keika found out that both Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai had received gifts
No matter how mature she was, she would probably roll her eyes.
Didn't you say you wouldn't play favorites?
10:00 AM.
After washing up and changing, the girls gathered in the hotel lobby.
The Mynavi Women's Tournament was about to officially begin.
After receiving their "spiritual treasures," Hinatsuru Ai and Sora Ginko had both calmed their minds.
Sainokami Ika, needless to say, had never been the type to worry in the first place.
On the contrary, Kiyotaki Keikawho had seemed relaxed earlier
Now looked a little nervous.
"Good luck. I'll be cheering for you all from the commentary room."
Yukima Azuma offered encouragement to the girls.
Upon arriving at the tournament hall, Yukima Azuma immediately split from the group.
The participants headed to draw lots for the preliminary groupings,
While Yukima Azuma went straight to the commentary room.
As the Ryuuou, the Shogi Association had roped him into being a commentator.
It was understandableafter all, the Association was eager to promote Yukima Azuma outside the shogi world,
Building him up as a star figure.
Opportunities like this to appear in public?
Of course, they would do everything they could to push him into the spotlight.
Naturally, he would be paid for his time.
Seated alongside Yukima Azuma in the commentary room was Kugui Machi.
She was a young girl with long, straight black hair, with the tips dyed a faint purple.
Carrying an air of nobility, she was the daughter of a family that ran a tourism business in Tokyo.
At the same time, Kugui Machi was also a female shogi player and currently held the "Yamashiro Sakura" title.
(Note: Her wiki doesn't have much info, and it seems like her profile picture is wrong, so I'm not sure if this is accurate or not.)
Incidentally,
Kugui Machi and Sadatou Ayanothe girl who played against Hinatsuru Ai last timewere senpai and kouhai.
"The young Ryuuou-san, good morning."
Seeing Yukima Azuma enter, Kugui Machi smiled slightly and greeted him.
"Kugui-san, good morning."
Yukima Azuma responded.
Since the lot-drawing process was still ongoing,
The broadcast hadn't started yet.
As a result, the two of them could chat freely.
"I heard Ryuuou-san's disciple is competing this time?"
"Umu, it's also her first official tournament."
"Are you nervous?"
"Not really, actually. She's surprisingly reassuring."
"Ginko-san is competing too, right? So, who is Ryuuou-san supporting more?"
"Speaking of which, why isn't Kugui-san participating in this tournament?"
Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched slightly.
Even if this wasn't on-air yet, don't drag me into the battlefield of romance, my friend!
( `)
Hearing him change the topic, Kugui Machi covered her mouth and chuckled before waving her hand dismissively.
"I have to focus on defending my 'Sakura' title in the Cherry Blossom season. Besides, to be honest, I don't think I can beat Ginko-san."
Saying this, Kugui Machi let out a small sigh.
"Not to mention Sainokami Ika I'd rather not face her either."
Yukima Azuma immediately understood the problem.
Sainokami Ika's past matches had relied purely on raw talent.
Playing against herif your talent wasn't on the same leveleven winning could feel like losing.
Not to mention, Sainokami Ika's personality was so blunt it was almost rude,She outright looked down on her opponents.
It was understandable that some players didn't want to deal with her.
But ever since Yukima Azuma straightened her out a little, her terrible attitude had improved quite a bit.
So, he didn't say anything more.
Once the broadcast started, Kugui Machi would see for herself.
"Commentators, we're about to go live."
A staff member reminded them.
With that, the two stopped their casual conversation and sat properly in front of the live broadcast cameras.
The big screen beside them lit up.
The main display showed the shogi board for the preliminary rounds.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma and Kugui Machi's images were only in a small corner of the screen.
As soon as the broadcast began,
A flood of live comments poured in.
This interactive feature made it easier for commentators to engage with the audience.
After all, to attract viewers, you had to keep up with modern trends.
Kugui Machi glanced at the comment section.
The first line almost made her lose her composure.
( ®®) !!
"All hail Prime Minister-sama!"
ЊЌ‹Ќ
Yukima Azuma also saw the comment.
He casually waved his hand.
"At ease, mongrel."
( )_
Ever since his Ryuuou victory interview, where he had carelessly blurted out that he wanted to be Prime Minister,
The internet had never stopped teasing him like this.
Of course, Yukima Azuma didn't mind.
Politics in the Land of Cherry Blossoms was already unpredictable,
And the online community loved these kinds of jokes.
"At ease, mongrel."
( ^)
Yukima Azuma waved his hand.
The comment section went silent for a second.
Then, a flood of "LOL LMAO BRUH" spammed across the screen.
Kugui Machi covered her mouth, chuckling " Ara ara fufufu~".
The livestream's engagement was excellent.
The preliminary rounds officially began.
The first camera shot zoomed in on Hinatsuru Ai's shogi board.
This wasn't surprising.
Despite the large number of matches in the preliminaries,
The broadcast director would obviously prioritize the most attention-grabbing games.
As Ryuuou's disciple, Hinatsuru Ai was naturally a focal point of curiosity.
Her first opponent?
A high school female shogi player.
"Hinatsuru Ai is starting with Double Bishop. Is this her specialty?"
Kugui Machi brought up a classic discussion point.
"Umu, Ai-chan excels in long games, so Double Bishop suits her well. This is also the opening she has studied the most."
Yukima Azuma nodded.
[Is this Little Ryuuou? She's still just an elementary schooler, right?]
[He called her 'Ai-chan,' tsk tsk tsk!]
[That's normal, they're teacher and student, after all.]
[Isn't Ryuuou a bit too young to be a teacher? Wait, he's only in high school himself, right?]
[Hold on, isn't Ryuuou a student at Toyogasaki Academy?]
[For real? That Toyogasaki? One of the 'Big Three' elite schools?!]
The match had just begun, with no major developments yet.
As a result, the comment section started drifting off-topic.
Japan's education system was known for its severe resource disparity.
(Note: I don't know if this is accurate, I'm just translating it as-is.)
Among the top three private academiesToyogasaki, Shuchiin, and Hyakkou
People often referred to them as the "Big Three Elite Schools."
Of the three, Toyogasaki had the lowest entry requirements.
But even then, getting in still required exceptionally high scores.
Graduates from these schoolsaside from those who went straight into major corporations
Were usually guaranteed admission to top universities.
So, the moment Toyogasaki was mentioned, the chat exploded with discussion.
Kugui Machi was a little surprised.
She turned to look at Yukima Azuma.
As a Tokyo-born ojou-sama, she was, of course, familiar with Toyogasaki.
Back when she took her own high school entrance exams,
Her scores weren't high enough to get into that school.
She never expected that someone standing at the pinnacle of the shogi world
Was also a top-tier academic genius with insanely high grades.
However, after a moment of surprise, Kugui Machi swiftly shifted the topic.
After all, this was Yukima Azuma's personal life.
"The match is getting intenseHinatsuru Ai seems to be in a disadvantageous position."
Perhaps because her opponent saw her as just a child,
The high school girl's aggression was through the roof.
At times, her defensive moves were half-hearted,
As if she were defending only to keep attacking.
But if Ai got swept into her opponent's rhythm,
She really would fall into a losing position.
"Not at all. There's a gap at 7-13. She can shift from defense to offense and overturn the situation."
Yukima Azuma stated calmly.
Kugui Machi blinked.
Of course, she had also noticed that opening.
"But Ai-chan is still young Will she be able to see it?"
Just as Kugui Machi was wondering that
Hinatsuru Ai placed her piece on 7-13.
The board instantly flipped in her favor.
She took absolute control of the match.
"As expected of Ryuuou-san and Ryuuou-san's disciple."
Kugui Machi clapped in admiration.
[Beautiful shogi! Even I can understand it. Believe it!]
[Is she really an elementary schooler?]
[So, Ryuuou is this strong? Not only is he a shogi master himself, but he's also an insane teacher?!]
[Excuse me, is it still possible to become his disciple?]
[No chance. Ryuuou only accepts lolis!]
[‚ѓ( )‚ѓ]
"Hey, You There! That's Slander!"
(_)
Yukima Azuma pointed at the last comment, his eyes wide open.
How could someone frame him so blatantly?!
If the girls in his house saw this, he'd be done for!
No doubt, by this time, Kasumigaoka Utaha, Eriri, and Kato Megumi were all watching.
Being called out by Yukima Azuma
The comment section exploded.
[() I'm a loli! Ryuuou Daddy, take care of me!]
[(_) The guy above, aren't you Curse Chef-san? Male, 23 years old, from the Heian Era?]
[( ®®) !! Oh no! Nigerundayo! UWU!]
[()]
Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
These netizens They really knew how to mess around.
Meanwhile, in the shogi match, an unexpected turning point occurred.
Hinatsuru Ai's opponent placed her piece in surrender.
After all, when you recklessly attack without thinking about defense
Once the opponent sees through your moves, your mental state collapses.
Hinatsuru Ai was the fastest player to finish her first-round match.
Kugui Machi congratulated her
Then, the screen shifted to the next match.
It was another familiar face to Yukima Azuma.
Kiyotaki Keika.
Yukima Azuma quickly scanned the shogi board
And let out a deep sigh.
Keika was in big trouble.
He didn't know how the match had played out from the beginning
But just by looking at the endgame, he could guess what had happened.
Keika had played too cautiously.
Under immense pressure, she had hesitated too much in her decisions.
But overthinking
Only led to disastrous moves.
"Looks like Kiyotaki Keika is about to lose."
Kugui Machi commented.
Even if she took over the board right now, her chances of winning weren't high.
"If she sacrifices her Knight and immediately mobilizes the Rook, she still has a chance."
Yukima Azuma analyzed.
Hearing this, Kugui Machi replayed the move sequence he had suggested
And couldn't help but click her tongue in admiration.
Sasuga Ryuuou.
A position that seemed hopeless, and yet
He instantly found a way out.
But for someone who had already played into such a bad endgame
Would they have the courage to sacrifice a piece to deploy the Rook?
The answer was no.
Keika still lost.
Yukima Azuma blinked.
"Well, losing the first match isn't necessarily a bad thing."
He mumbled
"Keika-nee, just like this game of shogi, needs to be backed into a corner before she can be reborn."
...
The screen transitioned to the next match.
This time
Sainokami Ika.
After all, she was the Empress.
Looking at her endgame position
Kugui Machi was momentarily stunned.
Logically speaking, based on Sainokami Ika's style
If she faced an opponent with a clear skill gap,
She would usually play provocative or even insulting moves.
For example, in a past game between Sainokami Ika and Sora Ginko
She had once committed an unprecedented violation in shogi history.
She deliberately placed one of her pieces into Sora Ginko's captured piece zone.
Most people wouldn't understand why she did that.
But in reality
It was a calculated move planned many turns ahead.
A blatant provocation, purely based on her natural talent.
However, this time
Sainokami Ika's endgame was surprisingly normal.
Just a standard crushing victory.
Kugui Machi Was Stunned.
"Has Ryuuou-san already tamed this monster?"
She blurted out without thinking.
In the world of female shogi players, Sainokami Ika was known as a "monster."
Her talent was too overwhelming, her playstyle too unruly, and she would stop at nothing to become stronger.
However, saying this in private was fine
But saying it on a live broadcast
That was a problem.
[Monster? Tamed? What's going on?]
[Yamashiro Sakura is seriously chuunibyou, lol.]
[Wait a minute, isn't the 'monster' the Empress?]
[Hold on, wasn't there a rumor about Empress and Ryuuou having some kind of ambiguous relationship?]
[Oh yeah, does 'taming' mean that kind of play?]
[( - ) Nice! Ryuuou.]
The comment section turned colorful real fast.
"Director, ban that guy for three days! Let him reflect on his actions before he accidentally runs into truck-kun tomorrow."
( Д )*
Yukima Azuma pointed at a particular comment and loudly called out to the director.
...
End of the First Round.
The first round of the qualifiers wrapped up quickly.
Before moving on to Round Two, the players had a short break.
The commentators also had time to rest, and the broadcast switched to a replay of earlier matches.
Yukima Azuma exchanged a few words with Kugui Machi
Then left the broadcasting room.
He hadn't walked far when
He spotted his senpai and disciple sitting in a corner of the tournament hall.
Quickening his pace, he approached them.
He found Kiyotaki Keika sitting on the steps, looking like someone had forced her to eat dirt.
"So everyone won easily, huh?"
"Sorry I was the only one who lost. I'm really sorry."
"I feel bad for ruining the mood."
(ЇЇ)
The light in Keika's emerald green eyes had completely dimmed.
"Keika-nee, don't give up! You still have the revenge match!"
Hinatsuru Ai encouraged her.
"Nee there's still a chance."
Even Sora Ginko spoke up.
This tournament was extremely important to Kiyotaki Keika.
It was her last shot at turning things around.
If she failed to qualify and become a professional female shogi player this time
She would only have one year left to rank up through normal means, and her chances were very slim.
"Old soldiers never die they just fade away"
Kiyotaki Keika muttered, leaning against the wall and sliding down slowly.
Yukima Azuma smiled helplessly.
Well, maybe this wasn't such a bad thing.
If Keika-nee kept up that rigid, nervous mindset
Hesitating.
Overthinking.
Then she was guaranteed to lose.
But now, she had relaxed.
And that might actually help her mentality.
Yukima Azuma reached out and pulled Kiyotaki Keika to her feet.
Gripping her arm, he spoke:
"Alright, Round Two starts in the afternoon. No matter what, let's go eat first."
Hearing that, Kiyotaki Keika reluctantly snapped out of it.
She could feel the reliable presence beside her.
At that moment, she really wanted to throw herself into his arms and cry her heart out.
If not for Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai
The two kouhai from their sect watching nearby
She probably would have done it.
The group left the tournament hall and returned to Hinatsuru Ryokan.
After forcing Kiyotaki Keika to sit down at the dining table
Yukima Azuma headed toward the kitchen of Hinatsuru Ryokan.
At this point, saying anything to Keika wouldn't help much.
Might as well try food therapy.
Maybe delicious food would do the trick.
Noon.
After lunch.
Kiyotaki Keika returned to her room.
She opened the suitcase she had brought along and took out an old anime-themed notebook.
This was her childhood diary.
For the past two years, as she approached the red-line age limit for female shogi players,
In moments of anxiety, Kiyotaki Keika often took out her childhood diary.
She would open it to remind herself how she had started in the first place.
But every time, she could only flip through a few pages before she had to close it again.
When she was a child, Kiyotaki Keika was brimming with confidence in herself.
Back then, Yukima Azuma and Sora Ginko had yet to study under her father.
Every line written by little Kiyotaki Keika was filled with love for shogi and the belief that she would inherit her father's legacy.
But as she grew older and was battered by reality,
The once-little girl, now an adult, began to envy her younger self.
If this time, in the mvnavi tournament, she still couldn't become a professional female player
It seemed like she would have to give up.
And now, she had already lost in the very first round of the qualifiers.
Kiyotaki Keika wasn't completely in despair, but it felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.
As she turned the pages,
An envelope unexpectedly fell out from between them.
Kiyotaki Keika was momentarily stunned.
She picked up the envelope.
Only when she opened it and saw the childish handwriting on the paper inside,
Did Kiyotaki Keika suddenly remembershe had written this letter when she was little.
Back then, there was a trend of writing letters to oneself ten years in the future.
It was just that Kiyotaki Keika had completely forgotten about it.
Now, more than ten years had passed.
Amid the childish handwriting on the paper, it was filled with her hopes for the future.
"Ten years later, have I achieved my dream and become a professional female shogi player?"
Kiyotaki Keika really wanted to tell her younger self
She had no natural talent for shogi.
Every time she competed, she could feel the gap in talent between her and her opponents.
It was a stinging, murky feeling.
But thinking carefully, did she truly regret stepping onto this path?
In her mind, an image of a small girl appeared.
A girl with short, tea-blonde hair, holding a shogi piece in her hand, smiling radiantly like a blooming flower.
Kiyotaki Keika smiled.
No matter how she thought about it, there was no way she regretted it.
...
Afternoon.
The draw for the second round of the qualifiers.
Sora Ginko anxiously tugged at the hem of Yukima Azuma's shirt.
Her gaze was fixed on Kiyotaki Keika, who was stepping forward to draw her match-up.
"Did you not go talk to Keika-nee at noon?"
As the reigning Queen,
Sora Ginko didn't even need to participate in the qualifiers and advanced directly to the main tournament.
But that didn't mean that someone as talented as her couldn't understand Kiyotaki Keika's feelings.
On the contrary, Sora Ginko understood them very well.
Because she herself had a goal that was extremely difficult to pursue.
Even so, although she wanted to encourage her sister senpai,
Sora Ginko was clumsy and genuinely didn't know what to say.
However, she felt that Yukima Azuma was smooth-tonguedhe should at least go and offer some words of encouragement.
Yukima Azuma gently patted Sora Ginko's small head.
( )(._.`)
"Don't worry, Keika-nee isn't just a supporting character in someone else's story."
"She's the protagonist of her own talewhether or not anyone helps her, she'll find success."
Hearing this, Sora Ginko could only nod lightly.
...
After the drawing ended, Yukima Azuma waved to Sora Ginko before heading toward the broadcast room.
The afternoon livestream had far more viewers compared to the morning session.
And without a doubt, Yukima Azuma played a major role in that.
Even those who didn't understand shogi,
They still enjoyed watching Bishounen chat.
Afternoon, the director was no longer making biased camera cuts.
They couldn't just keep milking Yukima Azuma for views.
Otherwise, when the qualifiers ended, there might be online speculation about Ryuuou rigging the results.
However, the screen still occasionally switched to the matches of Hinatsuru Ai and Kiyotaki Keika.
By the time all the afternoon matches had concluded,
the four rounds of the first day had come to an end.
The list of players advancing to the main tournament was also announced.
And finally, Yukima Azuma, today's commentator, could clock out.
He stealthily made his way to the winner's interview area, blending into the crowd of reporters.
"Hinatsuru Ai, how does it feel to become the youngest player in history to reach the main tournament?"
A reporter raised a camera and asked.
The small girl, hugging a bouquet half her size, answered timidly:
"Even though I'm still weak and have a lot to learn, I'll definitely keep winning!"
/ > <
"Who do you want to share the joy of victory with the most?"
"Shishou!"
()
"From your perspective, what kind of person is Ryuuouyour master?"
"Very handsome, very strong, and very reliable!"
( )
Hinatsuru Ai had won all four of her matches, securing a spot in the main tournament.
It was nothing short of a breakthrough.
Next.
"Empress, Sainokami Ika, how do you feel about advancing to the main tournament?"
"Nothing at all... it's just... nothing."
Of course, Sainokami Ika had also won all four of her matches, but on stage, she seemed a little impatient.
If it were before, she would have surely said something like, "My opponents were too weak. If you're weak, then train harder."
( )_
But whether it was because she had actually changed?
or because she spotted Yukima Azuma standing behind the group of reporters mid-interview?
( )
in the end, Sainokami Ika obediently gave a proper statement about qualifying.
Next.
"Kiyotaki Keika, it was a tough journey, but you've earned your spot in the main tournament. Congratulations!"
"Yes... it feels like a dream to still be here."
Kiyotaki Keika hugged her bouquet, her expression still carrying a hint of disbelief.
"Even though you lost the first match, you managed to bounce back. That's truly incredible."
One loss, three wins. In the end, she had made it out of the losers' bracket.
Moreover, with a high match point ranking, she smoothly secured her spot.
Though she had stumbled along the way, she had ultimately reached the main tournament.
...
After the interviews concluded,
Kiyotaki Keika exited the venue through a side door.
"Congratulations, Keika-nee!"
Yukima Azuma rushed forward and hugged her tightly.
()()
Kiyotaki Keika was still a little dazed, but when she was suddenly embraced by Yukima Azuma, she snapped back to reality.
Although she was thrilled inside,
being hugged in celebration by a boy much younger than her
made Kiyotaki Keika feel a little embarrassed.
She was a mature onee-san, after all!
( ,,'',,)
Thankfully, Yukima Azuma didn't hold on for too long.
After congratulating her, he quickly let go.
"Azuma-kun, really now... you crushed my flowers."
Kiyotaki Keika muttered softly.
During the hug, the bouquet had been caught between them, causing quite a few petals to fall.
"If Keika-nee likes flowers, I'll buy a whole truckload next time and bury you in them."
Yukima Azuma chuckled.
Kiyotaki Keika tried to imagine the scene.
It sounded absurd, but somehow, it made her heart flutter a little.
(>/////<)
Because of that, she lightly shot a reproachful glance at the one responsible for this feelingYukima Azuma.
"This is just the first step. I still have to keep winning."
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma waved a hand dismissively.
"Keika-nee is super strong. There's no way it'll be a problem."
"I wish it were that simple." Kiyotaki Keika said, but her expression wasn't heavy at all.
( )
After securing her spot, she felt like she had shed her old self.
The burdens of the past seemed to melt away in an instant.
Though her words were modest,
deep down, Kiyotaki Keika truly believed she could keep winning.
"Let's go, Keika-nee. Time to celebrate!"
Yukima Azuma grabbed her hand and quickly led her toward Hinatsuru Ryokan.
The mature woman, being pulled along by the hand, suddenly felt her face heat up.
Why am I suddenly acting like one of those cute, shy dere-dere characters?!
( //>///
...
"Congratulations, Keika-nee!"
"Congratulations, Keika-nee!"
As soon as they arrived,
Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Aiwho had been waitingimmediately cheered in celebration.
"HM HM!" Kiyotaki Keika ran over and hugged them both tightly. "Thank you! Thank you, everyone!"
()()
A tiny little girl and a teenage girl.
Both were completely enveloped in Kiyotaki Keika's large embrace.
This touching scene almost turned into a case of suffocation by oppai.
( ) ( . )( . )
Once they finally escaped, the two looked at Kiyotaki Keika with somewhat complicated expressions.
To celebrate, the group went out for yakiniku that evening.
After eating, under the night sky, they strolled around Ginza.
They ended up buying quite a bit of jewelry and clothing.
...
The next morning.
"Good morning, Ryuuou-san."
Early in the morning, Kugui Machi appeared at Yukima Azuma's door.
Seeing the famous female shogi player, Yukima Azuma was a bit confused.
Although the two of them were scheduled to commentate a match together soon,
there was no work today.
So why had this onee-san-senpai shown up so early?
But before he could even ask
"Whoa! It's the real-life Ryuuou! Can I shake your hand?!"
"Mio, don't be rude! Ah, good morning, Ryuuou-sama!"
Two little girls suddenly ran out from behind her.
One of them, full of excitement, stretched her hand out toward Yukima Azuma.
She was a lively-looking girl with short red hair, wearing a sporty outfit bursting with energy.
Yukima Azuma shook her hand.
"I'm never washing this hand again!"
(`)
The red-haired girl shouted!
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but laugh helplessly.
"This one here is Mizukoshi Mio, and I'm Sadatou Ayano. And this is Charlotte Izoard. I'm terribly sorry for the disturbance, Ryuuou-sama."
Yukima Azuma still remembered this girl.
She had once played shogi against Hinatsuru Ai.
And afterward, it seemed like she had become Ai's friend.
After Sadatou Ayano finished introducing herself, Yukima Azuma finally noticed the other girl standing behind her.
A delicate girl with shimmering blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
Wearing a pure white Gothic Lolita dress.
She looked just like an exquisitely crafted Western doll.
The moment he saw her, Yukima Azuma's initial impression of her skyrocketed.
Because Charlotte looked exactly like Eriri when she was younger.
Speaking of which, little Eriri had been absolutely adorable
When she entered middle school, Eriri became a bit more open, but at the same time, she grew increasingly tsundere, losing the shy and cute charm she had as a child.
As Yukima Azuma was lost in thought, a realization suddenly hit him.
Wait a second the real issue here is why the hell have I suddenly ended up surrounded by a whole pack of lolis?!
FBI: ()
Azuma: ( `)
FBI: ( )
Azuma: (®®)!!
Curse Chef: (>)
Chapter 217: Hinatsuru Ai "Shishou, why are there so many little girls around you?"
Looking at the group of kids that had just appeared, Yukima Azuma turned a suspicious gaze toward the long-black-haired onee-san with highlightsKugui Machi.
Being stared at by Yukima Azuma, Kugui Machi gave an awkward smile.
"Ryuuou-san..."
"Just call me Yukima, or you can go straight with Azuma."
"Umu, then Yukima-kun. Yukima-kun, you're heading to Osaka today, right?"
"Yeah, I am."
Just like the official matches in the Ryuuou Tournament,
the Mynavi Women's Tournament was also an official event, with each round held in a different venue.
The next match was scheduled to take place in Osaka.
Yukima Azuma planned to take the girls there a few days in advance to help them adjust to the environment.
And while they were at it, they could have some fun, relax, and clear their minds before the match.
Since the tournament schedule was public, it wasn't surprising that Kugui Machi knew about it.
But still, bringing a whole group of elementary school girls here was
"Well the thing is, I have to go to Osaka for the match commentary as well."
"But the parents of these three girls asked me to look after them and teach them some shogi while I'm at it."
"Would it be alright if we traveled together, Yukima-kun?"
Kugui Machi smiled wryly.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma immediately understood.
So this highlighted onee-san had been given the job of babysitting.
Thinking about it, it made senseKugui Machi was Sadatou Ayano's senpai.
Taking care of three kids alone would definitely be a challenge.
And since Yukima Azuma's group was already planning to go to Osaka,
it made sense for Kugui Machi to come over and ask to tag along.
In other words, she was basically asking Yukima Azuma to help watch over the kids.
After thinking it over for a moment, Yukima Azuma saw no real issue with it and nodded in agreement.
These three girls were already at the age where they could take care of themselves.
There wasn't much need to worry about supervising them too much.
Besides, they didn't seem like the type to cause trouble.
Most importantly, traveling together like this could help Hinatsuru Ai make a few new friends.
Even though Hinatsuru Ai was more mature than most kids her age,
she was still just a little girl.
At school, she often had to take time off, so she probably didn't have many close friends.
That's just how school life workedmiss a single day, and you'd already fall behind on all the latest stories with friends.
If you were absent too often, even once-close friends could start drifting apart.
Being friendless would be lonely.
Since she had to miss school anyway to pursue shogi,
she might as well make friends through shogi.
These three girls were around the same age as Hinatsuru Ai.
Just then, the door to the neighboring room suddenly swung open.
Hinatsuru Ai stepped outside.
At first, she still had her usual energetic look.
But the moment she glanced to the side
and saw three more little girls standing next to her Shishou
her gaze instantly turned dangerous.
"Shishou, why are there so many little girls around you?"
( _ ) ( _ ) ( _ ) ( _ ) ( _ )
Her usual icy-blue eyes were now dangerously close to activating the Rinnegan.
Hinatsuru Ai was the jealous type.
But Yukima Azuma didn't mind in the slightesthe simply waved her over.
As soon as Hinatsuru Ai came closer
Yukima Azuma introduced her to the three girls one by one.
At the same time, he explained that for the upcoming trip to Osaka, they would all be traveling together.
Hinatsuru Ai already knew Sadatou Ayano.
Plus, they were all part of the same research club.
And they all had shogi in common.
It didn't take long before they started chatting excitedly.
Watching the little girls laugh and play together, Yukima Azuma smiled softly.
This was good.
His disciple wouldn't have to be lonely.
...
"How are we getting to Osaka? By train?"
Kugui Machi walked up beside Yukima Azuma and asked softly.
Yukima Azuma shook his head. "We'll take a car. It's more convenient."
Hearing that, Kugui Machi let out a small oh.
After all, she was a well-bred young lady from Tokyo.
And she was part of the small inner circle of the shogi world.
She had some idea about Hinatsuru Ai's situation.
The cherished daughter of the Hinatsuru family.
Having a private car for travel wasn't out of the ordinary.
But more than the private car, Kugui Machi was curious about something else.
"Yukima-kun, are you really a student at Toyogasaki?"
"Umu, I'm a first-year at Toyogasaki. Why?"
"Nothing, I was just a little surprised. Toyogasaki's entrance scores are among the highest in the country."
"I have a bit of a knack for memory, so memorizing things isn't too hard. It's kind of like shogi."
Yukima Azuma replied casually.
But Kugui Machi couldn't help but be tongue-tied.
This is what he called "a bit of a knack"?
Just in shogi alone, Yukima Azuma had already reached near the peak.
Putting aside his age, just the fact that he held the Ryuuou title
a title that countless players in the shogi world could only dream of
Even if he retired right this moment,
his name would still be engraved in the history of shogi.
"Kind of like shogi," huh Then wouldn't that mean he was also a once-in-a-generation genius in academics?
Who knows, after graduating high school, he might even get a direct offer from Tokyo University.
Even without any backing, he could freely choose his own path forward.
And someone who was capable of taking Hinatsuru Ai as a disciple
how could he really have no backing at all?
Kugui Machi pondered. Maybe ten years from now
If not for this encounter today, she might not even have the qualifications to talk to this guy.
"What are you thinking about?" Yukima Azuma noticed her expression was a little strange and asked curiously.
Kugui Machi chuckled and shook her head. "Just that you're really amazing."
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma snapped his fingers.
"Right? I think I'm amazing too."
( _)
That one line shattered the sense of distance Kugui Machi had just started to feel
in an instant.
Who the heck praised themselves like that?
Even if it was true, it was still weird, right?
She couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle softly.
Just then, the three from the other roomSora Ginko and the others
also stepped out after hearing the noise outside.
When they saw a small group of little girls, they all froze for a moment.
Yukima Azuma quickly explained the situation.
Sora Ginko didn't have any particular reaction.
She had interacted with Kugui Machi before.
After all, in the shogi world, there were only so many female players at the very top.
As for the little girls
Sora Ginko simply acted as if they didn't exist.
But the little girls were staring intently at Sora Ginko.
"Excuse me, are you Sora-sama!?"
"Wow! It's really Snow White!"
"Please shake my hand!"
"Me too! I want to shake hands too!"
Surrounded by the excited little girls, Sora Ginko was momentarily flustered.
Yukima Azuma, watching from the side, chuckled softly.
Senpai being all flustered O'kawaii koto.
()
Meanwhile, Kiyotaki Keika watched the scene in deep thought.
Most of her peers had already gotten married by now.
Some even had kids in their arms.
Every now and then, while scrolling through Twitter, she'd see her middle school or high school classmates posting pictures of their children.
And here she was, still dedicating herself to the life of a female shogi player.
Forget having kidsmarriage
She hadn't even dated before.
Ah this suddenly makes me feel old.
As if the pain of talent wasn't enough, now she had another jab to the heart!
(ЇЇ)
"Keika-nee, are you feeling unwell?"
"Azuma-kun, you wouldn't understand."
Yukima Azuma blinked in confusion.
( ®® ) ?
What do you mean, I wouldn't understand?
...
After having breakfast at Hinatsuru Ryokan
the group got into the Hinatsuru family's car and set off for Osaka.
Upon arrival
they checked their luggage into the hotel and then went out together to visit the famous attractions nearby.
Osaka was a city with a strong shogi atmosphere.
There were historical landmarks tied to shogi, ancient shogi halls where legendary matches had been played.
Modern dojos were also far more numerous than in other cities.
Yukima Azuma led a group of young girls and teenagers, enjoying the day to the fullest.
It wasn't until sunset
that they finally returned to the hotel.
As soon as he stepped into his room, before he even had the chance to take off his coat
a knock sounded at his door.
He opened it.
The person standing there was his Tsundere-senpai.
"Ginko-senpai, is something wrong?" Yukima Azuma blinked.
For Sora Ginko to come find him out of the blue, there had to be a reason.
Besides, she had barely spoken all day.
Yukima Azuma had assumed she was just uncomfortable around strangers.
But now, it seemed that wasn't the case.
"Play a match." Sora Ginko said, pulling out a seven-inch shogi board from behind her.
From childhood to now, the number of times Yukima Azuma and Sora Ginko had played against each other was too many to count.
Over the years, the exact number had become impossible to verify.
It could only be said that, out of the first seven levels of Yukima Azuma's shogi skills
six and a half of them were built up thanks to Sora Ginko.
However, ever since Yukima Azuma returned to competitive play
Sora Ginko had played against him far less frequently.
It wasn't that Yukima Azuma didn't want to; it was that Sora Ginko didn't want to.
Yukima Azuma suspected that his small senpai had already realized the gap in their skills.
Until she could close that gap, she probably didn't want to face him again.
But today, something was different.
"Senpai, are you worried about this tournament?"
Of course, Yukima Azuma knew why she was here.
His senpai was full of pride.
As the reigning Queen, her expectation for the upcoming tournament was undoubtedly to take the championship.
Saying she felt no pressure would be a lie.
Sora Ginko was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.
She had nothing to hide in front of Yukima Azuma.
She didn't want to lose the Queen title.
If she lost in a women's tournament, it would only prove that the gap between her and him was growing wider.
Yukima Azuma said nothing more.
He reached out and pulled Sora Ginko straight into his room.
And casually shut the door behind her.
--------------------------------------------
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Chapter 218: Ginko, Stay Here Tonight!
Being pulled into the room by Yukima Azuma.
Sora Ginko was a little startled.
( ®®) !!
But she quickly calmed down.
They had grown up together since childhood.
A scene like thisjust the two of them, one man and one woman, alone in a roomhad happened countless times.
If anything were really going to happen, it would have happened long ago.
This idiot is basically just a block of wood.
But... recently, he seems to have gained a little awareness.
Placing the shogi board on the tatami, Sora Ginko sat down on one side.
However, Yukima Azuma didn't sit across from her.
Instead, he sat right next to her.
Sora Ginko looked at Yukima Azuma in confusion.
"Not going to play shogi with me?"
"We've played no less than ten thousand matches since we were kids, missing one won't matter." Yukima Azuma shook his head.
Hearing that, Sora Ginko pouted.
( )
Of course, she understood this, but she just wanted to find a little sense of security.
This time, obtaining the Queen title wouldn't be easy.
Not to mention the other strong players.
Even those around herSainokami Ika wasn't an opponent to be taken lightly.
And then there was Hinatsuru Ai.
Normally, Sora Ginko had always crushed Hinatsuru Ai.
But that girl had immense talent, and Sora Ginko couldn't help but worry.
Now, she had come to play shogi with Yukima Azuma, only to be refused.
Sora Ginko felt a little annoyed, even suspecting that Yukima Azuma was favoring his disciple.
Seeing the adorable pout on his sister-senpai's face,
Yukima Azuma couldn't resist and reached out to poke Sora Ginko's cheek.
()/(*'' )
Sora Ginko immediately glared at Yukima Azuma with a terrifying look.
( _ )
When they were younger, this trick had worked very well on Yukima Azuma.
Back then, Yukima Azuma didn't understand Sora Ginko's feelings and was afraid she'd actually get mad at him.
He would obediently apologize.
But now, Yukima Azuma wasn't scared at all.
He even extended another finger and pinched her cheek.
()( )
Seeing that her threatening glare had no effect, Sora Ginko felt a little helpless.
She couldn't actually beat up Yukima Azuma just because he pinched her cheek.
And then, just one sentence from Yukima Azuma truly made Sora Ginko furious.
"Ginko-senpai has put on some weight."
What girl could tolerate being told she's gained weight?
Sora Ginko gritted her teeth, nearly biting Yukima Azuma's finger.
( ) !!!
"When you were little, Ginko-senpai was too skinny. It's a good thing you've grown up healthy now."
Yukima Azuma said, his tone carrying a hint of nostalgia.
Hearing that, Sora Ginko immediately deflated.
When she was little, due to a severe heart condition, she had been extremely thin and small.
She had even been hospitalized for a long time.
Back then, Yukima Azuma visited her every single day.
The hospital food was bland and tasteless.
Every day, she had to mix in a lot of sauce just to eat it.
After finding out about this, Yukima Azuma brought her a little bit of tasty but relatively healthy snacks every day.
It was during that time that Sora Ginko gradually fell for Yukima Azuma.
Otherwise, even if they had grown up under the same master,
Sora Ginko wouldn't have been infatuated with Yukima Azuma from the start.
Her fingers lightly touched the crown bracelet on her wrist.
Sora Ginko unconsciously smiled with happiness.
( )
After smiling, she realized that the worries in her heart had significantly lessened.
Looking at Yukima Azuma, she wondered if he had been doing all this to help her relieve psychological pressure.
Thinking about it, Sora Ginko suddenly felt a little jealous.
He's really good at this.
She wasn't always by Yukima Azuma's side.
It was rare for her to have the chance to talk with him like this.
"Do you usually comfort your disciple like this too?" Ginko glared at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma shook his head. "Ai is always full of energy."
"Oh, that's true. That little girl went straight to your house to become your disciple at such a young age."
"Ginko-senpai has no right to talk about others. You were even more domineering!"
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma almost couldn't hold back his laughter.
At the very least, Hinatsuru Ai had already entered elementary school when she sought out a master.
But Sora Ginko
The achievements of this little senpai were truly astonishing.
At two years old, Sora Ginko had already memorized all the rules of shogi.
At four years old, she lost a teaching match against Kiyotaki Kousuke.
And so, that four-year-old girl went online to look up Kiyotaki Kousuke's home address.
She bought a train ticket on her own and traveled to her master's house to seek revenge.
She even left behind a legendary talebecause she couldn't reach the ticket machine, the station staff had to place a small platform in front of it just so she could buy her ticket.
Even more domineering than Hinatsuru Ai.
No wonder, despite being so young, Yukima Azuma had already taken a master.
And yet, Sora Ginko, who was even younger than him, had somehow entered the school before him and become his senpai.
Being teased by Yukima Azuma,
Sora Ginko felt a little embarrassed and unconsciously fiddled with the hem of her skirt.
(>/////<)
The younger Sora Ginko had been extremely proud.
Losing a match to her master left her seventy percent unwilling and eighty percent frustrated.
She spent all day thinking about how to take revenge.
Later, when her parents found out, that was when the matter of taking a master was decided.
But looking back
Being able to become a disciple had truly been a stroke of luck.
Otherwise, she never would have met Yukima Azuma.
After a brief moment of awkwardness,
Sora Ginko took a deep breath.
All the tension had disappeared.
She lifted her head to look at Yukima Azuma.
"Will I win?"
It was a strange question because, unless there was a massive gap in skill, the outcome of a match was always uncertain, full of countless variables.
But at this moment, Sora Ginko asked not for an actual answer
She simply wanted Yukima Azuma's affirmation.
"Of course you'll win. Sora Ginko is the most incredible genius I've ever met."
Yukima Azuma responded without hesitation.
"What about that little brat?"
"It'll take Ai a few more years to catch up to you."
"Are you just trying to make me happy?"
"I mean it. I don't know what senpai is so worried about. You're the one the entire women's shogi world places their hopes on."
Sora Ginko was instantly convinced.
That's rightshe had to win.
Not just for her own pride and ambition.
But for all those who had placed their hopes in her.
Women's shogi was in decline; no one had ever made it to professional status.
The highest rank achieved was only 2-dan in the shoureikai.
Which was the very rank she held now.
She absolutely couldn't stop here.
She had to keep moving forward.
Until she reached 3-dan in the shoureikai.
And eventually, even professional 4-dan.
At the very least, until she became a professional 4-dan, she wouldn't allow herself to fail.
Umu, she would win.
( )_
...
Standing up,
Sora Ginko prepared to return to her room.
Her mind was now completely steady.
In the upcoming match, she had to walk the path to victory in peak form.
"Now that you've sorted everything out, you're just leaving? Senpai, you're so heartless!"
Yukima Azuma gently tugged at Sora Ginko's sleeve.
Hearing that, Sora Ginko's fair face immediately flushed red.
She suddenly remembered something from a few days ago
She had taken the initiative to kiss this boy on the cheek.
At that time, it was because Yukima Azuma had given her the crown bracelet.
And now,
he had helped her untangle the knots in her heart.
It felt like she should give him something in return, right?
But last time, she had already kissed his cheek.
So this time, did that mean she had to?
"Ginko-senpai, how about not going back to your room tonight and staying here instead?"
Yukima Azuma spoke softly.
Sora Ginko: ( ®®) !!!!!
This was skipping way too many steps?!
Lifting her foot.
Her fair-skinned foot, clad only in white socks, kicked straight at Yukima Azuma.
"Hentai, death sentence, dieee!"
( Д )*
Yukima Azuma was stunned as he was stomped on.
( ®® ) ?
How did this suddenly escalate to a death sentence?!
But then he noticed that even the tips of Sora Ginko's ears had turned bright red.
Recalling his own words,
Yukima Azuma immediately came to a realization.
Your Honor, Jesus Christ in heaven, I've been wronged!
(ЇЇ)
He had merely wanted a lap pillow to sleep onpurely and innocently!
After all, his sister-senpai was still just a middle school student.
It wasn't like he was some kind of perverted freak. No matter what, he wouldn't lay hands on a middle schooler!
"Even if it's a little greedy, is a lap pillow really too much to ask?"
(ЇЇ)
Yukima Azuma feigned innocence, pretending not to have guessed Sora Ginko's thoughts.
Deliberately giving her a way to back out of the situation.
Otherwise, this senpai would surely die of embarrassment today.
Hearing that it was just a lap pillow, Sora Ginko froze for a moment.
Then, she suddenly realized how overly embarrassed she had been just now, wishing she could find a crack in the tatami to crawl into.
( Д )
Thankfully, she hadn't said anything too revealing earlier.
Honestly, if there had been no misunderstanding and Yukima Azuma had just outright asked for a lap pillow,
Sora Ginko would have hesitated for a long time.
After all, giving a lap pillow was pretty embarrassing.
But now, compared to what she had been thinking earlier, a lap pillow was nothing at all.
Feeling a little guilty, she avoided his gaze.
Sora Ginko quietly retracted her small foot.
"This this time is an exception."
(,,,,)
On the bed.
Sora Ginko sat properly, gently tugging at the hem of her skirt.
Between her over-the-knee white socks and the pleated skirt of her sailor uniform,
a strip of fair, unblemished skin was revealeda "Zettai Ryoiki" that could shake one's heart.
Yukima Azuma rested his head down.
Awawa~, was this the paradise that DIO had always longed for?
The sensation of touching the smooth white socks.
But the girl's skin was even softer than the fabric.
At first, Sora Ginko was so embarrassed that her whole body stiffened.
But after a while, once she got used to it, she realized it wasn't that big of a deal.
Her slender fingers unconsciously rested on Yukima Azuma's tousled hair.
She suddenly felt a bit like a gentle mother, softly stroking the boy's head.
Sora Ginko's mind drifted to the past.
Yukima Azuma's words today reminded her of many things.
Back when they were kids, this boy was like a stubborn block of wood, completely oblivious to her feelings.
Sora Ginko had thought her affections were obvious enough.
Thankfully, he had finally started to understand now.
But if only he had figured it out a few years earlier, how great that would have been.
Thinking of this, Sora Ginko suddenly remembered Kasumigaoka Utaha.
A block of wood like him and yet, in the end, he was seduced by that fat cow.
She was the one who got there first!
It should've been me, not her!
ЊЌ‹Ќ
Remembering this, Sora Ginko grew irritated and reached out to pinch Yukima Azuma's cheek.
"Uwa, senpai, it hurts!"
( )
"No, senpai doesn't hurt."
( )
"Senpai, I'M the one who's hurting!"
Seeing Yukima Azuma still being so cheeky, Sora Ginko couldn't help but laugh.
Then, she leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the boy's cheek.
"Does it still hurt?"
"Not at all! Senpai, please pinch me two more times!"
Yukima Azuma immediately threw all his dignity out the window.
(Note: Sweet chapter)
Chapter 219: Let Keika Onee-san Take Azuma-chan's First Time!
"Shishou, why did Oba-san come out of your room?"
(o_O)
Hinatsuru Ai blinked her big eyes, curiously asking Yukima Azuma.
This morning, Sora Ginko had walked out of Yukima Azuma's room.
The little girl had just opened her own door when she witnessed this scene.
Little Ai truly had an Anti-NTR radar.
Hearing this, Sora Ginko felt a little guilty and turned her face away.
(,,,,)
Even though the two of them hadn't done anything beyond limits last night.
The most they had done was a lap pillow and a kiss on the cheek.
But even just "sleeping while holding hands" was still quite embarrassing.
"Senpai just came to wake Shishou up this morning."
Yukima Azuma lied as easily as breathing.
Hearing this, Hinatsuru Ai nodded as if she understood.
"Then from now on, I'll also come to wake Shishou up!"
Osaka Shogi Association, Mynavi Women's Tournament, First Official Round
The girls on Yukima Azuma's team achieved a sweeping victory.
Sora Ginko, Hinatsuru Ai, Sainokami Ika, and Kiyotaki Keika all won their first matches.
Among them, the most significant victory was Kiyotaki Keika's.
With this match, she had officially become a professional female shogi player.
She was just one year away from the "age 26 limit."
She had finally made it.
A moment worth celebrating, indeed.
After the first round concluded, everyone organized a celebratory party for Kiyotaki Keika in Osaka.
Overjoyed, Kiyotaki Keika bought some sake to drink during the party.
Speaking of which, Yukima Azuma's and everyone's masterKiyotaki Kousukewas a hardcore alcoholic.
As his daughter, Kiyotaki Keika had inherited at least some of his love for drinking.
At 25 years old, she occasionally had a few drinks.
Especially when she was feeling down.
For example, when she lost too many matches.
Or when she felt the sting of talent disparity, getting painfully reminded of it by her Otouto-kouhai, Imouto-kouhai, and even niece-kouhai.
Or when she was still a single 25-year-old woman while Sora Ginko and Yukima Azuma kept shamelessly showing off their "dog food" moments.
( ) !!!
At times like these, Keika wanted to drink.
And her alcohol tolerance was terrible!
At the evening banquet.
Kiyotaki Keika kept drinking and drinking, and soon, something about her seemed off.
Sora Ginko and the others didn't notice.
But sitting right next to her on the left, Yukima Azuma keenly picked up on her slightly swaying bodyshe didn't look okay at all.
"Keika-nee, are you drunk? Should I get you some hangover medicine?"
Yukima Azuma lightly patted Kiyotaki Keika's shoulder and asked softly.
But what he didn't expect was
Keika didn't respond. Instead, she suddenly leaned her entire body against him.
Yukima Azuma quickly reached out to support her, catching Keika in his arms.
"Azuma-chan so hot I'm burning up!"
(///// " )
Hearing Keika murmur that, Yukima Azuma felt that something was very wrong.
But before he could say anything or help Keika sit up properly
She suddenly twisted around and pinned him down!
"Then, can onee-san hug Azuma-chan to cool off this heat?"
( ®®) ()
"Keika-nee, you're drunk. I'll get you some tea"
"I'm not drunk! Let me take Azuma-chan's first time!"
( )(`)
At this moment, the surrounding girls finally noticed what was happening.
Sora Ginko had been sitting on Yukima Azuma's other side.
She immediately stood up and rushed over to help.
Hinatsuru Ai also darted over from the opposite side.
The two girls, one older and one younger, worked together to pull Keika away.
Yukima Azuma let out a sigh of relief.
Holy Sheet!
For a moment there, he thought his entire life had just flashed before his eyes.
Were all older single women this terrifying?
The last time something like this happened it was Yukinoshita Haruno, wasn't it?
And back then, no one had come to help him.
As a result, he really did end up getting taken advantage of by that woman.
Thinking about this, Yukima Azuma suddenly remembered Yukinoshita Haruno.
The image of a girl panting from a long-distance run seemed to appear before his eyes.
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
Why was he even thinking about that wicked woman?
If conquering someone was as simple as waiting at their house every day, then there wouldn't be any clowns left in this world.
The next morning.
Kiyotaki Keika groggily sat up.
( ` )
Her head was still slightly aching.
The aftereffects of the hangover were truly unpleasant.
Luckily, Yukima Azuma always had hangover medicine on hand.
After Keika was dragged away last night, Yukima Azuma had Sora Ginko give her some medicine.
So now, while she still felt uncomfortable, at least it wasn't a skull-splitting headache.
Sitting up, Keika couldn't even remember how she got back to her room.
Come to think of it, after drinking last night what exactly did I do?
( -)?
As she searched her memory, Kiyotaki Keika's expression gradually changed.
The heat on her cheeks rose accordingly.
"What the hell did I do?!"
(®®)
Kiyotaki Keika buried her face into a pillow.
What kind of insane things had she said to that kouhai who was ten years younger than her?!
Sorry, Dad. Sorry, Tenno. Sorry, Amaterasu. Sorry, society.
Keika was nothing more than a shameless pervert!!
(ЇЇ)
The trip to Osakaaside from the earth-shattering embarrassmentcould be considered a success.
The second round of the tournament would take place in Kanagawa.
The group set off early and took the chance to explore Kanagawa a bit.
Afterward, they focused on preparing for the next match.
By the fourth round.
Having resolved her inner struggles, Kiyotaki Keika's strength exploded.
But there were limits. In the end, she still stopped at this stage.
Though she couldn't become a Potential Woman like Kawaii Kenichi
For Kiyotaki Keika
This was an achievement she had never dared to dream of.
She had joined the research club since childhood.
Yet, after more than ten years, she had still been unable to become a professional female shogi player.
But this time, she not only passed the qualification rounds and officially became a female shogi player
She even climbed another rank on the leaderboard thanks to her tournament results, reaching B2.
If she continued to work hard, she had a real chance of advancing further and stepping into Shoureikai.
Round six of the main tournament.
Sora Ginko faced off against Sainokami Ika.
In their private matches, their win-loss ratio was about equal.
But this time, Sora Ginko's momentum was clearly overwhelming.
They didn't even need to extend the match to the seventh game.
Sainokami Ika lost 1-4, getting eliminated from the tournament by Sora Ginko.
Suffering a heavy defeat, Sainokami Ika gloomily went looking for Yukima Azuma.
She suspected that Yukima Azuma had been secretly coaching Sora Ginko.
So she clung to Yukima Azuma, demanding to play shogi and get some extra training.
The result? After just three matches with Yukima Azuma
Sainokami Ika grabbed the entire shogi set and threw it into the box.
What the hell was the point of playing anymore?!
Unless it was a guided match, she couldn't see any chance of winning at all.
It was simply too cruel!
( ) !!!
Round nine.
Also the finals of the Mynavi Women's Tournament.
The group returned to Tokyo.
And the two contenders for the Queen title were somewhat ironic
It was Sora Ginko vs. Hinatsuru Ai.
Niece vs. Aunt.
After returning to Tokyo
Kiyotaki Keika waved her hand, calling Yukima Azuma over.
"Keika-nee, what's up?"
Yukima Azuma asked curiously.
Kiyotaki Keika's face was slightly flushed.
Although the drunken incident had passed nearly a month ago
She still felt a little embarrassed when facing this young boy.
However, she quickly brushed aside that feeling and seriously instructed:
"You, for the next few days, stay obediently by my side. No causing trouble."
"If you want to take care of both sides, you need to know how to balance things, understand?"
"Otherwise, you'll be in big trouble."
Upon hearing this, the corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
()
Why did senpai's tone sound like she was teaching him how to manage a harem?
But even without Kiyotaki Keika saying it, he understood this on his own.
At this crucial moment, there was no way he would be going back and forth between senpai and his disciple.
And he definitely couldn't favor one side over the other.
Otherwise, a Shurafield would undoubtedly occur.
After returning to Tokyo.
Hinatsuru Ai and Sora Ginko both locked themselves away for intense shogi training, studying match records.
Two days later, the Queen Title Match Final officially began.
Yukima Azuma and Kugui Machi once again took on the role of commentators.
If Yukima Azuma's co-host had been someone else this time
There was a good chance they would have asked an awkward question:
"Who are you rooting for?"
After all, one was his disciple.
The other was his senpai.
But having accompanied Yukima Azuma throughout this journey
Kugui Machi had, to some extent, become friends with them.
She understood the deep bond between Yukima Azuma, Sora Ginko, and Hinatsuru Ai.
So of course, she wouldn't ask such a mood-killing question.
However, while things at the commentary table were uneventful
On the shogi board, things were anything but peaceful.
Seated at the 7-tatami shogi table, Sora Ginko gently touched the jade crown bracelet on her wrist.
A sense of reassurance welled up inside her.
It felt as if Yukima Azuma was right beside her.
A faint smile unknowingly appeared on Sora Ginko's lips.
But when she looked up
She saw Hinatsuru Ai slowly unfolding a folding fan.
The frame was made from precious wood, and the fan paper was no ordinary washi.
But those details didn't matter.
After steadying her emotions, Hinatsuru Ai, as if wanting to show off, flipped the fan around.
Two powerful, bold characters were written on it:
"Jing Hong".
There was no need to check the signature in the lower-right cornerjust by looking at the brush strokes
Sora Ginko immediately knewthis was Yukima Azuma's handwriting.
The moment she saw the fan
Sora Ginko instantly felt jealous.
She glared directly at the camera.
( _ )
She knew Yukima Azuma was watching.
[Live Chat Comments:]
[Whoa, that glare is terrifying! You can feel the killing intent!]
[So this is the Snow White of Naniwa? What a powerful aura!]
[Snow White-sama!!! Please use those white legs wrapped in black tights and STEP ON ME!!!!! (Lalatina Oujou-sama Panting.gif)]
[Curse Chef: Darkness-kun, wrong fanfic! Go back to Fate: Livestream in Chaldeas!]
[Bro above, why does that sound like a product placement ad?]
[(>) Ehe!]
[Ehe tte nanda yo!]
[Why do I get the feeling that glare was out of jealousy?]
[The comment above is right! That fan seems to have Ryuuou's signature on it!]
[Popcorn, popcorn! Place your orders now and get ready to witness Ryuuou's Harem War unfold, fellow single brothers!]
Kugui Machi glanced at the live chat comments and couldn't help but chuckle as she turned to look at Yukima Azuma.
The young boy could only sigh helplessly.
"As expected, the most unpredictable things in this world
Aren't just autumn weather or government affairs
But also the hearts of young maidens."
--------------------------------------------
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After the match.
In the room, Hinatsuru Ai buried her head into the blanket.
Like a little ostrich.
She looked as if she was curling up into herself.
( -)
On the other hand.
Sora Ginko crossed her arms in front of her chest.
She had a completely triumphant look.
( )
Her usually cold and beautiful face now carried a satisfied smile.
Who won and who lost was clear at a glance.
Even though Hinatsuru Ai possessed astonishing talent,
her time studying shogi was still too short.
Meanwhile, Sora Ginko had been exposed to shogi since she was two years old.
The gap between them was inevitable.
In the end, the match concluded with Sora Ginko successfully defending her Queen title.
"Congratulations, Senpai. You're now a Triple Crown."
( - )
Yukima Azuma looked at the two girlsone older, one youngerand found it amusing, but he still seriously offered his congratulations.
Sora Ginko was still in middle school.
Yet she already held three titles: two Queen titles and one Women's Throne.
In the world of women's shogi, she was a true young prodigy.
It couldn't be said that no one would ever match her in the future, but at least, no one had ever done so before.
If she continued at this pace, she might achieve the title of Queen Eternal before graduating high school.
By then, she would likely become the undisputed top player in women's shogi.
Facing Yukima Azuma's congratulations, Sora Ginko only gave a soft "Mm."
Beyond the joy of winning the championship,
she was thinking about something else.
"Ginko-senpai, are you thinking about something?"
Yukima Azuma noticed that Sora Ginko seemed a little distracted.
Caught off guard, Sora Ginko immediately waved her hand.
"Of course not. Geez, just go comfort your little brat."
(`)o
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma became even more suspicious.
Senpai being this generous was truly rare.
Sora Ginko was indeed thinking about something elsesomething related to Yukima Azuma.
Winning the Queen title this time held great significance for her.
Even more than the previous two titles.
After all, maintaining one's position at the top was much harder than having nothing to lose.
And after defending her title this time
whether it was because of the crown bracelet on her wrist,
or the conversation that unexpectedly triggered memories that night,
or perhaps the bitterness that rose in her heart when she saw Keika-nee drunk and out of control
in the end, Sora Ginko had come to truly realize just how important Yukima Azuma was to her.
She might have always known deep down, but she had deliberately ignored it.
After all, back when she pursued Yukima Azuma, he was nothing more than a block of wood.
And later, when that block of wood finally wised up, other girls had already swooped in ahead of her.
This proud Snow White couldn't just toss aside her pride and chase after someone immediately.
But now that she had come to terms with it,
Sora Ginko had made up her mind.
She could no longer deceive herself.
She, Sora Ginko, would take the initiative to pursue Yukima Azuma!
()
...
Yukima Azuma had no idea what Sora Ginko was thinking.
After a moment of suspicion, he decided to go to Hinatsuru Ai, who was still hiding like an ostrich.
He pulled her out from the blanket and gently patted her head.
( )(._.`)
"Uwaa! Shishou!"
."®()®".
As soon as he patted her head, she burst into tears and threw herself into Yukima Azuma's arms.
Even though she rarely won against Sora Ginko in shogi matches,
this was still her first time participating in an official tournament.
Just like she had said when she made it through the qualifiers
she wanted to keep winning forever.
Losing in the finals was a huge shock for her.
Yukima Azuma adjusted the drooping ahoge on Hinatsuru Ai's head and gently stroked her long, soft hair.
"Losing a match and feeling sad is normal, but don't dwell too much on failure."
"Failure is always a part of life. That is life itself."
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words,
Hinatsuru Ai lifted her tear-streaked face, looking at him with glistening eyes, like a pear blossom in the rain.
"Shishou, have you ever lost before?"
()
Yukima Azuma shrugged.
"Of course. I've lost to Meijin beforeand lost terribly."
"In fact, even now, I've never won against Meijin."
Hearing that, Hinatsuru Ai sniffled.
"Then, Shishou, let's work hard together."
As she spoke, she raised her small hand and extended her pinky.
( )
Yukima Azuma nodded and hooked his pinky with hers.
After their pinky promise, Hinatsuru Ai's mood quickly improved.
Aside from the tear stains on her face and her slightly choked breath,
she looked as if she had never cried at all.
Her ahoge sprang back to life with energy.
A child's sorrow comes quickly, but it also fades just as fast.
Yukima Azuma took her to the bathroom.
Helped her wash her face.
Then dried her face with a towel.
And just like that, she looked as fresh as new.
( )
The Mynavi Women's Tournament officially came to an end.
According to tradition, Yukima Azuma, Sora Ginko, Hinatsuru Ai, and Kiyotaki Keika had to return to the Kiyotaki household.
After all, all of them were considered disciples of the Kiyotaki school.
They needed to report the results of the tournament to their master, who was also their grandmaster.
And they had to have a meal at the Kiyotaki household.
So, this tournament journey was coming to a close.
They bid farewell to Kugui Machi and the three other girls.
Though the time wasn't long,
throughout this journey
not to mention anyone else
Hinatsuru Ai, when parting with Sadatou Ayano and the others,
almost burst into tears again.
Fortunately, these girls were now members of the research club.
They would still have chances to meet during the holidays.
Besides, spring break wasn't far off.
From Tokyo to Chiba.
Kiyotaki Keika sat in the front, glancing at the rearview mirror.
Sora Ginko, harboring impure thoughts, looked absent-minded.
Yukima Azuma seemed distracted, lost in thought.
Hinatsuru Ai was still a little down about parting with her friends.
To liven up the atmosphere, Kiyotaki Keika spoke up:
"Alright, why does everyone look so gloomy?"
"When spring break comes, let's go to Hawaii!"
The fastest to react was Hinatsuru Ai.
She immediately raised her hand. "Yatta!"
)
Sora Ginko also nodded.
Though she wasn't particularly fond of the beach.
Too much sun.
Whenever she went out in the summer, she always carried a sun umbrella.
But as long as she could go with Yukima Azuma, that was enough.
As for Yukima Azuma, upon hearing that, he found it a little odd.
"Why Hawaii?"
For spring break, there should be plenty of better vacation spots.
At that,
Kiyotaki Keika's expression suddenly twisted a bit.
"No matter what, I have to go to Hawaii at least once."
"Listen, let me tell you something. Not long ago, a high school friend of mine went on a trip to Hawaii with her boyfriend."
"She sent me a few vacation photos and even added a message: 'Keika, you really love shogi, huh'"
"'Since shogi is a Japanese game, you probably won't ever go abroad, huh? That's a shame.' It was something like that!"
"So, if I'm going to travel, no matter what, I have to go to Hawaii!"
( )
The resentment of an aging single woman was about to overflow.
Yukima Azuma, Sora Ginko, and Hinatsuru Ai all silently lowered their heads.
In this situation, no matter what they said, it would probably be wrong.
Better to avoid trouble altogether.
"When the time comes, let onee-chan treat everyone! After all, I have plenty of money!"
Kiyotaki Keika spoke enthusiastically.
She even pulled out a black card from her pocket.
Yukima Azuma glanced at it and couldn't help but blink.
So Keika-nee was actually a rich lady?
That black card required a pretty high balance.
"I think that's actually Shishou's card."
Sora Ginko whispered in Yukima Azuma's ear.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma immediately understood.
That explained everything.
Kiyotaki Kousuke was a veteran 9-dan professional shogi player.
In his youth, he had won quite a bit in tournament prizes.
Even though he had retired,
he could still earn money by analyzing matches and teaching shogi.
And each job paid quite well.
Having savings was only natural.
But to think that old man spoiled his daughter this much...
The car soon pulled up in front of the Kiyotaki household.
Everyone got out.
Before they even had a chance to knock, Kiyotaki Kousuke proactively opened the door and stepped out.
Before anyone could say a word,
the old man spoke first:
"Keika, um have you seen Dad's card? I suddenly can't find it anywhere."
Hearing that, the three younger ones silently watched the drama unfold, unfortunately without any popcorn.
"It's with me," Kiyotaki Keika replied bluntly.
Upon hearing that, Kiyotaki Kousuke immediately put on a smile.
"Oh, is that so? Well then Keika, could you give it back to Dad? I need to use it for something."
Kiyotaki Keika decisively shook her head. "Nope. Even if I give it back, you'll just spend it on gacha games to pull anime girls, won't you?"
A man in his fifties, getting exposed by his own daughter on the spot.
He immediately flinched.
( ®®) !!
"What do you mean, anime girls? Those are very important character cards!"
Kiyotaki Keika crossed her arms and placed her hands on her hips.
"Rather than wasting money on gacha, wouldn't it be better to spend it on your own daughter?"
"Nooo! I need to pull Black Cat's limited SSR!" The old man threw away his dignity.
( )
Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
He never expected his Shishou to have such a hobby.
Then again, anime games were huge in Japan now.
Maybe Laplace Corporation should start a gaming division?
It felt like otaku money was way too easy to make.
The more Yukima Azuma thought about it, the more sense it made.
Just draw beautiful waifus, make the protagonist an overpowered savior, write an all-encompassing power fantasy storyline, and fill the game with girls waiting to be rescued.
The otaku would definitely throw their money at it.
Yukima Azuma: I really am a genius!
( _)
At the Sawamura residence.
Eriri and Sayuri sneezed simultaneously.
"What's going on? Why do I feel like someone's talking about me behind my back?"
(®® )
Eriri, a longtime otaku, was instantly on guard.
"Probably just someone talking about otaku again."
Sayuri waved her hand nonchalantly.
As a veteran otaku, she was already used to this
Chapter 221: The Gentle Touch of a Maiden's Foot
"I'm home!"
( ).
After more than a month away, Yukima Azuma returned to the Yukima house, calling out his usual greeting.
"Welcome home." 6
(*)*.
Since it was the weekend and everyone knew he would be back, all the girls in the estate had gathered.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, Kato Megumi, and Eriri being here was expected.
Kirisu Mafuyu was also at home.
Yukinoshita Yukino had even taken the day off.
But besides the five who normally lived in the Yukima house
Yukima Azuma stared in confusion at the short-haired beauty standing beside them.
(" v ") ?
Wait, why she here?
As for Yukinoshita Haruno, the woman Yukima Azuma was staring at
Rather than feeling awkward, she even winked at him.
Wink! Wink!
( - )
"Azuma-kun, this is my older sister. You've met her beforeYukinoshita Haruno," Yukino introduced.
Even she wasn't sure why her sister had suddenly shown up today.
Though she wanted to chase her away, considering the current relationship between Laplace Corporation and the Yukinoshita family wasn't too tense, Yukino ultimately let Haruno stay.
She assumed her sister was here to discuss business with Yukima Azuma.
The girls in the house had no idea that Yukima Azuma and Haruno already knew each other.
Let alone the complicated past between them.
And since Haruno was Yukino's blood-related sister, none of them were particularly wary of her.
After all, they had some understanding of Yukino's feelings.
And who would ever suspect that
A mature, composed Haruno would have her eyes on the person her little sister liked?
Haruno: ()
Watching Haruno continuously winking, Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
But he said nothing.
It wasn't the right time to reveal their relationship in front of everyone.
...
After putting away his luggage, Yukima Azuma began chatting with the girls.
He deliberately ignored Haruno.
And Haruno, for her part, remained silent.
She really played the role of a big sister visiting her younger sibling.
"Winter Comiket is coming up soon. Don't you think our club has been on hiatus for too long?"
Eriri brought up the club.
After White Album's huge success, the team had been busy dealing with leftover work from the project.
Now, though
The final volume of The Metronome in Love, written by Kasumigaoka Utaha, had been published.
Marking the completion of the first chapter in her writing career.
She had some preliminary ideas for her next work, but there was no rush.
Eriri had finished all her commissions and artbooks.
And Yukima Azuma refused to let her illustrate his light novel, which irritated her.
Now, Eriri really wanted to work with Yukima Azuma again.
As for Yukima Azuma, he had been relatively free lately.
"Umu, now that I think about it, you're right. Let's make White Album 2."
"Actually, I finished writing the project plan a long time ago."
As he spoke, Yukima Azuma retrieved his laptop from his room.
White Album 2 already existed in his memories.
With his Level 7 literature skills as a foundation, writing a project plan hadn't taken much time.
He had completed it a while ago.
The moment Eriri heard that the plan was done
She couldn't wait and immediately snatched the laptop from his hands.
"Why so hasty? Even if you look at the project plan, you still have to wait for me to write the script."
Utaha teased from the side.
She, the one specializing in writing scripts, should obviously get to see it first.
"Tsk, Azuma's plan has such high visual detail, it feels like there's no need for someone to write a script at all."
Eriri pouted.
The two started arguing again.
(* -`)(- `*)
Yukima Azuma chuckled.
He was used to it.
When these two were together, it would be strange if they didn't argue.
Just as Yukima Azuma was comfortably sitting back and enjoying the conversation
He suddenly felt something soft and gentle brushing against his calf.
It was clearly intentional teasing.
The tickling sensation made Yukima Azuma freeze slightly.
Alright, who's got the guts?
(_ )
Daring to "molest" him in front of so many people?
But very quickly, he recalled the misunderstanding with Megumi last time.
"Shiratamaru?"
Yukima Azuma called out.
In response, from the other side of the sofa, Shiratamaru poked its head out.
/- -
Its heterochromatic eyesone golden, one light bluereflected a puzzled look.
Hmm, it's been a while. Lately, Shiratamaru seemed to have gained weight again.
It was on its way to becoming a tank.
Looks like a diet is needed.
Yukima Azuma's thoughts wandered for a moment, but he was soon pulled back by the persistent sensation at his leg.
This wasn't the time to be thinking about that.
If it wasn't Shiratamaru...
Could it be Hogyo
Before he could finish the thought
Next to Shiratamaru, Hogyokumaru also poked its head out.
/ > <
Yukima Azuma immediately dismissed his previous guess.
Alright, this was definitely a girl's foot.
So, whose was it?
Yukima Azuma's gaze subtly swept across the girls sitting around the table.
( )
Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha were deeply engrossed in their debate.
Those two definitely wouldn't be able to multitask, as verbal sparring required full concentration.
Yukino?
His Snowball at home wouldn't have the courage to make such a bold move.
Even with the "22-year-old single woman" buff, it wouldn't go this far.
Yukima Azuma glanced at Kato Megumi.
Could it be Megumi?
Sensing his gaze, Kato Megumi tilted her head slightly, meeting his eyes.
(`)
Their eyes locked.
Yukima Azuma smiled meaningfully.
( ® ®)
Megumi-chan, naughty, naughty, hehe.
As if she could read Yukima Azuma's thoughts, Kato Megumi tilted her head again.
Her brown eyes carried a faint trace of confusion.
( -)?
Naughty where?
Seeing Kato Megumi's adorable expression
After a brief private chat in the group, Yukima Azuma realized
He was wrong.
So it wasn't Kato Megumi.
Then who could it be?
As a side note, Kirisu Mafuyu had already gone back to her room.
Yukima Azuma placed both hands on the table and subtly moved his fingers.
He gently nudged a pen off the table.
Taking advantage of the moment, Yukima Azuma bent down and looked under the table.
Under the table, Eriri's white socks were neatly placed together, looking very proper.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's black stockings were slightly shaking.
Senpai tended to shake her leg when she was annoyednothing unusual.
Kato Megumi, with her small white socks, was also sitting properly.
But the foot that was reaching toward him
Long, fair-skinned, wearing white thigh-high socks.
At this moment, the nimble toes were forming a "peace" sign toward Yukima Azuma.
( ) y
Following the direction of that leg
Yukima Azuma immediately rolled his eyes.
Yukinoshita Haruno!
Picking up the pen,
Yukima Azuma casually smacked Haruno's outstretched leg.
Smack!
A crisp sound echoed from under the table.
After retrieving the pen,
All the girls curiously turned their attention to Yukima Azuma.
Even Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha paused their argument to look over.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma forced a smile.
"There was a mosquito, don't mind it."
Eriri blinked in confusion. "A mosquito? At this time of year? There might even be snow in a few days!"
After all, autumn was almost over.
"Uh, maybe it's because the room temperature is a bit high."
Yukima Azuma shrugged, brushing it off.
Utaha, Yukino, and Eriri didn't think much of it.
But Kato Megumi felt that something was off.
(_)
Thinking back to Yukima Azuma's reaction in their private chat just now
And his act of calling for Shiratamaru
Her sharp intuition immediately connected this to a certain memory.
When they were studying on the second floor, Yukima Azuma had tutored her, and then the two of them
Suddenly, Kato Megumi looked at Yukima Azuma with deep suspicion.
You're up to something!
(_ )
This time, it was Yukima Azuma's turn to tilt his head in confusion.
Did something seem wrong?
( ®® ) ?
Kato Megumi blinked and then let her gaze sweep over the other girls.
Clearly, someone had just "molested" him.
Who was it?
Glancing around, everyone seemed suspicious.
For a brief moment, even Kato Megumi couldn't pinpoint the culprit.
"This is even more moving than the previous part! The high school version is just amazing!"
(o)
Having finished reading the project plan, Eriri excitedly raised her hand and shouted.
As a hardcore otaku, she couldn't resist the appeal of such a phenomenal work.
Moreover, just the thought of being involved in creating a masterpiece like this
Eriri grew even more thrilled.
Meanwhile, Kasumigaoka Utaha took the project plan and skimmed through it.
From her perspective
Compared to the previous installment, the writing quality of this sequel had taken a significant leap.
But that wasn't surprising.
Back when Yukima Azuma was writing light novels,
Kasumigaoka Utaha had already noticed that his literary skills were steadily improving.
So, this script wouldn't need much revision.
Just refining the outline and expanding a few storylines would be enough.
"The merch for White Album 1 is also scheduled to hit the shelves this winter."
"We were originally planning to release a collector's edition of White Album 1, but now there's no need."
"If the sequel comes out, it's guaranteed to blow up in popularity. I'd say we'll be making a lot of money."
Yukinoshita Yukino remarked.
As a branch director, her primary concern was, of course, profitability.
(Note: Does "branch director/manager" count as a CEO of the branch? Anyway, Yukino seems to handle almost all the work, while President MC is just off flirting and expanding his harem.)
For a Laplace Corporation branch director to say "a lot of money"
It was easy to imagine just how massive the revenue from the sequel and its merch would be.
"Well then, from here on out, we'll all need to give it our best."
( - )
Yukima Azuma smiled and said.
When he first formed this team, his goal was to work alongside these girls and strive together.
The results they created would be a lasting bond between him and them.
And just at that moment
Yukima Azuma once again felt something messing around with his leg.
He immediately shot a glare at Yukinoshita Haruno.
This woman!
()
Under his glare, Haruno innocently blinked her eyes.
( -)?
But this time
She was actually innocent!
\_()_/
On the other side
The real culprit, Kato Megumi, quietly withdrew her small foot clad in white socks.
( )
Naruhodo!
(_ )
Rival +1!!!
--------------------------------------------
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
"Want to take a stroll around the city? Buy some winter clothes."
Yukima Azuma asked.
As long as the White Album 2 plan is completed before the winter Comiket, it's fine.
Right now, Laplace has a lot of personnel, and the timeline is similar to summer, but there's actually no need to rush.
"Winter clothes, huh? Then I'll go call Mafuyu-sensei."
Yukinoshita Yukino said and was about to go upstairs to call Kirisu Mafuyu.
However, before she could stand up
Yukima Azuma had already stood up first.
He placed his hand on Yukinoshita's shoulder, pressing her back down onto the chair.
Yukima Azuma smiled and said:
"I'll go call Kirisu-sensei. You all can discuss which shopping district to visit."
"Compared to you girls, I'm completely clueless about shopping."
Yukinoshita Yukino blinked in surprise.
In reality, she wasn't very familiar with strolling around the city either.
Before entering university, all her clothes were custom-made by the Yukinoshita family.
After graduating from university and leaving home
She never really had time to go shopping.
Yukino also didn't care much about it.
After all, she had never had anyone to go shopping with before.
But since Yukima Azuma had said so, she sat back down.
...
Yukima Azuma walked towards the staircase.
A month had passed.
Who knows what state Sensei's room had turned into by now?
It was better for him to go.
Might as well help that clumsy sensei tidy up a little.
Reaching Kirisu Mafuyu's door, Yukima Azuma knocked.
Inside, Mafuyu's slightly flustered voice rang out.
"Wh-Who is it?"
"It's me, Kirisu-sensei."
Hearing Yukima Azuma's voice
Only then did the door crack open slightly.
Kirisu Mafuyu peeked her head out, glancing around the hallway.
Seeing that it was only Yukima Azuma standing there, she finally opened the door fully.
"Kirisu-sensei looks like she's hiding a lover in her room, acting so guilty."
()
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but tease, laughing.
Hearing that, Mafuyu shot Azuma a glare.
(_)
This troublesome student...
He even dares to tease his teacher!
The room wasn't as messy as Yukima Azuma had imagined.
After cleaning up multiple times, while Kirisu Mafuyu still couldn't arrange things in an orderly manner
At the very least, she had learned to keep everything from falling into chaos.
Yukima Azuma casually tidied up a bit.
At the same time, he told Kirisu Mafuyu:
"Oh, everyone's planning to go out for a bit."
"The season's changing, so let's go buy some winter clothes."
Hearing that, Kirisu Mafuyu nodded slightly.
She didn't actually have many casual outfits.
As a teacher at Toyogasaki, she was almost always dressed in professional attire.
But after all, she was still a woman
And no woman dislikes looking good.
What woman ever thinks she has too many clothes?
After finishing tidying up, the two of them left the room.
Going downstairs, they saw the other girls already ready to head out.
"You're surprisingly free today, huh? What are you butting into this for?"
(_)
Getting close to Haruno, Yukima Azuma lowered his voice and asked.
Being bluntly told to leave, Haruno didn't seem upset at all.
On the contrary, she maintained her enigmatic smile.
"I specifically took the day off today. After not seeing you for a month, how could I leave so quickly?"
( - )
Yukima Azuma rolled his eyes.
With all the girls here, it wasn't convenient for him to chase her away either.
He might as well pretend this woman didn't exist during the rest of the trip.
Watching the two whispering to each other
Kato Megumi became even more certain of her suspicions.
This scentwas the scent of a thieving cat!
These two definitely had something going on!
( )
...
Minato Ward, Shopping District.
The shopping district here wasn't as famous as Ginza.
However, many prestigious custom-order brands had stores here, while Ginza did not.
After all, Ginza was Tokyo's commercial hub
Mainly catering to tourists and the general public.
Though there were quite a few luxury brands
Most of them still sold high-end goods that ordinary people could afford.
Meanwhile, the shopping district in Minato Ward
Was mostly membership-based.
Eriri had a card here.
Haruno had one too.
If Yukino hadn't left home, she would probably have one as well.
But it didn't matterYukino had money now.
Shopping wasn't exactly a lighthearted recreational activity.
Usually, only women found enjoyment in it.
But when accompanying a group of Bishoujo
Yukima Azuma had a different kind of pleasure.
Watching the girls try on outfits of different styles
Was already a feast for him.
"Swipe the card."
Handing the black card to the staff, Yukima Azuma didn't even glance at the price.
"Sir, which outfit would you like to purchase?"
The female staff hesitated slightly.
After all, the girls had tried on quite a few outfits.
"All the ones they tried onbuy them all. Ship them to this address."
Like an arrogant Young Master who saw money as mere leaves
Yukima Azuma waved his hand, extravagantly beyond reason.
()_
Casually, he wrote down Yukima's home address for the staff.
Shopping at high-end stores like these had its perksno need to carry the bags yourself.
The female staff, whose eyes had turned into dollar signs, quickly grabbed the card and dashed off.
($ $ )
This was a massive order.
The commission alone might be enough to live on for months.
"Isn't this a bit too much?"
Kato Megumi leaned in close to Yukima Azuma, lowering her voice.
She originally wasn't very interested in trying on clothes
But Eriri had dragged her into trying on a few.
Now, she had finally slipped away while no one was paying much attention.
Kato Megumi had seen the prices of these clothes.
Even though, thanks to the profits from White Album, she was now a little rich young lady herself
The numbers on the price tags still made her feel a little dizzy.
Spending habits weren't something that could change overnight.
"Everyone looked great in the outfits they tried on, so we might as well buy them all."
"Besides, the clothes you all have triedI don't want anyone else to buy them."
( )_
Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
Kato Megumi blinked her brown eyes.
"Honestly, Azuma-san, aren't you being a little too possessive?"
"Am I?" Yukima Azuma wasn't self-aware at all.
Kato Megumi nodded.
Then, she suddenly changed the subject.
"What's with Haruno-san?"
Normally, Kato Megumi wasn't the type to casually call people by name.
But with two people in the house sharing the surname Yukinoshita
Calling them by their last name wouldn't differentiate who was who.
Yukima Azuma froze slightly at the question.
He wanted to change the topic...
But when his gaze met those captivating brown eyes
It became a little difficult to lie.
"There was a small conflict in the past."
(,,,,)
"Ex-girlfriend?" Kato Megumi guessed.
( )
She already knew that both Kasumigaoka-senpai and Eriri had been this boy's ex-girlfriends.
Though she felt that for someone as mature as Haruno, there wouldn't be anything in common with him
But with his charm
If it really was that kind of relationship, it wouldn't be too unbelievable.
Yukima Azuma choked for a moment and coughed awkwardly, then decisively shook his head.
"Cough cough No!"
Kato Megumi blinked in surprise.
Not?
That made it even stranger.
She didn't think Yukima Azuma would lie to her.
After all, this guy
Could even say outright that he wanted to start a harem.
Thinking about that
Kato Megumi lost interest in questioning further.
\_()_/
"Azuma-san, you decide for yourself. I don't want to bother managing a light novel harem protagonist who's all over the place."
"But if Yukino-san finds out in the future, things definitely won't end well."
"When that time comes, my shoulder will be here if you need it."
With a soft hmpf, Kato Megumi ran off toward Eriri and the other girls.
Yukima Azuma stood there, feeling both amused and helpless.
Was Kato Megumi hoping he'd fall or hoping he wouldn't?
But still, Megumi had a point.
If Yukino found out about Haruno
With Yukino's personality, she would definitely be furious.
On the other side
"Sis!" Yukino bit her red lips lightly.
Annoyed, she stared straight at her older sister.
Meanwhile, Haruno grinned while holding a revealing backless sweater in her hands.
"Listen to me, this is an enhancement for your charm."
"A girl's weaponsit'd be a shame not to use them."
"If you want to hold onto a guy's heart, this is a must-have."
"Yukino-chan, you have to work hard, or it'll be really hard to become the main wife."
()
Yukino wavered slightly at those words.
Not because of the so-called weapons of a girl
But because of the part about holding onto his heart.
Her gaze unconsciously fell on the seductive backless sweater.
But she quickly realized something was off.
"Main wife? What are you even talking about? Stop saying nonsense."
Hearing this, Haruno simply smiled nonchalantly.
These ideas couldn't be changed with just a few words.
But they could slowly take root over time.
It was a little mischievous, sure.
But if it meant her little sister had to struggle a bit
In the end, wouldn't everyone be happy?
Haruno's gaze unconsciously drifted toward the three young girls in the distancealong with the mature female teacher.
Now, she could understand Yukima Azuma.
If she were a guy instead
With girls like these around, she definitely wouldn't be able to let go of a single one.
Not even talking about beauty and appearanceeach of them was a stunning beauty at first glance.
More importantly, after spending time with them
They were all genuinely wonderful people.
Letting them slip away would be far too much of a waste.
...
Kirisu Mafuyu, after trying on two outfits, didn't pick up any more.
Trying on clothes was too exhausting.
She had changed so much that her movements had become clumsy.
Stepping out of the fitting room, she walked over to Yukima Azuma.
Kirisu Mafuyu planned to just stand there with him and wait for the girls to finish.
"Kirisu-sensei, that was rough on you."
Yukima Azuma, seeing through Kirisu Mafuyu's thoughts, teased her with a grin:
"You're such a troublesome student."
Kirisu Mafuyu reached out and pinched his cheek lightly.
( )(,,><,,)
She had a feeling that
The dignity of a teacher had completely disappeared.
Now, this troublesome student was just being cheeky in front of her.
As they talked, Kirisu Mafuyu's gaze swept across the nearby area.
Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure.
Seeing Kirisu Mafuyu freeze, Yukima Azuma followed her gaze.
Yukima Azuma followed Kirisu Mafuyu's gaze forward.
Not far ahead on the street, a familiar figure appeared.
"Oh, that's Hiratsuka-sensei."
Hearing that, Kirisu Mafuyu looked at Yukima Azuma in surprise.
"Eh? You know Shizuka-chan?"
Yukima Azuma blinked.
Shizuka-chan?
That was quite an intimate way to address her.
But thinking about it, it made sense.
It wasn't strange for Kirisu Mafuyu to know Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Both were teachers at top-three prestigious schools.
During breaks, they might have attended teacher training sessions together.
Nodding, Yukima Azuma explained:
"Hiratsuka-sensei is my homeroom teacher at Shuchiin right now."
Hearing that, Kirisu Mafuyu had a look of realization.
But right after, a sly smile appeared on the mature female teacher's face.
Seeing that smile, Yukima Azuma immediately had a bad feeling.
Kirisu Mafuyu waved toward Hiratsuka Shizuka and called out loudly:
"Shizuka-chan!"
( )
Hiratsuka Shizuka had already been walking in this direction.
Hearing Kirisu Mafuyu call her name, she quickened her steps.
Today, she was in casual clothing, without her usual white lab coat.
Without the white lab coat, Hiratsuka Shizuka's mature and dignified aura stood out even more in the bustling street.
The level of attention she drew while walking outside was certainly not low.
"Mafuyu, what are you doing here? And you're Yukima-kun?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka greeted Kirisu Mafuyu with a smile, then her gaze landed on Yukima Azuma.
She recognized him.
Hiratsuka Shizuka was momentarily stunned.
Wasn't this the new transfer student in her class?
The kid who had barely attended for a few days before taking an extended leave.
"Umu, this kid is the super troublesome student I kept complaining to you about before."
( )
Kirisu Mafuyu grinned mischievously and even patted Yukima Azuma on the shoulder.
"I just didn't expect that after transferring to Shuchiin, he'd end up in your class."
Hearing that, Hiratsuka Shizuka paused for a moment before chuckling.
"Oh, so it's you."
Yukima Azuma's lips twitched slightly.
He had no idea what complaints Kirisu-sensei had been making about him
"You two seem pretty close?"
At those words, both women nodded in unison.
Hiratsuka Shizuka explained:
"Umu, Mafuyu and I were classmates from middle school to high school and even through university."
"We graduated together and took the teacher certification exam at the same time."
"It's just that when we got assigned, I went to Shuchiin while she went to Toyogasaki."
Yukima Azuma nodded.
So, they weren't just close colleaguesthey were childhood friends from their school days.
While he was still processing that information, Hiratsuka Shizukanow fully aware that Yukima Azuma was the troublesome student Kirisu Mafuyu often mentioneddropped the usual strict demeanor she maintained at Shuchiin.
She casually threw an arm around Yukima Azuma's shoulder, revealing her straightforward and carefree nature.
"Hey kid, let me tell you somethingsince the beginning of the year, Mafuyu hasn't stopped talking about you."
"From this year onward, whenever she talks to me, she can't go more than three sentences without bringing you up."
"You sure know how to give your sensei a headache, hehe."
()
Kirisu Mafuyu's face immediately turned red.
(>/////<)
The way she said that it almost sounded like she was a lovestruck maiden.
She pulled Hiratsuka Shizuka away, glared at her, and said:
"At first, I was a little worried about him, but now it's finehe's in your class."
"If he doesn't listen, just beat him up. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility."
('-')
Yukima Azuma: !
No need for that!
This is Iron Fist Hiratsuka Shizuka we're talking about!
Hiratsuka Shizuka laughed and nodded.
"Got it, you can leave him to me."
"Kirisu-sensei" Yukima Azuma looked at her with a pitiful expression. "How could you be so heartless?"
(ЇЇ)
Kirisu Mafuyu turned her face away.
Who told this troublesome student to have a habit of rebelling against his teachers?
Of course, she was just joking.
Hiratsuka Shizuka was, after all, an upright teacher. She would never actually lay a hand on her students.
"It's rare to have a break. Want to sit somewhere for a bit?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka asked.
Though she didn't specify where, Yukima Azuma immediately guessedwithout a doubt, she was suggesting going drinking at an izakaya.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Kirisu Mafuyu's wrist and pulled her behind him.
(*)( _ )
Given Kirisu Mafuyu's drinking capacity and her history of getting drunk, it was best not to let her step into an izakaya at all.
Blocked by Yukima Azuma, Kirisu Mafuyu froze for a moment.
Why did it feel like she was the younger one here?
Being shielded by a handsome young man, cutting off all temptations from a bad influence.
It was a bit strange
But this feeling was actually quite nice.
Hiding behind Yukima Azuma, Kirisu Mafuyu smiled apologetically.
"Let's skip this time. I'm out shopping for winter supplies with some students."
"Sneaking off in the middle of it makes me feel a little guilty."
( )
Hiratsuka Shizuka clicked her tongue.
That expression on her friend's face
It really didn't look like a teacher-student relationship at all.
Instead, it felt more like a mature onee-san x younger kouhai dynamic
A relationship where the mature onee-san was actually the weaker one, while the younger kouhai took control.
Shaking her head, Hiratsuka Shizuka said:
"Got it. Have fun, you two."
Teacher-student romance was taboo
Especially in prestigious schools like the Big Three.
If discovered, it would surely lead to disaster.
But Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't want to say too much.
After all, this was her close friend.
However, just as she was about to turn and leave
"Hiratsuka-sensei, this is for you."
Yukima Azuma called her back, pulling a card from his wallet and handing it to her.
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at it with some confusion.
It was a VIP membership card for a well-known restaurant in Shibuya.
"What's this for?"
She asked.
"If Hiratsuka-sensei ever wants a good meal, you can visit this restaurant."
"The VIP card comes with a private room. The atmosphere is excellent."
"Even if you just want to relax after eating, no one will disturb you."
"Plus, using this card offers a significant discount."
Yukima Azuma explained.
This restaurant was owned by Laplace Corporation.
After being acquired by Laplace, it was mainly used for business negotiations.
This VIP card was Yukima Azuma's personal card.
The private rooms were decorated to suit his taste.
Based on his understanding of Hiratsuka Shizuka, this onee-san-senseimature on the outside but with a youthful heartwould definitely like it.
Moreover, at this restaurant, even if she drank until she completely lost consciousness
There would be absolutely no safety concerns.
All the staff were Laplace personnel.
Hearing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka felt a little embarrassed.
She understoodYukima Azuma had seen through her intention to go drinking.
He was concerned about her safety.
That's why he specifically gave her this VIP card.
Normally, Hiratsuka Shizuka frequented a familiar izakaya.
She had a good relationship with the owner.
But occasionally, there were still some nuisances.
After all, no matter how you looked at it, Hiratsuka Shizuka was a stunning beauty.
However, she was also a skilled fighter
So she had always handled trouble efficiently.
The izakaya owner never complained.
But if she ever encountered a more serious problem, a mere acquaintance might not be enough to rely on.
This VIP card was actually quite perfect for her.
After considering for a moment
Hiratsuka Shizuka accepted the VIP card.
"Alright, I'll take it. Mafuyu wasn't wrong at all."
Waving her hand, Hiratsuka Shizuka turned and walked away.
Yukima Azuma curiously looked at Kirisu Mafuyu.
"Kirisu-sensei, what did you say to Hiratsuka-sensei? Why did she say you were right?"
Kirisu Mafuyu looked a bit flustered, avoiding Yukima Azuma's curious gaze.
The problem wasshe had no idea what she had said to Hiratsuka Shizuka.
(,,,,)
When the two of them hung out, they would occasionally drink at Hiratsuka Shizuka's place.
And considering Kirisu Mafuyu's drinking capacity
It could only be said that once she got drunk, she could end up saying just about anything.
"Azuma, Kirisu-sensei, what are you two doing?"
Eriri stepped out of the store, asking curiously.
"Finished trying on clothes?" Yukima Azuma asked back.
Eriri nodded.
The other girls also began stepping out one by one.
Yukinoshita Yukino looked a bit guilty.
In the end, she still bought that backless sweater.
Tonight, she had to quickly shove it into her wardrobe when she got home.
Otherwise, it would be social death!
"Alright, let's go."
"What should we eat tonight? Eat out, or buy ingredients and cook at home?"
Yukima Azuma clapped his hands and asked for everyone's opinion.
The girls exchanged glances.
Each of them actually wanted to eat at home.
But if they did, it would definitely mean troubling Yukima Azuma to cook.
Even though Kato Megumi and Yukinoshita Yukino were both good at cooking
Compared to Yukima Azuma, there was still a gap.
He had just come back, so making him cook felt a bit bad
"Let's go to the Chinese restaurant."
Kasumigaoka Utaha suggested.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
And so, the group headed to the most famous Chinese restaurant in Minato.
...
After dinner
Yukinoshita Haruno finally had to leave.
Before she left, she didn't forget to throw a flirtatious glance and a flying kiss at Yukima Azuma.
( )
Yukima Azuma casually swatted away the heart floating in midair.
('-')=
As he had said beforehe wasn't Himmel, and she wasn't Frieren.
Seriously, he had no idea what this woman came here for today.
Aside from that shady business under the table in the morning
The whole day, Yukinoshita Haruno had actually behaved herself.
It was honestly bizarre.
Shaking his head, Yukima Azuma decided not to think about Haruno anymore.
Back at the Yukima household.
It was still too early to sleep.
Plus, tomorrow was Sunday, so there was no need to wake up early.
So, instead of going back to their rooms, the girls gathered in the living room once again.
--------------------------------------------
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On the sofa
Eriri lazily pressed the TV remote.
(* *)
The TV screen kept switching channels.
The evening time slot was mostly filled with animes for children.
A few other programs were entertainment shows aimed at high school students.
At this moment, Kasou Taishou was extremely popular.
Many TV stations even chose to re-air a random season, broadcasting it in full during the monthly evening slots.
The viewership ratings weren't low at all.
But Eriri didn't stop at those programs.
This blonde twin-tailed girl probably didn't even know what she wanted to watch herself.
She just didn't want to go to bed early.
Even though she was an otaku, Eriri didn't suffer from social anxiety or enjoy being alone.
This tsundere girl actually loved lively atmospheres.
"If you're that free, just go to your room and play games."
(_)
Annoyed by the noise from the TV, Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke up irritably.
For a while now, there hadn't been a single complete sentence from the TV.
At the moment, Utaha was also sitting beside the sofa.
She had a laptop on her lap, writing drafts for White Album 2, stopping and starting as she went.
"Hmph." Eriri pouted but knew she was in the wrong.
( )
She didn't argue back against Kasumigaoka Utaha.
After snorting lightly, she stopped switching channels.
At that exact moment, the TV landed on a familiar program.
Super Horror.
The host was still that middle-aged man who always set up the atmosphere.
And a young girl who always played the role of the frightened, adorable one.
The moment Eriri saw this program, she immediately recalled some unpleasant memories.
( //>///
She thought about changing the channel.
But she had just set the remote down.
If she switched now, wouldn't it be obvious that she was scared?
Kasumigaoka Utaha noticed the horror program on TV and chuckled softly.
"Heh, Sawamura-san, if you're scared, just change it. I understand."
()
Eriri was already feeling awkward.
Hearing that, she immediately lifted her chin.
"Who's scared? I think you're the one looking for an excuse to back out!"
()
"I never expected thisKasumigaoka Utaha, older than me, but with such a cowardly heart."
Watching the two bicker, Kato Megumi nudged Yukima Azuma's arm.
"Sawamura-san will be okay, right?"
With her keen sense, Megumi naturally noticed that Eriri was just putting on a strong front.
Yukima Azuma helplessly shrugged.
"She should be fine. She's always terrible but enjoys playing around. You know that already."
\_()_/
Hearing that, Kato Megumi couldn't hold back a small laugh.
Then, she shot a sideways glance at Yukima Azuma.
"Since you know that, why don't you stop her?"
"Well, Eriri's staying over tonight, so nothing bad will happen."
"Azuma-san, you're really mean. If Sawamura-san starts crying, you better be the one to console her."
"Your tone right now sounds like a true first wife, Megumi."
( )
Yukima Azuma couldn't resist making a jab.
At this moment, Kato Megumi truly exuded the aura of a harem's first wife.
Hearing that, Kato Megumi immediately poked Yukima Azuma's waist as a warning.
This guy was shamelessgetting the benefits and still pretending otherwise.
Kato Megumi felt like she had been too soft-hearted.
Maybe she should cause a little trouble now and then, just to give this boy some headaches.
But even thinking that, when the time actually came, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
The person who always cared about him just couldn't bring herself to make things difficult for him.
(*)*.
...
Tonight's episode of Super Horror was about the legend of Hanako in the Toilet.
Like Sadako, this story was already well-known in Japan.
Similar to Bloody Mary in the West.
It was incredibly famous, retold multiple times, with various embellishments added.
By all logic, it shouldn't have been scary at all.
But as she watched, Eriri's expression remained somewhat unnatural.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma picked up the remote and smiled.
"Let's check out the new anime for October instead. This horror story is getting boring."
Hearing that, Eriri immediately nodded.
But right after, she let out a soft Hmph.
With an air of arrogance, she said, "Well, since Azuma wants to watch the new anime, I guess I have no choice."
( )
Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at Eriri with an amused expression.
But she didn't say anything more.
She did enjoy teasing Eriri.
But she always knew her limits.
She never truly bullied Eriri.
Utaha of course, wouldn't stab Eriri in the back at a time like this either.
The TV switched channels.
The new anime for October wasn't all that new.
Right now, the fantasy battle school genre was dominating.
Once this genre became popular, it would take a long time for trends to shift.
Because its formula was far too easy to copy.
Just change the name of the school and the name of the fictional power system, and voila brand-new anime.
Just spend a bit of money on making the female characters look beautiful, throw in some budget for flashy battle scenes.
There would always be people who clicked in with the mindset of "as long as it looks good, it's fine."
At this point, people started calling them "toilet paper anime".
"Now that I think about it, Azuma's light novel is getting an anime adaptation soon, right?"
Watching the new anime on TV, Eriri suddenly brought it up.
Since they were all just toilet paper anime anyway, Eriri was completely sick of them.
She would occasionally go online and mock the industry, saying, "this industry is doomed."
She really wanted Yukima Azuma to step in and save the anime world.
"It's in the preparation stage. Probably airing next April or July."
"The production studio is KyoAni, so it should be worth looking forward to."
Yukima Azuma replied.
The Light Novel Youth series.
Volume 2 was already getting a full theatrical movie adaptation.
And Volume 1, which was actually more like the main story, of course had to get an anime adaptation as well.
Not that Yukima Azuma had any worries.
Plenty of anime studios, after seeing the success of Bunny Girl Senpai, were eager to take on the Saekano adaptation.
In the end, Yukima Azuma chose to collaborate with KyoAni.
KyoAni was particularly skilled at making anime with a slice-of-life style.
(Note: Dragon Maid's fight scenes are better than most other fighting anime)
Moreover, at this point in time, KyoAni was still in its golden age.
It hadn't yet suffered that heartbreaking fire incident.
After this collaboration, Yukima Azuma also wanted to invest and buy a share of KyoAni.
Not because he wanted to make money from an anime studio.
But to see if he could prevent that tragedy from happening.
Partly to rewrite the regrets of this timeline.
And partly because that fire could also serve as a stepping stone for the future.
Next year, Laplace Corporation was certain to get its first member elected to parliament.
After that, internal political struggles in Japan would begin.
This was a chess game that would have to be played sooner or later.
Yukima Azuma needed to strengthen Laplace Corporation's political capital.
Parliamentary seats were won through elections.
And right now, Japan had only two main demographics.
The elderly and the youth.
The elderly were difficult for Laplace Corporation to compete for.
Traditional industries had their limits.
But the youth were differentthis was a demographic that most current politicians had already given up on.
Because they couldn't win them over.
The anime/manga industry was one of Japan's pillars, yet otaku were discriminated against everywhere.
This divide was proof of the outdated mentality of the current political class.
If they couldn't control the youth, then they would just dismiss them as insignificant.
Make them lose interest in voting, let the blank vote rate skyrocket.
Let everything rot away in the shadows.
(Note: I'm not a politician, and the author definitely isn't either.)
But Laplace Corporation could seize this entire piece of the pie.
Because Laplace Corporation was still young.
It didn't carry outdated prejudices and was easier to accept.
And the KyoAni fire
That was a banner Laplace Corporation could raise high.
As long as that fire happened, the conflict between otaku and non-otaku would undoubtedly erupt.
When that time came, Laplace Corporation would step forward.
Prevent a renowned anime studio from perishing.
Apprehend the arsonist and deliver justice.
Win the support of the otaku community while not losing favor with non-otaku.
Because arson was something no normal person could ever tolerate.
At that moment, whether one was otaku or not would no longer matter.
Yukima Azuma's thoughts drifted far, but he quickly reined them in.
As Laplace Corporation steadily rose from nothing.
The higher he stood, the more there was to consider.
Honestly, Yukima Azuma didn't particularly enjoy this feeling.
Conversations about anime with the girls were still much more fun.
"Eh, KyoAni, huh? Feels like the king of this season has already been decided!"
)
Eriri said excitedly.
"Azuma-san, there seem to be quite a few cases of galgames getting anime adaptations, right?"
Kato Megumi wasn't too focused on the anime adaptation of Love Letter her own.
Instead, she was more interested in the game their club was developing.
The love letter Yukima Azuma had given her
She loved it so much that she had no words left to express it.
If the anime adaptation turned into a massive success, it would merely be the perfect finishing touch.
But the project that the entire club had poured their hearts into
If it could take another step forward, Kato Megumi would feel incredibly happy.
After all, it was the result of everyone's hard work together.
"Umu, White Album is also in the process of choosing a studio for its anime adaptation."
Yukima Azuma replied with a smile.
He was really looking forward to seeing White Album explode across forums once its anime aired.
Even though they didn't watch much of the new season's anime
Just chatting like this was enough to make the whole group happy.
Before they knew it, time had slipped into the late night.
Although the girls were somewhat night owls
Everyone was starting to feel a little sleepy.
The most obvious one was Kato Megumi.
She wasn't used to staying up late, and now, her small head was already resting against Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
( -)
"Go wash up and get to bed."
Yukima Azuma said with a chuckle as he lightly pinched Kato Megumi's cheek.
Kato Megumi let out a soft Mmm in response, but she didn't seem eager to move.
In the end, it was still Yukima Azuma who helped this tuberose-scented girl to her feet.
The group headed downstairs together, making their way to the shared bathroom.
In front of the mirror, a row of cups and toothbrushes was neatly arranged.
The girls each took their own.
Eriri and Utaha were already fighting over who got to use the sink first.
( д)(д )
Nighttime.
Yukima Azuma was still awake.
He had a feeling that someone would knock on his door tonight.
( ® ®)
And sure enough
Not long after, there was a soft double knock on Yukima Azuma's bedroom door.
It wasn't that he could predict the future.
It was just that Eriri had watched a horror show.
Chances were, she wouldn't be able to sleep alone.
He pulled open the door.
Standing outside was the adorable tsundere girl with golden hair.
At this moment, Eriri had let down her twin tails.
Her long, silky blonde hair cascaded behind her like a work of art.
She was wearing a light blue nightgown.
Hugging her pillow tightly to her chest, half of her face was buried behind it.
Only her shimmering emerald eyes peeked out, looking timidly ahead.
It made Yukima Azuma's heart tremble slightly.
"D-do you feel scared? I-If you do, this Great Oujou-sama can go with you to the bathroom."
(,,,,)
Eriri's voice was muffled behind the pillow, sounding a bit husky.
Even though her words sounded strong
Her eyes had already betrayed her.
The plea for help in her gaze was practically overflowing.
"Umu, I'm a little scared, could you stay with me for a while, Eriri?"
( )
Yukima Azuma held back a laugh and pulled the petite girl into his arms.
If he teased Eriri at a time like this
She might end up crying like a little kid.
"Th-thank thank you"
(,,><,,)
Eriri spoke as if she were talking to her pillow, her voice so soft it was nearly inaudible.
She knew her excuse wasn't convincing at all.
But Yukima Azuma didn't call her out on it.
Not because he was clueless, but simply because he loved her.
Holding Eriri close, Yukima Azuma led her into his room.
Then, the two of them walked up to the bathroom door inside.
Eriri looked at Yukima Azuma with pleading eyes.
(`)
The horror story she had heard tonight took place in a bathroom.
She didn't dare go in alone.
"How about I wear a blindfold?"
Yukima Azuma suggested.
Eriri's face immediately turned bright red, but after thinking it over, she eventually nodded.
At the same time, she did her best to reassure herself.
After all, they had already done thatthis was nothing in comparison!
Yukima Azuma went to his drawer and took out a blindfold.
It was a souvenir he had bought at a booth during last summer's Comiket.
The front of the blindfold had an image of Kuroneko's eyes from Oreimo.
He put on the blindfold, then took Eriri's hand, leading her into the bathroom.
In the darkness, Yukima Azuma heard rustling sounds.
But after waiting for a long while there was no further movement.
At that moment, Eriri's embarrassed voice rang out.
"C-can you turn on the faucet?"
( //>///
She needed some background noise otherwise, she really wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
Yukima Azuma could already imagine what kind of expression Eriri had right now.
Fumbling around, he followed Eriri's guidance and finally managed to turn on the faucet.
The sound of running water filled the air.
Before long
Eriri's voice rang out again:
"You can take off the blindfold now."
Yukima Azuma removed the blindfold.
In front of him was Eriri's flushed face. She stood to the side, avoiding his gaze.
(>/////<)
The two of them left the bathroom and returned to the bedroom.
Eriri looked somewhat hesitant.
Even though she had finished using the bathroom
If she simply returned to her room
Then, for the rest of the night, she would have to face the darkness alone.
Even though she was no longer in the bathroom,
The fear had not yet faded.
"If you're scared I guess I can reluctantly stay with you for a bit tonight. J-just for tonight, okay?"
(,,,,)
After much internal debate, Eriri finally spoke up.
Yukima Azuma gently pinched Eriri's cheek.
Looking into her eyes, filled with both embarrassment and expectation
He smiled softly and said:
"Umu, I'll be counting on you then."
Hearing that, Eriri immediately hugged her pillow and pounced onto Yukima Azuma's bed.
Even though she knew for sure that he wouldn't change his mind
She still had to seize the opportunity quickly!
The number of times they had slept together wasn't exactly small.
So when they lay next to each other, they were already quite used to it.
Even though the night was getting late,
After all the flustering moments just now
The lingering emotions made it impossible for Eriri to fall asleep.
At first, she lay on her back.
But at some point, she had turned to her side, facing Yukima Azuma.
She watched as he closed his eyes, his eyelashes faintly trembling.
Eriri softly called out, "Azuma, are you asleep?"
(,,><,,)
Yukima Azuma opened his eyes.
Then, he also turned to his side, facing Eriri.
"Not yet, what's wrong?"
Their eyes met.
Eriri unconsciously started fiddling with the hem of her nightgown.
"I I can't sleep. Tell me a story!"
(--)
This time, the tsundere girl didn't even bother making an excuse.
On that adorable face of hers, it practically said, "Pamper me."
( ).®
Yukima Azuma blinked.
"Alright." He agreed, a flicker of mischief in his eyes.
()
Eriri didn't notice.
Hearing Yukima Azuma agree, she immediately broke into a radiant smile.
Her tiny fang peeked out.
"Then, let me tell you the story of The Three Little Pigs." Yukima Azuma said.
Eriri was momentarily stunned but then nodded.
Everyone knew this fable.
But if Yukima Azuma was the one telling it, she was happy to listen again.
And so, he began narrating in a gentle voice, his lips curling into a faint smile:
"Once upon a time, there was a ferocious gray wolf. She wanted to eat the poor little piglets."
Eriri watched Yukima Azuma, listening to his deep, soothing voice.
Even though the story was so familiar
At this moment, what mattered wasn't the content
But the person telling it.
"The first pig hid inside his straw house."
"But the gray wolf used to be a member of the brass band, so she was really good at blowjobs."
Eriri: ( ®® ) ????
A question mark popped up in Eriri's mind. She felt like she had misheard because she wasn't paying attention.
"And so, with her expert blowing skills, the gray wolf destroyed the straw house."
Eriri: (®®) ????
Eriri was sure she hadn't misheard this time. She immediately raised her hand: "Wait, you you!"
(>/////<)
Yukima Azuma tilted his head. "What's wrong?"
Eriri bit her lip.
Thanks to years of drawing doujinshi and working with translation groups
Even though her English wasn't great, she still knew certain key vocabulary.
But if she called him out on it right nowwouldn't that just expose herself as a perverted girl?!
"Hmph, it's nothing. Azuma, just continue the story." Eriri huffed lightly.
And so, Yukima Azuma continued.
"The second pig hid inside his wooden house."
"But the gray wolf played with LEGO a lot, so her handjob skills were top-notch"
"She used her expert handjob skills to destroy the wooden house."
For the first time in her life, Eriri felt
That knowing too much wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Eriri's fair face turned bright red.
Her emerald-green eyes glared daggers at Yukima Azuma.
( ) !!!
"The third pig hid inside his ice house."
"Wait, wasn't it supposed to be a brick house?" Eriri sensed something was off.
But Yukima Azuma ignored her and continued:
"Although the gray wolf couldn't destroy the ice house on her own"
"She summoned her teammate, bigcock."
"The gray wolf commanded bigcock, launching a fierce assault on the icehole of the ice house."
(note: WTF? What am I even reading?)
Eriri could no longer hold it in.
Was this guy not even trying to hide it anymore!?
"Stop telling stories like this!!"
<( _)>
If she still had her twin tails right now
She would've unleashed a full tsundere attack!
But Yukima Azuma put on an innocent face.
"Eh? What's wrong with this story?"
><
Eriri wanted to scold him, but the words got stuck in her throat.
In the end
She simply lowered her head and bit Yukima Azuma's arm.
Of course, she didn't use any force.
She was no longer the impulsive girl of the past who would lash out recklessly.
Her small fangs only left a faint mark on his arm.
After letting go
Eriri glared at Yukima Azuma.
Her expression practically said: "Now you know how scary I am, huh!?"
( )
However
Yukima Azuma gently stroked the bite mark on his arm.
Then, in a soft voice, he said:
"Hehehe, Eriri-chan, since we can't sleep anyway, how about we do some exercise?~~"
( ® ®)
Eriri: ( ®®) !!!?
"Azuma! Hentai! Beast! Aho! Baka! Yontoryu!"
><
Eriri hurled a barrage of insults at him
But in the end, she gave up resisting.
And enjoyed it.
The Next Morning
"Sawamura-san, you look quite radiant today."
Kato Megumi studied Eriri's face intently.
This morning, on Eriri's fair cheeks
There was a healthy pink flush.
Kato Megumi: ( ).
"D-do I really?" Eriri's voice wavered slightly.
Kasumigaoka Utaha narrowed her eyes.
Last night, they had watched a horror movie.
Judging by how Eriri had acted back then
It would've been perfectly normal for her to wake up with dark circles under her eyes.
But not only did she not have any
She actually looked more energized than usual.
Suspicious.
( )
Under the table, Eriri's small hand pinched Yukima Azuma's waist hard.
"Ahem, what does everyone want for breakfast? I'll cook."
Yukima Azuma cleared his throat, diverting attention away from Eriri.
Kato Megumi shot him a doubtful glance.
Then she said, "I want dumplings."
"Wontons," Kasumigaoka Utaha had been craving them for a while.
"I'll have dumplings too."
Yukinoshita Yukino added.
"Anything is fine, as long as it's not too much trouble."
Kirisu Mafuyu didn't want to make Yukima Azuma work too hard.
(note: Eriri was super annoying in the early chapters. But lately, she's gotten kinda cute.)
Chapter 226: Izumi Sagiri's Message
December 10th.
Tokyo welcomed its first snowfall.
The snow wasn't heavy, just a light flurry that settled into a thin layer on the ground.
Christmas was just over ten days away.
Japan didn't have many traditional holidays, with only fifteen legally recognized public holidays.
There wasn't much unique culture of its own
Thanks to the influence of Western consumerism, Christmas here was livelier than in many other East Asian countries.
And right after Christmas
Was New Year's.
Another year was about to pass in the blink of an eye.
After finishing his shogi tournament journey, Yukima Azuma returned to Shuchiin.
Around this time, Shuchiin Academy had begun voting on locations for their upcoming field trip.
Today was the weekend.
Yukima Azuma was enjoying a relaxing gaming session at home.
"Do you have torches? I'm heading into the mine."
( - )
"No, wait, let me smelt some charcoal first."
( )
Kasumigaoka Utaha controlled her blocky character, tossing wood into the furnace.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma's character was repeatedly crouching and standing next to her, looking impatient.
The script for White Album was now completely finished.
So with nothing to do, Kasumigaoka Utaha started playing Minecraft with Yukima Azuma.
But in the corner
Eriri wasn't nearly as free.
Her chronic procrastination had flared up again, and her illustration work was barely halfway done.
While clutching her drawing tablet and furiously sketching, she kept glancing over at the two, looking like she wanted to grind her teeth into dust.
( ) !!!
After smelting enough charcoal, Yukima Azuma combined it with sticks to craft torches
And immediately set off on an expedition.
Meanwhile, Kasumigaoka Utaha gathered wood
And started building a tiny, run-down box house.
Inside the house, time passed peacefully.
Down in the mine, bloodshed and chaos ensued.
With another well-timed overhead slash, yet another Skeleton was sent to its grave.
Yukima Azuma's phone vibrated.
He glanced aroundno mobs in sight.
Setting his controller down for a moment, he picked up his phone.
A new friend request had arrived on LINE.
Yukima Azuma tapped on the sender's profile.
The avatar was Meruru, a magical girl from a children's anime.
The display name was just a string of meaningless katakana.
Staring at the unfamiliar account, Yukima Azuma was puzzled.
His personal LINE account was set to be searchable only with the exact ID.
Random friend requests were extremely rare.
After a brief moment of thought,
He moved his finger and pressed "Accept."
The moment he did
Tzzzt
A sharp static noise crackled through his headset.
The sudden sound sent shivers down Yukima Azuma's spine.
He quickly grabbed his controller.
Luckily, he had just mined some iron ore
And had placed a furnace nearby to smelt a few iron ingots.
With those, he quickly crafted a shield.
Raising the shield just in time, he survived the Creeper explosion with only a sliver of health left.
He let out a sigh of relief.
Then, without hesitation, he picked up the still-burning furnace and carried it with him.
His mining expedition was over.
Watching Yukima Azuma's character sprint back towards the surface,
Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow and asked:
"Done already?"
Normally, based on Yukima Azuma's personality...
He wouldn't leave the mine until he had at least half a stack of diamonds.
"Umu, got something to do."
Yukima Azuma nodded, stuffing all the resources in his inventory into the chest.
Then he glanced around, evaluating the matchbox-like house Kasumigaoka Utaha had just built.
Though it lacked decoration, it still felt quite cozy.
He put down the controller once more.
Yukima Azuma picked up his phone to check.
It better be something important.
Otherwise, nearly getting blown up by a Creeper just nowhe would definitely settle this debt with whoever had just sent the friend request.
After accepting the request, the other party immediately sent a message.
[Today is my birthday. Can you buy me a birthday cake?]
Seeing this vague message, Yukima Azuma tilted his head in confusion.
( -)?
Could it be a scammer?
Like: I'm a high school girl, transfer 500,000 yen to me!
Clicking on the avatar of the sender, Yukima Azuma felt the urge to delete the contact immediately.
But in the end, he didn't.
Instead, he replied:
[Why should I buy a cake just because it's your birthday? Do we even know each other?]
The message was quickly marked as "read."
Then, the "typing" status kept appearing and disappearing.
They were probably typing and deleting over and over again.
A long while later, a response finally arrived.
[My dad said that if I had a wish, I could ask you for help.]
Seeing this message, Yukima Azuma quickly ran through the list of people he knew.
Whose kid would take their parent's goodwill and use it to ask him for a birthday cake?
The number of people Yukima Azuma was acquainted with wasn't small.
Rather, it was extremely large...
After all, Laplace Corporation's philosophy was: "Make as many friends as possible, and as few enemies as necessary."
But still a favor in the business world couldn't possibly be exchanged for a birthday cake, could it?
Thinking it over, Yukima Azuma decided to ask directly.
[What's your dad's name?]
[Izumi Kotetsu.]
Seeing that name, Yukima Azuma's fingers froze.
So, it was Izumi-san's child.
Which meant it had to be Sagiri.
"What's going on?"
( )
Noticing Yukima Azuma's odd reaction, Kasumigaoka Utaha put down her own controller and turned to ask.
Being questioned, Yukima Azuma responded:
"Utaha-senpai, do you remember the bookstore where we met?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked slightly puzzled, not sure why Yukima Azuma was bringing this up.
But she still nodded.
"I think it was Izumi Bookstore. The owner's surname was Izumi, a middle-aged manpretty nice."
For Kasumigaoka Utahaa person known for her sharp tongueto call someone "pretty nice," that person must have been quite remarkable.
Yukima Azuma also nodded.
"That's right, Izumi-san. His child just sent me a friend request on Line."
"Said they wanted a birthday cake."
Hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha opened her mouth, about to make a sarcastic remark.
But very quickly, she furrowed her brows and fell silent.
Back then, the two of them frequently visited Izumi Bookstore.
Their relationship with the owner was very good.
But why would his child suddenly add their father's friend on Line?
Unless Izumi-san had
(note: ( ))
When they first met, the middle-aged man behind the cashier was only in his early thirties.
It had only been three or four years since then
Kasumigaoka Utaha stiffened slightly.
After a moment of silence, she looked at Yukima Azuma and asked:
"What do you plan to do?"
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
"What else can I do? There are still ingredients in the fridge, so I'll just make a cake."
Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded and stood up.
"I'll help too."
...
The two of them stepped into the kitchen, taking ingredients out of the fridge.
In Yukima's house, the kitchen was fully stocked with every possible cooking utensil.
There was even a specialized oven just for baking cakes.
Since Yukima Azuma occasionally made cakes for the girls in the house, he was highly skilled at it.
This time, he baked two cake bases at once.
One was beautifully covered in cream.
Then, Yukima Azuma poured jam into a piping bag and handed it to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
She carefully wrote "Happy Birthday" on the cake's surface.
()
The second cake, Yukima Azuma kept simpler.
He added some seasonal fruits, drizzled it with freshly made jam, and cut it into several pieces.
"Eriri, want some cake?"
Yukima Azuma called out from the kitchen.
Eriri, who had been waiting for a while, immediately rushed over at the scent.
( )*
He cut a slice for her and then pointed to the rest.
"Later, bring a portion to Kirisu-sensei. The rest, save for Megumi and Yukino when they come over."
Eriri nodded seriously, though in reality, her mind was already completely occupied by the cake.
After that, Yukima Azuma took out a large gift box and placed the birthday cake inside.
"Utaha-senpai, do you want to come along?"
He asked while holding the cake box.
Kasumigaoka Utaha thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"Nah, if I go I wouldn't even know what to say."
Seeing her decline, Yukima Azuma didn't say anything more.
"I'm heading out."
"Umu take care on the way."
After Yukima Azuma left, Eriri, still munching on her cake, curiously approached.
"Who's that cake for?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at her.
"A child of an old acquaintance. Back then, Lonely-kun and I were helped by them."
Eriri blinked a few times.
She hadn't expected something like that.
Seeing how much Eriri was enjoying the cake, Kasumigaoka Utaha also went into the kitchen and took a piece for herself.
She scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth.
The sweetness was just right, the texture soft and smooth.
That gentle, comforting taste unique to sweets spread across her tongue.
Kasumigaoka Utaha instantly felt her mood improve.
"If only I could live as carefree as Sawamura-san, how nice would that be?"
"( - - )
The long-haired girl sighed sincerely.
Hearing that, Eriri initially smirked smugly, but then she sensed something was off.
( ®® ) ?
It felt like Kasumigaoka was subtly calling her an idiot.
"Nani!? You wanna fight, you fat hag!!"
( Д )*
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
While carrying the cake, Yukima Azuma casually sent a message asking for Izumi Sagiri's address.
Even though he already knew where the Izumi family lived,
At this moment, it would be strange if he did know.
The response came quickly with the exact address.
No hesitation, no deception.
Yukima Azuma blinked.
Was Sagiri just too trusting, or did she genuinely have that much faith in her father's old friend?
Either way he would go there first.
Yukima Azuma hadn't expected that his story with Sagiri would continue in this way
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Chapter 227: The Past of Izumi Sagiri
Izumi Household.
December 10thtoday is Izumi Sagiri's birthday.
"Sagiri, what do you want to eat today? Mom will cook for you~"
The first-generation "Eromanga-sensei," the grown-up version of SagiriMrs. Izumi, stood in front of her daughter's room and asked.
It was her birthday today.
She should celebrate it, even if just a little.
A moment later, the door creaked open, and Izumi Sagiri peeked out, looking at her mother.
"I don't have anything special I want to eat."
Hearing that, Mrs. Izumi helplessly rubbed her forehead.
"I see... Then how about I make you a birthday cake?"
Izumi Sagiri immediately shook her head.
"No... no need. There's really nothing worth celebrating. Just keep it normal."
After saying that, she withdrew back into her room and shut the door.
Mrs. Izumi let out a resigned sigh.
It felt like her adorable daughter was entering a rebellious phase.
When she was younger, Sagiri used to cling to her all the time.
Always wanting to jump into her arms, watching intently as she drew.
Maybe it was a generational gap?
Even though her own hobbies were quite youthful, she wasn't a young girl anymore.
Mrs. Izumi sighed to herself for a while before heading downstairs, preparing to go out and buy groceries.
Even if Sagiri said to keep things normal...
It was still her birthday. How could she not prepare a nice meal?
...
Inside the room.
Sagiri buried her face in her blanket.
Although she seemed to be in a rebellious phase, Izumi Sagiri didn't actually want to distance herself from her mother.
She simply felt that her existence had become a burden on mother.
For so many years, her mother had to carry the weight of raising her.
Her life always had to be planned around her daughter.
As Sagiri grew older, she gradually realized this.
Moreover, there was something else.
A lingering regret in her heart.
It was about her mother and Izumi-san's honeymoon trip.
Her mother had finally found someone to remarry.
She should have had a happy time with that person.
Yet, because of young Sagiri, the trip was ruined.
Because of her, they had to rush back home and missed their flight for the honeymoon.
At the time, both of them said it was fine.
That they could make up for the honeymoon later.
But more than a year later, Izumi Kotetsu had an accident and passed away.
The trip they promised to take later became an unfulfilled regret.
Because of this, Izumi Sagiri always felt deeply guilty.
Now, she only hoped her mother wouldn't worry about her anymore.
That she would go find her own happiness.
Buried in her blanket, Sagiri's thoughts drifted back to her childhood days.
It was the first year her mother had married into the Izumi family.
The two had temporarily left home as planned to go on their honeymoon.
Izumi Sagiri was entrusted to Izumi Kotetsu's younger sister.
Her aunt, Izumi Kyouka.
That day, just like today, light snow began to fall.
Back then, young Sagiri had no fear of going outside. On the contrary, she was full of energy.
As soon as she saw the snow falling outside the window, she couldn't hold back any longer.
She rushed outside to play in the courtyard of the Izumi household.
As she was playing
Izumi Sagiri suddenly noticed something in the snow.
Beneath the pure white layer of snow, something was emitting a brilliant golden light.
Intrigued, Sagiri immediately ran over.
She brushed away the thin layer of snow.
Underneath was a strange, glowing sphere, radiating golden light, with a pair of wings.
It looked just like a spirit from legends.
Naturally, young Sagiri was completely mesmerized by the dazzling golden glow.
Just as she was about to pick it up
The small sphere suddenly flapped its wings and soared into the air.
It transformed into a streak of light and shot out of the courtyard.
At that moment, Izumi Sagiri didn't think much.
Mesmerized, she instinctively chased after it without hesitation.
She quickly left the Izumi household.
She kept running, runninguntil she had unknowingly left even the familiar street behind.
By the time Izumi Kyouka realized it
Izumi Sagiri's figure had completely disappeared.
The aunt, who had been entrusted with watching over her, panicked immediately.
She was so frightened that she nearly burst into tears.
Meanwhile, Izumi Sagiri was still entranced by the golden sphere.
She would run, then stop.
Each time Sagiri stopped, the golden sphere would also stop.
As if it was deliberately waiting for her.
Finally, on an unfamiliar street
Izumi Sagiri managed to catch the golden sphere.
She was overjoyed for a moment.
But then, when she looked around
She realized she was in a completely unfamiliar place.
She had no idea how to get home.
Stunned for a moment
Izumi Sagiri suddenly felt afraid.
She crouched in the corner of the street, sobbing.
Fortunately, there was a police station nearby.
A patrolling officer quickly noticed the lost little girl.
The officer brought her to the station.
Since Sagiri didn't remember her parents' phone numbers
The police had no choice but to send someone to search the area.
Eventually, they found Izumi Kyouka, who was frantically looking for her niece.
Everything was finally resolved.
The moment she realized Sagiri was missing
Izumi Kyouka had immediately called her brother and sister-in-law.
Izumi Kotetsu and his wife hurried back.
By the time they arrived
Kyouka had just finished getting a stern lecture from the police and was leading Sagiri out of the station.
Even though the situation had been resolved
Because they rushed back, they had missed their flight.
Moreover, it was peak travel season at the time.
Getting a new flight was nearly impossible.
So, the two of them had to give up their honeymoon trip.
The whole family returned home together.
Recalling that childhood memory
Izumi Sagiri crawled out from under her blanket.
She walked to her desk and pulled open the bottom drawer.
Inside, a golden sphere lay quietly.
No longer emitting a mesmerizing glow.
No longer possessing its magical wings.
It was just an ordinary golden sphere.
Back then, Sagiri had told Izumi Kyouka, Izumi Kotetsu, and her mother about it.
After seeing the tiny, lifeless metallic sphere
All three of them simply thought it was Sagiri's childish imagination.
They didn't scold her too much.
Now that she was a little older
Izumi Sagiri started wondering whether what she saw that day was real.
She picked up the small sphere from the drawer.
Raised her hand high, about to throw it into the trash bin.
But after holding that position for a long time
She couldn't bring herself to do it.
In the end, she silently lowered her hand and placed it back into the drawer.
Sagiri buried her face in her desk, feeling somewhat unsettled.
Of course, she wanted a birthday cake.
But she felt unworthy of making her mother go through the trouble of preparing one.
As she lay on her desk, feeling down
Izumi Sagiri suddenly remembered her stepfather.
The stepfather who had passed away in an accidentIzumi Kotetsu.
During the time they lived together
Sagiri and her stepfather had a very good relationship.
Izumi Kotetsu had once left behind a small note.
On it was a contact number.
He had told her that if one day he was no longer around
If Sagiri had any wishes, she could contact this person for help.
Sagiri had once asked who this person was.
Izumi Kotetsu only said that it was a friend of his.
Remembering this long-forgotten memory
Izumi Sagiri pulled open the drawer once again.
At the deepest corner of the drawer, she found the now yellowed note.
Using the phone number on it
Sagiri added the contact to her personal Line account.
As she sent the message
She felt a bit nervous.
She wasn't sure if it was because she feared rejection or something else.
After all, suddenly messaging a stranger, saying she wanted a birthday cake or something
Even Sagiri herself found it strange.
Fortunately, the other party agreed.
A sense of anticipation began to build up.
Izumi Sagiri ran to her window, constantly looking outside.
"Dad's friend what kind of person will they be?"
Muttering to herself.
Her mind painted various images.
A middle-aged man in a neat suit.
A scruffy, unshaven old man.
An ordinary-looking man with nothing special about him.
Or maybe even an overweight otaku.
Why was she only thinking of old men?
Of course, because he was a friend of her fatherlogically, he had to be an uncle, right? Umu.
As she imagined all sorts of possibilities
A figure suddenly entered Izumi Sagiri's view.
A tall young man, his every step carrying a gentle breeze.
His outfit was far from formalno suit, no tie, just a simple hoodie and casual pants. But even in such simple clothes, he exuded a comfortable, approachable aura.
As an illustrator, Izumi Sagiri felt that the young man who had appeared in her sight
Looked just like the protagonist of a manga, standing out completely from everyone around him.
Her eyes were unconsciously drawn to him.
Just as Sagiri's heart skipped a beat from staring too intently
The young man suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met in midair.
Izumi Sagiri's eyes widened immediately.
Wasn't this Yukimi-sensei, the person who had suddenly called her on video earlier!?
Why was he at her house?
Could it be he was just passing by?
But the young man continued walking closer.
He had already stepped into the front yard.
Sagiri's heartbeat quickened.
A thought flashed through her mind.
All the images of middle-aged men instantly vanished.
Especially when her gaze fell on the large box in the young man's hands.
The image she had imagined gradually overlapped with the figure in front of her.
Even though she still found it a little unbelievable
Izumi Sagiri truly hoped that this young man was the one who had come to fulfill her wish.
If that were the caseit would be truly wonderful.
(Note: For this chapter I don't think I should add emojis.)
Chapter 228: Izumi Sagiri: Does He Like Me?
Standing in front of the Izumi household
Yukima Azuma's emotions were complicated.
After the swap event ended
He immediately checked his relationship with Izumi Sagiri.
And he discovered that the timeline had changed.
Yukima Azuma thought that this meant he had made a difference.
But now, Izumi Sagiri suddenly messaged him.
Perhaps, the essence of the event hadn't actually changed?
As if time itself had auto-corrected, bringing everything back to its original path.
Could it be that all his efforts were in vain?
He shook his head slightly, brushing away those useless thoughts.
Yukima Azuma pressed the doorbell.
No matter whathe should at least meet Izumi Sagiri first.
After ringing the bell
Yukima Azuma assumed the situation would be the same as last time.
No one would answer, and then Izumi Sagiri would message him, telling him where the spare key was hidden.
But reality was different.
Through the door
A woman's voice sounded from inside.
"Excuse me Huh? Sagiri? Why are you running downstairs?"
Right after that
A series of hurried footsteps echoed.
Click.
The door opened.
Izumi Sagiri timidly peeked her head out.
l l loo) !
Her pale blue eyes fixed on Yukima Azuma.
"Y-You why are you at my house?"
(////)
Seeing the girl before him
Yukima Azuma was momentarily stunned.
( ®® ) ?
By Jesus above! Izumi Sagiri actually stepped out of her room!
(`)
At this moment, he didn't need to question anything anymore.
Because just seeing this adorable silver-haired girl was the clearest proof.
After a brief daze, Yukima Azuma adjusted his emotions, then smiled with slight surprise.
"Eromanga-sensei? I never expected to run into you here!"
Hearing that, the girl instantly fluffed up like an angry kitten.
"I-I don't know anyone with such a weird name!"
()
She even made a fierce expression as she spoke.
( ` )
Of course, that was just what she thought.
In reality, it was completely non-threateningif anything, it only made her even more adorable.
Since she had signed a contract with Laplace Corporation
The information of "Eromanga-sensei," aka Izumi Sagiri, had already been sent to the company.
Izumi Sagiri understood this well.
Even though she tried to put on a strong front, she only voiced one rebuttal before letting it go.
She didn't bother coming up with pointless excuses to hide it anymore.
Instead, she just asked:
"W-Why are you here?"
(,,,,)
Yukima Azuma raised the cake box in his hands.
"Today, someone is celebrating their birthday, and they wished for a cake."
"I wonder if there's anyone else in this house celebrating a birthday?"
( - )
After confirming that Yukima Azuma was truly the one who came to fulfill her wish
Izumi Sagiri unconsciously placed a hand over her chest.
Her heartbeat quickened.
At first, Sagiri only had a vague fondness for Yukima Azuma because they shared the same interests.
But right now, that feeling was as if it had been covered by a special filter
Making her heart race as she looked at the young man before her.
"J-Just calling me Sagiri is fine"
(////)
"You're my dad's friend, right? I was the one who messaged you."
Sagiri muttered softly, her gaze unconsciously dropping to her toes, feeling embarrassed.
At that moment, Izumi Sagiri's mother also stepped out, standing behind her daughter.
" Arara~ You must be Yukimi-sensei, right? Please come in."
( `)
"Sagiri, why are you making a guest talk outside the door?"
Looking at the woman who was like an older version of Sagiri, Yukima Azuma smiled.
It seemed that not only had his efforts not been in vain, but the results were even more apparent than expected.
...
After stepping inside
While her mother went to fetch slippers for Yukima Azuma
Izumi Sagiri tugged at Yukima Azuma's sleeve.
She winked at him.
( o<)
Although her expression was rather clumsy
It almost looked like she was winking to act cute.
But Yukima Azuma still understood Sagiri's intention.
She probably didn't want her mother to know that she had invited him over under the pretense of being her "father's friend."
Perhaps she didn't want to stir up her mother's sadness.
Of course, Yukima Azuma wouldn't go poking at someone's emotional wounds.
He simply said:
"You must be Mrs. Izumi, right? My name is Yukima Azuma. Yukimi is just my pen name."
"You can just call me Yukima. Today is Sagiri's birthday, so I brought a cake."
As he spoke, he handed the cake box to Mrs. Izumi.
Hearing that, she lightly covered her mouth, clearly surprised.
She hadn't expected her daughter to mention her birthday to this young man.
Thinking back to the earlier sceneher daughter rushing downstairs to personally answer the door
Mrs. Izumi's mind immediately filled with all sorts of youthful love stories.
( > < )
Her daughter had always been extremely shy and socially awkward, so making a friend was already a rare event.
Because of that, her gaze toward Yukima Azuma softened considerably, carrying the warm understanding of a mother.
( )
"So that's how it is. It seems like Yukima-kun cares a lot about my daughter."
"Since you're here, why don't you stay for lunch? I was just about to start cooking."
"You two can chat on the sofa for a bit while I make some tea."
Mrs. Izumi took the cake box and gestured toward the sofa in the living room.
A silent invitation for the two of them to talk freely.
Then, she carried the cake and walked toward the kitchen.
Yukima Azuma nodded slightly.
His gaze unconsciously drifted toward the kitchen.
The arrangement of the kitchen was almost exactly the same as the last time he visited.
It seemed that the Izumi kitchen had always been designed in Mrs. Izumi's style.
But there was one difference
Last time, when Yukima Azuma was here, the kitchen had felt cold, devoid of life.
But now, it was clearly a kitchen that was regularly used.
A place where a mother was taking care of her family.
...
After sitting down on the sofa
Izumi Sagiri quietly stared at the boy sitting beside her.
Her heart was in turmoil.
He's so young, yet he's my dad's friend?
Am I sitting too far away? What if he thinks I don't like him?
Should I move a little closer? Wait, why am I staring at him so much!?!
Realizing that staring at someone for so long might be rude, Izumi Sagiri quickly averted her gaze.
At the same time, she subtly shifted her bodymoving just a little closer to Yukima Azuma.
( //>///
Right at that moment, Mrs. Izumi walked in with tea
And caught the scene in full view.
"Ara ara~"
( `)
She let out a knowing chuckle.
After placing the tea on the table, Mrs. Izumi quickly returned to the kitchen.
The living roomof course, should be left for the two kids to have their space.
Unlike her daughter, who was extremely socially awkward
Mrs. Izumi was very aware of not being an unnecessary "third wheel."
After a short silence, Izumi Sagiri hesitantly spoke up:
"Your name is Yukima"
Before she could finish, Yukima Azuma interjected:
"Just call me Azuma."
Izumi Sagiri nodded slightly.
Why does he let my mom call him by his surname?
But when it's me, I get to call him by his first name?
Could it be that he likes me?!
(o)
That thought had only just flashed through her mind
But before one of the three great illusions of life could even take root (Note: what the other two are?)
Izumi Sagiri heard Yukima Azuma say:
"Anyway, Sagiri is just like a daughter to me."
( )
As he spoke, he gently patted her soft, silvery hair.
Caught off guard by the sudden "headpat kill," Izumi Sagiri immediately pouted and swatted his hand away.
"Who's your daughter?!" she huffed, glaring at Yukima Azuma.
()
But after that little tease
The distance between them instantly shrank.
Yukima Azuma took the initiative to bring up anime and light novels.
As a reclusive illustrator
Izumi Sagiri took the bait immediately.
The awkwardness of their first offline meeting melted away in no time.
They chatted animatedly.
Having spent years cooped up indoors with almost no real-life friends
Suddenly having someone with the same interests appear beside her
Not to mention someone who had already been "filtered to boost favorability" in her mind
The usual walls Izumi Sagiri kept up had completely crumbled.
There was almost nothing she couldn't talk about with Yukima Azuma.
In the previous timeline
Yukima Azuma and Izumi Sagiri broke the ice due to a heatstroke incident.
But this time
Without such an event,
Their relationship actually progressed even faster.
Of course, part of that was thanks to the "favorability filter."
But the more important reason
Was Izumi Sagiri herself.
Right now, Izumi Sagiri was still an otaku
She had things she felt guilty about.
But she wasn't suffering from any deep emotional wounds.
At her core
She was still a healthy, normally developing girl.
Unlike the Izumi Sagiri from the previous timeline
Who shut herself in her room all day.
Unable to take even a single step outside, as if she had locked her own soul away.
Back then, Izumi Sagiri had been like a puzzle missing a piece.
If someone could fill that void
Of course, she would be moved.
But no matter how refined a technique
A gold-inlaid gem could never compare to a flawless jewel.
And the Izumi Sagiri now
In Yukima Azuma's eyes, she was as adorable as a perfect gem.
"Alright, come eat, kids. You can continue talking after the meal."
(*`*)
At that moment, Mrs. Izumi called out.
Izumi Sagiri had been passionately discussing her favorite anime.
Hearing her mother's voice, she suddenly realized
She had been chatting with Yukima Azuma, someone she had just met, for an unexpectedly long time.
Recalling how forward she had been earlier
Her small face flushed red.
( //>///
The two of them headed to the dining table.
Where Mrs. Izumi had prepared a table full of delicious dishes.
Even without tasting, the vibrant colors and enticing aroma were proof of her impressive cooking skills.
At that moment, Mrs. Izumi also brought out the cake that Yukima Azuma had brought.
"Sagiri, this is the cake Yukima-kun brought for you. Go ahead and open it yourself."
Hearing that, Izumi Sagiri gave a small nod.
She reached for the ribbon tied around the box.
With a slight pull
She undid the bow.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
When the ribbon bow was untied.
The box was opened.
A fresh cream birthday cake with a predominantly white color scheme appeared on the dining table.
There were no overly extravagant decorations.
Yet it exuded a feelingthis cake was undoubtedly delicious.
Seeing the words "Happy Birthday" written in jam on the cake
Izumi Sagiri unconsciously broke into a sweet smile.
(><)
She was truly happy.
What little girl wouldn't want to celebrate her birthday?
At Sagiri's age
Having a special older brother bring a cake to celebrate her birthday
This kind of thoughtfulness was something she could remember for a lifetime.
On the other side, Sagiri's mother was also slightly taken aback when she saw the cake.
She had assumed that Yukima Azuma had bought it from a bakery somewhere.
But upon closer inspection, that clearly wasn't the case.
This cake was undoubtedly handmade.
With her exceptional culinary skills, Mrs. Izumi could easily tell the difference between a store-bought cake and a homemade one.
And a handmade cake
In terms of sincerity, it simply couldn't compare to a store-bought one.
To put it simply
This was true love!
(o)
Sagiri's mother, Mrs. Izumi, cast a meaningful glance at Yukima Azuma.
( )
Then, she took the initiative to speak: "Yukima-kun, this cake doesn't seem to be from a bakery, does it?"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma nodded.
"My friend and I made it together."
Upon hearing that, Izumi Sagiri's eyes sparkled even more.
()
This was the fundamental difference between boys and girls.
If it were a boy, most wouldn't care whether the cake was handmade or not.
What they'd care about more was whether it tasted good.
Whether bought or made, they'd be equally grateful.
But girls were more sensitive.
Knowing that Yukima Azuma had personally made the cake
Gave it an entirely different meaning.
Before even tasting it, her heart was already filled with sweetness.
(> v <)
Mrs. Izumi took a kitchen knife and cut a small piece for Izumi Sagiri.
Ordinarily, desserts shouldn't be eaten before the main meal.
But looking at her daughter, it was obvious that she couldn't wait any longer.
So be it, just a little taste first.
Then, Mrs. Izumi cut another portion for Yukima Azuma and herself.
Taking a bite, her eyes lit up with surprise.
() Oishi~~~.
What an impressive skill.
As a housewife, Mrs. Izumi had always been confident in her cooking.
Yet this young boy was far more skilled than she was.
Internally, she added another point for Yukima Azuma.
)
Being good at cooking was an important bonus.
Since Izumi Sagiri had been raised by her since she was little
And as the first-generation Eromanga-sensei, Mrs. Izumi had a stable income and knew how to enjoy life
This little girl had been spoiled into a picky eater.
If Sagiri's future husband couldn't take good care of her diet, that would be unacceptable.
As for Izumi Sagiri, after taking a bite
A completely enchanted expression appeared on her delicate face.
( `)
This was the first time in her life she had ever eaten such a delicious cake.
She had loved good food since she was little
So upon encountering such a delicacy, her affection level instantly skyrocketed.
Sagiri: () Affection +999999999.
Seeing her looking so blissful
Yukima Azuma smiled faintly.
But deep inside, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.
It seemed that Izumi Sagiri truly loved delicious food.
But in the Previous Timeline
This child could only stay cooped up in her room, ordering takeout every day.
Even though there were quite a few delivery restaurants nearby
Day after day, she had probably cycled through all of them long ago.
Moreover, delivered food took time to arrive, and after being trapped in the packaging for a while, it would lose the fresh-out-of-the-oven taste.
In the previous timeline, no wonder Izumi Sagiri was easily won over by the delicious meals he cooked.
The only question was, when she ate
Did she ever think of the dishes Mrs. Izumi used to make?
Tch, just thinking about it felt pitiful.
Luckily, that won't happen anymore.
Izumi Sagiri, who was happily eating the cake piece by piece
As if sensing something, suddenly lifted her gaze toward Yukima Azuma.
Her deep blue eyes met his.
A sudden, indescribable sourness welled up
Making her want to cry.
()
Thankfully, the feeling came and went quickly.
Placing her cake down, Izumi Sagiri suddenly felt like eating a proper meal.
The lavish dishes were already laid out before her.
She picked up her chopsticks and began eating heartily.
Today, everything tasted better than usual.
...
After the meal.
Mrs. Izumi, having finished cleaning up the dining table
Announced that she had to go out for a bit.
Leaving her daughter and Yukima Azuma home alone.
She was practically broadcasting her intention to "give them some alone time" on her face.
If it were a stranger
Mrs. Izumi would have been much more cautious.
There was no way she would leave her precious daughter alone with some unknown man.
But with Yukima Azuma, she felt completely at ease.
Part of it was because he was a young literary genius who had gained fame early on.
Of course, talent didn't necessarily equate to virtue, but it was at least some kind of reassurance.
Moreover, when Izumi Sagiri signed a contract with Laplace Corporation
As a mother, Mrs. Izumi had thoroughly researched the company.
Laplace Corporation could be considered one of the most ethical companies in Japan.
After all
Unlike corporations that originated from industrial enterprises
Laplace Corporation's industry wasn't purely driven by profit.
They treated their employees with remarkable care.
Their reputation was impeccable.
And as the President of such a conscientious company, Yukima Azuma's character should be at least somewhat trustworthy.
Today, Mrs. Izumi became even more certain
This young man was genuinely fond of her daughter.
Now, she could be completely at ease.
(Note: No no no, this sounds very unsafe. Readers with children, please do not follow this example.)
...
After Mrs. Izumi left.
Only Sagiri and Yukima Azuma remained in the house.
She felt a bit shy.
(,,,,)
Even though this was her first time meeting him
There was an inexplicable sense of dj vu.
As if she had met Yukima Azuma before.
Not only that
It felt like they had even shared some intimate moments.
Like h*lding h*nds, for example.
( ® ®)
This realization made Izumi Sagiri flustered.
It was as if she were a wicked young girl
Daring to have such improper thoughts about a boy.
Too embarrassed, Izumi Sagiri decided to find a topic to talk about.
Talking about anime/manga should be safe, right!?
"I have a new game disc in my room. Do you want to play together?"
The moment she finished speaking, she suddenly realized
That sounded like an invitation for him to enter her room.
It was a classic case of her mouth moving faster than her brain.
Before Yukima Azuma could even respond, her face had already turned bright red.
Seeing Izumi Sagiri fluster herself, Yukima Azuma chuckled softly and nodded.
Since she was the one who made the offer, there was no backing out now.
So, Izumi Sagiri had no choice but to lead Yukima Azuma upstairs, toward her room.
When the door opened, she nervously said:
"P...please come in."
(,,,,)
The room had changed quite a bit from Yukima Azuma's memories.
Although the main theme was still that of a pink-toned girl's bedroom
There were clearly more plush toys than before.
One glance, and it was obvious they came from claw machines.
There were also some decorative souvenirs from festivals.
These things
In the previous timeline, would never have appeared in Izumi Sagiri's room.
Because
In that timeline, Izumi Sagiri hadn't even stepped out of her room.
Let alone gone to a game center or attended a festival.
...
Izumi Sagiri walked to her gaming console, turned it on, and inserted the new game disc.
When she turned back around, she saw Yukima Azuma looking around her room.
The embarrassment unique to young girls instantly surged within her.
"H-hey! What are you looking at!?"
( //>///
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma smiled gently at her.
"Just thinking that Sagiri's room is really cute."
Upon hearing that, Izumi Sagiri became even more flustered.
She let out a small huff without responding
But it was clear she was happy.
...
While playing the game
Izumi Sagiri, still holding the controller, casually asked:
"Azuma... do you believe in magic?"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma's expression shifted slightly.
He more or less guessed why Izumi Sagiri would ask something like that.
"I've never seen it before, but I guess it might exist."
He gave a vague response.
Izumi Sagiri, however, probably wasn't expecting a satisfying answer from him in the first place.
Or rathershe herself didn't have a satisfying answer, either.
She simply wanted to talk about it.
"When I was little, I once saw a Golden Snitch."
"You know... the Golden Snitch from Harry Potter. Have you read Harry Potter before?"
Yukima Azuma thought to himselfso that's how it is.
Not only had he read it.
That Golden Snitchwas something he had personally released.
Even now, it was still wriggling in Sagiri drawer.
Restlessly trying to fly back into his palm.
Perhaps because Yukima Azuma's current identity was rather complicated
Both a friend of her father
And someone she could chat with comfortably.
Izumi Sagiri simply confided in this boy she had just met
Sharing stories buried deep in her heart.
Yukima Azuma simply listened quietly
Becoming a sincere listener for her.
The story began with a Golden Snitch.
And ended with an unexpected incident and a lingering regret.
After hearing Izumi Sagiri's story
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but click his tongue.
So after the timeline changed, things had unfolded this way.
Although he had prevented the tragedy that claimed the lives of the Izumi couple
In the end, a small yet undeniable regret remained.
However
Compared to leaving Izumi Sagiri imprisoned in her own room for a lifetime
A minor regret was already a much better outcome.
Of course, Izumi Sagiri would likely never know
What would have happened if her parents had actually gone on that honeymoon.
But... perhaps it was better that way.
"Th-thank you... for listening to me."
After pouring out her heart
Izumi Sagiri felt noticeably lighter.
Many things didn't actually need to be resolved completely.
Just having someone to talk to
Was enough to ease the burden.
Her voice was small, but Yukima Azuma heard it clearly.
Being thanked by Sagiri wasn't an easy thing.
But he didn't dwell on the topic
Instead, he suddenly asked:
"Sagiri, don't you go to school?"
Since today was the weekend, it wasn't unusual for her to be home.
But in her room, there were no signs of a school uniform or textbooks.
Only a drawing tablet and light novels on her desk.
At the mention of this
Izumi Sagiri lowered her head.
()
Her silver hair cascaded down, covering her face, making her expression unreadable.
"I... I'm not really used to it, so I'm currently on leave."
This silver-haired girl
Still wasn't accustomed to socializing.
Her personality was part of the reason.
But more importantly
Izumi Sagiri barely had anything in common with people her age.
She liked light novels, anime, and games.
A textbook otaku.
This situation was reminiscent of Eriri's childhood.
Back then, Eriri had struggled quite a bit in class.
During that process, she had even been bullied.
Later, with Yukima Azuma's help, she rebuilt her image.
And eventually became a standout student at school.
Just that alone showed
If Izumi Sagiri were to have a good school life...
She would first need to change her image.
However
Sagiri wasn't the type who was good at acting or lying.
Nor did she have the refined air of an Oujou-sama trained from a young age.
Telling her not to talk about anime
Would probably make it hard for her to even find a topic to discuss.
...
When the topic of school came up
Izumi Sagiri anxiously looked at Yukima Azuma.
(><)
Every person she had met
After learning that she wasn't attending school at her age
Would show an expression of, "How could you not be in school!?"
Even her mother, who was usually very open-minded
Hadn't smiled at all while handling her leave of absence.
But if possible
Sagiri also wanted to experience a youthful school life like other girls.
It was just
Her experiences at school had been truly painful.
A kind of suffering that adults couldn't understand.
Even if she spoke about it, nothing would change.
On the contrary, she'd be told she was overreacting.
Izumi Sagiri thought of her aunt.
Izumi Kyouka was exactly like that!
However
After observing Yukima Azuma for a long while
Izumi Sagiri realized that his expression hadn't changed at all.
On the contrary
He seemed to be seriously thinking about it.
( _)
"Sagiri."
"Yes!"
"Have you considered hiring a tutor?"
"Huh... huh? A tutor?"
Yukima Azuma's suggestion made Izumi Sagiri momentarily stunned.
This idea was indeed acceptable
After all, studying at home meant she wouldn't be bullied.
But... why bring this up?
"Actually, I can understand quite a lot just by studying on my own."
Izumi Sagiri said softly.
As a genius illustrator, Izumi Sagiri was actually very intelligent.
At the very least, she could grasp about seventy to eighty percent of the elementary school curriculum through self-study.
If the goal wasn't exams but merely gaining knowledge
Then self-studying like this was more than enough.
"Still, don't you want to experience school life, Sagiri?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
Izumi Sagiri immediately fell silent.
If asked whether she wanted to or not
Then the answer was definitely yes.
Otherwise
She wouldn't have been so captivated by the stories in the Youth series written by Yukima Azuma.
This work
Aside from its incredibly adorable heroines and sweet romances
The most important factor that made it so appealing
Was its vibrant school-life atmosphere.
That sense of youth
Those who haven't experienced it would long to taste it even once.
And those who had experienced it
Could only reminisce about it with nostalgia.
Seeing Izumi Sagiri's face, filled with both hesitation and anticipation
Yukima Azuma chuckled and patted her head.
( )(._.`)
This time, Sagiri did not avoid it.
"For elementary school, just study with a tutor, then go straight to junior high."
"By the time you enter middle school at that point, most people have matured a little and have some basic understanding of right and wrong."
"At the very least, forming cliques and ostracizing others will follow some form of logic."
"As long as you adjust your image a little and achieve good grades."
"With Sagiri's cuteness and intelligence, you'll surely be well-liked."
Yukima Azuma raised his other hand, waving a finger gently in front of Izumi Sagiri's eyes.
As someone with experience in handling school bullying
He was exceptionally skilled at crafting the image of a "school star."
As long as he carefully packaged Sagiri and placed her into a quality junior high school
Even if she wasn't celebrated, at the very least, she wouldn't be isolated or bullied.
At worst
There was still another option.
That was to directly enroll Izumi Sagiri into the junior high division of Shuchiin Academy.
At that point
Simply attaching the title of "Laplace Corporation's descendant" to her would be enough.
Children raised as elites from a young age
They would know exactly what to do.
Wasn't Shinomiya Kaguya known for her ice-cold personality during junior high?
Yet at Shuchiin, she was still revered as an idol.
Izumi Sagiri's eyes wavered slightly as she followed Yukima Azuma's fingertip.
Her heart skipped a beat.
(®®)
If things could truly turn out as Yukima Azuma described
If she could really be liked
Then attending school...
Might actually be wonderful.
"Can... I really do it?"
()
Feeling a bit uneasy, Izumi Sagiri looked up at Yukima Azuma for confirmation.
"Umu, of course you can. Because Sagiri is very cute and also a genius."
( - )
Yukima Azuma did not hold back his praise.
His words of affirmation made Sagiri feel a little giddy.
Then she gazed at him with eyes full of anticipation.
"Please, help me!"
Yukima Azuma smiled and nodded gently.
As long as Sagiri wanted it
Everything that followed would be easy to handle.
And why was he going through all this effort to help Izumi Sagiri?
Even if he didn't quite see her as an adopted daughter
At the very least, there was some level of affection there.
Moreover
The reason for bringing her closer to Laplace Corporation was similar.
Izumi Sagiri was worth recruiting.
A painting genius of the highest caliber
Even without any supernatural abilities to aid her
Her level-seven artistry was still enough to become a trump card in Laplace Corporation's business operations.
And
This trump card came with another.
If he managed to bring her in
Then her mother, the first-generation Eromanga-sensei
Would naturally become another powerful asset for Laplace Corporation.
(Note: ( ) )
...
Time flew by as they played games and chatted.
Yukima Azuma glanced out the window.
The sunset had painted the sky in its golden hues.
He gently ruffled Izumi Sagiri's silver hair once more.
( )(._.`)
Standing up, Yukima Azuma said:
"It's getting late. Next time, I'll come play with you again, Sagiri."
"I'll find a tutor for you as soon as I get back."
"But when the tutor arrives You have to take your studies seriously."
Hearing this, Izumi Sagiri immediately nodded earnestly.
() )))
Though she was terrible at socializing with others
Since this person would be someone introduced by the boy in front of her
She was determined to try and get along with them.
()
Yukima Azuma withdrew his hand, feeling a slight sense of regret.
Sagiri's silky silver hair
It really was incredibly pleasant to the touch.
( )
...
After waving goodbye to her
He left Izumi Sagiri's room.
As he descended the stairs, Yukima Azuma suddenly spotted a figure sneaking a peek from the kitchen.
Twin silver braids, identical to Sagiri's, draped over her shoulders.
He really wanted to say:
"Ma'am, your hairstyle is extremely dangerous!"
()
Because it looked exactly like the classic hairstyle of mothers who often die early in anime.
The kind of mother who only appears in flashbacks.
But thinking about it
Wasn't she precisely that kind of character...?
Ah, whatever. The danger had passed.
So it was fine.
( - )
...
"Azuma-kun, are you leaving? Won't you stay for dinner?"
Mrs. Izumi stepped out from the kitchen, adjusting her "drama-watching" expression.
^--^
Of course
Her daughter had just brought a boy into her private room.
Wasn't this progressing a little too fast!?
Yukima Azuma shook his head slightly at her words.
"No need, ma'am. Dinner's already prepared at home, and they're waiting for me."
"However, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
At this, Yukima Azuma proceeded to explain the matter of finding a private tutor for Izumi Sagiri.
Upon hearing it, Mrs. Izumi's eyes practically lit up.
()
Regarding her daughter's decision to quit school
As a mother, she couldn't help but worry.
Even though she was a successful illustrator who made a lot of money
At her core, Mrs. Izumi was still just a 4.0 housewife.
She genuinely had no idea how to handle this situation.
Even if she wanted to throw money at the problem, she didn't know where to start.
Now, hearing that her daughter was willing to have a tutor and would later attend high school as normal
What Mrs. Izumi felt wasn't just gratitude anymore.
She was on the verge of tears.
( )
"Azuma-kun... I really don't know how to thank you enough."
Her voice even carried a hint of emotion.
Yukima Azuma quickly waved his hand.
"No need, ma'am. Sagiri is a contracted illustrator for Laplace Corporation, after all."
"Besides, I like Sagiri. I'm just helping out a little, it's nothing major."
"It's just that, since this concerns Sagiri's future, I wanted to discuss it with you first."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Izumi bowed deeply to him.
If Yukima Azuma were just a bit older, she might have outright dogeza-ed.
"This isn't a small favor It's an enormous debt of gratitude."
"Azuma-kun, if you ever need anything from me in the future, just say the word."
Clearly, to Mrs. Izumi
Her precious daughter
Was more important than anything else.
--------------------------------------------
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
When returning home to Yukima.
The sky had already turned completely dark.
"I'm back."
( )
"Welcome home."
()
The usual conversation.
Yukima Azuma was used to it.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, who responded to Yukima Azuma, waved her hand to call him over.
Waiting until Yukima Azuma changed into indoor slippers and stepped closer.
He saw a steaming hot plate of omurice on the dining table.
"Utaha-senpai treats me so well."
( )
"Stop talking nonsense, go wash your hands and eat."
( )
Kasumigaoka Utaha glared at Yukima Azuma, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve slightly.
Yukima Azuma immediately ran to the bathroom.
He seemed very eager.
Before long, he had finished washing his hands and rushed back out.
As soon as he picked up the spoon, Yukima Azuma started eating right away.
Even though Kasumigaoka Utaha's cooking skills weren't that great.
This omurice, however.
Yukima Azuma felt it tasted even better than when he made it himself.
Perhaps he was a little biased because he cherished the person who made it.
But since he was the one eating it, a subjective evaluation didn't really matter.
While Yukima Azuma was eating.
Kasumigaoka Utaha softly asked:
"How... was it over there?"
"Nom fine Nom..."
()
"Don't talk while chewing your food!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha was somewhat exasperated.
Clearly, he acted very mature, but these little habits made him seem just like a child.
Yukima Azuma swallowed all the omurice in his mouth, then said:
"It was actually quite alright..."
Then he summarized the current situation of the Izumi household.
Apparently, even though it was just a widowed mother and a small child left, they still had a considerable income and a decent main house.
Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a quiet sigh of relief.
That was good.
Despite her cold, sharp-tongued, and somewhat distant exterior.
This long-haired black-haired senpai was actually someone who cared deeply about emotions.
If the relatives of a deceased acquaintance had to live on the streets, begging for food.
Kasumigaoka Utaha would definitely feel heartbroken.
But after she had finished sighing in relief...
The long-haired senpai suddenly realized something suspicious.
"Now that I think about it, is the Izumi family's child a boy or a girl?"
( )
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Yukima Azuma with a skeptical gaze.
Earlier, he had mentioned that he would help find a private tutor for the Izumi family's child.
Based on what Kasumigaoka Utaha knew about Yukima Azuma.
Although he valued loyalty and relationships.
If there weren't any other reasons.
He wouldn't go out of his way to care this much.
If it were just a simple matter of giving them some money, Kasumigaoka Utaha wouldn't find it strange.
But for him to be this meticulous, even helping to find someone to solve the problem Something was off!
(_)
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
"Utaha-senpai, what are you thinking? That child is still an elementary school student."
_
Hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha rolled her eyes.
"So what if they're an elementary school student? It's not like you don't have a precedent."
Yukima Azuma looked puzzled.
( ®® ) ?
A precedent?
What precedent?
After thinking for a moment, he finally realized.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was definitely talking about Hinatsuru Ai.
"I swear to FBI-sama, I'm completely innocent!"
Yukima Azuma raised both hands to the sky and swore.
\_(;`)_/
FBI: ( ) Are you sure about that, boy?
Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a small snort.
(_)
Injustice?
If you were wrongly accused, only a ghost would believe it!
How did she not realize it before?
This Lonely-kun turns out to be quite the lady-killer!
At this point, the number of girls in the house had grown so much that it was almost overflowing.
It wouldn't even be wrong to call it The Harem House of Yukima Azuma.
But thinking back, Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed inwardly.
"( - - )
The boy from back then was as dense as reinforced concrete.
And yet, she had been so prideful, unwilling to lower her head even a little.
In the end, they broke up because of it.
Now, she could only blame herself.
But, even so
"Lonely-kun, come to my room tonight. I have something to talk to you about."
()
Kasumigaoka Utaha flashed a mischievous little devil's smile.
Yukima Azuma: ( ®®) !!!
Although the two hadn't taken that final step yet.
Their relationship was incredibly intimate, but that thin barrier had yet to be broken.
However, this older senpai had plenty of tricks up her sleeve.
Aside from that, there was nothing she wouldn't dare to do.
This trip was unlikely to be an easy one.
"What? Do you have a problem with that?"
<( _)>
Kasumigaoka Utaha shot a glare at Yukima Azuma.
He immediately shook his head.
Ї Ї
But inside: ( )
...
That night.
But instead of going to Kasumigaoka Utaha's room first, Yukima Azuma knocked on Kirisu Mafuyu's door.
When she opened the door and saw Yukima Azuma.
Kirisu Mafuyu looked a little confused.
It hadn't been that long since he last helped her clean her room, had it?
Even so, Kirisu Mafuyu still opened the door and pulled Yukima Azuma inside.
Seeing the familiar boy sitting on the edge of her bed.
Kirisu Mafuyu's face unconsciously turned a little red.
Then, she reminded herself:
I'm a teacher! How can I be having strange thoughts just because I'm alone with a student?
(o)
A little closeness between teacher and student is normal.
Even if the student is a bit rude, as a teacher, it's only natural to be tolerant. Umu.
With that thought, Kirisu Mafuyu calmed herself down.
Yukima Azuma tilted his head, looking at Kirisu Mafuyu.
Why did he feel like Kirisu-sensei's emotions had just fluctuated quite a bit?
"Kirisu-sensei."
"Yes!"
(®® )
"Uh Kirisu-sensei, are you okay?"
"Ah, it's nothing. Y-you you troublesome student, what do you want?"
(>\\<)
"Oh, I actually do have something."
Yukima Azuma then explained that he was looking for a reliable tutor.
The one teaching Sagiri had to be someone familiar.
The reason behind that went without saying.
Even if they weren't a close acquaintance, at the very least, they had to be someone of good character.
After that, Laplace Corporation could try recruiting them.
After hearing Yukima Azuma's request, Kirisu Mafuyu thought for a moment and then said:
"Actually, I have someone quite suitable to recommend."
Yukima Azuma was a bit surprised.
Kirisu-sensei thought of someone that quickly?
Could it be Hiratsuka Shizuka?
But thinking about it carefully, that didn't seem right.
Hiratsuka Shizuka was teaching at Shuchiin and was even a homeroom teacher.
She was busy from morning till night.
She probably wouldn't have much time to take on a private tutoring job.
"Kirisu-sensei, who do you want to recommend?"
Yukima Azuma asked curiously.
Kirisu Mafuyu clapped her hands: "My younger sister."
Yukima Azuma blinked.
"Sister-in-law?"
"Umu umu... Umu? What do you mean sister-in-law!?"
(®®)
Kirisu Mafuyu reflexively nodded.
But right after, she realized something was off.
She immediately shot up and grabbed Yukima Azuma's ear.
( Д )*
Yukima Azuma also realized that his joke might have gone a bit too far.
Without hesitation, he bolted, dashing around the room.
The two of them chased each other around Kirisu Mafuyu's bed for several laps before stopping on opposite sides, facing off.
"You really are one troublesome student!"
(Д#)
Kirisu Mafuyu panted as she scolded him, her chest rising and falling with each breath.
Meanwhile, with Yukima Azuma's level 8 physical prowess, this much movement was nothing but a gentle breeze.
He immediately waved his hands frantically.
"Kirisu-sensei, I was just joking! Don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously!"
( )))
Kirisu Mafuyu huffed.
She sat down on the edge of the bed.
With an expression that clearly said, Hmph! I'm mad now, hmph!
( ,,'',,)
But the moment Yukima Azuma got close
She swiftly reached out and grabbed his ear.
She didn't use much force, just a light pinch.
And just like that, she kept hold of his ear as she continued speaking:
"My younger sister, Kirisu Miharu, graduated from the University of Tokyo and is also a teacher."
"But since she doesn't have much experience yet, she hasn't started teaching. Right now, she's working as a teaching assistant and school nurse at Shuchiin."
A so-called school nurse,
Was essentially a half-doctor role in the infirmary.
If students had a fever, heatstroke, stomachache, sprained ankle, or, well that time of the month,
They could go there to rest, and there were some basic medicines available.
But for anything serious,
They'd still have to be sent straight to the hospital.
And since the infirmary was often empty,
It was a pretty easy job.
Yukima Azuma blinked.
He hadn't expected Kirisu Mafuyu's younger sister to also be a teacher.
And a University of Tokyo graduate, no less.
"So, is Miharu-neesan available?"
He asked.
Kirisu Mafuyu glared at Yukima Azuma.
"Don't call her that!"
<( _)>
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma put on an innocent face.
"Then how should I address her?"
That question made Kirisu Mafuyu freeze.
Right what should Yukima Azuma call her younger sister?
Calling her oba-san?
Wouldn't that indirectly mean she, Mafuyu, was also an oba-san?
But letting him call Miharu neesan like her was too unreasonable.
"Haizz, fine, just call her Miharu-neesan."
"( _ <,, )
After some thought, Kirisu Mafuyu made her decision.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma flashed a Satanichia-like grin.
"Got it, Mafuyu-neesan."
()
Kirisu Mafuyu's cheeks instantly turned bright red at that one word: neesan.
Adorable little brothers like this were practically a lethal weapon to older sisters.
If Yukima Azuma ever worked at a host club,
He'd probably empty the wallets of countless older women.
Kirisu Mafuyu was clearly no exception.
"Stop calling me that."
(><)
"Eh? What's wrong, Mafuyu-neesan?"
()
"It's not it's just"
(>/////< " )
"Mafuyu-neesan!"
(`)
With each neesan echoing in her ears,
Kirisu Mafuyu completely broke down.
"J-just go already! I'll contact Miharu for you!"
(,,><,,) b-baka!
Releasing his ear, Kirisu Mafuyu lightly tugged at her collar.
It was already winter, so why did it still feel so hot?
Yukima Azuma nodded,
Then quickly made his escape.
Once Kirisu Mafuyu recovered from the devastating power of the word neesan,
He was definitely going to pay for this.
It was best to leave first.
Exiting Kirisu Mafuyu's room,
He looked toward the far end of the second-floor hallway.
There were some things in life you just couldn't avoid.
It's fine, there's nothing to be afraid of.
He still had the Joestar family's secret technique.
( )
Chapter 232: Hayasaka Ai Lights the Fire
"This is the voting result for the extracurricular trip."
Suou Yuki spoke while handing the data sheet to Shinomiya Kaguya and Yukima Azuma.
Shuchiin's extracurricular trip destination was decided by a class vote.
The compiled data would then be sent to the student council.
And finally, the student council would make the final decision.
In other words, the president had the authority to override the students' opinions and decide directly.
That was the power structure of Shuchiin.
The student council reigned supreme.
However, normally, the president wouldn't do such a thing.
Otherwise, the next student council election would be a nightmare.
Sitting in the president's seat, Shinomiya Kaguya carefully reviewed the data sheet.
A golden chain shimmered across her chest.
It was a special piece of jewelry reserved exclusively for the president of Shuchiin.
A solid gold chain, draped across the chest, connecting both sides of the winter uniform's collar.
It symbolized the weight of Shuchiin's thousand-year tradition.
Because of this accessory,
Shinomiya Kaguya was required to wear the winter uniform blazer year-round.
"How about Paris?"
Shinomiya Kaguya asked as she looked up at Yukima Azuma.
It was the fourth most-voted option.
Reasonable enough to be considered.
Yukima Azuma thought for a moment, then bluntly stated:
"Dirty, chaotic, rats, and the French."
( ,,'',,)
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded.
It sounded prejudiced, but in reality, it wasn't far from the truth.
She also dismissed this choice, which had more reputation than actual merit.
"Hokkaido?"
The third-place option was a famous domestic travel destination.
A snowy wonderland.
Visiting in December wasn't a bad idea.
Yukima Azuma shrugged.
"Pros: beautiful scenery. Cons: too many tourists."
\_()_/
In recent years, the number of travelers flooding Hokkaido during winter remained high.
"Then we'll keep it as a possibility." Shinomiya Kaguya nodded. "What about Iceland?"
Recently, Iceland tourism had become a hot trend on social media.
Many bloggers had jumped on the bandwagon, posting travel content.
The engagement numbers were high.
Even Shuchiin couldn't escape the influence of internet trends.
"Poor infrastructure, mediocre scenery, no cultural or culinary valueI don't see any reason to go there."
Yukima Azuma dismissed it outright.
Iceland's infrastructure was indeed underdeveloped.
Not to mention Tokyo.
Even compared to Japan's second-tier cities, Iceland fell short.
And Japan itself only ranked average in infrastructure development.
Hearing this, Shinomiya Kaguya decisively crossed Iceland off the list.
"That leaves only the top choiceHawaii."
This time, before Yukima Azuma could say anything,
Fujiwara Chika immediately jumped in.
( )*
"Hawaii is amazing! I spent my spring break there last year!"
"It's never cold, and we can go to the beachlet's pick Hawaii!"
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded at Fujiwara Chika.
But then, she still turned to Yukima Azuma.
"Downsides: dirty public beaches, expensive costsbut all of that can be solved with money, so it's not a problem."
Hawaii had its minor flaws.
However, for Shuchiin Academy, none of them would ever be an issue.
"Umu, then let's settle on Hawaii."
Shinomiya Kaguya made the final decision.
"Yay, Hawaii!" Fujiwara Chika cheered with both hands raised.
()
"That means we'll need swimsuits."
Suou Yuki, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.
Her eyes kept glancing toward Yukima Azuma.
( )
A little evil smile on her face.
Fujiwara Chika nodded in agreement.
"Oh right, I think last year's swimsuit doesn't fit me anymore."
Hearing this, Shinomiya Kaguya's gaze unconsciously drifted toward Fujiwara Chika's chest.
Then she quickly glanced at Suou Yuki.
A few veins silently appeared on her forehead.
(_)
Somehow in a certain aspect it felt like she had already lost.
Especially to Fujiwara Chika, this girl truelly cancer of earth!
What the hell did she eat to develop like that? This was ridiculous!
><
But for now, the "Ice Princess" part of Kaguya still held dominance.
She had no major concerns about her figure.
Just a fleeting moment of regret before returning to normal.
After finalizing the destination for the extracurricular trip,
Shinomiya Kaguya promptly reported it to the school.
Shuchiin would soon complete the necessary procedures and make arrangements for the trip.
Transportation was a no-brainerof course, they would charter a private jet.
As for accommodations, since this was a school trip, students would be staying together.
Most likely, they would rent out an entire hotel at the destination.
"Azuma-kun, are you free after school?"
(....) ®
Suou Yuki approached Yukima Azuma with a gentle smile.
Fujiwara Chika's eyes widened in shock.
(`)!
Could it be!
An invitation to go swimsuit shopping together?!
After Yukima Azuma nodded, Suou Yuki confirmed her suspicion.
"Then, would you like to come to the shopping mall with me?"
Fujiwara Chika: () Waku Waku!
Swimsuit shopping was an awkward affair for girls.
Typically, they would go with friends of the same gender.
Almost no one invited a boy.
Unless their relationship had already reached the stage of being lovers.
Or at the very least, if there was some ambiguity, and the girl wanted to take things a step further.
Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes widened in disbelief.
( ®®) !!
With her limited understanding of love,
this kind of invitation was practically a confession!
The Suou family's young lady so she was that kind of person?!
What the hell?!
Recalling the information she had on Suou Yuki,
Shinomiya Kaguya felt extremely suspicious!
Could it be that this girl was here to steal her person?!
Shinomiya Kaguya: ('-') Red alert!
Suou Yuki, sensing the stares from the two beside her, merely smiled elegantly.
Suou Yuki: (....) ® Hihi~
Meanwhile, deep inside: ( ) Hehe~
"Sure."
Yukima Azuma, however, thought nothing of it and agreed casually.
He knew Suou Yuki's little devil personality all too well.
This invitation wasn't anything serious.
Besides, he had no plans after school today anyway.
"Yukima-san, Suou-san, are you two planning to go swimsuit shopping together?"
Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't hold back her question.
At this rate, Yukima Azuma was bound to get lured in by the Suou family sooner or later.
She had to do something!
"Umu, that was the idea."
Suou Yuki admitted it without hesitation.
"You two seem quite close, huh? Swimsuit shopping is a rather personal matter."
Shinomiya Kaguya tried to invoke a sense of embarrassment in Suou Yuki.
"Well, we're childhood friends, so this is completely normal."
(*)*.
Suou Yuki tilted her head, feigning innocence as if she didn't understand.
Completely normal, my ass!
( Д )*
Shinomiya Kaguya was speechless.
Meanwhile, Fujiwara Chika had a look of "the couple I ship is about to get married, hooray!"
( )
But then, a sharp pain hit her stomach.
She suddenly thought of "Hasaka."
That love that would never reach its destination.
A love triangle that brought nothing but sufferingyet was impossible to escape!
(*)
...
And so, the school day finally came to an end.
Watching Yukima Azuma and Suou Yuki walk side by side as they left,
Shinomiya Kaguya pinched the bridge of her noseshe was getting a headache.
"Kaguya-sama, is something wrong?"
( -)?
Hayasaka Ai, having just finished her disguise and returned to her true self, saw the scene and asked in confusion.
"What kind of person is Suou Yuki, really?"
"Not only did she make up this childhood friend relationship, but now she's even using the swimsuit shopping trick to lure in Yukima Azuma."
Hearing that, the corner of Hayasaka Ai's mouth twitched.
Could it be that it was just a normal friend interest?
But then again, even she found it a little strange.
That boy obviously liked her, didn't he?
And now, he was being dragged away by another girl?
Was she being NTR-ed?
( ®®) !!
An idea suddenly popped into Hayasaka Ai's mind.
"Kaguya-sama, that's just one of the advantages women have. It's only natural for her to use it."
"But the Shinomiya family isn't lacking in 'weapons' of their own, right?"
Hearing that, Shinomiya Kaguya nodded thoughtfully.
That made sense.
She had been trained in these skills before.
Knowing how to smile at just the right angle,
How to create the perfect expression to capture someone's heart.
It was the art of fully utilizing a woman's beauty.
Up until now, Shinomiya Kaguya had never had a reason to use these skills.
But now it seemed like the time had come!
Seeing how easily her Ojou-sama was being swayed, Hayasaka Ai decided to fan the flames even more.
"The Shinomiya family doesn't let others take what they want, right?"
"And Kaguya-sama is a Shinomiya. You must have some pridedon't let yourself be humiliated!"
This time, the fire within Shinomiya Kaguya ignited completely.
( )
"Hayasaka, you're absolutely right! What should I do now?"
"There are only a few shopping malls nearby that sell swimsuits. If Kaguya-sama also wants to shop for one, accidentally running into them would be completely normal, wouldn't it?"
"Brilliant! Alright, Hayasaka, let's go!"
Shinomiya Kaguya strode out of Shuchiin with determination.
Watching her Ojou-sama's unwavering resolve, Hayasaka Ai felt a bit uneasy.
Did I just add a little too much fuel to the fire?
But on second thought
It didn't really matter.
She had already advised Kaguya-sama countless times before.
And yet, Kaguya-sama was so stubborn about her plan to lure in Yukima Azuma.
So might as well let things play out.
Hayasaka Ai followed Shinomiya Kaguya out of Shuchiin.
She also wanted to enjoy the show a little.
He confessed to her, and now he's off swimsuit shopping with another girl?
Hayasaka Ai could understand
Wait.
Could I really understand that?
Either way, Hayasaka Ai decided
She was definitely going to stir up some trouble for Yukima Azuma.
Ai to Azuma: ( )
--------------------------------------------
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Ginza Shopping Mall.
"Onii-sama, is this cute?"
()
Suou Yuki hugged a plush toy and held it up in front of Yukima Azuma.
It was a black cat with deep red eyes.
It looked rather cold.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
"Umu, it's quite decent."
When it came to cats, Yukima Azuma always had a pretty good sense.
Perhaps it was due to the influence of Kato Megumi and Yukino.
After all, he and Kato Megumi had adopted their first cat together.
Shiratamaru: /- - Nyanhallo!
And Yukino was a hardcore cat fanatic.
Yuki-Nyan: ^><^ Nyanhallo!
And Kasumigaoka Utaha have one too.
Hogyokumaru: / > < Nyanhallo!
Hearing Yukima Azuma's response, Suou Yuki gave a mischievous smile.
"Eh, Onii-sama thinks it's cute? I guess it really is, huh?"
"Doesn't it look a lot like President Shinomiya? So that means Onii-sama also thinks President Shinomiya is cute, right?"
()
Hearing Suou Yuki say that...
Yukima Azuma also felt that the plush cat did resemble Shinomiya Kaguya.
Cold and aloof, yet carrying a bit of an air that made one want to pet it.
/,,'',,
Umu, very fitting.
"This one looks more like you."
Yukima Azuma pointed at a plush Shiba Inu.
"Ugh, Onii-sama, are you trying to turn me into your dog again?!"
><
Suou Yuki protested, but she said it with a laugh.
Yukima Azuma raised his hand and flicked her forehead lightly.
This little sister was getting more and more mischievous.
In the end, Suou Yuki put the black cat back down.
But she bought the Shiba Inu plush and stuffed it into Yukima Azuma's hands.
Her reasoning: "Since it looks like me, Onii-sama should keep it at home. That way, when you look at it, you'll remember me. Ehe~!"
-
After leaving that store, the two continued walking to another shop.
It didn't feel like they were picking out swimsuits at allmore like they were just strolling around town.
After they left
Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai happened to walk past the same store.
"Umu, it really does look a bit like Kaguya-sama."
(. .)
Hayasaka Ai glanced at the black cat plush and nodded in agreement.
Shinomiya Kaguya glared at her maid.
(`)
Like hell it does!
But... after thinking it over, Shinomiya Kaguya still decided to buy the black cat plush.
Perhaps it would come in handy later.
"Weren't those two supposed to be picking out swimsuits?"
Watching the two wander from store to store, Shinomiya Kaguya furrowed her brows slightly.
After browsing a few more stores, Yukima Azuma and Suou Yuki finally stepped into a swimwear shop.
Suou Yuki looked at the array of swimsuits displayed before her.
There were modest one-piece designs, as well as standard three-piece bikinis.
There were even some skimpy string styles with extremely minimal coverage.
Upon seeing these, Suou Yuki slightly curled her fingers.
But she still kept a carefree expression as she turned to Yukima Azuma.
"Onii-sama, can you help me choose?"
()
A store clerk who was about to introduce some products stopped in her tracks upon hearing this.
( ®®) !!
Siblings came together?
She had worked at a swimwear store for years
But she had never seen siblings go swimsuit shopping together.
Could this be what they call 'love that transcends all social norms'?
Hearing Suou Yuki's request, Yukima Azuma was about to tell her to pick for herself.
But before he could speak, Suou Yuki leaned in close to his ear.
"Ne~ne~, Onii-chan-sama~. My current three sizes are 90, 59, 85."
After saying that, she even winked suggestively at Yukima Azuma.
( - )
Yukima Azuma immediately reached out and pinched Suou Yuki's cheek.
"Don't go telling me things like that!"
<( _)>
"But Onii-sama should obviously know these numbers!"
()
"Know your head! My name is Yukima Azuma, not Kasugano Haruka!"
()
"But if Onii-chan wants Yuki wouldn't say no~."
( )
"KONO AHO BAKA!"
( Д )*
Yukima Azuma had seen through itwanting to see Suou Yuki embarrassed? That was impossible.
This girl had a sharp tongue and a strong ability to tease.
As for what she was really thinking inside, only she knew.
Yukima Azuma glanced at the selection of swimsuits and carefully picked through them for a while.
In the end, he chose a light purple one-piece swimsuit.
This one revealed very little skin, with lace detailing around the thighs and sleeves.
It perfectly suited the image of a cute young girl.
Based on Suou Yuki's measurements, Yukima Azuma picked an appropriately sized one and handed it to her.
"Arara~, how conservative. Onii-sama doesn't want others to see my skin, huh?"
()
"Ehehe~, such strong possessiveness. But Yuki likes it very much~."
( - )
Suou Yuki winked at Yukima Azuma.
Before he could say anything, she had already dashed into the fitting room.
Not long after, Suou Yuki peeked her head out from behind the curtain.
"So, Onii-sama? Are you looking forward to it~?"
At that moment
"Yukima Onii-chan, what a coincidence!"
( ).
A lively voice suddenly called out from the side.
Hearing the words "Onii-chan," Suou Yuki's eyes immediately widened.
( ®®) !!
Yukima Azuma turned around.
The person he saw was Hayasaka Ai in her maid outfit.
Normally, that uniform made Hayasaka Ai look calm and professional.
But today, she was playing the role of an energetic character.
While greeting him, Hayasaka Ai waved at Yukima Azuma.
All the store employees' eyes were drawn to her.
Store clerks: Another little sister?! Could this be... the battlefield of the Bro-con club?!
"Yukima Onii-san, are you here to pick out swimsuits too?"
( )
Shinomiya Kaguya also called him "Onii-san."
Both of them knew that Suou Yuki was inside the fitting room.
And they were certain she could hear this conversation.
Yet, they deliberately used an intimately familiar address.
After all, their goal in coming here was precisely to stir up some trouble.
At this moment, Suou Yuki was starting to get a little impatient.
She directly pulled open the curtain and stepped out.
"Ara, Suou-san, you're here too?"
Shinomiya Kaguya pretended to be surprised, though a slight awkwardness leaked through.
As if she wanted to write "I have a secret with Yukima Azuma, hurry up and ask!" all over her face.
( )
As long as Suou Yuki got curious and questioned them, Shinomiya Kaguya would immediately have the chance to explain her relationship with Yukima Azuma.
But Suou Yuki
"Umu, what a coincidence, President Shinomiya."
( `)
Suou Yuki smiled and greeted Shinomiya Kaguya.
She showed absolutely no intention of questioning their choice of words.
Instead, she placed her hands on her hips and struck a striking pose.
Even though it was a relatively modest one-piece swimsuit...
Once she wore it, the effect was astonishing.
Shinomiya Kaguya's eyelids twitched slightly.
(_)
She wasn't sure if her previous move had dealt any damage.
But she was absolutely sure she had just been counterattacked straight through the armor.
Seeing Shinomiya Kaguya stay silent, Suou Yuki turned to Yukima Azuma.
"Azuma-kun, what do you think? Does it suit me?"
(*`*).
Yukima Azuma nodded honestly.
Umu, Imouto-chan looked good in anything.
)
But this light purple one-piece swimsuit, despite covering a lot, carried a unique allure.
The lace design enhanced the youthful charm of the lively girl.
It suited Suou Yuki perfectly.
"Hehe, I think so too. As expected of Azuma-kun, your taste is spot on."
"Going swimsuit shopping with Azuma-kun was definitely the right choice."
With that, Suou Yuki slipped back into the fitting room.
She changed back into her clothes, ready to check out.
Outside the fitting room, the three fell into a brief silence.
Shinomiya Kaguya felt a bit helpless.
As expected of the Suou family Oujou-samanot falling for traps at all.
She had miscalculated this time.
As for Hayasaka Ai
She had been completely hit by the splash damage from that earlier clash.
Even though, on the surface, Hayasaka Ai looked much "fuller" than Shinomiya Kaguya...
In reality, her estimated size was only around a B-cup, with a fair amount of "padding."
To put it bluntly
It was all enhanced!
Just some little tricks girls use.
Yet even so, she still got C-cup AOE'd by Suou Yuki, suffering a devastating blow.
Especially since Hayasaka Ai's feelings were completely different from Shinomiya Kaguya's at this moment.
She genuinely had romantic feelings for Yukima Azuma.
So, when another girl overshadowed her in front of the guy she liked
Emotional damage, critical hit x2.
;
By the time Suou Yuki finished changing and stepped out, she cheerfully waved at the two left behind.
"President Shinomiya, Maid-san, you guys keep shopping, okay? Azuma-kun and I are done, so we're heading out~"
Shinomiya Kaguya could no longer bring herself to ask Yukima Azuma for help in choosing a swimsuit.
She could only nod.
Watching the two of them walk away...
The Shinomiya master-and-servant duo sighed in unison.
(* -`)(- `*)
Result of today's battle: Suou YukiTotal Victory~!
(>)
After leaving the swimwear store...
Suou Yuki leaned in closer to Yukima Azuma, blinking as she stared directly at him.
"Onii-sama, so you have 'secret Imouto-san' outside too?"
(_)
Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
What the hell was a "secret Imouto-san"?
He quickly gave her a brief explanation about his relationship with Hayasaka Nao, Hayasaka Ai, and Shinomiya Kaguya.
After hearing that it was merely a respectful way for juniors to address seniors
Suou Yuki let out a relieved sigh.
Whew, turns out the only real little sister was still just her!
( )*
Earlier, when she first heard the word "Onii-chan," she almost couldn't hold back from questioning them on the spot.
Good thing she restrained herself in the end.
And even successfully counterattacked.
Feeling pleased, Suou Yuki carried her shopping bag and began to hum a tune:
"She is just my little sister~ My little sister says purple has a certain flavor~"
Her pronunciation was extremely accurate.
Hearing such fluent Chinese, Yukima Azuma was momentarily stunned.
Suou Yuki secretly observed his reaction from the corner of her eye, the corners of her lips curling up mischievously.
"This is a Chinese song. Sounds nice, doesn't it?"
"Onii-sama seems quite knowledgeable about Chinese culture, and your preferences lean towards China as well."
"So, when I was learning Chinese, I took the chance to 'jump the wall' and explore Chinese pop culture too."
Even though their exchange program only lasted a month
Suou Yuki had keenly picked up on subtle details about Yukima Azuma's interests.
To have more common topics to talk about, she had put in the effort to study deeper into Chinese culture.
(note: let the author take social credit)
( - )
That morning, Yukima Azuma once again brought up the field trip with Kasumigaoka Utaha.
She had already known about it for a few days.
She simply nodded indifferently.
"Got it. Be safe while you're out and have fun."
It felt just like a mother reminding her child before a school excursion.
And usually, when the long-haired senpai used this tone
It meant she was reluctantly accepting the situation, but deep down, she wasn't happy about it at all.
(`)
Toyogasaki Academy also had a field trip coming up soon.
But, just like last year's trip
If she couldn't go together with Yukima Azuma
Then, to Kasumigaoka Utaha, the trip would have no appeal whatsoever.
This long-haired girl really wanted to travel with Yukima Azuma.
She just couldn't bring herself to say it out loud.
Yukima Azuma gently reached out, hooking his fingers around her loosely hanging hand.
Then, he softly grasped her fair, slender fingers.
Intertwining their fingers, he gently rubbed her delicate hands.
( )
Feeling the softness at her fingertips and the warmth from the boy
This lewd action wasn't necessarily stimulating for either of them
But it quickly soothed Kasumigaoka Utaha's heart.
"Alright, I'm off. Utaha-senpai, make sure to take care of yourself too."
(^^)
Yukima Azuma smiled as he spoke.
His words weren't particularly special, maybe even a bit cheesy
But Kasumigaoka Utaha still nodded slightly.
()
For a proud, black-haired senpai like her, this kind of direct concern was incredibly effective.
When she was feeling down, just a clear, straightforward show of care was enough.
Comforting her
Was actually pretty easy.
The field trip wasn't long, only about a week.
After bidding farewell to the girls at home
Yukima Azuma and the students of Shuchiin Academy set off for Hawaii.
At the airport
Though these students were famous elites,
At the end of the day, they were still just teenagers in their mid-teens.
Before departure, the atmosphere was lively.
Laughter and conversation filled the air.
( ) )) ()
The teachers at Shuchiin Academy didn't intend to enforce strict discipline.
At school, the rules were always strict and suffocating.
Now that they were out, a little relaxation wouldn't hurt.
After that, each class began dividing into groups.
For Yukima Azuma's class, their group leader was homeroom teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"Kid, looking forward to the trip?"
( )
Seeing Yukima Azuma standing alone, Hiratsuka Shizuka walked up and asked.
He had been lost in thought
Hearing her voice, he snapped out of it and nodded.
"Yeah, I guess I'm looking forward to it."
"Do you want to switch seats later and sit with the student council?" Hiratsuka asked.
Though Yukima Azuma wasn't exactly isolated in class
After transferring between schools, he had taken an extended leave shortly after.
And in his free time at school, he was almost always in the student council room.
As a result, in his own class, he barely had any close friends.
Fujiwara Chika was one, but right now, the energetic girl was busy hanging out with her board game club friends.
Other than that, if he had to name someone
Maybe Shijo Maki counted as an acquaintance.
But given Shijo Maki's personality
Of course, she wouldn't actively approach Yukima Azuma.
So, from an outsider's perspective, he looked a little lonely.
After all, he was still her student
And more importantly, the boy her close friend had entrusted to her care.
When it came to Yukima Azuma, Hiratsuka Shizuka was always willing to bend the rules a little.
For example, allowing him to temporarily leave his class group and join the student council group.
However
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
"No need, Hiratsuka-sensei, you don't have to worry about me."
"If I wanted to make friends, I'd have no problem getting to know people in class soon enough."
Hiratsuka Shizuka let out a small "Oh."
She didn't doubt it.
With her sharp insight
Ever since Yukima Azuma transferred in, Hiratsuka Shizuka had noticed.
This boy was not the type to be withdrawn.
The way he handled social relationships
Was no less skilled than a seasoned teacher like her.
There was absolutely no need to worry about him.
Snapping out of his wandering thoughts, Yukima Azuma decided to stop thinking about unrelated things and focus on the field trip.
Instead, he actively started a conversation with Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, what exactly are we going to do on this trip?"
Hearing that, Hiratsuka Shizuka sighed softly, pressing a hand to her forehead in mild exasperation.
"You Let me guess, you didn't even bother to read the school's guidebook, did you?"
"( _ <,, )
Yukima Azuma grinned, laughing sheepishly, pretending to play dumb.
Seeing his reaction, Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't scold him any further
She simply began explaining the itinerary for the trip.
"This time, our destination is Hawaii."
"The first two days will be spent exploring local towns, after which students must write a report about traditions and customs."
"On the third and fourth day, we'll have time to experience the beaches."
"From the fifth to the seventh day, the school has rented a ship for us to sail out to sea, where students can try deep-sea fishing."
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but be amazed.
What a grand itinerary.
As expected of Shuchiin Academy.
Most ordinary schools only organized field trips for formality's sake.
After arriving at their destination, there were usually very few hands-on experiences.
Most of the time, it was just staying at a designated camp.
After all, allowing students to try new and exciting activities
Was not only expensive and troublesome, but also risky.
For normal schools, it simply wasn't worth the investment.
But Shuchiin was different.
As an elite academy that emphasized comprehensive education, they never did things half-heartedly.
While Yukima Azuma was chatting with Hiratsuka Shizuka
It was finally time for Class 1-B to board the plane.
Blending into the crowd, he passed through the boarding gate.
He wasn't sure if the seating arrangement followed the classroom seating chart
But somehow, the seat next to him ended up being Shijo Maki.
The Oujou-sama from the Shinomiya Group's branch family, upon seeing Yukima Azuma
Immediately crossed her arms, huffed, and turned away in displeasure.
( )
Well, that was expected.
Ever since they were at school, Yukima Azuma had loved teasing Shijo Maki.
Being constantly pestered by him, this kind of tsundere reaction from the twin-braided girl was nothing new.
"Ah, a spider."
Yukima Azuma casually remarked, his voice flat and emotionless.
Shijo Maki, who had just turned away, immediately flinched and snapped her head back
Her eyes darted around in panic, searching for the spider.
;
Even for an Oujou-sama, certain instinctual fears were unavoidable.
But after looking around for a while, she found nothing.
Letting out a relieved sigh
Shijo Maki glanced at Yukima Azuma with suspicion.
Only to see
The boy calmly reading a Russian novel in his hand, continuing to the next line as if nothing had happened.
At that moment, she realized she had been tricked.
Shijo Maki immediately glared daggers at him.
( _ )
But Yukima Azuma remained completely unfazed.
"Want to read a light novel?"
"Hmph, no need."
()
Shijo Maki huffed coldly, turning her head away once again.
The plane took off.
As they soared through the sky
Shijo Maki started to regret her decision.
On the plane, phones had to be turned off.
She did have a few things in her backpack to kill time during the flight
But the problem was, her backpack had already been stored in the overhead compartment.
And her seat was on the inner side
Which meant she'd have to ask Yukima Azuma to move if she wanted to retrieve it.
More importantly
With her height, getting the backpack down by herself seemed to be a bit challenging.
She had needed the flight attendant's help to put it up there in the first place.
A sense of boredom slowly crept over her.
Especially with a certain someone sitting next to her, completely engrossed in his book.
Just as Shijo Maki was hesitating
A light novel was suddenly extended toward her from the side.
Out of reflex, she accepted it.
She glanced at the book's cover.
"The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine What is this?"
( -)?
She read the title aloud with a puzzled expression.
For a young lady like her, who had never touched a light novel before
Her impression of "novels" was still limited to classic literary works from various countries.
"A school romance story. Try reading it yourself."
Yukima Azuma responded, eyes still glued to his own book, not even bothering to look up.
Hearing that, Shijo Maki scoffed mockingly.
"So, just another cheap, mainstream book? Your taste is really"
Before she could even finish her sentence
Yukima Azuma cut her off.
"This series has sold over 15 million copies across Japan."
Shijo Maki froze.
( ®® ) ?
15 million copies
That number alone was enough to prove the book's worth.
If she continued insulting it, she'd only end up making herself look ignorant.
At the same time, her curiosity was piqued.
A book like this
What exactly made it so special?
With that thought in mind, she flipped to the first page.
Immediately, her eyes landed on a signature from the author.
The name written there was
Yukimi Azuma.
Shijo Maki couldn't help but glance at him again.
"This book"
"I wrote it."
This time, Shijo Maki was completely speechless.
15 million copies
And the person who wrote it was sitting right next to her.
That number, whether in terms of profit or fame, was an incredible achievement.
Beyond curiosity
A subtle desire to unravel the mystery behind this book began to take root in her heart.
She turned to the first chapter.
The words on the page, brimming with the youthful spirit of a school romance, danced before her eyes
As if pulling her into a radiant summer, where the chorus of cicadas echoed in the air.
Some might assume that studentsthose who were already living through their youth
Wouldn't be too interested in reading school romance stories.
But in reality, that wasn't the case.
Precisely because they were experiencing youth
They resonated with such stories even more deeply.
It wasn't about admiration or nostalgia
It was about a genuine connection, making them even more immersed.
After just a few pages
Shijo Maki had completely forgotten all her initial doubts.
She was utterly engrossed in the world of words.
(*)*.
...
(Note: I'm pretty sure that last time in Hokkaido MC said he would visit Bocchi when he came back, but now he's back on his travels.)
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Chapter 235: Shinomiya Kaguya Starts Getting Serious!
"It's time to get off the plane."
Yukima Azuma gently poked Shijo Maki on the forehead.
( )(._.`)
The girl, who was completely immersed in Saekano, was startled upon hearing that.
She looked up and glanced out the window.
Sure enough
The scenery outside was no longer the blue and white sky.
Instead, it was a foreign airport in a distant land.
The flight from Japan to Hawaii
Was not short at all.
Yet for Shijo Maki, it felt like just a blink of an eye.
Realizing that she had been so absorbed that she completely lost track of time
She was momentarily dazed.
Even when Yukima Azuma poked her forehead, she had not yet fully recovered.
Only after a while
Did Shijo Maki finally look at him and slowly say:
"I admit, this novel is truly outstanding."
(,,,,)
In her eyes
There was astonishment, a hint of reluctance, and a trace of admiration.
Her expression of "you're better than me now, huh?"
( )
Made Yukima Azuma want to reach out and tug at her twin braids.
But instead
He simply took his backpack down from the luggage rack.
Yukima Azuma conveniently grabbed Shijo Maki's backpack as well and tossed it to her.
Watching Yukima Azuma easily reach up and take the bags down, while she had to stand on tiptoes just to barely touch them
Shijo Maki felt a strange sensation welling up inside her.
Like the protagonist in a novel Is he really 1.8 meters tall?
Looking up at Yukima Azuma again.
Shijo Maki had a feelingit might actually be true.
In Japan, where the average height is relatively low.
Yukima Azuma's height was indeed quite striking.
But for some reason, it was only today that Shijo Maki noticed this.
After mentally comparing Yukima Azuma to the protagonist in the book.
Shijo Maki immediately realized.
The two had a lot in common.
After all, the protagonist under Yukima Azuma's pen was based on himself.
And upon discovering this, Shijo Maki instantly began applying the psychological descriptions from the book to Yukima Azuma.
Suddenly, she felt like she understood him much better.
"What are you spacing out for? Give the book back."
Yukima Azuma saw Shijo Maki still looking dazed.
He really couldn't figure out what this tsundere girl was thinking.
He simply reached his hand out toward her, demanding the light novel back.
Hearing that, Shijo Maki instinctively hugged the book tightly to her chest.
She hadn't finished reading it yet!
She was already completely engrossed in Saekano's storyline.
If the book was taken away now.
It would be no different from taking Shijo Maki's life.
The craving to read was serious, okay?!
Seeing Shijo Maki looking like a mother tiger protecting her cub.
( )
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but let out a faint smile.
As for Shijo Maki, at this moment, she suddenly realized something.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you? You never intended to take the book backyou just wanted to tease me, didn't you?"
( ,,'',,)
She stared straight at Yukima Azuma, emphasizing each word.
Yukima Azuma was slightly taken aback.
Huh? Did the tsundere just get smarter?
In truth, although Shijo Maki was a tsundere, she was undeniably a true genius.
Her intelligence level was nearly identical to Shinomiya Kaguya's.
In terms of IQ, her scores were extremely high.
It was just that before, her EQ had been somewhat lacking.
But after understanding Yukima Azuma better
Shijo Maki immediately grasped this teenage boy's wicked little habit.
After all, in the book, the protagonist would also occasionally tease the heroine.
The only difference was the frequency.
With the heroine in the book, he only teased her once or twice for fun.
But with her
Every time they met, he just had to mess with her a little.
Shijo Maki took a deep breath, puffed her cheeks, and glared at Yukima Azuma.
( ) !!!
So annoying! This guy!
"How much is this book? I'll buy it from you."
( _ )
Shijo Maki shot him a glare and asked.
"This is a collector's edition, not for sale. Plus, it has my autograph."
\_()_/
Yukima Azuma stated the truth.
Hearing that, Shijo Maki's expression drooped slightly.
If it was a non-sale edition, then she really couldn't buy it with money.
But returning the book to Yukima Azuma right now...
She really couldn't bear to do it.
She wasn't even sure if bookstores in Hawaii sold Japanese light novels.
Just as she was struggling over what to do
"But if Shijo-san likes it, I'll just give it to you for free."
( )
Yukima Azuma, after pausing deliberately, finally chuckled and spoke.
At first, Shijo Maki was overjoyed, nearly jumping in excitement.
But then, she realized.
This guy was teasing her again.
He could have just said it straight from the start, yet he had to drag it out like that.
Annoying!
Even though she felt a little fiery inside, Shijo Maki still obediently thanked Yukima Azuma.
Sometimes, free things were the most expensive.
Since she wanted this book, she had no choice but to accept the favor from Yukima Azuma.
Hugging her backpack, she carefully placed the light novel into an inner compartment.
Finally, she glared at Yukima Azuma once more before hurriedly running off the plane.
"Eh? What's up with Shijo-san?"
( -)?
Fujiwara Chika watched Shijo Maki's retreating figure, looking puzzled.
"Ah, well, girls, you know."
\_()_/
The culprit, Yukima Azuma, shrugged nonchalantly.
"Umu, girls, indeed."
( )
Fujiwara Chika nodded in agreement.
With absolutely no awareness of being a girl herself.
Shuchiin had booked an entire beachfront hotel.
After that, room keys were distributed, with several people sharing a room.
Initially, Yukima Azuma thought he would be sharing with some other guys from the class.
But unexpectedly, he received the key to a presidential penthouse suite.
Glancing around, he noticed that Fujiwara Chika was holding an identical keycard.
He immediately understood.
It seemed that the Student Council members would be staying together.
That made senseafter all, the Student Council of Shuchiin held a special status.
Getting the best rooms was only natural.
Besides, they even had authority over an annual budget of hundreds of millions of yen
A little privilege like this was nothing.
Moreover, even though they were technically staying together, the presidential penthouse suite had many private rooms.
There wasn't even a hint of the ambiguous atmosphere one might imagine.
Carrying his luggage, Yukima Azuma headed toward the room that matched his keycard.
The moment he stepped into the penthouse, Suou Yuki, who had arrived early, immediately approached with a playful grin and whispered:
"Hehe, onii-sama, who would've thought we'd get to live together like this~"
()
Yukima Azuma pinched Suou Yuki's cheek.
"This is just a school field trip."
(_)
"It's basically the same as living together."
( )
"No, it's very different. A field trip is a serious academic activity."
(_)
"Here's my room key~ You're welcome to a midnight raid, onii-sama~ Ah, no, actuallyyou must come for a midnight raid..."
)
Suou Yuki shoved a key into Yukima Azuma's hand.
A vein popped on his forehead.
Just as he was about to discipline this brat, footsteps echoed behind him.
Shinomiya Kaguya and Fujiwara Chika entered one after another.
To protect Suou Yuki's reputation, Yukima Azuma swallowed back his words and quietly slipped the key into his pocket.
Seeing this, Suou Yuki flashed an Aizen-style smirk.
( )
"Yukima-san, Suou-san."
Shinomiya Kaguya greeted the two of them.
She was still brooding over her previous loss.
"Good morning, President Shinomiya."
Suou Yuki replied with a smile.
After that, all four of them returned to their rooms to unpack.
Today wasn't officially the first day of the field trip.
The school didn't call for any assemblies, allowing students to unpack and rest freelyshaking off fatigue from the long journey.
Once he was done organizing his belongings
Yukima Azuma was the first to step out of his room.
He walked over to the penthouse's floor-to-ceiling window and gazed outside.
A vast, deep blue ocean stretched before his eyes.
Waves rolled in and crashed against the shore, yet he couldn't hear a sound.
Just how thick was the soundproofing in this place?
Yukima Azuma also noticed rows of palm trees lining the beach.
It looked like there were brown coconuts dangling from them.
Judging by their height, climbing up to grab one probably wouldn't take much effort.
"The setting sun and a lone crane fly together,
The water and the sky merge into one vast hue."
Suddenly, a girl's voice recited a poem from behind him.
Just now, when Yukima Azuma looked at the horizon where the sky met the sea, he had also thought of this famous verse.
Hearing someone else mention it at this moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of resonance.
Turning around, he saw that the person behind him was Shinomiya Kaguya.
"President Shinomiya is quite knowledgeable about Chinese culture, I see."
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded slightly.
"Since childhood, I've studied all six official languages of the United Nations. Out of them, Chinese was the hardest."
"I had to put in a lot of effort, but thanks to that, I learned a lot about its culture as well."
Since she knew Yukima Azuma's interests, subtly showcasing her cultural background was a clever way to gain favor.
Even though Yukima Azuma understood that Shinomiya Kaguya was deliberately saying this, he still couldn't help but feel a bit of camaraderie.
This could be considered a kind of "open conspiracy."
At that moment, Suou Yuki and Fujiwara Chika also stepped out of their rooms.
"Shall we go for a walk outside? What do you all think?"
Shinomiya Kaguya suggested with a gentle smile.
Fujiwara Chika immediately raised her hand in excitement.
Yukima Azuma also wanted to go out, so he nodded in agreement.
Suou Yuki, however, glanced at Shinomiya Kaguya.
Something about President Shinomiya seemed different today.
Could it be that she's finally getting serious?
Chapter 236: Shijo Maki's First Kiss
The second day after arriving in Hawaii.
Today was the sightseeing day.
Each class would tour and experience the local culture in Hawaii, then write a report to submit.
Early in the morning, everyone gathered in the hotel dining area.
Yukima Azuma immediately noticed Shijo Maki with two huge dark circles under her eyes.
She looked completely sleep-deprived.
"What's wrong? You're not used to the time zone yet?"
( -)?
Yukima Azuma asked in confusion.
Shijo Maki slightly opened her mouth, intending to say something.
But when the words reached her lips, she didn't say them anymore.
In the end, she only nodded slightly as if admitting it.
Although the time difference between Japan and Hawaii was quite significant,
As an Oujou-sama of a Shinomiya family branch, Shijo Maki frequently traveled abroad.
Jet lag had long become a routine matter for her.
Normally, it could never cause her to lose sleep to this extent.
The only reason she looked like a panda right now
Was because she stayed up late last night reading a light novel.
It was her first time encountering entertainment like light novels,
And she happened to start with the masterpiece Youth series.
It would be strange if she didn't get hooked.
Last night, right after returning to her room,
Shijo Maki read Saekano straight through.
However, there was no way she could tell Yukima Azuma that
She had binged his book to the point of forgetting to eat or sleep, and that was why she ended up like this.
(>\\<)
Saying that wouldn't just be embarrassing, it would also feel like slapping herself in the face.
"Ohm is there a volume two of the light novel?"
(,,,,)
After a brief silence, Shijo Maki still asked.
With her personality, this kind of slightly pleading tone was extremely rare.
But Shijo Maki had really been drawn into the story.
Seeing Shijo Maki's expectant eyes, Yukima Azuma gently nodded.
Just as the girl's eyes lit up
Yukima Azuma continued speaking:
"Well, there is, but unfortunately, since this is a trip, I only brought volume one."
\_()_/
Hearing that, Shijo Maki's small face immediately fell.
(- - )
Didn't that mean she had to wait until the school trip ended?
That was still a whole week away.
Even if she ordered it online from Japan and had it shipped express,
It would take at least three days.
Three days without reading the next volume of this Youth novel, Shijo Maki felt like she was going to die.
She didn't know whether it was because she couldn't continue reading or because of the lack of sleep,
But her whole body swayed as if she was about to collapse.
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched slightly, and he reached out to support her.
He hadn't expected this Oujou-sama to be this addicted.
"Maki, are you okay?"
Beside them, a short-haired girl ran over and asked worriedly.
Yukima Azuma also knew this girl.
She was a classmate from 1-B.
The only friend Shijo Maki had, and also her childhood friend.
As for her specific name, Yukima Azuma had never bothered to remember it.
But he knew her background quite well.
Her father was the President of a major shipbuilding corporation.
Her grandfather was a board member of the Japan Business Federation AKA Keidanren, one of Japan's three major economic organizations.
It could be said that she was a top-tier Oujou-sama.
After all, only someone with such a background could have grown up alongside Shijo Maki since childhood.
Receiving concern from her best friend,
Shijo Maki steadied herself and smiled awkwardly.
She shook her head vigorously and said:
"There's nothing wrong with me, I'm just not used to the time zone and a little sleepy."
Tsundere.
Seeing her best friend insist she was fine, the short-haired girl sighed in relief.
"As long as you're okay, then I'll head over there."
She pointed to the opposite side.
Over there stood a male student.
Shijo Maki nodded.
But when her friend actually left, a slightly pitiful look appeared on her face.
(_ .)
That's just how tsunderes are.
(,,><,,) b-baka!
In reality, she really wanted her best friend to stay with her.
But she couldn't bring herself to say that out loud, and instead, she even said the opposite.
Yukima Azuma shook his head helplessly.
Oh well, this was his fault anyway.
He might as well take responsibility for taking care of this tsundere brat today.
...
The hotel provided a free breakfast buffet.
After finishing their breakfast, the Shuchiin students checked in and gathered outside the hotel.
Several tour buses were already waiting.
Although they called it a cultural field survey, Shuchiin couldn't possibly have these rich young masters and ladies actually walk around to observe.
They boarded the buses.
According to the seating arrangement, Shijo Maki still sat next to Yukima Azuma.
Feeling drowsy, she settled into the soft bus seat.
Her eyelids quickly started battling each other.
(* *)
Yukima Azuma didn't say anything.
Tell her to sleep a little?
Guaranteed, Shijo Maki would immediately force herself to stay awake.
That's just how tsunderes are.
(,,><,,) b-baka!
After waiting for a while, the bus started moving.
With the gentle rocking, Shijo Maki could no longer hold out and dozed off right where she was.
Her little twin-braided head bobbed up and down.
In the end, she leaned toward Yukima Azuma, resting against his shoulder, sleeping soundly.
Yukima Azuma didn't move, letting her lean on him for the time being.
A faint, sweet fragrance brushed past Yukima Azuma's nose.
He took a light sniff, feeling a bit puzzled.
Did Shijo Maki always smell like this?
It wasn't the scent of shampoo or perfume.
More precisely, it wasn't a smell that Yukima Azuma could perceive with ordinary senses.
Just like how Kato Megumi had the scent of tuberoses and Eriri carried the aroma of sweet pears.
Only Yukima Azuma, who possessed supernatural abilities, could perceive the unique scent of each individual.
This fragrance could even change according to the person's state.
For example, when they were afraid, it would carry the scent of fear.
Previously, Yukima Azuma had never paid attention to Shijo Maki's scent.
But now, she smelled exactly like a freshly baked, delicious cake.
Umu, he'd buy a cake for lunch.
Yukima Azuma made that decision.
()
...
The tour bus glided through a few local streets of Hawaii.
These weren't famous landmarks, but streets rich in local flavor.
The students only observed from inside the bus without getting off.
Finally, the bus headed toward a high school in the area.
The education system and cultural atmosphere here were vastly different from Japan, and even from East Asia as a whole.
Choosing a high school as the final destination.
It was a great way to experience cultural differences firsthand.
This time, everyone had to get off the bus.
So, Yukima Azuma planned to wake Shijo Maki up first.
However, coincidentally, at that exact moment, she opened her eyes on her own, groggily waking up.
( -)
Even though she hadn't slept for long, Shijo Maki felt incredibly refreshed.
Upon waking up, she was even a little surprised.
In an environment with other people around, she should have been very alert.
As an Oujou-sama, she had been trained in these thingswhen in an unsafe environment, she was supposed to be even more vigilant.
Yet today, on the bus, she had fallen into a deep sleep without a care.
It felt like there was an incredibly reliable presence right beside her.
Someone she could lean on without any hesitation.
Her thoughts drifted back.
Only now did Shijo Maki realizeshe had actually been leaning on Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
( ®®) !!
She immediately sat up straight.
A flush of red spread across her cheeks.
( - )
Her purple eyes widened.
She had actually fallen asleep on this guy!
As an Oujou-sama who had never experienced close contact with the opposite sex,
Shijo Maki's heart was now pounding at an alarming rate.
"Th-thank you."
(,,><,,)
Suppressing her chaotic emotions, she turned to Yukima Azuma and softly expressed her gratitude.
She had already mentally prepared herself to be teased.
After all, Yukima Azuma loved to mess with her.
Given this kind of opportunity, there was no way he would let it slipshe was sure of it.
However, after she thanked him, Yukima Azuma's face didn't show the slightest hint of mockery.
He merely nodded gently.
As if nothing had happened.
Shijo Maki was stunned.
What was up with him today?
With that doubt lingering in her mind,
She just sat there blankly, staring at Yukima Azuma, unable to recover.
Being stared at like that,
Yukima Azuma was also a bit puzzled.
What's with this tsundere brat?
( -)?
Just as Yukima Azuma was about to ask
The bus suddenly braked sharply!
Screams erupted throughout the vehicle.
Due to inertia, many students staggered, nearly falling from their seats.
Hiratsuka Shizuka immediately rushed toward the driver.
After all, the young masters and ladies on this bus were quite valuable.
But as she reached the driver, Hiratsuka Shizuka quickly understood the situation.
Not far ahead, a child clutching a basketball stood frozen in fear.
One glance was enough for her to figure out what had happened.
Most likely, the basketball had bounced onto the road, and the child had run after it without checking for traffic.
The driver had to slam the brakes to avoid hitting them.
Classic.
Luckily, nothing serious had happened.
Even though there was no real danger,
In the back rowan "unexpected incident" occurred.
Due to the force of inertia, Yukima Azuma was slightly pushed forward, but he managed to steady himself in time.
However, the one who had been staring absentmindedlyShijo Makiwas not as quick to react.
Her entire body lurched forward, falling straight into Yukima Azuma.
Her lips landed precisely on his.
( ( `)
A soft sensation spread through him.
Along with it was a sweetness reminiscent of cake.
Yukima Azuma's breath hitched for a moment.
Shijo Maki's already wide purple eyes grew even larger.
Her first kiss was gone just like that!?
It almost felt like steam was rising from the top of Shijo Maki's head.
(/////" )
It took her a moment to snap back to reality. She immediately pushed against Yukima Azuma's chest, separating the two of them.
A deep pink flushed up her pale neck, quickly spreading across her entire face.
Even the tips of her small ears burned red.
After retreating to her own seat, Shijo Maki was like a frightened little rabbit.
She curled up tightly against the bus window, her whole body stiff.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Yukima Azuma lightly touched his lips.
Did coincidences like this really exist in this world?
In anime and manga, there were plenty of "Hentai lucky" situations.
These scenes were deliberately created for fanservice.
At the same time, they also served as stepping stones to bring the male and female protagonists closer together.
For example, the classic scene where the heroine trips and falls onto the male lead, resulting in accidental physical contactor even more.
Or the scenario where the male protagonist accidentally walks in on the female lead while she's changing.
Or situations like the current onewhere due to an external force, two people unintentionally collide, leading to an unexpected kiss.
Normally, these scenes were heavily scripted.
Because the actual probability of such events occurring was ridiculously low.
If two people bumped into each other, the likelihood of a kiss happening was far lower than the chance of just smashing their noses.
And yet, this kind of coincidence had just happened between him and Shijo Maki.
Yukima Azuma felt a little numb.
(-_-)
As for Shijo Maki
She was curled up in her seat like a frightened little rabbit.
()
Her large purple eyes were round and shimmering with unshed tears.
Her first kiss had been stolen in such a ridiculous situation!?
A surge of grievance welled up inside her.
But at the same time, Shijo Maki involuntarily recalled the sensation just now.
It actually felt kind of nice?
Soft, fragrant, sweet.
The moment that thought popped into her head
Shijo Maki could no longer handle it.
"Uwaaa!" She burst into tears.
."®()®".
Yukima Azuma helplessly pinched the bridge of his nose.
What a disaster.
He pulled a tissue from his pocket and handed it to the girl.
Shijo Maki blankly stared at the tissue, then at Yukima Azuma.
Then, she snatched the tissueonly to cry even harder.
;
"What's wrong with you two?"
(_) ??
At that moment, Hiratsuka Shizuka had walked over to Yukima Azuma's seat.
"Shijo-san hit her nose when the bus braked suddenly," Yukima Azuma casually made up an excuse.
If he didn't lie now and told the truth
Shijo Maki would definitely cry even harder.
."®()®".
Hearing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka immediately leaned in to check on Shijo Maki.
After confirming that her nose was fine and there was no sign of bleeding, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Alright, seems like there's no issue. Yukima-kun, keep an eye on Shijo for me, okay?"
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched slightly.
Is this really okay?
(_")
Shijo Maki was still sniffling, and when she caught a glimpse of Yukima Azuma's reluctant expression, she felt even more wronged.
Even her first kiss had been stolen
What was wrong with making him take care of her a little more!?
Her tears continued to flow, showing no sign of stopping.
;
"Alright, alright! I got it!"
Yukima Azuma sighed, feeling a headache coming on.
The commotion eventually settled down.
By the time they got off the bus, Shijo Maki's emotions had somewhat stabilized.
However, the moment she stepped offshe immediately kept a considerable distance from Yukima Azuma.
Shijo Maki's close friend, a short-haired girl, approached her.
"Maki, are you okay?"
This was the first time she had ever seen Shijo Maki cry like that.
Shijo Maki pouted and shook her head.
"Um, I'm fine. I just bumped my nose on the bus."
"You know, when you hit your nose, it stimulates the tear glandsit's a physiological reaction that can't be controlled."
The tsundere desperately tried to cover up the truth.
(,,><,,) b-baka!
Hearing this, the short-haired girl finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Buteven as she said that
Shijo Maki's fingers unconsciously brushed against her cherry blossom lips.
Was a kiss really that pleasant?
This was too strange.
"Um, have you ever kissed anyone before?"
Shijo Maki suddenly turned to ask her best friend.
The short-haired girl froze for a moment, then blushed and shook her head.
"Of course not! Maki, why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
Hearing that, Shijo Maki let out an awkward laugh.
"It's nothing, just a random thought So don't mind it."
She quickly changed the subject to brush it off.
But she still seemed a little dazed.
Her mind drifting somewhere far away.
On the way back.
Shijo Maki switched seats with another girl.
Acting as if she was deliberately avoiding Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma didn't really care.
After all, what happened earlier was purely an accident.
If there was anything to say about it
It was that the coincidence was just way too suspicious.
Back at the hotel.
As soon as he entered the room, Yukima Azuma saw Shinomiya Kaguya and Suou Yuki sitting on the sofa.
The two of them seemed to be discussing their observations and thoughts after visiting Hawaii High School today.
"Azuma-kun, you're back? Come sit here."
(*)*.
Suou Yuki patted the seat beside her, signaling him to sit down.
Yukima Azuma walked over.
Casually picked up the cup on the table and drank the remaining tea in it.
"Wait"
Suou Yuki had only gotten half a sentence out, but it was already too late.
Yukima Azuma put the cup down, blinking in confusion.
Then his gaze shifted
And landed on Shinomiya Kaguya, whose cheeks had turned slightly red.
Moreover
Her left hand was pressed against her cheek.
Yukima Azuma knew this gesture very well.
This was something Shinomiya Kaguya often did when trying to calm herself down.
Like pressing a mental reset button.
As long as she did this, no matter how chaotic her mind was, she could regain her composure.
It was a technique Shinomiya Kaguya had deliberately trained herself in.
But why did she need to activate her "calm mode" at this moment?
Yukima Azuma's gaze fell on the cup in front of him.
A bad premonition suddenly rose in his mind.
"That cup was used by President Shinomiya."
Suou Yuki explained helplessly.
"I really didn't know. I sincerely apologize."
Yukima Azuma apologized with complete sincerity.
But internally, he had already collapsed!
What the hell was going on today?!
The situation on the sofa was as follows:
Suou Yuki sat in the middle.
Shinomiya Kaguya was to her left.
And Yukima Azuma sat to her right.
The cup he had just drunk from was the one placed directly in front of him.
Every time they gathered in the student council room, Suou Yuki would thoughtfully prepare tea in advance.
Yukima Azuma was used to it, so he didn't think much of it.
"I-It's okay"
Shinomiya Kaguya lightly waved her hand.
"I was sitting there earlier, but I got up to grab something from my bag and switched seats. This is partly my fault too. Don't mind it, Yukima-kunit was just an accident."
She actively explained the situation.
If she was planning to win this guy over
Then of course, she wouldn't get upset over something this trivial.
Tolerance and generosity were the keys to earning trust.
But an indirect k-kiss
As the Oujou-sama of the Shinomiya family
And someone completely lacking in knowledge about romance, having been isolated from the opposite sex since childhood
At this moment, Shinomiya Kaguya's inner state was far from as calm as it appeared.
If not for her "calm mode" holding her together
Her face would surely have been burning red by now.
"This is exactly the kind of scene you'd see in an anime, huh?"
Suou Yuki winked at Yukima Azuma, mouthing the words.
Things like an "indirect kiss" were just too anime.
Yukima Azuma shot her a helpless glance.
At the same time, he felt that today had been utterly ridiculous.
A faintly sweet scent drifted over from beside him.
Yukima Azuma froze.
His gaze unconsciously shifted in that direction.
If he didn't know it was impossible, he would have thought Shijo Maki was here.
That sweet, cake-like fragrance
Was coming from Shinomiya Kaguya.
Could it be that, because they were blood relatives, even their scents were similar?
Yukima Azuma mused.
Thinking about it, maybe it wasn't so far-fetched.
Even though Shijo Maki and Shinomiya Kaguya belonged to the main and branch families respectively
And their blood ties were distant, with a large generational gap between them
The two were eerily similar.
Their birthdays, blood types, even the number of times they attended school and left early at Shuchiin were completely identical.
Both were from prestigious families, both took pride in their heritage and lineage.
Both were tsunderes, with similar ways of thinking, appearances, and demeanor.
Even their complete lack of knowledge about romance, their inexperience with first-time experienceswere exactly the same.
To put it bluntly, Shijo Maki was like a "failed version" of Shinomiya Kaguya.
If that were the case
It wasn't surprising that they shared the same scent.
Yukima Azuma shook his head, gradually pushing aside his stray thoughts.
"President Shinomiya and I were discussing education."
Noticing the awkward atmosphere, Suou Yuki quickly smiled and shifted the topic to something more serious.
Thanks to Suou Yuki's lead
The atmosphere in the room gradually relaxed.
"Umu, after visiting the schools in Hawaii, I have some thoughts."
Shinomiya Kaguya continued the conversation.
The whole "indirect kiss" matter was just too much for her.
If they seriously talked about it
Shinomiya Kaguya had a feeling she'd blurt out something extreme from sheer embarrassment.
"While there are differences in school quality back home as well, the gap isn't as glaring as it is here."
"The disparity in educational resources is simply incomparable."
Suou Yuki chimed in.
In Japan, though there was a massive difference in teaching quality and resources between the Big Three schools and regular high schools
Ordinary schools weren't completely abandoned.
But here in Hawaii
Public high schools barely had any educational resources worth mentioning.
After seeing the local secondary education system firsthand
Both couldn't help but wonder:
"Do Westerners not need to study?"
The Western concept of "fun education"
Was truly difficult for the Japanese to understand.
"The so-called happy education is essentially just a method to eliminate the ruler's threats."
"Ignorant people bring peace to the nation, while an enlightened populace leads to chaotic times."
Yukima Azuma expressed his opinion.
The Western education system
The divide between "happy education" in public schools and "elite education" in private schools was overly apparent.
This was simply a trade-off.
Abandoning the supply of potential talents from the lower classes
In exchange for a populace that was even more ignorant and easier to govern.
Upon hearing this, Suou Yuki and Shinomiya Kaguya both nodded in agreement.
After a brief discussion,
The three of them each had their own direction for writing their reports.
The extracurricular activity report at Shuchiin, of course, was not just a perfunctory piece of writing.
It was an important component that contributed to the social practice evaluation score.
If they simply wrote a superficial report and submitted it, they would definitely lose points.
And just as this topic came to a close
A knock suddenly echoed at the door.
The three exchanged glances.
"Who could it be?" Suou Yuki wondered.
( -)?
Yukima Azuma shook his head. "No idea. Secretary Fujiwara probably wouldn't knock; she has a key to the room."
\_()_/
Shinomiya Kaguya stood up and walked over to open the door.
The moment the door swung open
Standing outside in the hallway was a male student in the Shuchiin uniform.
Shinomiya Kaguya did not recognize him.
Yukima Azuma looked outside
He felt the boy seemed somewhat familiar.
Probably a classmate.
But as for his name, Yukima Azuma truly couldn't remember.
"Ah, President Shinomiya, hello."
Seeing Shinomiya Kaguya open the door, the male student immediately greeted her politely.
Shinomiya Kaguya gave a slight nod.
Then, she asked with a hint of doubt, "Is there something you need?"
The male student scratched his cheek, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Ehm, I want to ask Vice President Yukima of the student council about something."
The Shuchiin student council, aside from being a powerful organization,
also had the role of assisting students.
For academic or personal concerns, students could seek advice from the council.
Of course, hardly anyone actually did so.
The worries of prestigious families' children were not easy to confide in others.
After all, even the slightest carelessness could turn into leverage for others to exploit.
Hearing this, Shinomiya Kaguya was surprised but still stepped aside to let him in.
"If it's about seeking advice, coincidentally, Suou-san and I are here as well, so we might be able to help."
She spoke casually.
But it was just an act.
She did not know the male student in front of her.
Which meant he had neither the qualifications nor the value to be recruited.
To put it bluntlyhe was not worth Shinomiya Kaguya's attention.
"Ah, President Shinomiya, this is a matter between male students."
The male student awkwardly declined.
Shinomiya Kaguya blinked.
A matter between male students?
(_)
She glanced at Suou Yuki.
The two quickly came to a conclusion.
Oh, it was most likely that kind of issue.
Romantic advice.
"If that's the case, Suou-san and I will head back to our room first."
Saying that, the two of them walked away together.
Eventually, they entered Shinomiya Kaguya's room.
The male student let out a sigh of relief upon seeing this.
As for the character of this esteemed president-sama, he had complete trust.
Moreover, the presidential suite had incredible soundproofingso long as the door was shut tight,
the conversation in the lounge would certainly remain unheard.
...
Inside the Room
"President Shinomiya, aren't you curious about Azuma-kun's views on romance?"
"This is a great opportunity. Through love counseling, you can grasp his perspective on relationships."
( )
Suou Yuki whispered.
Like the whisper of a devil.
Shinomiya Kaguya hesitated slightly.
(,,,,)
She was indeed very curious.
A person's views on romance could reflect many aspects of their true personality.
If she could understand Yukima Azuma's perspective on love
Then, in terms of information, she would have a significant advantage in bringing Yukima Azuma under her control.
But this suggestion came from a competitor.
Moreover, the method was far from honorable.
What should she do? Accept a win-win situation, compete in perceptiveness with Suou Yuki, or abandon it altogether?
After a brief moment of thought, Shinomiya Kaguya slightly cracked the door open.
Suou Yuki smirked mischievously.
()
...
Meanwhile, in the Lounge
Looking at the male student whose name he couldn't even remember,
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow slightly.
Who would have thought there'd come a day when he would have to take on the role of a love counselor?
But from a guy as straight as steel who had now mastered the psychology of girls,
Serving as a love advisor was hardly a challenge for Yukima Azuma.
"Vice President Yukima, actually, I wanted to ask for love advice."
"You must be really good at romance!"
"After all, even with someone as intimidating as Shijo-san, you can still get along well!"
The male student got straight to the pointso it was indeed a love consultation.
And in class,
Shijo Maki, to most peopleexcept for a handful of female students
Really did look at everyone as if they were garbage.
That was just the typical demeanor of a tsundere.
And Yukima Azuma, the expert in teasing tsunderes
Had become the only male student who had a publicly good relationship with Shijo Maki.
Meanwhile, the two people secretly eavesdropping in the other room, besides getting insights into his romantic views,
Had unexpectedly also received an important piece of intelligence.
Suou Yuki glanced at Shinomiya Kaguya and whispered:
"If I remember correctly, Shijo Maki is related to President Shinomiya, right?"
Shinomiya Kaguya gave a small nod.
Her expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
The person she had her eyes on was already being contested by outsiders.
But why was even her own family trying to dig up her foundation?
( )
Just thinking about Shijo Maki
Shinomiya Kaguya felt a headache coming on.
By familial relation, Kaguya was technically Maki's third-generation grandaunt.
Though they were blood relatives, their generational gap was absurdly wide.
Despite being the same age, even born on the same day, their relationship was extremely poor.
Shinomiya Kaguya had initially planned to recruit that girl into her faction.
But Maki always maintained a distant, strictly professional stance.
Which made Shinomiya Kaguya unable to like her at all.
Back in the Lounge
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Though there was a bit of misunderstanding, he saw no need to explain anything to the male student in front of him.
"Alright, I got it. Do you have a specific question?"
"A girl in my class I want to confess to her!"
(,,><,,)
To be honest, Yukima Azuma had no impression of the person this guy was talking about.
But since these two had nothing to do with him anyway,
It didn't matter if he didn't know.
"So, you're asking about how to confess?"
"Actually, I'm still a bit hesitant. I don't know what she thinks of me."
"Have the two of you interacted before?"
"On Valentine's Day, I received chocolate from her."
"Oh? What kind?"
( o )
"Umm three chocolate candies, so probably obligation chocolate, right?"
"Umu, of course, it's obligation chocolate."
()
"She also once asked me if I had a girlfriend. I said no, and then she and her friends burst out laughing. She was definitely teasing me, right?"
"Umu, of course, she was teasing."
()
Yukima Azuma bluntly affirmed, making the male student's face turn pale.
"Coach, do you think I still have a chance?"
;
Carrying a final glimmer of hope, the male student asked.
Meanwhile, the two girls in the room exchanged glances.
There was no chance at allno matter how they looked at it.
Both of them shared the same thought.
It didn't seem like a relationship that could develop into love in any way.
However, Yukima Azuma's answer was:
"Umu, you have a chance."
( - )
Upon hearing that, the male student immediately brightened up.
He was on the verge of kneeling down in gratitude.
"Confess directly, don't use a love letter or anything like that. You have to say it to her face."
"Use a method like kabedon, be decisive."
)
Yukima Azuma offered his advice.
The male student listened and nodded seriously.
But soon after, he hesitated and asked:
"But she doesn't have feelings for me, does she?"
Yukima Azuma shrugged.
"That's right. Which is why you need to make her realize that you're someone who has the potential to enter a romantic relationship."
"If you keep going like this, you'll only become a certain kind of friend, and the closer you get, the further you'll be from love."
"But right now, the two of you already have a certain level of acquaintance. If you confess immediately, under the influence of a shift in perception, there's still a chance of success."
After hearing this analysis, the male student nodded vigorously.
"Naruhodo! I understand now! Thank you, Vice President Yukima, for your immense grace!"
()
With that, he charged out of the room, brimming with determination.
Yukima Azuma watched his retreating figure and took another sip from Shinomiya Kaguya's tea.
He hadn't deceived the guy.
That was indeed the optimal choice for him.
After all, the kid was already a foolthere was no other way to maneuver, so charging straight ahead was his best bet.
But if it were Yukima Azuma
In this situation, he wouldn't confess right away.
Instead, he would skillfully create events to cultivate an ambiguous atmosphere.
He would gradually make the other person recognize the possibility of seeing him as a romantic prospect.
From there, he would shift their perception while increasing their affection. Finally, at the moment of highest success probability, he would make his move.
...
Inside the Room
Shinomiya Kaguya and Suou Yuki silently locked eyes.
Was that really the case?
The two of them carefully reconsidered.
It seemed he was right.
At the very least, when Shinomiya Kaguya asked herself
If Yukima Azuma were to suddenly confess to her.
(®®)
Until now, she had only seen him as someone to recruit.
But perhaps her heart would beat faster.
(o)
Under the influence of a shift in perception.
If Yukima Azuma confessed it didn't seem entirely unacceptable?
At this thought, Shinomiya Kaguya immediately placed her left hand against her cheek.
"( _ <,, )
If she didn't quickly activate her calm mode, her expression was going to fall apart!
Just from a simple hypothesis, her view of Yukima Azuma had suddenly shifted into a vague kind of affection.
Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes widened.
This was terrifying!
( ®®) !!
Things she hadn't even realized about herselfhe understood them so clearly.
No, wait. Why was he so proficient at this?
At that thought, an inexplicable sourness welled up inside her.
Beside her, Suou Yuki observed Shinomiya Kaguya's change.
The corner of her eye twitched slightly.
President Shinomiya is she in the process of Conquering herself?
As for Onii-chan-sama, this wasn't just a high-level playboy anymore.
This had to be called a master of seduction!
It looked like she needed to speed things up.
If she kept delaying, as the so-called "Imouto-chan" in name, she might not even have a chance to compete!
( )
Chapter 239: The Defeated Heroine
The third day in Hawaii.
"You... better not die on me."
( - )
Seeing Shijo Maki with her pale face and the dark circles under her eyes even more pronounced, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but click his tongue.
Hearing that, Shijo Maki glared at him angrily.
<( _)>
Her exhaustion
Wasn't it all thanks to his "contributions"?
The night before last, she had stayed up late reading light novels.
Last night, even though she had gone to bed early to rest
As soon as she recalled what had happened in the car during the day.
Remembering the feeling of her first kiss.
Shijo Maki kept tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
(///// " )
It wasn't until the middle of the night that she finally drifted off in a state of exhaustion.
No matter how one looked at it, these two incidents couldn't be entirely blamed on Yukima Azuma.
But in the end, they were both closely related to him.
Even so, at this moment, Shijo Maki no longer had the energy to be angry.
She just felt drained, her mind a tangled mess.
()
She just wanted to avoid Yukima Azuma for a while.
Even though it felt somewhat like running away from reality.
At the very least, Shijo Maki wanted to wait until her mind had cleared up before facing Yukima Azuma.
No matter what, he was the one who had taken her first kiss. That was an undeniable fact.
So, after shooting Yukima Azuma a glare,
( ,,'',,)
Shijo Maki quietly shifted to the side.
She was planning to sneak away.
Yukima Azuma saw through her attempt to escape.
He wasn't sure if all Oujou-samas were like this.
But he didn't intend to force the issue.
He would just let her be for now and deal with it later.
But at that moment.
A familiar short-haired girl approached from the side.
"Maki" The short-haired girl called softly.
Hearing her friend's voice, Shijo Maki turned around blankly.
The short-haired girl looked a little embarrassed.
Her fingers fidgeted in front of her chest before she finally spoke:
"Maki, he confessed to me and I accepted."
(,,,,)
Upon hearing this, Shijo Maki's already lagging brain immediately froze.
"Ah, a confession? As long as you're happy, congratulations, congratulations"
( - )
As she said that, she slowly realized that something was off.
Her gaze gradually shifted behind the short-haired girl.
Yukima Azuma also looked in the same direction.
And then, he saw that the person standing behind her was the male student who had come to him yesterday for love advice.
For a moment, even Yukima Azuma's brain stalled.
( ®® ) ?
Then, he quickly recalled.
Aha, wasn't this part of the canon?
Shijo Maki's best friend was confessed to by a male student and then naturally started dating him.
As for Shijo Maki, the twin-tailed tsundere
She ultimately became the "Losing Heroine," just as everyone had expected.
So, it was these two, huh?
No, wait, that wasn't the issue right now.
Yukima Azuma snapped back to reality and quickly shifted his gaze to Shijo Maki.
At this moment, her violet eyes seemed to have lost all light.
Her already dazed expression now looked completely lifeless.
!!! (.O_O.) |lI|l
"Ah is that so? I'm really happy for you."
She spoke in a stiff, scripted tone.
Forcing a smile.
Her short-haired friend, receiving her blessing, immediately beamed with joy.
She waved goodbye to Shijo Maki and left with the male student.
Once the two of them disappeared from sight.
It was as if all the life had been drained from Shijo Maki.
Her small head drooped weakly, and without watching where she was going, she wandered aimlessly.
|!(0_0)!|
Until she bumped straight into Yukima Azuma's chest.
But she herself seemed completely unaware of it.
Yukima Azuma had witnessed the entire process of the "Losing Heroine" from start to finish.
Yukima Azuma felt a slight headache and gently rubbed his temple.
Under normal circumstances, witnessing something like this, he would definitely grab a bag of popcorn and enjoy the drama.
After all, a "Losing Heroine" was just thata "Losing Heroine."
At most, it was just heartbreak.
It might be a heavy blow, but it wouldn't be enough to completely break someone.
But now, looking at Shijo Maki...
She looked as if she had completely disconnected from the neck up.
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but worrywas this going to turn into something serious?
He grabbed Shijo Maki's wrist and led her toward Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Meanwhile, Shijo Maki followed behind him like a lifeless marionette, moving without resistance.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, Shijo-san isn't feeling well. I'd like to excuse her from the activity and take her to a doctor."
Yukima Azuma said.
Today, Shuchiin Academy had a sightseeing activity planned.
Hearing that, Hiratsuka Shizuka glanced at Shijo Maki.
Seeing the girl's exhausted face, Hiratsuka Shizuka was immediately startled.
"Are you sure you can handle it? Should I find a substitute teacher and come with you two?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka asked worriedly.
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
"It's fine, leave it to me."
Hiratsuka Shizuka recalled how Kirisu Mafuyu had once described this boy.
Then she looked at his reliable eyes.
In the end, she nodded in agreement.
After all, she was busy managing the whole class and couldn't be in two places at once.
And so, Yukima Azuma led Shijo Maki back to the hotel.
As for going to the hospital?
Hospital for what?
Given Shijo Maki's condition right now, aside from getting more sleep
The only thing that might actually help her was a therapist.
(_)
Back at the hotel, Yukima Azuma thought for a moment and decided to take her to the student council's room.
Shijo Maki's room had other girls staying in it.
It would be inconvenient for him to enter so casually.
Fortunately, there was still an empty room in the suite area.
After bringing Shijo Maki inside, Yukima Azuma pressed the dazed girl down onto the edge of the bed.
Then he gently pushed her.
Shijo Maki fell back and lay down.
Not long after
She closed her eyes, and her breathing gradually steadied.
( -) z
It was unclear whether she had fallen asleep from exhaustion or had passed out from the emotional blow.
Yukima Azuma pinched the bridge of his nose.
He felt like just these two or three days of this school trip
Had given him more headaches than all the trouble he'd dealt with in the entire past year combined.
He stepped out of the room and casually pulled the door shut.
Then he rummaged through his bag and took out a packet of tea.
.
.
In the blink of an eye, time passed.
By afternoon
Shijo Maki, who had slept for nearly a whole day, groggily walked out of the room.
Her usually well-groomed black hair was now a complete mess from restless sleep.
A few strands stuck up, and several ahoge sprouted from her head.
Seeing that she was finally awake, Yukima Azuma waved at her.
( )
Shijo Maki frowned, walked over, and sat across from him.
Yukima Azuma took a new cup and poured her some tea.
"This is passionflower herbal tea."
Shijo Maki didn't understand but still accepted the cup and took a sip.
A light herbal fragrance spread across her tongue.
Suddenly, she felt as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.
"This is really relaxing."
(*)*.
She sighed, her voice noticeably softer.
Yukima Azuma nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, passionflower contains alkaloids and bioactive compounds. It's very effective in treating hysteria and neurological disorders."
Shijo Maki: ( -)??
Shijo Maki, who had just been feeling comforted, darted her eyes around.
"I'm going to bite you!"
><
She grumbled in frustration.
Her thoughts gradually returned.
Feeling a bit confused, she asked, "Why am I here?"
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma decided not to answer.
At this moment, saying nothing was the best response.
Amid his silence, Shijo Maki finally remembered what had happened.
"Want another cup of herbal tea?"
"Umu, sorry to trouble you."
She downed another cup.
Then let out a long, deep sigh.
"I feel like I'm just a loser forcing a smile right now."
(_ .)
These wordsif she hadn't been pushed to her limits, Shijo Maki would never have spoken them out loud to anyone.
But this situation was different.
Maybe it was because the person sitting in front of her was Yukima Azuma.
Even though her mental endurance hadn't completely hit rock bottom,
Shijo Maki still blurted out her true feelings.
"That's pretty normal. From the first time I met you, I already thought you had the kind of aura that just screams 'I can't possibly win'."
()
"... I'm really gonna bite you!"
<( _)>
"Come on, have another cup."
"... Thanks."
She took another sip of tea, her voice slightly lost.
"I feel a bit confused. What should I do now?"
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
Was he seriously playing the role of a love master now?
"My advice: Let go of the past and start a new relationship."
Without any personal emotions attached,
He gave his suggestion bluntly.
Honestly, in this kind of situation, there were only two options.
Onelet go and start over from scratch.
Twofight for love at all costs.
But with Shijo Maki's tsundere personality, the chances of her going for the second option were close to zero.
That said, Yukima Azuma didn't actually expect her to follow his advice.
If letting go were that easy, she wouldn't have looked so soulless just now.
"Start over, huh...? I see."
Shijo Maki murmured.
Hearing that, a giant question mark appeared above Yukima Azuma's head.
(®®)Nani?
Seeing the thunderstruck look on his face,
Shijo Maki immediately snapped.
"What's with that expression!? You're the one who told me to start over!"
"Of course, I can't forget everything instantly, but little by little, I'll manage, right?"
"What, you expect me to steal my best friend's boyfriend or something?"
( Д )*
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma was even more shocked.
The fact that she could say those words at all meant Shijo Maki was genuinely determined to let go, not just saying it for show.
This mindset was way too normal!?
( ®®) !!
"You really don't plan on fighting for him?"
From what he understood, this should have been the way Shijo Maki thought, right?
"Of course not!! What kind of person do you think I am!?"
( )
Shijo Maki screeched at the top of her lungs.
Half-believing, half-doubting, Yukima Azuma gave a small nod.
Then, he suddenly recalled
In the original storyline, Shijo Maki became a love-struck loser in her second year.
But right now, it was only the second semester of her first year.
Could it be that, since she hadn't had enough time to drown in despair yet, she was still thinking clearly?
Umu, that was the only logical explanation.
( o )
--------------------------------------------
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The sound of a door unlocking echoed at the entrance.
Shijo Maki, who had been feeling unsettled, immediately calmed down upon hearing that sound.
It felt like she was being forced to maintain her composure.
Though, one might wonder what Shijo Maki's "forced composure" button actually looked like.
Shinomiya Kaguya and Suou Yuki entered one after the other.
Shijo Maki turned her head and locked eyes with Shinomiya Kaguya.
"Good evening, Oba-sama."
At those words, the corner of Shinomiya Kaguya's mouth twitched slightly.
( )
Then, with a somewhat helpless expression, she replied:
"Maki-san, could you not call me Oba-sama?"
"We're clearly the same age."
Shijo Maki smoothly stood up, clasped her hands in front of her chest, and gave a polite smile.
"In terms of family relations, it's correct, so there's no helping it."
Her tone was distant, businesslike, with a hint of provocation.
"Besides, my family teaches us to respect the elderly."
( )
A vein popped on Shinomiya Kaguya's forehead.
<( _)>
Although "Ice Princess Kaguya" wasn't overly concerned with how others perceived her, she was still a high school girl.
Being implicitly called a "hag" like thatof course, it was irritating.
"Ah, that's right. It's only natural for branch families to respect the main family."
Shijo Maki lightly brushed her hair, intending to strike a cool pose.
But as soon as she ran her fingers through it, she realized her hair was a little messy.
At that moment, she remembered that Yukima Azuma had brought her back here.
And that she had slept soundly.
With that, she lost interest in arguing with Shinomiya Kaguya.
"Now that scary Oba-sama is back, I'll be going."
With that, Shijo Maki headed toward the door.
She wanted to go back and sort out her feelings.
Her feelings about Yukima Azuma.
As Shijo Maki stepped out, Shinomiya Kaguya could only let out a helpless sigh.
"That girl is really not cute at all."
()
Hearing that, Shijo Maki, who hadn't fully closed the door, felt her heart skip a beat.
She took half a step back, leaned in halfway, and grinned.
"But you know, Azuma-kun just called me cute!"
()
With that, she dashed away, slamming the door behind her.
Like a child who had won and immediately ran off.
Shinomiya Kaguya, upon hearing that, completely lost her composure.
"Eh? You called her cute? Yukima-san!"
"May I ask, what exactly do you like about her? Is it her face?"
"She even calls you by your first name!"
( ) !!!
It wasn't clear what she was jealous of, but she was definitely jealous.
It felt like she had lost something.
And that kind of feeling, Shinomiya Kaguya could not toleratenot even a little.
"The cute part is that she resembles you a little, ShinomiyaKaguya!"
()
Yukima Azuma responded immediately.
There had already been enough chaos these past few days; it was best to keep things peaceful.
Upon hearing that answer, Shinomiya Kaguya's heart was instantly filled with satisfaction.
At the same time, a faint blush quietly spread across her fair cheeks.
()
Suou Yuki, watching from behind, silently praised, "Sasuga Onii-chan-sama sugoi!"
)
Her Onii-sama truly had the skills of a harem protagonist.
It seemed that even if he were thrown into the so-called legendary "Shurafield of Love," Onii-sama would still handle it with ease.
...
Hawaii, Day Four.
Today was a beach day.
The study portion of the Hawaii trip was essentially complete.
Now came the travel portion.
Yukima Azuma changed into a pair of swim trunks, threw on a beach jacket, and left his room.
Just at That Moment, Suou Yuki Also Stepped Out
At this moment, she was wearing the light purple one-piece swimsuit that Yukima Azuma had chosen for her.
Although it wasn't too revealing, one had to admitthe shade of purple was truly captivating.
The swimsuit hugged the alluring curves of the girl's body, creating a half-concealed, half-revealed effect that stimulated the imagination and made it impossible not to feel a surge of excitement.
Seeing Yukima Azuma looking at her, Suou Yuki spun around on the spot.
"Onii-sama, do I look beautiful?"
()
"Umu, my taste in picking outfits is indeed excellent."
"Eh? So it's just the swimsuit that looks good? Yuki isn't beautiful?"
( ,,'',,)
"I was talking about Yuki. I have a great eye when it comes to choosing outfits for Yuki."
As soon as Yukima Azuma finished speaking, Suou Yuki was stunned for a moment before she immediately beamed with a radiant smile.
()
After laughing, Suou Yuki's gaze suddenly became glued to Yukima Azuma.
With a physical stat of 8, Yukima Azuma not only had strength, endurance, and agility far surpassing that of ordinary people but also a body that had reached near perfection.
The ideal "looks slim with clothes on, muscular when shirtless" physique.
Suou Yuki's eyes lingered on the young man's abs, finding it hard to look away.
"Yuki-neesan, ecchi~." Yukima Azuma teased.
( )
Hearing that, Suou Yuki immediately smirked mischievously. "Ehehe, boy-ya~, let Onee-san have a feel~!"
( )(`)
Saying that, she lunged forward, lifted Yukima Azuma's beach jacket, and reached out to touch him.
"Young boy~! Feels amazing."
Suou Yuki was practically drooling, looking like a middle-aged man harassing a high school girl.
Just then, Shinomiya Kaguya also stepped out of her room.
Suou Yuki immediately let go.
She quickly jumped to the side and started whistling guiltily.
Shinomiya Kaguya's swimsuit was a fiery red bikini, matching the color of her eyes.
For an ordinary girl, this color might seem a bit too bold, but for Shinomiya Kaguya, it wasn't.
Her aura was more than enough to carry such an audacious red, making it only serve to enhance her charm even further.
Seeing Yukima Azuma looking at her, Kaguya felt a bit shy and placed both hands in front of her.
"President Kaguya, that suits you very well!"
( - )
Yukima Azuma gave her a thumbs-up in admiration.
Hearing that, Shinomiya Kaguya smiled in satisfaction.
She raised her left hand to her cheek, trying to maintain her composure, and then modestly replied.
"Thank you, Azuma-kun."
(>/////<)
"Let's go! To the beach! Run!"
Fujiwara Chika burst out of her room with boundless energy.
The girl, whose figure was no less impressive than Suou Yuki's, was not only wearing a swimsuit but also had a loose jacket draped over her.
Shinomiya Kaguya's gaze unconsciously landed on Fujiwara Chika's chest.
Even with the jacket covering it, its overwhelming presence was undeniable.
Then, she glanced at Suou Yuki.
And quietly closed her eyes.
Now that she thought about it, both Suou Yuki and Shinomiya Kaguya were carrying zip-up jackets.
As they reached the door, both of them put them on and zipped them up all the way to their necks.
Thus, even the slightest trace of their swimsuits was nowhere to be seen.
Upon arriving at the communal dining area, the group immediately spotted Shijo Maki.
Yukima Azuma's gaze swept over her eyes.
The dark circles had disappeared, and the brilliant purple in her eyes was no longer laced with red veins.
It seemed that she had rested well last night.
In fact, even Shijo Maki hadn't expected this.
Last night, she had actually slept soundly.
At first, she thought she would suffer from insomnia again.
But unexpectedly, after lying down and thinking about Yukima Azuma, she quickly drifted into slumber this time
Like Kaguya and Yuki, Shijo Maki was also wearing a long jacket.
As everyone approached, her gaze landed on Shinomiya Kaguya.
"Good morning, Oba-sama."
()
Shijo Maki greeted with a smile.
Shinomiya Kaguya merely nodded indifferently, showing no particular reaction.
"Good morning, Maki-san."
Such a calm response made Shijo Maki a little suspicious.
Did Oba-sama eat something strange today? Why is she being so easygoing?
How odd.
...
After Breakfast
The group of Shuchiin students headed out to the beach together.
It was a private beach.
Every day, there were designated staff members responsible for cleaning and maintaining its pristine condition.
One could say that aside from the sand itself, there were hardly any impurities.
The sunlight reflected off the shimmering ocean surface.
Fujiwara Chika was the first to let out a joyful cheer before dashing straight into the water.
( )*
Waves rolled up in layers, gently embracing her bare feet.
Although it was December, the weather here still felt like summer, with the bright sun high in the sky.
Suou Yuki picked out a sun umbrella.
Under its shade, she unfolded a lounge chair.
Then, she winked at Yukima Azuma.
Just from her eyes alone, he could tell this girl was up to something again.
"Azuma-kun, come help Onee-san apply sunscreen~"
( - )
Suou Yuki grinned mischievously, still fully immersed in her Onee-san act, even throwing in a suggestive wink.
"This is an essential activity when going to the beach!"
As she spoke, she lay face-down on the lounge chair.
Her posture was utterly relaxed, as if she was leaving everything up to him.
Yukima Azuma poked Suou Yuki on the forehead.
"Is that otaku brain of yours constantly filled with hentai thoughts?"
"Ehhh?" Suou Yuki turned her head. "You're not coming? This is a special privilege, you know!"
At that moment, Shinomiya Kaguya took out a bottle of premium sunscreen from her bag.
"Suou-san, let me help you instead."
Hearing this, the corners of Suou Yuki's mouth stiffened.
Yukima Azuma almost couldn't hold back his laughter.
In reality, Suou Yuki had already applied sunscreen before leaving the room.
At most, she only needed a slight touch-up on the back of her neck.
Now that Shinomiya Kaguya had interrupted and completely ruined her plan, she could only accept the outcome and go through the motions.
However, there was one girl who actually hadn't applied sunscreen.
Yukima Azuma's gaze shifted toward Shijo Maki, who was huddled under a sun umbrella, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
He couldn't help but think:
Aren't you supposed to be a genius?
Why are you making such a foolish mistake?
You're in Hawaii, and you didn't apply sunscreen?
At this rate, by the time we head back, Shijo Maki's skin tone will have shifted by at least four to five shades.
But for her to ask Shinomiya Kaguya for help...
She'd probably rather suffer a sunburn.
Yukima Azuma took a bottle of sunscreen from Suou Yuki's bag and handed it to Shijo Maki.
"Apply it yourself first. If there are any spots you can't reach, let me know."
Shijo Maki let out a soft "Mm."
It sounded no different from the faint squeak of a small animal.
Seeing this scene, Suou Yuki raised her hand and rubbed her forehead.
"So this is what they mean by 'too smart for their own good'..."
()
"Yukima-san, do you want some shaved ice?"
Fujiwara Chika cheerfully held up a colorful serving of shaved ice in front of Yukima Azuma.
Seeing him shake his head, she promptly scooped a large spoonful into her mouth.
"You'll get 'brain freeze' if you eat it like that."
Yukima Azuma cautioned.
Hearing that, Fujiwara Chika blinked in confusion.
"'Brain freeze'? What's that?"
Before Yukima Azuma could explain, she quickly took another big bite of the shaved ice.
The next moment, she clutched her head, groaning as a sharp chill shot through her brain.
Watching this scene, Yukima Azuma could only smile helplessly.
In Another Corner
"Oba-sama, do you want to play beach volleyball?"
( _ )
Shijo Maki issued a solo kill challenge to Shinomiya Kaguya.
"Sure, I'm free anyway."
( _)
Shinomiya Kaguya accepted the challenge with a terrifying smile.
And so, the two grabbed a volleyball and headed to the court.
Shijo Maki lightly tossed the ball into the air before launching a powerful spike.
The ball turned into a blur, shooting past the net to the other side.
Shinomiya Kaguya moved in a flash, positioning herself at the perfect spot and using both hands to set the ball.
Then, she counterattacked with an equally forceful spike.
Their fierce battle quickly drew the attention of the Shuchiin students.
Shijo Maki and Shinomiya Kaguya gradually became more serious.
Even though they were both girls
They were by no means fragile Ojou-sama types.
In fact, quite the opposite.
Since childhood, they had undergone rigorous training and frequently participated in sports competitions.
Shinomiya Kaguya could draw a 22.5kg bow with ease.
As the captain of Shuchiin's Kyudo Club
She held a fourth-dan ranking in Karate, a first-dan in Aikido, a second-dan in Judo, and was also proficient in naginata along with many other martial arts.
At this moment, her movements resembled those of a panther.
A perfect blend of strength and graceful agility was on full display.
And Shijo Makiwho shared many similarities with Shinomiya Kaguyawas by no means inferior in terms of physical ability.
Their match played out at an astonishing pace.
( д)(д )
The ball was almost invisible, with only its shadow flickering across the court.
And each powerful hit sliced through the air with a sharp whooshing sound.
Shinomiya Kaguya executed another full-power spike, aiming for the farthest corner of the opposing side.
Shijo Maki reacted immediately, dashing toward it.
But with her stamina drained, she was just a fraction of a second too slow.
In the end, the ball landed in the sand.
Shinomiya Kaguya won, and a smile unconsciously formed on her lips.
Truthfully, she wasn't the type to feel ashamed of losing.
On the contrary, most of the time, she only used about 60% of her true strength
To avoid standing out too much and alienating others.
But today, she felt like she couldn't afford to lose.
As for Shijo Maki, she clenched her teeth in frustration over her defeat.
She should have been able to return that ball.
Two days of inadequate rest had drained her stamina faster than usual.
She picked up the ball and turned around.
At that moment, she caught sight of the faint smile at the corner of Shinomiya Kaguya's lips.
()
Her unwillingness to accept defeat only deepened.
"Come over and eat some grilled meat!"
Yukima Azuma's voice pulled her back to reality.
Shijo Maki turned around.
And saw
At some point, Yukima Azuma had set up a barbecue grill on the beach.
Thin wisps of smoke had already begun rising into the air.
Half of her frustration and disappointment instantly faded.
She quickly walked over to Yukima Azuma.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, though she still put on a haughty front:
"Are you sure it's cooked properly? Don't give me food poisoning."
( )
Right beside them
Fujiwara Chika clutched her plate, eyes brimming with anticipation as she stared at Yukima Azuma's cooking skills. She quickly spoke up:
"Don't worry! Yukima-san's cooking skills are top-tier!"
)
Shinomiya Kaguya also turned to look.
The smile on her lips faded.
A strange feeling crept over her
As if she had won the match, yet lost something far greater.
She even began questioning herself
Why had she suddenly become so competitive just now?
"Shinomiya President, what are you thinking about?"
Suou Yuki appeared beside her, asking softly.
"It's just... I feel like I was acting a little strange."
Shinomiya Kaguya waved a hand dismissively.
"Could it be... you're in love?"
"Suou-san, don't joke around."
"I'm serious~ When you fall in love, no matter how rational you are, your mind will start acting up sometimes."
Suou Yuki winked at her with a knowing look.
Hearing this, Shinomiya Kaguya instinctively furrowed her brows.
Love...?
Just then
"Kaguya, Yuki, stop spacing out and come eat some meat."
Yukima Azuma's voice called out.
The frown on Shinomiya Kaguya's face eased.
And the corners of her lips curved into a smile once more.
Yukima Azuma sliced the grilled steak into five equal portions.
He distributed them fairly, placing a piece on each girl's plate.
Without hesitation, Suou Yuki and Fujiwara Chika took a bite.
"This is amazing! As expected, Azuma-kun's cooking is unbeatable!"
( )
"Spot on! This is seriously too good!"
()
They exclaimed in unison, their praises utterly sincere.
"Is it really that good?"
Shijo Maki looked doubtful.
Sure, it looked delicious...
But she had eaten countless gourmet dishes before.
Could a steak grilled on the beach really be worthy of such praise?
Or was it just because he was the one who made it?
She shot a glance at Yukima Azuma, still skeptical.
Picking up her fork, Shijo Maki speared a piece of meat and took a bite.
The rich aroma of grilled steak immediately exploded on her taste buds.
Juicy flavors burst across her tongue with every chew.
She swallowed the first bite hurriedlythen stuffed the rest into her small mouth without hesitation.
"It really is this good..."
()
She mumbled between bites.
Shinomiya Kaguya also started eating.
Ever since she had first tasted Yukima Azuma's cooking
She had never quite gotten over it.
She wasn't the type to chase after indulgences,
But if she could keep Yukima Azuma by her side...
If only once in a while, just once in a while, she could eat his cooking
Just thinking about it made life feel so much more enjoyable.
"Hey, are you interested in working for the Shijo family? I can give you a share in the companyjust make me a bento every day."
Shinomiya Kaguya: ( ®® ) ??
She stiffly turned her head.
She looked at Shijo Maki, who had just made the offer.
This idiot!
Who recruits talent like this!?
At the same time, a deep sense of unease welled up inside her.
Would Yukima Azuma actually agree to this?
What if... such a direct offer was exactly what he wanted?
Carrying an overwhelming sense of anxiety, Shinomiya Kaguya turned to look at Yukima Azuma.
Fortunately, the worst-case scenario did not happen.
"Don't go treating your classmates like chefs for hire!"
Yukima Azuma said as he casually flicked Shijo Maki on the forehead.
Shijo Maki clutched her forehead, pouting in frustration.
What the heck!
She had been completely serious about her offer!
If it weren't for the fact that the person she invited was him
No matter how skilled they were, she would never have made such a proposal!
And so, the sulking tsundere grew even sulkier.
><
Meanwhile, the beach barbecue continued in full swing.
Many students had set up their own grills, eager to try their hand at barbecuing.
But forget about presentation
Even the aroma alone couldn't compare to Yukima Azuma's grill.
Most gave up after a few bites.
More than a few pieces of meat ended up burnt to a crisp.
As a result, Yukima Azuma's grilling station became completely surroundedthree layers deep inside and out.
Countless students stood by with plates in hand, hoping for a blessing from the "Vice President-sama."
Luckily, before the crowd swarmed in
Yukima Azuma and the girls had already eaten their fill.
It wasn't until past 2 PM that he finally, reluctantly, closed shop.
Shaking his slightly sore wrist, Yukima Azuma let out a helpless sigh.
So this was the price of talentmore work.
Maybe he shouldn't have tried to ease the tension between Kaguya and Maki with food.
Now sprawled under a sunshade, Yukima Azuma looked like a dried, salted fish.
"Onii-sama, you worked hard."
( )
Suou Yuki giggled as she spoke.
By this time, the beach was nearly empty.
Most people had either gone into the water or returned to the hotel to rest.
Seeing that no one was around, Suou Yuki sat down beside Yukima Azuma.
She reached out and began massaging his shoulders.
Her soft hands pressed gently against his tense muscles.
Yukima Azuma sighed in contentment, eyes narrowing in pleasure.
Yuki really was the best.
Truly, the legendary warm-hearted Imouto-chan!
"Hmm... looks like President Shinomiya is seriously falling for you."
But just as he was starting to enjoy himself
Suou Yuki's words made Yukima Azuma open his eyes.
"...Falling for what?"
He blinked in confusion.
"Obviously falling for Onii-sama," Suou Yuki said, looking at him as if he were an idiot.
"Don't tell me you haven't noticed?"
Considering Yukima Azuma's EQ
It was hard to believe he hadn't picked up on Shinomiya Kaguya's recent changes.
But the truth was
He really hadn't.
Perhaps it was due to his initial biases.
He understood Shinomiya Kaguya well.
He knew full well the cold and calculating nature of the "Ice Princess Kaguya."
So, he had always assumed she was merely trying to recruit him for practical reasons.
But now that Suou Yuki had pointed it out
Looking back carefully...
Umu. Something did feel a little off.
But upon realizing this
Yukima Azuma only found himself even more confused.
Was the Ice Princess Kaguya really this easy to make fall in love?
( -)?
--------------------------------------------
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The fifth day in Hawaii.
"Raise your head and look at the deep blue sky~"
"On that distant peak of Fuji~"
"Riding the fresh wind as we soar~"
"Will this song reach its destination?~"
On the beach, a chorus echoed, carried far by the breeze.
The waves rolled in layers, blending into a harmonious melody.
Above, thick clouds drifted lazily against the vast blue sky.
This scene felt like the prelude to a youthful chapter.
Yukima Azuma stood among the crowd, pretending to participate but merely listening.
Mainly becausehe didn't know the song.
It was the school anthem of Shuchiin.
But despite having attended Shuchiin for over half a semester, frequent absences meant that Yukima Azuma had yet to learn it.
"Look at you, if you beg me a little, maybe I'll teach you..."
( ,,'',,)
Lately, Shijo Maki's gaze had been constantly fixed on Yukima Azuma.
Noticing that he didn't know the song, she immediately put on her tsundere act and volunteered herself.
However, just as she was about to start singing, she was cut off.
"Azuma-kun, let me guide you."
()
Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly appeared beside Yukima Azuma, smiling gently.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma nodded in agreement without hesitation.
Witnessing this, Shijo Maki gritted her teeth.
How annoying!
><
"Alright, sing after me..."
"Discipline yourself, aim high~"
"The eyes of Shuchiin shine with elegance~"
"Marching forward together, passing through the twilight~"
"Never ceasing our efforts, striving for the peak every day~"
"And one day, we shall achieve greatness~"
Shinomiya Kaguya's voice was cold, like a crystal-clear icy spring.
It brought a fresh and unique sensation to the listener.
She seriously sang through the anthem twice.
After pointing out a few small mistakes,
Yukima Azuma had more or less learned the Shuchiin anthem.
"Always keep gratitude in your heart~"
"Ah, mother, the mother who raised me~"
"Ah, Shuchiin Academy~"
Yukima Azuma gave it a try.
When he finished, Shinomiya Kaguya clapped softly beside him.
"Azuma-kun, you have talent!"
()
Yukima Azuma simply smiled.
He was just not completely off-key.
At best, he was at the average level of a normal person.
The school anthem was simple to begin withif it were any harder, he would have surely gone off-beat.
The girl's compliment was probably just a form of encouragement.
...
Afternoon.
After lunch, Yukima Azuma took a walk along the shore.
By now, there were barely any people on the beach.
Today, the sky was thick with clouds, and the sun was weak.
Many sunbathers had given up.
Moreover, after two days of beach activities, many had started to lose interest.
But Yukima Azuma never tired of the scenery.
After all, having lived through two lifetimes, his mindset was no longer that of a teenager.
His interests differed from those of actual young people.
Gazing into the distance.
The deep blue sea rippled gently, reflecting the white clouds above.
The footprints Yukima Azuma left on the sand were quickly erased by the waves.
The sensation of seawater brushing against his ankles carried a unique feeling.
His eyes, admiring the landscape, were soon drawn to something unusual.
Yukima Azuma squinted and looked in that direction.
Yukima Azuma saw an area of water with unusual ripples.
Was it a fish?
Just as curiosity arose within him,
A graceful figure emerged from the water.
Shinomiya Kaguya surfaced from beneath the sea, removed her goggles, and gently swept away the strands of hair clinging to her forehead.
At that moment, the clouds subtly parted.
A ray of sunlight shone down, precisely illuminating the girl's back.
The golden light highlighted her side locks, giving them a dazzling, golden-brown radiance.
This scene resembled a perfect painting.
Yukima Azuma's breath faltered slightly.
Then, he reached into his pocket.
Taking out his phone, he aimed the camera at Shinomiya Kaguya and pressed the shutter.
Click!
That sound caught Shinomiya Kaguya's attention.
Her gaze shifted over, landing directly on Yukima Azuma.
Stunned for a brief moment, Shinomiya Kaguya immediately dove back into the water, swimming toward the shore.
Her speed was swiftlike a fish gliding through the seabreathtakingly beautiful.
When she surfaced again,
The girl was already standing right before Yukima Azuma.
"What are you doing, Azuma-kun?"
Shinomiya Kaguya asked, tucking the wet strands of hair away from her cheek.
"I just captured a very beautiful photo. But I didn't ask for your permission first, that was my fault."
Yukima Azuma handed his phone to Shinomiya Kaguya.
That momentif he hadn't captured it, it would have been a great pity.
Shinomiya Kaguya was already incredibly beautiful, but only in that instant, when all the right conditions aligned, did her beauty reach a level that could truly move a person's heart.
Shinomiya Kaguya took Yukima Azuma's phone.
On the screen was a picture of her.
The girl in the photo looked like a mermaid.
A flicker of astonishment flashed through Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes.
And after that astonishment
Came a secret joy.
As expected, being mesmerized by the Great Oujou-sama is simply human instinct!
Shinomiya Kaguya smiled smugly.
"You took a great picture. If Azuma-kun sends it to me, I'll grant you special permission to keep it."
Yukima Azuma nodded slightly.
Shinomiya Kaguya's phone was still an old-fashioned flip phone.
Despite being a pampered Oujou-sama, she had a nostalgic side.
She couldn't use Line,
But email worked, so it wasn't a problem.
"Kaguya-san, were you diving?"
Yukima Azuma's gaze rested on Shinomiya Kaguya.
Now, she was wearing a wetsuit that perfectly accentuated her elegant curves.
"Umu, I rented the equipment from a shop nearby."
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded, then suggested:
"Would you like to try diving, Azuma-kun?"
Yukima Azuma nodded.
His impression of diving was still stuck on "oolong tea is flammable with 96% alcohol" from some anime,
But he was a little intrigued.
"Then go change first, and I'll teach you."
Shinomiya Kaguya led Yukima Azuma toward the diving equipment shop on the shore.
And there,
They ran into Shijo Maki.
"What a coincidence, are you two going diving as well?"
Shijo Maki spoke first, but her eyes avoided direct contact.
After lunch, she had gone out for a walk.
Then, she happened to see Yukima Azuma.
And unconsciously, she started following him.
When she reached the beach
At first, Shijo Maki looked around, saw no one, and was about to step forward to greet him.
But then, she saw Shinomiya Kaguya.
Unwilling to accept it, she withdrew.
But guessing that the two would surely head to the diving equipment shop,
She had come here first to wait.
Shinomiya Kaguya gazed deeply at Shijo Maki.
Then, she simply smiled slightly and nodded.
"That's right, Azuma-kun wants to try diving, so I'm taking him to change."
Hearing that, Shijo Maki quickly said:
"Diving, huh? I'm pretty good at it too, I can help."
Standing beside them, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but be surprised.
He never expected to be this sought after.
His moment of fame? Main character Harem aura? Rizz Ikemen?
Two Oujou-sama competing over Yukima Azuma.
The two of them argued for a while.
Neither was willing to back down, so in the end, they decided to teach Yukima Azuma together.
First, he went to change into his diving suit.
The tight-fitting suit made him feel somewhat restricted.
Adding the heavy air tank on his back only made that feeling more pronounced.
But with Yukima Azuma's physical condition,
He quickly adapted.
When he stepped out,
The three of them headed toward the sea together.
"Underwater, we'll use these hand signals to communicate."
As they moved, Shinomiya Kaguya explained the common hand gestures used in diving to Yukima Azuma.
With just a single glance, he had already memorized most of them.
After all, this was merely a matter of remembering things.
Though, a certain Jojo meme suddenly popped into his mind.
Following the two girls, he stepped into the sea.
Normally, people would stop when the water reached their waist.
But this time, since they were about to dive, they kept going forward.
When the water reached his chest, Yukima Azuma felt a little uneasy.
"This should be far enough."
"Now let's begin diving. Don't dive in too suddenlyjust go slowly."
"You can close your eyes as you descend, then open them gradually. Remember to keep your breathing steady."
Shinomiya Kaguya gave careful instructions.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
He adjusted his diving mask, ensuring there were no gaps.
Then, he closed his eyes and slowly sank into the water.
At first, being fully submerged wasn't exactly comfortable.
The surrounding sounds suddenly became muffled, and with his eyes closed, it felt as if all his senses had been stripped away.
He took a moment to adjust himself mentally.
Then, he slowly opened his eyes.
What met his gaze was an overwhelming sight.
As if it was a reward for a newcomer brave enough to open their eyes underwater.
His vision suddenly expanded, stretching far into the distance.
Beyond the sandy seabed were magnificent, rugged rock formations and vibrant coral reefs decorating the ocean floor.
Looking even further, schools of fish swam gracefully, weaving through the deep blue water.
Like a painting tinged with fantasy.
Yukima Azuma unconsciously took a deep breath.
Bubbles escaped from his mouth, drifting to the surface, dissolving into the sea.
Though he had experienced more than most people his age, this was still his first time.
The novelty of it all pulled him inhe didn't want to leave.
Ahead, two slender figures waved at him.
Seeing them, Yukima Azuma smiled slightly.
He kicked his legs, swimming toward the two of them.
At the same time, a certain conversation with Suou Yuki resurfaced in his mind.
About Shinomiya Kaguya.
It seemed she really did have feelings for him.
If that was the case wasn't he the one being won over?
As that thought emerged, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but chuckle.
If that were true, then Shinomiya Kaguya's strategy was truly masterful.
....
(Note: the chapter is light and chill, there aren't many places where emojis can be added.)
After giving Yukima Azuma some guidance, Shinomiya Kaguya and Shijo Maki let him experience diving on his own.
Meanwhile, the two of them seemed to be engaged in an unspoken competition.
They swiftly glided through the water.
Yukima Azuma watched the two agile figures.
Dressed in sleek black diving suits, they looked like mermaids straight out of a fairy tale.
With astonishingly graceful movements, they glided effortlessly through the water.
Every motion was fluid, like a dance beneath the ocean's surface.
Whether it was coral reefs or underwater rocks, they navigated past them with ease, making everything seem like mere props on a grand stage.
Watching these two elegant young ladies in the vast ocean, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but be impressed.
As expected of distinguished Oujou-sama.
Truly gifted in both talent and beauty.
Women who excel in everything always have a way of surprising others in any situation.
After admiring them for a while, Yukima Azuma began exploring the seabed on his own.
Since this was entirely new territory for him,
Everywhere he went felt like an unexpected discovery.
It wasn't until his watch signaled that Yukima Azuma realized just how long he had been underwater.
Turning around, he saw Shinomiya Kaguya and Shijo Maki waiting not far away.
He swam toward them.
Then, all three surfaced together.
"So, how was it?"
Shijo Maki asked.
Yukima Azuma removed his breathing tube and nodded seriously.
"It was amazing. This might become one of my most treasured memories in life."
Hearing that, Shijo Maki immediately beamed.
.(*`*)
It felt like they had just created a beautiful memory together.
...
The three of them returned to shore.
At that moment, light raindrops began to fall.
The surface of the sea gradually rippled.
Under the gentle drizzle, Yukima Azuma stretched his body in relaxation.
Having already been in the water, a little rain was nothing.
Besides, the rainfall was so light,
That beneath the surface, it barely made a difference.
The two girls stepped onto the shore, adjusting their damp hair.
But Yukima Azuma still wanted to dive a little longer.
New experiences always held a special allure, stirring a sense of adventure within people.
"Let me dive for another five minutes."
He said.
Hearing that, Shinomiya Kaguya looked up at the sky.
The clouds were dense, but for now, the rain wasn't heavy.
Just five minutes wouldn't be an issue.
So Yukima Azuma set a timer on his watch and dove back into the water once more.
On the shore, the two girls exchanged glances.
The atmosphere felt like it was on the verge of a dispute.
"Maki-san seems to have taken quite an interest in Azuma-kun."
"Could it be that you like him?"
Shinomiya Kaguya gazed out at the sea and asked.
Shijo Maki hesitated for a moment upon hearing that.
But she quickly regained her composure.
"I just find him a bit interesting. But if he confesses to me, it's not like dating him would be impossible."
"What about Oba-sama? What do you really think?"
Hearing Shijo Maki's bold declaration, Shinomiya Kaguya fell into contemplation.
What did she truly feel?
Before, her thoughts had been simple.
She saw Yukima Azuma as a valuable talent and wanted to bring him to her side.
But now
Ever since this trip to Hawaii began, Shinomiya Kaguya's emotions had been constantly shifting.
"I don't even know myself."
In the end, that was all she could say.
Shijo Maki frowned slightly upon hearing that.
Was that even considered an answer?
...
As the two continued their conversation, time passed, second by second.
Five minutes later.
The chime of the watch rang, and Yukima Azuma began to surface.
Although this new experience was utterly captivating, he had excellent self-control.
Five minutes meant five minutes.
He wouldn't let himself get carried away with his interests and disrupt the original plan.
As he emerged from the water, he immediately locked eyes with the two girls.
Seeing the young man appear in the middle of the sea, casually tossing his wet hair to the side...
Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly understood the feeling Yukima Azuma had earlier.
This scene was truly breathtaking.
Instinctively, she took out her phone and raised it to take a picture of him.
But in the next moment, Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes narrowed.
Her gaze shifted from the phone screen back to the ocean.
The next second, her eyes were filled with horror.
Shijo Maki's expression also instantly collapsed, fear vividly displayed on her face.
Both of them shouted toward Yukima Azuma.
The distance was a bit far, so he couldn't hear what they were saying.
He only saw them rushing to the water's edge.
They hastily grabbed a surfboard and immediately charged toward him.
Sensing that something was wrong, Yukima Azuma turned his head to look back.
And then he saw iton the far side of the horizon.
The surface of the ocean had turned pure white.
Taking a sharp breath, he immediately swam toward the shore with all his might.
Almost in an instant, that white line transformed into a surging tsunami right before his eyes.
Standing on the water, he could barely see the end of the wave
Only the overwhelming force consuming the sky.
The beach, once peaceful, began to roar.
The underwater currents turned violent.
"There's no time! Grab the surfboard and get ready to dive!"
Shinomiya Kaguya reached Yukima Azuma with an astonishing speed.
She grabbed his hand and pressed it firmly onto the surfboard.
She, too, clung to the board, pressing her body against it.
Then, she held onto Yukima Azuma and dove together into the sea.
If they remained floating on the surface and got caught by the tsunami, there would be no way to survive.
Only by diving deep could they escape the danger.
Shijo Maki was a step behind but quickly grabbed a surfboard and plunged into the water as well.
The massive wave crashed toward the shore.
Even though they had dived deep, the three of them still felt like a colossal wall had slammed down on them.
Yukima Azuma bit down hard on his breathing tube, feeling his entire body lose control.
He could no longer distinguish north from south, east from west.
There was only one thing he could do
Hold tightly onto the surfboard.
Then, let the force of the water carry him away.
His goggles had been ripped off by the waves.
He tried to open his eyes, but another wave immediately crashed down, forcing him to shut them again.
Tumbling through the chaotic currents,
It was unclear how much time had passed.
His consciousness wavered.
Yukima Azuma realized he had to do something, or this would be too dangerous.
His mind rapidly searched through all the skills he could use.
In the end, there was only one thing he could think ofthe supernatural power granted by his literary skill.
But he had no pen in hand.
He could only raise his hand and bite down on his fingertip.
Bright red blood spurted out.
But in the next instant, it was swept away by the waves.
Struggling to open his eyes,
Just as he was about to surface, Yukima Azuma hurriedly wrote on the surfboard.
The streaks of blood formed jagged characters on the board.
And just before the blood could be completely washed away by the sea
The writing transformed into a stream of light, then vanished into the depths.
Immediately, Yukima Azuma felt something coil around him, lifting him up.
At the same time, the two surfboards were also raised, along with the two fragile figures who had lost consciousness.
After confirming the scene before him
Yukima Azuma's consciousness gradually faded, and his vision went black.
In the hazy darkness
The image of the two girls clutching their surfboards, desperately rushing toward him, kept replaying.
Yukima Azuma watched the scene, a complex emotion welling up inside him.
Shinomiya Kaguya and Shijo Maki had risked their lives to save him.
He had never expected this.
Even in his current dazed state, he found it hard to believe.
.
.
.
It was unclear how much time had passed.
Drowsily, he opened his eyes.
Yukima Azuma coughed violently, spitting out two mouthfuls of seawater.
His gaze swept around.
Amidst the scattered sand, he saw the two girls lying there.
Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
He moved his arms and legs, then pressed against his chest and abdomen.
Confirming that there were no severe injuries like broken bones
Yukima Azuma stood up.
He cast his eyes into the distance.
It was a desolate shoreline, and not far away, a forest thick with wild grass stretched out.
Just one look was enough to tell that this was not a place inhabited by people.
It was certainly not Shuchiin's resort location.
Thinking back, it made sense.
The three of them had been swept away by the waves, drifting for an unknown amount of time. Naturally, they had been carried far from their original position.
The mystical creature he had summoned in that moment of crisis, without direct orders from him
Wouldn't have been able to navigate them back to the right place.
Finding a deserted island to wash ashore on was already fortunate enough.
But stranded on a deserted island?
Yukima Azuma almost wanted to scoff.
Wasn't this a classic light novel scenario? Had they really ended up in this situation!?
But there was no time for such thoughts.
Yukima Azuma quickly moved toward the two girls.
Lifting them up, he carefully examined them.
Fortunately, just like him, neither had suffered any serious injuries.
They had only inhaled water and lost consciousness.
Yukima Azuma guessed that the mystical creature he had summoned at the last moment had played a crucial role.
It had protected all three of them and brought them to this island.
Otherwise, being carried by the sea, they would have likely crashed into submerged coral reefs or jagged rocks.
He gently pinched Shinomiya Kaguya's chin.
Without hesitation, he leaned down and began performing CPR.
At this moment, saving lives was the priority.
All other thoughts had to be set aside.
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
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Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Shijo Maki woke up, startled as she sat up abruptly.
(®®)
Scanning her surroundings, she saw only a desolate sandy shore.
Not far away, Shinomiya Kaguya was in a similar state.
Her mind quickly rewound to recall what had happened.
A fleeting look of panic flashed through Shijo Maki's eyes.
She immediately stood up, intending to look for Yukima Azuma.
"No need to rush, he's definitely nearby and woke up before us."
Shinomiya Kaguya's voice rang out.
Hearing this, Shijo Maki froze.
She wanted to ask what made Shinomiya Kaguya so sure
But just as she was about to speak, her chest trembled.
A dull pain throbbed in her chest.
Shijo Maki, who had extensive knowledge of first aid and a sharp mind, immediately realizedmost likely, some one had performed CPR on her.
At the same time, upon realizing this, she also felt a strange lingering sensation on her lips.
Wait, could it be?
( ®®) !!
Shijo Maki's gaze shifted toward Shinomiya Kaguya's lips.
Then, she was met with a fierce glare from Shinomiya Kaguya.
<( _)>
Faced with that sharp stare, Shijo Maki quickly dismissed the thought from her mind.
The situation was extremely dire; this was purely a medical rescue action with no ulterior motives.
At that moment, rustling sounds came from the nearby forest.
The two girls immediately became alert, looking toward the source of the noise.
When they saw a young man emerge from the trees, carrying two wild rabbits in his hands,
They couldn't help but sigh in relief, even showing a hint of joy on their faces.
"You two are finally awake."
Yukima Azuma greeted them.
"Where is this place?" Shinomiya Kaguya asked with a sliver of hope.
She hoped that the three of them had only been washed ashore on an uninhabited coastal area.
But Yukima Azuma shook his head, shattering that hope.
"A deserted island. More precisely, a mountainous center with surrounding primeval forest."
Upon hearing this, Shinomiya Kaguya turned her head toward the sea.
The sky had yet to brighten, thick dark clouds completely obscuring the sun.
Faint flashes of lightning flickered within the clouds.
On the vast, boundless ocean, a thin mist quietly spread.
It looked exactly like the opening scene of a disaster-horror movie.
Given the current conditions
A rescue helicopter would have difficulty taking off.
Search boats had likely begun their journey.
But visibility at sea was limited.
And there was no telling how far this deserted island was from Hawaii.
Thus, the timing of the rescue remained uncertain.
As if to confirm Shinomiya Kaguya's speculation,
A drizzle started to fall again.
But this time, none of the three dared to underestimate this persistent rain.
"Let's go, we should check the foot of the mountain and see if there's a cave to shelter in."
"I've already surveyed the area; there don't seem to be any large dangerous beasts on the island."
"The only things we need to watch out for are snakes and pythons."
Yukima Azuma's tone carried no hint of pessimism.
It was as if he was merely on a trip.
It felt exactly like participating in a self-enrolled survival experience on a deserted island.
Hearing this, both girls nodded slightly.
The three of them moved toward the sparse forest ahead.
A subtropical deserted island had many advantages.
For example, fresh water was abundant, and there was no need to worry about hypothermia.
But at the same time, there were harsh conditions to endure.
Leaving other concerns aside, the most troublesome issue wasmosquitoes.
Wild mosquitoes in the wilderness were humanity's greatest enemy.
Even more dangerous than wild beasts.
Shijo Maki swatted away the buzzing mosquitoes around her, frowning in discomfort but not uttering a single complaint.
Shijo Maki: ('-')
Mosquitoes: ( ` )
However, when she looked at Yukima Azuma, she couldn't help but curiously ask:
"Why aren't the mosquitoes biting you?"
Yukima Azuma had quite a bit of exposed skin, yet not a single mosquito approached him.
"Superpower." Yukima Azuma bluntly stated the truth.
( - )
Then he waved to the two girls. "Come closer to me, that way the mosquitoes won't bite you either."
()
Shijo Maki looked at him with suspicion.
(_ )
Although she felt that, in this situation, Yukima Azuma wouldn't take advantage of the opportunity to do anything improper
After all, while he usually loved teasing her, he was also a reliable person.
Still, no matter how she thought about it, this sounded like an excuse to take advantage of others...
Shinomiya Kaguya had the same doubts.
But despite that, she still stepped closer to Yukima Azuma.
And then, something miraculous happened
The swarm of mosquitoes that had been buzzing relentlessly around her just moments ago
All vanished.
Witnessing this incredible sight, Shinomiya Kaguya's red eyes lit up with astonishment.
( o)
Then, she recalled past events related to Yukima Azuma.
Looking at him, her eyes seemed to glow with newfound intrigue.
Seeing this, Shijo Maki also hesitantly stepped closer.
(,,,,)
"Well there's no other choice. Who knows what kind of viruses those mosquitoes might be carrying?"
"If we get sick in the wilderness like this, then"
Before she could finish, Yukima Azuma flicked her lightly on the forehead.
Shijo Maki held her forehead, staring at him blankly.
She had no idea why she got flicked.
"Don't say things that trigger a death flag." Yukima Azuma's tone was somewhat stern.
In the wild, falling ill would have severe consequences.
Before, even when Shijo Maki constantly cursed him to die,
Yukima Azuma never really minded.
But from the moment she clung to her surfboard and risked her life charging toward him,
He had resolved to bring her back safelyno matter what.
...
The three of them continued walking through the forest and soon reached the base of the island's central mountain.
Moreover, their luck was incredible.
There was a cave nearby.
Stepping into the spacious cave, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but marvelthis luck was almost too good.
After inspecting the inside and confirming that no creatures inhabited it,
The three of them sat down near the cave entrance.
Looking out from the cave, through the dense canopy of trees, they could only see a small patch of sky.
And that patch was shrouded in an ominous gray.
Yukima Azuma set the two rabbits down on the ground,
Then glanced toward the forest outside the cave.
"With the rain falling like this, it'll be difficult to find dry kindling."
Shinomiya Kaguya frowned.
Earlier, when they were still moving, the discomfort wasn't as noticeable.
But now, after sitting down in the cave
Even in the tropics,
Being drenched by rain and seawater had left them feeling chilled.
They had to find a way to start a fire.
If it was only for a day or two, they could endure.
But if they were stranded longer, it would become a serious problem.
When it came to survival in the wild, there were two main methods for making fire
Either using flint, or the friction method with wood.
Both required dry kindling.
Even if the firewood was damp,
As long as there was enough dry kindling, there was still hope of starting a fire.
On the other hand, without kindling, there was no hope at all.
"I'll go dig around under the trees for dry leaves. Maybe some haven't gotten wet yet."
Shijo Maki said as she prepared to step out.
But Yukima Azuma immediately grabbed her wrist,
Pulling the Tsundere girl back.
Under Shijo Maki's confused gaze,
( -)?
Yukima Azuma stepped out into the rain himself.
It wasn't long before
He returned with a pile of slightly damp firewood in his arms.
As the two girls wondered
How would he start a fire without kindling?
But a small, bright red lizard crawled up onto Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
Then, they saw Yukima Azuma pick up a log.
The red lizard opened its mouth
And breathed out a stream of blazing fire.
Shinomiya Kaguya, Shijo Maki: ( ®® ) ?
(®®) Nani?
Chapter 245: The First Night on the Deserted Island
Seeing the mysterious creature breathing fire
The two girls were utterly stunned.
"What is that?"
( ®®) !!
Shijo Maki stared wide-eyed at the bright red lizard, completely forgetting to maintain any sense of politeness.
"A Hawaiian lizard, a rare species on the brink of extinction."
\_()_/
Yukima Azuma attempted to brush it off.
"There's no such thing!" Shijo Maki felt like Yukima Azuma was treating her like an idiot.
Yukima Azuma clicked his tongue.
She doesn't believe it?!
Seeing his expression, Shijo Maki grew even more irritated.
As if she'd ever believe that!
><
But just as she was about to say something else
Shinomiya Kaguya tugged on her hand.
The moment she was pulled, Shijo Maki instantly caught on.
She recalled what had happened earlier, how no mosquitoes were near Yukima Azuma He had even said it was due to a supernatural power.
In an instant, Shijo Maki pieced things together.
At the same time, she realized This was undoubtedly Yukima Azuma's secret.
And to ensure their survival,
He had revealed this secret to them without hesitation.
A strange feeling welled up in Shijo Maki's heart.
The boy in front of her
Felt like the most reliable pillar of support.
As if, no matter what happened,
As long as he was here, there was nothing to fear.
Shijo Maki recalled the moment she had cried into Yukima Azuma's chest.
At the time, she hadn't been aware of it.
But thinking back now, it had felt incredibly safe.
She quietly sat down,
Not asking any more questions.
Her trust in Yukima Azuma outweighed her curiosity.
He quickly stacked the firewood in a crisscross pattern.
With the help of the mystical creature carrying the blood of a Demi-Dragon, a campfire roared to life in no time.
Yukima Azuma placed the still-damp logs near the fire to dry.
Watching the flickering orange-red flames, all three of them unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
Firemeant hope.
But then, an unavoidable problem surfaced before them.
Even though they had a fire going
Their clothes were still wet.
They had to take them off, or the drying process would keep draining their body heat.
Even though this was a matter of survival,
The fact remained that they were two refined young ladies.
Bringing up such a topicwas absolutely impossible.
Shijo Maki was already showing signs of shivering from the cold.
Yukima Azuma let out a helpless sigh.
Then, he stood up and began taking off his shirt.
"W-What are you doing?!"
(o)
Shijo Maki panicked and covered her face with both hands.
Covered for real.
No sneaky peeking through her fingers or anything.
For a girl whose understanding of intimacy barely extended to "kissing leads to pregnancy"
Who had grown up almost completely isolated from contact with the opposite sex
As pure as an apple from the Garden of Eden
For Shijo Maki, the scene unfolding before her was far too stimulating.
"We need to take off our wet clothes to dry them."
Yukima Azuma's voice was calm.
To be honest, he wasn't entirely unaffected either.
But someone had to take the initiative.
Once he was left with only his swim trunks,
Yukima Azuma hung his clothes near the fire.
Then he turned around, sitting with his back facing the two girls.
Shinomiya Kaguya bit her lip lightly.
After hesitating for a moment, she began to move as well.
The rustling sounds of clothes being removed filled the air.
Shijo Maki felt like her head was about to burst into flames.
(/////" )
"Maki-san, this is an emergency situation. Right now, survival is the priority over everything else."
Shinomiya Kaguya tried to reason with her.
Shijo Maki opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Of course, she understood the logic.
But to undress in front of Yukima Azuma?
Just thinking about it made her so embarrassed she wanted to die.
Seeing her still hesitate,
Yukima Azuma decided against persuading her further.
"Kaguya, strip her."
Hearing that, Shinomiya Kaguya gave a slight nod.
Shijo Maki: ( _ )!
"Wait! Wait! This isn't right!"
"Oba-sama, hold on a second, stop right now!"
"Shinomiya Kaguya!!! YAMEROOOOO!!!"
;
The exact details of what happened nextare better left unsaid.
In the end, Shijo Maki gave up resisting.
Beside the campfire, three sets of clothes were now laid out.
Aside from these three outfits, the only other things they had when they drifted onto the deserted island
Were two surfboards.
Now, one of them had been repurposed by the two girls as a makeshift partition to block their view.
But it was nothing more than a flimsy barrier that "keeps gentlemen away but does nothing against scoundrels."
All it would take was a slight rise to their feet, or a step around the side
And they would have a front-row view of youthful radiance.
However, Yukima Azuma had no intention of doing so.
Trading away goodwill for a fleeting moment of satisfaction was simply not worth it.
Besides, these two girls
Had ended up in this predicament because they tried to save him.
Within Yukima Azuma's heart, there were hardly any impure thoughts.
On the contrary, he felt a deep sense of gratitude.
As for the other surfboard
At this moment, Yukima Azuma was dismantling it.
A portion of the board could temporarily serve as a tabletop for placing items.
As for the metal piece attached to it, Yukima Azuma had removed it to fashion a makeshift knife
Sharpening it against a rock.
Then, using the crude blade, he skinned and prepped the two wild rabbits lying nearby.
He secured the surfboard with wire, skewered the rabbit meat onto it,
And began roasting.
Before long, the aroma of grilled meat spread throughout the cave.
The two girls hiding behind the surfboard unconsciously swallowed their saliva.
At the same time, an unreal feeling welled up within them.
They had clearly been stranded on a deserted island
Yet at this moment, it felt somewhat like they were on a vacation.
It couldn't be helpedYukima Azuma's cooking skills were simply absurd.
Even in this situation, his food could make anyone's mouth water.
There were no seasonings.
Salt was the most basic necessity, and it could be obtained by boiling seawater.
But at least for this meal, they didn't have the means to do that.
Fortunately, even without seasoning
For three people who hadn't eaten properly in who knows how long, it was more than enough.
After finishing the meal
The light outside the cave gradually dimmed.
It seemed that night was about to fall.
Looking outside, Yukima Azuma felt a subtle shift in his mood.
When it came to safety, he wasn't too concerned.
Even though they were stranded on a deserted island
He wasn't Robinson Crusoe.
Not to mention he could control a supernatural creature
More importantly, none of the three people here were ordinary individuals.
Right now, back in Hawaii, Shuchiin had probably already started burning through mountains of cash to launch a rescue operation.
It was only a matter of time before they were saved.
However, there was no doubt that the girls back home were probably worried sick by now.
Besides
Yukima Azuma's gaze unconsciously drifted toward the surfboard barrier, where the two girls were hiding.
After everything that had happened, his attitude toward the two Ojou-samas could no longer remain the same.
Yukima Azuma could be ruthless and indifferent toward those unrelated to him.
But he placed great value on loyalty and gratitude.
Even a small favor from President Tsukimitsu when he had nothing
Had been enough for Yukima Azuma to repay him by putting in the effort to act in a TV drama promoting shogi.
Let alone now, when these two girls had saved his life.
This debt of gratitudehe had to repay.
The only issue was figuring out exactly how.
Shijo Maki was easier to handle.
Worst case, he could just abduct her.
She was from a branch family, after allnot too difficult to deal with.
But Shinomiya Kaguya's status was a much bigger problem.
She was the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family.
Next year, Yukima Azuma would have to face off against her brother.
If he wanted to keep Shinomiya Kaguya by his side,
It seemed he would have no choice but to get involved in the Shinomiya family's internal power struggle
--------------------------------------------
If you like this story, please leave me a comment, review, collection and power stones if you can, that really help me a lot
If you're looking for good fanfics, try reading my other books, you won't be disappointed, promise.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and support me to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n pa treon.com/curse_heian_chef
Thanks you, Have a nice day ()
Inside the Shinomiya household, it was nothing short of utter chaos.
The vast Shinomiya Group, built by Shinomiya Gan'an, might have ranked among the four great Zaibatsu
Yet, at its core, it still lacked the true foundation of a legitimate noble family.
The education and training of its second generation were far from standard.
As a result, from an outsider's perspective, the Shinomiya family seemed mighty.
But anyone who took a closer look
Would immediately realize just how rotten it was from within.
Everyone was eager to engage in fratricide, blood relatives cutting each other down.
In truth, even this alone was enough to highlight a major issue.
And that wasShinomiya Gan'an's health was certainly not in good condition.
If he were still strong and well right now
There would be no need for further discussion. If he could live for just another ten years...
The Shinomiya household would never have descended into such disorder.
Bringing Shinomiya Kaguya safely to Yukima Azuma's side
Was essentially the same as stepping into the internal power struggle of the Shinomiya family.
When that time came, the two most powerful figures within the Shinomiya conglomerate
Yukima Azuma would have to defeat them both, one after the other.
Perhaps the third-ranked individual could be used to their advantage to some extent.
But the difficulty would still be extremely high.
While contemplating these matters, Yukima Azuma's thoughts suddenly froze.
Wait a minutesomething was off.
Thinking it over carefully, wasn't everything a little too coincidental?
Where exactly did that tsunami come from?
An undersea volcanic eruption? A sudden earthquake?
Why didn't the Shinomiya family receive any warnings?
Or perhapsthis tsunami was nothing more than a staged performance from the very beginning?
Yukima Azuma's gaze unconsciously fell upon Shinomiya Kaguya.
If there was human intervention behind this disaster
Shinomiya Kaguya would undoubtedly be the greatest beneficiary.
First, she showed a slight hesitation, as if laying the groundwork.
Then, she used the tsunami to bring everything to a climax.
Rushing into danger to save himit appeared to be a desperate gamble.
But in reality, the chances of success were incredibly high.
Could this have been the plan of the "Ice Princess Kaguya"?
With the capabilities of the Shinomiya family, this was entirely within their grasp.
Shinomiya Kaguya seemed to sense Yukima Azuma's gaze.
She suddenly turned her head and met his eyes.
Those brilliant, ruby-like red eyes
No matter how long one looked, they were flawless.
All they did was captivate and mesmerize.
As their gazes met, a fleeting trace of shyness flashed across her eyes.
But immediately after, there was a profound sense of doubt.
Yukima Azuma quietly withdrew his gaze.
If this was truly an act, then Shinomiya Kaguya's acting skills had to be at least at a level nine.
He recalled the moment she had clung to the surfboard, rushing toward him in sheer panic.
Whether considered emotionally or rationally, the probability of that being an act was extremely low.
(Note: sounds impossible, could a tsunami really be artificially created right in the middle of a beach???)
...
Their clothes had dried.
Yukima Azuma took his down and put it back on.
Outside the cave, the rain had temporarily stopped.
He stood up and said:
"I'm going to gather some grass, dry it over the fire, and spread it on the ground. It won't be comfortable, but at least it'll be better than sleeping on rocks."
Hearing that, Shinomiya Kaguya immediately took out her clothes.
She quickly got dressed behind the surfboard and then said,
"I'll go too."
Shijo Maki saw this, reached out her hand slightly
But in the end, she gave up.
With no one to hold the surfboard for her, her pride wouldn't allow it.
And so, Yukima Azuma and Shinomiya Kaguya stepped out of the cave, one ahead of the other.
The sea breeze swept through the forest outside the cave.
As they stepped on the ground, they could hear the soft squelching of wet mud.
"Should we dig a water reservoir?"
Shinomiya Kaguya lowered her gaze to the ground and asked.
"No need. Even if we boil rainwater, there's no guarantee it's clean, and we don't have the necessary tools."
"There are some coconut trees on the barren shore. For now, we can rely on coconut water to replenish fresh water."
"If the coconuts run out and we still haven't been rescued then we'll just set the forest on fire."
Yukima Azuma voiced his thoughts.
This was likely the safest option.
Since this wasn't Japanese territory, setting fire to a deserted island would surely require compensation.
(note: I think even if this were Japan, this act of burning forests would be criminally liable and require compensation.)
But for the three of them, money was just a tool to be used at their discretion.
"You're really something." Shinomiya Kaguya looked up at the sky through the gaps in the foliage. "Truly reliable."
Through the misty sky, faint traces of the moon could barely be seen.
The moonlight struggled to pierce through the thick layers of clouds.
But not seeing the moon actually made Shinomiya Kaguya feel happier.
She didn't like the moon.
Even though her name, Kaguya, was deeply connected to it.
Hearing Shinomiya Kaguya's words of admiration
Yukima Azuma's mind was suddenly filled with fragmented thoughts.
"So, Kaguya, what do you think caused this tsunami?"
In the end, he couldn't hold back from asking.
A prolonged silence was his answer.
Yukima Azuma turned his head and once again met those ruby-red eyes.
Only this time, there was a faint sadness hidden within them.
He was about to say something
But Shinomiya Kaguya spoke first.
"Azuma-kun, you're suspecting that I orchestrated this tsunami."
"That this entire situation is just a play I wrote and performed myself, right?"
She pinpointed exactly what was on Yukima Azuma's mind.
Not just because Shinomiya Kaguya's intelligence far surpassed that of ordinary people.
But mainly becausewhen their gazes met just moments ago
A sudden intuition had flashed through her mind.
"Ah, he must be doubting me."
Immediately after, a sharp pain spread from her chest.
It hurt so much that Shinomiya Kaguya had to question whether she had some kind of illness.
Otherwise, if it was merely heartache, how could it cause such an intense reaction?
At this moment, Shinomiya Kaguya lowered her eyes slightly.
"It's completely natural for you to suspect me. If I were in your place, I would suspect myself too."
As she spoke, she clenched her fists tightly.
Her nails dug deep into the flesh of her palm.
Her body trembled slightly with each rapid breath.
"But what's even sadder is that I really am that kind of person."
"In the moment I rushed toward you, I truly did think about the benefits that a life-saving debt could bring me."
"If I had thought of this plan before coming to Hawaii, I might have actually carried it out."
"Shinomiya Kaguya Shinomiya Kaguya is exactly that kind of personsomeone who always puts a price on everyone."
Saying this, Shinomiya Kaguya looked like someone on the verge of drowning.
Her ragged breathing was almost terrifying.
She struggled to lift her head, her blood-red eyes clouded with mist.
"But listenthis tsunami really wasn't my doing."
"The moment I rushed toward you, all I truly felt was worry for your safety."
"You don't have to believe me. You're free to investigate me once we return."
"No matter what, I'll cooperate. But at the very least at the very least, don't condemn me in your heart just yet, okay?"
Yukima Azuma looked at the Shinomiya Kaguya standing so close before him.
He was momentarily stunned.
Never had he imagined that someone as proud as Shinomiya Kaguya could say such words.
What kind of emotions
Could make someone who always held their head high bow down like this?
Yukima Azuma hadn't lost his wits just because they were stranded on an island.
Of course, he understood Shinomiya Kaguya's feelings.
What he hadn't expected
Was that her love had come so suddenly.
And so fiercely.
Like the sun rising over this dark, mist-covered island.
A radiant light tearing through all the clouds.
The blazing flames of love burned away all lingering doubts.
In Yukima Azuma's heart, he had completely leaned toward the girl standing before him.
No matter what, at least at this moment, he could no longer just stand there frozen.
Yukima Azuma reached out his hand toward Shinomiya Kaguya.
Her eyes fixated on his palm.
At the corner of her eyes, a faint trace of tears still lingered.
After a brief moment of contemplation
Shinomiya Kaguya gently leaned forward, resting her swan-like, graceful white neck against his outstretched hand.
(*)*.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
He reached out and lightly pinched Shinomiya Kaguya's cheek.
Then, he took hold of her fair, delicate hands.
Shinomiya Kaguya froze completely at the unexpected pinch, staring blankly at Yukima Azuma's fingers as they effortlessly pried her hand open.
One by one, her fingers were separated.
On her palm, the deep marks left by her nails were clearly visible.
Her skin was nearly scratched raw.
His fingers gently rubbed over the indentations.
Yukima Azuma could feel her pain as if it were his own.
After soothing her, his fingers naturally slid between hers.
Their ten fingers intertwined tightly.
( )
Shinomiya Kaguya snapped out of her daze and lifted her head to look at Yukima Azuma.
"Azuma-kun, do you trust me?"
Yukima Azuma nodded, then shook his head.
"I plan to investigate this thoroughly once we return."
Hearing this, Shinomiya Kaguya responded with a bright smile.
To most people, an investigation would mean a lack of trust.
But Shinomiya Kaguya understood that deciding to investigate required even more courage.
"Alright. No matter how you investigate, I will cooperate."
Rustling footsteps echoed through the forest once more.
"Azuma-kun, you don't seem worried at all."
"After all, the person stranded on this deserted island with me is none other than the heir of the Shinomiya family, the heart of the entire nationKaguya-sama."
"You've been listening to Maki-san's nonsense again, haven't you? Honestly, I might not even be as important as you."
"Either way, don't worry. Since everyone was dragged into this mess and ended up stranded here, no matter what, I will make sure we all return safely."
Yukima Azuma spoke with unwavering seriousness.
Shinomiya Kaguya gave a slight nod.
Indeed, he was utterly reliable, radiating an unparalleled sense of security.
It was a feeling Shinomiya Kaguya had never experienced in her entire life.
In the turbulent Shinomiya family
Her mother passed away early, and her father was practically absent.
She had never been anything more than a small bamboo boat tossed about in a raging storm, drifting helplessly with no sense of direction.
And yet, now that she had truly been cast out into the vast sea
Ironically, she had found stability.
Perhaps, at long last, her streak of misfortune had come to an end.
...
The two of them were fortunate enough to stumble upon a pile of dried leaves.
Brushing away the top layer, they found that the grass and leaves underneath were almost completely dry.
They gathered some to bring back as bedding.
Together, they strolled leisurely toward the deserted beach.
The scenery was bleak.
The rain had just stopped, leaving the shore looking utterly desolate.
The sky was shrouded in thick layers of clouds, with only a sliver of moonlight peeking through.
A dense fog hung over the ocean's surface.
Yet their moods remained unaffected.
On the contrary, they felt even more at ease than when they had strolled along the beaches of Hawaii just two days ago.
They found a coconut tree.
Yukima Azuma called out, and a mysterious creature darted out from the forest.
In the blink of an eye, it had climbed up the tree.
Moments later, several coconuts came crashing down.
This mysterious creature was something Yukima Azuma had summoned the moment he set foot on the island.
He had been using it to scout the terrain of the deserted island.
The two hares he had brought back earlier had also been caught by this creature.
Even with Yukima Azuma's physical ability maxed out at eight points,
Climbing a coconut tree wasn't exactly like walking on solid ground, but it wasn't difficult either.
Still, with a subordinate to do the work, who would bother climbing up themselves?
They carried the coconuts and a bundle of dried grass back to the cave.
By now, Shijo Maki had long since gotten dressed properly.
Seeing them return, Shijo Maki visibly let out a sigh of relief.
But immediately after, a hint of suspicion flashed across her face.
The atmosphere between the two of them now was completely different from when they had left the cave.
Could it be that something had happened between them after they left?
(_ )
"What are you thinking about? Want some coconut water? It's the real deal, completely natural, no additives."
Yukima Azuma shook the coconut in his hand.
Shijo Maki snapped out of her thoughts, coughed lightly, and said, "Ahem Th-thank you"
Yukima Azuma blinked.
"Huh? Did you just say something, Shijo-san? I didn't quite hear you~."
Now that his emotions had settled down, Yukima Azuma found himself in the mood to tease the tsundere girl.
Shijo Maki bit her red lips lightly and glared at him.
"Thank you! Did you hear me now? THANK. YOU!"
"You're always bullying me! Even after getting stranded on a deserted island, you're still bullying me!"
( ) !!!
Hearing her complaint, Yukima Azuma suddenly felt a little guilty.
He reached out his hand toward Shinomiya Kaguya.
Shinomiya Kaguya instantly understood his intention and placed her hand in his.
Yukima Azuma: ( ®® ) ????
He smiled helplessly.
Then, he whispered, "Iron shard knife."
"Eh? Oh!" Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly realized and pulled her hand back.
( )
She picked up the knife crafted from a shard of the surfboard and handed it to Yukima Azuma.
Shijo Maki: ( ®®) !!!
Earlier, when she had complained about Yukima Azuma, she hadn't actually been angry.
She was just pretending a little, playing up her tsundere nature.
But now, things were differentShijo Maki was genuinely pissed.
These two something definitely happened between them while they were out!
How infuriating!
><
Holding the not-so-sharp knife in his hand, Yukima Azuma's vision shifted in an instant.
A moment later, he effortlessly split the coconut in half.
The cut was so smooth it looked as if the coconut had naturally grown that way.
Shijo Maki held onto her coconut, staring at the cut for a long while.
Then, she picked up a shard from the surfboard, pressed it against the coconut shell to compare
After that, with a blank expression, she started drinking the coconut water, lost in a daze, as if questioning her very existence.
( - )
Who am I? Where am I? What has happened to this world?
Meanwhile, Shinomiya Kaguya simply dried the bundle of grass over the fire.
Then, she divided it into three portions and spread them on the cave floor.
Night had fully fallen.
The only source of light on the deserted island was the flickering fire inside the cave.
Shijo Maki's eyelids were visibly drooping.
After staying on high alert ever since they encountered danger, all three of them were utterly exhausted.
"You two go ahead and sleep. I'll keep watch for a while."
Yukima Azuma said.
Standing watch wasn't out of fear that some dangerous creature would wander into the cave.
The main reason was to keep adding wood to the fire.
The fire needed to last at least until midnight.
That way, the remaining warmth would make sleeping more comfortable.
"Let's take turns," Shinomiya Kaguya suggested.
Yukima Azuma casually nodded.
But he had no intention of waking her up.
There was already a summoned creature standing guard outside.
He would add a little more wood later, and that would be enough.
And so, amid the howling sea breeze
Under the flickering firelight, the cave took on an unexpectedly warm atmosphere.
"Don't cross the line" Shijo Maki mumbled sleepily.
Even on the verge of falling asleep, she still bared her little fangs, warning Yukima Azuma.
The flames gradually died down.
In the end, only faint red embers remained.
At some point, Yukima Azuma had fallen asleep as well.
Half-conscious, he felt something soft curl into his arms.
"Eriri stay still."
He muttered in his sleep, absentmindedly patting the soft "hug pillow" in his arms.
Her head felt unbearably heavy, as if it had turned into a block of lead.
Shijo Maki shivered, her entire body chilled to the bone.
She couldn't even tell whether she was awake or still drifting in a dream.
Fortunately, the discomfort didn't last long.
Soon, a warm presence appeared beside her, enveloping her like a kotatsu.
She found herself pulled into a familiar embrace, strong arms holding her tightly as if unwilling to let go.
When she finally woke up again
Shijo Maki slowly forced open her heavy eyelids.
The first thing she saw was a young man, mere inches away.
Her pale violet eyes locked onto Yukima Azuma's dark ones.
In the very next second, Shijo Maki's eyes widened in shock.
(O_O)!!!
She wanted to lift her hand to point at Yukima Azuma.
But then she realized
They were pressed so tightly together that her arm was still wrapped around him.
Even if she wanted to pull away, she couldn't.
A deep red flush spread rapidly across her fair face.
Up until now, the only time she had ever touched a boyeven just the tips of their fingerswas with Yukima Azuma.
And now this level of physical contact was way too much!
Meanwhile, Yukima Azumawho had woken up firstwas counting his blessings.
At least he had woken up first.
Otherwise, he was pretty sure Shijo Maki would have killed him on the spot.
After all, he was used to hugging his Eriri body pillow to sleep
So even upon waking up just now, his palm was still resting on a particularly soft curve of the girl's body.
"Let me explain first," Yukima Azuma said in a low voice.
()
Shijo Maki glared at him. "Fine ahem, go ahead and explain."
(_)
Her voice was slightly hoarse, but after clearing her throat, she quickly adjusted it.
Then, she looked at him as if waiting to see what kind of nonsense he would come up with.
But Yukima Azuma simply raised a finger and pointed behind her.
"Actually, I didn't move at all."
Shijo Maki struggled to turn her head and look back.
And what she saw was
Not far away, on the pile of straw nearby
Lying closer to the inner side of the cave, Shinomiya Kaguya was still fast asleep, completely unaware of what had transpired.
Shijo Maki's eyes widened in realization.
So it wasn't that Yukima Azuma had sneaked over to ambush her in the night.
It was hershe had voluntarily crawled into his arms?!
As this horrifying fact settled in, Shijo Maki wanted nothing more than to find a hole in the cave and bury herself in it.
( //>///
Her pale toes curled tightly.
A wave of secondhand embarrassment so intense that she wanted to gnaw through an entire three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment flooded her mind.
Without a word, she lowered herself
Quietly wriggled out of Yukima Azuma's arms
And hurriedly scurried back to her sleeping spot.
Her movements caused Shinomiya Kaguya to stir awake.
She drowsily sat up, blinking in confusion.
First, she glanced around groggily.
Then, her gaze landed on Yukima Azuma.
"Did something happen?"
( -) z Z
Yukima Azuma chuckled and shook his head.
"Nothing at all."
Shinomiya Kaguya let out a soft "Oh."
But then, she suddenly remembered last night's conversation.
Her eyes darkened slightly as she gave Yukima Azuma a mildly reproachful look.
"You didn't wake me up? Didn't we agree to take turns keeping watch?"
()
Yukima Azuma gestured to the dying fire beside them, where a faint warmth still lingered.
"I figured there was no need anymore, so I didn't wake you."
"Besides, we don't need to keep the fire going."
Hearing that, Shinomiya Kaguya understood his reasoning.
But she still felt a little displeased.
She couldn't shake the feeling that Yukima Azuma had dismissed her.
...
Outside the cave, the sky remained a dull, gloomy gray.
It looked like it might start raining again soon.
"I'll go to the shore and check if any fish got stranded, or if there's anything edible."
With that, Shinomiya Kaguya stood up and stepped outside.
Since it wasn't raining yet, she needed to take advantage of this time to get things done.
Otherwise, if another storm rolled in, who knew how long it would last?
If they didn't make use of this window, they might be forced to venture out in the middle of a downpour.
"In that case, I'll gather all the coconuts from the beach."
Yukima Azuma said.
There were several coconut trees by the shore.
Considering how long it might take for rescue to arrive and the amount of fresh water the three of them needed, they would have to collect those coconuts sooner or later.
Might as well do it now and be prepared.
"Then I'll go gather firewood."
Shijo Maki spoke up.
But her eyes were still darting around in a slight panic.
(///// " )
The three of them split up to carry out their respective tasks.
However, as soon as the other two left, Shijo Maki's expression collapsed.
She raised a hand to her throat.
Even swallowing her own saliva sent a dull pain radiating through her.
Her head felt light, slightly dizzy.
She wasn't sure if she had a fever.
But one thing was clearshe was definitely sick.
Realizing this, a wave of fear rose in her heart.
Falling ill on a deserted island like this was practically leaving one's life up to fate.
No medicine. Not even a proper place to rest.
Whether she could recover or not depended entirely on her own body.
Shijo Maki recalled the past few days.
It was highly unlikely that she had only gotten sick after arriving on the island.
By the time symptoms started to show, it usually meant the virus had already reached its peak.
If she did the math she might have been infected back when they were still in Hawaii.
Thinking back, there were some warning signs.
For instance, when she was playing volleyball, she had run out of stamina much faster than usual.
At the time, she had simply blamed it on her recent string of sleepless nights.
Gathering a small pile of dry firewood,
Shijo Maki slumped down inside the cave, unwilling to move.
She curled into herself, hugging her own body tightly.
The early morning wind swept through, cutting into her skin like a sharp blade.
Meanwhile, outside the cave
Yukima Azuma was weaving strands of palm fiber into a simple net.
Afterward, he hauled back a pile of coconuts.
The moment he stepped back into the cave, he spotted Shijo Maki lying down in her spot.
"Shijo-san, slacking off at a time like this?"
He teased.
But there was no response.
Immediately, Yukima Azuma sensed something was wrong.
He set everything down and rushed over to her.
Lifting her up, he examined her condition.
Her pale skin was now flushed with an unnatural reddish hue.
Recalling the small signs he had noticed earlier that morning
Yukima Azuma unconsciously clenched his jaw.
This damn tsundere brat!
Being sicksomething that could literally be life-threatening in this situation
And she actually hid it?!
Was she an idiot?!
He pressed a hand to her forehead.
Burning hot.
In fact, even without touching her, he could tell she was running a dangerously high fever.
The girl in his arms was practically a furnace.
Taking two deep breaths, he forced himself to calm down.
He needed a solution. Fast.
Finally, Yukima Azuma turned toward the cave entrance and raised a hand.
The creature he had summoned for hunting and fire-making instantly dissolved into specks of light before vanishing.
This freed up a summoning slot.
Then, he grabbed a scrap of metal that had been used as a makeshift knife.
And began carving symbols into the cave wall.
This time, Yukima Azuma wasn't sure if the summoning would work.
But
It had to.
Unlike the creatures he had summoned before,
The entity he was attempting to call forth now was completely beyond the realm of ordinary beings.
As he carved the final symbol
A searing pain exploded in his skull.
It felt as if someone had slammed a hammer into his head.
Then, a clear, melodic cry echoed throughout the cave.
Golden and crimson hues intertwined, painting a scene of dazzling radiance.
A creature wreathed in divine flames descended into existence.
A Phoenix.
A being of legend and mythology.
Possessing extraordinary powers, capable of rising anew from its own ashes.
Its feathers could be used to craft magical staffs.
And its tearsheld the miraculous ability to heal wounds.
Yukima Azuma shook his head, trying to push through the pain.
Then, he gestured toward the newly summoned Phoenix.
The Phoenix immediately perched on his outstretched arm.
A single, crystal-clear teardrop traced a graceful arc through the air
And landed gently upon Shijo Maki's lips.
Watching the Phoenix's tear absorb into Shijo Maki's lips, Yukima Azuma still felt uneasy.
Even though he had successfully summoned a mythical creature at the cost of personal suffering
His supernatural abilities were rooted in literary skills.
He could only summon creatures that had appeared in published works and gained widespread recognition.
This Phoenixat most, was merely a slightly stronger-than-usual magical beast.
Would it actually work? That remained uncertain.
Fortunately, after about ten minutes
Shijo Maki's body temperature dropped significantly, returning to normal.
Placing a hand on her forehead, Yukima Azuma finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At the very least, the fever had broken.
Perhaps it was because of his movement,
But her long eyelashes fluttered slightly.
A moment later, a pair of violet eyes slowly opened.
At that moment, they were still in the same position
Yukima Azuma holding Shijo Maki in his arms as he had been checking her condition.
Now that she was awake,
He was about to release her and set her down.
After all, given Shijo Maki's tsundere nature and how easily she got embarrassed
She was bound to make a fuss about it.
But just before he could let go
Shijo Maki suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.
( )
Feeling the warmth and softness radiating from her slender arms,
Yukima Azuma blinked in confusion.
Since when did Tsundere Maki become so forward?
Shijo Maki, still embracing Yukima Azuma, stared at the boy right in front of her.
"Am I dying?"
( )
Her voice was still hoarse,
Likely from just waking up and not having had any water in a long time.
Hearing her question, Yukima Azuma felt a sudden surge of irritation.
Oh, now she was scared?
What about before?
She had been sick and didn't say a word.
But since she had just barely made it through the worst,
He swallowed back the scolding he wanted to give her and simply said:
"Stop overthinking. You're fine now."
At those words, Shijo Maki let out a small, wistful laugh.
She knew her own body well.
Before she lost consciousness, her fever had reached a critical levelher entire body weak, her head spinning.
Those were extremely dangerous symptoms.
In the wild, facing a fever that severe
Other than physical cooling methods, there was almost no way to treat it.
Yet now, she didn't feel even a trace of pain.
On the contrary, she felt light, almost like she was floating.
Forget the wilderness
Even in the most advanced private hospital with cutting-edge technology,
It was impossible to recover so quickly, leaving no trace of illness behind.
The only explanation Shijo Maki could think of
Was that her body had already been completely destroyed by the sickness.
What she was experiencing now was just the last fleeting moment of clarity before death.
With that sorrowful smile still lingering,
Shijo Maki gazed at the boy before her.
"I really am so pitiful, huh? Just when I finally found someone I truly like."
"Love is so difficult I haven't even done anything yet, it's so frustrating."
"But at least I already kissed him. Even if it was an accident, it was really wonderful."
"Ne, Azuma-kun Can you kiss me one more time? As my final wish."
Hearing Shijo Maki's words
Yukima Azuma's lips twitched slightly.
This girl seriously?!
"Shijo-san, listen to me. You're not actually"
Yukima Azuma was about to explain everything properly.
But suddenly
Tears welled up in Shijo Maki's eyes.
(`)
Large, shimmering drops rolled down her cheeks.
This was clearly her final wish.
Why was he saying such cruel things instead?
Did he enjoy making her suffer?
These thoughts surged in her mind, and her chest ached with grievance.
So
She lifted her head
And kissed him straight on the lips.
Fine.
If Yukima Azuma wouldn't do it, then she would.
After all, she didn't have much time left anyway.
His explanations were blocked by her soft lips, unable to be spoken.
Yukima Azuma widened his eyes.
It wasn't that he had never been forcibly kissed by a girl before.
But a misunderstanding as absurd as this was truly a first.
A sweet fragrance spread right under his nose.
A scent like the most enticing cake, making Yukima Azuma instinctively seize the initiative.
Shijo Maki attacked based on emotions.
But before long, she was completely dominated by Yukima Azuma.
Her heartbeat accelerated, then accelerated even more.
Only when their breath reached its limit did Yukima Azuma finally release her.
Shijo Maki, who had been brimming with momentum just moments ago, was now as soft as a puddle of water.
The kiss had melted her.
And yet, right after, Yukima Azuma suddenly frowned.
This sweet scent, so rich it stimulated his taste buds... why did he feel that it didn't match Shijo Maki's natural fragrance?
He immediately sensed something was off.
"Call... call me Maki, okay?"
()
Shijo Maki spoke softly.
That "Shijo-san" thing felt way too distant.
If possible, before dying, she wanted to hear Yukima Azuma call her name just once.
"Mm, Maki."
Yukima Azuma responded without hesitation.
He didn't intend to explain anything anymore.
After all, in just a little while, Shijo Maki would realize the truth on her own.
There was no such thing as an embarrassment that wouldn't happen.
Who told tsundere girls to never listen when people talk? She deserved this!
Placing her down, Yukima Azuma carefully began to determine the source of the scent.
The sweet fragrance, like cake, was indeed coming from Shijo Maki.
But the true source... wasn't actually her.
Moreover, Shijo Maki herself never had such an overwhelmingly sweet scent.
It was a purer sweetness, fresher.
...
Shijo Maki was left alone in the cave.
Yukima Azuma stepped outside.
Watching Yukima Azuma leave, Shijo Maki had no intention of stopping him.
All of her wishes had been completely fulfilled.
Before dying, she had been able to kiss the person she truly loved, to hear him call her name.
Shijo Maki was already satisfied.
She simply thought that Yukima Azuma didn't want to face the truth that she was about to pass away.
Thinking this, though she wanted to cry even more, there was a bit of happiness in Shijo Maki's heart.
She quietly closed her eyes, waiting for the sensation of losing consciousness completely.
But after a long time...
Shijo Maki opened her eyes.
It seemed... she didn't feel like she was dying?
( -)?
She sat up, reaching out to touch her forehead.
It seemed like the fever was gone.
Wasn't this supposed to be the final flicker before death? She had never heard of a death flashback lasting this long.
Gradually, Shijo Maki realized something.
Her cheeks burned like a cloud of fire, instantly turning bright red.
( - )
If the fever had already subsided... then what exactly had she just done!?
Just recalling even a little bit of what had happened
Shijo Maki crouched down, holding her head.
Shijo Maki: Someone kill me! Free me from this embarrassment! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
;
(`Д)
A major life memory was now rapidly transforming into social death.
At this moment, Shijo Maki truly wanted to die.
...
Shinomiya Kaguya returned, carrying two unidentified sea fish along with several sea urchins.
The moment she stepped inside, she saw the girl two generations younger than her curled up on the ground.
"Maki-san? Are you okay?"
Shinomiya Kaguya looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"I'm fine!"
Shijo Maki responded without even lifting her head.
Today, she really didn't have the face to see anyone anymore.
Shinomiya Kaguya: ( _ ) ?
Did something happen?
...
Elsewhere.
Yukima Azuma wandered around the central area of the deserted island.
Then, at the back of the island, he found a natural path.
The vegetation on this path was relatively sparse, and the incline was low, making it easy to climb.
Following this path, Yukima Azuma began his ascent up the mountain.
Following the trail, Yukima Azuma realized that everything was going unusually smoothly.
Even though there were no signs of human presence.
Yet, this path seemed to have been made for people to walk through.
There were hardly any obstacles requiring effort to overcome, nor dense trees blocking the way.
Before long, Yukima Azuma reached the peak of the mountain on this deserted island.
Upon reaching the summit, he observed his surroundings.
Everything within sight consisted of wild-growing trees.
The sky remained a dull, overcast gray.
Yukima Azuma's gaze swept across the scenery before finally stopping at one particular spot.
On one side of the mountain peak, there was an area entirely different from the rest.
For some reason, even though the mountain was covered in forest, that particular spot was completely barren.
As if a piece of a cake had been carved out.
He moved toward it.
As he approached, Yukima Azuma witnessed an unbelievable sight.
That place was completely empty.
Except for one thing at its centera smooth, flat stone platform.
It looked man-made, yet it seamlessly blended with the mountain, appearing entirely natural.
Seeing this stone platform, Yukima Azuma unconsciously recalled the stone shrine in the mountains of Itomori.
The shrine of the Itomori god also seemed to be one with the mountain.
And the reason why the sight before him was so incredible...
Was because
On that stone platform, a twin-flower was growing.
It was a species Yukima Azuma had never seen before, with two blossoms sharing a single stem.
One was crimson like blood, the other a pale violet.
Rooted firmly into the stone platform.
Gently swaying in the mountain breeze.
Stepping up to the platform, Yukima Azuma reached out, intending to pluck the twin-flower.
"You mustn't!"
A voice as clear as silver bells rang directly in Yukima Azuma's mind.
It was exactly the same as how he once communicated with the Itomori god after swapping.
An ordinary person would likely be startled at this moment.
At the very least, they would stop moving for a second.
After all, this was a supernatural phenomenon.
Yet, Yukima Azuma's movements didn't halt in the slightest.
As his fingers touched the twin-flower
The girl's voice rang out again, this time with a hint of panic.
"Wait, don't! Um, we can talk this out!"
()
Yukima Azuma's expression darkened slightly.
But he temporarily stopped, no longer reaching for the twin-flower.
"Do you have a physical form? I don't make a habit of talking to empty air."
At the same time as he spoke
Two strange lights fell from the flower's petals.
Upon landing on the stone platform, they quickly transformed into two tiny girls, each only the size of a palm.
Yukima Azuma glanced at them and almost laughed out loud in amusement.
The girl emerging from the crimson flower had the exact appearance of Shinomiya Kaguya.
While the one from the pale violet flower looked just like Shijo Maki.
()()
"Young man who carries miracles, greetings. It's a pleasure to meet you."
()
Smol-Shinomiya Kaguya waved her hand, trying to appear cute.
"Cut the nonsense. The tsunamiit was your doing, wasn't it?"
"And the abnormalities in Shinomiya Kaguya and Shijo Maki's emotionsthat was your influence as well."
Yukima Azuma frowned as he spoke.
Ever since arriving in Hawaii, he had felt something was off.
Unlikely occurrences, like "perverted lucky" moments, kept happening.
The way the two girls interacted with him was more dramatic than usual.
At times, Shinomiya Kaguya and Shijo Maki would lose their composure to an extreme degree.
Like just now, with Shijo Maki's sudden forceful kiss.
Her reasoning made sense, but something about it was still strange.
That was why, when he realized the sweet scent wasn't actually Shijo Maki's natural fragrance
Yukima Azuma immediately became aware that something was wrong.
Just like last time with the Itomori god.
All three of them were being affected by some supernatural force.
And the source, clearly, was the two tiny beings before him.
Faced with Yukima Azuma's interrogation
The two miniature copies became visibly nervous, avoiding his gaze.
"How could that be? We can't possibly do such things!"
(,,,,)
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma said nothing and directly grabbed the twin-flower, ready to pluck it.
The two tiny copies immediately panicked, flailing their arms and legs in protest.
"Wait! I'll talk! I'll talk!"
Smol-Kaguya frantically waved her hands.
"We really can't control tsunamis or people."
"We can only influence the probability of certain small events."
"And we can amplify emotions that already exist in people's hearts."
"Those two girls genuinely like you. We only helped a little!"
."®()®".
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma frowned slightly.
Although he didn't fully trust these two strangers,
their words aligned with what he knew.
Up until now, the supernatural entities Yukima Azuma had encountered
even a god like the Itomori god
could only interfere with the world within a certain scope.
Otherwise, the Itomori god wouldn't have needed Yukima Azuma's help.
These two were likely another kind of deity.
The Itomori god's power was time-transcending swaps.
And their power was probability manipulation and desire amplification?
But what was the purpose of these two wild gods bringing him, Kaguya, and Maki to this deserted island?
Were they trying to bring them together?
If so, why hadn't they just led the three of them up the mountain earlier?
Yukima Azuma couldn't think of a reasonable explanation.
So, he asked directly:
"What is your goal?"
Hearing this, Smol-Kaguya simply put on an innocent face.
"We just want to help you all get together, no other motives at all!"
( )
Smol-Maki, who had been silent until now, also spoke up:
"We are gods who govern love and fate. Helping people find happiness is our responsibility."
(*)*.
Compared to Smol-Kaguya's playful nature
this deity's tone was calmer.
Like a laid-back girl, unconcerned with the world.
Love and fate?
Yukima Azuma pondered these words.
"If those two girls miss their chance to love you, they will never find happiness."
"Their fates can only shine brightly if they are bound to you. Otherwise, they will wither away."
( - )
Smol-Kaguya added.
This wasn't hard to guess.
Shijo Maki's case didn't even need to be mentioned.
If Yukima Azuma hadn't appeared
this Losing Heroine Oujou-sama might have continued suffering indefinitely.
As for Shinomiya Kaguya
Without Yukima Azuma
Her fate was already setto become a caged canary within the Shinomiya family.
In the future
She would either be traded away like a rare treasure.
Or crushed in political struggles.
Just like her name suggested.
Kaguya, Kaguya
One day, Princess Kaguya would have to return to the moon.
After hearing their explanation, Yukima Azuma believed them about fifty percent.
But even if he believed them halfway
he still felt irritated.
The feeling of being manipulatedwas truly unpleasant.
"So, what happens if I pluck this flower?"
()
Yukima Azuma asked, a playful smile forming at the corner of his lips.
"Don't do that! This flower is our soul vesselif it's plucked, we won't have a home to return to!"
(®® )
Smol-Kaguya panicked.
"You two must be bored stuck on this deserted island. Why not come with me instead?"
Yukima Azuma prepared to pack these two up and take them with him.
Once he returned to the Itomori mountains
the Itomori god still owed him a favor.
He would use that favor to have the Itomori god properly discipline these two troublemakers.
No matter how much they claimed to be harmless gods
who could say for sure if they were truly benevolent?
"Eh?" Smol-Kaguya glanced at Smol-Maki, as if considering it.
But at that moment, Yukima Azuma applied force with his fingertips.
By conventional means, it was nearly impossible to pluck the twin-flower from the stone platform.
However, Yukima Azuma activated his supernatural ability, which came as a side effect of his cooking skills.
In his special vision, he effortlessly plucked the twin-flower.
( )
"Uwaa! We didn't even agree yet!"
."®()®".
Smol-Kaguya burst into tears the moment she saw Yukima Azuma pluck the twin-flower.
In his palm
A sweet fragrance, like a little cake, wafted from the twin-flower.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
As expected, it was this scent.
"Do you two have names?"
Ignoring their protests, Yukima Azuma asked.
"Hic, call me Star, and call her Lumine."
"We're not famous deities, we don't have any grand myths, so really, it doesn't matter what we're called."
(ЇЇ)
Smol-Kaguya answered.
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
What's with these gacha game heroine names?
...
Stowing away the twin-flower, Yukima Azuma began descending the mountain.
Star and Lumine had no choice but to follow.
On the way down, Yukima Azuma casually fished for more information.
"When will the rescue team arrive?"
"Not sure, but there's a very high probability they'll come tomorrow or the day after."
"What happens if you leave your soul vessel?"
"It'd be like being a homeless wanderer. We wouldn't die right away, but it'd be miserable. Mostly, it'd be hard to gather spiritual energy."
"Spiritual energy?"
"Umu, a few months ago, spiritual energy suddenly started recovering, though very slowly. It's our only food source."
()
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow.
A few months ago
No matter how he thought about it, it had to be because of the Charlotte comet crash, right?
"If it fully recovers, how strong can you get?"
"Strong? Hard to say. Our power isn't meant for combat."
"Could you survive a nuclear bomb?"
"Definitely dead!"
"
"You're that weak?"
"Gods have lives too, you know!"
Yukima Azuma let out an "Oh."
It seemed that despite calling themselves gods, Star, Lumine, and even the Itomori god
were just supernatural beings with slightly special traits.
Their existence was indeed strange,
but that was all there was to it.
If someone wanted to stage a grand spiritual revival, overthrow modern society
and have gods trample over humanity
that was clearly impossible.
Even if they were immune to physical attacks
they could still be taken down with energy-based saturation strikes.
As always, the ultimate question remained:
If you're a god, how many nuclear warheads can you withstand?
(®® )
Bringing the twin-flower with him, Yukima Azuma returned to the cave.
Star and Lumine immediately retreated into the flower.
When Yukima Azuma arrived, he saw Shinomiya Kaguya waiting at the cave entrance.
Meanwhile, Shijo Maki was curled up in a corner, face buried against the wallshe looked like she was having an existential crisis.
; ()
"Azuma-kun, you're back! Where did you go just now?"
( `)
Shinomiya Kaguya greeted him with a bright smile, then curiously asked.
She had already noticed the pile of coconuts outside the cave.
Yukima Azuma had already gathered enough, so why had he gone out again?
"I climbed to the peak to survey the terrain a bit."
Yukima Azuma gave a half-truth.
The matter regarding Star and Lumine couldn't be shared with Shinomiya Kaguya or Shijo Maki.
Looking at the smile Shinomiya Kaguya gave him upon his return
Yukima Azuma felt something indescribable.
Her feelings for him were undoubtedly sincere.
It was just that the process leading to those feelings had involved some unusual coincidences.
Thinking about it carefully, doubting that Shinomiya Kaguya had truly fallen for him would actually hurt her.
"What's wrong?" Shinomiya Kaguya keenly sensed Yukima Azuma's emotions.
( -)?
She asked, a little puzzled.
He shook his head, pushing aside his complicated thoughts.
"It's nothing." Yukima Azuma smiled. "The sky looks clearer. Maybe the rescue team will arrive tomorrow."
Hearing Yukima Azuma's confident prediction
Shinomiya Kaguya only smiled.
"Umu, if that's the case, then that's great."
Her words carried a hint of insincerity, yet at the same time, they came from the depths of her heart.
Compared to the lavish grandeur of the Shinomiya family
Shinomiya Kaguya realized that this cave somehow made her feel more at ease.
She even felt a slight reluctance to return.
Once she went back, she would once again become the Ojou-sama of the Shinomiya household.
She would once again become Princess Kaguya, the one destined to return to the moon.
But still, Shinomiya Kaguya truly hoped the rescue team would arrive soon.
She knew Yukima Azuma had to return quickly.
There were still people worrying about him.
Besides, he was usually busy, often having to request leaves of absence.
His time shouldn't be wasted on this deserted island.
"Well, tomorrow's worries can wait until tomorrow. For now, let's grill some fish."
Yukima Azuma said, picking up the nameless fish Shinomiya Kaguya had brought back.
The leftover coconut shells from earlier could now be repurposed as makeshift cooking pots.
Activating his special vision, Yukima Azuma skillfully prepared the ingredients.
Before long, the aroma of grilled fish filled the cave.
Shinomiya Kaguya sat by the fire, resting her chin on her hands, absentmindedly gazing at Yukima Azuma
As if she wanted to etch this moment into her memory forever.
. .
Meanwhile, on the other side, Shijo Makiwho had just been sulking with her face against the wall
Was also drawn back by the enticing smell.
But the moment she laid eyes on Yukima Azuma, she felt like she had suffered another wave of social death.
Avoiding eye contact, Shijo Maki didn't dare look directly at him.
(,,><,,)
To be honest, since they had no seasonings
Even with his level-eight cooking skills, Yukima Azuma could only make the fish barely okay to eat.
It was still far from truly delicious.
Yet, the two girls ate heartily.
It somehow tasted even better than the lavish feasts at their homes.
Maybe it was because of the situationor maybe because of the person who cooked it.
After dinner
At first, the three of them planned to go for a stroll.
But as the sky darkened
On this desolate island, where there was no trace of artificial light, nightfall meant absolute darknessyou couldn't even see your own fingers in front of you.
So, they gave up on the idea.
Lying down on a bed of dry leaves
The three of them chatted about this and that.
At some point, their conversation slowly faded
And silence settled in.
(* *) z Z
...
The next morning.
Gentle morning sunlight filtered into the cave,
Bringing with it a soft warmth.
Yukima Azuma drowsily opened his eyes.
The first thing he feltwas heaviness.
He looked down.
And found
Two Bishoujo-shaped body pillows had suddenly appeared on top of him.
This time, it wasn't just Shijo Maki
Even Shinomiya Kaguya had joined in.
One on each side, the two girls were sleeping soundly, their heads resting against Yukima Azuma's chest, like little kittens.
() ( _ ) ()
Yukima Azuma turned his head slightly, checking their positions
A question mark popped up in his mind.
Just how had these two managed to sleep in such a way
That they ended up rolling onto him like this?
Thinking back to those two unreliable twin deities...
Yukima Azuma suspected this was yet another trick of theirs.
But whatever.
Things had already ended up this way anyway.
Yukima Azuma lay back down and closed his eyes.
Who knew how much time had passed
When Shinomiya Kaguya and Shijo Maki gradually woke up.
The two of them lifted their heads, and then
Their eyes met across Yukima Azuma's body.
(*^^)(^^*)
"The sky really has cleared up."
( )
Shinomiya Kaguya gazed at the bright blue sky and sighed in admiration.
Just last night, the clouds were still thick and heavy, seemingly unwilling to disperse.
Earlier, Yukima Azuma had mentioned that the sky showed signs of clearing up.
It had sounded like nothing more than an optimistic reassurance.
But now
The clouds had truly been swept away.
Perhaps the rescue team would be arriving soon.
"Let's go to the beach and light a signal fire."
Shijo Maki suggested.
Now that the sky was completely clear, it meant the rescue helicopter had definitely taken off.
Aerial visibility couldn't be compared to searching from the sea.
As long as they sent up smoke, their chances of being found would increase significantly.
Yukima Azuma looked at the two girls.
(_")
He had no intention of bringing up what had happened that morningwhen they had used him as a pillow.
If he hadn't woken up before them even once
He might have been fooled into thinking they had both slept obediently through the night.
When Yukima Azuma woke up again in the morning
The two girls were already sitting properly to the side.
They put on an expression that said, "Time flows quietly, the scenery is picturesque, we have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
( ) ~~~
It made Yukima Azuma chuckle.
...
The three of them replenished their water by cracking open a few coconuts.
Then, they gathered some branches and leaves from the forest and headed toward the beach.
Now that the sky had cleared, the scenery on the beach had transformed as well.
Looking out toward the horizon, they could see a magnificent sight where the sea and sky merged into one.
If not for the desolate conditions of the deserted island, it would have been almost indistinguishable from a Hawaiian resort beach.
They piled up the leaves together.
The flames ignited, and thick smoke began to rise.
Perhaps because the rain had stopped.
Today, there was hardly any wind, and even the sea remained calm.
As a result, the rising smoke wasn't carried away by any wind currents but simply drifted straight upward.
The three of them tilted their heads back, watching the curling smoke, each lost in their own thoughts.
But that moment of contemplation didn't last long.
About fifteen minutes after the smoke signal was sent up, they spotted a black dot appearing in the distant sky.
Then, the black dot quickly grew larger.
The whirring sound of helicopter blades echoed from afar.
"That fast!?" Shinomiya Kaguya exclaimed in surprise.
Even though she had seen that the sky had completely cleared,
Even though she had known that Yukima Azuma's prediction about today's rescue being highly likely was turning out to be true,
She hadn't expected such a quick response right after lighting the signal fire.
The helicopter swiftly approached the deserted island and hovered steadily above it.
Landing was impossible.
The terrain here had no suitable conditions for a helicopter to touch down.
A rope ladder was lowered from the helicopter.
One by one, they climbed up.
Marking the end of this unexpected castaway experience.
Yukima Azuma was the last to ascend.
As soon as he stepped into the cabin, he saw that aside from Shinomiya Kaguya and Shijo Maki, who had climbed up just before him,
There was only one other persona woman dressed in rescue gear.
"Welcome back, Yukima 'Robinson' Azuma-kun. How are you feeling now?"
( -)-
Yukinoshita Haruno teased, a playful smirk on her lips.
Though her words carried a hint of mockery,
No matter how one looked at it, her smile unmistakably held the relief of having a weight lifted off her shoulders.
Yukima Azuma's gaze unconsciously lingered on Haruno's eyes.
This wicked womanshe always carried an air of elegance and beauty.
Yet at this moment, the dark circles under her eyes were so heavy that they couldn't be hidden.
The whites of her eyes were laced with frightening red veins.
No matter how lightheartedly she tried to tease with her words,
The words "worried to exhaustion" were practically engraved on Haruno's face.
Noticing Yukima Azuma staring at her, Haruno realized something.
She reached up and touched the area around her eyes.
Even without a mirror, she knew she must look far from presentable right now.
If she had known earlier, she would have brought some makeup alongat least to cover it up a little.
Yukima Azuma withdrew his gaze.
Even though he lowered his eyes to the floor, he had already etched this image of Haruno into his heart.
Perhaps it was the lingering daze after being rescued.
Yukima Azuma remained silent for the entire journey.
Shinomiya Kaguya and Shijo Maki were also quiet.
No one spoke the whole way.
The helicopter flew swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, the vast ocean below transformed into a modern cityscape.
It landed on a designated helipad.
Even before the dust kicked up by the rotor blades had settled,
A group of people rushed over.
"Kaguya-sama!"
()
Hayasaka Ai's voice rarely carried such urgency.
Only after seeing her Oujou-sama safe and sound did she let out a small sigh of relief.
Her gaze moved from her Oujou-sama to Yukima Azuma.
Only after confirming that both of them were unharmed did the usually composed maid finally feel at ease.
Shijo Maki's mother was also present.
The moment she saw her, Shijo Maki immediately leaped from the helicopter and ran over.
Soon after, the sound of muffled sobs could be heard.
Aside from their family members,
As Yukima Azuma stepped out of the helicopter, he immediately saw that all of his girls were here as well.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, Eriri, Kato Megumi, Sora Ginko, Hinatsuru Ai, Yukinoshita Yukino, and Kirisu Mafuyu.
Of course, Suou Yuki, who was already in Hawaii, was present too.
All the girls who shared a close bond with Yukima Azuma.
Only Gotoh Hitori and Kurokawa Akane were absent.
But the two of them had no connections with the others besides Yukima Azuma himself.
Not much time had passed since the incident.
Perhaps they simply hadn't heard the news yet.
"Azuma!"
"Shishou!"
( )
The first to lose control of their emotions were Eriri and Hinatsuru Ai.
One older, one youngerboth girls rushed forward, throwing their arms around Yukima Azuma.
Eriri wrapped her arms around his neck, while the petite Hinatsuru Ai clung tightly to his waist.
As if afraid that he would disappear at any moment.
They held him tightly.
Soft sobs reached his ears.
Yukima Azuma raised his hand, gently patting their backs in comfort.
Even though they were the first to break down,
The other girls weren't much better.
Kato Megumi's eyes were visibly red.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's body was even trembling slightly.
"Alright, you're finally safe. That's all that matters. As long as you're okay, that's all that matters."
Kirisu Mafuyu pushed everyone toward Yukima Azuma and joined in the embrace.
She spoke words of reassurance,
But it was unclear whether she was comforting the girls or herself.
Their emotions were in turmoil.
At that moment, Yukinoshita Haruno, the last to step down from the helicopter, clapped her hands lightly.
"Anyway, let's get him a full-body checkup first."
Hearing that, everyone's emotions gradually settled.
Surrounded by the crowd, Yukima Azuma didn't even get a chance to explain.
Just like that, he was "packaged up" and sent straight to the nearest hospital.
...
After spending a hefty sum in US dollars
Yukima Azuma received a medical report confirming that he was in perfect health.
During his days on the deserted island, he had always ensured that his food was thoroughly cooked before eating.
As for drinking water, he hadn't touched a single drop of dirty water. He hadn't even drunk any boiled wateronly coconut water.
He hadn't sustained any external injuries either.
So, naturally, there was nothing wrong with him.
The girls held Yukima Azuma's medical report, flipping through it carefully.
Only after confirming that there was truly nothing to worry about did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Anyway, let's just head back to the hotel and rest for now. Compared to me, you all are the ones who need it more right now."
Yukima Azuma looked at the girls and said.
Their condition wasn't as severe as Haruno's
But it was clear that they, too, hadn't been resting properly due to worry.
However, after returning to the hotel
Led by Eriri, some of the girls stubbornly refused to go back to their rooms to rest.
As if they feared that if they fell asleep, Yukima Azuma would disappear.
Fortunately, the living room was spacious enough.
So, they simply brought out blankets and pillows, deciding to rest together in the living room with Yukima Azuma.
Once they had finally let go of their worries
A few of the girls fell asleep almost the moment their heads touched the pillows.
Their exhaustion had already reached its limit.
But there were also those who, despite their fatigue, couldn't fall asleep right away.
"Lonely-kun."
"I'm here."
"I'm really scared..."
"I know. This won't ever happen again."
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently stroked Kasumigaoka Utaha's hair.
With her personality
No matter how worried she was, she found it difficult to put it into words.
Most of the time, she expressed her emotions through actions.
For her to voice her fear so directly
It was enough to show just how tense she had been.
When she first heard that Yukima Azuma had been in an accident and was missing
Kasumigaoka Utaha had felt as though she couldn't breathe.
A suffocating pressure, coupled with a dizzying sensation.
Fear had completely engulfed her heart.
She couldn't even imagine
How she would go on living if she lost Yukima Azuma once again.
"Still awake?"
Yukima Azuma noticed that Yukinoshita Yukino was still lying there
Staring blankly at him.
He reached out his other hand, gently holding hers.
"I don't want to go to Hokkaido anymore."
Yukino murmured.
Previously, Yukima Azuma had made plans with her
That once Laplace Corporation got past this busy period, they would go to Hokkaido together to see the snow.
But now, Yukino no longer wanted to go to Hokkaido.
She just wanted to stay home with Yukima Azuma.
She didn't want to go anywhere.
"This was just an unexpected accident. Nothing like this will ever happen again."
Yukima Azuma said softly.
In his heart, he silently added another debt to Star and Lumine.
"I only need you. Everything else doesn't matter."
As she spoke, Yukino's voice choked up
And silent tears began rolling down her cheeks.
Chapter 253: Christmas at Yukima's Home
After learning that Yukima Azuma had been in an accident and gone missing
Yukino realized that all her previous hesitations were completely insignificant.
As long as she could stay by Yukima Azuma's side,
Nothing else mattered.
Or rather
If she couldn't be with Yukima Azuma,
She would rather abandon all of her principles.
When Yukima Azuma heard the choked-up voice of Yukino
He was momentarily stunned.
It felt as though Yukino's thoughts were slowly drifting away from who she truly was.
His grip on her hand unconsciously tightened.
A conflict stirred within Yukima Azuma's heart.
Truthfully, when it came to Yukino, he had always felt a sense of hesitation.
He wanted to spend his future with all of the girls.
And Yukinosomeone with such a strong sense of integritywould undoubtedly be the greatest obstacle he had to overcome.
If he couldn't get past this barrier smoothly, there was a high chance it would lead to a bad end.
Yet now, it seemed as though Yukino was changing on her own.
And that, in turn, made Yukima Azuma feel a pang of sorrow.
Because she was Yukinoshita Yukino, after all.
How could she say something like, "As long as I can be with Yukima Azuma, nothing else matters"?
Clearly, this was a situation in his favor.
And yet, it made him feel pain.
It sounded irrationallike the kind of false suffering someone would pretend to have for no reason.
But at this moment, that was precisely how Yukima Azuma felt.
Sensing his internal struggle
Yukino anxiously tightened her grip on his hand, intertwining their fingers.
She looked at him with worry, trying to understand what was wrong.
Under Yukino's unwavering gaze
Yukima Azuma suddenly felt a little more at ease.
"Yukino, you mustn't say things like that."
He spoke seriously.
Hearing this, Yukino blinked in confusion.
Seeing her worried yet slightly bewildered expression
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently lifted her face.
"No matter what happens in the future, I will never leave you, Yukino."
"So you don't have to worry about that. I will always and forever be with you."
Yukino leaned into his palm.
With a faint sigh, she murmured:
"Only children and liars say the word 'forever.'"
Suddenly, she felt as if she had become the older one between them.
Looking at the boy before her, she thought
He really was a bit childish.
The future was still long ahead.
Only a year had passed, yet so much had already happened.
What about ten years from now?
Let alone something as abstract as "forever."
But hearing him say these words
She couldn't deny the warmth spreading through her heart.
"So, Yukino doesn't believe me?"
(ЇЇ;)
Yukima Azuma put on a pitiful expression.
Yukino felt her heart melt.
( )
How could she possibly say no?
She quickly shook her head.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma smiled.
"Whether you truly believe it or not, once you've agreed, you have to keep it in your heart."
"Because you're an honest girland someone like that would never tell a lie!"
Hearing those words, Yukino was slightly stunned.
The very principles she had always upheld
Now spoken aloud by Yukima Azuma in such a way
Gave her an indescribable feeling.
Especially when, just moments ago, she had been willing to cast them aside for him.
Realizing the hint of confusion in Yukino's eyes
Yukima Azuma seized the moment and continued speaking:
"That's why, Yukino, you don't have to worry about anything."
"Just keep being yourself. It's okay to change a little because you like me."
"But you must never continuously compromise or abandon yourself just because you're afraid of losing me."
"Those are two completely different things."
Yukima Azuma knew that by saying these words
The once smooth road to his harem would undoubtedly gain another obstacle.
But he would rather rack his brain in the future figuring out how to appease an angry Yukino
Than let her abandon her own principles because of him.
Yukino remained silent for a long while.
The emotions in her eyes shifted continuously.
And in the endthey settled into a deep, unwavering love.
"Mm, I understand. Consider it a promise to Azuma."
They exchanged smiles.
Though somewhat unspoken
Both understood the meaning and emotions behind each other's words.
Lying down together,
Yukino stared at the ceiling before slowly closing her eyes.
Suddenly, she felt at complete ease.
And as her emotions gradually calmed
The exhaustion she had been holding back for so long finally hit her.
"oh and, do you know how your sister has been doing lately?"
Yukima Azuma, unaware that Yukino was already drifting off, asked in a quiet voice.
Hearing this, Yukinohalf-asleepreplied without thinking:
"My sister she's been part of the search team for the past few days."
"Among us, she's the only one old enough and has a rescue certification."
"Since arriving in Hawaii she's been going out to sea with the search teams every day."
"After the weather cleared she even joined the rescue helicopters"
^- .-^ -
Her voice grew softer and softer
Until it finally faded completely.
Yukima Azuma glanced at Yukino, now fast asleep, his expression turning unreadable.
When it came to Yukinoshita Haruno,
He suddenly wasn't sure what to do anymore.
In the past, after being deceived by Haruno
He could completely ignore whatever she did.
But now, somehow things didn't seem so simple anymore.
As he pondered over Haruno's situation
Drowsiness crept in, pulling him into deep sleep.
...
The Next Day.
Yukima Azuma returned to greet his classmates at Shuchiin Academy.
Though they weren't particularly close to him
Seeing that he was safe and sound, everyone was genuinely happy.
After a brief exchange with Hiratsuka Shizuka
Yukima Azuma quickly distanced himself from the group.
He had no intention of returning with the Shuchiin crowd.
Since all the girls from his house had come here, naturally, he would be leaving with them.
Hiratsuka Shizuka seemed to completely understand.
She also readily approved his leave request.
And so, Yukima Azuma and the girls set off on their journey back to Tokyo The land of cherry blossoms, Japan.
After all, this trip had only lasted a little over a week.
According to the original schedule, when the school trip ended and they returned, it would have been around this time anyway.
However
The moment he stepped into the Yukima household,
Yukima Azuma suddenly felt as if he had been away for a lifetime.
After returning home and seeing everyone gathered together
He suggested:
"Since everyone's already here, why don't we stay a little longer?"
"Christmas is in two days. Why not celebrate it together here?"
Even though Kasumigaoka Utaha, Sora Ginko, and the other girls had taken leave just to come here
They had already taken time off, so staying an extra day or two wouldn't make much of a difference.
Hearing this, the girls all nodded in agreement.
And just like that, the once-quiet Yukima household
Suddenly became lively and bustling.
Everyone joined in to decorate for Christmas.
That afternoon.
Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi went out to buy ingredients.
Traditionally, Christmas called for turkey.
But he decided to skip it.
That dish
Even with a level eight cooking skill
He still doubted he could make it taste good!
So instead, he opted to break tradition and prepare a grand feast based on the girls' preferences.
Stepping outside and strolling down the winter streets,
Kato Megumi let out a soft breath.
Watching the thin white mist gather in the air, she mused:
"It's already winter A whole year has passed just like that."
( .)
But Yukima Azuma didn't feel anything particularly special.
Even though so much had happened this year
The future was still long.
"It's only been one year. We still have plenty of 'one years' ahead."
Hearing that, Kato Megumi smiled and nodded.
Unconsciously, she found herself reminiscing about last winter.
Back then, she and Yukima Azuma had just drifted apart.
Although they had known each other since middle school, they weren't particularly close at the time.
She had always looked forward to meeting him again in high school, maybe even being placed in the same class.
But looking back, that period of anticipation was just a small part of her winter.
Most of the time, she had probably been preoccupied with thinking about Ginza's shops, delicious food, or destinations for a winter trip.
And yet
In just one short year.
Her mind had become filled with the boy beside her.
Whenever she walked through the city and saw something, she would unconsciously wonder
Would this suit him?
Whenever she read travel guides
She would suddenly imagine herself exploring different places with him.
The once-fuzzy visions of the future
Had suddenly been colored with reality.
Because
In every plan she envisioned, his presence was always there.
However, after indulging in her thoughts for a while
Kato Megumi suddenly turned to look at Yukima Azuma, her gaze carrying a hint of reproach.
"Azuma-san, I have a somewhat curious question."
()
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma had yet to realize the severity of the situation.
He casually responded:
"Umu? What question?"
( -)?
Kato Megumi tilted her head slightly, a meaningful smile forming on her lips.
"May I ask what exactly is the relationship between Azuma-san and Yukino-san's older sister?"
( )
Yukima Azuma's entire body froze.
( ®® )
Then, he unconsciously let out a small cough.
"Ahem, well"
"No lying." Kato Megumi's voice was light and casual.
"But if you dare lie, even Saint-Megumi will get really mad."
( `)
Her words sounded playful
But in Yukima Azuma's ears, they carried a not-so-subtle weight.
He quietly lowered his head.
It's over
How did this suddenly turn into a 'Shurafield'?!
Megumi: (` ) ( l|l) :Azuma
After a moment of hesitation.
Yukima Azuma selected a few things about himself and Haruno to share with Kato Megumi.
Even though it was a trimmed-down version, the important details remained intact.
After listening, Kato Megumi's expression was somewhat indescribable.
"So, Haruno-san is such a troublesome person?"
( - )
The girl muttered softly.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma could only give a wry smile.
After a brief sigh, Kato Megumi looked back at him.
"What about Azuma-san? What are you thinking right now?"
According to Yukima Azuma, Yukinoshita Haruno was a "dark past."
But despite everything that had happened.
At this moment, even Kato Megumi could see it clearly.
It was a very deep emotion.
Yukima Azuma could only shake his head helplessly after hearing this.
"I don't know either."
"( - - )
When it came to Yukinoshita Haruno, he himself was uncertain about his feelings now.
"Then just let things take their course," Kato Megumi said before adding a reminder: "But, Azuma-san, make sure to pay attention to Yukino-san's feelings."
After speaking.
Kato Megumi muttered to herself: "Honestly, why do I even have to worry about a playboy like Azuma-san?"
()
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma could only smile helplessly.
He reached out and took Kato Megumi's hand.
Their fingers naturally intertwined, as if it was second nature.
Handholding: ( `)
Today, the Ginza shopping district was filled with a festive Christmas atmosphere.
Right at the entrance stood a giant Christmas tree, decorated with countless glowing baubles and gift boxes.
It seemed to be part of a promotional event.
Shopping up to a certain amount would allow customers to pick a gift from the tree.
Inside were daily necessities and electronic gadgets.
A way to encourage spending.
Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi stopped by a supermarket first to buy some seasonal ingredients.
After leaving the supermarket, they continued strolling through various stores.
"How about this?"
Yukima Azuma picked up a long Santa hat and smiled as he asked.
"It looks kind of silly. Azuma-san should just wear it yourself."
Kato Megumi answered seriously, but the moment she finished speaking, she couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
"Then Megumi should wear this instead."
Yukima Azuma placed the Santa hat on his own head and casually picked up another item.
It was a headband with reindeer antlers.
It looked extremely cute.
Kato Megumi took it and adjusted her hair slightly.
Then, she put the headband on.
( )
The adorable reindeer antlers on her head suited her perfectly.
"Megumi-chan kawaii!"
)
Yukima Azuma gave a thumbs-up.
Just as the two were engrossed in their little cosplay session
"Azuma-sensei!"
A voice called out.
Yukima Azuma turned toward the source of the voice.
It was a small girl.
A familiar face.
"Ayano-chan, hello."
Yukima Azuma greeted Sadatou Ayano, who had just run up to him.
Since the end of the Queen's tournament, this was the first time he had seen the young girl again.
But he had occasionally heard Hinatsuru Ai mention her.
After their trip, Hinatsuru Ai and the three young girls, including Sadatou Ayano, had become close friends.
"Azuma-sensei, Merry Christmas!"
()
Clearly, Sadatou Ayano was delighted to see Yukima Azuma.
"Umu umu, Merry Christmas."
As they talked, Yukima Azuma gently patted the obedient little girl's head.
Being patted, Sadatou Ayano looked both shy and incredibly happy.
"Azuma-san"
(_)
Kato Megumi's voice came from beside him, soft yet carrying a strange feeling.
At this moment, Sadatou Ayano finally noticed the beautiful onee-san standing beside Yukima Azuma.
"Ah! Hello, onee-san! May I ask are you Azuma-sensei's girlfriend?"
"I'm so sorry, I didn't notice just now."
A huge exclamation mark seemed to appear above Sadatou Ayano's head.
Why didn't I realize this onee-san's presence at all earlier?
Kato Megumi, who naturally had a faint presence, had her melancholic gaze instantly clear up the moment she heard the word "girlfriend."
Umu, opportunities like this don't come often.
"Then stay away from Azuma-san right now! You thieving cat!"
( )
In a light, casual tone, Kato Megumi spoke sharp words.
"Ah! So you really are Azuma-sensei's girlfriend!"
(®®)
"Onee-san, don't misunderstand! Azuma-sensei and I don't have that kind of relationship!"
Sadatou Ayano panicked as she explained.
Clearly, she had taken Kato Megumi's teasing seriously.
Yukima Azuma looked at Kato Megumi with a helpless expression.
Kato Megumi playfully stuck out her tongue, looking adorable as if she were just having fun.
(>)
"All right, onee-san doesn't mind, don't worry."
"Ayano-chan, are you out with your parents? Shouldn't you be heading back soon?"
Yukima Azuma glanced in the direction Sadatou Ayano had come from.
A woman who bore a seventy-percent resemblance to the little girl was nodding at him gently.
"Oh, that's right! Azuma-sensei, goodbye! Onee-san, goodbye!"
( ><` )
Sadatou Ayano had also noticed her mother waiting.
She waved at Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi before running toward her.
The two of them watched as the small figure disappeared into the crowd.
"Megumi really does have some strange hobbies!"
"This is just preparation for the future. Azuma-san already has too many girls around him!"
( )
"But she's just a little girl, isn't that still within the safe zone?"
"Hmph, not necessarily. Azuma-san doesn't seem to reject anyone, from onee-sans to little girls."
( ,,'',,)
Yukima Azuma's forehead twitched with veins popping.
<( _)>
Well, when he want a harem, it was his fault in the first place, so he would endure for now.
He would get his revenge in bed later!
Vengeance will be mine!
After visiting two more stores, the two of them carried the ingredients back to Yukima's house.
"You two are back so late! Were you secretly out on a date?"
(_)
Eriri eyed them suspiciously.
"Of course not!"
"Definitely not."
The two of them denied it instantly without even thinking.
They didn't even blink after saying it.
Which, ironically, made Baka-riri start doubting her own judgment instead.
"Speaking of which, today is also the official release of White Album 2, isn't it?"
Kato Megumi smoothly changed the subject.
"Umu, that's right. It's Christmas, after allWhite Album season is here again!"
Eriri nodded enthusiastically.
The winter Comiket was being held on Christmas Day and the two days following.
Yukima Azuma's club projectWhite Album 2was officially launching today.
Originally, the whole group was supposed to go to Comiket.
But due to Yukima Azuma's unexpected situation, the girls preferred to stay home and spend Christmas with him instead.
"Let's try playing it later."
Yukima Azuma suggested.
Even though they all already knew the story inside out, experiencing it together in a proper setting was still a different kind of joy.
Kato Megumi and Eriri both nodded in agreement.
Carrying the ingredients, Yukima Azuma headed toward the kitchen.
Kato Megumi originally intended to roll up her sleeves and help, but before she could even tie on an apron, the doorbell rang.
So, she went to answer the door instead.
The door opened.
"Merry Christmas!"
A cheerful voice rang out.
Seeing Yukinoshita Haruno standing at the door, Kato Megumi's feelings became somewhat complicated.
But she still smiled and responded:
"Merry Christmas."
After dinner.
Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai left Yukima's house first.
Both of them still had other matters to attend to.
Kirisu Mafuyu also returned to her room.
After all, she was a teacherstaying any longer might make the other girls uncomfortable.
The remaining group gathered around the kotatsu with Yukima Azuma.
In the freezing winter, once you crawl under a kotatsu, it's hard to leave.
"Weren't we supposed to play a game?"
Yukima Azuma reminded them.
"Ehm, I think we did say that Let's do it later."
(* *)
Eriri leaned back, her eyes half-closed, looking utterly lazy.
Kato Megumi's gaze unconsciously landed on Haruno.
Initially, she had a rather good impression of this office lady onee-san.
After all, from the way Haruno spoke to how she carried herself, it was hard to dislike her.
However, after learning about the history between Yukinoshita Haruno and Yukima Azuma
Kato Megumi could no longer look at Haruno the same way.
You seems so refined, yet you's actually that kind of person?! Haruno-san!?
Whether Haruno had noticed Kato Megumi's gaze or not was unclear.
She was peeling a tangerine from the fruit plate on the heated table.
Then, she casually handed a fully peeled tangerine to Kato Megumi.
Kato Megumi was slightly distracted.
She took it without thinking, only realizing afterward.
"Thank you, Haruno-san."
Hearing that, Haruno simply smiled without saying a word.
Kato Megumi blinked in confusion.
Then, she broke off a segment and popped it into her mouth.
The next moment, her usually expressionless, adorable face twisted ever so slightly.
(><)
She wrinkled her nose.
Kato Megumi shot Haruno a glare.
Then, in silence, she handed the tangerine to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Kasumigaoka Utaha took it and ate a piece as well.
After finishing, she too fell silent, staring at Kato Megumi for a moment.
( _ )
Without a word, she passed the remaining tangerine to Eriri.
Eriri, who had been lazily lying down, perked up the moment she saw a peeled tangerine being offered to her.
She immediately sat up.
"As expected of Christmaseven Kasumigaoka Utaha is being kind today."
( )
Eriri joked.
Normally, Kasumigaoka Utaha only ever bickered with her.
Offering food like this was practically unheard of.
Kasumigaoka Utaha still said nothing.
Eriri didn't think much of it and casually shoved two or three segments into her mouth.
And then
"UUUUUW!"
( )
The blonde-haired, twin-tailed girl let out a distressed groan.
She struggled to hold back the tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.
Eriri handed the rest of the tangerine to Yukima Azuma.
"I'm not eating it."
(;_)
Yukima Azuma refused outright.
"W-Why not? It's really sweet!" Eriri insisted.
As she said this, her eyes were still tightly shut.
"It must be sourEriri can't even keep her eyes open!"
"It's not sour! Not even a little!" Eriri protested, forcing her eyes wide open.
( )
Her watery eyes sparkled, making her look adorably pitiful, like she'd just been bullied.
Yukima Azuma remained unmoved. "Give it up. I'm absolutely not eating that tangerine today."
Hearing this, Eriri seemed devastated and dramatically collapsed onto the tatami.
"Uwaaaa! I'm throwing a tantrum! I'm throwing a tantrum right now!"
."®()®".
She rolled around on the tatami, making the kotatsu shake along with her.
"Lonely-kun, if this keeps up, all the warmth in the kotatsu will escape."
Kasumigaoka Utaha commented.
"That's right, Azuma-san, you should give in to Sawamura-san a little."
Kato Megumi added.
The two former victims of the tangerine had already passed the pain onto the next person.
But they couldn't stand the thought of someone escaping this punishment.
Yukima Azuma sighed helplessly.
With a spirit of reckless abandon, he accepted the remaining tangerine pieces.
Eriri had already eaten quite a bit, leaving only three segments.
Yukima Azuma took one and placed it in his mouth.
"So damn sour." His voice turned hoarse.
"Umu, really sour." Kato Megumi nodded in agreement.
Eriri fumed. "How can a tangerine be this sour?! Was it born just to take revenge on us?!"
"Lonely-kun, let me have a sip of your tea." Kasumigaoka Utaha reached out, demanding Yukima Azuma's teacup.
Yukinoshita Yukino watched their reactions with curiosity.
Was it really that sour?
She picked up one of the remaining two segments and hesitantly put it in her mouth.
The next moment, she wrinkled her nose.
()
Meanwhile, the true culprit was chuckling softly to herself.
"Haruno-san, here, I saved the last piece especially for you."
Yukima Azuma glanced at Haruno.
He wasn't about to let this wicked woman enjoy herself while the rest of them suffered.
Haruno paused for a moment.
Then, without hesitation, she picked up the last piece and put it in her mouth.
The instant the tangerine juice burst out, it was indeed extremely sour.
But Haruno ate it with ease.
Compared to the bitterness she had tasted before, this sourness was nothing.
Like that day, when Yukima Azuma got out of her car without looking back.
And held her little sister in his arms.
Like the disgust in his eyes when he told her:
"The only person I need is Yukino."
Compared to that this tangerine was almost sweet.
( )
Watching Haruno eat so nonchalantly, Yukima Azuma felt complicated emotions rise in his chest. He turned away.
....
The afternoon passed quickly amidst various diversions.
In the end, they never got around to playing White Album 2 as planned.
Instead, they ended up playing Minecraft online together for a while.
As night fell, Yukima Azuma reluctantly left the warmth of the kotatsu and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was quicker than Kato Megumishe rushed into the kitchen first.
Intent on helping Yukima Azuma.
It was strange.
With a skilled cook like Yukima Azuma handling every meal,
Logically, none of the girls should have needed to bother with cooking.
Yet somehow, their culinary skills had improved significantly.
Before long, a lavish Christmas feast was laid out.
"I brought some wine. Want to try a little?"
Haruno took two bottles of premium wine out of her bag.
Aside from Yukino, everyone else was under twenty.
Yukima Azuma rolled his eyes.
As for Kirisu Mafuyu
Ever since her legendary drunken incident, the group had silently banned her from drinking.
"Just a little won't hurt," Haruno said with a soft laugh.
Yukima Azuma shook his head in refusal.
At the same time, he glanced at Yukino and silently mouthed:
"How's your sister's alcohol tolerance?"
Noticing his lip movements, Yukino responded:
"Never seen her drunk before."
Having attended countless high-profile parties, Yukinoshita Haruno's alcohol tolerance was naturally top-tier.
Ordinary wine? Even a few bottles wouldn't faze her.
After confirming the information with Yukino, Yukima Azuma watched with amusement, waiting for what would happen next.
He felt that, with the personality of a wicked woman like Haruno
Taking out wine at this moment definitely had some ulterior motive.
Who knows, maybe she'd use the excuse of being drunk to take advantage of him.
When that time came, Yukima Azuma would surely expose the true face of this scheming woman!
( _)
However, after dinner
Yukinoshita Haruno drank more than a bottle of wine.
Her cheeks were only slightly flushed, making her look a little more seductive.
Other than that, there were no signs of drunkenness or pretending to be drunk.
Her gaze remained clear, completely sober.
On the other hand, Yukino had been forced to drink two glasses of wine by her sister.
At this moment, her eyes looked a bit dazed.
(///// " )
She actually looked quite alluring.
Noticing Yukima Azuma's confused gaze on her,
Haruno blinked at him.
As if to ask: "Were you expecting me to do something?"
()
Yukima Azuma looked away.
It felt like Haruno always threw out bait filled with hidden implications for others to speculate on,
Only to ultimately do nothing at all which, in itself, was a kind of action.
A dangerous woman would always be a dangerous woman!
"Ah, I missed the last train."
Haruno checked her phone and let out a soft sigh.
She had driven here.
But now that she had been drinking, she obviously couldn't drive home.
Yukima Azuma really wanted to say that he could call a driver for her,
But before he could, Yukino's dazed voice spoke up first:
"Then Sis, just stay over tonight."
"You can sleep in my room."
Yukino, who was usually cold and distant, became extremely clingy when drunk.
Though she seemed indifferent to relationships, in reality, she was someone who deeply cared about those around her.
Due to family issues and her own personality, she never showed much affection toward Haruno,
But in truth, Yukino cared a lot about her older sister.
Now that she was tipsy, that fact became even more apparent.
"Is that really okay?" Haruno sneakily glanced at Yukima Azuma,
As if seeking his opinion.
Meanwhile, in her heart, she secretly praised her little sister.
Haruno: ) Nice Yukino-chan!
Just as Haruno had predicted.
Now that Yukino had said it,
There was no way Yukima Azuma could tell her to leave.
However, Yukima Azuma still said,
"There's still a guest room available, no need to squeeze together."
Yukino drowsily nodded.
"( ) z Z
In reality, she hadn't even fully processed what Yukima Azuma had just said.
She simply agreed because it was him speaking.
Haruno had no objections either.
And so, she followed Yukima Azuma upstairs to the empty guest room.
He turned on the lights.
Then pointed toward the wardrobe.
"There are fresh blankets in there."
Since the room was cleaned regularly, despite being unused for a long time, it was still spotless.
However, with no personal belongings inside, it felt rather cold and lifeless.
Haruno looked around the room before breaking into a smile.
"Alright then, thanks, Azuma-kun."
...
Once Yukima Azuma left,
Haruno sat down on the edge of the bed, letting her fingers glide across the neatly laid-out sheets.
Yukima Azuma felt that this wicked woman definitely had some hidden agenda.
But what he didn't know was Haruno was actually quite easy to satisfy.
For example, right now, just being able to stay here for the night,
That alone was enough to make her content.
Even though they had once gone all the way,
During their time apart, whenever she thought of that boy,
Haruno could only recall his fading silhouette from old memories.
But now, she could sit and talk with him in this very house.
She could stay the night here even if this room didn't bear her name.
And that was enough to make her happy.
Unlike those girls who, after tasting the forbidden fruit, only craved for more,
Haruno only needed a few memories to fill the void in her heart.
...
Christmas Eve.
As usual, whenever someone stayed over, the girls would never sleep quietly.
Some were naturally night owls,
And with the special meaning of this holiday,
The Yukima household would probably remain lively for quite a while.
But this time, the lights went out earlier than expected.
After flying back from Hawaii,
Even though the group had spent some time resting together in the hotel lounge,
At the time, their emotions had only just settled, and besides, it was an unfamiliar place.
So they hadn't actually slept well.
But now, back in Yukima's home
The Familiar Atmosphere Made People Unconsciously Relax Their Tense Nerves.
Eririthe baka otakuwas playing a game when she suddenly dropped her controller on the floor.
Yukima Azuma turned his head to lookshe had already fallen asleep.
Eriri: (* *)zzz!
If no one else were around,
Yukima Azuma would definitely let Eriri experience the consequences of sleeping wherever she pleased.
He picked her up and carried her to her room, laying her down on the bed.
When he returned to the living room, he saw Kasumigaoka Utaha holding her laptop,
Her head nodding up and down repeatedly.
(--)
He closed the laptop and set it aside.
Then, he carried Utaha back to her room as well.
As for Kato Megumi, when her eyelids started battling against each other, she simply said to Yukima Azuma, "Good night, Azuma-san."
( -) z Z
Then she returned to her room by herself.
...
Night fell.
Yukima Azuma turned off the lights.
In his mind, he was thinking about the upcoming trip to Mount Itomori.
Drowsiness gradually crept in.
His thoughts drifted in and out as he slowly sank into sleep.
Then, in the quiet space
A faint sound of a doorknob turning was heard.
In his half-asleep state, Yukima Azuma barely registered the feeling of his blanket being lifted slightly.
Immediately after, a soft, slightly cool body slipped under the covers.
The cool sensation brought him a bit more clarity.
Noticing the blanket puff up on one side,
An exclamation mark popped up in Yukima Azuma's mind.
( ®®) !!
Night Raid?
At that moment, the first thought that flashed through his mind was
That troublesome older sister still hasn't given up?!
However, the soft body of the girl pressed closer to him.
Sensing it more carefully, Yukima Azuma quickly confirmedit wasn't Haruno.
Though it had been a while, and he no longer remembered Haruno's body measurements clearly,
At the very least, compared to what he was feeling nowthere was a significant difference.
If it wasn't Haruno
Yukima Azuma's hand began to move of its own accord.
He measured each point carefully.
"Megumi?"
Yukima Azuma called out softly in surprise.
"I wasn't fully awake just now and accidentally walked into the wrong room."
(,,,,)
Kato Megumi answered in a small voice.
She was still groggy. After using the restroom, she somehow ended up stepping into Yukima Azuma's room by mistake.
In truth, Kato Megumi didn't realize it right away.
But after getting "measured" like this for a while, she instantly snapped awake.
She hadn't spoken up earlier simply because she was too embarrassed.
"What a coincidence. In that case"
Yukima Azuma started to say, but then suddenly stopped.
He leaned in and took a light breath near Kato Megumi's neck.
Sure enough, a faint, sweet fragrance entered his nose.
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but glance around the room.
This kind of "coincidental" setup clearly had to be the work of a certain pair of bored twin gods.
Star and Lumine: (>) Ehe!
Oh well, just a bit of randomness.
Yukima Azuma decided to settle the score with those matchmaking gods in the morning.
He gently wrapped his arms around Kato Megumi,
His hand softly patting her back, signaling her to just relax and sleep.
In the darkness, Kato Megumi's face gradually turned red.
Obediently, she rested her head on Yukima Azuma's arm and slowly closed her eyes.
However.
Creak
A faint sound echoed.
Yukima Azuma immediately felt the girl in his arms stiffen.
Both of them turned their heads toward the door.
But since the lights were off and the curtains were drawn, blocking the moonlight, the room was pitch dark, making it impossible to see who had entered.
Only the quiet shuffle of slippers could be heard approaching the bed.
Then, the blanket was lifted once more, and a cold gust of air slipped in.
Along with that cold airwas another soft body.
A faint vein pulsed on Yukima Azuma's forehead.
He raised his hand and pointed toward the study desk.
The pressure of his shogi skill was instantly released.
Somewhere on the study desk, two mischievous twin gods were "check-mated" and immediately behaved themselves.
As for the bed
This time, there was no need to measure. Yukima Azuma already knew who it was.
That familiar embrace.
That perfectly snug elasticity.
It was definitely Eriri!
Kato Megumi stretched out her hand and poked Yukima Azuma's waist.
What now?
()
Even though he couldn't see her expression in the darkness, just from her actions, Yukima Azuma understood her question.
Facing Kato Megumi's silent inquiry, Yukima Azuma responded with a gentle head pat.
The meaning was clear: Just sleep. It's fine.
Kato Megumi's eyes widened in the darkness.
She didn't expect him to go this far.
After hesitating for a moment
She decided to give up and stop resisting.
At this point, if she tried to leave Yukima Azuma's arms and get out from under the blanket,
She might wake Eriri up.
Besides, why should she leave?
If Yukima Azuma had asked her to, Kato Megumi would have done so without hesitation.
But right now, he had decided to just sleep like this.
Naturally, Kato Megumi wouldn't run away either.
After all, by tomorrow morning,
it would be Yukima Azuma who'd have to deal with the consequences.
As for feeling sorry for him
When it came to harem troubles, Kato Megumi had zero sympathy for Yukima Azuma.
And so, Kato Megumi simply tightened her arms around Yukima Azuma and closed her eyes.
Sleep, sleep!
/- -
Early morning.
Eriri was awakened by the alarm on her phone.
Her eyes hadn't opened yet, but her little head was already groggily lifting up.
(* *)
Reality proves that even a bishoujo cannot wake up looking perfectly graceful.
Her long blonde hair cascaded down like a waterfall, with a few rebellious strands sticking out.
At the corner of her pink lips, there was a little bit of drool, which stretched slightly as she lifted her head.
With her eyes still shut, Eriri fumbled toward the direction of the ringing sound.
As a result, she only managed to grab another hand.
The alarm had stopped.
Eriri's groggy mind temporarily stopped functioning.
(" v ") ?
She continued feeling along the hand.
Very quickly, Eriri's small hand landed on a familiar chest.
( )(`)
The sensation made her heart waver slightly.
Eriri suddenly opened her eyes wide.
The boy's face appeared before her.
"Handsome... wait, no!"
At first, she was a little mesmerized, but she quickly realized something was off.
Eriri felt a little confused.
Why was Yukima Azuma on her bed?
Could it be night raid!?
But when she felt her legs
Eriri realized that there didn't seem to be any such feeling.
At the same time
Yukima Azuma's gaze shifted away from her face.
Eriri finally noticed that the surroundings weren't right.
This didn't seem to be her room.
She tried to recall last night's events.
It seemed like she had woken up in the dark and gone to the restroom.
Then she returned to her room and continued sleeping.
Could it be she went into the wrong room!?
Upon realizing this, Eriri's face turned slightly red.
(>/////< " )
She was just like the heroine in a light novel, accidentally stepping into a boy's room.
However, she looked once more at Yukima Azuma's side profile.
Eriri: (,,,, ) Umu... Ikemen da!
Oh well, since it was an accident, she might as well let it be.
She had already been used as Yukima Azuma's hugging pillow many times before, so she was accustomed to being cuddled.
She decided to be bold and continued hugging the boy, wanting to sleep a little longer.
As she lay down, she suddenly noticed a suspiciously damp spot on the boy's chest.
Wiping her mouth, Eriri, slightly embarrassed, reached for a tissue from the bedside table.
She was about to destroy the evidence of her crime!
( ,,'',,)
She gently wiped it away.
Then, Eriri lightly lifted the blanket, intending to check if there were any other traces of her wrongdoing.
As a result, she discovered something strange under the blanket.
Why was it so puffy?
Was Yukima Azuma really that big?
Last time was big but not this big!
A doubtful thought surfaced in Eriri's mind.
And because the blanket had been disturbed
Another girl, who had been asleep, woke up and emerged from under the covers.
Kato Megumi blinked sleepily.
Looking around, she finally met Eriri's stunned gaze.
Seeing Eriri's wide-open eyes and dazed expression,
Eriri: ( _ ) ?
Kato Megumi blinked again.
She quickly recalled last night's events.
"You... you you you!"
Eriri pointed at Kato Megumi, her voice stammering.
There was too much information, too many things to complain about.
But Kato Megumi spoke first:
"Last night, I went to the restroom. I think I entered the wrong room."
"Then why is Sawamura-san here? Don't tell me you also went into the wrong room."
Eriri was dumbfounded by the question.
No!
That was supposed to be her line!
Kato Megumi believed that in this situation, whoever said the words first hadn't to take responsibility.
Megumi: ( )
At this moment, Yukima Azuma, who had instinctively reached out to turn off the alarm, finally opened his eyes.
Seeing Yukima Azuma wake up
Eriri immediately wanted to say something.
Last night, the three of them had slept together like this.
Although nothing had actually happened
But as Kashiwagi Eri-sensei
In Eriri's mind, an entire doujinshi about the three of them had already formed.
It could be said that, as expected of an ero-doujinshi artist,
Even her imagination was incredibly vivid and entirely 18+.
But Yukima Azuma spoke before Eriri could:
"Eriri, Megumi, why are you both in my room?"
( -)?
Hearing that, Kato Megumi shot Yukima Azuma a glance in the style of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
( ® ®)
(o_O)
As for Eriri, she stared blankly at Azuma and Megumi once again.
After a long while, she finally murmured in confusion:
"I... I went to the restroom last night and accidentally entered the wrong room."
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma nodded.
"Ah, so that's what happened. It's okay, I won't blame you, Eriri."
After saying that, he even patted the pillow beside him.
"You usually sleep in, Eriri. Since you're already up early today, why not sleep a little longer? It's fine."
Eriri looked at the pillow beside Yukima Azuma.
Then she looked at Kato Megumi, who was still beside Yukima Azuma.
Something wasn't right!
"But Kato-san here... we can't sleep together like this, can we?"
Eriri tried to point out the problem.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma showed a doubtful expression.
"Why not?"
Eriri was a little surprised; she didn't know whether she should explain this matter or not.
No matter how she thought about it, it didn't make sense!
But before she could say anything, Yukima Azuma continued:
"You see Eriri, you and I have already slept together."
Eriri blushed at this statement!
( //>///
He even had to bring this up!
But, she still nodded.
"And Eriri and Megumi have also slept together."
Yukima Azuma wiggled his finger slightly.
Eriri followed Yukima Azuma's finger.
"This has already happened."
Previously, Eriri, along with Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kato Megumi, had fallen asleep on the sofa while waiting for Yukima Azuma.
They really had slept together.
Yukima Azuma still kept those photos in his phone album.
At this moment, Yukima Azuma smiled slightly and clapped his hands.
"So if Eriri has already slept with me, and also with Megumi, then there's no problem if we all sleep together now, right?"
Eriri felt her mind go fuzzy.
( ®® ) ?
No problem... huh?
It seemed like there really wasn't a problem?
Her head felt itchy, as if her brain was growing!
In the end, Eriri hesitated but nodded.
Yukima Azuma immediately pulled her back onto the pillow.
"That's right, go back to sleep!"
Breathing in Yukima Azuma's scent
Eriri's mind became muddled from his body's fragrance, completely giving up on thinking.
This body scent, in reality, was something that, aside from a few exceptionally rare cases, wasn't perceived through the sense of smell but rather influenced by genetics.
When stimulated by the genes of the opposite sex,
Humans could perceive a pleasant scent from the other person's body.
This scent could quickly generate goodwill and attraction.
(note: really??)
At this moment, Eriri completely abandoned all thoughts, acting purely on instinct.
He really smells so good! Sleep, sleep!
Seeing Eriri being coaxed into a daze,
Yukima Azuma's smile grew even brighter.
Indeed, Eriri was really dumb and easy to persuade.
Now that she had agreed to sleep together
Then the next step would be Hehe boi~!
()
While his mind was wandering,
Yukima Azuma suddenly felt someone pinch his waist.
Turning around
Yukima Azuma saw Kato Megumi looking at him.
Her expression seemed to say, "What exactly are you thinking?"
( )
Of course, Kato Megumi knew what Yukima Azuma was thinking.
She just hadn't expected Eriri to be so easily convinced by him.
Looking at things now, it seemed that Yukima Azuma's previous declaration about his harem
Would definitely be easy to accomplish.
After all, Eriri was aho-baka.
Just a little bit of coaxing and she!
Kato Megumi shook off the strange thoughts in her head.
She pinched Yukima Azuma's waist again.
Now that she was having these weird thoughts, it was definitely this boy's fault!
The early morning passed quickly.
By the time the three of them woke up, it was already close to noon.
When the two girls woke up, they looked at each other.
()()
In the end, they didn't say anything. Like thieves, they peeked their heads out of Yukima Azuma's room and quickly ran back to their own.
Watching the two leave
Yukima Azuma smiled in satisfaction.
Then, he got up and walked to his desk.
Pulling open a nearby drawer
The twin flowers had been carefully placed inside.
"Hey, if you two do something again, be careful or I'll throw you into Tokyo Bay!"
Yukima Azuma spoke seriously.
Immediately, two smol versions of Kaguya and Maki jumped out.
"So what! Isn't everything developing really well?"
()
Star protested.
Star and Lumine claimed to be gods who governed love.
For now, let's not debate whether they were truly responsible for this or not.
At the very least, their hobby was definitely real.
They loved "shipping" couples.
Especially couples with beautiful fates.
If these two were allowed on the internet, they would probably drown in romance novels, became an otaku and never escape.
However, looking at the outcome, everything truly was going well.
It seemed as though Yukima Azuma had benefited from it yet was still pretending to act righteous.
But when it came to these two deities interfering with the actions of the girls
Yukima Azuma was not pleased at all.
This unnatural influence
Even if it seemed like a beautiful romance novel, Yukima Azuma didn't want it to be applied to the girls around him.
They were not heroines in a novel.
They should not be manipulated like this.
(Note: Now that I think about it, doesn't Star talk a lot just like Paimon? And Paimon even has the same seiyuu as Kaguya. Meanwhile, Lumine is completely silent, just like Lumine. Hahaha.)
Star and Luminewhether they had human emotions or not, Yukima Azuma didn't know.
But one thing was certain: these two gods who loved to play around were absolutely obsessed with shipping. Yukima Azuma had already seen through that.
As long as fate aligned, a beautiful romance could be born.
And the moment such a possibility appeared, those two would immediately jump in to make it happen.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma suspected that calling it "love" was far too reserved.
There was likely some carnal desire mixed in as well.
Pairing people up and forcing them to kiss? That was just the basic level.
Even more sensitive mattershandholdingor even matters involving multiple playthese two were prepared to give some guidance on.
( ®®) !!
Of course, as the protagonist being forcefully shipped...
If he let Star and Lumine continue their nonsense like this...
Then Yukima Azuma's future life would surely be quite pleasurable.
.
.
.
.
.
Daga Kotowaru!!!
(^ )
Yukima Azuma wasn't some ascetic monk. Naturally, he enjoyed physical pleasures as well.
However, he was the kind of person who only engaged in such acts with someone he genuinely liked.
Not the kind of person who was willing to do it with just any girls or any person have an hole.
There was a clear difference between the two.
"I'm not MC Akikan, but if you two keep messing around, I'll stuff you in concrete and sink you into Tokyo Bay."
()
Yukima Azuma gave them a kind and approachable smile.
Star and Lumine might not have physical bodies.
But their vessels did.
If those twin-flowers vessels were really dumped into Tokyo Bay...
Then from that moment on, Star and Lumine would be confined to the space between the ocean floor and the shore.
For two gods obsessed with shipping, that would be absolute torture.
Of course, they could abandon their vessels.
But just moments ago, they themselves had said itleaving their vessels was no different from wandering aimlessly.
Gods reduced to vagrants, drifting from place to placehow would they cause any more mischief like that?
Faced with Yukima Azuma's warning...
The two chibi-waifus trembled.
Star clung tightly to Lumine, looking like she was about to cry.
(`)
As for Lumine, while she was usually composed, the mention of being sunk into Tokyo Bay made her tiny face scrunch up.
( )
Seeing that the two stray gods had finally quieted down, Yukima Azuma felt a sense of satisfaction. Then he continued speaking:
"After all, I was the one who brought you two to this prosperous human society."
"Think about itif it weren't for me, you'd still be stuck on that deserted island."
"The only thing you'd be able to interact with would be that tiny little stretch of beach."
"But if you want to stay here, you'll at least have to behave, understand?"
"Besides me, do you think anyone else in this world would accept you?"
"Most people would've already called in some onmyoji or something to seal you both away."
"So, be a good girls and I will give you a good life, okay?"
After handing out the metaphorical stick, it was time to offer a carrot. Yukima Azuma felt that he was well-suited for police work.
The two chibis exchanged glances.
They had to admitYukima Azuma had a point.
But at the same time, they could also sense an unusual desire coming from him.
Nevertheless, everything he said was indeed true.
Compared to that deserted island, a place so remote that they couldn't even observe humans properly...
Tokyo was like paradise.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma's fatehis path of destinywas the most ship-worthy they had ever seen.
And so, after exchanging another glance, Star and Lumine quietly nodded.
They assured him that from now on, they wouldn't stir up trouble around him without permission.
Seeing their agreement, Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
But then, a realization hit him.
"...Did you two just grow a little bigger?"
( -)?
Back on the deserted island, Star and Lumine's chibi forms were only about the size of his palm.
But now, they seemed to have gotten a bit taller.
At the very least, they were definitely larger than before.
"The spiritual energy here is much denser than over there," Star said, giving a thumbs-up as she fired off a Like.
( - )
"Besides the environment of this room is quite unusual. It benefits us greatly," Lumine, who was usually quiet, also spoke up.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma fell into thought.
The spiritual energy in Tokyo was denser than in Hawaii.
This further reinforced the idea that the source of spiritual energy must be in that region of Itomori.
As for why his room had a special environment...
Thinking about it carefully, this place wasn't some sacred cave or a land of fortune.
If there was anything out of the ordinary...
Then it was probably the fact that he was keeping a fragment of the Charlotte comet in his room.
In the past, even though Yukima Azuma had noticed that the comet fragment was unusual, he hadn't figured out a specific way to use it.
But now, it seemed that this fragment was an incredibly powerful support item for divine entities.
Perhaps, in the future, he could even use this fragment as a bargaining chip
To hire gods to work for him.
This idea flashed through Yukima Azuma's mind.
But upon further thought, he quickly set it aside.
At this stage, there was really nothing that required divine intervention.
Bringing Star and Lumine here had simply been because their abilities were convenient, and there might be a time when he needed them.
Waving his hand to signal Star and Lumine to entertain themselves, Yukima Azuma closed the drawer.
Then, he left the room.
Today, he had things to take care of outside.
...
He called a taxi.
After getting in, he gave the driver an address.
As he watched the streets recede through the window, Yukima Azuma thought to himself
Next year, he should hurry and get his driver's license.
His driving skills were already top-tier.
But unfortunately, after reincarnating, his current age still didn't meet the requirements for a license.
The taxi stopped in front of a building in Akihabara.
Yukima Azuma got out of the car and walked inside.
The sign in front of the building read:
Laplace Entertainment.
Most of Laplace's subsidiaries were based in the corporation's headquarters.
However, as their business operations expanded, the Laplace building gradually became too cramped.
And so, this particular companyspecializing in idols and future influencerswas relocated to the holy land of otakus, Akihabara.
Establishing an entertainment company here had certain geographical advantages.
The moment he stepped through the entrance, Yukima Azuma immediately spotted several young women wearing light makeup.
These girls froze for a moment upon seeing him.
Since this was an entertainment company, the gender ratio was severely unbalanced.
Most of the employees here were female.
To be precise, nearly all of them were potential underground idols.
In Japan, the number of underground idols was staggering.
Their quality varied from top-tier talents to complete nobodiessome managed to hustle for years and gradually build a reputation.
But others, even after two or three years in the industry, remained self-funded idols who had to pay for everything themselves.
Most of them had a background in dance, and some even had musical skills.
They were the perfect raw material for training into influencers.
Moreover, they were easy to persuade.
After all, many underground idols had to sell tickets to their own performancesand if they couldn't sell enough, they had to pay the difference out of their own pockets.
Laplace only needed to offer a modest base salary, paired with some training programs that sounded appealing
And they could easily recruit a large number of them.
But anyway, that was off-topic.
The main point was
In this company, men were practically nonexistent.
Let alone a clean-cut, strikingly handsome young man like Yukima Azuma.
Even though these girls were used to being surrounded by beautiful people due to their line of work...
They couldn't help but steal glances at Yukima Azuma.
He was absolutely in the outstanding tier of good-looking men.
Naturally, he piqued their curiosity, making them want to approach and see what was going on.
But before they could make a move
A woman in a business suit and a white blouse quickly walked over.
"President Yukima, you've arrived."
Her name was Saitou Miyako.
She had long brown hair, styled with airy bangs, exuding the mature charm and aura of a onee-san.
She was a top-tier industry expert recruited by Laplace to manage the company.
A true professional in the entertainment field.
"Good morning, Miyako-san."
( )
Yukima Azuma offered Saitou Miyako a slight smile.
That smile seemed to carry a special kind of magic, aimed directly at the female psychecausing Miyako to momentarily waver.
She instinctively swallowed dryly.
It took her a moment to regain her composure.
"Good morning Um, do you need some food prepared?"
The moment she finished speaking, Saitou Miyako realized
It was already almost noon.
She had originally intended to ask if Yukima Azuma wanted breakfast, but she quickly adjusted it to "food" to be safe.
After all, greeting someone with "Good morning" and then immediately asking if they wanted lunch would be a bit odd.
Yukima Azuma gently shook his head.
"Business comes first. Also, Miyako-san, you don't have to be so formal. Just treat me like a junior."
His attitude toward Saitou Miyako was quite friendly.
Not because he had any particular interest in this mature onee-san
But simply because
It was extremely difficult to recruit someone like her!
The entertainment industry was a swamp.
Anyone who worked in it, whether more or less, was bound to be tainted.
Laplace needed someone capable, but more importantly
Someone clean and responsible to lead the young girls in the company.
After all, this subsidiary couldn't receive too much direct supervision from the parent corporation.
If the management turned out to be problematic
These young, naive girls chasing their idol dreams wouldn't even know what hit them.
It wouldn't take long before they were completely tainted.
And by that point
Laplace Entertainment would explode with scandal.
This subsidiary had been established to support the company's short-form video platform in the futureits primary role was to attract traffic.
Whether it made money or not was not the main concern.
In fact, even if the company operated at a slight loss, it wouldn't matter
Because Laplace Corporation was so financially secure that it didn't sweat such details.
But when it came to reputation
Laplace absolutely could not afford any scandals.
And Saitou Miyako was someone the company had spent a long time searching for before finally selecting.
Someone with a clean record, who had never exploited or manipulated any artist under her management.
Responsible, highly competent
A truly outstanding manager.
To other companies, Saitou Miyako's ability to generate profit might have seemed underwhelming.
Despite her skills, she had only ever been a regular employee.
But to Laplace
She was a priceless asset.
And for a priceless asset that the company had worked so hard to acquire
Yukima Azuma's attitude was, naturally, extremely good.
Yukima Azuma's gentle demeanor took Saitou Miyako by surprise.
At first, she had only been a manager at a small entertainment company.
Then, out of nowhere, Laplace Corporation reached out to her
Offering a salary so high that she simply could not refuse.
At that moment, Saitou Miyako felt like she had won the lottery.
Laplace Corporation had already become a household name across Japan.
Even though this was just a subsidiary, the number of people vying for a position was countless.
And yet, she had been personally scouted by Laplace.
After joining, Saitou Miyako had been in a constant state of excitement and nervousness, carefully handling every aspect of the company's operations.
But collecting underground idols and running their social media platform
Even for a renowned industry manager like Saitou Miyako
It was impossible to produce immediate, eye-catching results.
It wasn't exactly her fault.
But still, Saitou Miyako couldn't help but blame herself.
After all, Laplace Corporation was paying her a lot.
And today
She heard that the President of Laplace Corporation was coming to visit.
Saitou Miyako was extremely anxious.
After all, Yukima Azuma was basically the boss of her boss.
She had mentally prepared herself to be scolded for the company's lack of progress.
But instead
Yukima Azuma smiled at her.
That smile was like a gentle spring breeze, making Saitou Miyako feel as if her youth had been revived.
Miyako: (o) Uwaa! Ikemen saikou da!
All of her worries instantly disappeared.
Saitou Miyako's mind wandered toward rules.
The young man standing before her
If he were to propose some "unspoken rules" to her
Would she accept? Or would she accept? Or would she accept?
Just thinking about it made her giddy with excitement!
(>/////<)
Seeing Saitou Miyako dazed,
Yukima Azuma frowned slightly, wondering what she was thinking about.
Calling her name once, Saitou Miyako snapped back to reality.
She let out a small cough, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"Ehem, so, may I askwhat is President Yukima planning to do next?"
"Will you be inspecting company operations, or reviewing financial reports?"
As she spoke, Saitou Miyako scolded herself internally.
Had she been in the entertainment industry too long?
How had her thought process turned out like this?
The young man before her
Did he even need to resort to "unspoken rules"?
If he so much as lifted a finger, countless women would flock to him.
Just his ikemen face alone was enough to have women emptying their wallets just to be near him.
Compared to the hosts in host clubs, this young man was far superior in terms of competence and ability.
Unaware that Saitou Miyako had just been fantasizing about "unspoken rules", Yukima Azuma shook his head and said:
"I'm not here for any of that. I want to speak with the company's musicians and composers."
Hearing this, Saitou Miyako was confused.
Why would the President of the parent company suddenly want to meet with the music team?
Surely he wasn't about to start making music himself, right?
Though she didn't quite understand, Saitou Miyako still nodded.
Leading the way, she brought Yukima Azuma to the company's private recording studio.
The music experts in the company
Whenever they lacked inspiration, they would often work there.
The idol girls had originally planned to approach Yukima Azuma.
But when they saw the manager leading him away
They all exchanged glances, unsure what to do.
Even though they couldn't hear the conversation between the two
Just by observing Saitou Miyako's respectful attitude,
They could already guess
That young man's identity was far from simple.
"That guy Could he be the famous President!?"
( o )
"Ah! That's totally possible! I heard the President of the parent company is young and insanely handsome!"
(`)!
"Huh!? Seriously!? I thought the President would be someone really strict!"
"He's too handsome! I wanna date him already!"
(o)
"I think what you really want is his body"
(`)
At first, the girls were full of admiration.
But as they kept chatting, the topic slowly derailed.
There's really nothing girls won't gossip about once they warm up.
And when girls get into a conversation, stopping them is impossible.
As the discussion veered further off track
"What are you girls talking about?"
A curious voice rang out from behind.
The girls jumped, quickly turning around.
When they saw who had arrived
They immediately fell silent.
"MEM-san, we we weren't saying anything."
"We just thought the President might be here"
Standing before them, with her signature demon horns, MEM tilted her head.
( -)?
"President? Which President?"
"The famous one. Young, rich, and ridiculously handsome."
After receiving confirmation
MEM's eyes lit up.
( )
Ever since Yukima Azuma tricked her into joining Laplace Corporation
She hadn't seen him visit the company even once.
Sure, Laplace Entertainment treated her extremely well.
But she had bet her entire career on becoming an idol.
And yet
The person who roped her in didn't even bother checking in.
MEM was still a little pissed about that.
( )
Now, hearing that Yukima Azuma was here
She immediately set off to find him.
The moment MEM left
The remaining girls let out a sigh of relief.
Even though MEM was humble, with a cute, mascot-like persona
Her status was undeniable.
MEM was a blogger with over a million followers.
Within Laplace Entertainment, she was practically the senpai of everyone.
Getting caught gossiping about their boss by a senpai?
Of course, it made them nervous.
...
Meanwhile, MEM ran up the stairs, searching left and right.
Before long
She spotted a familiar figure in the recording studio.
"Kyoko-san! Boss Evil!"
(^^ ) -
MEM waved her hand at the two inside.
Saitou Miyako shook her head.
That nickname
Would the young President get angry over it?
But then again
MEM was the cash cow of the entire branch office.
And she was personally scouted by Yukima Azuma himself.
So it should be fine.
And as for Yukima Azuma, upon being called Boss Evil
He turned around, casually grabbing MEM's cheek and giving it a gentle tug.
"You're pretty bold, calling your boss evil."
With her cheek pinched, MEM's words came out muffled.
"It was a joke! But I am super brave!"
( )
After giving a little 'punishment' to this 25-year-old school girl
Yukima Azuma let her go and continued working.
MEM stood nearby, watching for a while
And soon realized what Yukima Azuma was doing.
Wait a second
Was he composing music?
Was he writing a song?
"Boss, you can make music!?"
w(®o®)w
Looking at the sheet music with the lyrics completed,
MEM was slightly surprised, lamenting the unfairness of the world.
How could this person be handsome, wealthy, and talented all at the same time!?
Just how much did fate favor him!?
Although the song wasn't fully completed yet
And even if it was, MEM's music appreciation skills were only average
But just by looking at the lyrics, MEM felt that this was definitely going to be a great song.
"Umu, I really are writing a song."
Yukima Azuma nodded.
In fact, before his school break, Yukima Azuma had already started this project.
Although composing and writing lyrics was a huge challenge for him
In Yukima Azuma's memories, there were many incredible works from his past life.
He had stolenEhem, borrowedone of them.
So, Yukima Azuma began composing based on his recollection.
Now, the music skills he had developed during his free time at Starry were finally coming in handy.
However, his musical abilities had yet to reach a professional level.
So, he invited the company's professional musicians to discuss and refine the piece.
During this time, in order to complete the song,
Yukima Azuma's music skills had leveled up to 3.
Now, the real-world discussion was finally nearing completion.
With his memory as a foundation, everything became relatively smooth sailing.
Hearing Yukima Azuma confirm this,
Aside from lamenting the unfairness of the world,
MEM also became curious.
"Boss, why are you writing a song? Are you planning to sell it?"
As soon as MEM said this, she shook her head, denying her own words.
"No, that can't be it. You even turned down a billion-yen script, so it's definitely not for sale."
Yukima Azuma nodded.
"It's a Christmas gift for someone."
Hearing this, MEM's immediately turned her face be cat-faced "grr-grr".
/,,'',,\
How sour!
This Christmas gift was way too jealousy-inducing!
He gave up a billion-yen script just to write this
Even invited the company's professional musicians to help compose the song.
MEM felt like she had just bitten into a lemon.
Lemons on the lemon tree, lemons under the lemon tree, you and me!
Thinking of Kurokawa Akane,
MEM could already foresee the brilliantly surprised smile of that genius actress.
So unfair! After the whole "white knight saving the princess" scenario,
Now he's even gifting her a song!?
Even though they were friends,
At this moment, MEM still felt so jealous that her expression slightly twisted.
Meanwhile, beside her, Saitou Miyako, upon learning that Yukima Azuma had come here
just to write a Christmas gift song for someone else,
Her impression of Yukima Azuma changed once again.
Is this what they call a "perfect man"!?
...
After confirming the final chorus of the song,
The composition was finally complete.
Looking at the sheet music, with the title "Another Me in The World" written on it. (note: I seaching gg, is chinese song same name by Amber Kuo.)
Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
Yes, this is it.
Finally, it was done.
Bocchi would definitely be happy.
After storing the sheet music away, Yukima Azuma waved at MEM and Saitou Miyako.
"I'm heading out first, won't disturb your work any longer."
MEM looked at Yukima Azuma with a displeased expression.
She couldn't help but grit her teeth.
While other women were waiting to receive gifts from their prince charming,
As for her? Just work hard, or else she'd get her bonus deducted.
This gap was way too huge!
Even if she was just a mascot, shouldn't she get some love too!?
But Yukima Azuma completely ignored MEM's grievous gaze and continued walking away.
Indeed, he was very eager
He couldn't wait to see Bocchi.
(note: FINALLY, IT'S BOCCHI-CHAN'S TURN!!!!!... though I'm not sure how many chapters she'll actually appear in.)
When passing by the park near his house,
Yukima Azuma spotted a familiar pink-haired girl.
"Futari, come here."
Yukima Azuma called out her name, waving toward her.
Upon hearing him, Gotoh Futari immediately turned her head.
When she saw Yukima Azuma, her blue eyes lit up.
The small Shiba Inu she was walking also clearly showed its excitement.
Both the girl and the dog ran toward Yukima Azuma.
"Azuma onii-chan!" Futari called sweetly, hugging Yukima Azuma's leg.
( ) *
Meanwhile, the Shiba Inu circled around Yukima Azuma, occasionally rubbing against his leg.
With one arm, he lifted Gotoh Futari up, and with the other, he took the leash of the dog.
Yukima Azuma looked at his lively little sister-in-law and smiled.
"Taking Jimihen out for a walk?"
The Shiba Inu's name was Jimihen.
After being fed some high-quality dry food by Yukima Azuma a few times,
It had become fiercely loyal to him.
Every time it saw Yukima Azuma, it wagged its tail like a propeller.
"Hum hum, Azuma onii-chan, are you planning to visit onee-chan?"
()
Gotoh Futari looked up at Yukima Azuma with hopeful eyes.
"Umu, I was just about to. How has your sister been lately?"
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Hearing his question, Gotoh Futari seemed to be thinking.
"Onee-chan, huh..." She blinked her big eyes. "She's been doing well lately, not talking to herself anymore."
"Every night, she hugs her phone and giggles like an idiot. She's probably texting Azuma onii-chan, right?"
"But a few days ago, onee-chan seemed a little down. Yesterday, she was even doing flower fortune-telling."
"Muttering 'loves me, loves me not' inside the closet."
"Onee-chan looks so funny."
.o()o
Listening to Gotoh Futari's recount, Yukima Azuma found the scene strangely familiar.
Bocchi, crouching in the closet, holding a flower in her hand.
Plucking a petal.
Murmuring, "Loves me."
Plucking another petal.
Murmuring, "Loves me not."
If the last petal landed on "Loves me," Bocchi would probably clench her fist and punch the air in triumph.
()
But if it landed on "Loves me not," she would convince herself she had miscounted.
(ЇЇ;)
Then she would grab another flower and start over.
Yukima Azuma reached into his pocket.
Then he extended his hand in front of Gotoh Futari.
His palm seemed empty, but the moment he snapped his fingers
A delicately wrapped candy appeared in Yukima Azuma's hand.
Gotoh Futari let out a delighted squeal and grabbed the candy.
( )
Gotoh Futari, his little sister-in-law.
After being treated to ice cream, cakes, and candy by Yukima Azuma a few times
She had become his most loyal fan.
She was always ready to act as a little spy, tracking her sister's movements.
And reporting them immediately to Yukima Azuma.
Don't be fooled by Gotoh Futari's innocent and pure appearance
In reality, this little girl, barely five or six years old, was an unfathomable child.
Completely opposite to her socially anxious older sister.
This little sistera communication terroristwas not only maxed out in social skills but also incredibly perceptive, even better at reading people than her sister.
Sometimes, Yukima Azuma felt that Gotoh Futari was like a miniature version of Yukinoshita Haruno.
The only difference was that she was born into the Gotoh family.
Gotoh Futari could grow up carefree, without any burdens to bear.
No family business to take over, no need to exhaust herself over anything.
Her daily routine was simple: watch her sister, tease the dog, and wait for her brother-in-law to feed her.
...
Carrying Gotoh Futari in his arms, Yukima Azuma walked toward the Gotoh household.
Just moments ago, Gotoh Futari had only taken Jimihen out for a short while.
And given the typical stubborn nature of Shiba Inus
Trying to drag it back home right now would be nothing short of an impossible mission.
Everyone knows that Shiba Inus are the most headstrong dogs in the worldthere's no second place.
In news reports about typhoons or heavy rain, you can always spot a Shiba Inu braving the storm, leisurely walking through deserted streets, dragging behind it an owner with a look of utter despair.
But this time, the one holding the leash was Yukima Azuma.
Jimihen obediently followed him home.
Partly because it was tempted by premium dried meat treats.
And partly because it knew that Yukima Azuma was not someone to mess with.
After pressing the doorbell
In no time, Gotoh Mama opened the front door.
"Why are you back so early... Ara~, it's Yukima-kun."
( ` )
At first, she thought it was just her youngest daughter returning from the walk.
But the moment she saw Yukima Azuma, a pleasantly surprised smile appeared on her face.
"Hello, oba-san. I came to visit. Here's a small giftI hope you'll accept it."
Yukima Azuma presented the gift he had prepared in advance.
A box of premium fruits and tea.
These were things the Yukima household always kept on hand.
Occasionally, they were taken out as gifts.
As for the tea, Yukima Azuma himself often drank it.
"Yukima-kun, you're too polite. Come in, come in!"
"Futari, you're clinging to Yukima-kun again."
Mrs. Gotoh accepted the gift.
Every time Yukima Azuma visited, he always brought something. At first, she felt a little uneasy about it.
But by now, it had become a habit.
Though she did feel it was a bit extravagant.
Still, it was Yukima Azuma's thoughtfulness, and she couldn't just refuse it.
Besides, in the eyes of the Gotoh couple, Yukima Azuma was already close to a perfect son-in-law.
The kind of person they could entrust their daughter to at any moment with peace of mind.
Gotoh Futari was scolded by her mother, but she didn't care in the slightest.
Clinging to Yukima Azuma would definitely be beneficial.
No one understood that better than she did.
Sure enough, Yukima Azuma took a small cake from the gift box and handed it to her.
Gotoh Futari squealed with joy and ran off with the cake.
"Azuma onii-chan, Banzai! Daisuki!"
(o)
Watching her disappear,
Both Yukima Azuma and Mrs. Gotoh let out helpless chuckles.
"Oh, oba-san, what about Hitori?"
"She's in her room. Go right in."
"Then I'll excuse myself."
"No need to be so formal. Just treat this as your home. Go on."
Mrs. Gotoh gave him a light pat on the back and nodded encouragingly.
It wasn't easy for her eldest daughter to find a boyfriend.
For a girl with severe social anxiety to have a relationshipit was a miracle.
As Bocchi's mother, she just wanted the two of them to get married as soon as possible.
Otherwise, she feared her daughter would end up dying alone in her closet in old age.
Yukima Azuma switched into indoor slippers
Smoothly passed through the living room, went upstairs, and arrived at Gotoh Hitori's bedroom door.
Standing before the door, Yukima Azuma raised his hand and knocked lightly.
"W-what What is it?"
A doubtful voice from Gotoh Hitori came from inside.
Normally, unless necessary, her parents wouldn't enter her room
Yukima Azuma said nothing; he simply knocked on the door again.
Gotoh Hitori's room was completely dark, with the curtains tightly drawn.
The only sources of light came from the desk lamp and the computer screen inside her closet.
Gotoh Hitori lay sprawled on the floor, limp as a noodle, looking utterly drained.
Even after getting up, she still seemed devoid of energy.
Dragging her feet, she trudged toward the door.
The moment it cracked open just a little
"Wha" She had barely uttered a sound before her eyes widened.
( ®®) !!
The young man standing outside smiled at her.
"Azuma-kun! Wait! That! I!"
Overwhelmed by excitement and nerves, Gotoh Hitori immediately started stammering.
At the same time, she opened the door a little wider but then froze.
The moment she saw Yukima Azuma, joy surged through her so intensely that she wanted nothing more than to leap into his arms.
Buther room was a mess, an absolute disaster.
Not to mention, she hadn't showered all day.
She had been holed up in her closet for hours, and she feared she might smell musty.
Compared to a year ago, Gotoh Hitori had improved a lot.
Whenever she went out with Yukima Azuma, she always dressed up in cute dresses.
Sometimes, she even asked her mom to curl her hair for her.
But deep down, all of these things were just ways to boost her confidence.
Bocchi was still the same shy and slightly insecure girl as before.
"Not jumping in?"
Yukima Azuma spread his arms widehis message couldn't be clearer.
"I I haven't showered"
(><)
Gotoh Hitori whispered softly.
"Opportunities like this only come once," Yukima Azuma murmured.
Like a devil tempting a maiden into sin.
Gotoh Hitori swallowed hard.
But still, I mean!
This temptation was just too much!
In the end, Gotoh Hitori couldn't resist.
Casting aside her self-consciousness, she dove straight into Yukima Azuma's arms.
Her soft body fell snugly into his embrace.
Yukima Azuma held her tight, effortlessly lifting her off the ground as he stepped into the room.
With a swift motion, he kicked the door shut behind them.
Darkness enveloped the space.
Yukima Azuma's gaze instinctively drifted toward the closet.
Inside, a large poster was plastered against the wall.
It was a picture of him.
Yukima Azuma had long forgotten when he had sent this particular photo to Gotoh Hitori during one of their chats.
It was probably just a random snapshot at the time.
But with his natural charm at 8 point, no matter how casually the photo was taken, it had apparently still become a deadly trap for a lovestruck girl.
However printing it out at such a massive size and sticking it in her room
Yukima Azuma turned to look at Gotoh Hitori.
Sasuga Bocchi! She never fails to impress!
At that moment, Gotoh Hitori followed Yukima Azuma's gaze and spotted her own masterpiece.
A deep crimson hue spread from her neck all the way up to her face.
(///// " )
She buried her head in his chest, covering her face with both hands.
"I-I couldn't help it!"
"It's just that you looked too handsome, and before I knew it, I had already printed it out"
"And since I already printed it, wouldn't it be a waste not to put it up?"
Listening to her feeble excuse
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but sigh.
It seemed Bocchi had the makings of an lustful fangirl after all
...
Yo, gourmet readers, it's me Curse Chef
I'm just announcing that if you guys intend to become patrons to read Ex-girlfriend chapters every day, you shouldn't do that anymore because the fanfic will end on Ptreon in 5 days because the raw is over. Webnovel still has 1 month left to end.
Of course i will have another fanfic to replace E-G
If you guys become patrons just to support me, I'll happily accept it.
That's all, have a nice day )
Chapter 261: Bocchi is Hard to Please
Yukima Azuma held Gotoh Hitori in his arms as he sat down inside the closet.
With a casual motion, he pulled the door shut.
Gotoh Hitori was a little flustered.
Normally, she loved sitting inside her closet
The cramped and dark space gave her a strange sense of security.
But now, Yukima Azuma was in here with her.
Her mind was in turmoil.
She didn't want Yukima Azuma inside.
Not because she was uncomfortable with him invading her personal space.
But because Yukima Azuma simply didn't belong in a place like this.
He was like the sunradiant and dazzling.
How could someone like him sit inside a tiny, cramped closet?
"Azuma-kun..." she called out softly, intending to say something to get him to leave.
()
Because of the close distance, her voice was light and delicate.
It almost sounded like she was acting spoiled.
Yukima Azuma's heart skipped a beat.
Then, he immediately felt a little embarrassed.
Damn it, Bocchi charming me again.
He raised his hand and gave her a light smack on the butt.
A crisp pop echoed in the closet.
Gotoh Hitori looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion.
She had no idea why she had just been hit.
Yukima Azuma chuckled and reached out to gently caress her cheek.
If Bocchi ever seriously tried to flirt with him
She would definitely freeze up completely, her awkward movements anything but seductive.
But the way she acted unconsciously
That was what truly made people's hearts race.
Inside the cramped closet
With both Yukima Azuma and Gotoh Hitori squeezed inside, there was barely any space left to move.
Yukima Azuma found the whole situation rather novel.
A fresh experience.
Judging by his expression
Gotoh Hitori knew that convincing him to leave wasn't going to be easy.
At least, not before he had his fun.
In this confined space, Yukima Azuma took the opportunity to try out a few kabedon moves.
Time passed quickly.
Two hours later.
The closet door finally opened.
Gotoh Hitori slumped to the floor, completely limp and powerless.
ЊЌ‹Ќ
Yukima Azuma bent down, scooped her up, and gently placed her on the bed.
Then, he turned back to the closet and rummaged through his belongings.
He pulled out a sheet of music.
"I heard you've been playing the flower fortune-telling game lately. So, what did you get, Bocchi?"
Yukima Azuma asked with a smile.
Upon hearing thatGotoh Hitori, who had just started to calm downimmediately blushed.
She had no idea how he found out about that.
She had clearly disposed of the flower petals in secret
Yukima Azuma bringing it up made her feel a little guilty.
A while ago, Yukima Azuma had suddenly started ignoring her.
It had made her deeply anxious.
But now, he had appeared before her again, just like that.
All her worries instantly vanished.
At the same time, she felt a twinge of guilt.
He obviously liked her so muchhow could she have doubted his feelings for her?
Seeing Gotoh Hitori lower her head in silence, Yukima Azuma cleared his throat, bringing her attention back to him.
He hadn't intended to make her reflect on herself.
He had only used it as an excuse to subtly change the topic.
As for what had happened with him in the tsunami
He had no intention of telling Gotoh Hitori about it.
Even though she had nothing to do with it,
Knowing her personality, if she found out that he had been in danger and she hadn't even realized it, she would blame herself to the point of breaking down.
Yukima Azuma looked at Gotoh Hitori and smiled as he asked:
"Bocchi, are you fortune-telling to see if you'll receive a Christmas gift?"
Gotoh Hitori turned to him, her eyes wavering slightly.
"So, Bocchi, did you get a Christmas gift?"
Hearing that, she blinked.
Should she just go along with his words and continue?
Or should she be honest and confess a little?
Yukima Azuma didn't give her much time to think.
"No one gave you a Christmas gift?"
Hearing that, Gotoh Hitori shook her head.
Actually, everyone in Kessoku Band had invited her out.
But at that time, she was emo because Yukima Azuma was ignoring her.
So she didn't go.
(ЇЇ;)
And besides her bandmates...
The only people around her were her parents, younger sister and her dog.
Gotoh Hitori was already a JK now.
Out of respect for their daughter's self-esteem, her parents no longer secretly placed gifts in her room at midnight.
Instead, they simply gave her a little extra allowance on Christmas Day.
As for her younger sister...
Um, better not talk about that.
Seeing her shake her head, Yukima Azuma was satisfied.
He placed the music sheet into Gotoh Hitori's hands.
Then, lifting her chin, he pressed a kiss onto her lips.
"Merry Christmas, this is your gift."
Gotoh Hitori was kissed into a daze.
( ( )!
After hearing his words, it took her a moment to react.
Her first response wasn't to check the gift in her hands...
But to blame herself.
She hadn't prepared a gift for Yukima Azuma.
"I'm sorry, Azuma-kun, I... I forgot to prepare a Christmas gift."
"Do you want anything? O-Or you can punish me! I-I'll do anything!"
Hearing Gotoh Hitori's words, Yukima Azuma initially intended to comfort her and say it was fine. But just as the words reached his mouth, he swallowed them down.
Some outfits flashed through his mind: Bunny girl, cat ears, and even a maid outfit.
With Gotoh Hitori's personality, she would clearly feel extremely uncomfortable wearing those.
However, if faced with guilt and embarrassment maybe it was worth a try.
Yukima Azuma smiled and nodded:
"Alright, then Bocchi's Christmas gift to me will be postponed for a bit, but I'll come to claim it later."
Seeing his smile, Gotoh Hitori instinctively pressed her legs together.
...
As her feelings of guilt faded, she slowly opened the music sheet.
The notes danced steadily before her eyes.
Reading the lyrics written by Yukima Azuma's hand, Gotoh Hitori felt as if something had touched her heart.
Another Me in the World.
This wasn't a musical piece that could go down in history.
It was just a simple pop song.
But the reason Yukima Azuma chose this song was simple.
Because it truly suited them.
"I can feel you, just like you can feel me. The other person in this world, is me."
Gotoh Hitori couldn't help but hum along to the lyrics.
She looked up, her gaze meeting Yukima Azuma's, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
So it wasn't just her who felt this way.
Even though Yukima Azuma's personality seemed vastly different from hers
Gotoh Hitori could still sense it sometimes.
The two of them seemed alike.
Like two sides of a mirror, like two leaves on the same tree.
Perhaps, because they had both been lonely.
And then, they were no longer alone.
Seeing Gotoh Hitori on the verge of tears, Yukima Azuma smiled and gently cupped her face.
"Well? Do you like it?"
Gotoh Hitori nodded vigorously.
"I love it! I love it so much! I really love it!"
( )
Even as she said it, she felt it still wasn't enough to express all her emotions.
So, she hugged the sheet music tightly to her chest.
Out of everything in this world, there was no gift more wonderful than this.
Seeing her like that, Yukima Azuma's lips curved slightly.
This was the scene he wanted to see.
Before Christmas arrived, Yukima Azuma had felt troubled.
On Christmas Day, he would have to be at home, meaning he definitely couldn't be with Gotoh Hitori.
He wanted to make it up to her, but what kind of gift should he give?
Bocchi seemed easy to please.
As if any gift would do.
But in reality, giving Bocchi a gift was far more difficult than giving one to other girls.
It wasn't just a little difficultit was extremely challenging.
If he gave her something extravagant or expensive jewelry, Bocchi would undoubtedly feel anxious, worried about the money spent on the gift.
She might even secretly save up and try to return the money to him.
And if he wrote a book just for Gotoh Hitori
If he really wrote something like "Lonely, The Rock!!~" or anything along those lines
Gotoh Hitori would surely feel burdened by the overwhelming emotions behind it.
After all, he had once said that Bocchi was more suited to being a lover than a girlfriend/wife.
A personality like hers was truly troublesome.
After thinking for a while, Yukima Azuma came up with the idea of gifting her a song.
A song that could connect their souls.
Bocchi would definitely love it.
Even if it caused her a bit of emotional pressure, the feeling of being touched would outweigh it.
"You haven't heard this song before. Try playing it a little?" Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
Hearing that, Gotoh Hitori immediately jumped off the bed and ran to the closet to grab her guitar.
That guitar was a gift from Yukima Azuma.
Hugging the guitar, Gotoh Hitori looked at the sheet music and plucked the strings.
Even though it was her first time playing this song, it felt incredibly natural.
This song was written by Yukima Azuma specifically for Gotoh Hitori.
While composing it, he had deliberately prioritized the guitar and even incorporated some of Bocchi's playing habits.
That's why, as she looked at the sheet music now, nothing felt unfamiliar at all.
The melody began to flow.
("_")
Chapter 262: Bocchi's Second Dowry
Strumming the guitar, Gotoh Hitori immersed herself in the song that belonged only to the two of them.
When the chorus came, Gotoh Hitori couldn't help herselfshe gently began to sing.
(o)o .
Yukima Azuma sat beside her, listening.
He savored every moment of this time.
The lead vocalist of the Kessoku band was Kita Ikuyo.
Gotoh Hitori, the lead guitarist, had never tried singing before.
But now, upon hearing Gotoh Hitori's voice, Yukima Azuma realizedthe reason she wasn't the main vocalist wasn't because she couldn't carry a tune.
It was simply due to social anxiety.
Gotoh Hitori's voice was soft, melodious, and full of life.
Perhaps at first it wouldn't leave a strong impression.
But the more you listened, the more beautiful it became.
As one final strum rang out, the song came to an end.
Yukima Azuma clapped loudly.
"Sasuga Bocchi-chan! Sugoi! ~Pachi pachi pachi~"
( )
Gotoh Hitori snapped out of it, shyly clearing her throat.
"It wasn't too bad, was it?"
()
Gotoh Hitori asked softly.
Since she had never sung before, she wasn't very confident in her voice.
Online, people sometimes said that otaku voices sounded like dying rats.
Naive Gotoh Hitori kind of believed that, which made her even more afraid to open her mouth.
"It was so good I want to use it as my ringtone."
Yukima Azuma said sincerely.
Hearing that, Gotoh Hitori scratched her head and smiled foolishly.
-(; )
She was the kind of person who couldn't handle compliments.
Just a little praise would make her giddy and grinning like a fool.
"Oh right, how's your Kessoku band doing lately?"
Yukima Azuma asked about Bocchi's band.
After all, it was just a group of joshi kousei who had gathered together.
But Kessoku band was very different from those typical high school bands formed on a whim.
Lead guitarist Gotoh Hitori was a famous guitar blogger online, with top-tier playing skills.
Bassist Yamada Ryo used to be in a professional band.
Drummer Ijichi Nijika's family owned a live house, and her older sister was also in a band.
From the moment they formed, Kessoku band was never just playing around.
But how far they could gowas still unknown.
"Lately, we've performed two shows at STARRY, and quite a few people came to watch."
(><)
Gotoh Hitori said with a happy expression.
To have fans of her own
To Gotoh Hitori, that kind of happiness was second only to being with Yukima Azuma.
"Nijika-chan said that maybe next year, we'll even get an offer to perform."
"Then we might be able to perform on a bigger stage."
"Maybe one day I'll even be invited for an interview, appear on a TV show..."
Yukima Azuma chimed in: "And then you'll say on the show something like: 'Actually, back in high school, I didn't have many friends.'"
Hearing that, Gotoh Hitori nodded rapidly.
That was exactly what she imagined.
She stepped onto the path of becoming a guitarist
All because, one day, she was watching a program on TV.
She saw the guitarist of a famous band being interviewed.
He said that back in high school, he was very isolated, didn't have any friends.
After he started playing guitar, he slowly began to connect with bands, and then began to shine brightly.
If hosting a concert was Gotoh Hitori's short-term dream
Then getting on a TV show and reminiscing about her lonely high school years was her lifelong wish.
Yukima Azuma let out a small chuckle.
Bocchi's dreams were always that adorable.
Well, actually... they seemed very much worth achieving.
Thinking that, Yukima Azuma curiously asked:
"So now you're totally fine performing on stage, Bocchi?"
Hearing that, Gotoh Hitori's expression clearly froze.
"Well... these days I can open my eyes, but I still don't dare look down at the audience too much."
(,,,,)
She said softly.
Like a guilty criminal.
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently patted her long pink hair.
"Good job, reallywell done~."
For others, opening your eyes while performing on stage was the bare minimum.
But for Gotoh Hitori, being able to open her eyes was already a huge step forward.
Back then, Bocchi had to wear a cardboard box on her head when going on stage.
Even before the school festival, she would always keep her head down, immersed in her own little world.
Bit by bit, she dared to raise her head, peek with one eye, and nowshe could open both eyes.
Just as he was gently stroking Bocchi's soft, silky hair
Yukima Azuma already had a rough plan in mind.
If this girl could just be a little braver, she could go a little further.
Next year, Laplace Corporation would be partnering with several major stages for promotions.
With just a few steps in the right direction, it might even be possible to push Kessoku Band into becoming a hot idol band.
But with Bocchi, of course, rushing things wouldn't work.
Right now, Kessoku Band was still within the realm of an underground band slowly building popularity.
Ijichi Nijika had speculated that they might get invited to perform at some small venues next year.
But that still depended on luck.
As for Yukima Azuma, he planned to guide Bocchi little by little, starting with small stages as well.
To allow Kessoku Band and Bocchi to go through the full, proper process of growing as a band.
Next year, pick a few small stages, maybe even buy some audience members.
When the time came, they could send out a performance invitation to Kessoku Band.
That was what Yukima Azuma had in mind.
"Actually, Azuma-kun doesn't need to worry about me"
Gotoh Hitori suddenly said in a small voice, cutting off Yukima Azuma's train of thought.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma paused slightly.
He was a little surprisedhow did Bocchi know what he was thinking?
Seeing the puzzled look on Yukima Azuma's face,
Gotoh Hitori said, "Azuma-kun asked about Kessoku Band, then asked about how I was doing too."
"Bocchi's EQ suddenly went up! I'm shocked!" Yukima Azuma was even more surprised.
(®®)
If it had been some other girl, like Kato Megumi or Yukino, this would've come as no surprise to him.
But Bocchia girl whose EQ, if just a little higher, might not have ended up as a complete social shut-in
Being read like that by her was unexpected.
Feeling like she had just been insulted by Yukima Azuma's reaction,
Gotoh Hitori pouted.
"Even if I'm dumb! I can at least understand a little of what Azuma-kun is thinking!"
Bocchi shouted as if giving up everything.
Yes, her EQ was low!
So what!
Other people's thoughts were really hard to understand!
But even sowhen it came to Yukima Azuma alone
Even her own parents and little sisterthe people closest to herwere honestly incomprehensible.
And yet, with Yukima Azuma alone, there was a strange sense of soul-level connection.
At that moment, the door was knocked.
"Onee-chan, Azuma onii-chan, dinner time!"
Futari's voice rang out from outside the door.
After calling once, the little girl ran off with quick little steps.
Mommy and Dadddy had already saidwhen onee-chan and Azuma onii-chan were in the room, don't bother them.
She didn't really understand why.
But Gotoh Futari still decided to obey.
After all, Azuma onii-chan could do magic tricks, and he bought her cake too.
Her onee-chan was already weird enough as it was.
If Azuma onii-chan ended up disliking onee-chan because of being disturbed
Then wouldn't onee-chan die all alone like a lonely old woman?
(ЇЇ)
That's what Gotoh Futari had thought.
Completely unaware that her own little sister saw her as "unreliable," Gotoh Hitori stood up.
She carefully tucked the sheet music into a drawer in her cabinet.
Inside that drawer, Yukima Azuma spotted a piggy bank.
That piggy bank
It looked a lot like the one he had received beforethe one used to hold Bocchi's dowry or marriage fund.
Noticing Yukima Azuma's glance,
Gotoh Hitori's cute face turned bright red.
"This is the money we earned from performing."
"I'm saving it just in case I need it someday."
(///// " )
Ever since the band started turning a profit, Gotoh Hitori had bought this piggy bank.
She tried her best not to buy more guitar accessories.
Bit by bit, she saved it up.
In truth, it wasn't so different from that so-called "dowry" from before.
Only this time, the piggy bank wasn't being filled by Mama Gotoh.
This time, it was Gotoh Hitori herself, saving every coin by her own hand.
The introverted girl thought of the futuremaybe someday, when she was of age, she could buy a small apartment.
Then she could live there and welcome Yukima Azuma anytime he visited.
Or maybeshe'd just give all the money to Yukima Azuma.
Gotoh Hitori never asked Yukima Azuma to take any responsibilityyet she herself was a person with a deep sense of responsibility.
Yukima Azuma didn't say anything else. He simply reached out and gently held Gotoh Hitori's small hand.
The two of them left the room, walked down the stairs, and went together to the dining table.
(Note: BOCCHI IS SUPREMACY!!!)
(o)
After Christmas, New Year's Day arrived in a flash.
It was the start of a new year.
Yukima Azuma went to a shrine festival in the Shibuya area with the girls in the household.
When it came to New Year shrine visits in Japan, Yukima Azuma only had two impressionsyukata and fireworks.
As massive bursts of fireworks exploded across the sky,
Yukima Azuma finally understood why so many works from the Land of the Rising Sun
featured scenes of confessions and misunderstandings under a sky full of fireworks.
Because fireworks are really loud.
You have to shout at the top of your lungs just to be barely heard.
And confessing at that moment,
it was totally normal to get misheard as saying "moon."(Note: Suki = like, Tsuki = moon.)
After New Year's,
spring break was just around the corner.
Following the final exams, Yukima Azuma received a phone call from Sayuri.
"Does Laplace have shares in that operating system under Microsoft?"
Sayuri got straight to the point as soon as the call connected.
"Quite a lot."
Yukima Azuma himself wasn't exactly sure how much anymore.
The investment had been poured in back when the operating system was still in development.
At that time, most of Laplace Corporation's liquid cash had been handed over to Microsoft.
Later on, those shares had been diluted through multiple rounds.
But stillan investment from the early development phase.
Founding shares and stocks bought on the market were two entirely different things.
Even without knowing the exact numbers, Yukima Azuma could still calmly say: "Quite a lot."
On the other end of the line, Sayuri sucked in a sharp breath.
"Hiss~... So what are you planning next?"
After Microsoft's cross-platform Windows operating system launched,
it crushed the government-issued OS released the same day in terms of functionality, usability, and convenience.
All kinds of vultures who had once ridiculed Microsoft were now staring wide-eyed.
Everyone now knewbuying Microsoft stock meant making a profit.
The only issue was that getting even a single share was about as hard as reaching the moon.
Regardless of how much "quite a lot" actually meant in Yukima Azuma's mouth,
it was undoubtedly a sum of money growing to an absurd degree.
At least for the current scale of Laplace Corporation,
there was simply no need for that much capital.
If you had that much money and still stuck to making little furniture items,
that'd be a waste so tragic it hurts.
That kind of moneyhell, even if you poured it all into dead-end industries like cars or cell phones
might be enough to carve out your own empire.
"I'm starting a video platform. Those shares will only cover part of the cost, and I'm not even sure the cash will be enough to burn through."
Yukima Azuma said.
"What kind of video platform could possibly burn that much"
Sayuri instinctively wanted to question what kind of video platform could possibly need that level of funding.
But halfway through the sentence, she stopped herself.
Reality had proven itYukima Azuma's foresight was far sharper than hers.
At the very least, she had seen the Microsoft OS investment too.
But at the time, she hadn't considered buying in at all.
I mean, who would've thought
an operating system developed by a private company could destroy a government-backed product?
If you couldn't see as far ahead as someone else,
then questioning them now would just be slapping yourself in the face.
Unable to understand it was one thingSayuri decided to drop it altogether.
"There are some old men who want to meet you. Do you have time?"
Sayuri finally revealed the real purpose of the call.
And just the fact that she was calling personally, saying "old men" wanted to meet
you could already guess what kind of people they were.
Yukima Azuma opened his mouth,
originally intending to decline and end the matter.
After all, the next steps for Laplace Corporation didn't need to be reported to anyone.
Once Laplace's video platform launched, its direct competitors would be the big boysYouTube, Twitter.
If it really succeeded, Laplace Corporation would become the fifth largest conglomerate in the Land of the Rising Sun.
At that point, even those "old men" would have to watch his mood before making a move.
Getting tangled up with them now?
What a waste of breath.
But just as the words of refusal were about to slip from his mouth, Yukima Azuma suddenly remembered something.
The sentence that was about to be spoken turned around mid-air and shifted into:
"I'm free, but it'll have to wait until next week. Also, I need to bring someone with me."
On the other end of the line, Sayuri glanced at her phone in confusion.
Bring someone?
Who was he planning to bring?
Sayuri pondered for a moment, but no one seemed to fit.
The Yukinoshita family? That girl was already being kept hidden like a treasureno way Yukima Azuma would let her show up in public.
The Hinatsuru family? Still way too young, bringing her out now would serve no purpose.
The Suou family? Possibly, but they were probably swamped right now.
One by one, Sayuri went through all the people close to Yukima Azuma.
But she still couldn't think of anyone who matched the situation.
"Got it. Let me know when the time comes then," Sayuri agreed, not pressing further.
After all, once they met, everything would become clear.
After hanging up,
Yukima Azuma casually flipped the phone in his hand.
Spring break was just around the corner.
Winter had long since passed.
And once spring arrived,
the general election of Japan's National Diet would officially begin.
If one wanted to start making moves nowthere wasn't much time left.
Scrolling through his contact list,
Yukima Azuma found Hayasaka Nao's number and dialed straight away.
The phone barely rang once before it was picked up.
"Nao-nee, have you landed yet?"
"Didn't even send someone to pick me up, and now you're calling like you care. What's with the fake courtesy?"
On the other end, Hayasaka Nao's voice was clearly teasing.
She had, in essence, already boarded Yukima Azuma's ship.
Getting off that ship was no longer an option.
So Hayasaka Nao didn't bother playing any of that superiorsubordinate role-playing with Yukima Azuma.
On the contrary, their relationship had become surprisingly close.
"You really want me to pick you up, Nao-nee? I'll come personally right now."
Yukima Azuma chuckled lightly.
Hearing that, Hayasaka Nao immediately rolled her eyes.
"Forget it. My bad."
Officially, she was still a key figure within the Shinomiya household.
She hadn't openly broken ties with them yet.
The Shinomiya family had just sent a car to pick her up earlier.
If Yukima Azuma were to show up in person now
then her time in Japan would definitely be filled with endless trouble.
"Speaking of which, are you heading to the Shinomiya main residence this time? Or straight to Shuchiin?"
Yukima Azuma asked curiously.
Logically speaking, Hayasaka Nao shouldn't be returning to Japan at this time.
But the reason for her return this time
Wasn't because Yukima Azuma summoned her.
It was because Hayasaka Nao had to returnfor the parent-teacher conference at Shuchiin Academy.
Final exams had ended.
Before spring break, Shuchiin would be holding a parent-teacher meeting.
Homeroom teachers and subject instructors would meet with each student and their guardian individually for discussion.
The main topics would be academic performance and future plans.
As a prestigious noble academy,
the future of Shuchiin students
was expected to be clearly charted from the very first year of high school, based on their individual strengths.
If the grades were excellent, they would consider moving on to the internal university system or other top-tier universities.
If they had special talents, the focus would shift toward developing that pathwhether it be as an athlete, musician, artist, etc.
In the following semesters, Shuchiin would tailor its advanced curriculum according to that chosen track.
All in all, the meeting was a big deal.
Hayasaka Nao's return wasn't just for the meeting as Hayasaka Ai's mother,
She also carried an important mission entrusted to her by the Shinomiya family
To attend the parent-teacher conference as a representative for Shinomiya Kaguya.
Kaguya's fatherattending such a meeting himself was practically out of the question.
As for Hayasaka Nao, in her roles as Kaguya's former nanny and a senior officer of the Shinomiya family
She was the perfect stand-in.
Only thing was, since she had now "defected" to Yukima Azuma's camp,
there was still a slight trace of awkwardness lingering in her heart.
(Note: This chapter doesn't have anything to add emojis to.)
(ЇЇ)
Chapter 264 Has Ice Kaguya Turned into "Love-Brain-Dead Kaguya"?
Shuchiin Private Academy.
Student Council Room.
"Is it really... not going to look weird like this?"
(><)
Shinomiya Kaguya showed a typically girlish worried expression, staring intently at herself in the mirror.
Standing beside her, Hayasaka Ai felt a slight headache coming on.
"( _ <,, )
Since early morning, her Oujou-sama had suddenly said she wanted to change her image a little.
Because makeup was banned at Shuchiin,
After careful consideration, Hayasaka Ai decided that changing her hairstyle would be the simplest option.
So she lent a hand, gathering up the long black hair that had been flowing down her Oujou-sama's back.
Based on Shinomiya Kaguya's usual image,
Hayasaka Ai first tied her hair into a ponytail
Then folded the end of the ponytail back once, securing it with a dark red ribbon.
That way, the excess hair wouldn't fall down anymore.
From the front, it looked neat and elegant.
The ribbon at the back of her head became a cute focal point, adding a touch of moe.
The image of the "Ice Princess" Shinomiya Kaguya was suddenly transformed
Into a graceful young lady with a hint of cuteness, very eye-catching.
Even though the transformation was flawless,
Shinomiya Kaguya was still repeatedly checking herself in the mirror.
It was unclear whether it was because she feared someone (whose name started with Y-A) wouldn't like her new look.
Hayasaka Ai had never imagined a scene like this before
Her Oujou-sama checking herself in the mirror back and forth like this.
Ever since returning from the deserted island...
Shinomiya Kaguya seemed like she had turned into a completely different person.
Although most of the time she was still clear-headed,
Every now and then, she would act foolishly.
Especially whenever anything related to Yukima Azuma came up.
It was like her IQ would suddenly drop to zero in an instant.
If Hayasaka Ai hadn't checked and confirmed that her Oujou-sama was still 100% the original Shinomiya Kaguya
She would've thought that on that deserted island, Yukima Azuma had trained her Oujou-sama into...
Thinking about such blasphemous things,
Hayasaka Ai shook her head, brushing the words like "SM, Pet, Hard Play" out of her mind.
( )
How could she think of her Oujou-sama like that?
Her Oujou-sama probably just had water in the brain.
After looking at herself in the mirror over and over again, Shinomiya Kaguya finally set it down.
She waited eagerly for Yukima Azuma to walk into the student council room.
Then see her new image and say something.
Would he like it?
Would he even notice?
()
"It's almost time for the parent-teacher meeting."
Hayasaka Ai spoke up to remind her.
Which made Shinomiya Kaguya realize that now wasn't the time for idle fantasies.
The Shinomiya family would be sending someone to attend the parent-teacher meeting.
If Shinomiya Kaguya performed poorly during it
It would definitely be reported back.
At that point, the little freedom she still had might very well be taken away.
Upon hearing that,
The bright look of anticipation on Shinomiya Kaguya's face dimmed a little.
Although in name, she was the Oujou-sama of the Shinomiya family, the heir of the main lineage,
In reality, within the Shinomiya household, she had to tread extremely carefully.
Just one small misstep,
And she would be punished severely without hesitation.
Being the Oujou-sama didn't mean she had freedom.
Shinomiya Kaguya unconsciously recalled the days she spent on the deserted island.
Since birth, those might have been the only days when she truly felt free.
She shook her head, dispelling those thoughts.
She wasn't the type to drown in memories or run away from problems.
No matter how dark the road ahead might be, she had to keep walking forward.
"Is Hayasaka's mother, Nao-san, coming?"
Shinomiya Kaguya asked casually.
But there was a hint of jealousy in her voice.
Her own mother had already passed away.
And her father...
Don't even mention the idea of Shinomiya Gan'an ever attending a parent-teacher meeting because of her.
Even if he did show up, Shinomiya Kaguya would hardly feel even a shred of affection from Shinomiya Gan'an.
That so-called head of the Shinomiya family, her father in name
The number of times they had met could be counted on one hand.
Let alone any affection between father and daughter.
If he suddenly showed up now, Shinomiya Kaguya would instead suspect he had ulterior motives.
As soon as she heard that, Hayasaka Ai immediately showed a hint of irritation.
"She's not coming. She's probably still busy over on Wall Street."
"She probably forgot she even has a daughter!"
><
As a thousand-faced maid
Hayasaka Ai almost never revealed her emotions openly.
Even if she did, it was usually just an act.
But this time, it was real.
Her words had a bit of a tsundere flavor.
The anticipation of Hayasaka Nao comingwas practically about to spill out of her.
"Nao-nee, someone's talking bad about you, it seems."
Just then, the student council room door was pushed open.
Yukima Azuma's voice echoed from outside.
The moment Hayasaka Ai heard the name "Nao," she immediately turned her head.
Sure enough, standing behind Yukima Azuma was a graceful onee-san silhouette.
Today, Hayasaka Nao wore a long white dress, with a round-brimmed sunhat on her head.
She looked exactly like a stylish older sister on vacation.
"Mom!"
The moment Hayasaka Ai saw Hayasaka Nao, she couldn't take her eyes off her.
She ran over as if she were about to leap into Hayasaka Nao's arms.
Hayasaka Nao extended a hand and gently tapped her finger on Hayasaka Ai's forehead.
"How could I forget my adorable daughter?"
Poked in the forehead, Hayasaka Ai gave a happy smile.
After comforting her daughter,
Hayasaka Nao removed her hat and bowed politely to Shinomiya Kaguya.
"Kaguya-sama, wishing you good health."
"I've been appointed by the Shinomiya family to attend the parent-teacher meeting this time."
Shinomiya Kaguya gave a light nod.
But her attention wasn't really on Hayasaka Nao.
It was mostly fixed on Yukima Azuma.
Although Hayasaka Nao showing up was a bit unexpected, it wasn't entirely unbelievable.
Besides, if it had been another official from the Shinomiya family, Kaguya's reaction likely wouldn't have been much different.
"Good afternoon, Azuma-kun."
()
Shinomiya Kaguya greeted Yukima Azuma.
Her small head tilted slightly, as if she had moved unconsciously.
The dark red ribbon tied in her bun swayed lightly, looking like a fluttering butterfly.
"Good afternoon, President Kaguya you changed your hairstyle today, huh."
Yukima Azuma, of course, noticed the change in Shinomiya Kaguya's hairstyle the moment he arrived.
This current hairstyle was actually the one he remembered Kaguya usually having in his memories.
But still, changing back to this styledid that mean Ice Kaguya had turned into "Love-Brain-Dead Kaguya"?
Yukima Azuma found it rather interesting.
"Umu, after coming back from the sea, it feels like I'm starting life over again."
"So I wanted to change my image a little... how is it?"
(,,,,)
Shinomiya Kaguya asked with a hint of shyness.
She looked intently at Yukima Azuma, waiting for the boy's answer.
"It really suits you. Elegant and lively, and you seem even more feminine than beforevery cute."
Yukima Azuma didn't hesitate to compliment her.
The corners of Shinomiya Kaguya's mouth clearly lifted.
( )
Her slender, pale hand quickly pressed to her cheek.
After forcing herself to calm down,
Shinomiya Kaguya gave a soft smile and nodded.
"Thank you for the compliment. It's just a small experiment."
Standing nearby, Hayasaka Nao raised an eyebrow as she watched this scene.
At that moment, Hayasaka Ai finally wrapped her arms around her mother after some hesitation.
Hayasaka Nao gently patted her daughter's head.
Then she bent down, leaned close to Hayasaka Ai's ear, and whispered softly:
"What's the story with those two?"
Because she knew very well that the Shinomiya Kaguya she once knew was never that kind of person.
Even though she was an official of the Shinomiya family,
Hayasaka Nao had been stationed overseas.
So of course, she didn't know what had happened recently.
When asked by her mother,
Hayasaka Ai leaned in and whispered the whole backstory.
After all the missing drama was filled in
A sparkle lit up in Hayasaka Nao's eyes.
Omoishiroi!
( )
Chapter 265: Kaguya's Brain Is All About Romance
Praised by Yukima Azuma.
Shinomiya Kaguya felt an unparalleled joy.
Even happier than the first time she won the archery championship.
If she wasn't actively using the "forcing herself to stay calm" mode, she'd probably be grinning like an idiot right now.
( )
Lightly brushing her cheek, Shinomiya Kaguya changed the subject:
"Azuma-kun, did you come here with Nao-san?"
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
He had met Hayasaka Nao on the campus of Shuchiin Academy.
Initially, Hayasaka Nao was planning to wait at the teacher-parent meeting area.
Yukima Azuma knew that Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai were likely in the student council room.
So he simply brought her there.
But before Yukima Azuma could open his mouth
Hayasaka Nao spoke up first:
"Nope, I ran into Yukima at the school gate."
"At that time, it looked like he had just gotten out of a girl's car."
"It was a super nice car, damn, seriously, hot car hot girl vibes!"
Yukima Azuma choked a little and turned to look at Hayasaka Nao.
Hayasaka Nao responded with a smile that clearly added fuel to the fire.
()
And Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes widened.
Got out of a girl's car!?
She knew full well that Yukima Azuma didn't hire female drivers.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma didn't even own any supercars.
What the hell!?
Feeling Shinomiya Kaguya's suspicious gaze on him
( _ )
Yukima Azuma said nothing.
The person who drove him was Haruno.
And honestly, if he had to explain it clearly, things would get really messy.
His girlfriend's older sister? An ex-girlfriend? Or an one-night stand?
No matter how you put it, it sounded terribly awkward.
Besides, Yukima Azuma didn't want to lie or deceive Shinomiya Kaguya over something like this.
He had already decided to let Shinomiya Kaguya into the harem.
Lying at a time like this would just be plain stupid.
Seeing that Yukima Azuma had no intention of explaining
Shinomiya Kaguya was utterly shocked.
( ®®) !!
Could it be that Azuma had been seduced by some evil woman!?
After all, he was still just a high school student.
It's perfectly normal to not be able to resist temptation.
Thinking that, Shinomiya Kaguya's wine-red eyes quivered slightly.
Hayasaka Nao looked at the scene and chuckled softly.
Seriously... this is too good!
This kind of dramaif you made her pay for a ticket to watch it, she'd gladly shell out the cash!
Nao: [$(5)$](*) $$$
"Mom, you're seriously... evil."
Even Hayasaka Ai couldn't help but throw in a tsukkomi.
Deciding to temporarily set aside Shinomiya Kaguya, Yukima Azuma turned his attention to Hayasaka Nao.
Looking at the smug smile on Hayasaka Nao's face...
Yukima Azuma smiled a little too.
<( )>
Alright then, Nao-nee, I hope you're still smiling just as happily tonight.
Hayasaka Nao suddenly felt a chill down her spine.
The smile on her lips instinctively shrank quite a bit.
"Kaguya, I think your ribbon is a little off."
Yukima Azuma suddenly said.
Shinomiya Kaguya, whose pupils were still trembling, froze when she heard that.
"Eh? Really..." She picked up a mirror, about to check.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma stepped forward, raising his hand faster than she could react.
Shinomiya Kaguya only felt a soft breeze pass byhe was already standing right in front of her.
And reaching out his hand, as if about to pull her into his arms.
Shinomiya Kaguya's cheeks turned red immediately.
Her lips parted slightly, and her eyes didn't know where to look.
Yukima Azuma reached out to touch the perfectly placed ribbon on Shinomiya Kaguya's head, gently adjusting it just a little.
The ribbon didn't move at allhe only made it feel like it had been touched.
Then he pulled his hand back.
"Done. You really are super cute."
Only then did Shinomiya Kaguya realize Yukima Azuma was just adjusting her ribbon.
But just as she sighed in relief, she heard Yukima Azuma call her cute again.
Her heart instantly started racing uncontrollably.
(o)
Looking at Shinomiya Kaguya blushing, her heart thumping wildly, there was no time left in her head for pointless thoughts.
Yukima Azuma quietly nodded to himself.
Umu, as expected, this is no longer the Ice Kaguya.
The Kaguya nowher head is completely filled with love, and she's incredibly easy to coax.
Hayasaka Nao and Hayasaka Ai exchanged glances.
This mother-daughter pair both subtly wrinkled their noses.
Not sure if it was because Shinomiya Kaguya was too easy to handle, to the point of disbelief
Or because Yukima Azuma's shamelessness was just beyond comprehension.
Right at that moment, the student council room door was pushed open again.
"Yukima-kun, Kaguya-san, the parent-teacher meeting is about to start!"
Fujiwara Chika ran in to announce.
Immediately after, she sensed something was off.
She completely ignored the presence of two unfamiliar people in the room.
Her eyes locked onto Shinomiya Kaguya and Yukima Azuma.
With her ultra-sensitive love detective radar...
Fujiwara Chika feltthere was something definitely strange between those two!
(`)
But before she could dig deeper
"Let's go," Yukima Azuma called out softly.
...
Then, the group headed together toward the meeting room.
On the way, Fujiwara Chika turned to Hayasaka Nao.
"Nao-san!"
As Shinomiya Kaguya's childhood friend...
Of course Fujiwara Chika knew Hayasaka Nao.
Back when they were little, Hayasaka Nao even took care of her on the side.
Hayasaka Nao simply gave a slight nod in response.
Just like her daughter...
Hayasaka Nao and Fujiwara Chika never really got along very well either...
Even though in her heart, Fujiwara Chika still held a very good impression of Hayasaka Nao.
But in reality, when taking care of Fujiwara Chika as a child, Hayasaka Nao had already found it exhausting.
Thankfully, once the greetings were over...
Fujiwara Chika's attention clearly shifted elsewhere.
"Yukima-kun, who's going to the parent-teacher meeting with you later?"
Fujiwara Chika asked curiously.
Because Yukima Azuma always gave off such a mature vibe...
Fujiwara Chika was super curious about what kind of person his parent would be.
A very traditional, rigid type? Or the complete oppositechildlike, in contrast to Azuma?
Hearing Fujiwara Chika bring up that topic
Shinomiya Kaguya's expression subtly changed.
She glanced worriedly at Yukima Azuma, carefully observing his face.
Uneasy inside, afraid that it would make him sad.
Because back when she was trying to win Yukima Azuma over...
Shinomiya Kaguya had investigated him.
So of course, she knew... Yukima Azuma was currently alone.
The rest of his family had died in an accident.
Fortunately, Yukima Azuma wasn't fazed at all.
"Probably no one's coming. I live alone now."
Even though there were still some girls in the house...
Azuma hadn't married any of them yet, so saying "alone" wasn't really a lie.
Trying to get new members into the Yukima family really wasn't easy.
Either... in a few years, Yukima Azuma could manage to change Japan's monogamy law
Or... in a few years, he'd successfully form a harem and persuade the girls to have kids before marriage.
Getting an unexpected answer, Fujiwara Chika suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"I'm sorry... I didn't know about that."
Even someone as cheerful and upbeat as the student council secretary Fujiwara could be serious and properly apologize in this situation.
Yukima Azuma waved his hand, about to say it was no big deal.
But Hayasaka Nao next to him suddenly cut in:
"Actually, I think someone did come. Right before we ran into you all earlier."
"A woman went into the meeting room and signed up under your parent category."
Yukima Azuma: ( ®® ) ??
Hayasaka Nao's words made a giant question mark appear in Yukima Azuma's mind.
Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai were just as dumbfounded.
Yukima Azuma doesn't have a parent, does he?
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.
And then, without a word, Yukima Azuma strode straight toward the meeting room.
Chapter 266: The Twisted Love of Mrs. Yukinoshita
First floor of the lecture hall at Shuchiin Academy.
All the public classrooms were now open.
Some were being used as parent-teacher meeting rooms.
The rest were for students and parents to wait and rest.
At this moment, a few adults were standing in the hallway outside the meeting rooms.
All of them were parents waiting for their children to arrive.
If Yukima Azuma hadn't taken Hayasaka Nao with him to the student council room...
Then most likely, she'd be standing here right now too.
Fujiwara Chika quickly walked up to a gentle and well-mannered middle-aged man.
She smiled sweetly and greeted him, "Dad."
( ) <3
The middle-aged man nodded in response to Fujiwara Chika.
Then, his eyes shifted toward Yukima Azuma and Shinomiya Kaguya.
This middle-aged man was, of course, Fujiwara Chika's father
The central pillar of the Fujiwara political family.
From his attire alone, one could tell he was a politician.
Perfectly pressed suit, non-prescription glasses, always wearing a friendly smile.
"Shinomiya-san, Yukima-san, thank you both for taking care of my daughter."
Being recognized didn't surprise Yukima Azuma in the slightest.
Tokyo wasn't that big, and in those circles, the people just went around in a loop.
Even though Yukima Azuma rarely attended social parties...
With the rise of the Laplace Corporation, there was no way he could remain a nobody.
Among all the old men Sayuri had introduced to build connections, maybe this Fujiwara guy was even one of them.
Just like Shinomiya Kaguya, Yukima responded with a polite, perfunctory nod...
And then shifted his gaze toward the waiting room beside them.
Right at that moment, a figure stepped out from the room.
The moment Yukima Azuma saw the woman, he visibly froze for a second.
Today, Mrs. Yukinoshita was wearing a white sweater and plain jeans.
Though it couldn't be called loungewear, it was clearly a departure from her usual polished style.
Normally in summer, Mrs. Yukinoshita would wear formal gowns or traditional kimono.
In winter, at most she'd throw a fur coat on top.
After all, the places she showed up were usually formal parties or luxurious ballrooms.
But today, this outfit had none of that elegant noblewoman aura.
The feeling she gave off... was even somewhat reminiscent of Haruno.
The typical "office lady onee-san" vibe.
Mrs. Yukinoshita stepped out of the waiting room and walked straight toward Yukima Azuma the moment she saw him.
Seeing Yukima Azuma look a little dumbfounded
She couldn't help but frown.
"What? You got a problem with it?"
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma didn't even know where to begin complaining.
To say he had a "problem" wasn't quite right.
He was just seriously confused as to why Mrs. Yukinoshita showed up here.
At that moment, Mrs. Yukinoshita lifted her hand and glanced down at her own outfit.
After confirming there were no slip-ups, and it matched the impression she wanted to give
She turned to look at the still-stunned Yukima Azuma, and something flickered in her eyes.
She cleared her throat softly, then said somewhat awkwardly:
"Haruno told me that you wanted someone to attend the meeting on your behalf."
"Even though you refused to take the Yukinoshita name, technically speaking, you're still part of the Yukinoshita family."
"So I figured it wouldn't hurt to lend a hand."
"Don't tell me... this wasn't your request?"
(Note: MC's guardian is Mrs. Yukinoshita, and maybe he has a household registration in the Yukinoshita family. When his family had an accident, he was only about 12-13 years old, if he didn't do that, he would have ended up in an orphanage.)
Upon hearing that...
Yukima Azuma's mood became incredibly complicated.
The number of things he wanted to complain about only grew.
Even so, he still opened his mouth and said:
"No, it's true I asked Haruno to help find someone."
"I just didn't expect you'd actually agree to do it, so I was a little surprised."
Telling the whole truth right now obviously wouldn't be smart.
Mrs. Yukinoshita had come all the way here in person.
If he turned her away now...
It'd be like slapping them both in the face for no reason.
If it were just in private, no big dealat most just a few sarcastic exchanges with Mrs. Yukinoshita.
But right now, there were several other Shuchiin students' parents standing around.
A quick glance showed: some toy company CEO, a member of parliament from some prefecture, or a legit member of some zaibatsu family.
Hearing Yukima Azuma accept it
Mrs. Yukinoshita quietly let out a breath of relief.
She'd also been worried that Yukima Azuma would flat-out deny it in front of everyone and toss in a few mocking comments while he was at it.
If that happened, she'd be the laughingstock of high society for the next month.
People would say she shamelessly pushed herself forward to claim family ties, that she had no self-respect, that she was a disgraceful woman.
Even so, to have given birth to a daughter like Yukinoshita Yukino
It was clear that Mrs. Yukinoshita was the kind of person whose bones were filled with pride.
If she were to be publicly humiliated on the spot, then mocked relentlessly afterward
Mrs. Yukinoshita would most definitely go home and smash things in a fit of rage.
€ЂЂ€ ( -)
(®-® €ЂЂ€
(`Д)
"These days I don't have much going on, so playing the role of a parent isn't so bad."
As she spoke, Mrs. Yukinoshita waved Yukima Azuma over.
With a face caught somewhere between reluctant and complicated, Yukima Azuma stepped forward to stand next to her.
At that moment, Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai having more or less figured out the situation looked at the two of them...
And suddenly felt that the two really did resemble a mother and child.
Mostly in terms of presence.
There was a definite sense of "shared bloodline."
Meanwhile, Fujiwara Chika was still blinking in confusion.
She still hadn't figured out what exactly was going on.
This beautiful lady... is Yukima-kun's parent?
"Is the parent of Shinomiya Kaguya present?"
Right at that moment, a voice called from inside the meeting room.
A parent-student pair walked out from the room.
Hayasaka Nao responded.
She then led Shinomiya Kaguya into the meeting room.
The contents of the meeting were nothing special.
Everything was just for formality's sake.
The Shinomiya family had already arranged for Kaguya to move up through the internal system.
A sort of golden stamp something to add prestige to her name.
After all, a college degree was almost a given these days.
As for her future career, there was practically nothing to worry about.
The chance of Shinomiya Kaguya inheriting any part of the family business was extremely slim.
The more likely scenario or at least, the one the Shinomiya household had defaulted to was that she'd marry into another prestigious family and serve as a decorative flower vase.
Shinomiya Kaguya's academic performance posed no concerns regarding internal progression.
Her aspirations and reality were perfectly aligned.
The teachers at Shuchiin naturally had no objections.
As for Shinomiya Kaguya's true feelings...
With her current status, she had no right to speak up.
From the moment she was born into the Shinomiya family, that had always been the way of things.
...
Meanwhile, outside the meeting room
Yukima Azuma, almost unconsciously, once again glanced up and down at Mrs. Yukinoshita's outfit.
To be honest, for Mrs. Yukinoshita to show up at Shuchiin dressed like this
She clearly put a lot of thought into it.
Most of the parents present today were dressed in a similar way formal but not stiff.
Too formal, and it would come across as rigid in the eyes of other students.
Too casual, and it would seem disrespectful to the teachers.
Take Hayasaka Nao as an example her outfit carried the same vibe obviously the optimal choice.
Just the fact that Mrs. Yukinoshita had put in the effort to carefully prepare for this parent-teacher meeting...
At least for today's gathering, she already surpassed the majority of parents in the world.
And yet...
"Have you ever attended any of Yukino's parent-teacher meetings?"
Yukima Azuma lowered his voice and asked.
The polite smile that had been perfectly in place on Mrs. Yukinoshita's face froze for a moment upon hearing that question.
A damn good question.
Because the answer wasnever.
As Yukinoshita Yukino's mother, Mrs. Yukinoshita had never once attended a single parent-teacher meeting.
Most of the time, the Yukinoshita family's butler would attend on her behalf.
On rare occasions, it would be Haruno, the elder sister, who filled in.
And just for the record, she'd never attended a parent-teacher meeting for Haruno either.
Seeing the flicker of awkwardness cross Mrs. Yukinoshita's face...
Yukima Azuma quietly sighed.
What a strange feeling.
He was, technically, only a adotep child of the family in name.
And yet, he was being "spoiled" more than her two biological daughters.
He even got to experience these maternal moments that neither Yukino nor Haruno ever had.
Mrs. Yukinoshita wasn't a cold or heartless person.
Of course, she loved her two daughters.
But the affection she gave them had to be secondary to the interests of the family.
Yukima Azuma, as a cooperative partner of the Yukinoshita family...
When making a request like this one, he ended up being more valued by Mrs. Yukinoshita.
To receive maternal care from her, it had to be something that aligned with the overall benefit of the Yukinoshita family.
This kind of setup... was seriously twisted.
Yukima Azuma suddenly felt a surge of indignationon Yukino's behalf.
Chapter 267: The Correct Way to Play with Mrs. Yukinoshita!
Mrs. Yukinoshita felt uneasy under Yukima Azuma's gaze.
( - )
In their previous meetings, when they sat at the negotiation table with contracts laid out on it...
No matter how much Yukima Azuma glared at her
Mrs. Yukinoshita could always maintain a calm demeanor.
She could even glare back with a sarcastic look.
But now, the relationship between them had become quite strange.
As a "parent," Mrs. Yukinoshita felt as if she was being judged by her own "child."
And in a way that left her unable to retort.
As for Yukima Azuma
After staring at Mrs. Yukinoshita for a long while
A few play ideas suddenly popped into his head.
Ahem! Of course, not the kind of play a lustful bastard would think of.
If Mrs. Yukinoshita's love was this twisted,
And it was impossible to change her way of thinking,
Then why not just play along this way?
That icy face of Mrs. Yukinoshitait's not like she doesn't know how to smile.
She just needs the right conditions.
Thinking about the cooperation between the Yukinoshita family and Laplace Corporation
And the necessary conditions for the current direction of the Yukinoshita family's development
Yukima Azuma realized he still held many cards in his hand.
That meant there was a lot of room to maneuver.
Adorable Yukino at his home had been lacking maternal love for so many years.
It was time to make up for that.
A deeper licensing partnership between Laplace Corporation and the Yukinoshita family
For example, White Album 2, or the Youth series.
The exchange condition: Mrs. Yukinoshita must let Yukino feel a heartfelt and soul-stirring warmth of familial love.
( )( )
The Yukinoshita family wanted to expand their real estate company to other prefectures.
The most viable direction was toward Gifu Prefecture.
And to develop in Gifu, they had to connect with the Suou family.
Due to the Charlotte comet incident, the Suou family had recently received policy subsidies from the Japanese National Diet.
In fact, they were already busy to the point of spinning in circles.
But through benefit exchange, it was still possible to share some space in the real estate sector.
Therein lay the value of the trade.
And if the Yukinoshita family wanted to get in touch with the Suou family
The exchange condition was: Mrs. Yukinoshita had to make Yukino give her a genuine smile from the bottom of her heart.
.(*`*)
Thinking about different play methods,
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but feel excitedno, warm inside!
As long as it involved the interests of the family, Mrs. Yukinoshita was bound to care.
And there was no need to worry about Mrs. Yukinoshita pulling any tricks.
After all, Yukino was currently siding with Yukima Azuma.
So this was the correct way to play with Mrs. Yukinoshita!
As if feeling something in her heart,
Mrs. Yukinoshita suddenly shivered and instinctively hugged her arms, rubbing them.
Seeing Mrs. Yukinoshita trembling as if she were cold
Yukima Azuma considerately took off his Shuchiin winter uniform jacket.
He reached out and draped it over Mrs. Yukinoshita.
He even lightly patted her on the shoulder.
Umu, the responsibilities ahead are long and heavy!
Just thinking about how Mrs. Yukinoshita, always so dignified since young, made both Yukino and Haruno tremble in fear
And that now, she had to use love to move Yukino in exchange for family benefit
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but want to laugh.
Mrs. Yukinoshita, surely you don't want the Yukinoshita family to falter in development because of you, do you?
As for Mrs. Yukinoshita
Even though a coat had been draped over her,
And it still carried the boy's body warmth
She felt even more uncomfortable.
Just at that moment
Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Nao stepped out of the meeting room.
"Is Yukima Azuma's guardian here?"
Upon hearing that, Mrs. Yukinoshita seemed as though she couldn't wait another second, quickly striding toward the meeting room.
( )
Even Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Nao, standing outside, were momentarily stunned.
After all, just earlier, Mrs. Yukinoshita didn't have that kind of impatient aura at all.
Yukima Azuma also headed toward the meeting room.
Meanwhile, Hayasaka Ai clung onto Hayasaka Nao.
"Mom, how long are you staying this time? Will you be having dinner with me?"
Hayasaka Nao gently patted Ai's blonde hair, thought for a moment, and said:
"I'll probably only be staying one or two days, but I can have dinner with you."
"There's no time to cook now, so I've already made a reservation at a restaurant. We'll go there after the meeting."
Hearing that, Hayasaka Ai was a bit disappointed, but still happily nodded.
Just then, Yukima Azumawho had already stepped into the meeting roomleaned back, stuck his head out, and said:
"Nope, this time Nao-nee is probably staying in Japan for quite a while."
"And since Nao-nee already has plans tonight, I'll talk to you about it tomorrow."
With that, Yukima Azuma stepped fully into the meeting room
Leaving the mother and daughter pair looking dumbfounded and confused.
(" v ") ?
Hayasaka Nao, who was just enjoying her popcorn while spectating the drama, suddenly felt something was off.
It felt like that popcorn was about to get smashed right back onto her head!
Yukima Azuma keeping her in Japan definitely meant there was something he needed her to do.
But whatever it was
It meant she would have to completely tear off the mask in front of the Shinomiya family.
Even the surface identity of being a Shinomiya official might no longer be sustainable.
Realizing this, Hayasaka Nao's expression grew slightly melancholic.
After all, when she boarded the pirate ship called Yukima Azuma
She already knew this day would come sooner or later.
She just didn't expect it to arrive so soon.
Hayasaka Ai looked at her mother with deep concern.
Sensing her daughter's unease
Hayasaka Nao shook her head.
This was something that had to be done eventually.
Moreover, continuing to bury herself in the Shinomiya family might not be any better than making a clean break.
Within the Shinomiya family now, there were turbulent undercurrents
On the surface, it seemed peaceful, but in reality, it was full of schemes and internal strife.
Even so, Hayasaka Nao began to feel curious.
Why did Yukima Azuma suddenly insist on keeping her in Japan?
Her staying behind meant that the executive and supervisory division at headquarters on Wall Street would effectively be paralyzed.
And right now, the financial books of Laplace's headquarters
Were a treasure trove that could make almost the entire world green with envy.
...
At this moment, inside the meeting room
Career guidance counselor and homeroom teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka was sitting on one side of the conference table.
On the opposite side were two chairs.
Mrs. Yukinoshita and Yukima Azuma sat down one after the other.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's eyes landed on Mrs. Yukinoshita, and she was visibly surprised.
She had already roughly grasped Yukima Azuma's situation from Kirisu Mafuyu.
And she was also somewhat acquainted with Mrs. Yukinoshita.
After all, Hiratsuka Shizuka herself was a bona fide young lady from a distinguished family.
What surprised her was that the head of the Yukinoshita familythe one known as the "Witch of Chiba"
Was now here, attending a parent-teacher meeting as Yukima Azuma's guardian.
Meanwhile, the career counselor sitting beside her looked rather relaxed.
In fact, she even seemed... bored.
Because Yukima Azuma's achievements were already too well-established.
Whether in terms of his scores in national exams or his accomplishments in the professional shogi world
Whether he chose to continue studying or pursue a career, it wasn't something a career counselor like her needed to weigh in on.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma wasn't even a regular student of Shuchiin
He was an exchange student under the Big Three's exchange program.
By next semester, he'd be transferring schools.
As a career guidance counselor, what was she even doing meddling in the dazzling life of someone like him?
Just follow protocol and wrap things up!
"Yukima-kun is an outstanding student. Whether it's his top scores in the national exams or his achievements in professional competitions, he's extremely impressive."
"I'm sure his guardian here must have put in a lot of effort in raising him!"
The career counselor opened with the usual polite small talk.
After all, who doesn't like a bit of praise?
In any case, the default script was to compliment the student and their guardian first, then get to the actual discussion.
However, Mrs. Yukinoshita felt a strange sensation rise in her chest upon hearing that.
She raised him?
( -)?
Back then, she had indeed seriously intended to bring Yukima Azuma into the Yukinoshita household and raise him properly.
But the boy refused.
Moreover, Mrs. Yukinoshita had a feeling that if she truly had been the one to raise him
That boy might've been ruined.
No matter what, Yukima Azuma would have turned out excellent.
But there was no way he could've reached the heights he stood at now.
It felt like someone had just jabbed a finger right into an old wound.
Ever keenly perceptive, Mrs. Yukinoshita immediately realized the shift in her own emotions.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma was barely holding back a laugh.
"May I ask if the guardian has any plans for the student's future?"
The career counselor remained blissfully unaware that anything was off.
Mrs. Yukinoshita glanced toward Yukima Azuma.
In fact, while waiting earlier in the lobby
She had intended to ask him about his plans.
So that when this question came up in the meeting, she could answer in alignment with him.
But that thought had been completely derailed by Yukima Azuma's presence.
Since their encounter, things had been awkward the entire time.
Seeing Mrs. Yukinoshita turn to look at him,
Yukima Azuma raised a hand and made an "arrow pointing upward" gesture.
( _)
Mrs. Yukinoshita instantly understood what he meant.
"I hope he continues on to university. He's very capable academically, and he himself is interested in further studies."
The career counselor nodded.
"So he's considering um"
Ordinarily, at this point, she would ask whether the student was planning to continue within the school's internal system or apply externally.
"In-house" would mean advancing directly from Shuchiin High School to Shuchiin University.
But the issue was, Yukima Azuma was only a temporary exchange student at Shuchiin.
"Tokyo University."
Mrs. Yukinoshita answered bluntly.
She guessed that Yukima Azuma's ideal university was most likely Tokyo University.
Because his decision to attend university was more about experiencing life
Rather than actually going to study anything in particular.
Chapter 268: Mrs. Yukinoshita Embraced Herself in Yukima Azuma's "Kindness"
"Tokyo University, I see."
The career counselor nodded.
If we're only considering continuing studies within the country, then the University of Tokyo is clearly the most reasonable choice.
Unless one plans to study abroad, the top universities in Japan boil down to just a handful of familiar names
Mainly the University of Tokyo and Waseda.
Even though he was only a first-year student right now,
With Yukima Azuma's academic record, as long as nothing unexpected happened,
Getting into Tokyo University would be no problem at all.
Even if he aimed for the Faculty of Medicine
That so-called gathering place for "monsters"the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tokyo,
His chances were still very high.
After exchanging a few more polite, scripted words,
The career counselor declared that the parent-teacher conference had gone very smoothly,
And they could conclude and call in the next student.
Yukima Azuma and Mrs. Yukinoshita left the meeting room one after another.
Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at Yukima Azuma, as if wanting to say something but holding back.
In the end, she only said:
"Well, since the conference is over, I'll be heading out first."
She still had to go home and teach that stubborn daughter of hers a lesson!
At first, she thought Yukima Azuma wouldn't try to stop her.
After all, every time they met, their conversations were never smooth anyway.
But just as she was about to return the coat to Yukima Azuma,
She saw him casually wave his hand.
"No rush. We'll go together in a bit."
Hearing that, Mrs. Yukinoshita was a little surprised, but still nodded.
Not long after, the next name called inside the meeting room was Hayasaka Ai.
Hayasaka Nao once again entered the meeting room.
The conversation this time seemed even shorter than Yukima Azuma's.
Clearly, Hayasaka Ai's future path was quite well defined.
At least, it looked that way on the surface.
And after Hayasaka Ai
The name Suou Yuki was called from inside the student council room.
From the adjacent waiting area, Suou Yuki stepped out alongside a woman.
Yukima Azuma recognized the woman.
She wasn't Suou Yuki's mother.
She was Kimishima Ayano's mother.
Back when Yukima Azuma first met Suou Yuki,
After he brought her to the hospital, this very woman had arrived with Suou's family members.
At the time, she'd even exchanged a few words with him.
Noticing Yukima Azuma, Suou Yuki smiled gently and wink.
( - )
She had known all along that he was waiting out in the hall,
But she hadn't run out to greet him.
As the designated heir of the Suou family, that role was both a blessing and a burden.
The benefits were obvious.
But the burden came from moments like these, when every word and gesture had to be carefully considered.
At present, the woman who acted almost like the "chief steward" of the Suou household was present.
Suou Yuki couldn't just run over like a lovestruck girl and throw herself into Yukima Azuma's arms.
(ЇЇ)
Even though, as the heir, Suou Yuki had the freedom to choose her own husband
If she ever showed clear favoritism in front of the family,
She would definitely face all sorts of tests and investigations down the line.
If it only affected her, Suou Yuki wouldn't mind dealing with any trouble for Yukima Azuma's sake.
But what she worried about was her family making things difficult for him.
She knew that Yukima Azuma probably wouldn't care.
But she didn't want to cause him any unnecessary stress.
After allshe was the perfect Imouto-chan!
Sensing someone's gaze, the elegant woman from the Kimishima family instinctively turned to look at Yukima Azuma.
After a moment of observation, she couldn't help but freeze slightly.
There was something eerily familiar.
If not for the stark contrast between the boy in front of her and the person in her memory
She might've mistaken him for a girl in disguise.
Or maybe the person back then was actually a boy dressed as a girl?
Either way, the presence of that individual had left a deep impression on hertoo unique to forget.
Still, she only paused for a moment.
Then the elegant woman quickly brushed aside the thoughts in her mind.
Unless her Oujou-sama had done something truly inappropriate
As a loyal servant of the Suou family,
She shouldn't even have idle speculations, much less voice them.
That was the most loyal and beneficial course of action for her Oujou-sama.
Seeing the woman withdraw her gaze,
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but sigh internally
No wonder Suou Yuki had completely let her guard down around that little brat Kimishima Ayano.
The living, breathing lesson was right there in front of her.
Although on the surface, the relationship between the Suou and Kimishima families
might appear similar to that of the Shinomiya and Hayasaka families,
in reality, they were fundamentally different.
The Kimishima family had been dependent on the Suou family since its founding.
Their relationship was practically symbiotic.
The Kimishima family willingly served the Suou family.
As for the Hayasaka family
Thirty years ago, before the Shinomiya zaibatsu rose to power,
the Hayasaka family had once been a renowned and respected household in Japan.
Though they were eventually absorbed by the Shinomiya family and turned into servants,
the nature of the Hayasaka family was not the same as the Kimishimas.
To put it bluntly, it was a leftover byproduct from how quickly the Shinomiya zaibatsu had expanded.
Shinomiya Gan'an had been a powerful man. As long as he was alive, any problem ceased to be a problem.
But the moment Gan'an passed away,
those "problems" were bound to explode like buried landmines sooner or later.
Reeling his thoughts back in,
Yukima Azuma looked at Mrs. Yukinoshita standing beside him.
Sure enough, he saw her gazing at Suou Yuki, a pensive expression on her face.
"That's the Suou family you're thinking of. And Yuki is their next heir."
Yukima Azuma lowered his voice and smiled faintly as he spoke.
Mrs. Yukinoshita froze.
She quickly realized the weight of information behind Yukima Azuma's words.
The way he casually referred to her as Yukijust that one word alone carried a lot of implications.
Moreover, the fact that Yukima Azuma had taken the initiative to bring it up already said a lot about his attitude.
Still, Mrs. Yukinoshita couldn't help but frown in confusion.
She didn't understand why Yukima Azuma's attitude had suddenly changed.
If Laplace Corporation had partnered with the Yukinoshita family purely out of respect for her daughter,
then regarding the Yukinoshita family's own development,
Yukima Azuma had absolutely no reason to lend a hand.
In the past, his attitude toward the Yukinoshita family couldn't exactly be called friendly.
Could it be that just because she came to attend a single parent-teacher meeting,
this young man had suddenly decided to repay her past wrongs with kindness and develop a huge goodwill toward the Yukinoshita family?
"What do you want?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita asked bluntly.
She realized that when dealing with Yukima Azuma, it was best to be direct.
The roundabout maneuvering typical of high society had no effect on this boy.
In fact, if she tried to be clever and play games, she'd definitely end up being played herself.
Ties with the Suou family were extremely important to the Yukinoshita household.
If she could take advantage of this opportunity, Mrs. Yukinoshita was willing to sacrifice quite a bit.
All that was left was to see what terms Yukima Azuma would propose.
Hearing her question, Yukima Azuma smiled in amusement.
But instead of answering, he simply snapped his fingerssnap!
"No rush. Right now, the Yukinoshita family doesn't have the capacity anyway. Let's talk later."
At present, the Yukinoshita family was still in the middle of preparing for a commercial partnership. They didn't exactly have the time or energy to deal with anything else.
More importantly, Yukino herself was quite busy at the moment.
As the executive director of Laplace Corporation in Japan,
Yukino still had her hands full at the beginning of the year.
Once the funds from the main branch were transferred, work on the video platform project would have to begin immediately.
When Yukino finished her work, it would be the perfect time for her to enjoy the special "gift" that Yukima Azuma had prepared just for her.
Looking at Yukima Azuma's smile, Mrs. Yukinoshita couldn't help but grip the coat she was wearing a little tighter.
Her arms crossed, as though she were hugging herself.
Though she had no idea that Yukima Azuma had already considered her as a gift for Yukino,
a woman's sixth sense told her that this young man in front of her was definitely not acting out of simple kindness.
Even so, the coat she was wearing still belonged to Yukima Azuma.
She had no real reasonor spaceto refuse.
After briefly seeing Suou Yuki again, and saying goodbye to Hayasaka Nao, Hayasaka Ai, Shinomiya Kaguya, and Fujiwara Chika,
Yukima Azuma and Mrs. Yukinoshita headed toward the gates of Shuchi'in Academy together.
On the street outside, a flashy red sports car was quietly waiting for them.
The two of them walked in that direction.
.......
I have a new fanfic, let check it out~~~ )
Chapter 269: Yukino is very happy!
Yukinoshita Haruno lowered her head onto the steering wheel, silently waiting.
It looked like a dead fish waiting for death.
(* *)
She had tricked Mrs. Yukinoshita into letting Yukima Azuma attend the parent-teacher meeting.
At that point, Yukima Azuma might not necessarily expose her.
However, with the intelligence of Mrs. Yukinoshita, she would surely figure out the cause of the situation.
It could be imagined that, by then, she wouldn't have a good outcome.
Even so, Haruno still decided to do it.
Even if she might have to suffer a bit of loss.
Even if Yukima Azuma might not feel any gratitude.
But at the very least, this could help build a little more connection with Yukima Azuma.
In truth, Haruno was not afraid of Yukima Azuma hating her.
She was afraid that Yukima Azuma would have absolutely no feelings toward her, just treating her like a nameless passerby.
(_ .)
The sound of the car door being pulled open echoed.
Haruno lifted her head.
Because she had just been resting on the steering wheel, her eyes were still a bit blurry.
She only saw her mother had gotten into the back seat of the car.
But for the moment, she couldn't clearly see Mrs. Yukinoshita's expression.
"Okaa-sama" Haruno softly called out.
Probing the level of Mrs. Yukinoshita's anger.
Even so, if Mrs. Yukinoshita had agreed to get in the car,
it meant that Azuma likely didn't embarrass her mother on the spot.
Though she knew clearly, it was mostly because he was giving face to Yukino.
But Haruno still felt very happy.
Mrs. Yukinoshita still didn't respond.
Just when Haruno began to feel uneasy about her mother's attitude,
the passenger seat door was pulled open.
Yukima Azuma got in.
Yukinoshita Haruno froze on the spot.
She rubbed her eyes, looked toward the boy in Haruno's beautiful eyes flashed a strange light.
( -) -> ( _ )
"Do I look like a ghost? You even need to rub your eyes to confirm?"
Yukima Azuma looked at Haruno's actions, rolling his eyes sarcastically.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's teasing words,
Haruno not only didn't feel sad or angry,
on the contrary, a surge of joy welled up inside her.
It really was that boy.
She thought she had just been seeing things earlier.
Even though she had previously waited outside Yukima's house hoping for a chance to drive Yukima Azuma to Shuchiin,
every time after school, Yukima Azuma always went home by himself.
Sometimes, when the student council had work, Yukima Azuma would stay behind a bit.
There were also a few times after school when Yukima Azuma would go shopping with Suou Yuki.
Since it wasn't a fixed routine,
the fact that Yukima Azuma was appearing in the car
meant he had come here because of her.
As long as Yukima Azuma had gotten in the car,
then even if Mrs. Yukinoshita was angry, she couldn't vent it all on Haruno anymore.
( )
Glancing at Haruno who was showing a gentle smile,
Yukima Azuma turned his head, resting his hand on the edge of the window, and looked outside.
Out of consideration that this time Haruno had added fuel to the fire,
helping him think of a way to properly deal with Mrs. Yukinoshita,
he decided to go along this time.
It could only be said that Haruno was lucky.
It meant nothing at all.
That's what Yukima Azuma thought.
The sports car started, heading toward the Yukima household.
As for that matter, Mrs. Yukinoshita of course had no objection.
It could even be said, the sooner she could get rid of Yukima Azuma, the better it suited her current mood.
Although, once they returned home, when the Yukinoshita family had some free time,
Mrs. Yukinoshita would still have to personally go meet Yukima Azuma
to discuss the matter of alliance and connection with the Suou family.
But at least for now, Mrs. Yukinoshita truly didn't want to be near Yukima Azuma even a moment longer.
That buzzing sixth sense constantly ringing in her head was really unpleasant.
Yet, Yukima Azuma's scheme was so blatant, she still had no choice but to fall into his trap.
Mrs. Yukinoshita the woman known as the "witch of Chiba",
for the first time felt that her sharp sixth sense
was not such a good thing after all.
...
The car stopped in front of the Yukima residence.
Yukima Azuma got out of the car, in high spirits, and quickly walked toward the main gate.
Being able to give Yukino a special and beautiful gift that was what Yukima Azuma wished for.
Being able to witness Mrs. Yukinoshita awkwardly doting on her daughter that was also what Yukima Azuma wished for.
Being able to make Yukino truly feel happy, even remove a few knots in her heart that was all the more something Yukima Azuma wished for.
Three wishes, fulfilled all at once.
( )* yay~
...
Opening the front door of the foyer.
After saying, "I'm home,"
Yukima Azuma stepped into the living room, and immediately saw today, by chance, only Yukino was home.
Just happened that today Yukino came home a bit earlier than usual.
At this moment, she was sitting at the table in the living room.
In front of her was a laptop, and she was reviewing reports from Laplace Corporation.
Hearing that Yukima Azuma was home,
she was about to turn her head to greet him.
Then she suddenly felt the boy hugging her from behind.
His arms wrapped around her neck from the back of the chair.
He even rested his chin on the top of her head.
Though it wasn't the first time she had been intimate with Yukima Azuma like this,
the beautiful cheeks of Yukino, whiter than snow, still couldn't help but be tinged with a blush.
( //>///
"Ahem." She softly cleared her throat, adjusting her voice.
Yukino didn't turn around; she stayed in the same position and asked, "What's the matter?"
Even though the boy hugging her like this the moment he got home
made Yukino very happy,
she still worried whether he might have encountered something and needed comfort from her.
What if he had been wronged somehow?
Luckily, Yukima Azuma's voice was very gentle.
It was obvious from the tone that he was smiling.
And indeed, Yukima Azuma was smiling.
"It's nothing, actually I just had some good news."
"Yukino, regarding the company, how much longer do you need to finish up?"
Hearing that Yukima Azuma was fine, Yukino immediately let out a sigh of relief.
While enjoying the boy's embrace, she clicked a few times with her mouse.
Pulling up the upcoming action plan of Laplace Corporation.
"Here, roughly like this if you don't have any new ideas in the near future."
Yukima Azuma glanced over a bit.
It would take about more than a month.
This wasn't to say that after more than a month, all the important matters of Laplace Corporation would be resolved.
But rather at least for the next month or so, Laplace Corporation couldn't do without Yukino.
And adding another month, it would basically be mid-spring break already.
"Once you're done, let's go travel together."
Yukima Azuma said.
Hearing that, Yukino was momentarily stunned, and finally tilted her head slightly.
Yukima Azuma could no longer rest his chin on her head their gazes met.
Seeing Yukima Azuma's serious expression,
Yukino felt like someone had poured a bottle of five-spice seasoning into her heart sweet, salty, sour, spicy, and bitter all rushed in at once.
She had thought that when Yukima Azuma asked how long she would need, it was to arrange more work.
Never did she expect that he wanted to travel with her.
Even though Yukima Azuma had made such a promise before.
Moreover, right after returning from the deserted island, he had mentioned it once again.
But Yukino actually hadn't taken it seriously.
At the very least, she thought it wouldn't be something that could happen anytime soon.
After all, this was a very crucial phase for Laplace Corporation.
Yet Yukima Azuma brought up traveling at this time.
In Yukino's eyes, this was indeed a rather "impulsive" decision.
But that very impulsiveness was for her.
That alone made it impossible for Yukino to dislike it.
A sweetness rose in her heart like she had just drunk syrup.
(>/////<)
Yukino smiled happily.
As for agreeing, she hadn't nodded right away.
If Laplace Corporation was busy, she didn't intend to act on a whim.
After all, this was the shared passion of both Yukima Azuma and herself.
Chapter 270: The Desire of Yukima Azuma
"Why do you suddenly want to go on a trip?"
Yukino tilted her head, looking at the boy right beside her.
In her heart, she wondered if Yukima Azuma was under too much pressure.
Thinking it through, how old was this boy hugging her now, really?
And yet he had to steer an organization like Laplace something that had grown influential enough to affect the entire nation.
Yukino began to self-reflect had she been seeing this boy as too much of an "almighty" person all this time?
To the point that she didn't notice the pressure building up inside him.
Yukima Azuma sensed what Yukino was thinking, and gently shook his head.
He smiled and said:
"Once we're on the trip, Yukino will know the reason, okay?"
Yukino's eyes blinked softly, a glint of curiosity flashing through.
So it's a surprise?
But what kind of surprise could it be, that would only be revealed once they were traveling?
Even though she felt that this wasn't the time to indulge too much
Still, even someone as resolute as Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't help but feel anticipation and curiosity rise in her heart at that moment.
"Then let's wait and see how things are when the time comes."
Yukino softly said.
That sentence didn't sound like it was directed at Yukima Azuma.
It sounded more like something she was saying to convince herself.
Yukino the righteous girl who wasn't shaken by money or power was easily led by love.
But there was no helping it.
Yukino simply couldn't refuse this boy who had brought a ray of golden sunlight into her foggy world.
(////)
"Umu, then it's decided!"
Yukima Azuma nodded happily.
A spring break trip would surely be fun.
Seeing the boy's bright smile,
Yukino couldn't help but let the corners of her lips lift slightly.
However, as the "onee-san,"
Yukino still decided to maintain a bit of her image.
After all, she couldn't really let a boy several years younger treat her like a spoiled little girl.
She lightly cleared her throat and shifted the topic:
"White Album 2 was just nominated at the International Game Expo."
"It has a shot at winning Best Narrative. If that happens, sales are definitely going to spike again."
This year's game expo was held in the United States.
Within the global gaming scene, this was considered a fairly prestigious exhibition.
Normally, the games that made the nominee list almost always came from major Western studios the kind everyone knew.
As for works from Japan being nominated, that was truly a rare occurrence.
After Yukima Azuma revised the scenario of White Album 2 with his literary skills
Now there was a real chance it could make history.
Yukima Azuma recalled a bit.
This year, among the games that were released, there didn't seem to be many that stood out in terms of story.
From what he remembered, the games known for their excellent narratives all hadn't made it out in time this year.
Thinking about it like that the chances of winning weren't small at all.
If White Album 2 could actually win "Best Narrative" at the international game expo
Then the White Album IP might have the chance to become legendary.
And once it had that award as backing, its heat could very well be sustained for a long time.
At that point, the value of the White Album IP would probably increase by dozens of times.
Umu in short, in terms of the benefits of this collaboration, it's time to give Mrs. Yukinoshita a "super double."(Note: I don't really understand this part.)
"Feels like just selling games alone is enough to live comfortably for life."
Yukima Azuma muttered teasingly.
Yukino lightly nodded in agreement.
In truth, with just a few literary IPs that Yukima Azuma currently held
Randomly picking any one of them would be enough for him and the girls in the house to live a life of material abundance.
If the girls living in Yukima's house were just ordinary girls
Then Yukima Azuma probably would've just lived an easy life "living off his writing."
Realizing this, Yukino suddenly felt a little curious.
"Now that I think about it what was the reason you took this path in the first place, Azuma-kun?"
The Laplace Corporation that Yukima Azuma built was founded quite early on.
At first, Yukino had simply admired how extraordinary Yukima Azuma's abilities were.
But she had somewhat overlooked just why did he want to do all of this in the first place?
Previously, Yukino once thought it was due to Yukima Azuma's ambition.
However, the deeper she understood him
Yukino also realized that, in truth, Yukima Azuma wasn't someone who had much ambition.
The desires of this boy didn't lie in money or power, but rather
Well, Yukino later came to feel what Azuma did, it was all out of responsibility.
After all, the girls living in his house weren't ordinary by any means.
But thinking carefully, the girls around Yukima Azuma had only begun to slowly gather in recent times.
So then, with Laplace having been founded much earlier
If someone or something had made Yukima Azuma so determined, then in terms of timeline it didn't quite match up.
And Yukima Azuma, when asked about it, had a slight stiffness flash across his face.
()
So in the end, just what was it that made him suddenly set such a massive goal?
At least back in middle school...
Yukima Azuma was still clinging to a plan "re-educate Eriri properly"...
Then just became a house husband for Eriri.
Until one certain day, Yukima Azuma was "eaten clean" by a wicked woman, then left behind and abandoned.
"This story is a long one."
(,,,,)
Yukima Azuma's voice held a subtle complexity.
"Sounds like it's a sad memory I shouldn't have brought it up, I'm sorry"
(_ .)
Yukino realized that Yukima Azuma's emotional state wasn't quite right.
So she decisively apologized out loud.
Then stood up from her seat, turned around, and hugged him.
)(
Yukino was originally the type of person who had little to no curiosity about other people's personal matters.
No matter how strange someone acted
As long as it had nothing to do with her, Yukino wouldn't dig deeper at most, she'd just take note of their surface behavior.
Only with Yukima Azuma did Yukino develop this unique kind of curiosity.
But even so, she wouldn't hurt the boy
Just to satisfy her own curiosity.
Yukima Azuma wasn't really hurt, either.
It was just that, inside, he felt something delicate.
When Haruno left...
In truth, not long after, Azuma had already come to a clear understanding of the core of that whole situation.
And the initial concept of Laplace Corporation was born in his mind right around that time.
But understanding something is one thing being able to accept it emotionally is another.
Which was why now, the relationship between Azuma and Haruno remained quite awkward.
The real issue right now, though, was the relationship between Yukino and Haruno that was what made things hard for Yukima Azuma.
So when Yukino hugged him, Yukima Azuma suddenly felt a vague, hard-to-express sense of guilt.
"It's fine. What do you want to eat tonight? I'll cook."
Yukima Azuma decided to escape the situation quickly.
Hearing that, Yukino released Azuma, her gaze briefly showing suspicion.
(_)
As the daughter of the "Witch of Chiba" and carrying the Yukinoshita surname Yukino had inherited at least a sliver of sharp sixth sense from her mother.
Right now, Yukino felt this boy was acting a bit strange!
But Yukino didn't press the issue.
The next day, Yukima Azuma had an appointment with Sayuri and Hayasaka Nao.
In the morning, a car from the Sawamura family was already parked in front of Yukima's house.
After selecting a suitable suit, Yukima Azuma stepped outside.
He opened the car door and got in.
As soon as he entered, Yukima Azuma saw Sayuri in a kimono, leisurely holding a glass of red wine she was waiting for him.
To be fair, regardless of which noble lady of the land of cherry blossoms it was, when attending formal occasions...
They truly all loved to wear kimono.
Seeing Yukima Azuma dressed sharply in a well-fitted suit
Sayuri's eyes lit up.
()
"Just the other day I thought you were still too young, worried you couldn't carry the aura"
"But now that I look at you again, as long as someone's beautiful enough, anything they wear looks good."
At Sayuri's teasing
Yukima Azuma simply shrugged.
What could he say? His charm stat was a full 8 points, after all.
"Oh right, where's the person you were planning to bring along?"
Sayuri asked, while looking out the window.
Chapter 271: Running for Election
"Oh right, who's the person you plan to bring along?"
Sayuri turned her gaze toward the gate of the Yukima residence.
She was trying to spot the mysterious guest Azuma had left behind.
"They're not here. I arranged to meet them at a caf,"
Yukima Azuma said casually.
Hearing that, Sayuri nodded thoughtfully.
Not staying at the brat's house?
Sayuri knew all too well that the brat blatantly stuffed every harem candidate into his house.
And yet this time, the person Yukima Azuma especially wanted to bring along wasn't living at the Yukima residence.
Was it because he hadn't succeeded in courting her yet? Or was there another reason?
Speaking of the Yukima household
Even Sayuri couldn't help feeling curious.
How on earth had that brat managed to keep his home so peaceful?
Surprisingly, it hadn't turned into a bloody battlefield like a Harem War.
( д)(д )
Back when she was with Spencer, there was nothing peaceful about it.
Forget bringing them home.
Even just being at school, the harem members were ready to pull knives on each other at any moment.
() ()
Sensing Sayuri's meaningful look,
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
This beautiful woman was truly the complete opposite of her daughter.
How could a cunning woman like Sayuri have given birth to a simple-minded tsundere like Eriri?
Truly an unsolved mystery.
...
After giving the driver the address
The car started to move.
Laplace Corporation owned a hotel, a restaurant, and a caf in Tokyo.
None of them were bought for profit.
They were used as venues for negotiations.
This particular meeting was at the Laplace caf.
Once there, Yukima Azuma got out of the car first.
He walked over to Sayuri's door, opened it politely, and even extended a hand to assist her.
As Sayuri stepped out and saw Yukima Azuma shielding her head with his hand, she suddenly understood something.
"No wonder your harem hasn't killed each other yet."
Even for a senior like her, Yukima Azuma went to such lengths.
So in daily life, with the girls who were actually his lovers, this brat must be even more considerate.
Add to that Yukima Azuma's handsome face
Sayuri felt that, if in her youth, the man she'd met had been Yukima Azuma
She might have secretly allowed him to open a harem too.
( )~
As long as one could feel enough love, then to a certain extent, the issue of possessiveness could be overlooked.
Yukima Azuma really wanted to throw out a sarcastic remark.
Now he somewhat regretted sticking his face in close back then to declare he was going to start a harem to Sayuri.
Now this senior of his was honestly starting to lose the dignity of old age.
...
The two of them stepped into the caf.
Yukima Azuma took out a special membership card.
The staff immediately led them to a private room inside.
He gently knocked twice on the door to the private room.
When he pushed it open, he saw Hayasaka Nao already seated inside, waiting.
She was sipping coffee at the moment.
Seeing Yukima Azuma arrive, she simply gave a small nod as a greeting.
But when she saw Sayuri entering with him, she was slightly taken aback.
Likewise, Sayuri was also stunned upon seeing Hayasaka Nao.
Neither had expected to see each other here.
As members of the upper class
Sayuri was the head of the Sawamura family, and Hayasaka Nao a senior official of the Shinomiya household.
They had encountered each other a few times at evening parties.
They both knew the other had ties to Yukima Azuma.
However, Sayuri didn't know why Yukima Azuma was bringing Hayasaka Nao to meet those old men.
And Hayasaka Nao didn't understand why, if Yukima Azuma had told her to stay in Japan for some thing she don't know, he was bringing Sayuri along.
Yukima Azuma pulled out a chair beside him and gestured for Sayuri to sit.
Then he also took his seat next to her.
Waiting until both women's expressions returned to normal
He finally opened his mouth to speak:
"You two probably already know each other, so I don't need to introduce you."
"The reason I asked both of you here today is mainly to discuss something."
"It's about the upcoming election for members of Japan's National Diet this spring."
Upon hearing that, Sayuri immediately understood.
So this was what it was about.
Laplace Corporation was preparing to step into Japan's political arena.
Honestly, it was only a matter of time.
In Japan, the basic unspoken rule lies with the prestigious families.
Generally speaking, once money reaches a certain level, political manipulation inevitably follows.
Within the main bloodlines of the Four Great Conglomerates, there are all kinds of ministers and Diet members.
Take the Yukinoshita family, for exampleMrs. Yukinoshita herself is a representative of Chiba Prefecture.
Back when she was young, Sayuri had also done similar work.
It's really only families like the Hinatsurus, who don't participate in politics.
Across all of Japan, that's as rare as a phoenix feather or a unicorn's horn.
However, Sayuri was a bit curiouswhy did Yukima Azuma choose Hayasaka Nao?
As for Hayasaka Nao, her feelings at the moment were even more complicated.
She knew a bit more about the inside story than Sayuri did.
After all, Sayuri had retired and lived in seclusion for many years now.
Her information channels were a bit outdated.
Even though Hayasaka Nao had been exiled to Wall Street, she was hardly better off
But she was still a senior figure in the Shinomiya family.
As for the news that the Shinomiya family's eldest son, Shinomiya Oko, would be running for a seat in the National Diet this year
She had heard at least some whispers.
And she instantly understood Yukima Azuma's intent.
If the topic was already election
Then indeed, there was no need for her to return to Wall Street.
More precisely, there was no need to return to the Shinomiya household at all.
Even so, after thinking for a bit, Hayasaka Nao chose to remain silent.
In this matter, no matter how she looked at it, following Yukima Azuma's arrangements was the best option.
Besides, she already had a personal grudge against Shinomiya Oko.
Yukima Azuma nodded and continued:
"This year, Laplace Corporation intends to push someone into the National Diet."
"The candidate I'm prioritizing is Hayasaka Nao hereafter all, Nao-nee's capabilities have already been proven."
"As for campaign funding, Laplace Corporation still has some reserves."
"The biggest rival in this election will most likely be Shinomiya Oko of the Shinomiya family."
Hearing that, Sayuri raised her eyebrows.
So this was what it was about.
A maid stabbing her master in the back.
Even though Hayasaka Nao wasn't Shinomiya Oko's personal servant
No matter how you looked at it, this was an entertaining twist.
"The Sawamura family can lend a hand."
Sayuri immediately stated her stance: "As it happens, I have an appointment tonight with some old men from the noble families."
"If you're running for office, it's a good chance to negotiate some benefits."
"I think the results could be quite promising."
This time, those who had sought to meet Yukima Azuma through Sayuri
Were merely greedy for the revenue of Laplace Corporation.
Wanting to see if they could grab a piece of the pie.
People like that were the easiest to lure with promises of profitperfect sources of campaign funds.
Especially since this time, it wasn't Yukima Azuma who had approached them
But rather, they were the ones coming to curry favor with Yukima Azuma.
The tables had turned, negotiations were now far more favorable, and a great deal of effort could be saved.
"I don't have a problem staying in Japan either."
Hayasaka Nao spoke up at that moment, but she asked with a hint of doubt:
"But if I leave Wall Street, then who's going to take over at Laplace headquarters?"
If Hayasaka Nao didn't return to Wall Street
The supervisory and control functions at Laplace HQ would be severely weakened.
Unless Yukima Azuma could find someone with equal capabilities and, more importantly, someone trustworthy.
But someone on Hayasaka Nao's level was extremely hard to come by.
Otherwise, Yukima Azuma wouldn't have her take on the pressure of stabbing Shinomiya Oko in the back in the first place.
As for the Diet seat, Laplace Corporation could push up just about anyone.
But if they pushed up a useless puppetor pushed up Hayasaka Nao
The results would be worlds apart.
Yukima Azuma, hearing her concern, simply shook his head slightly.
"There's no need for anyone to take over."
Upon hearing that, Hayasaka Nao furrowed her brows.
Over at headquarters, there was so much money it gave people headaches.
Without someone in charge, in less than half a year, something was bound to go wrong.
But before she could even ask, Yukima Azuma continued:
"Very soon, headquarters over there will be nothing more than an empty shell. Meanwhile, things over here are about to start burning money."
At that, Hayasaka Nao froze slightly.
She honestly couldn't imaginejust what on earth was Yukima Azuma planning to do, that it would require burning through money at that level.
Chapter 272: Now That You're Here, Don't Even Think About Escaping!
Thinking about the cash flow at headquarters, Hayasaka Nao opened her mouth to speak but held back.
She really wanted to askjust what was Yukima Azuma planning to do with that much money?
This truly was like dancing on the edge of a blade.
A single misstep, and no matter how massive Laplace had become, it could vanish without a trace.
But thinking about it more carefully
Ever since Laplace was founded, every step of its development
Could basically be described as a dance on the knife's edge.
And Yukima Azuma's "Waltz on the Blade" had always been flawless.
That was exactly why Laplace could rise from nothing to become the feared Laplace Demon as foretold.
Back in their startup days, with no money and no resources, Hayasaka Nao had greatly admired Yukima Azuma's decisiveness.
Ironically, now that Laplace had grown, she had become more cautious.
Realizing that, Hayasaka Nao couldn't help but reflect on the difference between herself and Yukima Azuma.
Original intentions really were easily changed by time and circumstance.
Yukima Azuma had no idea what was going on in Hayasaka Nao's mind.
Seeing her stay silent, he took it as silent agreement.
He then shifted to discussing tonight's banquet.
Truthfully, it wasn't anything complicated.
Just a straightforward exchange of money and interests.
Laplace had the money, and the people they were going to meet tonight could provide various political conveniences for the campaign.
...
After giving a brief rundown of the evening
Hayasaka Nao nodded lightly, indicating she understood.
Then she stood up and headed to the restroom.
She needed to compose herself a bit and touch up her makeup
To prepare for the evening party.
When dealing with different types of people, Hayasaka Nao would wear different masks.
As the mother of the "hundred-faced maid" Hayasaka Ai
Hayasaka Nao's ability to "speak human to humans, and ghost to ghosts" was even more impressive.
When Hayasaka Nao left the private room
Only Yukima Azuma and Sayuri were left.
Yukima Azuma leisurely sipped his coffee
Not thinking about the party tonight.
Instead, he was musing about where to go during spring break.
Originally, he had made plans with Yukino to visit Hokkaido again this winter
But after the unexpected incident in Hawaii
Yukino had clearly been avoiding beaches and similar places.
Even though Yukino had never said it out loud
Yukima Azuma could sense it.
So maybe the travel destination should change.
Though they called it "spring break," it was still technically winter
So where would be a good place to go?
How about a hot spring trip?
Yukima Azuma considered that.
At that moment, Sayuri, who was watching his expression
Suddenly asked:
"She's part of your harem too, huh?"
( ® ®)
She chose the perfect moment to ask
Right when Yukima Azuma was distracted by his daydreams.
Any reaction now would be the most genuine.
Yukima Azuma was mid-sip
And upon hearing that, he immediately spat out his coffee.
"Cough cough..." He coughed lightly while grabbing a napkin to wipe his mouth.
He looked at Sayuri, his mouth twitching slightly:
"You know her, don't you? She already has a kid, alright?"
Sayuri nodded.
Umu, looks like probably not.
Come to think of it, this boy does have a history of being into older women
But the age gap this time really was pushing it a bit far.
Yukima Azuma, of course, had no idea what Sayuri was thinking
If he did, he'd probably snap back instantly:
"I'm not into older women! It's just that the people I happen to like are older!"
( )
Although being an "onee-san lover" wasn't exactly some shameful kink
Yukima Azuma was certain that he honestly didn't have that kind of preference.
He liked Yukino and Utaha simply because they were Yukino and Utaha.
"Then I guess you're aiming for her daughter, huh?"
(_ )
Sayuri struck again, switching angles as she thought of another possibility.
"I'm not! I didn't! Don't say nonsense!"
( Д )*
Yukima Azuma instantly went into triple denial mode.
Sayuri narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
...
Evening party.
Coincidentally, the banquet hall chosen was somewhere Yukima Azuma was very familiar with
It was the very place where he used to work as a server and first met Haruno.
Though calling it "coincidence" wasn't quite accurate.
After all, in central Tokyo, there were only a handful of venues classy enough to host upper-class events.
Choosing this place was well within the realm of possibility.
Sayuri, acting as the intermediary, introduced the two parties to each other.
What surprised Yukima Azuma was
Among the attendees, there were actually a few major figures present.
Among them was a Diet member with the surname Kobayashi.
A seasoned politician who had been active for many years, wielding no small amount of power in the political sphere.
Who would've thought someone like that would come in person?
Yukima Azuma briefly felt a flicker of doubt, but then
He suddenly remembered the current circumstances.
And sighedthe collapse of the economic bubble truly had a massive impact on the Land of the Cherry Blossoms.
After the bubble burst, the market was left desolate and depleted.
For prestigious families and other zaibatsu conglomerates, this was the darkest period imaginable.
But in contrastit became an opportunity for Yukima Azuma to rise.
The people who came to the party were mostly from the political world.
As for the elite families of Japan, hardly any showed up.
Which was understandablelike other financial giants, the old noble houses had inherited wealth and didn't lack money.
The negotiations went smoothly.
Laplace sacrificed a portion of its profits in exchange for a considerable amount of political capital.
By the time the banquet ended, both sides seemed thoroughly satisfied.
During the party, Sayuri had a few glasses of red wine
And soon after pretended to be tipsy, leaning her body against Yukima Azuma.
\( -`. '- )/
Even though the Sawamura family had made a political comeback thanks to Yukima Azuma
Sayuri still intentionally stayed at the periphery of the power game.
She had no intention of stepping into the spotlight.
Even though she was more than capable, she still feared that her silly daughter wouldn't be able to handle such a heavy legacy in the future.
...
After the party
Yukima Azuma supported Sayuri as they walked toward the underground parking lot.
It looked like he was helping her walk
But in truth, Sayuri was the one clinging tightly to Yukima Azuma and refusing to let go.
Sayuri: () "Now that you're here, don't even think about escaping!"
Hayasaka Nao, meanwhile, left on her own.
Since she had decided to remain in Japan, she had a mountain of things to prepare for in the days to come.
As for Sayuri, once she got into the Sawamura car with Yukima Azuma
She instantly dropped the act and appeared completely sober again.
"Sayuri, what are you trying to pull?"
Yukima Azuma asked helplessly.
He had no clue what she was scheming.
"You know, Eriri's home alone tonight."
"Don't you think that's just tragic?"
"It's been ages since you last came to the Sawamura house, hasn't it? If you're gonna build a harem, shouldn't you treat every member equally?"
<( ®^® )>
Sayuri spoke as if chastising an unfaithful playboy.
Yukima Azuma's eye twitched slightly.
It sounded like he hadn't seen Eriri in forever.
But the truth wasshe'd just returned to the Sawamura house from his place two days ago, okay?
Originally, Eriri had only rented a room at Yukima's house and said she'd only be there on weekends.
But in the past two months
She'd spent more time at Yukima's place than at her actual home.
Still, seeing Sayuri's expression that clearly said "No objections allowed"
()
Yukima Azuma could only nod silently in surrender.
The car drove toward the Detective Hill.
It was winter now, and the cherry blossoms that once colored the slope of the hill pink were long gone.
But the trees lining the road were now draped in a pristine coat of snow.
The scenery had changed, but its aura remained just as enchanting.
Right now, if a girl in a winter coat, her scarf fluttering in the wind, were to suddenly appear at the top of the slope
It would surely be a picturesque moment of a destined encounter.
Thinking of that, Yukima Azuma chuckled softly and shook his head.
Because the girl in that scene
No longer lingered around Gakuen-shita. She was already at his house in Shibuya.
She'd been "taken home" by him long ago.
So what was the point of dreaming about "fateful meetings" anymore?
At the final turn of the slope
The Sawamura residence.
Since he'd been "kidnapped" here without warning
It was a rare occasion for Yukima Azuma to arrive empty-handed.
But Sayuri looked very pleased and gave a small nod.
"She's probably upstairs. Go on up yourself."
"I have to stop by the company tonight, I won't be back."
With that, Sayuri gave a casual wave and closed the grand doors of the Sawamura residence.
Leaving just Yukima Azuma and Eririthe two of them, alone.
Everyone knows what's going to happen tonight.
( ® ®)
Chapter 273 Eriri Wants to "Come Ashore"!
The front door closed.
Outside, the sound of a car engine starting could be heard.
Yukima Azuma gently rubbed his forehead.
All that could be said wasSaguga Sayuri.
This kind of "Mommy Support" move was probably something only Eriri ever got to enjoy.
After changing shoes,
Yukima Azuma didn't head upstairs right away, but instead turned into the kitchen first.
He casually opened the fridge to take a look.
He took out some cold cuts, then two eggs, and a bit of flour.
At this hour, Eriri definitely hadn't had dinner yet.
As a true night owl, Eriri's dinners often landed somewhere between "dinner" and "midnight snack."
Not to mention, Sayuri had just gone out.
She'd probably end up ordering delivery later anyway.
Using the cold cuts to make broth,
Yukima Azuma started cooking ramen.
Before long, a steaming bowl of ramen sat ready.
He placed a perfectly round sunny-side-up egg on top, hiding the other egg at the bottom of the bowl.
Carrying the bowl of noodles, Yukima Azuma headed upstairs.
The light in Eriri's room was on.
He pushed the door open, and there was Eriri, tying a ribbon in her hair, sitting at her drawing desk wrestling with her digital tablet.
Hearing the door open
Eriri turned around.
Thinking Sayuri had come back, but when she saw it was Yukima Azuma
Her brows immediately relaxed, and her eyes lit up with joy.
(><)
Even though her face couldn't hide how happy she was
Those cherry-pink lips still blurted out some tsundere-laced words:
"Azuma, why are you here? Don't tell me you missed me so much you just had to come over!"
( ,,'',,)
But Yukima Azuma nodded without hesitation.
"That's exactly it, I missed my Eriri too much!"
With her low attack and defense stats, Eriri was hit right in the heart by Yukima Azuma's straightforward strike.
Her cheeks instantly turned red.
(,,><,,) b-baka!
Azuma placed the bowl next to Eriri,
Then handed her the chopsticks.
Eriri gave a little sniff, and her sapphire-blue eyes lit up instantly
Just like Shiratamaru when it spotted a cat snack stick.
She hugged the ramen bowl, unable to wait, and took a bite.
()
But it was too hot, and she ended up sticking her tongue out, blowing frantically to cool it.
"Eat slower, no one's gonna steal it from you."
Yukima Azuma gave Eriri a light knock on the head.
Watching Eriri eat, Yukima Azuma felt a sense of contentment.
Even though Yukima Azuma didn't have the heart of a chef, even if others praised his cooking to the skies, he'd still remain calm.
But seeing the girl he liked happily enjoying a delicious meal...
Yukima Azuma felt joy from the depths of his heart.
()
...
After watching Eriri mukbang for a while,
Yukima Azuma's gaze shifted to Eriri's drawing tablet.
Normally, if Yukima Azuma so much as looked at Eriri's work
She'd immediately leap over to stop him.
After all, the works of Kashiwagi Eri-sensei really weren't meant to be seen in public.
Though Eriri hadn't gone so far as to say, "I don't know anyone named Kashiwagi Eri,"
There was definitely a sense of embarrassment.
But today, Eriri didn't try to stop him.
She just looked a little bashful.
(,,,,)
Yukima Azuma looked at the drawing.
To his surprise, this time Eriri wasn't drawing an R18 piece.
Oh shit, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei isn't drawing doujinshi anymore!
Yukima Azuma flipped through a few pages.
He realized it was a draft of a school romance manga.
And unlike the typical school romance setups...
Eriri's work clearly featured middle school studentspossibly even elementary schoolers.
Most school romance stories are set in high school,
Because they allow for more extreme plot points.
And people are more accepting of that.
At a glance...
All he could say wasno wonder she's a doujinshi artist Kawasaghi Eri-sensei.
Her grasp of the human body was perfectly on point.
Just looking at the artwork, it was extremely pleasant.
Especially since Eriri had drawn every kind of doujinshi out there, even pulling off ahegao expressions like it was nothing.
So when she switched to regular manga, her expression work packed serious power.
All he could say was, if Eriri could just hold back a little...
She'd definitely be a top-tier shoujo manga artist.
However, the issue still lies there.
Eriri's ability to build a plot was too weak.
If it were an artbook, it would definitely sell out like hotcakes.
But if it were a manga with such a weak plot, it would drag the art style down.
After finishing reading, Yukima Azuma put the drawing aside.
He curiously glanced at Eriri.
"So, why the sudden desire to 'come ashore'?"
Eriri blushed a bit at hearing the words "come ashore."
Had she even been in the sea?
><
It was Kashiwagi Eri who had gone to the sea, okay!?
"It's nothing, I just feel like drawing doujinshi isn't fun anymore, so I wanted to try something for all ages instead,"
(,,,, )
Eriri shyly said.
With Yukima Azuma's understanding of Eriri...
He, of course, knew there had to be another reason.
But if Eriri didn't want to talk about it, Yukima Azuma wouldn't press her.
It was just that, since they had just talked about the plot...
And seeing that Yukima Azuma didn't intend to ask further questions,
Eriri let out a small sigh of relief.
Actually, the reason she wanted to "come ashore" was simple.
Yukima Azuma had asked someone else to illustrate his light novel.
This made Eriri realize that even if the artist drew in a suggestive style, they still had to be a "proper" artist.
For a light novel illustration job like that, it just didn't feel right to have someone who wasn't "mainstream" doing it.
Even though she thought Eromanga-sensei was just a middle-aged uncle who wasn't worth her attention...
Eriri still wanted to be Yukima Azuma's one and only illustrator.
That's why she wanted to try "coming ashore."
"The plot really is weak,"
Yukima Azuma casually criticized.
Eriri, who was still drifting in some vague, improper thoughts...
Was struck by his words and her face turned as dark as a thundercloud.
"I know, I know! But I don't know how to write stories! What can I do about it?!"
( )
Eriri, in a bit of a "screw it, I'll ruin it all" attitude, grumbled in frustration.
She really couldn't come up with any subtle plots.
As a half-British lady...
Eriri's experiences couldn't exactly resonate with an ordinary person.
Especially since Eriri was an otaku.
Her weak writing skills were the result of her lack of experiencesa true reflection of her lifestyle.
"Why not try adapting from your own experiences?"
Yukima Azuma suggested.
At that, a lightbulb seemed to flicker above Eriri's small blonde head.
(`)!
That was a great idea.
If it was based on real-life experiences, wouldn't the plot no longer be an issue?
Moreover, if it were a school romance genre...
Wouldn't she and Yukima Azuma be a perfect match!?
But then, Eriri's small face fell as she thought about it.
"My fans are mostly all guys."
"If I really drew a manga from my own perspective, it'd definitely end up being a shoujo manga."
As a hentai artist, of course, Kashiwagi Eri's readers were predominantly male.
Moreover, what Eriri didn't say was...
She felt that if she made herself the female protagonist of the story...
She would probably get flamed.
It would probably come off as too pretentious, too showy!
Seeing Eriri's little pained expression,
Yukima Azuma really wanted to say:
"You do realize you're the tsundere type, right!?"
But seeing how utterly defeated Eriri looked at that moment...
Yukima Azuma just cleared his throat softly and came up with a solution:
"If it's a manga aimed at guys, then all you need to do is change the gender and tweak the character designs a bit, right?"
Hearing that, Eriri began to imagine the possibilities.
If Yukima Azuma-chan's character design was changed to female...
She could imagine a sweet, beautiful onee-sanstrong yet gentle.
Maximum EQ, knowing how to pamper others.
Wow, that'd be the perfect girlfriend!
Azuma-chan: ( `) <3
Chapter 274: Eriri: Now I'm Full!
As a high school romance manga of the youthful kind...
The setup of the heroines can either make or break the entire story.
Eriri felt that if she used the transgender version of Yukima Azuma as the heroine...
This manga might just sell out in no time!
Butthe problem is.
A bishoujo onee-san who is both gentle and strong, initiates conversations...
Is calm in the face of adversity, and gives people a sense of security.
With max EQ and IQ, and even remembers the small things that you like.
Someone like that...
Why on earth would they like a... golden retriever?
Eriri felt that the plot was a bit... illogical, you know
And this led to a bigger questionone that made her doubt herself.
So in the end, why does he like me... for what reason?
( )
Before, Eriri, the ever-optimistic girl, never thought too much about it, and she never felt confused or worried.
But now, after becoming aware of the issue...
Her two blonde pigtails immediately drooped like wilted noodles.
The bowl of ramen, once aromatic and tempting, now suddenly tasted salty.
(ЇЇ)
Seeing that Eriri was clearly in a bad mood,
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently pinched her cute cheek.
"Why the sudden sulking face?"
Eriri chewed on a noodle, muttering with her words unclear:
"Azuma... why do you like me?"
Yukima Azuma was slightly taken aback.
Then he immediately realizedwhat kind of storyline was running through that little golden head of hers.
"Do you need a reason to love someone?"
Yukima Azuma raised his hand and lightly tapped her forehead with his finger.
Eriri put the bowl of noodles down and held her forehead.
"Do I not need a reason...?"
"Do you need a reason?"
"Do I not need a reason...?"
"Do you need a reason?"
After Yukima Azuma played his psychological game, Eriri... gave up.
Because after thinking about it, the reason she liked Yukima Azuma couldn't be explained so simply.
Although the two of them had known each other and become close since the incident where she was isolated in elementary school...
But from merely having feelings for him, to not being able to think of anyone else but Yukima Azuma.
Eriri didn't like just a momentary sense of securityshe liked Yukima Azuma as a person.
Once again, being comforted by Azuma deep in her heart.
Just like so many times before.
Eriri's eyes once again sparkled with light.
( )
This feeling.
If she could capture this feeling in her artit would surely touch every reader's heart.
However... she still felt like something was missing.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma spoke up to add:
"You could set up the heroine as the shy type, who gets flustered when attacked directly."
"And the male lead could reduce the tsundere traits, keep the otaku nature, and add a setup where if pushed to his limit, he'd immediately counterattack with a direct approach."
Eriri slapped her palm against her forehead in realization.
"That's it! This way, the interactions between the characters will be more natural!"
But right after, Eriri felt something was a bit off...
What do you mean 'reduce tsundere traits'?
Who's the tsundere here!?
You're the tsundere!!
ISawamura Eririam absolutely not a tsundere!!
(,,><,,) b-baka!
"So... what should we name the manga?" Eriri asked curiously.
"Hmm... let's call it 'Sawamura-san Teasing Master,'"
Yukima Azuma replied without hesitation.
After all, the character setup he mentioned earlier was based on the style of the manga Takagi-san from his memories.
Silently committing that name to her heart.
Eriri nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed.
It felt like... if this kind of manga were drawn, it would surely feel like recording the love diary of the two of them.
She finished the last bit of noodles in her bowl.
Eriri realized... there was another soft-boiled egg at the bottom of the bowl.
She ate the egg too.
Eriri contentedly rubbed her small belly.
()
Then, those emerald green eyesstaring intently at Yukima Azuma without blinking.
( )Heehee
Yukima Azuma froze under her gaze.
Mainly because... the tsundere Eriri of the past certainly didn't have such a bold presence.
But at this momentEriri had only one thought in her mind.
That was: she had to prove, beyond a doubtshe was absolutely not a tsundere!
Eriri suddenly leapt up from her seat and charged straight at Yukima Azuma.
With Yukima Azuma's physical abilities, he of course easily caught Eriri's rush.
But seeing the "hehe boi~" expression clearly on Eriri's face...
Yukima Azuma decided to play along with her, not resisting as she rushed toward him.
Azuma: (-,-) Hold on, let her cook!
As a resultboth of them "fell" to the ground as planned.
Beside them was the large bed in Eriri's room.
Although Eriri slept alone, her bed was surprisingly spacious.
It wasn't clear whether she chose a large bed because she had poor sleeping posture...
Or if she had simply gotten used to a big bed and that's why she slept poorly.
The two fell onto the soft bed, one on top, the other below.
Eriri was on top, smiling as if she had just executed a successful scheme.
"E-Eriri-san... W-What are you planning to do?" Yukima Azuma played along, deliberately looking surprised and timid.
()
Hearing that, Eriri placed her hands on Yukima Azuma's chest.
Her small pink tongue lightly licked her lips.
"Azuma-chan, there's an old saying: after a full stomach, you start thinking about... other things."
"And now, I'm full!"
()
Who said Sawamura Eriri couldn't be the one to take the lead?
Yukima Azuma hesitated slightly at Eriri's "attack."
Could it be... that Eriri really had the potential to take the initiative?
Was it just that her tsundere faade had been covering it all along?
...
...
...
Two hours later.
Looking at Eriri sleeping soundly, with the corner of her eye still wet with a few tears.
Yukima Azuma smirked disdainfully.
"Hmph... Really overthinking it."
She was just weak and liked to put on airs!
...
The next morning.
It was unclear when Sayuri had returned.
All Yukima Azuma knew was that when he went downstairs, he bumped into Sayuri right at the staircase.
Seeing Sayuri smile... with that very distinct "ara ara mama~" grin.
( `)
Yukima Azuma really wanted to throw a sarcastic comment.
But he held back.
"Well, since it's spring break, why not stay here for a few days?" Sayuri suggested.
The final exams were over, and the parent-teacher meeting had finished.
Next up was the much-anticipated spring break.
"But today I have to visit Shuchiin," Yukima Azuma replied.
If there were nothing important, he would've actually been quite willing to stay at the Sawamura house for a couple of days.
After all, with Eriri's changing personality... it was definitely very enticing.
However, as an exchange student, today Yukima Azuma had to go to Shuchiin to complete the formalities for the end of the exchange program.
The school life at Shuchiinthis chapter was about to come to a close.
Additionally, he had to return Suou Yuki home as well.
Knowing Yukima Azuma had something to do, Sayuri didn't tease him any further and simply asked if he needed a ride.
Recently, it had always been Haruno who was in charge of taking Yukima Azuma to Shuchiin.
Now that he was at the Sawamura household, Yukima Azuma felt a little out of place.
Finally, he nodded and accepted Sayuri's offer.
He got into the Sawamura family car and set off toward Shuchiin Academy.
...
Unlike the usual calm and quiet atmosphere,
Shuchiin todayafter the end of the semesterwas very lively.
The results of the final exams were posted on the bulletin board in the corridor.
The list only showed the top 50 students from each grade.
A large crowd of students had gathered in front of the hallway, chatting excitedly.
Outside the crowd, Shinomiya Kaguya was tiptoeing, trying to peek inside.
The red ribbon tied in her hair swayed slightly with her movements.
This scene was truly a vivid portrayal of youth.
Yukima Azuma, standing outside, saw the scene and...
Couldn't help but pull out his phone and sneakily take a picture.
Looking back at the photo he just tookbeautiful as a painting.
()[®] ( ) = )
Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
Though his photography skills weren't great, as long as the subject was beautiful, any photo would turn out well.
"Here's a picture of President Shinomiya checking the semester results from the previous term~"
A mischievous voice sounded from beside him.
Yukima Azuma immediately became interested.
He turned to look.
The person who shared this interest, of course, was Suou Yuki.
Seeing Yukima Azuma turn toward her, Suou Yuki smiled lightly and shook the phone in her hand.
She swiped through her photo album and, in no time, used the date filter to find a picture from the entrance exam period of the previous semester.
In the photo, a young girl with flowing black hair stood in the middle of the crowd.
Her deep red, wine-colored eyesbereft of any emotion.
Just by looking at the photo, one could feel the cold, distant aura of a flower at the top of a mountain.
Even the other students in the photo unconsciously avoided her, leaving a small space around her.
Looking at that picture, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
Indeed, Ice Kaguya.
When they first met, Shinomiya Kaguya in Yukima Azuma's memory had exactly this same image.
And now
"What... What are you two doing?"
( ) !!!
Shinomiya Kaguya, who had turned around after hearing the "click" of a camera, now saw Yukima Azuma and Suou Yuki openly exchanging pictures of her right in front of her
She instantly felt embarrassed and frustrated, puffing her cheeks and glaring at them.
Kaguya-chan, O' kawai koto~~
^><^
Chapter 275: The End of the Journey at Shuchiin
Caught red-handed while "sneakily taking photos."
Yet Yukima Azuma didn't flinch at all.
On the contrary, he even waved to call the main character over.
Then he placed the photo on his own phone side by side with the one on Suou Yuki's phone.
"Kaguya has changed a lot, right?"
Hearing that, Shinomiya Kaguya also found herself drawn to the photo.
Indeed, there had been many changeschanges not easily noticed by the person themselves.
Looking at the two photos, although the faces were identical,
The feeling they gave off was completely different.
Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes widened slightly.
So I've changed that much?
( o )
She was surprised inside.
Right after, Shinomiya Kaguya quickly reined in her expression.
Her eyes held a teasing smile as she looked at Yukima Azuma.
"Seems like I've changed quite a bit. I wonder which version Azuma-kun likes more?"
No matter which version he picked, it would mean Yukima Azuma liked her.
Shinomiya Kaguya held onto such a small thought.
"I like both, because Kaguya is really cute."
"But if I had to choose, the current Kaguya is a little better."
Yukima Azuma boldly shot an arrow straight into the girl's heart.
Shinomiya Kaguya was shot.
( ^) ( )
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
Yukima Azuma's directness left her momentarily speechless.
Was that... a confession?
If Yukima Azuma admitted it, then what?
Should she go along and start dating?
Shinomiya Kaguya felt that if Yukima Azuma was the one confessing
Then she... wouldn't mind being in a relationship.
But the Shinomiya family probably wouldn't see it that way.
Shinomiya Kaguya's mind was already drifting to scenarios of what would happen after marriage.
"Let's go, we're heading to the student council room."
Yukima Azuma spoke up then, breaking her train of thought.
Hearing they were going to the student council room,
Shinomiya Kaguya's wine-red eyes dimmed slightly.
The student exchange program had ended.
Yukima Azuma was about to return to Toyogasaki.
Which meant, their chances to meet would almost instantly vanish.
Her mood instantly sank.
(- - )
"Kuso, the precious time we had studying together is already over in a flash!"
()
Suou Yuki bluntly voiced her complaint.
As Imouto-chan, Suou Yuki understood very well that emotions could be openly expressed.
That way, she'd get more affection.
And she was right.
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently patted Suou Yuki's black hair.
"It's not like we won't see each other again. Come visit me whenever you're free."
( )(._.`)
Suou Yuki basked in Yukima Azuma's affectionate head pat.
Hearing that, she immediately nodded vigorously.
In truth, even if Yukima Azuma hadn't said it
During her upcoming free days, she would be running over to Yukima's place often anyway.
After all, she'd already waited three years.
Seeing the interaction between the two, Shinomiya Kaguya felt a twinge of envy.
()
Of course, she had thought about secretly visiting Yukima Azuma after they no longer saw each other at school.
But on second thought, Shinomiya Kaguya realized that the possibility was terribly slim.
As the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family,
Her spring break and weekends were always packed with scheduled plans.
Even if she rarely had a day off
If she ran off to see some boy,
The Shinomiya family wouldn't take it lightly.
At that moment, after finishing patting Suou Yuki's head,
Yukima Azuma turned to Shinomiya Kaguya.
"Don't look so down. I'll come find you."
Hearing that, Shinomiya Kaguya gently nodded.
At first, she didn't think too much of it.
But right after, Shinomiya Kaguya noticed a subtle difference in the way Yukima Azuma spoke the two times.
To her, Yukima Azuma said he would come find her.
Did that boy... really mean that?
That he would try to overcome the abyss-like barrier that was the Shinomiya family to come see her?
As if sayingeven if he had to set foot on the moon, he would still find a way to see Hime Kaguya.
She lifted her head to look at Yukima Azuma.
Their eyes met.
Shinomiya Kaguya saw determination in Yukima Azuma's gaze.
So it was truehe meant exactly that.
Shinomiya Kaguya's heart began to pound wildly.
(o)
In Japan, there is a very famous folktale.
The legend of Hime Kaguya.
At the end of the story, Hime Kaguya leaves her husband a pill of immortality.
Then she returns to the moon.
Her husband, devastated by the loss of Hime Kaguya,
Refuses to drink the pill, and instead chooses to burn the elixir of immortality along with himself.
At first glance, it sounds like a satirical fable.
But everyone has their own interpretation.
Hime Kaguya, who was forced to return to the moon, had tried her very best.
Leaving the pill behind for her husband
Perhaps hoping that one day, she might return from the moon to Earth.
And then, she could meet her husband once more.
Or maybe, if he took the pill of immortality,
He could find a way to reach the moon.
A matter like that requires effort from both sides.
Yukima Azuma is someone who always follows his desires and absolutely never gives up.
Even if the goal is the mooneven if he has to start from zero and build aerospace technology from scratch
Yukima Azuma would never stop walking into that blaze like a moth to the flame.
...
Student Council Room.
Yukima Azuma was signing his name to complete the paperwork.
Fujiwara Chika was crying her eyes out beside him.
"Nooo! Azuma-kun, don't gooo!"
."®()®".
One could only say, no one would've expected
That when Yukima Azuma was about to leave,
In the student council of Shuchiin Academy,
The one who reacted the most intensely was Fujiwara Chika.
Compared to the reserved Suou Yuki and Shinomiya Kaguya
Our secretary, Fujiwara, was far more straightforward.
Her relationship with Yukima Azuma was incredibly close, they'd been calling each other by name for a long time, and their mutual fondness was sky-high.
At this point, they were practically kindred spirits.
Fujiwara Chika almost lunged at Yukima Azuma, trying to cling to his leg and not let him leave.
Yukima Azuma just felt an incoming headache.
Only Fujiwara Chika would make such a fuss, and he didn't know how to properly calm her down.
Truly worthy of her title: "Cancer of Earth."
A total embodiment of chaos!
Seeing Yukima Azuma's troubled expression
Shinomiya Kaguya and Suou Yuki couldn't help but raise their hands to stifle a soft laugh.
It was the first time either of them had seen Yukima Azuma so flustered.
After that whole uproar by Fujiwara Chika
The somewhat gloomy farewell atmosphere was instantly swept away.
"Anyway, it's almost spring break. We weren't gonna be at Shuchiin much longer either!"
"( _ <,, )
Yukima Azuma raised a hand to his forehead, trying to reason with Fujiwara Chika.
Hearing that, Fujiwara Chika paused for a moment.
Now that he mentioned it... he kind of had a point.
But still, after spring break, she wouldn't get to see Yukima Azuma at Shuchiin anymore!
"If we have time, let's all go hang out as a student council group."
Yukima Azuma sweetened the deal with a little bait.
At that, Fujiwara's expression finally softened.
"That's a promise then!"
As she spoke, Fujiwara Chika extended her pinky finger
Wanting to pinky swear with Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma nodded and linked pinkies with Fujiwara Chika.
In any case, Fujiwara Chika definitely wouldn't be free during spring break.
As far as Yukima Azuma knew
Every holiday, Fujiwara Chika would go traveling with her parents, older sister, and younger sister.
One summer, she even went all the way to the Arctic.
He'd dodged that bullet for now.
Once spring break came around
Fujiwara Chika would definitely vanish off somewhere again.
...
At last, the pile of paperwork was signed, officially wrapping up the exchange program.
Shinomiya Kaguya gathered the documents.
She turned to look at Yukima Azuma.
"Did you enjoy your time at Shuchiin?"
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma gave a sincere nod.
At first, he had come to Shuchiin because of Suou Yuki.
But, this semester at Shuchiineven though he didn't study much or participate much in school life
It was truly a valuable period of time.
Even with a few small incidents and minor hiccups
None of it could taint the overall memory of this experience.
Seeing Yukima Azuma nod
Shinomiya Kaguya smiled softly.
"In that case, you should come back for the second semester next year."
()
Yukima Azuma gave a small cough.
"Ahem... I'll think about it when the time comes."
(_")
"What do you mean 'think about it'?!" Fujiwara Chika instantly started acting up again. "Just do the exchange again!"
;
"Yuki-sama, you've returned... and this person is?"
( -)?
A beautiful woman with long, straight black hair, bearing the surname Kimishima, immediately bowed respectfully the moment she saw Suou Yuki step into the car
But halfway through her greeting, she noticed the boy stepping into the car with Suou Yuki
And instantly paused, asking in a puzzled tone.
Of course, she recognized Yukima Azuma.
As the head housekeeper of the Suou family, and the personal maid of the current family head,
This beautiful woman was thoroughly familiar with the profiles of individuals from the upper class.
And precisely because of that, she was surprised enough to speak up.
If the boy were just an ordinary person
She would've easily turned a blind eye.
Not a word would be said.
After all, if he were just a commoner, even if Suou Yuki truly fell in love one day with him and decided to marry
The man would only become a live-in son-in-law at best.
To the Suou family as a whole, it wouldn't really be a big deal.
But Yukima Azuma was the President of Laplace Corporation.
A person capable of exerting significant influence on the standing of the Suou family.
Moreover, rumors suggested that behind Laplace stood the Sawamura familyanother ancient, noble householdopenly backing it.
And now, their Ojou-sama was casually bringing him into the car like this.
If she was truly about to make their relationship official and bring him home to meet the family
Then, as the head housekeeper, it was her duty to immediately report to the rest of the Suou household.
After all, this was a decision that could have far-reaching consequences for the Suou family's future.
"Azuma-onii-sama wants to go sightseeing in Gifu, and it just so happened to be on the way, so I invited him to hitch a ride,"
Suou Yuki replied casually.
Hearing that, the woman let out a sigh of relief.
Though it was clear the relationship between the young lady and that boy was far from simple
As long as the young lady didn't explicitly say anything,
Then shewho wasn't a Suou by bloodneed not concern herself.
Leave it to the family head to deal with.
Shortly after, Kimishima Ayano also arrived and quietly sat in the front passenger seat.
The beautiful woman started the engine and began driving toward Gifu Prefecture.
Looking at Kimishima Ayano sitting up front
Yukima Azuma's eyelids twitched slightly.
Come to think of it, this personal maid of Yuki
Had clearly grown stronger after three years of training!
And by "stronger"
It wasn't a metaphor for some size or otherhe meant literally.
Three years ago, this personal maid's presence was so faint, she was barely noticeable.
Now, thanks to her timeskip training, she was almost on par with the natural stealth of Kato "Hassan" Megumi.
Back on campus, with all the hustle and bustle, Azuma hadn't paid much attention.
But now, with only a few people around, Azuma noticedthe scent of Kimishima Ayano was beginning to fade.
At this rate
Give it ten more years, and unless Azuma's shogi skills not level up any more
He might genuinely lose the ability to detect the presence of this Hassan maid.
A true assassin.
Sensing Yukima Azuma's gaze
Suou Yuki leaned close to his ear and whispered:
"Onii-sama, are you checking Ayano out?"
( )
Up front, both the beautiful woman and Kimishima Ayano's ears twitched slightly at the same time.
(®® )
Yukima Azuma said nothing. Instead, he lightly tapped Suou Yuki on the forehead.
"I'm merely admiring her progress."
Suou Yuki clutched her forehead, pretending to be hurt.
As for Kimishima Ayano in the front seat
She didn't react at all when the conversation was about her, but now she looked like she was about to leap straight into the back seat, and cut Azuma head out.
( _ )
But, a single glance from Suou Yuki instantly stopped Ayano in her tracks.
Then, she smiled with the charm of a mischievous little devil.
"If it's Onii-sama, even if you're interested for real, I wouldn't mind."
Yukima Azuma simply rolled his eyes in response.
He wasn't the type like some Young Master who wanted to claim every Jade Beauty as his own.
Seeing that Azuma didn't even flinch
Suou Yuki blinked a few times, looking like she was pondering something.
...
From Tokyo to Gifu
Even though Japan isn't a big country, it's not exactly a blink-of-an-eye trip either.
Along the way, Yukima Azuma pulled a box from his pocket.
With just one glance, Suou Yuki recognized itit was the very same box she had used to store a fragment of the Charlotte comet last time.
But when Azuma opened it
Inside the box, the red comet shard was no longer there
In its place was a radiant twin flower, bursting with color, two hues blending together in a stunning display.
Staring at the mysterious flower inside the box, Suou Yuki's eyes lit up softly.
( o)
Even for a mischievous, clever girl like her
At her core, she was still a maiden.
And what maiden could remain unmoved by the enchanting beauty of a flower?
Yukima Azuma gently placed the flower box into Suou Yuki's hands
Watching her enchanted expression with a faint smile.
Taking the box, Suou Yuki inspected it from every angle, carefully turning it over again and again.
In the end, she even pulled out her phone and snapped a few pictures.
But throughout it all, she never once tried to take the flower out of the box.
Only after a while, still hugging the box in her hands, did she look up at Azuma and ask:
"What is this?"
Even though she simply found the twin flower beautiful and hadn't noticed anything particularly special
Because Azuma had chosen to use that box
Suou Yuki sensed that it must be something extraordinary.
Which was why, even though he had handed it to her
She made no move to remove the flower.
"It's a very rare treasure. You can make a wish with itchances of it coming true are a bit higher."
"If you like it, I can give it to you, but you'll have to help me take care of it."
Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
The powers of Star and Lumine did, in fact, raise the chances of a wish being granted.
But according to those two chibi-brats
They could only tweak probability to a very limited degree.
Even something with a high chance of happening wouldn't be guaranteed under their influence.
And anything with an extremely low probability? Forget about it.
Recalling that tsunami from back then
All he could do was sigh: that was destiny's cruel joke.
Truthfully, even without Star and Lumine's interference, the odds of that tsunami were already quite high.
After receiving the Charlotte comet shard as a gift
Yukima Azuma had been thinking about what to give in return to Suou Yuki.
It wasn't until he got his hands on this twin flower that a clear idea came to mind.
And at this moment
Inside Azuma's head, Star was throwing a tantrum.
(`Д)
They were gods, dammit! And now they were being offered to some girl as a gift!?
Lumine, as usual, remained silent and calm.
After hearing Azuma's explanation
Suou Yuki smiled with pure, uncontainable joy.
She even looked so touched she might start crying.
She gently closed the box
And handed it back to Azuma.
"Let's talk about it once we get out of the car, "
Azuma couldn't quite figure out what Suou Yuki was thinking
But judging by her expression, she was clearly happy.
( )*
...
When the car finally arrived in Gifu Prefecture
Before the household staff could even reach the car door
Suou Yuki had already pushed it open, grabbed Yukima Azuma by the hand, and was dragging him straight into the mansion.
The sight left the maids and butlers of the Suou estate utterly dumbfounded.
After all, had their Ojou-sama ever acted like this before?
Normally, Suou Yuki was the picture of a proper noble lady within the Suou household.
Every gesture brimming with grace and poise.
She was the very embodiment of perfection.
But now
Watching the boy being pulled along by their Ojou-sama, who refused to let go
The maids exchanged glances, each one feeling the urge to let out a little hee hee of mischief.
Only to be silenced instantly by a single glare from the beautiful woman who had just exited the car
They all snapped back to attention, dispersing and returning to work as if nothing had happened.
And once she had "disciplined" the maids
That woman turned to look in the direction Suou Yuki and Yukima Azuma had just gone
Her gaze slowly growing complicated.
A wish, huh?
It's already the 21st century, and a line like that still works on girls!?
And not just any girlher Ojou-samaa brilliant, sharp-minded young lady!
Seriously now... maybe divine intervention was real.
Chapter 277: Ma'am, I'm Dating Your Daughter
Gripping Yukima Azuma's hand tightly, Suou Yuki pulled him straight into her room.
As soon as they entered, she shoved Azuma inside
Then slammed the door shut in a flash.
Yukima Azuma looked around the familiar room, feeling a wave of nostalgia rise in his chest.
Suou Yuki's room hadn't changed much at all.
Especially the position of the study deskthree years had passed, and it was still exactly the same.
Only, the surface of the desk now bore faint traces of time.
Other than that, though a few new pieces of furniture had been added
The overall feeling still faintly resembled the room from back then.
Just that small amount of change was enough to make Yukima Azuma sentimental.
After all
The room he had visited in those days had been specially cleaned by the Suou family to avoid triggering Suou Yuki's asthma.
Everything had been simplified to the bare minimum to prevent an attack.
And now, although Yuki's asthma had long since been cured
The room had barely changed. It was truly hard to believe.
Even though three years had gone by, to Azuma, those memories didn't feel far away at all.
Looking at the desk, speckled with signs of age
Yukima Azuma remembered how most of the time, when he climbed through the window to see Yuki
He would sit at that desk, writing drafts while telling her stories.
That layering of past and present stirred a complex, indescribable feeling in his heart.
But before he could sink into those memories
As soon as the door closed, Suou Yuki lunged at him!
"Guhehehe~ Onii-chan-sama! Hehehehe~!"
()( )
Yukima Azuma stumbled from her pounce, nearly falling onto the bed.
Looking down at the girl lying on his chest with a blatantly "thirsty" expression
A giant question mark instantly popped up over Yukima Azuma's head.
"What's with you?"
Suou Yuki lifted her head, her eyes narrowing with a teasing glint as she looked at Yukima Azuma.
"Onii-sama does something like that and then asks me what's with me?!"
"Giving Yuki something that important just like thatwas it a proposal gift or what?"
"It's fine, you know. Even if we're siblings on paper, the Suou family clinic next door is a private orthopedic practice!"
Several veins popped up on Yukima Azuma's forehead.
This otaku head of hers was still deep in those bizarre fantasies!
He grabbed the brat and tossed her straight onto the bed.
Snatched up Suou Yuki's blanket.
With just a few swift moves, Yukima Azuma rolled Suou Yuki into a snug "Yu-shi roll."
(note: Yuki+Sushi=Yu-shi! Umu (>) )
Looking at his "handiwork," Yukima Azuma gave a satisfied nod and clapped his hands.
Dealing with this little devil of an otaku really did require this approach.
Suou Yuki, now rolled up like a Yu-shi, shot a slightly resentful glare at Yukima Azuma.
But she quickly returned to her usual self.
Although it might've looked like a confession just now
In truth, there wasn't much room for the story to progress further.
After all, this was still the Suou household.
Even though Suou Yuki hoped Yukima Azuma would lose control to his instincts and toss aside reason, doing this and that with her
The Yu-shi roll rolled around the bed a couple of times.
"Onii-sama gave me such a precious gift. Yuki's seriously happy, you know."
"But, I feel like there won't be a chance to use it, so I'll return it to Onii-sama for now."
Suou Yuki's wish had actually already come true not too long ago.
There wasn't anything else she truly desired that would require manipulating fate to achieve.
The reason Suou Yuki was so happy
Wasn't because of that twin blossom.
It was because Yukima Azuma had given her a gift with his own hands.
She couldn't express it too openly in the car.
After all, the head butler had been sitting right up front, listening in.
But just from the way she'd dragged him into her room without hesitation, and had even intended to "devour" Yukima Azuma
()
That alone made it clear how happy Suou Yuki really was.
Hearing Suou Yuki's words,
Yukima Azuma could only sigh and lightly pinch her cheek.
Then, he unwrapped the Yu-shi roll and let her out.
Sometimes, when your little sister is too smart and too mature, it really is a pain for the big brother.
Sitting down in his familiar spot,
Yukima Azuma noticed a notebook that had accumulated over time, placed right beside his hand.
It was placed together with the map Yukima Azuma had asked her to retrieve.
Notes Suou Yuki had kept on acquiring the town of Itomori.
Even the map had been modified.
A lake had been added by hand.
Because a fragment of the Charlotte comet fell
One-third of Itomori town disappeared.
It turned into a newly formed inland lake.
The original terrain of Itomori was completely altered.
All the residents of the town had already relocated elsewhere.
Seeing Yukima Azuma sitting in front of the desk
Suou Yuki's eyes gleamed faintly.
This familiar scene was something she had dreamed of countless times in the past.
Lying face down on the bed,
Suou Yuki's small feet in white cotton socks swung up and down alternately,
Making soft tap tap sounds against the bed.
It felt like time had just rewound three years.
But soon, Suou Yuki noticed something was off.
Her chest felt a bit heavy, slightly hard to breathe.
She looked down.
Then sat up.
"Onii-sama, time really flies, huh!"
( )
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma turned his head. He was just about to nod in agreement
When he saw Suou Yuki cross her arms in front of her chest.
That overly developed part was clearly emphasized.
"Don't see much difference. Still flat as ever,"
Yukima Azuma teased.
Back then, Suou Yuki had cared a lot about how Yukima Azuma judged her "feminine attributes."
Now that she had become Suou-no-C, she took every opportunity to flaunt it.
No one knew where that otaku brain of hers had misplaced its sense of shame!
"Yuki? Are you in there?" At that moment, the door was suddenly knocked on.
A woman's voice came from outside.
Suou Yuki dropped her arms, her expression turning subtly complicated.
Yukima Azuma looked toward the door.
After seeing Suou Yuki nod, he walked over and pulled the door open.
Outside stood a woman with her hair in a bun.
She looked to be just a little over thirty.
Her features resembled Suou Yuki by ninety percent.
As if they had been molded from the same cast.
She was a 'Ara-ara~' version of Suou Yuki.
The only difference lay in their aura.
The woman before him gave off the impression of a noble lady.
A gentle, fragile kind of beauty.
Yukima Azuma had met many wealthy madams before.
But ones with an aura like hers were rare.
Mrs. Yukinoshita and Sayuri, though elegant and stunning, always gave off a sense of being thorny roses.
A beauty that hid danger beneath.
If Suou Yuki aged another ten or twenty years
Yukima Azuma guessed she'd carry the same presence.
When the woman saw the boy open the door
Mrs. Suou clearly paused for a moment, but quickly regained her composure.
She politely smiled at Yukima Azuma first.
Then her gaze shifted to Suou Yuki lying on the bed.
"Yuki, you came home but didn't even come greet your mother?"
"And this young man is?"
Noticing the messy bedding beside Suou Yuki, Mrs. Suou's eyes began darting back and forth between Yukima Azuma and Suou Yuki.
"Hehe, I wanted to surprise you, Mom,"
(>)
Suou Yuki stuck her tongue out playfully, trying to brush it off casually.
Even though that excuse was full of holes
Mrs. Suou simply nodded slightly, as if accepting it.
Her eyes once again fell on Yukima Azuma.
"This is my classmate and best friend: Yukima Azuma. He's visiting our home for a few days,"
Suou Yuki introduced.
But her mood was noticeably low.
To outsiders, she could say she and Yukima Azuma were childhood friends, or like brother and sister.
But to family, if she said something like that...
She could only call him a classmate, a close friend.
Suou Yuki felt a little bitter inside.
But to avoid causing any trouble for Yukima Azuma, she still chose that kind of introduction.
However, the boy standing next to her suddenly spoke up:
"I'm dating Yuki."
Chapter 278: Mrs. Suou and Suou Yuki
"I'm dating Yuki."
Yukima Azuma's unexpected statement left both Mrs. Suou and Suou Yuki momentarily stunned.
( ®® ) ?
Mrs. Suou's gaze began shifting back and forth between Yukima Azuma and her daughter.
Seeing that her daughter neither objected nor showed any unusual expression
After a short silence,
Mrs. Suou gently nodded.
"I see, I understand."
"Yuki is at that age anyway."
"I'm going to check on the kitchen, let's have a meal together in a bit."
With that, Mrs. Suou left the room, casually closing Suou Yuki's door behind her.
Her footsteps outside sounded light and cheerful.
Suou Yuki stared blankly after her mother, then turned the same expression toward Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma tilted his head.
"What's wrong?"
_()_
"You're seriously asking that?" Suou Yuki's expression became complicated.
She originally intended not to cause any more trouble for Yukima Azuma.
She was currently doing her best to restrain herself.
And yet, Yukima Azuma suddenly said they were dating.
"Oba-san doesn't seem like a strict person."
"Besides, it's just a small hassle, no big deal."
Yukima Azuma replied casually.
If he didn't show any clear stance,
Then naturally, he wouldn't be dragged into troublesome matters.
But Suou Yuki, as the heir of the Suou family, had maintained an overly close relationship with the President of a major corporation.
She would undoubtedly face pressure from the Suou family.
More importantly,
There was no way Yukima Azuma hadn't noticed Suou Yuki's feelings.
Still, even though he said they were dating
Suou Yuki suddenly lunged to hug Yukima Azuma.
( ) (®®)
But Yukima Azuma caught her midair and tossed her straight back onto the bed.
"Aren't we dating?!"
Suou Yuki shouted.
She wanted to exercise the rights of a girlfriend.
()
"It's just pretend dating. We'll talk again once we're actually lovers."
Yukima Azuma smiled softly.
This brocon-crazy, otaku-brained girl.
...
Not long after, Kimishima Ayano knocked on the door, calling the two of them to dinner.
When the two arrived at the dining table,
They found only Mrs. Suou seated there.
Suou Yuki didn't look surprised at all.
Normally, she often ate meals with Kimishima Ayano.
But during official occasions like this, which almost resembled a formal parental meeting,
Both Kimishima Ayano and Mrs. Kimishima would automatically refrain from showing up.
As for Suou Yuki's father
That man hadn't returned to the Suou household in years.
Speaking of this, one must understand the background of the Suou family.
The Suou family is an old noble house with a long-standing tradition.
Not one that suddenly rose to prominence in a single generation, but one that developed steadily, generation after generation.
In the current generation,
The heir would be Suou Yuki, the only child of the family.
In the previous generation, the Suou family also had only one child.
That was Mrs. Suou herself.
However, as the heir to the family head position, Mrs. Suou's personality wasn't the strong-willed type like Ms. Yukinoshita,
Nor was she cunning like a fox like Sayuri.
Although Mrs. Suou had been trained from a young age, and had all the qualities needed to shoulder the role of family head,
She herself had no interest in business or politics.
Fortunately, during her university years, Mrs. Suou met a young man.
That was Suou Yuki's father.
Suou Yuki's father came from a humble background,
But he was personally very capable.
After marrying into the Suou family, he managed several of the family's affairs quite competently.
Most of them were political matters.
That young man from a modest origin had an exceptional instinct for politics,
And with the Suou family's backing, he quickly established his career.
And it was at that time that a disagreementneither too small nor too largebegan to emerge.
Yuki Suou's father was deeply devoted to his political career, often leaving early and returning late.
He attended all sorts of social gatherings and parties.
In contrast, he became emotionally distant from his wife and daughter.
Although Mrs. Suou could understand it, in her heart, she couldn't help but feel resentful.
One prioritized career, the other prioritized family.
After a huge argument, the two began living separately.
As for Suou Yuki
Although she remained in the Suou household, living with Mrs. Suou,
As the heir to the head of the family, she couldn't help but follow in her father's footsteps,
Devoting more energy to her career.
As a result, the relationship between Suou Yuki and Mrs. Suou was also just lukewarm.
Perhaps, that's the very reason why Suou Yuki always longed for an older brother.
At the same time, it was also the underlying cause of Suou Yuki's asthma attacks during middle school.
The pressure from the Suou family was actually secondary.
More importantly, for a middle school girl like Suou Yuki at the time, there was no way she could withstand the shock of her parents' sudden falling out.
In fact, it had already been nearly a year
Since Suou Yuki last shared a meal with Mrs. Suou.
The last time was on Mrs. Suou's birthday last year.
...
"Yukima-kun, try this steamed sea bass."
"This is Yuki's favorite dish."
( )
Mrs. Suou turned the rotating dining table, pushing a plate of steamed fish toward Yukima Azuma.
Looking at the rather familiar-looking dish,
Yukima Azuma tilted his head and glanced at Suou Yuki.
Suou Yuki turned her face away, her cheeks slightly flushed.
(>\\<)
If they were actually doing something Hentai, this otaku girl definitely wouldn't blush or have her heart race.
Her full counter were faster than even Meliodas.
But in moments like this
In these small, trivial matters, Suou Yuki would become shy and embarrassed.
(,,><,,)
This steamed fish was clearly identical to the one Yukima Azuma had made for her the first time he cooked.
Back then, considering Suou Yuki's physical condition, he had specially prepared the fish that way.
It was a few days before the end of Azuma and Mitsuha swap period.
Some of the Suou family's chefs had even come to observe and learn.
Mrs. Suou had noticed her daughter's reaction.
She nodded quietly to herself.
It didn't seem to be the kind of "transactional relationship."
What worried Mrs. Suou the most
Was that Suou Yuki, for the sake of the Suou family's career, or even her own position as family head,
Might directly choose a romantic partner who could bring her benefits.
With no feelings involved at all, just a cold, calculated transaction.
Such things were not uncommon in the upper class.
In fact, they were almost the norm.
With Yukima Azuma's current achievements and capabilities,
Any noble young lady could easily approach him with such intentions.
But what Mrs. Suou could never acceptwas that.
Throwing away family for the sake of a career
That was Mrs. Suou's greatest taboo.
( _ )
Yukima Azuma took a bite of the fish.
It was well made, tastier than most Michelin-starred restaurants.
After all, it had been prepared by the Suou family's head chef personallyhis skills were nothing short of excellent.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma could clearly sense a faint trace of his own style in the dish.
Although overall it still didn't match what he could make himself,
It was already at about level seven head chef standard.
"It's really good. No wonder Yuki likes it."
Yukima Azuma smiled as he spoke.
Hearing that, Suou Yuki lowered her head and stifled a laugh.
That line from Yukima Azumano matter how you heard itsounded like he was complimenting himself.
But Mrs. Suou didn't know that and simply smiled and nodded.
"If you like it, eat a little more, both of you."
( )
Maybe it was because of the quality instilled in their since childhood"eating without talking, sleeping without snoring"
That during the meal, apart from the initial greetings,
The three of them ate mostly in silence.
It wasn't until they were nearly finished, all placing their chopsticks down
That Mrs. Suou finally spoke up again:
"Yukima-kun, you're currently dating Yuki, right?"
"Now that I think about it, how did the two of you meet?"
Suou Yuki was about to speak up to steer the topic elsewhere.
Because their initial encounter was something that absolutely couldn't be explained to others.
After all, this whole "space-time swapper" thing was absurd to the point of being unimaginable.
But Yukima Azuma reached out under the table and gently took Suou Yuki's small hand in his.
Then, with a smile, he said:
"Well, it's nothing too special, really. It all started the day I joined the student exchange program at Shuchiin Academy."
And then, Yukima Azuma began to cooking a story
A story of an exchange student who, after joining the student council, worked alongside a young lady, and quickly grew close through their teamwork.
Suou Yuki listened to the story,
In her heart, she didn't believe it at all.
But she keep let him cook.
(_)
She wasn't sureif she had really met Yukima Azuma that way,
Would their relationship have progressed that quickly?
However, the one thing Suou Yuki was certain of
Was that if it had been anyone else in Yukima Azuma's place,
No matter how talented or handsome that person was,
There's no way she would've fallen for them so easily.
Because clearly, that just wasn't her personality.
Suou Yuki turned to look at her mother.
A story that obviously sounded like total nonsensethere's no way she'd believe that
Huh?
Looking at her mother's face, she saw an expression full of empathy, nostalgia, and even constant nodding.
( )
Immediately, a huge, bold, pitch-black question mark popped up above otaku Suou Yuki's little head.
(" v ") ?
No wayshe actually believes this??
Even if Suou Yuki's EQ might sometimes surpass that of Yukima Azuma,
As the daughter directly involved
She couldn't really see the full picture.
She still didn't fully understand her own mother's personality.
Of course, more importantlySuou Yuki didn't know much about the past between her parents.
But in Yukima Azuma's memory, that past was relevant.
He knew very well the kind of woman this refined lady before him was.
Back then, Mrs. Suou had also come to be with Suou Yuki's father in much the same way.
Like mother, like daughterwasn't that perfectly normal?
Originally, Mrs. Suou had been saddened that her daughter seemed a bit too cold, lacking in warmth and human emotion.
But now, finding out that her daughter had done something almost exactly the same as she once had
Even if there were countless absurdities in the story,
Mrs. Suou would naturally "fill in the blanks," subconsciously embellish the missing details,
And believe it as truth.
Becauseshe genuinely wanted it to be true.
()*
After all, deep down, Mrs. Suou had always hoped that Suou Yuki would be someone guided by emotion, one who valued family more than career.
"Thanks to that close brush with death, I realized how I truly felt,"
"And after that, I confessed to Yuki, and recently we officially got together."
As Yukima Azuma spoke, he raised his hand.
He was still holding Suou Yuki's hand under the table.
Their fingers intertwined, deliberately putting on a show for Mrs. Suou.
At that moment, Mrs. Suou practically wanted to stand up and applaud.
Subarashii! A touching and dramatic love story!
(o)
What happened in Hawaii
Mrs. Suou, of course, knew very well.
Because back then, Suou Yuki had mobilized part of the Suou family's forces to assist in the search operation.
She just hadn't realized at the time
That among those swept away by the tsunami was none other than her own daughter's lover.
A plot twist straight out of a light novel
It struck Mrs. Suou right in the heart.
She even looked like she was ready to nod and approve their marriage on the spot.
All that could be said wasYukima Azuma's "creative writing" material was just too damn convincing.
The tsunami incident really happened.
Getting stranded on a deserted island was real too.
And the fact that he was someone Suou Yuki lovedthat was undeniably true.
A light novellike story, ninety percent fact, only ten percent fiction.
Even Suou Yukithe person involvedfound herself emotionally moved as she listened.
"I see So Yukima-kun didn't just come here to hang out, huh?"
"Yuki, why don't you show Yukima-kun around a bit?"
"I won't bother you two anymore!"
Mrs. Suou said as she stood up and waved her hand.
( ) *
In her heart, she screamed: Umu umu! Subarashii! True love! This is true love!!
()
She had always feared
That Suou Yuki would enter a relationship full of calculation.
Or worse, that the two of them would repeat the tragedy she once experienced.
But after hearing the story Yukima Azuma told,
Mrs. Suou's worries completely vanished.
A love that had crossed the boundary between life and deathhow could something like that change so easily?
Watching her mother leave in such high spirits,
Suou Yuki really wanted to say: Are you serious, Mom?
Butthis outcome wasn't bad at all.
At the very least, from now on, she could stick to Yukima Azuma without restraint.
She could even go crash at his place for the night.
After all, Mrs. Suou had already given her "silent approval" of their relationship.
Even if they accidentally made a little baby it'd be totally fine!
And if it really happenedwell, just have the baby!
Then the two of them could dump all the responsibility of inheriting the family onto that poor unborn child!
And enjoy their married life in peace!
Azuma and Yuki's unborn kid: I don't want to be born anymore!!!!
;
Seeing Suou Yuki grinning like an idiot, clearly fantasizing about some glittery pink future
Yukima Azuma reached out and bonked her on the head.
"Why'd you hit me, onii-sama?"
"Because I can tell you're thinking inappropriate thoughts."
"What do you mean inappropriate! It's a great idea!"
"Tch Exactly! Inappropriate as hell!"
...
Afternoon.
Suou Yuki came in with a whole stack of hiking gear.
It was winter in the mountains of Itomori, and the summit was still covered with thick snow.
Wearing just everyday clothes wouldn't be impossible, but it would definitely be uncomfortable.
Yukima Azuma took the pile of clothes from her.
Then he looked toward Suou Yuki, who was still standing at the doorclearly with zero awareness.
"I need to change, you know," Yukima reminded.
()
Suou Yuki nodded immediately, "Umu umu, I know."
( - )
Yukima twitched at the corner of his mouth.
"Then can you close the door for me?"
"Sure thing!" Suou Yuki replied cheerfully.
And thenswish! She casually closed the door.
What did she do next? She just stood there like nothing happened.
Still wide-eyed, staring at Yukima Azuma with anticipation.
()
"Haizz." Yukima let out a helpless sigh.
Then, he started taking off his coat.
"Uwoa~!"
( )
Suou Yuki let out a small gasp.
Her eyes locked on Yukima's body, but she also sneakily glanced elsewhere.
Even though she normally talked like a racecar driverbrutal, full-speed, and running right over Yukima's face without mercy.
Suou Yukiwas still, in the end, just an inexperienced high school girl.
She wanted to look, but could only dare to peek a little.
(.)
That physique 8 point wasn't just numbers on a page.
Yukima Azuma's body really could be used straight-up for a male model photo shoot.
If not perfect by human standards
It was at least the kind of body that made you fall in love at first glance.
Her eyes darted around for a bit
And Suou Yuki started feeling her nose getting warm.
Yukima Azuma slapped his forehead:
"You really are thinking nonsense."
At first, Yukima Azuma had assumedthis girl was probably just being mouthy again.
Take one look, get flustered, and run out of the room on her own.
But the reality? Suou Yuki wasn't just all talkshe was a fearless little fool.
Swish! Yukima flung the door open.
Wham!
Without mercy, he kicked her right out of the room.
"Go wash your face with cold water. Splash some on your forehead to clear your head."
Suou Yuki heard that and finally snapped back to her senses. She wiped lightly under her nose.
And then she saw a bright red streak.
"So it like anime, it really is possible to get a nosebleed!!"
Hearing the way she exclaimed that like she'd just discovered some universal truth
Yukima Azuma nearly laughed out of sheer frustration.
"What kind of stupid otaku thought process is that?!"
"Go wash your face right now! If it keeps bleeding, call me!"
Even then, Suou Yuki couldn't help sneaking another peek at Yukima Azuma's abs.
Feeling her nose heat up even more, she panicked and sprinted to the bathroom.
Watching her figure disappear
Yukima Azuma could only frown and pinch the bridge of his nose.
A true brocon-otaku through and through.
Chapter 280: The God of Itomori
Itomori Mountain.
Once again, climbing the mountain.
From amidst the orange-red maple leaves and the thick white snow, Yukima Azuma looked up and gazed downward.
The town that once gleamed with lights, full of human presence
Had completely disappeared.
In its place, a deep blue lake quietly stretched out.
From the mountaintop, looking down
It was a breathtaking sight.
Especially when knowing that the beautiful lake had only recently formed.
It was caused by a streak of light that had been seen falling here.
It made the scene even more shocking.
The fall of a meteorite was a natural disaster that had existed since ancient times.
It was ranked alongside tsunamis and earthquakes.
And Yukima Azuma had also once witnessed a tsunami.
Although he possessed a few supernatural abilities,
Compared to a sight as striking as this, the powers he personally held seemed insignificant.
Both of the twin gods residing in his chest
Also seemed to become mundane.
Abilities to control probability and human desires
It seemed that was all there was to it.
And such a force, comparable to a natural disaster, was something that humans had already mastered.
Though it was unknown just how powerful the so-called gods and spiritual energy could be once they reached their limits,
Yukima Azuma felt that trying to use that to overthrow modern human society seemed somewhat unrealistic.
"There's a squirrel."
Suou Yuki's voice came from beside him.
Yukima Azuma followed the direction of her voice.
He saw that Suou Yuki was standing under a large pine tree.
And on the pine branch, there was indeed a gray squirrel, staring directly at Suou Yuki.
"Do you want to follow it and try to find where it stores its food?"
Yukima Azuma smiled and asked.
Hearing this, Suou Yuki tilted her head and curiously asked:
"Even if we find it, there probably wouldn't be much, it wouldn't even be enough to eat a few bites."
( )
The size of the squirrel had misled Suou Yuki.
After she raised her hand to estimate the size of the squirrel,
It, which had been staring at Suou Yuki, suddenly darted up the tree.
Then, on the upper part of the tree, where the branches and leaves obscured it, it jumped a few times and disappeared from view.
"Squirrels are small animals with a very serious habit of storing food."
"A single squirrel usually has four to six places to store food."
"One storage spot of seeds can roughly meet the food needs of an adult for three to seven days."
Yukima Azuma shared some knowledge.
In Australia, squirrels had spread like a plague.
Many times, the power of farms in Australia would suddenly be cut off.
Mostly due to these squirrels.
These small creatures could stuff pine seeds into hollow electric poles that two people couldn't even wrap their arms around.
When workers cleaned up, the amount of pine seeds that fell out was enough to fill an excavator.
After being informed,
Suou Yuki widened her eyes. She turned her head to look for traces of the squirrel.
(®®)
After searching for a long while, she couldn't find it anywhere.
Suou Yuki showed a look of regret.
"A windfall has slipped away!"
(ЇЇ)
Yukima Azuma reached out and pinched Suou Yuki's cheek.
The young lady Suou seemed to be bothered by the squirrel's food storage.
"Even if there are many pine seeds, that's not really a windfall from the heavens, is it?"
After pinching her cheek,
Yukima Azuma felt that Suou Yuki's cheek was somewhat cold.
After all, it was winter, and they were on a high mountain.
So, his fingers naturally opened and rested on Suou Yuki's cheek.
He gently rubbed her soft cheek with his fingers, warming her up.
"Ehehe~."
( `)
Feeling the warmth from Azuma's hand on her cheek,
Suou Yuki let out a silly laugh.
These two didn't seem like they were on the mountain for a serious purpose.
Rather, they seemed more like a couple out for a leisure hike.
...
Half a day passed.
They walked and stopped, and eventually reached the top of Itomori Mountain.
From the mountaintop, looking around,
Except for the scenery in the direction of Itomori Town, everything else was vastly different.
On Itomori Mountain, it seemed that nothing had changed in the past three years.
The snow covering the mountaintop made it a bit more difficult to determine the direction.
But Yukima Azuma had an intelligence status of eight.
Though his memory wasn't quite as extraordinary as being able to remember everything at a glance,
It was almost that good.
Moreover, for Yukima Azuma, the previous mountain climb wasn't that long ago.
It didn't take long before Yukima Azuma could distinguish the direction where the shrine was located.
Leaving a trail of footprints on the snow-covered ground,
The two of them followed the direction in memory and arrived at the cave where the Itomori god's shrine was placed.
Inside the cave, there was almost no dust.
The snow that had settled only reached the entrance, not spilling inside even a little.
After entering,
Yukima Azuma immediately saw, next to the shrine, the familiar Kumihimo Itomori knots.
Moreover, the newest ones, which had almost no dust on them, radiated brilliant colors.
Seeing Yukima Azuma's gaze linger on the Kumihimo knots,
Suou Yuki quickly spoke up:
"This year, Miyamizu-san, just like in previous years, has come here."
"Miyamizu-san's grandmother didn't come, after all, she's quite old"
"Moreover, they've moved down to the town outside Itomori Mountain, going back and forth would be tiring."
Yukima Azuma nodded slightly.
He then lowered his gaze.
Regarding the young girl he knew but had never met,
Yukima Azuma felt somewhat complex emotions.
"Also it seems like Miyamizu-san doesn't remember anything about you anymore."
()
Suou Yuki hesitated and added.
After their swapper end,
She had met Miyamizu Mitsuha a few times as a friend and had some conversations.
But she noticed that Miyamizu Mitsuha seemed to have forgotten everything related to Yukima Azuma.
As for this, Yukima Azuma wasn't too surprised.
In the original setup, the Itomori god would erase all memories related to the person after the swap ended.
It was just that he had previously negotiated terms with the Itomori god.
As an outsider coming to help, the Itomori god had little to no impact on Yukima Azuma aside from swapping identities with Mitsuha.
The two of them approached the shrine.
Yukima Azuma raised his hand and tapped on the stone shrine.
He was thinking about how to communicate with the Itomori god.
Then, suddenly, a brilliant streak of colorful light shot out from the shrine.
Suou Yuki's eyes widened in surprise.
This was the second time she had witnessed such an extraordinary sight.
Clearly, the last time they were here, no matter how they prayed, the Itomori god did not respond at all.
The seven-colored light, right before the shrine, transformed into the familiar multicolored butterfly that Yukima Azuma knew.
Yukima Azuma extended his hand.
The multicolored butterfly gently landed on his finger.
Seeing that the Itomori god seemed very approachable,
Yukima Azuma felt that his perception might have been a bit off.
During the previous swapper, the Itomori god was basically someone who valued words like gold.
Yukima Azuma had once thought that this was a arrogant and cold god.
Or rather, at that time, he thought all gods were like that.
Until he met Star and Luminetwo gods with completely different personalities.
Yukima Azuma realized that gods, too, had personalities not much different from humans.
"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you again."
"Thank you so much for your help. Thanks to you, everyone in Itomori was able to turn their fate around."
"May I ask, is there anything you need my help with this time?"
The voice of the Itomori god was still clear and ethereal as before.
However, this time, it no longer felt distant.
It had even become quite open.
In each word, there was a deep sense of gratitude.
Chapter 281: World Setup
Before Yukima Azuma could speak, the Itomori god spoke first, thanking him in a long string of words.
Yukima Azuma hesitated briefly.
The situation was a bit different from what he had imagined.
The Itomori god was not cold at all, but seemed rather easy to talk to.
At this moment, the box containing the twin flowers inside Yukima Azuma's chest gently trembled.
Then, Star and Lumine emerged from Yukima Azuma's collar.
The three gods exchanged stares.
The atmosphere grew a bit tense.
Suou Yuki assessed the two chibi versions peeking out from Yukima Azuma's collar.
(" v ") ?
She was somewhat confused, wondering why these two gods took on the appearance of President Shinomiya and President Shinomiya's niece.
"They don't have a fixed form," Yukima Azuma explained when he noticed Suou Yuki's confusion. "Since the first ones them see is Kaguya and Maki, they borrowed their appearance temporarily."
"They mostly wanted to appear cute, it's entirely a personal preference."
Star and Lumine's primary pursuit was to be with people whose fate was happy.
They witnessed the turning of destinies and the intersection of encounters.
Sometimes, they would stir the threads of fate.
But the ultimate goal was to witness the interesting shifts in the flow of fate.
To achieve that goalafter being caught by Yukima Azumathey naturally chose an appearance that he would accept.
To avoid being thrown into Tokyo Bay in his anger.
It might also be that they enjoyed being close to people with interesting fates.
After hearing this, Suou Yuki couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
So there were gods who "used gap-moe to gain favor" too?
( ® ®) ?
She felt the dignity of the gods had somewhat collapsed.
The three gods exchanged glances for a moment.
It was unclear whether they had used a form of communication that Yukima Azuma and Suou Yuki couldn't comprehend.
In any case, after a brief silence
The Itomori god ignored Star and Lumine and turned back to Yukima Azuma, asking:
"May I ask, is there anything you need my help with this time?"
"As long as it's within my abilities, I will do my best to assist."
The Itomori god spoke so casually
It made Yukima Azuma's prepared words seem completely unnecessary.
After thinking for a moment, Yukima Azuma directly asked the purpose of this visit.
"Right now, the spiritual power is reviving, isn't it? Could you tell me more about this?"
The reason Yukima Azuma had come to the Itomori god was to inquire about matters related to spiritual power.
At home, there was a Guardian-Mommy who had once suffered from Adolescence Syndrome.
Then there was a cute onee-san with long black hair who occasionally turned into a cat.
Though the issue with Guardian-Mommy had been resolved
The onee-san turning into a cat had a very low frequency of transformation, but recently, it seemed like she had started to grasp some rules behind it.
Still, these things were ultimately unstable elements.
Ever since learning about the revival of spiritual power
Yukima Azuma felt these issues were all likely connected to it.
The information that Star and Lumine could provide was indeed quite limited.
Both of these gods were newly born not long ago
And they had come from a remote island far from human society.
They basically knew nothing if asked about anything.
But the Itomori god was different.
As a god worshiped by the town of Itomori for generations
The legend of the Itomori god had existed for thousands of years.
The secrets known by the Itomori god were not something Star or Lumine could compare with.
After hearing Yukima Azuma's question
The Itomori god did not hesitate, directly beginning to explain.
And from the Itomori god's words
Yukima Azuma also learned a few things about the setup of this world.
First of all, the fall of the comet Charlottewas actually not considered an unexpected accident.
On the contrary, it seemed like a fixed phenomenon of this world.
Every thousand and a half years (1.500), when the comet Charlotte passed by planet Earth, such an event would occur.
The Itomori lake near the Itomori town
Was actually formed during the last event, a thousand and a half years ago, when the comet fell.
As for the Earth itself, it already contained a vast amount of spiritual power within.
However, in its normal state, this spiritual power remains dormant.
The spiritual power is sealed beneath the ground.
It is only when stimulated by materials with high spiritual energy
That a surge of spiritual power occurs.
Such events have happened countless times on Earth.
The legends of the gods on this planet
Their existence actually originates from these periods of spiritual power surges.
Each time, there are specific rules associated with it.
When the comet Charlotte approaches the planet
The spiritual power begins to stir, signaling the onset of a prelude.
Then comes the impactthe official activation of spiritual power.
The surging spiritual power begins to spread around, boiling over and awakening nearby spiritual energy.
At this point, phenomena such as the birth of gods, the appearance of superpowers
And even ancient gods like the Itomori god will awaken as well.
As a side note
Originally, the Itomori god was not haughty or aloof at all.
It was simply that, at that time, the god lacked the strength to speak.
About a month after the comet fell
The Itomori god, located in the heart of the active spiritual energy area, gathered enough energy to perform a space-time swapper.
Then, the god quickly sought out Yukima Azumasomeone who could save Itomori town.
As for three years ago, when Yukima Azuma and Suou Yuki visited the shrine area
The lack of a response back then
Was because, at that time, the Itomori god was still in a dormant state, unable to awaken.
After the spiritual power surge
The effects from the comet's fall will gradually dissipate.
The surging spiritual power, after boiling up
Will eventually cool down again.
In the end, everything returns to a quiet state as before.
The gods fall back into slumber, and superpowers disappear.
Everything waits for the next spiritual power recovery cycle.
After learning from the Itomori god about the world's setup
Both Yukima Azuma and Suou Yuki were deeply shocked.
Yukima Azuma was slightly better off
After all, he had a system and had been exposed to many supernatural events.
He had even "caught" two wild gods.
In his mind, he had already made similar speculations.
As for Suou Yuki, she was completely expanding her worldview.
"So, does that mean all the mythology stuff is real?"
"Does this world really have Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and even Kaguya-hime?"
Suou Yuki asked curiously.
She hoped that "Big D. Zeus The F. Machine" didn't exist, or she would be worried about getting raped during her stroll or something.
(- - )
The Itomori god remained silent for a moment.
Then patiently explained:
"Not exactly. To be more precise, most of it is fictional."
"Tsukuyomi and Kaguya-hime are fictional, but Amaterasu truly exists."
"She has her own domain, Takamagahara, and is a very powerful god."
"Even before humans appeared on this land, she had already existed."
"However, compared to the mythology of your human world there are still some discrepancies."
Suou Yuki blinked several times.
Though she felt like she had just learned something of great significance
Upon reflection it seemed like there wasn't much truly useful information?
"So how long will the period of spiritual power surging last?"
"How much time will it take for the spiritual power to subside?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
Compared to all the exciting and stimulating things he had just heard
Yukima Azuma preferred a peaceful daily life much more.
The unstable elements should be resolved as soon as possible.
The Itomori god remained silent for a while.
It seemed like the god was contemplating something.
After a moment, the god slowly gave an answer:
"Each time is different, but it usually fluctuates between one hundred to three hundred years."
"This time, the scale is neither large nor small, so it should last about two hundred years."
Chapter 282: Onii-sama, don't pity me just because I'm a delicate flower!
After listening to the summary from the god Itomori.
Yukima Azuma slightly furrowed his brow.
Don't even mention two hundred years.
Just this one variable"spirit power becoming active"Even twenty years was too long for Yukima Azuma.
"Is there any way to end the period of active spirit power earlier?"
Yukima Azuma asked in a low voice.
Even though he felt the possibility was very low, he still wanted to ask just in case.
"Apparently someone has done it before, but as for how exactly, I don't know either."
The god Itomori gave an unexpected but reasonable answer.
Although it had existed for a very long time.
The god Itomori lived in seclusion in a corner, only dwelling on Mount Itomori.
What it cared about was basically just the villagers of the town of Itomori.
After learning this information,
The purpose of Yukima Azuma's trip this time was more or less complete.
And after finishing the main topic, Yukima Azuma became curious.
"Now then, the town of Itomori has already been relocated."
If what Star and Lumine pursued was the observation of a happy fate
Then what the god Itomori pursued was the protection of the town of Itomori.
Only, now the town of Itomori no longer existed.
So, where would it go from here?
The seven-colored butterfly perched on Yukima Azuma's fingertip lightly fluttered its wings.
It flew up, then gently landed on the vibrant Kumihimo string beside the shrine.
"The bond between people, and between people and spirits, cannot be easily severed."
"Just like the fine threads that eventually weave together into a Kumihimo knot."
The god Itomori answered like that.
Yukima Azuma lightly nodded.
Miyamizu Mitsuha had also said similar words.
Neither the Miyamizu family nor the god Itomori were outdated existences.
Compared to a piece of land, they clearly valued people more.
After understanding the thoughts of the god Itomori,
Yukima Azuma didn't make any suggestion to take the god Itomori away.
Even though the power of the god Itomori could be called truly cheat-level
But the other party clearly wanted to remain in this land, the place called Itomori.
Their powers also existed to protect Itomori.
...
Leaving the cave where the shrine was located,
Yukima Azuma and Suou Yuki stepped on the thick snow, following the mountain path downward.
There were still footprints visible from the way up.
Suou Yuki tried to match her steps to those prints.
(^^ ) -
As she walked, it looked like she was doing a catwalk.
After a while, when she looked back and saw only one row of footprints, the girl let out a playful laugh.
"This world really does have gods existing, huh~."
After laughing, Suou Yuki suddenly sighed.
"In reality, they're not much different from humans or animals."
Yukima Azuma casually replied.
The gods in this world were almost unrelated to the deities humans worshipped.
They had their own pursuits.
Even though they possessed extraordinary powers, they also had their own flaws.
"Onii-sama, do you think the story of Yuki-onna is real?"
Suou Yuki looked at the snowy scenery around her, and a strange thought suddenly popped into her head.
The so-called Yuki-onna
Was an ancient legend in Japan.
A breathtakingly beautiful woman said to appear in snowy mountains.
She would pretend to be injured, luring those with evil intent to approach.
Then she would drain dry all their life force.
How they drain it depends on which version you're readingfolktale or hentai.
"Probably..." Yukima Azuma was just about to shake his head and say these urban legends weren't credible.
But then he suddenly remembered the existence of Yotsuya Miko.
His words became somewhat uncertain.
"Ah, I twisted my ankle is there any kind soul passing by who could take me home~!"
( )
Just as Yukima Azuma was deep in thought.
A dramatic tone from the girl came from beside him.
Suou Yuki leaned against a tree, looking like she was about to fall.
Her black hair hung down, carrying a feeling that truly evoked sympathy.
Yuki: (`)
Also Yuki but inside: ( )
Seeing Yukima Azuma look over,
Suou Yuki winked at him.
( - ) Wink! Wink!
After winking, she didn't forget to continue pretending to be weak.
Yukima Azuma couldn't help it and let out a soft chuckle.
Then he adjusted his expression and played along.
"Ojou-sama, allow me to carry you down the mountain."
( _)
As he spoke, he crouched down in front of Suou Yuki.
Unexpectedly, Yukima Azuma really played along with her joke.
Suou Yuki was slightly surprised, her eyes widened.
Right after that, the corners of the girl's lips curled up, unable to hide a delighted smile.
Both her arms wrapped around Yukima Azuma's neck, her soft body pressed against his back.
Although Suou had cup-C,
But both of them were wearing thick mountaineering outfits anyway.
So honestly, it didn't really give off any ambiguous feeling.
Yukima Azuma carried her on his back.
The moment she was lifted off the ground, causing a shift in gravity
Suou Yuki unconsciously let out a "wa~".
Then, her field of vision changed.
Even though compared to other girls, Suou Yuki wasn't considered short,
But compared to Yukima Azuma, she was still nearly a whole head shorter.
Let alone now that she was being carried on his back.
With the height difference, the world in her eyes became completely different.
Looking at the tree branches above her head, right in front of her
Suou Yuki was filled with a sense of freshness.
After gradually getting used to the new field of view,
Suou Yuki suddenly leaned forward, pressing close to Yukima Azuma's side.
For most girls, this kind of experience was very ordinary.
But for Suou Yuki, this was the kind of interaction she had long dreamed of.
The feeling of that moment, for Suou Yuki, surpassed anything else.
"Onii-sama Yuki really happy."
()
Suou Yuki softly murmured.
"Mm." Yukima Azuma replied indifferently.
Although this girl's personality was surprisingly mature,
But after all, she was still just a high school girl.
Let alone the fact she grew up in an environment like the Suou family's.
What she longed for were exactly these kinds of simple experiences.
In this, Yukima Azuma understood better than anyone.
Even so, that touching moment didn't last very long.
"To repay this happiness, I'm willing to offer my pure virgin body to onii-sama!"
"Come on! Onii-sama, don't hold back just because I'm a delicate flower!"
)
Obviously, Suou Yuki couldn't stay serious for more than three seconds.
Hearing the girl babbling these wolfish words beside his ear,
Several veins seemed to pop up on Yukima Azuma's forehead.
( `)
He truly considered tossing her straight into the snowbank nearby.
Just as Yukima Azuma was about to turn his head and say a few words to her
The moment he tilted his head.
The girl's face suddenly zoomed in right in front of his eyes.
A soft sensation landed on his lips.
( ( )!
In the cold, snow-covered world
That warm and gentle feeling immediately awakened the slightly frozen nerves of Yukima Azuma.
His steps involuntarily paused.
In the quiet forest, time seemed to have been paused by someone.
Two tiny creatures poked their heads out from behind a bush, quietly "eating melon" and watching the scene unfold.
How's cute!
(> v <)
Star and Lumine were obsessed with this kind of stuff!
At that moment, the twin gods felt even more certain that leaving their old dwelling to follow Yukima Azuma was the best decision of their lives.
...
It's unclear how much time had passed.
Yukima Azuma began walking again.
In the silent forest, the sound of footsteps crunching in the snow echoed once more.
The two emergency foodwere now completely quiet.
Suou Yuki buried her face into Yukima Azuma's shoulder.
From the angle no one could see, the expression on the girl's face became exceedingly captivating.
If this scene were drawn on the cover of a light novel, it would definitely become a bestseller.
That silent understanding between them lasted all the way down the mountain.
It wasn't until they stepped onto the street in town,
That Suou Yuki realized she had been carried the entire way.
Yukima Azuma's stamina was so good, he didn't feel any strain or heaviness at all, to the point he completely, she was forgot even being carried.
After jumping down to the ground,
Suou Yuki's face was still slightly flushed.
But at that moment, she revealed a sweet smile, her eyes curving as she looked toward Yukima Azuma.
Once Yukima Azuma turned to look at her,
She immediately smiled and said:
"Onii-sama, those words just now were all Yuki's true feelings."
( `)
Yukima Azuma reached out and pinched Suou Yuki's cheek.
"You really are I'm speechless."
..............
Yo, 26 chapters left in two weeks until the story ends.
But I decided to post it all this week, so throw me your shiny power stones.
()
The highest this fanfic has ever ranked is top 143, give me a chance to get into the top 100 rank once, or simply as high as possible.
( )
Thanks you, have a nice day )
After returning to the Suou household
Yukima Azuma stayed there for another day, then set out to leave again.
Before the spring break officially began, he still had a few matters to deal with.
Mrs. Suou had sincerely tried to keep Yukima Azuma to stay twice.
Seeing that he really had urgent business
She could only reluctantly let go.
( )
By the time Yukima Azuma had already left
The Suou household returned to its usual daily rhythm.
Suou Yuki, as always, returned to her room, sat at her desk, and began handling some work related to the Suou family.
Onlyon that afternoon.
When Suou Yuki had just finished dealing with the current work,
Her door was suddenly knocked on.
She glanced at her wristwatch, full of doubt.
It wasn't dinner time yet.
Normally, if nothing urgent came up, even Kimishima Ayano rarely visited her room at this hour.
Just as Suou Yuki was about to speak
"Yuki, are you free?"
Her mother's voice, Mrs. Suou, rang out from outside the door.
Suou Yuki paused for a moment.
Then she stood up from her seat and went to open the door.
"Mom, what is it?"
Seeing Suou Yuki open the door,
Mrs. Suou smiled gently.
"Looks like you just finished your work. Come have some afternoon tea with me."
"It's been a long time since you and I had a chance to sit and chat alone."
As she spoke, she pulled Suou Yuki's hand and led her toward the sitting room.
Being pulled so suddenly, Suou Yuki felt slightly dizzy.
Since elementary school
Her mother had never proactively held her hand like this again.
She was momentarily a little flustered.
Unable to understand why Mrs. Suou suddenly changed so much.
Seeing the doubtful look on her daughter's face,
Mrs. Suou silently self-reflected in her heart.
Thinking carefully, her attitude toward her daughter all these years had indeed been problematic.
Clearly, it was the fault of the girl's father, and just because Yuki bore some resemblance to him in her demeanor,
She had gradually built a wall between them.
Fortunately, what happened this time made her realize it.
The relationship between Mrs. Suou and Suou Yuki was actually extremely delicateseparated only by a thin layer of paper.
Both carried within them things they couldn't truly understand about the other.
Mrs. Suou felt Suou Yuki was the type who didn't value emotions.
Whereas Suou Yuki didn't understand why her mother was somewhat distant with her.
If only someone was willing to pierce through that thin "paper window," all misunderstandings could easily be resolved.
It was just that this had dragged on until now.
Fortunately, at this point, it didn't seem to be anything too serious anymore.
...
Somewhere else
After leaving the Suou household,
Yukima Azuma returned home for a few days, then once again set off for Chiba.
Chiba Shogi Club.
"Hmm, but where's Ginko-senpai?"
Azuma asked curiously.
Just earlier while chatting, he had glanced around once, yet didn't see any trace of Sora Ginko.
But logically, around this time, Ginko should be at the club.
As a genius among female Shogi players, one with the potential to break the professional boundary for womenSora Ginko.
Normally, she was very diligent in practice.
"Haha, ever since you got here your eyes have been darting all overso it turns out you're looking for Ginko-chan~"
( )
Kiyotaki Keika softly chuckled while covering her mouth.
As a onee-san-senpai,
She fully supported her bro-kouhai and sis-kouhai being close and affectionate with each other.
Especially considering how little Yukima Azuma used to be a walking log.
Now he finally figured things out, which made her immensely satisfied.
"Today Ginko-chan went for a magazine photoshoot, over at the publishing office."
"If you're planning to go find her, you should head out now."
"She only left a short while ago."
Keika explained with a smile.
As the current holder of the Queen and Throne of Woman titles in the Shogi world,
And being young and beautiful,
Sora Ginko was the public face of the Shogi scene.
The nickname 'Snow White of Naniwa' wasn't just to praise Ginko's skills,
But also spoke to her outstanding beauty.
From time to time, Sora Ginko would accept offers to do a few photoshoots for magazines or interviews for newspapers and such.
This time, Yukima Azuma had arrived at just the right moment right on the day Ginko went for a shoot.
...
After asking Kiyotaki Keika for the address of the publishing office,
Azuma immediately left the Shogi club and headed straight there.
The moment he arrived outside the building, before he could even say a word,
a passing reporter already recognized him.
"You're Ryuuou, Yukima-sensei, aren't you?!"
()
The young female reporter couldn't hide her excitement upon seeing Azuma.
After all, Yukima Azuma was famous for being an extremely difficult person to interview.
Normally, trying to get him to say anything or appear in any media was practically impossible.
Yet, his level of fame was ridiculously high.
Which made the press both adore and feel utterly helpless with him.
"Umu, I'm here to see someone. Can I go inside?"
Yukima Azuma pointed toward the interior of the publishing office.
The reporter quickly nodded enthusiastically.
The publishing office wasn't some kind of restricted zone anyway.
On regular days, visitors often came by to look around.
Many interviews also took place right inside here.
Bringing someone in wasn't a big deal at all.
What's more, if she could dig up anything from Yukima Azuma
then this girl would be scoring big time!
"Yukima-sensei, the drama series Hikaru no Shogi where you played the leadis it true filming's finished already?"
"Ah Yukima-sensei, could you share a bit about your life after earning the Ryuuou title?"
"Yukima-sensei, is your visit to the publishing house this time because ah! I knew ityou're here for Snow White!"
"Yukima-sensei, just one private question, I absolutely won't publish this or tell anyone, I swear"
"Between Snow White and Empress, who do you like more? Are you dating anyone?"
Along the way, the reporter kept firing off one question after another.
Yukima Azuma politely gave a few brief replies.
But when it came to that final personal question
Yukima Azuma looked at her with a deeply puzzled expression.
What do you mean, Ginko and Sainokami Ika? What kind of comparison even is that?
Seeing Azuma look confused, the reporter hesitated a little.
"Ah well, wasn't it that Sainokami Ika once confessed to Yukima-sensei before"
"Even though she was rejected, afterwards you two still participated in a few tournaments together"
"So then could it be that it's not Sainokami-san or Sora-san? It's Little Ryuuou?!"
Azuma: ( ®® ) ?!
The more he listened, the stiffer his expression became.
Why the hell is she bringing up Hinatsuru Ai??? That girl is my young disciple!
Azuma lightly waved his hand, signaling he didn't want to answer any more of these questions.
At the same time, his gaze turned toward the reporter with clear disdain.
This reporter don't tell me she's the real lolicon here?
If you really are one, then at least stop projecting it onto other people!
The reporter immediately went silent, but inside she seemed to have just experienced a revelation:
I understand now!!(Note: WTF is this girl even "understanding"? I don't get it at all.)
...
And so, walking and chatting like that, the two of them quickly arrived at the photography area.
Yukima Azuma poked his head in from the studio doorway.
Just in time to see Sora Ginko step onto the photo platform.
Below her were all kinds of lights, cameras, lensesall simultaneously pointing at the young girl.
At that moment, Sora Ginko was wearing her usual sailor uniform.
She wasn't posing, nor was she heavily made upshe simply stood there on the platform.
And yet, the photo quality was excellent.
There was really only one thing to say:
Beautiful girls look good in anything.
Yukima Azuma watched for a while, then tilted his head slightly in confusion:
"Didn't the magazine already do a couple of issues with senpai's school uniform before?"
"Didn't the magazine already do a couple of issues with senpai's school uniform before?"
( _ )
Looking at Sora Ginko in her sailor uniform, Yukima Azuma was slightly doubtful.
Although this uniform of senpai's was indeed very beautiful.
But this issue of the magazine was themed around spring break and New Year's, wasn't it?
Shouldn't she be wearing something that matches the theme?
Miss reporter guiding Yukima Azuma revealed an expression that looked like she wanted to say something but held back.
Since this was a magazine shoot, of course they had prepared a variety of outfits for the photoshoot.
But the problem was, this Snow White refused to change clothes.
The reporter was still trying to find the right words to say.
Meanwhile, Sora Ginko, who was having her photo taken, happened to glance toward the door.
She immediately noticed Yukima Azuma standing at the doorway.
Originally wearing an icy expression, Sora Ginko's eyes instantly widened.
( )
The photographer in charge of the shoot frantically pressed the shutter.
Capturing a different expression from Sora Ginkowhat a rare opportunity!
Unfortunately, her gaze wasn't directed at the camera.
"Sora-sensei, that expression just now was truly amazing."
"May I ask if you could look into the lens and do it once more?"
A cameraman couldn't help but ask.
But Sora Ginko only shook her head, then stepped off the photoshoot platform from the side.
After that, she quickly walked toward the entrance.
Watching Sora Ginko's light steps that didn't lose any elegance
A group of photographers looked as if question marks had popped up above their heads.
(" v ") ?
They followed her gaze and turned to the entrance.
Only then did they notice Yukima Azuma standing there.
Several of them suddenly understood.
Naruhodo ne...
So that expression earlier wasn't for the camera.
It was the look she had when seeing someone she cared about.
Looks like today's shoot ends here.
One of the photographers replayed the photo just taken.
Even though Sora Ginko wasn't looking at the camera, that moment's expression was genuinely moving.
Sora Ginko's usual emotionless face was already enough to drive a horde of fans crazy.
But that expression she wore, looking at someone she held dearnow that could truly stir hearts.
( )
As for the main character, Yukima Azuma...
He watched Sora Ginko take light steps running toward him.
And felt... absolutely no special fluttering of the heart.
After all, his senpai always ran over to him like this whenever they met.
Truly, blessed and unaware of it.
...
"You... why did you come here?"
Arriving in front of Yukima Azuma, Sora Ginko blinked joyfully and curiously asked.
"Well, it's spring break now, right? I came to the shogi club and didn't see senpai."
"Keika-nee said you were at a magazine shoot, so I just came straight here."
Yukima Azuma explained with a smile.
Hearing that, the corners of Sora Ginko's mouth rose slightly without her realizing it.
()
This year's spring break was an especially important time for Sora Ginko.
To be more precise, it marked the end of her term.
Because this year, Sora Ginko was graduating from middle school.
Once she finished the national integrated exam, she would officially enter high school.
And Sora Ginko and Yukima Azuma had made a promise.
They had to pass the entrance exam for Toyogasaki Private Academy in Tokyo.
By then, Sora Ginko would be able to move to Tokyo for school.
Not only could she enjoy school life together with Yukima Azuma
More importantly, if she were to study in Tokyo, living in Chiba would be inconvenient.
And if she had to live in Tokyo...
She'd have to rent a place anyway, so really, wouldn't it make the most sense to live at... Yukima's house?
(. .)
Already full of anticipation for the cohabitation life, Sora Ginko
Upon discovering Yukima Azuma had come to pick her up
Could barely contain her overflowing joy.
It's just that this senpai was a tsundere by nature.
If not for that tsundere tendency holding her back, she'd probably have already leapt into his arms by now.
"The results aren't out yet."
She tried her best to hold back her smile.
Sora Ginko softly said.
The integrated middle school exam was held later than the high school one.
It had already finished now, but the results hadn't been released yet.
"It's early this morning."
Yukima Azuma had already planned to check the results with Sora Ginko.
"Umu, then let's go, back to the shogi club."
Sora Ginko nodded.
Yukima Azuma glanced at the group of photographers and reporters still eavesdropping behind them.
"All done with the shoot?"
Obviously, it didn't matter what the cameramen thought about whether the shoot was over or not
As long as Sora Ginko thought it was done, then it was done.
Luckily, the magazine cover was already done.
A photo of Sora Ginko not looking into the lens ended up on the cover of the next issue of the shogi magazine.
And just to add, that issue turned out to be the best-selling one to date.
Despite being released during a period with no major shogi tournaments
It even outsold the issue released during the Ryuuou title match.
...
After leaving the editorial office,
Yukima Azuma curiously glanced at Sora Ginko's left hand.
On Sora Ginko's left wrist, the crown-shaped jade stone sparkled enchantingly under the sunlight,
Swaying gently with her every step.
Of course, Yukima Azuma wasn't looking at the crown-shaped jade bracelet he had given herThe one Sora Ginko always wore on her wrist, even refusing to take off while bathing.
Ginko: (,,><,,) b-baka!
What caught his eye was the paper bag in her left hand, completely plain and unbranded.
"What's that?"
Yukima Azuma asked with a hint of curiosity.
Sora Ginko wasn't the type to carry bagslet alone hold one herself.
Following Yukima Azuma's gaze,
Sora Ginko gave the paper bag in her hand a little shake.
She replied casually:
"Clothes the editorial office prepared."
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow slightly.
So they did prepare outfits after all.
But Sora Ginko didn't wear them.
Could it be those kinds of clothes?
(_)
If it was that kind of outfit, Yukima Azuma was already mentally prepared to give this editorial team a little taste of some capital shock.
"Can I have a look?" Yukima Azuma reached out his hand.
Hearing that, Sora Ginko nodded and handed him the paper bag.
Opening the paper bag
Inside were two outfits.
A bright red blouse and a matching long red skirt.
At a glance, the design clearly screamed Lunar New Year fashion.
Like something little girls wear when going around to greet relatives and collect lucky money.
But it was completely different from what Yukima Azuma had imagined.
These two outfits could be described as extremely conservative.
The blouse had long sleeves, with no slits or see-through designs at all.
As for the neckline, far from being low-cut, it actually had a high winter-style collar.
The long skirt was even more modestreaching past the calves.
Yukima Azuma quietly retracted the capital shock he was about to unleash.
He looked at Sora Ginko with slight doubt.
"You didn't have to wear this during the shoot?"
Sora Ginko shook her head.
"I didn't want to change."
If that little reporter had known what Yukima Azuma was thinking...
She'd probably scream out a grievance more tragic than Aqua's.
;
Every time the editorial team prepared clothes, they were always proper, respectable outfits.
But every time, Sora Ginko refused to wear them.
To the point where, eventually, the clothes just ended up being gifts from the editorial office to Sora Ginko.
The photographers had no choice but to keep changing backdrops and finding new angles for each issue.
They had no other optionsthis was a shogi magazine.
And there were only a handful of people who could even be on the cover.
Getting Sora Ginko to appear on camera at all was already a blessing.
And then there was one more personthe one the editorial team invited every single issue, but never managed to schedule even once.
That's right, they were talking about Yukima Azuma.
Every time a report of Yukima Azuma's match was published
Shogi magazine editorial teams across the country were pounding their chests and stomping their feet.
A bishonen like thiseven if we used a brick Nokia phone, the cover would still be heartbreakingly stunning!
Damn it! Just let us get one damn shot!
()
Chapter 285: Keika The Wingman
"The time that sifts through everything just to leave only you behind; my world keeps changing, but you never miss a beat~~~"
The sound of a phone ringing echoed.
Yukima Azuma took out his phone.
A soft, pleasant guitar melody played.
Sora Ginko blinked a few times, trying to recall the song.
She found it really nice.
But it seemed she had never heard it before.
Yukima Azuma glanced at the caller ID.
It was Kiyotaki Keika.
He answered the call.
"Keika-nee? Umu, I've picked up senpai already, we're on our way back."
"Huh? I see. Got it. Then we'll just eat out."
After that brief exchange
Yukima Azuma hung up.
"What did Keika-nee say?"
( -)?
Sora Ginko asked curiously.
"Keika-nee said something suddenly came up and she had to go out. Master's not home either."
"No one's at the club right now, so she told us to come back a bit later."
Yukima Azuma repeated what Keika had said, though his expression looked slightly doubtful.
(_ )
Upon hearing that, Sora Ginko's eyes lit up instantly.
Perfectnow she could have Azuma all to herself!
( )
And since it was almost lunchtime, they could eat out together.
It was practically a date!
Yukima Azuma, however, recalled what Kiyotaki Keika had been wearing when he left
A comfy home outfit.
She didn't look like she was planning to go out at all.
And Master? Wasn't he at the club playing some gacha Bishojo game?
They'd barely been gone for that long. Why were both of them suddenly "busy"?
Azuma: ( - ) Suspicious
Keika: (>) Ehe~
...
Since they weren't heading back to the club
The two decided to change plans on the spot.
They found a local Chinese restaurant in Chiba.
"Welcome~"
"What would you two like to order today?"
A middle-aged man in a black suit approached, holding a menu.
Sora Ginko, being shy around strangers, hesitantly hid behind Yukima Azuma.
"Anything you'd recommend?"
Yukima Azuma asked casually.
He had a fairly good impression of Chinese restaurants in Japan.
First of all, being both Asian cultures, the flavors and cooking styles were somewhat familiar.
Secondly, the two countries were geographically close, and cultural exchange was frequent.
So Chinese cuisine in Japan generally stayed quite authentic.
Even when dishes were tweaked for local palates, they didn't taste "off."
Unlike in Europe, where it was a whole different story.
At the very least, Yukima Azuma had been to Hawaii and Wall Street before, and not once had he dared step into a Chinese restaurant over there.
Hearing Yukima Azuma ask for a recommendation
The middle-aged man, who seemed to be the owner, immediately flashed a friendly smile.
"Do you two like mapo tofu? That's our specialty dish."
"Actually, I'm quite confident in my mapo tofu."
"To strike the perfect balance between aroma and flavor, I use five different spices."
"To really bring out the freshness of the tofu and the fragrance of the chili, we've put a lot of effort into our cooking techniques."
As the restaurant owner enthusiastically went on and on
Sora Ginko instinctively clicked her tongue.
"It won't be as good as Azuma's, anyway."
Though she didn't speak loudly
It seemed the owner still heard it.
The man who'd just been rambling passionately suddenly stopped, casting a glance at Yukima Azuma, his expression briefly stunned.
( _ )
Seeing the poor guy visibly shaken, Yukima Azuma gave a small cough to smooth things over:
"Uh sorry about that. We'll have one order of mapo tofu, one special sauced rib, and a combo fried rice set, please."
The owner nodded silently and walked off with the menu.
Sora Ginko pressed her lips together, a little embarrassed.
(,,,,)
She had just blurted it out without thinking
But honestly, she meant it.
After all, Yukima Azuma had level 8 cooking skills, and Chinese cuisine was his specialty.
Sure, saying it so bluntly might've been a little rude
Yukima Azuma gently patted Sora Ginko's head.
The small, flustered look of his little senpaiawkward and shy like thiswas undeniably adorable.
He took her hand and led her toward a two-person table in the restaurant.
They both sat on the same side.
Sora Ginko slid into the inner seat.
She casually removed her thick white fur coat.
Yukima Azuma reached over to help her pull one sleeve off.
Watching him hang up her coat
Sora Ginko's eyes curved slightly as she smiled softly.
Even so, a true tsundere would never admit she was happy.
(,,><,,) b-baka!
"Oh right, the Meijin Tournamentare you planning to join this year?"
Trying to ease the atmosphere, Sora Ginko brought up a topic herself.
After placing her coat carefully, Yukima Azuma shook his head in response.
The Meijin-sen was held every spring.
Among all the major titles, it carried the highest level of prestige.
"Meijin" was considered the ultimate destination for every professional shogi player.
If the Ryuuou title represented the birth of the strongest genius
Then Meijin represented the gathering of the absolute strongest players.
And yet, Yukima Azuma wasn't aiming for it.
Even his motivation for claiming the Ryuuou title hadn't stemmed from the title itself.
Maybe someday, if he had time to spare, he might casually pick up the Eternal Meijin title.
But this year, barring any special reason, he had no plans to enter any more tournaments...
At most, he'd just focus on defending the Ryuuou title.
Seeing Yukima Azuma shake his head
Sora Ginko seemed a bit surprised.
"Really? Then you're going to turn down the Meijin's challenge too?"
"Huh?"
Yukima Azuma looked confused.
Seeing his blank expression
Sora Ginko blinked once.
"Keika-nee didn't tell you?"
"Yesterday, the Meijin asked President Tsukimitsu to visit our shogi club."
"He said he wanted to arrange a match with you."
"And since the Meijin-sen is coming up, he also asked whether you planned to participate."
Yukima Azuma shook his head again.
He honestly had no idea about any of that.
In truth, Kiyotaki Keika had completely forgotten to tell him.
At first, after some casual chatting, she had planned to bring it up
But the moment Yukima Azuma mentioned Sora Ginko
That onee-san-senpai of theirs immediately switched into wingman mode, too busy playing matchmaker for her two kouhai.
Keika: ()*
And just like that, the challenge was yeeted straight out of her memory.
After a brief moment of surprise
Yukima Azuma realized it actually wasn't that strange.
The current Meijinwas the top figure in the world of shogi.
In fact, possibly the greatest shogi player in history.
After successfully securing the Eternal Meijin title
He'd fixed his sights on a singular pursuit.
To discover shogi's ultimate answer.
In the end, does the first move truly hold the advantage?
Or is it better to go second?
To answer that, Meijin had studied nearly every possible sequence of shogi moves.
He'd battled countless powerful, unconventional opponents.
And in the world of shogi todayexcluding a few "old relics" with level 9 skill who'd already retired
Among the active players, only two had reached level 9 in shogi technique:
Yukima Azuma, and Meijin.
To Meijin, Yukima Azuma was the shortcut to the ultimate answer.
Thinking back to their previous match
"Umu, then I suppose I should make the trip."
Just then, Sora Ginko was sipping her drink.
Hearing that, she gently bit down on her straw.
Meijin, huh
She had the feeling this boy was about to step even further ahead.
She'd have to work harder too.
Right at that moment
The middle-aged owner came over, holding their food.
"Here you aremapo tofu for the two of you. Please enjoy."
Chapter 286: Senpai's Overwhelming Aura
Looking at the restaurant owner's confident face, clearly expecting a reaction from his guests
Yukima Azuma immediately knew, this guy was definitely about to get wrecked by his own mapo tofu.
Sora Ginko scooped a spoonful of mapo tofu.
She gently blew on it a few times, then brought it to her mouth.
" nom-nom~
The moment it entered, the girl's eyebrows furrowed tightly.
Without saying a word
But to the middle-aged owner, that expression hurt more than any words ever could.
"Um may I ask is there something wrong with the dish?"
()
Clinging to a sliver of hope, the owner spoke up.
But Sora Ginko merely frowned slightly and shook her head.
And with that, the last bit of hope in the owner crumbled into pieces.
_
His Chinese restaurant had only just opened not long ago.
He had even gone all the way to China to learn in person.
All he wanted was to create the most authentic Chinese cuisine possible.
Because he had studied so thoroughly, he was extremely confident in his flavor.
And yet, right after opening the restaurant, he'd already gotten such a bad reaction.
"If it doesn't suit your taste, I'll refund you both,"
()
he offered.
At this point, the owner was already debating whether he should just clean up, shut the place down, go into seclusion and train for another 30 years before trying again.
Yukima Azuma also picked up a spoon and tried a bite.
All in all, the flavor was very good.
The numbing spiciness brought out the soft, fresh texture of the tofu.
It didn't include any of the bizarre ingredients sometimes added in Japanese-style adaptations.
At least there were no strawberries.
Overall, this mapo tofu could definitely be rated Level 7 Cooking Skills.
Thinking about it again, the reason Sora Ginko frowned was probably because it was too spicy.
Authentic mapo tofu is like that.
But generally speaking, Japanese palates don't handle strong spiciness well.
A lot of dishes that made it over here had their spiciness toned down to some degree.
"No need to refund, it's delicious,"
Yukima said.
"Owner-san, maybe you could consider adjusting the heat a bit."
"After all, most people in Japan can't really handle too much spice."
"Food should adapt to local tastes anywayit's meant to be eaten, right?"
Yukima Azuma knew this because once, when he cooked, he'd accidentally made Eriri cry from the heat.
That was back when he was still just starting to level up his cooking skills.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's advice,
The middle-aged owner looked like he'd just had a sudden revelation.
"Naruhodo! I get it now! I get it!"
w(®o®)w
Muttering those words,
The owner bowed slightly to Yukima Azuma.
Then immediately dashed back into the kitchen.
With no one else around anymore,
Sora Ginko finally dropped her composureshe stuck out her tiny pink tongue, her eyes welling up with tears from the spiciness.
Yukima Azuma handed her a cold can of soda.
Watching Sora Ginko sip it like a kitten lapping up water,
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but smile.
"You're still laughing!"
( )
Sora Ginko grumbled through half-mumbled words, throwing a mild accusation at Yukima Azuma.
He immediately bowed in apology:
"I didn't expect it to be that spicy either."
It had been mentioned beforeSora Ginko's palate had developed back when she was hospitalized as a child.
The hospital food had always been bland.
So she became especially attached to things like mayonnaise.
And because of that, she couldn't handle spicy foods at all.
Seeing Yukima Azuma sincerely apologize,
Sora Ginko let out a little hmph, feigning haughtiness.
Then, the owner brought out a few more of the house specialties.
Some of them weren't even dishes Yukima Azuma had ordered.
When he asked, the owner simply said they were on the house.
The following dishes had their spiciness well-controlled.
Even Sora Ginko could taste a little before stopping.
When it was time to pay and leave,
The owner flatly refused to take any money.
...
After Yukima Azuma and Sora Ginko had left
This newly opened restaurant, which originally didn't have many customers, sank back into silence.
But soon, a woman stepped inside.
If Yukima Azuma were still here,
he would've recognized that this woman was none other than the cooking teacher from Toyogasaki.
"One order of mapo tofu,"
she said softly after sitting down.
The middle-aged owner nodded slightly, as though facing a formidable enemy, and headed into the kitchen.
Not long after, a freshly made plate of adjusted mapo tofu was brought out.
The cooking teacher first carefully examined the appearance of the dish.
Then she smelled the aroma.
Finally, she scooped a small spoonful and brought it to her mouth.
She closed her eyes and chewed slowly, savoring it.
When she opened her eyes, there was a complicated expression on her face.
"Senpai, you've improved."
Upon hearing that, the tension on the middle-aged owner's face melted into a smile.
( )
The cooking teacher took a few more bites.
Then she set her spoon down and fell into deep thought.
"Back then, when sensei opposed you going to China for training, you stubbornly went anyway."
"Now, it seems reality has proven that you really have taken another step forward on the path of culinary arts."
"Maybe I should go train in China too?"
The two of them had studied under the same Master.
But their personalities were different.
The ownersenpaiwas of average talent but had a burning passion for cooking.
Whereas the cooking teacherkouhaiwas exceptionally gifted, yet when her skills hit a bottleneck, she began looking elsewhere for direction.
That was until the first half of this year.
When a student stirred something inside hera nerve only a true chef would understand.
Since then, the cooking teacher had started feeling a desire to push forward again.
Now, seeing her senpai who, despite their Master's objections, had gone to China and clearly improved
She couldn't help but consider following that path as well.
But the middle-aged owner shook his head.
"To be honest, sensei was right. I shouldn't have gone to China."
"Though China has a long culinary tradition, finding a true master to learn from was far too difficult."
"All I really learned was how to cook dishesI never touched the true essence."
"The reason I've improved now is because a young man gave me just two small pieces of advice earlier."
As he recalled the youthful figure of Yukima Azuma,
The middle-aged owner couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Hearing this, the cooking teacher felt a jolt in her chest.
A young man?
But the middle-aged owner was completely oblivious to the subtle change in his kouhai's expression.
He simply continued musing beside her:
"That young man's cooking skills might honestly be better than mine."
"A once-in-a-millennium culinary genius."
"If sensei were to see him, he'd probably go wild with joy."
"Oh rightdidn't I hear sensei recently took on a new apprentice? What's their like?"
"Kouhai-kun? Are you even listening to me? Ah, the snow's started. I need to go bring the signboard in."
(note: umm, after adding the emojis, i feel like i accidentally cooked a middle aged uncle into an emotional young girl)
...
Outside the glass window, white snow danced and fluttered.
Even in Japan, snowfalls like this were rare.
The phrase "snow falling like goose feathers" may be old-fashioned,
but it painted a vivid picture.
On the streets of Chiba,
White snowflakes had already gathered on the heads of Sora Ginko and Yukima Azuma.
Because Sora Ginko had silver hair, it wasn't very noticeable.
But Yukima Azuma looked as if he'd aged several decades.
Sora Ginko stood on tiptoes and reached up to brush the snow from Yukima Azuma's hair.
But more snow quickly landed again.
The snowfall was only getting heavier.
Watching Sora Ginko seriously battling the snow,
Yukima Azuma chuckled softly, then suddenly pulled the girl in front of him into his arms.
"W-what are you doing?!"
(,,><,,)
Sora Ginko flustered, embarrassed, but still tried to maintain composure as she questioned him.
After all, she was the senpaishe had to uphold the dignity of a senpai!
"I just thought Ginko-senpai looked too cute."
Yukima Azuma's blunt words effortlessly shattered all the commanding aura Sora Ginko had tried to build.
After frolicking in the snow for a while,
Sora Ginko was clearly starting to pant.
Looking at the girl's frail, delicate figure,
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but worry
If someday the two of them ended up "icha icha paradise," would she even be able to handle it?
Their breath turned into mist in the cold air.
Through that faint mist,
Sora Ginko felt that Yukima Azuma's expression had become a little strange.
As if he was thinking about something not exactly pure.
Not quite perverted,
But Sora Ginko still couldn't help turning beet red.
(//>.
Luckily, it was winterYukima Azuma's ears had turned red from the cold too.
"Where should we go now?"
Sora Ginko asked.
The snow was falling so heavily now that, normally, the two of them should be heading back.
Even if Kiyotaki Keika had gone out for something, by now she'd surely returned to the shogi club, seeing how heavy the snow was.
But moments like thesejust the two of them alonewere rare.
If they just turned back now, Sora Ginko would feel reluctant, like a child still wanting to play.
Despite the heavy snowfall, she still clung to the joy of being outdoors.
Yukima Azuma glanced at his phone.
Keika had messaged, saying she'd returned to the club.
But he shared the same thought as Sora Ginko.
So, Yukima Azuma simply ignored the message.
Due to the heavy snowfall, public transportation like trains had temporarily halted some operations.
On the streets, taxis were ridiculously rare.
Now and then, one would drive bybut clearly already had passengers.
Taxis in Japan were not only expensive, but also notoriously hard to catch.
On top of that, with mobile payments still not widely used,
there definitely weren't many app-based ride services either.
Standing out in the snow waiting for a taxi? They'd turn into snowmen.
In short
"Let's find somewhere to take shelter from the snow first. Once it eases up, we'll head back."
Yukima Azuma pointed toward the end of a nearby street.
Sora Ginko looked in that direction.
She saw the signboard hanging in front of a hotel.
The girl's lips tightened slightly on their own.
Then, she gave a small nod.
"There's no other choice I guess."
(,,,,)
Just like that, the two of them walked toward the hotel at the end of the street.
It wasn't peak travel season or anything.
Add in the heavy snow, and the hotel was nearly empty.
Yukima Azuma took out his wallet and booked the most expensive suite.
Guided by a hotel staff member, the two took the elevator and arrived at the door of their room.
"This is your room. Please enjoy your stay."
With that, the hotel staff disappeared immediately.
A standard hotel farewell phrase
But for Sora Ginko, it made her feel strangely guilty.
Yukima Azuma swiped the keycard to open the door.
Although the curtains were drawn, the overcast snow-filled sky outside still made the room dim.
When he turned on the overhead light, warm illumination instantly filled every corner.
Late afternoon, heavy snow, a room bathed in golden glow
A scene filled with dj vu.
"Ginko-senpai, you go shower first."
Yukima Azuma said.
Hearing that, a massive exclamation mark seemed to pop up over Sora Ginko's head.
( ®®) !!
She might not have much experience in that kind of thing
But as a young girl, she had seen a few romance-leaning works.
A guy and a girl alone, checking into a hotel, and then the girl showers first
No matter how you looked at it, that sequence was clearly that kind of setup!
(o)
Not that it was totally unacceptable
But wasn't this pace a bit fast!?
Seeing Ginko staring wide-eyed, like she'd just been struck by lightning,
Yukima Azuma paused for a second
Then couldn't help but chuckle softly.
He reached up and plucked a lingering snowflake from her hair.
The snowflake quickly melted on his fingertip.
Azuma gently dabbed the cold droplet on the tip of Ginko's nose.
"What were you thinking? You're soaked from the snowif you don't shower and change, you'll catch a cold."
Feeling the cool droplet on the tip of her nose,
Ginko suddenly realized
She'd totally misunderstood.
"Hentai! Aho! Baka! Yontoryu! Shineeee!!"
( Д )*
Flustered and furious, she shouted out the classic lines of a tsundere character, then dashed straight into the bathroom like a bolt of lightning.
Even after getting yelled at, Yukima Azuma wasn't the least bit upset
On the contrary, he chuckled even more happily.
Of course, Azuma wasn't some kind of M like some blonde ojou-sama.
He wasn't the type to get excited just because a girl insulted him or stomped on his face with white socks.
It was justhe genuinely found Ginko incredibly adorable like that.
He turned on the room's heater, took off his coat,
and patted away the snowflakes still clinging to his hair.
Some of them had already melted,
causing a few strands of his bangs to stick to his temples.
Azuma casually swept his hair aside.
Didn't bother him much.
After all, with his "8-point" constitution,
something like this wouldn't get him sick.
Then, he walked over to the window of the suite,
gazing out at the vast, snow-covered world.
Yukima Azuma recalled the last time he and Ginko had spent a snowy day together.
Come to think of it,
they probably had to go all the way back to childhood for that.
Ever since moving to Tokyo
Every time they met again, whether it was him or her,
one of them had to travel between Chiba and Tokyo.
Sure, they met up during spring break.
But because of travel logistics, it was always after the snow had already stopped.
Sora Ginko had always had a fragile constitution,
so moments like todayplaying together in the snowwere exceedingly rare.
...
While Azuma was lost in nostalgia, time quietly slipped by.
Roughly forty minutes had passed.
Yukima Azuma began to find it strange.
What's going on?
Even for a girl, this bath is taking way too long.
Remembering Ginko's weak health,
Yukima Azuma started getting worried.
Could it be his little senpai had fainted in the bathroom?
(®®)
With that in mind, he instinctively approached the bathroom door.
Ginko-senpai, bathing alone is dangeroustake Azuma-kouhai in with you!
( )
But just as he got close
He heard Sora Ginko calling from inside.
"Azuma Azuma!"
Her voice was laced with hesitation and shyness.
"I'm here. What is it?"
Azuma replied.
Maybe because his voice sounded too closelike he was right at the door
Ginko clearly got startled.
A panicked "Wahhh!" burst out from inside.
"W-What are you doing standing outside the door!? You're not peeking, are you!?"
(>/////< " )
At that moment, Ginko was crouching in the bathroom, hugging her body.
Even her fair neck was tinged with a soft blush.
"Relax. Just the sound of water alone is enough to give me three bowls of rice!"
Yukima Azuma threw out a cheeky joke.
Ginko: (®® )
And of course, what followed was a full-blown tsundere verbal beatdown from Sora Ginko.
Only after that did she mumble,
"I-In here there's no towel."
Yukima Azuma froze.
This suite cost more than even a presidential room.
And there's no towel in the bathroom!?
You've gotta be kidding me.
Azuma glanced around the area just outside the bathroom door.
And quickly spotted a small sign posted beside it.
"Towels are individually sealed.
Please retrieve them from the outside cabinet.
Due to humidity, it is not suitable to store towels inside the bathroom.
Thank you for your understanding."
The sign was placed quite visibly.
But Ginko, embarrassed out of her mind earlier, hadn't noticed it at all
And just dove straight into the bathroom.
Which meant
That inevitable scene: the towel hand-off
was now about to begin.
"The towel is outside."
Yukima Azuma took out the pre-arranged towel from the cabinet.
He looked at the frosted glass door of the bathroom, lost in thought.
( ® ®)
Through the fluorescent light in the bathroom, the slender figure of the girl could still be seen.
Though hazy, it truly stirred one's imagination endlessly.
Inside the bathroom, an awkward silence lingered for a long time.
Finally, accompanied by a faint creaking sound
The door was opened slightly.
Light steam flowed out from the small gap.
A small, jade-like white hand reached out.
On the girl's wrist, sparkling droplets of water still clung.
A glimpse of a part revealed the whole.
Just that one delicate hand was enough to make one imagine the breathtaking scene behind the door.
"Wha... what are you spacing out for? Hurry up and give me the towel!"
(,,><,,)
Sora Ginko still hadn't received the towel in her hand.
She urged him on, slightly flustered.
Yukima Azuma snapped back to reality and handed the towel to that hand.
With the towel in tow, that smooth, white hand swiftly retracted back into the bathroom and disappeared from sight.
The bathroom door closed once more.
Yukima Azuma let out a long sigh.
His gaze shifted toward the small table next to the entrance.
His eyes stopped at the paper bag casually placed on the table.
Only then did Yukima Azuma remember
Sora Ginko's clothes had been soaked by the snow.
While her underwear could still be worn, or even better not to wear it at all
It was probably better to change into a different outer outfit.
Meanwhile, Sora Ginko in the bathroom realized the same thing.
Aside from the undergarments, the rest of the clothes she brought along were more than halfway soaked.
She could still wear them...
But that would defeat the purpose of bathing altogether.
For a moment, Sora Ginko once again fell into a state of dilemma.
"How about trying on that souvenir outfit we brought back?"
Yukima Azuma's voice rang out just in time.
Sora Ginko stared at the frosted glass door for a while.
Then, silently cracked it open a little more.
...
By the time Sora Ginko stepped out of the bathroom...
Yukima Azuma felt like the world before his eyes had lit up.
()
Though he had briefly glanced at that Lunar New Year outfit earlier,
What mattered was who wore the outfit.
This vibrant red color, full of lifewhen worn by Sora Ginko...
Produced a kind of unique contrasting "moe."
Against the red fabric, the cuffs and hem were trimmed with white fur accents.
If Sora Ginko wore this to go wish people a Happy New Year...
Yukima Azuma would gladly hand over a hundred billion yen in red envelopes.
"Baka."
(,,,,)
Noticing Yukima Azuma staring at her,
Sora Ginko muttered quietly.
Her cheeks turned crimson like the evening glow.
Yet she didn't seem offendedin fact, she looked like she was enjoying it a little.
( )
Honestly, if Yukima Azuma hadn't looked at her like that after she came out of the bathroom...
She would've been the one disappointed.
Because that was proof of her charm!
Even if she was hailed as an idol in the shogi world,
The truth was, Sora Ginko didn't have that much confidence in her own allure.
After all, Yukima Azuma was surrounded by too many highly attractive girls.
But judging from the current situation...
This boy was clearly captivated by her.
Though blushing, it was a kind of blush laced with smugness.
"Ginko-senpai usually just wears a sailor uniform, right? How about using this chance to try out some different styles?"
()
Yukima Azuma suddenly suggested.
Looking at Sora Ginko in that adorable Lunar New Year outfit...
Yukima Azuma's desires were starting to get a little stirred.
She was that cute, after all.
Now he was beginning to understand the mindset of people who play dress-up games.
Sora Ginko blinked in surprise.
"I guess I could try... but there aren't any other outfits here."
Though Yukima Azuma being obviously enchanted was a good thing,
The whole changing clothes and cosplay thing still made her feel a little embarrassed.
So Sora Ginko came up with an excuse.
Yukima Azuma, however, lightly waved his hand like a young master.
"There will be!"
No need to say anything more.
Then, Sora Ginko only saw Yukima Azuma taking out his phone and making a few calls.
About half an hour later
A delivery person, covered in wind and snow, knocked on the door of the room.
A total of three delivery people arrived.
Their timings didn't overlap.
They each brought clothes from the shogi club, the Yukima household, and a shopping mall.
At the shogi club, there were some photoshoot outfits that the editorial photography team had previously prepared for Sora Ginko.
When the delivery person arrived at the club...
The one who answered the door was Kiyotaki Keika, with a suspicious expression on her face.
After learning what the delivery was about
The onee-san who had turned 26 after this year's spring break, had a rather subtle expression.
Earlier, she had heard that Yukima Azuma and Sora Ginko wouldn't be returning to the club today.
She had even sighed, saying, "These two, so clueless before, and now that they've figured things out, the progress is crazy fast. Of course, it's all thanks to Keika the wingmansasuga watashi!"
( )
But isn't this too fast!?
They're even doing cosplay already!?
In the end, with a complicated expression, Kiyotaki Keika handed over several paper bags from Sora Ginko's wardrobe to the delivery person.
And now, those bags were in Yukima Azuma's hands.
As for Sora Ginko, when she saw Yukima Azuma coming back with those paper bags...
She unconsciously pursed her lips.
In that moment, she didn't know whether to be happy that Yukima Azuma had been so enchanted by her he acted this swiftly,
Or to feel embarrassed and call him a pervert in mock anger.
"Just try it. Ginko-senpai normally doesn't care about anything outside of shogi, right?"
"But you're a girl after all, so you probably enjoy dressing up a little too, yeah?"
( - )
Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
Sora Ginko lightly bit her cherry lips.
It was true she was completely immersed in the world of shogi.
But outside of shogi, the person she cared most aboutwas Yukima Azuma.
The reason she wore a sailor uniform every day was also because Yukima Azuma liked that style.
(*)*.
Taking the paper bag, Sora Ginko ran into the room and shut the door.
When she opened the door again
Standing before Yukima Azuma was Sora Ginko in a pure white long dress.
It was an outfit prepared for a summer photoshoot.
A simple long white dress, with shimmering gems adorning the hem.
Though it looked plain, the moment the hem fluttered, it gleamed brilliantly.
Sora Ginko gently lifted the skirt, twirled around a little,
()
Then looked toward Yukima Azuma, waiting for his reaction.
"Sugoi! It suits Ginko-senpai perfectly! So beautiful! Let me take a picture!"
()
Yukima Azuma, excited like one of those fat otaku at Comiket, quickly pulled out his phone.
Sora Ginko: ( ®®) !!
"No photos allowed!"
She lunged forward, reaching out to snatch Yukima Azuma's phone.
Yukima Azuma raised his arm high.
Sora Ginko stood on tiptoes to reach it.
But due to the height difference, even jumping twice, she couldn't get the phone as she hoped.
Instead, Yukima Azuma took advantage of the moment Sora Ginko jumped
And lifted her up, spinning her once in the air.
After being set down, Sora Ginko gave Yukima Azuma two light punches with her dainty fists.
"Azuma no baka!"
><
Then she dashed back into the room again.
...
What followed were more cosplay outfits.
Because preparations had been ongoing for a while, the number of clothes in those paper bags could cover all four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Yukima Azuma truly got to feast his eyes.
)
By the time almost all the prepared photoshoot outfits had been tried on
The doorbell rang again.
The second delivery person had arrived.
This delivery came from the Yukima household, carrying several unopened packages.
Yukima Azuma solemnly handed the packages to Sora Ginko.
"Ginko-senpai, this is my life's wish! Before I die, I just want to see you wear this once!"
()
Sora Ginko took the packages with a slightly puzzled look.
She had no idea what kind of clothes could make Yukima Azuma ask so seriously.
Carrying the packages back to the room,
Sora Ginko, driven by curiosity, began unboxing them.
As the outer wrapping came off
The contents slowly revealed themselves to her eyes.
They were all cute outfits.
But the key difference was
Elf costume, maid costume, cat-girl costume, succubus costume...
Sora Ginko: ( ®® ) ?
Seeing all kinds of cosplay outfits spilling out from the packages
Sora Ginko's face gradually turned a soft shade of red.
They were all cosplay costumes.
Ever since returning from Hokkaido,
The group of girls had been tempted into the world of cosplay by Kitagawa Marin.
Among the three girls
Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't particularly interested.
Kato Megumi, though mildly curious, only occasionally browsed for information.
Only Eriribeing an otaku already
Had a tendency to dive deep into the rabbit hole.
As a result, gradually, the Yukima household began to accumulate a decent collection of iconic cosplay outfits from games and anime.
Most of them
Were bought just because a certain anime became popular.
But she had never actually worn any of them.
It felt more like collecting merch than actually using it.
And now, right before Sora Ginko's eyes, were those very cosplay outfitscollected purely for the sake of owning them.
Eriri and Sora Ginko had fairly similar body types.
Which meantthese cosplay merch items could now be put to full use.
Under Yukima Azuma's expectant gaze
The door creaked open just a little.
"Hentai!"
(><)
Came Sora Ginko's bashful voice from inside.
Immediately after, she appeareddressed in an adorable succubus outfit: a short black top with white puffed sleeves, a fluffy skirt underneath, and tiny wings attached at the waist.
The iconic heart-shaped tail of a succubus swayed gently behind her.
The only thing that didn't match the seductive succubus lookwas the incredibly embarrassed expression on her face.
(,,><,,) b-baka!
But because of thatthis contrast made her all the more enchanting.
After all, compared to a full-on ero little succubus
A shy, flustered little succubus was definitely more appealing.
Seeing Yukima Azuma so stunned he went speechless
Even though Sora Ginko felt like dying from embarrassment
She couldn't help but feel a bit pleased.
Among all the cosplay outfits
Ironically, the succubus costumesupposedly the sexiest onewas the most modest in terms of fabric.
The elf costume, despite being a character type known for purity, showed just as much skin as a swimsuit.
Even the maid outfit had a deep neckline.
Well, of coursethis was anime merch after all
Designed mostly to highlight the beauty of female.
Which was why, in the end, Sora Ginko chose the cute succubus costume.
Committing the lovely sight to memory
Yukima Azuma gave a thumbs up in admiration.
"Thank for the blessing."
)
Just then, the third delivery person arrived.
This time, it wasn't another cosplay outfit
But a light blue pajama set.
This round of outfit changes didn't seem like it would take long
Yet somehow, night had already draped itself across the sky outside the window.
After fooling around for quite a while
Yukima Azuma and Sora Ginko sat down in the room.
Conveniently, there was already a 7-inch shogi board and a set of pieces in the room.
So the two naturally began a game of shogi.
This had always been the most frequent form of interaction between Yukima Azuma and Sora Ginko.
Sometimes, while placing a piece
They wouldn't just sense each other's skills
But could also get a feel for each other's current mood.
Sora Ginko didn't change out of the outfit.
She just casually removed that annoying heart-shaped tail and tossed it aside.
After allshe was already wearing it anyway.
Keeping it on a while longer wouldn't hurt.
Umu, it's absolutely NOT because Yukima Azuma likes it, okay!?
( ,,'',,)
Sora Ginko placed a brilliant move on the board.
It was rare for Yukima Azuma to find himself at a disadvantage against his senpai-chan in a match.
But reality provedno matter how high your skill level is, even at level nine
If you let yourself get distracted by other things, your performance is bound to suffer.
After falling into a disadvantage, Yukima Azuma refocused on the shogi board.
His eyes carefully followed Sora Ginko's every move.
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but marvel
Just by observing the state of the game, he could tell
The girl sitting across from him now held an astonishing calm in her heart.
Just a moment ago, she was so embarrassed she looked ready to combust, so it wouldn't be surprising if she were still flustered
And yet, Sora Ginko's inner world was like a tranquil lake.
It was as iffrom childhood till now, as long as she was beside him
She could always maintain that stillness within.
It was a kind of faith that felt unbelievable
Or perhapsit could even be called love.
"Looks like senpai's about to go pro. Maybe even within this year."
"At this rate, you might even make it to 9-dan like Master by the time you retire."
Yukima Azuma smiled as he spoke.
Sora Ginko, holding the Hisha piece between her fingers, unconsciously twirled it.
"I still have a long way to go."
She felt like Yukima Azuma was just trying to console her.
After all, not a single woman had ever been officially recognized as a professional player in the shogi world.
Breaking through that wallwas incredibly hard.
No matter how confident she was in herself, there was still a sliver of unease in her heart.
Perhaps, during her competitive career, she would be the one to make it happen.
But exactly when that would happenremained a mystery.
As for reaching 9-dan
That felt even more distant.
Yukima Azuma didn't argue.
At this point, Sora Ginko's playing strength had already reached professional level.
It was only the lack of precedent that left her feeling insecure.
Once the official competitions this year beganeverything would become clear on its own.
Just as Yukima Azuma was about to say something more
Sora Ginko's phone rang.
Both of them paused and placed their pieces down.
It was an alarm Sora Ginko had set herself.
Unknowingly, the two of them had played shogi all the way until dawn.
The results for the inter-school exam were now available for checking.
Turning off the alarm, Sora Ginko unlocked her phone and navigated to the official results site.
After inputting her personal details
She took a deep breath.
Her heart, once calm, began to tense up again.
She tapped the button to check results.
The screen turned white.
It seemed the server was overloaded from too many people accessing it at once.
She held her breath, frozen between anticipation and dread.
After waiting for a bit, Sora Ginko decisively handed the phone to Yukima Azuma.
Then she bowed her head and stared fixedly at the shogi board.
(--)
She wanted him to be the one to tell her the result.
Seeing this rare, childlike side of Sora Ginko
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but reach out and gently ruffle her silver hair.
( )(._.`)
And just at that moment, the results finally appeared.
Yukima Azuma glanced at them
And wasn't the least bit surprised.
Her scores across the board were excellent.
Her deviation value was among the highest.
In the overall ranking for this exam, she placed seventh.
To maintain such outstanding academic performance while also being deeply involved in shogi
Sora Ginko truly was a little genius.
Seventh place in deviation value.
With results like this, there was no reason the private Toyogasaki Academy wouldn't accept her.
Noticing Yukima Azuma silently staring at the screen
Sora Ginko asked nervously:
"Well? How is it?"
Yukima Azuma put her phone down.
He gently cupped her face with both hands.
"Congratulations, Ginko-senpai. I'll be counting on you a lot for guidance in school life from now on."
Hearing that, Sora Ginko couldn't help but smile.
And in those eyes of hers
A radiant light began to shine.
()
Chapter 290: Sora Ginko first time
After a long while of joy
Sora Ginko finally picked up her phone to confirm her results.
Upon seeing the exact score and ranking
She didn't show much of a reaction.
To her, as long as she could attend Toyogasaki Academy, that was enough.
Whether she was ranked first or one hundredth, it didn't matter at all.
Once spring break ended
She would no longer be Yukima Azuma's senpai.
She would become a kouhai, a junior to Yukima Azuma.
Finally, she could step down from that forbidden position!
(*)
Overjoyed, Sora Ginko stood up and stretched.
The slender body of the young girl extended.
Perhaps it was because her mind had relaxed.
Unaware, her small pale foot kicked into a box nearby.
Seeing the box flip over from her kick, Sora Ginko paused for a moment.
This seemed to be one of the packages brought in along with the succubus outfit she was wearing.
However, after opening the first few boxes back then
The more she opened, the skimpier the outfits became.
Out of both embarrassment and frustration, she ended up skipping the last box entirely.
( //>///
She had directly chosen the current little succubus outfit.
Now that she was in a more relaxed mood
Sora Ginko grew curious again, wondering what kind of outfit might be in that box.
Cosplay seemed kind of fun after all.
Yukima Azuma also glanced over with curiosity.
That pile of cosplay stuff
After buying it, he had just left it lying around at home.
He hadn't even opened the packages, to the point where he'd completely forgotten what he had even bought.
Picking up the box,
Sora Ginko removed the outer wrapping, then opened the lid.
Looking inside the box, the style and color scheme of the outfit looked somewhat familiar.
Yukima Azuma fell into thought.
Looks familiar from which anime was it again?
The doubt lingered until Sora Ginko pulled out the outfit from inside.
Looking at the one-piece outfit, which only had a cape and some leg coverings
Sora Ginko fell into a daze.
This is clothing?
( ®® ) ?
The parts that didn't need covering were completely covered!
And the parts that did need covering weren't covered at all!
She froze for two seconds.
Sora Ginko, both embarrassed and angry, glared at Yukima Azuma.
What the hell is he thinking, trying to make her wear this?
Yukima Azuma awkwardly turned his face away.
(,,,,)
Only then did he remember which "anime" this cosplay outfit was from.
"What the hell is this, the chest why isn't there any fabric covering the chest!?"
Sora Ginko demanded.
"It's from a mahou shoujo," Yukima Azuma replied in a quiet voice.
Sora Ginko stared at the absurdly revealing outfit.
She recalled the mahou shoujo anime she used to watch as a child.
Mahou mortherfucking shoujo!
( _ )
Who the hell fights monsters in an outfit like this!?
Tentacles monster????
Just as Sora Ginko was about to say more
She saw Yukima Azuma pull out two four-pointed star-shaped golden fabric pieces from the box.
Looking at the two pieces of fabric, barely larger than a band-aid
Sora Ginko felt like her brain just shut down.
( _ )
Huh?
What the hell are these?
Seeing Sora Ginko's reaction
Yukima Azuma decided against pulling out the last piece, a heart-shaped cloth barely the size of a band-aid as well.
After a brief stunned silence
Sora Ginko felt as though someone had force-fed her a dose of indecent knowledge against her will.
Bronya meme: weird knowledge increased!
As if her hands had been burned, she immediately tossed the outfit aside.
Then, biting her cherry lips, she glared hard at Yukima Azuma.
<( _)>
Being stared at so fiercely made him feel guilty.
Yukima Azuma coughed lightly and explained:
"I never opened any of these after buying them. I forgot what was inside."
"Hmph." Sora Ginko's face turned red as she snorted softly.
Then, turning her face away, she said: "Azuma's head is always full of perverted stuff anyway."
Before Yukima Azuma could defend himself
Sora Ginko continued: "He's a high school boy after all no different from a beast!"
"If you really can't hold it back then"
"I I guess I could reluctantly agree to that kind of thing."
Yukima Azuma froze.
(" v ") ?
That line it sounded like a girl generously yielding to the one she loved.
ButSora Ginko was a tsundere.
And with tsunderes, you couldn't analyze things using normal logic.
Usually, the true feelings of a girl like that were hidden in the key parts of her sentences.
Still, Yukima Azuma hesitated a bit.
Right now, Sora Ginko was still just a semi-JK.
Would the FBI come crashing down his door?
...
FBI: ( -_)"IЂ Omae wa mou shinde iru!
Azuma: ( ®®) !! NANI!
Curse Chef: ( _) Daijoubu, because I'm Here!!!
FBI: (®® ) NANI!
Azuma: (`) Chef-san!
Curse Chef: ( ) Go! I will stop them for you, GO!!!
Azuma: () Will you win, Chef-san?
Curse Chef: (,,,,) Nah, I'm not sure...
Azuma: () ....Thank you, my Besto Friendo~!
FBI: ( ) Hmph! Just a Chef. You think you can defeat us, the Multiverse FBI?
Curse Chef: ( ) How will you know if you don't try?
FBI: Hmph! SHINE!
FBI: ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!!!!!
Curse Chef: MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA!!!!!
...
Who will win? Watch out in the next episode of Dragon Ba------- Ex-Girlfriends tomorrow!!
....
(Note: WTF I just doing....)
...
And seeing Yukima Azuma hesitating like that
Sora Ginko lightly bit her lower lip and stomped her foot softly.
You blockhead!
><
She'd said all that, and he still didn't get it?
Suddenly, Sora Ginko felt likecompared to when they were kidsYukima Azuma hadn't changed at all.
"Are you really okay with it?"
Yukima Azuma quietly asked for confirmation.
Sora Ginko didn't say anything. She simply gave a small nod.
Snow White, by nature, was soft and fragile, easily pushed down.
Especially in her little succubus formshe was practically melting.
A golden needle piercing the flower's stamen jade dew soaking the heart of the peony
...
...
Under the cover of night, time slipped by bit by bit.
No one knew how long had passed.
Yukima Azuma held Sora Ginko and carried her into the bathroom to clean up.
He removed the tattered little succubus outfit and changed into pajamas.
Sora Ginko didn't wait for Yukima Azuma and ran out of the bathroom first
Though her steps were a bit strange.
In the dim room
She ended up stepping right on that box again.
The box was kicked over.
A strange, rod-shaped item fell outsoft and elastic.
Sora Ginko casually picked it up, holding it in her hand with a dazed, confused look.
What's this now...?
( -)?
Yukima Azuma walked out of the bathroom
And seeing the object in Sora Ginko's hand, he casually explained:
"That's the mahou shoujo's staff."
Sora Ginko looked at the head of the long rodit had a golden five-pointed star.
It did somewhat look like a staff.
She gave it a few random swings through the air.
But because the staff was quite springy, it didn't feel very easy to control.
Seeing Sora Ginko waving the mahou shoujo staff around like a toy
Yukima Azuma smiled softly.
"That's not how you're supposed to use it."
Hearing that, Sora Ginko froze.
A magical girl's staff? What other way is there to use it?
Yukima Azuma took the staff from her hands.
Then, in a flash
He lightly swatted it across Sora Ginko's back.
"En~!"
~~~()
The girl let out a strange, soft moan.
Her beautiful eyes flew wide open, and she clutched the spot that had been hit, glaring at Yukima Azuma in embarrassed anger.
Yukima Azuma, however, fell into deep thought.
That reaction seemed a bit unusual.
Come to think of it, she was kind of like that earlier too
Could it be senpai is that kind of person?
Yukima Azuma remembered that in his memories, Sora Ginko had always had a strong-willed personality.
There were even hints of a dominant "S-type" tendency.
But over the course of living together, as his personality grew stronger
This little senpai's demeanor started to shift a bit.
Could it be she's turned into an M-type!?
Seeing Yukima Azuma lost in thought
Sora Ginko finally couldn't take it anymore. Embarrassed and furious, she pounced on him.
And with a chompshe bit down hard.
Leaving a neat and visible row of teeth marks on Yukima Azuma's arm.
After being bitten, Yukima Azuma let out a sigh of resignation:
"Do all tsundere types come with a natural talent for biting or something?"
Eriri: (><) Achoo!
Meijin Tournament.
These past few days, Yukima Azuma had been helping Sora Ginko move house while also registering to participate in the Meijin Tournament.
Ryuuou challenges Meijin the following year
This is considered an unspoken rule in the shogi world.
Like young geniuses pouring all their strength into breaking through the throne of kings.
Those who can do that almost always leave their names in the shogi world, and often hold several "Eternal" titles.
However, Yukima Azuma entered the Meijin Tournament simply because he wanted to fight the Meijin.
After all, it had been quite some time since the Ryuuou Tournament.
He had been training with Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai to improve his proficiency.
His shogi skills had now reached a subtle and profound level.
If he continued training at a slow pace, he would still need a bit more time.
But if there was a special way to quickly raise his mastery, then only one final step remained.
Unlike Ryuuou
The conditions to unlock the Meijin Tournament are not available to all players.
They are reserved only for those ranked 2-dan or higher in the shoureikai.
Because of such strict requirements, very few players are able to participate in the Meijin Tournament.
Basically, they are all well-known figures in the community.
At the same time, the quality of the matches is insanely high.
However, for Yukima Azuma now
In the current shogi world, aside from the Meijin, almost no one else could create any kind of excitement when playing against him.
Level 9 shogi skill had pushed all his moves, techniques, reading ability... to the limit, perfectly fused together.
Therefore, the process of sweeping through the qualifiers and the first few rounds...
There's no need to elaborate on it.
Only one thing is worth mentioning
While Azuma was "Grinding" through the Meijin qualifiers
Eriri's manga officially began serialization.
"Sawamura-san Teasing Master."
Published in a monthly magazine.
Just like most manga marketing strategies
Before starting the official serialization, Eriri had uploaded drafts of the first few chapters to an online manga platform.
It's a school romance manga with a youthful theme.
A chapter-by-chapter romantic comedy style, which is very popular in manga.
The online feedback was excellent.
Especially because Eriri was actually the illustrator Kashiwagi Eri.
Even though Eriri "coming ashore"... um... the news that Kashiwagi Eri-sensei would no longer draw 18+ Doujinshi was a huge shock for fans.
But after a period of complaints and lamentation, fans eventually came around to support the new manga.
After all, life isn't just about the dark stuff.
With how popular the manga is
It could easily be serialized weekly.
It would definitely sell like crazy.
However, for Eriri...
Weekly serialization is a mangaka's hell.
She would have to work at a high intensity almost every day.
It felt like a guillotine was hanging over her head every single day.
;
For a creator, it was truly terrifying.
Like how novel authors have to type every day.
Creative anxiety hitting max level.
Eriri was already in the late stages of procrastination syndrome, and manga to her was merely a hobby.
Even though it made a decent amount of money, as the Ojou-sama of the Sawamura household, she mainly did it for fun, not income.
So in the end, she decided to go with monthly serialization.
...
Sawamura Mansion.
"How is it, how is it?!"
( )
Eriri asked with an excited look.
Kato Megumi, holding the serialized manga volume, nodded.
"It feels great, I really like the art style, and the story is very interesting."
At that, Kato Megumi paused for a moment.
Then, she glanced at Eriri with a hint of suspicion.
"Now that you mention it, this plot is it based on something that happened between Sawamura-san and Azuma-san in the past?"
( - )
Eriri had originally been wearing a smug expression.
`
Upon hearing that, her whole body froze for a moment.
Then, her fair cheeks quickly turned a soft pink.
"N-No, of course not! It's just the story of a manga, that's all!"
(,,,,)
Kato Megumi nodded.
Umu, it was indeed something from the past between her and Azuma-san.
Things like thishonestly, anyone could tell just by glancing at it.
The reason Kato Megumi asked,
Was because she felt that Eriri's current behavior had the distinct scent of a territorial claim.
After all, this kind of manga tactic was the same as that "600-page love letter novel" Yukima Azuma had once given her.
But reality provedEriri was still just Eriri.
Aho-Baka Sawamura Eriri, completely unaware of the implications.
She was purely here to show off.
Eriri: ( )
Umu, well, in that case, it's fine then.
"Cookies are ready, everyone come down and eat."
Sayuri's voice called from downstairs.
Hearing that, the people in Eriri's room all made their way down.
Today, Kato Megumi, Kasumigaoka Utaha, and Yukima Azuma had been invited to the Sawamura residence.
...
In the living room.
Sayuri placed a plate of freshly baked cookies on the table.
Then, with great interest and "Ara ara~" expression, she observed the interactions between her daughter, the two girls, and the one boy.
( `)
As for the manga her daughter had drawn, of course Sayuri had read it.
Some parts of the storySayuri even knew quite well.
At first, Sayuri thought her daughter had finally opened her mind.
But after a few indirect questions and subtle probing...
Sayuri learned that the manga's plot idea had come from Yukima Azuma.
You're spoiling her too much!
Yukima Azuma was met with a gaze from Sayuri that clearly conveyed that message.
A few question marks appeared above his head instinctively.
( -)?
It was obvious.
Though she was Eriri's biological mother
Once she confirmed that her daughter had set her heart on Yukima Azuma, she was absolutely certain Eriri wouldn't be at a disadvantage.
Her future would undoubtedly be a happy one.
As the victor of the previous generation's harem war,
Sawamura Sayuri had already begun drawing up plans for this new-generation harem battle.
...
At the dining table.
Eriri bit into a cookie and looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha with a triumphant expression.
"How about it? Plot and all, if I want to draw it, I totally can!"
Because she didn't know how to write plots,
Eriri had been mocked multiple times by Kasumigaoka Utaha who practically rode her like a horse.
Now, having found her chance, she was clearly trying to make a comeback.
('-')
Kasumigaoka Utaha bit into a cookie while casting Eriri a sidelong glance.
She had already read the manga too.
The plot had been revised to a certain degree.
After all, the genders of the main characters had been swapped, and their personalities had been tweaked.
But some of Yukima Azuma's habits were still plainly visible in the female lead of the story.
As for the male lead
Even though his personality had been somewhat "simplified," one could still easily see Eriri's tsundere traits in him.
When reading the manga, Kasumigaoka had felt a bit of a stomachache.
Because many of the ways Azuma doted on Eriri...
That delicate understanding of a maiden's heart...
Were all things shethe first girlfriendhad personally taught him.
And yet Eriri was now sitting there enjoying the fruits of her labor, seemingly without the slightest bit of appreciation.
Eriri sensed that Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze had turned a little hostile.
She instinctively shivered slightly.
Quietly pulling back her smug expression, her eyes shifted away awkwardly...
Utaha: ( _ )+=={:::::::::::::::::> :Eriri
"That glare from the fat Kasumigaoka Utaha in black tights is scary."
()
Eriri whispered to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma glanced at the long-haired black-haired senpai who was furiously shaking her leg.
He silently patted Eriri's shoulder.
"Young maiden, Gambatte ne."
Eriri: ( ®® ) ??
...
After finishing the cookies
When everyone returned to Eriri's room,
Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly made her move, pushing Eriri down onto the bed.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha, you fatty! What are you doing?!"
"Waitdon't tickle me!"
"Yame--YAMEROOOOOOOO!!!"
;
Eriri had a lot of ticklish spots.
Among them, her waist was considered a critical zone.
Kasumigaoka Utaha held her down and launched a merciless tickle attack.
Eriri rolled around on the bed from the tickling, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
After venting her frustrations for a while, Kasumigaoka Utaha clapped her hands and prepared to retreat in triumph.
Unexpectedly
Though she looked exhausted from laughing, Eriri...
Suddenly sprang back, turning the tables.
"Damn you! Take this!"
( д)(д )
Kato Megumi looked at the two girls wrestling,
Then looked over at Yukima Azuma, who was watching the girl-on-girl battle with great interest.
( )
"Azuma-san, when you gave Sawamura-san the idea for her manga"
"Were you imagining something like this?"
Hit right where it hurt, Yukima Azuma felt a bit guilty and immediately averted his eyes from the match.
Azuma: ( ® з ®)~~~
Looking at Kato Megumi, Yukima Azuma said earnestly:
"How could I possibly?!"
Kato Megumi pouted.
"Azuma-san is so sly."
...
That evening, Yukima Azuma helped Sayuri cook dinner in the kitchen.
The three girls ate happily.
At first, Kato Megumi had been a little worried, thinking Sayuri had invited them over...
So she could involve them in some kind of dinner party.
In reality, Kato Megumi wasn't great at handling upper-class social events.
Especially when she had to talk to people of status and influence.
Because there was no actual relationship, the pressure was overwhelming.
It wasn't fear of strangersKato Megumi just didn't want to associate with people whose ties were purely transactional.
However, a visit that passed this peacefully...
Kato Megumi, being sensitive and observant, sensed something off.
Especially when she happened to see Sayuri watching the "Azuma Harem" and smiling subtly at the corner of her lips
( `)
Kato Megumi was utterly shaken.
Even though she knew Sawamura Sayuri was a free-spirited woman...
She didn't expect her to be this unrestrained.
Moreover, after further observation, Kato Megumi noticed
This Sayuri oba-san didn't seem to place much hope in Team Eriri, her daughter.
On the contrary, she had high expectations for Team Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Sawamura-san...." Right before leaving, Kato Megumi looked at Eriri, as if wanting to say something but holding back.
Eriri tilted her head in confusion. "What?"
( -)?
Seeing Eriri's dazed expression...
Kato Megumi quietly patted her on the shoulder.
"It's nothing. As long as you're happy."
A big question mark popped up above Eriri's blonde head.
( ®® ) ?
Was this... a riddle or something?
Also, she clearly came today just to show off.
So why did it feel like... after showing off, she wasn't all that happy?
...
The next week.
The third week of spring break.
The Meijin Tournament entered its most anticipated match.
Not the finals
But from the looks of it, the drawing lots really wasn't rigged.
Yukima Azuma faced Meijin in the semi-finals.
Even though it wasn't the finals
The level of attention this match received far surpassed that of any previous shogi game.
The strongest genius versus the strongest player.
Genius One vs. Honored One.
[ )(.]
Who would emerge victorious?
Anyone with even a slight interest in shogialmost no one wasn't paying attention.
This match even broke through the boundaries of the shogi world.
Even those who didn't understand shogi were curious to see who would win in this clash of titans.
A player who had claimed 98 titlesaside from Ryuuou, had earned every single Eternal title.
The strongest modern-day playerMeijin.
Versus the youngest Ryuuou in history, an unprecedented prodigy in the world of shogi.
And in contrast to the hype from the public
Yukima Azuma himself didn't feel particularly emotional.
He had faced Meijin once before, back when he hadn't yet obtained the System.
Though he had been completely overwhelmed back then
Yukima Azuma had still been able to feel the true strength of Meijin.
A person who had already reached the realm of "understanding the Great Way", just one step away from becoming a true peak master.
Who wins and who loses wasn't particularly surprising either way.
Although he was competitive by nature, he approached the match with a calm mindset.
His main reason for entering the Meijin Tournament this time
Was to refine his technique.
After countless pre-match interviews and promotional campaigns
Yukima Azuma finally sat down in the match room.
There were livestream cameras, a large screen for replays.
A referee, a timer, and a traditional 7-inch shogi board.
And yet, Yukima Azuma felt as though the only things before him
Were the man sitting on the opposite side of the board
And the shogi pieces.
Such a surreal sensation had never occurred to him in any previous match.
Meijin, seated on the far side of the table, seemed to sense something as well and looked up.
He looked like an utterly ordinary man.
Nothing about his appearance stood out.
He wore a pair of square glasses.
Whenever light hit the lenses, his eyes behind them were impossible to make out.
Yet when such an ordinary man sat in front of shogi board
He exuded a pressure that made one's heart clench.
The match began.
Perhaps it was due to memory, or perhaps something deeper...
Even though he had already mastered all techniques and strategies in shogi
Yukima Azuma chose one of the oldest, simplest openings in the gameAigakari.
Aigakari: one of the fundamental openings every beginner learns.
Passed down through generations, a long-standing path. Easy to pick up, yet with incredibly high potential.
As expected, Meijin also chose Aigakari.
He had been researching the differences between going first and second.
In recent matches, he had often selected the same opening as his opponent.
Right from the start, the shogi pieces clacked onto the board without pause.
The two barely had to think.
The optimal move path was quickly established.
Only after a hundred moves did deviations from the standard path begin to appear.
After three hundred moves, every piece played became painstakingly difficult.
In the end, Yukima Azuma won the first game.
The next dayGame 2.
Still Aigakari, this time with Yukima Azuma playing second.
Game 2: Yukima Azuma lost.
( `)‚(o)
The first two games of the Meijin Tournament ended with one win and one lossat first glance, it seemed like the result depended on who went first.
But in truth, both Yukima Azuma and the Meijin knew very well...
The outcome between the two had not yet reached the level where such things could decide the result.
In the third game, Yukima Azuma lost.
In the fourth game, Yukima Azuma won.
In the fifth game, Yukima Azuma won again.
In the sixth game, Yukima Azuma lost.
Major shogi tournaments, though officially set as seven matches, with the first to four wins taking the championship
In reality, matches that actually go all seven games are incredibly rare.
And for a match like this Meijin Tournament, so earth-shaking, such an event was completely unprecedented.
The livestream caused quite a stir.
People who didn't understand shogi could only marvel, speechless.
And anyone with even a bit of knowledge about shogi could only wonder: Are these two even human?
Every move in the shogi matches was nearly the most optimal choice possible.
In matches between other players, it's usually about who can read deeper, who makes fewer mistakes, who has stronger willpower.
But in the matches between these two it felt like they were both capable of arriving at the correct answers.
It was just a matter of who could find the optimal solution faster.
After the sixth game ended...
The tournament was temporarily paused.
There was a rest day in between.
This was a customary practice, to give both players time to fully recover.
High-intensity matches like these consumed massive amounts of mental energy.
Historically, there have even been cases where players, from overthinking during matches, developed respiratory disorders on the spot.
During this resting period...
Yukima Azuma was together with his senpai and disciple.
"Shishou, do you feel nervous?"
(,,><,,)
Little Ai quietly asked, a bit of tension in her voice.
Even though it wasn't her match...
Just watching the livestream, Hinatsuru Ai could already feel the suffocating tension at the shogi board.
She was a little worried about Yukima Azuma's state of mind.
There were similar concerns voiced by others as well.
Online, many people doubted Yukima Azuma's mental resilienceafter all, he was still very young.
But in truth, at that moment, Yukima Azuma felt completely at ease.
He was even thinking about what delicious food to cook for dinner that night.
Yukima Azuma gently ruffled Hinatsuru Ai's hair.
( _)()
With the corner of his mouth slightly lifted, he gave a soft smile.
"There's really nothing to be nervous about. After all, only when you stay calm can you bring out your full potential."
Hit with a "head pat of high damage," Hinatsuru Ai nodded seriously.
But just a moment later, she realized...
This was Yukima Azuma's match.
She was the one who came to cheer him on.
Yet somehow, it ended up with her being comforted instead.
"Shishou!" Hinatsuru Ai softly cried out and tried to leap into Yukima Azuma's arms.
( )
But halfway there, she was yanked back by the collarcaught by Sora Ginko.
The little girl was lifted up and carried back like a kitten.
"Oba-san, what are you doing!"
"You little brat, don't go bothering your shishou!"
"Ai's not bothering him at all! Ai's giving shishou a love-filled blessing!"
"Huh? What the hell is that?"
The two started bickering loudly.
In the end, Hinatsuru Ai ended up being closely watched by Sora Ginko.
The little girl glared at Sora Ginko in frustration.
( )
She had a strange feeling that this so-called "Oba-san" in front of her something about her aura had changed.
Hinatsuru Ai was still too young to clearly recognize exactly what had changed.
...
And that night
Late at night, Sora Ginko quietly pushed open the door to Yukima Azuma's room.
"Ginko-senpai?"
Seeing Sora Ginko hugging a pillow as she entered, Yukima Azuma blinked in confusion.
Even though the two had already crossed that line...
Sora Ginko's personality was extremely tsundere.
Hopelessly shy.
After that night, Sora Ginko kept an even greater distance from Yukima Azuma when in front of others.
And yet todayon such a critical occasion as Yukima Azuma's match...
With even the Masters, Keika, and Hinatsuru Ai all present...
Ginko chose this exact moment to launch a late-night surprise raid...
It truly caught Yukima Azuma off guard.
"D-Don't get the wrong idea, I just I just thought you might be feeling nervous, that's all."
"So I came to check on you, that's it! Absolutely no other reason!"
(,,,,)
Sora Ginko buried half her face into her pillow, her voice slightly muffled.
Her glistening eyes lowered softly.
A kind of adorable charm that made one want to protect her radiated from her presence.
Yukima Azuma immediately understood.
So it turns out little senpai came to give her version of a love-filled blessing!
With a soft yelp from Sora Ginko, Yukima Azuma suddenly lifted her up in a bridal carry.
Then casually turned and walked toward the bed.
A passionate yet peaceful night passed.
...
The next morning.
Hinatsuru Ai stared intently at Sora Ginko.
(_ )
The intense gaze made Sora Ginko feel a bit uneasy.
"W-What are you looking at?"
()
Sora Ginko's voice was slightly strained.
Hinatsuru Ai raised her small hand, rubbing her chin, pretending to ponder something deeply.
"Something feels off. What is it?"
A moment later, it was as if a lightbulb lit up above her head.
"I got it! Oba-san, your scentit smells just like Shishou!"
"Don't tell me you two secretly did something last night?!"
Sora Ginko: ( ®®) !!
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma lifted his arm and lightly sniffed his wrist.
Then, casually took Sora Ginko's hand and bent down to sniff his senpai-chan.
Hmm no particular scent.
On the contrary, his senpai still carried the same refreshing and familiar fragrance as always.
Sora Ginko: ( ®®) !! again
Being sniffed by Yukima Azuma, Sora Ginko's face instantly turned red.
As red as a ripe apple.
"Baka!" she muttered with embarrassment and annoyance, yanking her hand back.
(,,><,,) b-baka!
Then gave Yukima Azuma two light punches to the chest before fleeing in shame.
Only Yukima Azuma and Hinatsuru Ai remained, looking at each other.
"As I thought, oba-san and Shishou have a special secret together!"
Hinatsuru Ai pouted with a look of betrayal.
She felt completely left out.
"Don't let your imagination run wild, there's no secret. Once you grow up a bit more, Ai-chan, you'll understand."
Yukima Azuma ruffled Hinatsuru Ai's hair again.
After the brief morning chaos
Yukima Azuma headed to the shogi association hall in Osaka.
The final decisive match would be held in Osaka.
Once again, he sat before a shogi board.
Though the desire to win within him had clearly been stirred...
Yukima Azuma still maintained a calm mindset.
After all, to him, shogi was just a hobbyperhaps even a habit.
It wasn't some grand ideal to pursue.
To put it bluntly, Yukima Azuma didn't really count as a true shogi player.
He lacked the "heart" of a real prono burning ambition or lofty dreams tied to shogi.
Normally, those without ambition rarely make it to the top in any field.
But Yukima Azuma had the system.
He could grind proficiency points to level up his skills.
That's why he was able to sit here.
And conversely, because he didn't have some grand ambition
Yukima Azuma was able to remain composed.
On the other side of the board sat the man opposite him
The Meijin, who at this moment, could no longer maintain his usual calm.
The reigning king of the shogi world, holding his folding fan
Opened it, then snapped it shut again, the ribs of the fan letting out soft clicks
In the final match, the right to go first was decided by a coin toss.
Yukima Azuma chose heads.
It landed on heads.
Just that alone made it seem like today, luck was on Yukima Azuma's side.
And in reality, that did seem to be the case.
He chose to go first.
Once again, the opening was the Aigakari style.
The first hundred moves flew by in an instant.
Both of them had mentally rehearsed this exact match countless times before.
The first hundred moves were played with such ease, and yet each one was flawlessly optimalalmost as if no thought was needed.
But what both players performed so effortlessly
Nearly "crashed" the professional commentators on the livestream.
They simply couldn't keep up with their train of thought.
Eventually, the commentators gave up.
This shogi matchat least for the rest of the current shogi worldwas something that could only be studied and transcribed afterward. No one dared to comment or critique it on the spot anymore.
Later on, the pace of the game slowed slightly.
The time on the clocks beside each player began to tick down noticeably.
Until both players had used up all their main time
From that point on, each move had to be played within 30 seconds.
Right before one move, Yukima Azuma suddenly paused.
It wasn't until the referee counted down to the very last second that he finally made his move.
Then, within his vision, the system suddenly flashed a series of notifications:
[Your Shogi skill's proficiency has reached the maximum.]
[Shogi skill level has changed: Lv9 Lv10.]
[Your Shogi skill has reached the peak level. Congratulations on reaching the summit!]
[You have acquired a bonus skill.]
[Your Intelligence has increased by one point.]
[Your Intelligence stat has broken through to 9 points. You have received one bonus Talent Skill Point to allocate.]
The systemsomething that usually remained dormant and unintrusive
Suddenly burst out with a string of alerts.
Even Yukima Azuma was momentarily stunned.
Beneath this barrage of messages
What Yukima Azuma felt most clearly was: his mind was incredibly sharp.
Information that used to take time to process could now be handled effortlessly.
It seemed like eight points in base stats was some kind of threshold.
Once that boundary was crossed
It was no longer just the level of a genius.
This shogi match, which normally would have required total concentration
Now, Yukima Azuma could split his attention and still respond smoothly, like it was nothing.
He opened his system panel.
The info there had also changed significantly.
[Host: Yukima Azuma]
Physique: 8Intelligence: 89Charm: 8
Skills:
Linguistics (Lv6)
Literature (Lv7)
Cooking (Lv8)
Programming (Lv4)
Shogi (Lv10 Peak)
Acting (Lv4)
Music (Lv4)
Auxiliary Skill: Shogi
(Note: In Chinese, this term seems to encompass all types of board games like shogi, chess, go... but there's no precise term for this in English. "Board game" sounds awkward here, so I'm keeping it as "shogi.")
Available Talent Skill Points: 1
Notes: Skills under level 4 are hidden from the panel.
Notes: Talent Skill Points can be allocated to any skill. Upon use, you will receive a special talent corresponding to that skill, accelerating your mastery of it.
,,,
Seeing the new annotation that had appeared on the system panel,
Yukima Azuma raised his eyebrows slightly.
Nine points in Intelligence had granted him a Talent Point.
It felt like one of those "don't-know-where-to-invest-but-anywhere-is-right" kinds of moments.
It didn't look particularly flashy.
But one had to understand: all of Yukima Azuma's skills were self-learned.
On top of that, thanks to the system, he could grind proficiency.
His learning speed could only be described as inhumanso long as he grinded, he could reach the pinnacle.
With that as the premise, the skill point gained at this moment
No matter how you look at it, it couldn't be taken lightly.
Yukima Azuma felt a bit curious, wondering what kind of talent would be unlocked after using this skill point.
However, a skill point was incredibly precious.
If ten points per stat was the limit, then Yukima Azuma could only ever obtain a maximum of two skill points per stat.
He had to think carefully about where to spend it.
Moreover, the shogi match was still ongoing.
Yukima Azuma had just placed a piece, but his thoughts couldn't help drifting elsewhere.
On the system panel, a new auxiliary skill tab had appeared.
The auxiliary skill corresponding to shogi was also named "shogi."
It didn't sound any different.
But Yukima Azuma could feel itthis game that he had always been able to control,
Had now completely condensed into something tangible.
It had practically become an aura that hovered around him.
Yukima Azuma could use this aura to sense the presence of those around him, and even exert pressure on them.
Even without ever testing it, the power was visually perceptible.
As for actual progress in shogi
Surprisingly, it was minimal.
Reality proved that the tactics and techniques Yukima Azuma had already mastered were already close to perfection.
The real breakthrough lay in his mental capacity.
It could be saidafter the software had reached its peak, the hardware was directly upgraded.
He placed another piece.
The Meijin, holding his piece, fell silent for a moment, then lowered his head.
"I concede."
Yukima Azuma bowed in return.
"Thank you for the game."
The semifinal of the Meijin Tournament concluded with Yukima Azuma's victory.
Though it wasn't the final match, in the eyes of everyone else, this battle was no different from a true final.
This earth-shattering game had already become a legendary moment in the history of shogi.
Even years later, when a new era dawned and AI entered the world of strategic games like shogi, chess, and go
The hottest debatewhether humans or AI were stronger
Many argued that no AI could ever produce such a magnificent game.
Some even wanted Yukima Azumalong since retiredto make a comeback and challenge the AI.
Cough cough, getting off track here.
In front of the shogi board
The Meijin stood up.
He shook hands with Yukima Azuma.
This moment was almost identical to a match long ago, back when Yukima Azuma was still a child.
Back then, the Meijin had also stood, extended a handshake to Yukima Azuma.
A trace of unwillingness lingered on his face.
That unwillingness back then may have been due to not yet unlocking the full truth of shogi.
But nowthere was more resignation in his defeat.
Of course, whatever the reason, Yukima Azuma didn't particularly care.
If he won, greatit satisfied his desire to compete and emerge victorious.
If he lost, Yukima Azuma wouldn't be hung up on it either.
At most, he'd just go home, crawl into his senpai's oppai, and have a good cry.
( )( )()
Chapter 295: The Arrest of Mrs. Yukinoshita
After the semi-final match with the Meijin
In fact, the outcome of the Meijin tournament was no longer a surprise.
Although Yukima Azuma's opponent in the upcoming final was a seasoned professional 9-dan player,
Yukima Azuma, as he was now, was virtually the strongest player in the history of shogi since its inception.
Truly, "none before, and none to come." Unprecedented and unparalleled.
For the next thirty years of the shogi world, no genius would surpass Yukima Azuma.
And in the pre-AI era, the creativity of players was suppressed by fixed patterns of play.
It became even more difficult for a figure to emerge who could rival Yukima Azuma.
It could only be said that the current shogi world
For players who haven't reached 9-dan, their vision remains narrow, and to them, Yukima Azuma is like the moon seen from the bottom of a well by a frog.
Only when a player one day manages to step into the realm of 9-dan will they realize they are nothing more than plankton gazing at the blue sky.
After claiming his second title, the Meijin title, Yukima Azuma officially joined the ranks of professional 9-dan players.
The youngest to ever achieve 9-dan goes without saying.
He was also the first in Japanese history to hold both the Ryuuou and Meijin titles at the moment of his promotion to 9-dan.
The heat surrounding shogi exploded, all thanks to the appearance of Yukima Azuma.
Reality proves that no matter the field, a star is necessary.
Incidentally, on that note
The TV drama Hikaru no Shogi had finished filming and was originally scheduled to air in the summer to coincide with the Ryuuou tournament
But it was aired earlier than planned.
It immediately exploded in popularity upon broadcast.
Many viewers tuned in purely because of Yukima Azuma.
And Yukima Azuma, who was at the center of this media storm
Was currently at the main Yukinoshita residence in Chiba, far from the hustle and bustle.
The architectural style of the Yukinoshita main residence followed traditional Japanese garden design.
Sliding Japanese doors accompanied by gardens, artificial hills, and ponds.
Sitting on tatami mats indoors
One could hear the gentle trickling of water in the garden, along with the clear sound of bamboo knocking against stone.
While walking past the pond in the front yard, Yukima Azuma saw several koi fish swimming inside.
There was also a stalk of green bamboo with water flowing over it.
When filled with water, it would tip over, strike a rock, and let the water flow out again, repeating endlessly.
That was what's called a shishi-odoshi, also known as taketori.
A characteristic decoration in Japanese-style gardens.
Its original use was supposedly in rice fields, to scare off birds and beasts.
Later, it gradually became a decorative item, also imbued with a Zen-like aesthetic.
Japanese history is short, and the so-called aristocratic class nowadays
In fact, during the Bakufu period, most of them still had to farm.
Many things considered precious were, in truth, forced into existence.
Yukima Azuma seemed to understand this, but didn't entirely agree.
Because, even though this was a guest room for serious discussions
That taketori in the garden was honestly very noisy.
Upon hearing Yukima Azuma voice this opinion
A few dark veins appeared on Mrs. Yukinoshita's forehead.
( `)
But she had no choice but to endure it, and picked up the teapot to pour Yukima Azuma another cup.
The matter of collaboration between the two sides concerned licensing rights.
The Yukinoshita family's initial preparations were finally complete.
All that was left was for Yukima Azuma to sign the contract, and then the two sides could begin implementation.
Mrs. Yukinoshita had originally planned to visit Tokyo around this time to find Yukima Azuma.
She didn't expect that boy to show up at the Yukinoshita estate on his own.
Sitting here, drinking her tea, and even criticizing her garden design.
"About the collaboration..."
Mrs. Yukinoshita was just about to begin talking about the contract.
But Yukima Azuma interrupted her:
"That matter isn't urgent."
Mrs. Yukinoshita really wanted to say that it was urgent.
There was still so much to do after signing the contract.
But she continued to endure, waiting for Yukima Azuma to finish speaking.
The fact that the boy came all the way here on his own like this
There was definitely some kind of scheme behind it.
Mrs. Yukinoshita had a vague feeling that something was off.
(_")
But for the sake of the Yukinoshita family's development, she could only helplessly wait for him to continue.
"Recently, I've been thinking of going on a trip with Yukino."
Yukima Azuma tapped his finger rhythmically on the table, a faint smile of anticipation appearing on his face.
Upon hearing that, Mrs. Yukinoshita's emotions grew a little complicated.
However, more than anything, she felt puzzled.
The two of you going on a tripwhy are you telling me?
( -)?
Mrs. Yukinoshita still had a bit of self-awareness.
She had once pushed her daughter to the point of running away from home.
At this moment, she clearly couldn't take on the airs of some Mother-sama, issuing orders about their relationship anymore.
Seeing the puzzled expression on Mrs. Yukinoshita's face,
Yukima Azuma's fingers unconsciously tapped harder on the tabletop
"Even though Yukino is already an adult, this is still her first time going on a trip far from home."
"As Yukino's mother, don't you have anything you want to say to her?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita glanced at the hand of Yukima Azuma tapping on the table.
She now understood why the boy had come.
He came to demand accountability?
Come to think of it, Mrs. Yukinoshita did realize that she hadn't exactly fulfilled her responsibilities as a mother.
But the period when Yukino and Haruno were growing up just happened to coincide with the bursting of the economic bubble.
At that time, the Yukinoshita family was practically on the verge of collapse.
The Yukinoshita family that Mrs. Yukinoshita had worked so hard to build was like a machine endlessly charging forward.
If it had crashed into a wall then, it would've stopped immediately.
The components of that machine would've snapped, leading to complete destruction.
The only choice was to find another way, keep moving forward, and gradually decelerate.
Back then, it wasn't just that she was powerlessher spirit was exhausted to a certain extent as well.
By the time she turned back, the mother-daughter relationship had already deteriorated significantly.
Mrs. Yukinoshita did feel regret.
But, if she had to choose again, she would still make the exact same decision.
Now, looking at the boy coming in full force to demand justice for the person he cherishedwho happened to be her biological daughter
Mrs. Yukinoshita felt a subtle mix of emotions.
A faint trace of guilt and heartache she couldn't put into words, but there was no anger at all.
Compared to previous times when Yukima Azuma's jabs drove her mad
This time, Mrs. Yukinoshita slightly lowered her head.
"At this point, what could I possibly say?"
"Hope you two have fun. If you end up having a kid, bring it backI'll take care of it."
( )
The corner of Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched a little.
Putting aside whether or not having a kid was a bit premature
Yukima Azuma really wanted to ask the beautiful woman in front of him: where did she get the confidence to say she'd look after a child?
Letting Mrs. Yukinoshita babysitwould that really be okay?
He took a breath and adjusted his mood.
Yukima Azuma bared his teeth in a grin:
"If you can't think of anything to say..."
"Then why don't you come travel with us? Maybe that way you'll feel a bit more at ease."
()
Hearing Yukima Azuma's request that she join the trip,
Mrs. Yukinoshita's expression became somewhat unreadable.
( ®® ) ?
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
She eyed Yukima Azuma suspiciously.
(_ )
She wasn't stupid.
This request was clearly a way to make her do something.
Yukima Azuma offered a gentle smile.
"It's really nothing major."
"It's just that lately, Yukino hasn't been smiling much. I wanted to ask for your help."
"Since you're her motherbound by bloodI'm sure you must have many ways."
"As long as you agree to this small request of mine, I'll sign the contract immediately."
"Oh, rightdidn't we talk about the Suou family situation before?"
"All in all, Mrs. Yukinoshita, you don't want the Yukinoshita family's future development to be held back because of you, do you?"
()
As he spoke, Yukima Azuma's smile grew deeper.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyelids twitched as she listened.
In the business world, she had seen plenty of dirty players, schemers, and people who made outrageous demands...
But someone like the boy before her?
Not only had she never seen anything like itshe'd never even heard of anything like this.
The condition for signing a contract was that she had to dote on her own daughter?
What kind of demand was that?
And yet, it was a demand she couldn't refuse.
Just the thought of her previously strained relationship with her daughter
Already gave Mrs. Yukinoshita a headache.
"( _ <,, )
Heaven sees all, and karma always comes around.
Watching her ever-changing expression,
Yukima Azuma knewthis was in the bag.
The legendary Witch of Chiba don't tell me she can't even coax her own daughter?
As for whether her image would completely collapse while doing so
That was not within Yukima Azuma's scope of concern.
In her silence, Mrs. Yukinoshita tacitly agreed to the deal.
With the goal of this visit now accomplished,
Yukima Azuma calmly took another sip of tea.
He had to admitMrs. Yukinoshita's skill in the art of tea was truly exceptional.
Likely refined specifically for business negotiations.
No wonder back during the family registry talks,
Mrs. Yukinoshita had put on airs and ceremoniously prepared tea.
It's just back then, he'd been too young, too arroganthe hadn't even looked at the tea.
Had he known it was this good, he'd have definitely sat down, enjoyed every last drop, then started mocking her.
As he sipped, Yukima Azuma's thoughts wandered.
"Come to think of it, if you could choose a natural talent," he asked casually, "what would you pick?"
Glancing at the skill point panel on his system, Yukima Azuma asked offhandedly.
Mrs. Yukinoshita was taken aback by the question.
Wasn't that a bit of a mental leap?
What did that have to do with this?
She thought for a moment,
Then answered, "Comprehensive management, I suppose."
As the head of the Yukinoshita household
In truth, Mrs. Yukinoshita's business acumen didn't need much more advancement.
Talent, after all, had its limits.
She'd already done as much as someone in her position could.
The only thing left to improve might be her ability to oversee and coordinate everything.
Because of how much time she spent managing and juggling everything,
Mrs. Yukinoshita had missed out on many things she should have done.
That was the one true regret of her past.
That answer, however, didn't give Yukima Azuma any inspiration.
First of all, Yukima Azuma had no need for time-saving talents like that.
Laplace Corporation had already pushed time efficiency to its limits.
The path they were on now was a shortcut among shortcuts.
Not to mention, Yukima Azuma had already found someone to helphis own schedule was basically leisurely.
Second, there was almost nothing in Yukima Azuma's past that could be called a regret.
Ever since being reborn into this world, nearly everything he had done had been driven purely by desire.
He had left not a single regret for himself.
Thinking this far, maybe he should hold onto his skill points a little longer.
Use them only when the moment truly called for it.
...
After sipping tea for a while longer,
Yukima Azuma stood up and took his leave.
Might as well let Mrs. Yukinoshita enjoy a moment of peace, to properly think through her next step.
Once he left Chiba, Yukima Azuma returned to Tokyo.
Upon arriving back at the Yukima household,
One glance told him the car wasn't at home.
Yukima Azuma decisively skipped going inside and instead detoured toward the Laplace building.
By this time, night had already fallen.
Even so, several floors of the Laplace building still glowed with light.
Not because Yukima Azuma was overworking his employees.
It was simply that several subsidiaries of Laplace Corporation were running full tilt at the moment.
Every second had to be seized.
That said, nearly no one at Laplace Corporation had any complaints.
Because if there was one thing Laplace Corporation had in abundance right nowit was money.
As for overtime pay, they were practically stuffing wallets until they burst.
"President, you're here. Should I let CEO Yukinoshita know?"
A junior secretary who had come downstairs to grab some coffee happened to bump into Yukima Azuma.
She immediately bowed and asked.
Glancing at the cup of coffee in her hand,
Yukima Azuma casually took it and looked at the label.
Triple-strength black coffee.
This secretary had been specially assigned to assist Yukino.
At first, Yukino had objectedthinking such small tasks didn't require anyone's help.
But as the workload piled up, Yukima Azuma couldn't stand watching anymore.
So he'd gone ahead and forcibly hired her.
And if the secretary was holding this kind of coffee
It was obvious who the intended drinker was.
"No need to notify her. You go ahead and clock out and have some fun."
"I'll bring the coffee up myself."
Yukima Azuma waved her off, clearly intending to shoo her away.
The secretary's eyes lit up like stars.
()
In truth, within Laplace Corporation, a good number of employees shipped their two big bosses.
After all, they were a perfect matchtalented, beautiful, and charismatic.
And neither of them had that annoying, exploitative vibe typical of corporate overlords.
This particular secretary was the captain of the secret shipper brigade.
Still, after silently fangirling for a moment, she nervously asked:
"Um, if I clock out now what about my overtime pay"
Yukima Azuma looked at the girl before him, using the meekest tone to ask the most brazen question.
He couldn't help but rub his temples.
"Your overtime pay's staying. Happy now? Shoo shoo shoo!"
('')
The secretary immediately beamed like a sunflower.
"Boss is so generous! Then I won't interrupt your icha-icha time! I'm gone, I'm gone~"
)
With a playful little twirl, she vanished in a flash.
Yukima Azuma began to seriously question whether hiring a bunch of Gen Z kids had been a mistake...
Then, with the coffee in hand, he stepped into the elevator of the Laplace building.
Laplace Corporation.
As he passed the eighth floor, Yukima Azuma noticed that it was still bustling with activity.
This was the headquarters of the subsidiary company in charge of developing the short video platform.
The company had been established early on, and its basic framework was already in place.
However, things like the core big data algorithms, along with comprehensive marketing strategies and the subsequent massive promotional blitz...
All of those still needed to be gradually perfected and prepared.
As a platform, the prerequisite was to create a buzz from the very beginning.
If the promotion couldn't attract a sufficient number of users in the initial phase
Then in the blink of an eye, the market would be flooded with competitor products.
At that point, it would be trampled into the mud, unable to rise again.
On the contrary, if a massive user base could be gathered at the start
Then for a platform especially one with social networking elements
User stickiness would be absolutely insane.
As long as the platform didn't self-destruct, users would find it hard to leave for another.
This fact had already been proven by many early social media apps, platforms, and websites.
And once Laplace's short video platform officially launched and operated smoothly
Then Laplace would become Japan's Samsung.
However, Yukima Azuma had no intention of stopping on this floor to check the progress.
The elevator went straight to the top floor.
He knocked twice lightly on the office door.
Yukino's voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Her voice was as indifferent as ever.
But when Yukima Azuma pushed the door open and entered
Yukino, who was sitting behind her desk, the moment she saw him...
Her previously straight back immediately went soft.
Her whole body slumped, leaning lazily on the desk.
Even her voice carried a trace of fatigue and a vague hint of acting spoiled.
"Azuma... why are you here?"
()
This side of Yukino could only be seen by Yukima Azuma.
Normally, in front of her subordinates, Yukino was always cold like a machine that never stopped running.
Even when alone, Yukino wouldn't usually collapse on her desk like this.
At most, she would just prop up her elbows a little.
But now she was clearly exaggerating a bit as if she were acting spoiled.
He walked to the desk.
Yukima Azuma placed the cup of "triple-strength dark coffee" on the desk.
Even though it was on the desk, it wasn't somewhere Yukino could reach just by stretching her arm.
She would need to stand up to get it.
After setting down the coffee, Yukima Azuma naturally moved behind Yukino.
His fingers skillfully brushed across the pale nape of Yukino's neck.
"Mn~... Mm~..."
(**)
Under Yukima Azuma's practiced hands, Yukino let out some strange sounds.
It seemed she had realized the atmosphere in the room was becoming a little suggestive due to her moaning.
Yukino coughed lightly, trying to compose herself.
But Yukima Azuma's massage technique was just too skilled.
She had only just managed to regain a bit of composure before she was pulled back in.
Ten minutes passed in silence.
Yukima Azuma stopped his hands and leaned against the armrest of the office chair as he sat down.
Yukino rolled her shoulders and neck a bit.
She only felt a kind of refreshing ease that was hard to put into words.
If not for the shyness in her heart making her heartbeat quicken
At this moment, she might've already fallen sound asleep.
(--)
Looking at the young man leaning on the armrest, as if leaning on her
Yukino's cheeks turned slightly warm.
She wanted to drink something to cool down.
She reached out to grab the coffee that Yukima Azuma had brought
But realized she couldn't reach it.
If she wanted to get it, she'd have to stand up.
And doing so would definitely bump into or even push away Yukima Azuma who was sitting beside her.
The fair hand that had stretched out curled its fingers a couple times in midair, and then Yukino gave up.
Seeing that somewhat mischievous gesture of hers
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"You won't let me drink the coffee, so why not bring me a cup of something to drink instead?"
()
Yukino glared at Yukima Azuma in frustration.
They had been together long enough now.
She understood all those little schemes in the young man's heart too well.
Deliberately placing it far out of reach, and then sitting in a way that pinned her down
Clearly, he didn't want to let her drink the coffee.
Normally, Yukino almost never drank soft drinks.
Unless she was staying up late, she wouldn't even touch coffee.
He reached out and poked Yukino's cheek, which was puffed up in a sulky way.
()()
Yukima Azuma smiled and gently said:
"There's only one caf downstairs, and they don't have the kind of drinks you like."
"Come home with me, I'll make you something sweet to drink."
Hearing that, Yukino felt deeply moved.
But she glanced at the stack of documents she hadn't finished processing.
"Sit with me for a bit first. Once I finish this, I'll go home with you."
That was Yukino's promise.
Yukima Azuma accepted it and casually glanced over the stack of documents on the desk.
In truth, they were just minor matters.
The kind that only needed to be reported to Yukino.
But in practice, if nothing was fundamentally wrong after she skimmed through them, no response was really needed.
Laplace Corporation had grown massive by now.
A lot of issues could be handled independently by the people below.
Matters that truly required decisions from Yukino or Yukima Azuma were already rare.
Problems serious enough to escalate to either of them were pitifully few.
Unlike back when they had just acquired the Laplace building
At that time, one slip-up by the staff below could've brought the whole Laplace Corporation crashing down. That era was over.
He placed his hand on the pile of documents.
"Work is endless take a little break."
"Just so happens things aren't too busy right now. Let's go to Beppu, hmm?"
Yukima Azuma named the destination of the trip.
Beppu, Japan's famous hot spring city.
Like Hakone, it was a well-known hot spring destination.
But compared to Hakone, Beppu had far fewer tourists.
If the purpose wasn't for fun but to relax, then Beppu was clearly the better choice.
It was winter now soaking in hot springs and enjoying a rare vacation
Just the thought of it was soothing.
Yukino clearly gulped.
The temptation showed plainly on her face.
Honestly, just being able to travel with Yukima Azuma
She'd be happy going anywhere.
()
Moreover, Yukima Azuma had said he'd give her a gift on this trip.
But alongside the fluttering in her heart, Yukino still hesitated a little.
"The video platform hasn't gone live yet. Leaving it be for now won't cause any problems."
"This is a rare chance. Leave this stuff for later."
()
Yukima Azuma continued to whisper like a devil beside Yukino's delicate, fair ear.
In truth, this was indeed a quiet period for Laplace Corporation.
This year, Laplace was set to expand into one of the four major financial conglomerates maybe even beyond that level.
But before that expansion began, Laplace was an incredibly stable entity.
The terrifying cash flow practically exaggerated in scale it meant the company had the luxury to make things up as it went.
Even strange decisions wouldn't shake the ship.
On the contrary, this was the best time to let go a little.
Once, then twice, he persuaded her.
In the end, Yukino couldn't resist Yukima Azuma's temptation.
Like a little girl doing something naughty just for candy, she nodded gently, a little guilty.
(,,,,)
Seeing Yukino finally nod in agreement,
Yukima Azuma immediately stood up, holding out his hand to her.
Yukinoshita placed her fingertips onto it, and the two of them naturally intertwined their fingers.
They got into the elevator, preparing to go down.
Yukino tilted her head, glancing at the coffee cup still in Yukima Azuma's hand.
"What should we do with that?"
They were done for the day and about to go on a trip.
That cup of coffee, neither of them was going to drink it anymore.
But Yukino felt a little wasteful just throwing it out.
Not because of the money, but because Yukino's innate sense of integrity hated waste.
Even though that integrity had started to waver whenever she was with Yukima Azuma
For everything else unrelated to him, Yukino was still Yukino.
"Let's give it to the staff on the eighth floor. They probably need it."
Yukima Azuma casually pressed the button for the eighth floor.
"Mafuyu-sensei, this is the first time I've felt like this."
"So it's really possible to be so happy before a trip that you can't even sleep."
( )
Yukino sighed emotionally.
Kirisu Mafuyu's forehead was covered in black lines.
In the middle of the night, Yukino suddenly ran over and knocked on her door.
She thought something serious had happened.
But it turned out Yukino was just too excited about the upcoming trip to sleep.
You've already graduated college and started workingwhy are you acting like an elementary school girl about to go on a field trip?
<( _)>
Thinking back to high school, every time there was a school trip coming up, Yukino...
She always had that indifferent look, unable to understand the excitement of the people around her.
Kirisu Mafuyu really wanted to go on a rant, but in the end, she held back.
Her eyes unconsciously wandered around the room.
"Now that you mention it, Mafuyu-sensei's room is really neat."
"As expected of a sensei, everything is meticulous and flawless."
( )
Yukino's eyes scanned the room too.
Then she marveled at how tidy it was.
This was her first time entering Kirisu Mafuyu's room.
Before this, they'd only ever talked in Yukino's room.
A cold sweat broke out on Kirisu Mafuyu's forehead.
()
Good thing Yukima Azuma had come over yesterday to help her clean up a bit.
Otherwise...
Well, otherwise she wouldn't have opened the door for Yukino at all.
Her teacher image had been saved!
( )
"It's nothing, really... I'm just used to it,"
Kirisu Mafuyu replied, a little guilty.
She really was used to it.
But what exactly she was used toonly she knew.
Mafuyu: (>)
Yukino nodded in understanding.
Sasuga Mafuyu-sensei, so capable and admirable.
()
Right after that, Yukino's attention returned to the trip.
"Mafuyu-sensei, can you help me check how this outfit looks?"
Yukino held up a white-and-blue yukata, holding it up against herself to try it out.
A yukata, traditional Japanese attire, looks very similar to a kimono.
Often, even in films, international audiences can't tell the difference between the two.
According to tradition, at temple festivals and such, girls often wear yukata rather than kimono.
Looking at Yukino trying on the outfit,
Kirisu Mafuyu felt a little sentimental.
On one hand, she was emotional about her slow-to-realize student
Finally finding someone good, her spring heart blossoming, so adorable.
(`)
On the other hand, she felt like she was being force-fed dog food.
It was the kind that sticks in your throatand had a bitter taste of jealous vinegar.
(`Д)
Yukino didn't notice her teacher's mood at all.
After showing off a bit, she went back to her room.
Even though she hadn't drunk that cup of coffee,
She still ended up sleeping a bit late.
...
...
The next day.
Yukima Azuma showed up dragging a small suitcase, with a backpack slung over his shoulder.
He got into the car they had booked in advance.
They didn't have much luggage between the two of them.
Yukima Azuma, naturallybeing a guy, didn't have many things.
As for Yukino, although she was a girl, she was pretty tidy.
Aside from the clothes she spent all night choosing,
She didn't bring much in the way of makeup or skincare.
Yukino wasn't good at makeupnot interested, and no real reason to learn.
Because she was the kind of girl more beautiful than snow beneath the sky.
That so-called "breathtaking beauty from birth" wasn't just an empty phrase.
Even now, clearly a bit sleep-deprived,
Her face showed no signs of it.
No dark circles at all.
All you could see was lethal charm and mesmerizing beauty.
If Yukino ever did wear makeup, it usually ended up reducing her natural allure instead.
Things like makeup or skincare products were merely optional accessories to her.
( `)
...
On the Car
Watching the scenery outside the window gradually recede into the distance,
Yukino blinked her big eyes.
Spending more time with Yukima Azuma, she realized that maybe
She was slowly making up for the emotions she'd missed out on during her student days.
Back then, whenever she sat in a car,
Yukino never had the mood to admire the passing scenery.
Most of her energy was devoted to books or work documents.
Even if she happened to glance outside once or twice, her mind was still occupied with other thoughts.
She never understood those classmates who liked to just stare out the window.
Like the girls who sat in the front row but never paid attention in class
Instead, they'd be busy watching the boys playing basketball during gym period.
After gazing at the scenery for a while,
Her eyelids, lacking sleep, began to rebel.
At that moment, she felt a warm hand gently resting on her cheek.
Yukino felt herself leaning against a sturdy shoulder.
Smelling that familiar scent,
She unconsciously drifted off to sleep.
-
...
Looking at the girl soundly sleeping against his shoulder,
Yukima Azuma was in a fantastic mood.
Casually pulling his phone from his pocket, he flipped to the front camera and took a selfie with Yukino.
Then sent the photo to Mrs. Yukinoshita.
After the message showed "read,"
A long while later, a single word appeared in the chat: "Umu."
Yukima Azuma's lips curled into a smirk.
Classic robot.
But thinking again
Just a few more days, and he'd get to watch that beautiful robot lady try to coax her daughter.
Yukima Azuma's mood lifted even more.
...
As they neared the hot spring ryokan in Beppu,
Yukino woke up.
Looking outside, the scenery had completely changed.
Yukino blinked, then softly began humming a cheerful tune.
It was a song familiar to the current generation in Japan
The theme song from a morning drama series that aired ten years ago.
Turns out, even Yukino watched drama shows back in elementary school.
Yukima Azuma also hummed along with her.
Their two voices harmonized.
"Hope you two have a lovely trip,"
The driver said, stepping down to open the door for them, smiling a bit stiffly.
She had already eaten way too much dog food during the ride.
As a professional driver.
Naturally, she had picked up plenty of couples before.
All ages, even all gender combinations.
Some were way bolder
She'd even once witnessed an icha-icha couple right on the spot.
( )
But this level of sweetness between these twoshe'd never seen before.
The two of them merely sat there, yet it felt like they were a perfect embodiment of "a match made in heaven."
Just humming a song together was so harmonious, so perfectly matched
It was enough to make a bystander feel full just from second-hand romance.
...
After collecting their luggage,
Yukima Azuma and Yukino walked hand-in-hand into the ryokan they had booked entirely for themselves.
Rolling in her suitcase, Yukino opened the door to their room.
But the moment she pushed it open, she paused in surprise.
"Are these our company's products?"
In the ryokan room, with just a glance, it was easy to spot various smart furniture items from Laplace neatly arranged throughout.
Chapter 299: Yukino is Very Clear-Headed
Hearing Yukino's question,
Yukima Azuma glanced over and immediately noticed the prominent Laplace logo on the side of a piece of furniture.
He pulled out his phone and opened the Laplace smart furniture app to try connecting.
In no time, it showed a successful connection~.
He turned the phone around to show Yukino.
Yukima Azuma was also a bit surprised and gave a slight nod.
"Looks like it really is."
The ryokan they chose for this trip wasn't part of the Hinatsuru chain.
Not because they were deliberately avoiding it.
There was a Hinatsuru family location in Beppu, after all.
But since it was just part of the ryokan chain and not the headquarters area, the quality wasn't exactly as impressive as expected.
Moreover, the ryokan they were currently staying at
Was built right next to one of Beppu's famous natural hot springs.
The natural hot spring they could enjoy here was something unmatched by other places.
Laplace mainly focuses on major provinces like Tokyo, Chiba, Osaka.
In the Beppu area, their promotion wasn't too aggressive.
Encountering furniture from their own company here
Both of them were a bit surprised.
After all, Laplace's furniture had only been on the market for a short while.
Out of habit, he opened the app and skimmed through a few furniture settings for the room.
Yukima Azuma waved at Yukino, then headed back to his room.
The two of them weren't staying in the same room.
Well, not exactly two completely separate rooms either.
The living areas of the rooms were connected, but the bedrooms were still separate.
Their relationship was ambiguoussomewhere between more than friends but not quite lovers.
They held hands, but hadn't seggs.
( )
Yukino adjusted the room a bit.
After putting her luggage down
She took out the clothes she brought from the suitcase.
Picking up a yukata, she stood in front of the mirror and tried it against herself.
Her eyes landed on a backless sweater she had somehow packed without really knowing why.
After buying it, she had never even tried it on once.
And yet, somehowwho knows what possessed hershe'd ended up putting it into her suitcase during the trip prep.
"So... did I want to wear this for him to see?"
Azuma: )
Curse Chef: )
Gourmet Readers: )
Yukino: ( oo) !!
Women dress up for the ones they like.
That reason was obvious.
But being aware of that fact isn't so common.
No matter how thick or thin one's skin may be, there's still embarrassment.
But Yukino is the kind of person whose rationality is downright frightening.
Back when she was in school, she'd even dissected her own psychology more than once.
Because of that, even though her cheeks were already flushed red
She was still clearly conscious of what she was feeling deep down.
Of what sort of emotions and desires she held for Yukima Azuma.
...
About fifteen minutes later
"Yukino, your face is a little red."
After organizing his room, Yukima Azuma walked into the shared living area and noticed Yukino's slightly flushed face.
( //>///
After all, as her name implies, Yukino's skin was pale as snow.
So just a little bit of red would show up very clearly.
Not knowing the reason, Yukima Azuma reached out and touched her forehead.
Then he touched his own.
Finally, he decisively brushed up Yukino's bangs and pressed his forehead against hers.
Looking at the boy so close in front of her, their noses practically touching
Yukino's cheeks, which had just started to cool down a little, flared up even redder.
(///// " )
However, she didn't push him away.
Yukino softly said:
"Maybe it's just because the room's a bit warm."
Sensing that her body temperature was still normal, Yukima Azuma nodded.
"Umu, well, we are near the hot springs, so it is a bit warm."
After moving past the blushing moment
Yukima Azuma just started admiring Yukino's yukata.
The blue-and-white yukata was cinched and decorated at the waist with a deep blue sash.
The sash was tied into a large butterfly bow at the back.
Having grown used to Yukino's usual "office lady onee-san" style
To suddenly see her in this soft, gentle yukata look
It was truly a visually striking shock.
"Sometimes I'm honestly a little jealous of yukatas," Yukima Azuma teased.
( )
Hearing that, Yukino couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
"What kind of weird joke is that and anyway, it's not like I'm wearing nothing underneath."
Yukino laughed for a bit, then suddenly remembered the traditional way of wearing yukata.
A bit embarrassed, she crossed her arms over her chest and glanced away.
"Eh! So you're not?!"
The traditional way to wear a yukata is without underwear underneath.
But just now, Yukima Azuma had completely forgotten about that.
Yukino's beauty generally inspired admiration rather than lustful thoughts.
Even so, Yukima Azuma clutched his head and exaggeratedly pretended to be in anguish
As a show of respect.
Looking at Yukima Azuma's seemingly devastated appearance,
Yukino pressed her cherry lips together, saying nothing, but her fingertips unconsciously fidgeted with the edge of her yukata.
No one could tell what she was really thinking.
...
After chatting for a while,
The two of them stood up and left the room.
Now that they were at a hot spring ryokan
The first activity was, of course, to enjoy the hot spring bath.
It was currently afternoon.
The sun had already passed its peak and was slowly setting in the west.
Starting the soak now would be perfect for enjoying both the late afternoon and the sunset views.
This hot spring ryokan was built right next to a rare natural spring source.
In fact, it only served a small number of guests.
The hot spring area didn't separate male and female baths or offer any mixed-gender options.
It was simply several hot spring pools sourced directly from the natural spring
Reserved for guest use.
Yukima Azuma had booked out the entire ryokan for a few days.
Many guests often did the same.
So the use of the hot springs was entirely up to the guests' discretion.
Before arriving here, the two of them had already discussed it.
Back then, Yukima Azuma said they could bathe in two separate pools.
That way, even if they couldn't see each other clearly due to the steam, they could still talk freely.
In the end, though Yukino had looked as red as an apple...
She suddenly, boldly said that bathing together would be fine.
Of course, not nakedYukino wore a swimsuit.
()
...
Outdoor Hot Spring
Yukima Azuma squatted beside the spring pool and dipped his hand in to test the temperature.
It felt just right for human body temperature.
Moreover, the spring water had a crystal-clear jade green hue.
The color of hot springs is often influenced by the minerals in the water source.
Some types have very unusual colorslike blood-red hot springs, often used as a marketing gimmick.
However, those kinds of springs tend to slightly compromise aesthetic appeal.
This one before them, though, was beautiful.
As for "aesthetic," you ask?
Azuma: ( _ ) Staring intently, unblinking.
Yukino had sunk her snow-white neck into the water, even her chin submerged, blowing out a stream of bubbles.
Yukima Azumacaught in the actawkwardly pulled his gaze back.
But really, with scenery like this, it was hard not to look.
If he didn't sneak in a few more glances, it would've been a waste.
After the initial awkwardness passed
The two gradually grew comfortable in the moment.
Soaking in the warm spring water, they began chatting casually again.
After blowing bubbles in the hot spring for a while
Once they got used to the situation, the awkwardness began to fade.
Yukino was the first to start a conversation.
"Lately, a lot of people online have been urging you to write more, Azuma."
It had been several months since volume two of the Youth series was released.
As a phenomenon-level work,
It was only natural to be urged for new chapters.
Yukima Azuma's lips twitched.
"Why should I keep writing? Didn't I just finish one?"
Surely, every author must've asked themselves this at some point.
"Didn't I just update? Why are they already asking for more?"
(`)
Seeing Azuma's utterly aggrieved expression,
Yukino couldn't help but laugh softly.
"Those readers, huh? They probably wish you'd write a hundred thousand words every day."
Yukima Azuma leaned his head back, looking as if he might sink right into the hot spring.
Actually, in Japan, releasing a volume every few months is a fairly standard pace for light novels.
Many light novels, even if the manuscript is done, still have to wait for a printing slot.
The reason the Youth series was now being so heavily demanded
Was mainly because Azuma had finished volume two way too fast.
But then, volume three had no updates whatsoever.
It was frustrating for the readers.
The anticipation had reached its peakonly to be met with complete silence.
After all, the quick release of volume two had been a fluke.
If that incident with Mommy Guardian hadn't happened
Yukima Azuma might've delayed things indefinitely.
After all, the whole reason Yukima Azuma started writing
Was simply to show off his "Super Adorable Saint Megumi-chan-sama" to the world.
Super Adorable Saint Megumi-chan-sama: (*)*.
He'd already won over Kato Megumihow about you guys, otaku-san?
Azuma to otaku readers: ()
And now he was being hounded for more chapters.
A taste of karma, perhaps.
Seeing Yukima Azuma like that, Yukino laughed softly again.
But then, as if she suddenly remembered something, her smile slowly faded.
The truth was, Yukino hadn't brought up light novels just to urge him to write more.
The reason she steered the conversation that way
Was because she wanted to talk about Kato Megumi.
Or rather, she wanted to know more about the girls surrounding Yukima Azuma.
That 600-page love letter addressed to the real-life heroineof course Yukino had already seen through it long ago.
She'd never brought it up before
Because of her state back then.
After leaving the Yukinoshita household, she'd been like a drifting leaf, lost with nowhere to belong.
Meeting Yukima Azumawas already an indescribable joy for her.
Later, once the aftermath from the Yukinoshita family had been settled, and after hearing Yukima Azuma confess his feelings to her multiple times
Naturally, Yukino had been moved.
However, back then, Laplace Corporation had just been founded and was still weathering storms.
To her, it was Yukima Azuma's labor of love.
Yukino threw herself into work, hoping to build Laplace into something strongto repay his kindness.
It wasn't until now
That Laplace had reached its first true moment of stability.
And Yukima Azuma had pulled her out of the hustle and bustle, bringing her to this secluded hot spring retreat
That Yukino gradually came to realize her feelings, and the growing desire within her.
Unconsciously, she began to harbor a little "scheme."
She wanted to knowhow far things had progressed between Yukima Azuma and those other girls.
Or perhaps, what Yukino truly cared about more
Was what Yukima Azuma was thinking.
Even though, not even Yukino herself knew
If she really found out the truth, what would she do then?
Had that boy already chosen someone?
If so should she convince him to open a harem?
Or maybe, no one had truly stepped into his heart yet.
Should she be the one to step forward?
But if she did
Would she have to drive the others away?
Yukino's thoughts were in a bit of disarray.
By principle, Yukino was a person of integrity, with a strong sense of possessionshe could never accept something like a harem, a structure that defied order and reason.
But now, in this very moment, it was Yukima Azuma who was her principle.
That's why, halfway through the conversation, Yukino stopped. She didn't press further.
Yet even without her asking, Yukima Azuma was sharp enough to sense the shift in her emotions.
Though she was now a mature female CEO
Yukino's ability to manage her facial expressions still wasn't perfect.
At least, not in front of Yukima Azuma.
Happy or upsetit was always written plainly on her face.
After thinking for a bit, Yukima Azuma's eyes shifted.
"I think I just got an idea for volume three."
Hearing that, Yukino couldn't help but be stunned.
Then she realizedYukima Azuma was staring directly at her.
And in that moment, she understood exactly where his "inspiration" was coming from.
Her heart began to race.
(>/////<)
"Let's not talk about that now," Yukima Azuma said. "This is a rare vacation. How about we think about dinner instead?"
"Let's leave all that until after the break."
"After all we've still got plenty of time, don't we?"
( - )
Yukima Azuma shifted the topic with a wink.
Yukino nodded seriously.
Indeed, time was still on their side.
At this point, Yukima Azuma was still a student.
And she herself was only in her second year post-graduation.
The bond between them wasn't something that would suddenly be severed anytime soon.
The pressure from the Yukinoshita household had been easily swept away by this young man.
His feelings were crystal clear.
And her feelings had already taken on his shape.
The futurethere was plenty of time to sort it all out.
And right now, it was the long-awaited vacation trip she had been dreaming of, her heart brimming with quiet joy.
She ran her hand lightly through the crystal-clear jade-colored water.
Yukino swam gently toward Yukima Azuma.
Then, scooping a handful of hot spring water, she flicked it into his face.
Even if things could wait for later, being deflected by Yukima Azuma like that still made her a little annoyed.
Just moments ago, he had been admiring his mermaid Yukinowhen suddenly, splashed straight in the face.
Caught off guard, he quickly retaliated.
"Take thismy Water Release technique: 'Who the hell rebuilt this dam?!'"
( ) (®®)
In the middle of their play
The golden hue of sunset descended upon them.
And then, they suddenly stopped.
Not because the surroundings had gone dim
But because just then, soft white snowflakes began to fall from above.
As he watched the snowflakes melt in the palm of his hand,
Yukima Azuma suddenly grabbed hold of Yukino.
She blinked in surprise.
"Truth is, snow that doesn't melt is way more enchanting."
( - )
Yukima 'Rizz' Azuma flirt smoothly.
"Snow that doesn't melt" pouted bashfully.
()
All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends
Curse_Heian_Chef
Chapter 301: A Bittersweet Feeling
"Are you feeling a little dizzy?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
Yukino nodded.
At this moment, her fair face had a light blush, as if it had been carefully dusted with rouge.
Her usually sharp eyes now appeared a little hazy.
(/////" )
In truth, it wasn't so much because of the hot spring.
The current state was mainly due to her heart beating fast.
And the reason her heart was beating so fast
Yukino looked again at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma swam closer to the edge and climbed out.
Standing by the spring, he reached out his hand toward Yukino.
After pulling Yukino up, the two of them stepped inside.
The snowflakes falling from the sky weren't getting any heavier.
Just a few scattered, small flakes.
They fluttered down softly, some perhaps melting into clear droplets before even reaching the ground.
There was no white snow accumulation visible by the hot spring.
Only by looking up at the sky
One could see the delicate snowflakes falling gently, catching the dim resort lights.
After pulling Yukino up, Yukima Azuma didn't let go of her hand.
Instead, he skillfully clasped her hand, their fingers interlaced.
The two entered the indoor changing room.
As they stepped inside, a few snowflakes landed on Yukino, melting and carrying a chill.
Making Yukino, beautiful like snow herself, shiver slightly without realizing.
Yukima Azuma took Yukino's towel from the locker.
He wrapped it around her head, then gently began drying her hair.
Taking care of long hair was troublesome even drying it required caution.
Otherwise, it would hurt or damage the hair's quality.
But Yukima Azuma was very skilled.
"I can do it myself. Aren't you cold, Azuma?"
Yukino asked.
After all, they had just come out of the hot spring, and their bodies were still wet.
It was better to dry off quickly.
Even though she really enjoyed the feeling of Yukima Azuma drying her hair
Yukino still wanted Yukima Azuma to take care of himself first.
"It's fine, don't worry."
Yukima Azuma replied casually.
His physique
Let alone just coming out of a hot spring without drying off
Even swimming in winter in this kind of weather
Afterward, Yukima Azuma probably wouldn't even catch a cold.
By comparison, Yukino was still more important.
After all, since their school days, Yukino's physical condition had never been that great.
After graduating and entering the workforce, it didn't improveif anything, it got worse.
Overtime became more frequent, and her daily schedule often turned chaotic.
Thinking about it, Yukima Azuma realized there were quite a few girls in the house with weak constitutions.
Sora Ginko and Suou Yukithose two had serious illnesses back in elementary school, no need to mention that.
Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't have much better physical health either.
After all, one was an otaku, the other a novelist who barely exercised and stayed up late every night.
As he rubbed Yukino's black hair
Yukima Azuma thought about whether he should round up all the girls in the house sometime soon
And make them do some exercise to get healthier.
( )
...
It took about three minutes before Yukima Azuma reluctantly finished drying and arranging Yukino's long, straight black hair.
Then the two of them went into their respective rooms to change clothes.
By the time Yukino finished changing and stepped out
She saw Yukima Azuma already waiting with a hairdryer in hand.
She sat down on the small chair.
Watching Yukima Azuma skillfully lift her hair and begin drying it for her
Yukino couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth lift into a smile.
()
This feelingwas something she had never experienced before.
Something she couldn't have even imagined in the past.
Even though the Yukinoshita household had maids to attend to them
The feeling was completely different.
Even though it sounded a bit cheesy
Yukino could only feel that Yukima Azuma's actions were filled with affection.
It was a kind of love she had never experienced before.
( )~ ( oo) !!
However he really was skilled.
Her hair wasn't tangled at all, and even the lower layers were evenly dried.
Yukino's gaze unconsciously dropped to Yukima Azuma's short hair.
Hmm, come to think of it, he probably picked up these details from drying other girls' hair, right?
Yukino felt a little bitter.
But just a little bit.
As expected, someone who could come up with the plan for White Album definitely wasn't just lucky.
Yukima Azuma keenly picked up a slight whiff of vinegar, smell of jealousy.
Ever since his shogi skill maxed out, a sub-skill called "shogi" had appeared.
Yukima Azuma's sensitivity to emotion had grown even sharper.
For the people he cared about, he could sometimes pick up even the tiniest emotional shifts.
However, Yukima Azuma was a bit confused.
He was drying Yukino's hair right now, so what exactly was she jealous of?
(" v ") ?
Unable to figure out the reason for now, Yukima Azuma decided to change the subject.
"What do you want to eat tonight? I booked out the whole ryokan, so we can use the kitchen in the back too."
He leaned close to Yukino's ear and whispered softly.
Warm air brushed against Yukino's earlobe.
It was hard to tell whether it was from the hairdryer or Yukima Azuma's breath.
Yukino's whole body trembled slightly, and she unconsciously pressed her thighs together.
"I-I It's fine, no need to trouble yourself. You've already been busy all day"
(,,><,,)
Her voice stuttered a bit at first.
Yukino immediately composed herself.
Only then did she manage to speak with some dignity.
They had spent the entire day traveling.
Yukino truly didn't want to make Yukima Azuma work any more.
They'd departed early in the morning.
She had even fallen asleep leaning on Yukima Azuma in the car.
And yet, Yukima Azuma hadn't rested at all throughout the trip.
But after hearing her concern, Yukima Azuma just smiled lightly.
"It's fine. It's just cookingand I'm cooking for you."
"For me, it's actually a way to relax."
Cooking skill: Level 8.
For Yukima Azuma, cooking really was effortlessthere wasn't even a hint of fatigue.
Besides, he had gone through all the effort to bring Yukino on a vacation.
Of course he wanted to max out the experience.
Plus, there were still things to do after dinner.
Yukino, however, was completely unaware of Yukima Azuma's inner thoughts.
But when she heard his words
She felt like a sweet candy had melted in her mouth, its flavor slowly spreading through her heart.
(><)~*
"Just a regular bowl of ramen is fine."
Yukino finally said.
Her long, straight black hair that reached down to her waist was beautifully stunning.
But it had taken Yukima Azuma nearly ten minutes to dry it completely.
With a practiced hand, he braided her hair into a single plait, letting it fall over her shoulder.
It was the "dangerous hairstyle" that anime moms who die early often had.
After admiring it for a moment, Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
Yukino, on the other hand, stared wide-eyed at her intricately styled hair.
He was too good at this!?
The faint scent of vinegar spread again.
This time, Yukima Azuma more or less guessed the reason.
So, he used the Joestar family's secret techniqueNigerundayoand slipped straight into the kitchen at the back of the ryokan.
( )
After all, trying to explain stuff like this would only make it worse.
As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, Yukima Azuma saw that someone was already there by the counter.
Wearing a kimono, her hair neatly tied, skillfully washing and chopping vegetables
A Mrs. Yukinoshita who looked just like a classic Yamato Nadeshiko.
Yukima Azuma smiled softly.
Mrs. Yukinoshita gave him a glance but didn't say a word.
After all, she had already accepted the terms Yukima Azuma had offered
Naturally, she would give her utmost to fulfill that promise.
Seeing the two beautifully presented bowls of shoyu ramen that Yukima Azuma brought out
Along with several side dishes full of traditional Japanese flair
Yukino blinked, slightly surprised.
"Why did you make so much? There's no way we can finish all of this."
Yukima Azuma smiled, offering no explanation.
He simply said, "More importantly, try it and see if it's good."
Yukino gave a small nod.
The shoyu ramen was as delicious as always.
()
Back when Yukino used to work late into the night and didn't have time for dinner, once she returned to the Yukima household
Yukima Azuma would often cook this dish for her.
She had eaten it more times than she could count, yet never once did she feel tired of it.
It felt like she could eat it for the rest of her life.
As for the side dishes
Yukino tried a bite.
And didn't feel particularly impressed.
Usually, Yukima Azuma's cooking always surprised her.
But these small dishes were unexpectedly ordinary.
Even so, after a few bites, she found herself unconsciously reaching for more.
()
Watching Yukino silently devour her ramen, Yukima Azuma seemed to be lost in thought and gave a small nod.
He had made three bowls of ramen.
Yukima Azuma had actually invited Mrs. Yukinoshita to join them.
But she shook her head and declined.
She had her meal in the back kitchen.
Those side disheswere made by Mrs. Yukinoshita.
Turns out, Mrs. Yukinoshita could cook.
And judging from her technique, she was fairly skilled.
Though not quite at a professional chef's level
She was at least as capable as a seasoned housewife.
Maybe even an exceptional one.
This genuinely surprised Yukima Azuma.
After all, she was a great ojou-sama from the Yukinoshita family
Knowing how to cook just felt a little off.
Though Japan didn't have outdated sayings like "a woman's place is in the kitchen"...
Cooking clearly wasn't a skill expected of someone raised like an ojou-sama.
On that note, Yukima Azuma casually asked her about it.
Mrs. Yukinoshita answered plainly.
She had learned to cook around the time she first became the head of the household.
Back then, the Yukinoshita family was just an ordinary familynot some prestigious noble line.
A woman stepping up as family head had stirred no small amount of controversy.
At the time, Mrs. Yukinoshita didn't even have anyone she could trust by her side.
Reviving a whole family inevitably meant making enemies.
To the point that even sitting down for a meal couldn't be done in peace.
In the end, she had no choice but to cook for herselfjust to survive through that period.
Out of curiosity, Yukima Azuma asked another question:
Had she ever cooked for Yukino?
Naturally, the answer was never.
As expected.
Yukino had never once eaten her mother's cooking.
Yet, now tasting it for the first timeshe didn't seem to think it was bad at all.
Seeing how she kept picking at the food non-stop
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but feel, superstition or not, as if there was some kind of "mother-daughter buff" sprinkled in there.
...
After dinner
Yukima Azuma and Yukino left the ryokan again to take a walk in the snow-lit streets.
Then, they returned to their separate rooms.
Just as Yukino had said, the travel today had been tiring
It was time to rest.
Howeverdespite saying that
Once she returned to her room
Yukino stepped in front of the mirror.
Staring at the braid resting over her shoulder.
She unconsciously picked up the backless sweater again.
This time, after a moment's hesitation
Yukino began to change clothes.
She had decided: might as well be the one to make the first move.
(_)
Now that she clearly understood her own desire
Yukino resolved to do what she wanted first.
Everything else that needed thinkingcould wait.
...
Just as she finished changing "battle suit"
Yukino suddenly heard a knock at the door.
With the knocking came the sound of her own heart pounding wildly.
She quickly stepped toward the door.
After taking two deep breaths...
Yukino turned the doorknob, bracing herself for Yukima Azuma's reaction.
But instead
"M-Mother why are you..."
Seeing Mrs. Yukinoshita standing outside the door,
Yukino's eyes widened as she instinctively stepped back two paces.
Her hand tugged lightly at the hem of her sweater.
In truth, Mrs. Yukinoshita herself was feeling extremely conflicted in that moment.
After thinking through countless ways to mend their mother-daughter relationship
She had finally come to knock on the door.
What she didn't expect, however, was that the moment the door opened
She'd see her daughter, who had always been the epitome of poise and discipline, who had only ever "rebelled" once in her entire life, who always took everything seriouslydressed like this.
Granted, from the front, the sweater did appear relatively proper.
But Mrs. Yukinoshita wasn't some out-of-touch older woman who "didn't know how to use the internet."
She had seen this kind of sweater design before.
Yukino had always been a textbook "good girl" since childhood.
For a moment, Mrs. Yukinoshita was taken aback.
( - )
As the initial shock wore off, Yukino began silently backing away.
There was no way she could let this version of herself be exposed today.
She didn't know why her mother suddenly showed up here
But she didn't want to lose ground.
After all, in their previous confrontation, it had been Yukima Azuma who stepped in to help her secure her freedom.
She didn't want Azuma to worry about her anymore.
"Why did you come to see me, Mother?"
Yukino retreated to the table and asked tensely.
Being asked again
Mrs. Yukinoshita seemed to snap out of it.
Seeing her daughter standing there, tensed up and guarded
A sudden wave of sadness washed over her.
(`)
Now that she thought about it, both of her daughters
Always seemed to carry this kind of tension when facing her.
"It's nothing, I just wanted to talk with you a little."
Mrs. Yukinoshita stepped into the room.
She quietly closed the door behind her.
In the enclosed space
Yukino felt even more on edge.
But as she took a closer look at her mother
She couldn't help but feel a bit confused.
Today, Mrs. Yukinoshita seemed lacking something.
Mnnnnnn.... Ahshe was missing that overwhelming aura she usually carried.
" where should we even begin?"
Yukino furrowed her brows slightly.
Mrs. Yukinoshita took a seat at the table.
Yukino followed and sat down as well.
"Have you been doing well lately? Though I suppose I'm not really in a position to ask that."
Mrs. Yukinoshita seemed to be muttering to herself: "Forget it, anywayI just wanted to say I'm sorry."
The moment she heard the word "sorry"
Yukino's eyes widened instantly.
She never imagined
That one day, she would hear such words come from her mother's mouth.
In her mind
Her mother had always been someone who could never be wrong.
Seeing her daughter's stunned expression
Mrs. Yukinoshita let out a long sigh.
"Sigh how do I put this it's fine if you don't forgive me."
"After all, you grew up in the Yukinoshita household."
"If you ever feel like coming back to visit, just come."
"The affairs of the family will no longer have anything to do with you."
That last sentence sounded like a severing of ties
But to Yukino, it didn't feel that way at all.
That she was no longer involved in the Yukinoshita family
In truth, it meant that Mrs. Yukinoshita was completely letting her go.
Even though Yukino had left home
This change in her mother's attitude
Still felt like a dream.
"Why so suddenly" Yukino fumbled, unsure how to even voice the questions stirring in her heart.
Mrs. Yukinoshita only shook her head slightly.
"It's not really that sudden. Anyway you've done very well."
She was someone who valued results above all else.
When Yukino left home, Mrs. Yukinoshita opposed it
Because at the time, she believed that decision wouldn't lead to any worthwhile outcome.
But now that the results had changed
So had her perspective.
In truth, even if Yukima Azuma hadn't invited her here
Mrs. Yukinoshita had long wanted to find a chance to speak with Yukino alone.
Chapter 303: First, how about a loving hug?
The sudden appearance of Mrs. Yukinoshita made Yukino flustered and at a loss.
The words Mrs. Yukinoshita uttered made Yukino even more unsure of what to do.
Even though she carried her own will, Yukino had run away from home.
But it wasn't until Mrs. Yukinoshita spoke up.
Clearly, there had always been a knot in Yukino's heart.
After all, Mrs. Yukinoshita was still Yukino's mother.
And now, whether that knot could be untied or not was still unknown.
But Yukino was obviously falling into slight confusion.
She didn't understand why the mother who had always been like a dictator ever since she was young,
Would suddenly appear in front of her, saying words that sounded like an apology.
After a brief moment of daze, Yukino's train of thought reconnected.
Temporarily setting aside her mother's attitude.
Yukino quickly thought about the fact that Mrs. Yukinoshita's appearance here must have been arranged by Yukima Azuma.
After all, not to mention other things, even the travel destination was only decided by the two of them not long ago.
If Yukima Azuma hadn't informed Mrs. Yukinoshita, clearly, she wouldn't have been able to know.
Thinking about how Yukima Azuma once said he would give her a special gift.
For a moment, Yukino didn't know what kind of expression she should show.
"Could it be that Azuma asked mother to come and apologize to me?"
Yukino's suspicion was spoken in a tone almost like a confirmation.
She was just seeking verification.
"He said you've been smiling too little lately, so he asked me to come help."
"Using contract cooperation and connections as conditions for exchange."
Mrs. Yukinoshita, without any hesitation, sold out Yukima Azuma.
She even recounted it word for word.
However, speaking so clearly conveyed a message.
That was, the apology from Mrs. Yukinoshita was actually something she wanted to say herself.
It wasn't an instruction given by Yukima Azuma.
Yukino's expression continuously shifted.
A boy who could protect her to this extent, even going so far as to threaten her mother.
Regarding this, Yukino only felt deeply touched.
()
At the same time, she also found it a little funny.
Yukino felt that she didn't actually care that much about these things.
After all, there were people and matters in front of her more worthy of concern.
Past matters, it would be better to let them pass.
At least, subjectively, that's what Yukino thought.
But if someone were to capture her face at the moment she encountered Mrs. Yukinoshita...
And show it to Yukino herself, perhaps she would realize that her thoughts and her subconscious were not aligned.
Knowing that her mother came here because of her smile.
Yukino couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed.
The room sank into silence for a moment.
In the end, it was still Yukino who suppressed a laugh and opened her mouth to ask:
"Then... what do you plan to do?"
Being asked what to do, Mrs. Yukinoshita,
For the first time in her life, in front of her own daughter, revealed a bewildered expression.
The beautiful woman lowered her eyes, clearly also thinking about the issue.
Mrs. Yukinoshita, known as the "Witch of Chiba."
Only in this aspect, truly had no experience whatsoever.
Honestly, she really didn't know how to coax children in the past.
In fact, on the way here, Mrs. Yukinoshita had thought of quite a few methods.
For example, she had gone into the kitchen and personally cooked.
But when really facing her daughter, Mrs. Yukinoshita realized that the prepared methods... were rather difficult to carry out.
"First... how about a hug?"
()
In the end, Mrs. Yukinoshita could only awkwardly say that.
Yukino felt that her mother's persona had truly collapsed.
To the point that, right in front of Mrs. Yukinoshita, she almost couldn't help but burst into laughter.
In the past, Yukino would never have dared to casually reveal any expression in front of Mrs. Yukinoshita.
Standing up, Yukino walked toward Mrs. Yukinoshita.
Mrs. Yukinoshita also stood up, hesitantly opening her arms.
It could be seen that the beautiful woman's movements were extremely clumsy.
In the end, it was still Yukino who took the initiative to rush forward and hug her mother.
The stiff arms of Mrs. Yukinoshita also wrapped around her.
Mother and daughter, for the first time since kindergarten, hugged each other again.
()()
The corners of Yukino's mouth slightly lifted.
Even though she knew her mother had been threatened by Yukima Azuma into coming to coax her.
This hug still made her feel very comfortable.
However, her smile quickly stiffened.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's fingers rested on Yukino's exposed back.
Because of her surging emotions, Yukino had forgotten what she was wearing.
The beautiful woman's fingers brushed across her smooth back, making Yukino involuntarily shiver.
She immediately wriggled out of Mrs. Yukinoshita's embrace.
Yukino stiffly took two steps back, hiding her hands behind her back.
( //>///
Seeing her daughter's guilty posture, like a thief,
The complicated feelings that Mrs. Yukinoshita had just now were immediately swept away.
Only the understanding smile of an experienced woman remained as she looked at her little daughter.
"Alright, stop hiding, do you really think I don't know how to go online?"
"I could tell the moment I walked in."
"Looks like I came at the wrong time tonight."
"You... aren't that young anymore either, so take care of this matter properly yourself."
"If you two have children in the future but don't have time to care for them, just bring them back to the Yukinoshita house."
After a fierce teasing,
Mrs. Yukinoshita waved her hand.
Then she turned around and left decisively.
Being teased by her own biological mother, Yukino's face flushed red.
She looked no different from a little girl pouting in anger.
><
It was like she was painted with the pink hues of sunset.
Several times she tried to open her mouth to say something, but in the end, her small lips only moved slightly before closing again.
Finally, watching Mrs. Yukinoshita open the door and leave,
Yukino lightly bit her cherry lips.
That faint, awkward feeling unique to adolescence.
Yukino really didn't expect that even after graduating from university, she could still experience this kind of feeling.
Adding to her youthful experiences was nice and all.
But this kind of experience, please spare me!
What's the point of adding such embarrassing experiences!
She buried her head into the blanket.
Deciding to temporarily play ostrich for a while.
( ,,'',,)
.....
Outside the room, in the corridor.
Yukima Azuma was peeking through the gap in the door, spying into Yukino's room.
When Mrs. Yukinoshita arrived, Yukima Azuma had keenly sensed it.
In fact, Yukima Azuma hadn't expected Mrs. Yukinoshita to charge in directly on just the first day.
When he invited the beautiful woman to have a meal together and was rejected, Yukima Azuma thought she would wait until the end of the trip to act.
Even though he felt there probably wouldn't be any major problems.
Just to be safe,
Yukima Azuma still kept watch by the door.
In case anything tense happened inside.
Yukima Azuma had already prepared himself to rush in for rescue at any moment.
After peeking for a while.
Mrs. Yukinoshita, with an extremely satisfied expression, lightly and gracefully stepped out.
Leaving Yukima Azuma stunned.
(" v ") ?
Because someone like Mrs. Yukinoshita, coaxing her daughter, should have been very difficult, right?
Why did she look so happy?
Mrs. Yukinoshita had just stepped out when she happened to meet Yukima Azuma face-to-face.
She slightly raised her eyebrow.
Mrs. Yukinoshita lightly curled her lips and said:
"It's rare to have a holiday, so let you two enjoy yourselves first."
"Once you're done having fun, I'll fulfill my promise, it won't be too late."
After speaking, she turned and walked away without the slightest hesitation.
Watching the relaxed figure of Mrs. Yukinoshita leaving,
Yukima Azuma sank into deep thought.
Why is this not matching the script I imagined...?
Azuma: Aizen-sensei, my Keikaku not Doori!
(ЇЇ)
Chapter 304: Clothes Scattered on the Bed, the Subtle Mood of Mrs. Yukinoshita
A peaceful night.
That's right, a peaceful night.
After Mrs. Yukinoshita left, Yukima Azuma waited for a while longer.
In the end, Yukino's room returned to complete silence.
Thinking back to Mrs. Yukinoshita's relaxed demeanor at that time,
Yukima Azuma, for a moment, didn't know what to do.
So he decided to temporarily put it aside and check again tomorrow.
And what about Yukinoshita Yukino?
After being caught red-handed by her own mother, and then teased mercilessly,
Once the wave of embarrassment exploded,
She decisively buried her head under the blanket.
Deciding to just calm down like that for now.
As a result, during the "calming down" process, she dozed off in a daze.
Thus, it was a peaceful night.
...
Early the next morning.
The gentle winter sunlight filtered through the window frame, spreading across the pure white bed sheets.
Yukino drowsily opened her eyes, raised her hand, and stretched.
^- .-^ -
Only to find, after flailing her hand a few times, that it didn't feel like she was stretching properly.
She woke up fully.
Opening her eyes wide to look,
Yukino realized she was wrapped in a pile of soft fluff.
It was her sweater.
The hand she had just stretched out had also turned into a cat's paw.
^^
Struggling in the pile of clothes for a while,
Yukino tried hard to pull herself out from the clothes and blanket.
Nimbly using her four limbs to cling to the bed, she casually scratched at the bed sheets.
Yukino, now Yuki-Nyan, let out a "Nyan~" sigh.
Life is hard, even a cat has to sigh.
/ Ї Ї
Although transforming into a cat didn't happen often, it had happened a few times already.
So Yukino wasn't too panicked.
But she was still a little frustrated.
Clearly, this was a rare chance to travel with Yukima Azuma.
Yet this precious time was marred by such an accident.
Thinking back to what happened last night,
Yukino began to realize that her transformation into a cat
Seemed to be related to her mental state.
Last night, because of the conversation with Mrs. Yukinoshita
Perhaps her heart had become a little chaotic.
Turning into a cat was it a way of avoiding problems?
Yukino wasn't too sure, but the urgent matter now was to think about how to explain to Yukima Azuma.
It seemed she would have to "nigerundayo" today.
She pulled out her phone from the pile of clothes.
Using her cat paw to step on the phone screen.
^^
Fortunately, although face and fingerprint recognition didn't work, she could still input the password.
After unlocking, Yukino navigated to LINE, intending to send a message to Yukima Azuma.
But using a cat paw to type on a smartphone keyboard was extremely difficult.
After much effort, she managed to type a few characters.
Then, she heard a knock at the door.
"Yukino, are you up yet?"
Yukima Azuma's voice came from outside the door.
Yuki-Nyan looked up.
Yabe!
In her panic, her cat paw, which was typing, accidentally hit the wrong keys.
As a result, a strange message was sent out.
A notification sound from a message rang outside the door.
After a brief silence,
"Yukino, are you in some kind of trouble?"
Yukima Azuma's voice carried a tone of suspicion.
He knocked on the door again.
Without waiting for Yuki-Nyan to come up with a countermeasure,
Yukima Azuma pushed the door open and entered.
Receiving such a strange message, Yukima Azuma was naturally worried.
Luckily, he could still sense that the atmosphere inside the room was stable.
Opening the door,
Yukima Azuma's eyes swept across the room and finally settled on the messy bed.
Yuki-Nyan, long time no see, was pressing her two paws on the phone, staring wide-eyed at Yukima Azuma.
/\
One person and one cat, four eyes locked onto each other.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment.
It seemed like the commotion over here
Quickly attracted the hot spring inn's staff.
"Dear guest, is something wrong Eh? A cat?"
Seeing Yuki-Nyan, the female staff member clearly froze for a moment.
But thanks to the high level of service training justified by the expensive service fees,
After a brief daze, the staff member immediately bowed and said:
"We sincerely apologize, not sure where a cat ran in from."
As she spoke, she intended to step forward and catch Yuki-Nyan.
Yukima Azuma immediately stepped forward and stopped her.
"This cat belongs to us."
The staff member froze for a moment.
Even though she was full of doubts internally,
Since she was the one who welcomed them when they checked in,
And clearly hadn't seen them bring any pet carrier or a cat.
But customers are always right
"Understood, we apologize for disturbing you."
After bowing once again, the female staff member quickly turned and left.
Yukima Azuma once again looked at Yuki-Nyan, who was still fiddling around with the phone.
Why had his Yukinon turned into a cat again?
( -)?
But after thinking for just a moment, Yukima Azuma understood.
It seemed that last night's visit from Mrs. Yukinoshita had caused a very strong psychological shock to Yukino.
Casually closing the door,
Yukima Azuma walked to the bed and skillfully picked Yuki-Nyan up into his arms.
His fingertips burrowed into the soft fur around Yuki-Nyan's neck.
Yukima Azuma's cat-petting skills were extremely advanced,
No less skilled than Vahn Mason.
Normally, Yuki-Nyan would have instantly melted.
But this time, Yuki-Nyan was desperately using her two front paws to push against Yukima Azuma's hand.
/> <\
Her big round eyes spun rapidly, staring intensely at Yukima Azuma.
This is bad!
Her cat appearance, if it were at home, could still be misunderstood.
Maybe she could be mistaken for a stray cat or a neighbor's cat sneaking in through the window.
But this was Beppu.
How could Yukima Azuma not even be surprised to see her!?
Logically speaking, how could a cat travel all the way from Tokyo to Beppu!?
Surely, Yukima Azuma knew how absurd that was.
Even if he pretended a little, it wouldn't fool anyone.
Because Yukino was not Baka-riri.
Even if he put on a surprised expression and mumbled a few words to himself,
Nine out of ten times, Yukino would spot the flaw.
Therefore, he simply didn't bother acting at all!
Yuki-Nyan, struggling in vain, gradually realized something.
Her whole small cat body suddenly panicked.
If Yukima Azuma had long known the true identity of her Nyan-Nyan-sama self...
Then all those previous times she had turned into a cat, acting spoiled and rubbing up against him...
Just thinking about it, Yuki-Nyan felt like she was dying socially on the spot.
;
The feeling of embarrassment exploded instantly!
Right when one person and one cat were in the middle of this tug-of-war,
There was another knock at the door.
Yukima Azuma slightly raised an eyebrow in doubt.
Who could it be?
The hot spring inn's staff?
Logically speaking, since someone had just left,
Given the service fee paid, the departing staff should have informed the others not to disturb them for a while.
Aside from the hotel staff, the only other possibility was
While still holding Yukino the cat, Yukima Azuma opened the door.
Sure enough, standing outside was Mrs. Yukinoshita.
Seeing Mrs. Yukinoshita, Yukima Azuma blinked in confusion.
Hadn't they agreed that she would wait until he and Yukino finished their vacation before coming?
Mrs. Yukinoshita was also surprised to see Yukima Azuma open the door.
She glanced around at the room's arrangement to confirm that this was indeed Yukino's room.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's gaze unconsciously fell onto the bed.
And at that moment, on the bed
Other than the messy blanket,
There was only Yukino's backless sweater, along with a few pieces of her private underwear.
Mrs. Yukinoshita took a deep breath.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself to soon look after a grandchild from her daughter and future son-in-law,
When she actually witnessed such a scene, as a mother, her emotions were inevitably complicated.
...
Note.
Thus, the fanfic Ex-girlfriends ends here because the raw is over.
This is the first story that I've finished translating, as well as the first story that has been completed (if you don't count the stories I dropped halfway).
A heartfelt thanks to all the Gourmet Readers who have accompanied me over the past 5 months.
Here's the waifu ranking for this fanfic (chosen by me):
Top 1: Kato Megumi.
Saint Megumi is undoubtedly the most wonderful waifu in this fanfic, no one can deny it. Her chapters were so sweet that I got diabetes.
Top 2: Gotoh Hitori and Suou Yuki.
A "super introvert" and a "super extrovert," the chapters featuring these two were always fun and hilarious to read. Just that their screen time was too little... Yuki was okay, but Bocchi
Top 3: Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukinon is always a great waifu. This is the first time I've seen a "onee-san" Yukino in a fanfic. Her chapters were sweet but also tinged with bitterness due to family issues Overall, still enjoyable to read.
Top 4: Sawamura Spencer Eriri.
During the first 100 chapters, she was constantly annoying with her Tsundere attitude, but somehow later on she became much cuter.
Top 5: Kirisu Mafuyu and Hayasaka Ai.
Both appeared rarely, but their chapters were pretty lively And importantly, I love female teachers and maids
...
Please wait for the new fanfic, in the meantime you can try reading my other fanfics
)That's all, have a nice day.
Yo, Gourmet Readers, it's me Curse Chef.
I posted a new slice of life fanfic, you guys can go and read it.
By the way, if possible, please leave some raw names (plus reviews if possible) of fanfics that you find interesting and want to see translated in the future, I will take the time to read it and open a vote in the future when I intend to translate a new story.
Thanks you.
) That's all, Have a nice day )
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