bookbashuk Page 112
Page 112
Kaguya Shinomiya and Chika Fujiwara have been friends for many years, and she saw through the innocent exterior of the other at a glance, revealing the hidden thoughts beneath.
"You're just looking for an excuse to skip class, don't make it sound so nice."
Fujiwara Chika looked shocked and said in disbelief.
"What!? As expected of Kaguya, she saw through my exquisite disguise at a glance!"
"Is it really that exquisite...?"
Seeing Fujiwara Chika and Shinomiya Kaguya chatting idly, Asagiri, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, stood up and said with a smile.
"Now that someone's here to take care of you, I'll go back. I still have class to attend, after all..."
"Alright, alright, you don't need to say anymore, I know."
Kaguya Shinomiya looked speechless and sighed.
"You are number one, the strongest. The weight of bearing the name of the strongest is something I can't understand, so you can't skip class at will. I understand."
"Oh ho, you've even learned to answer first? Alright, you two play, I'm leaving."
After Asagiri left the infirmary, Fujiwara Chika stared at Shinomiya Kaguya with a malicious look, and chuckled softly while covering her mouth.
"Oh dear, should I not have come?"
Kaguya Shinomiya frowned slightly, not quite understanding what Chika Fujiwara meant.
"what are you saying?"
"Don't you like Utsunomiya-kun?"
Fujiwara Chika grinned like an aunt and continued her rambling.
"A beautiful girl who always tries to be strong collapses from exhaustion. The only one who can see through her strong exterior to the fragile heart beneath is that handsome boy who is usually rough and tough, but becomes incredibly gentle in crucial moments. The two are alone in the infirmary, and what draws them closer is not just physical distance, but also two innocent and budding hearts..."
"Can you please stop acting crazy here?"
Kaguya Shinomiya sighed heavily, her expression complex.
"I know you're naive, but your ability to read the atmosphere shouldn't be this bad, right? Putting aside my current situation, Utsunomiya-san and I are both gamers, and we only crossed paths because of the game. Rather than some boring and childish pretend dating game, how to survive and how to gain powerful strength are what I should be thinking about. Utsunomiya-san and I should have the same thoughts."
"is that so……"
Fujiwara Chika tilted her head, seemingly unable to understand Shinomiya Kaguya's logic, but then the corners of her lips turned up, and she couldn't help but smile.
"But after saying all that, you haven't denied the most crucial point. It seems that in your heart, Utsunomiya-san is indeed special~"
Kaguya Shinomiya paused for a moment upon hearing this, then shook her head and said calmly.
"That's simply because he's very strong, both as a player and as my rival at school. He's very strong, which makes me want to beat him. It's that simple. It has absolutely nothing to do with any of that so-called first love you're talking about."
"I see."
Fujiwara Chika gave a noncommittal reply, then gently placed her hand on Shinomiya Kaguya's shoulder and spoke softly.
"Anyway, you should rest well first. I'll stay here with you."
……
The scene at the gate of Toyonosaki Private Academy after school that day.
“Utsunomiya-kun.”
Kato Megumi, wearing the uniform of the private Toyonosaki Academy, walked up to Asagiri, glanced at her (who was not wearing the uniform of the private Shuchiin Academy, but was dressed in black casual clothes), and said softly.
"You're not wearing your school uniform."
Asagiri and Kato Megumi walked forward along the road, and Asagiri replied with a smile.
"Walking around the streets wearing the uniform of the private Shuchiin Academy would be far too conspicuous."
Upon hearing this, Kato Megumi turned her head, staring at Asagiri's profile. Then she glanced at the Toyonosaki students who had just finished school and were casting curious glances at Asagiri, and muttered to herself.
"Even without wearing Shuchiin's school uniform, you seem to attract a lot of attention... Everyone around you notices you... What does that feel like...?"
"Are you trying to increase your visibility?"
"Hmm... I'd at least like to give it a try."
Kato Megumi, carrying her school bag in both hands, walked side by side with Asagiri down the street.
"I'm well aware that my abilities are built on my low profile. Increasing my presence might affect my performance in battle, but... I still want to increase my presence. Sorry, this idea is a bit selfish..."
"Not at all."
Asagiri shook her head and said with a smile.
"Since we're teammates and friends, it's only natural to help each other. Besides, games are just a part of our lives. If we live only for games, and have to give way to our identity as players and forcibly suppress our own thoughts, then it's too boring."
"Um……"
"No wonder."
Just as Kato Megumi was deep in thought, she heard Asagiri speak with a smile.
"No wonder you've grown your hair out. You went from a short bob to shoulder-length hair. Did you want to change your hairstyle first?"
"Eh?"
Kato Megumi was taken aback by what she heard and said with some surprise.
"You actually noticed that?"
"what?"
Upon hearing this, Asagiri looked on incredulously.
"You're my friend, so isn't it natural for you to notice changes in your appearance? What's so surprising about that?"
"That makes sense, but..."
Kato Megumi sighed softly, her eyes showing a complex expression.
"When I was in school, my classmates didn't seem to notice this at all..."
"That's what makes me great."
Asagiri first praised herself as usual, and then spoke.
"However, it's normal for no one to notice you in a place like school, since everyone is wearing the same school uniform and your strengths can't stand out."
"Advantages? Are there any?"
"Of course."
Faced with Kato Megumi's curious question, Asagiri answered without hesitation.
"You are very cute, but unlike Kotoko Iwanaga and Asuna Yu, your cuteness is not the kind that is too eye-catching, but rather a very gentle kind of cuteness. In addition, you have a great sense of style, which is much better than someone like me who wears black clothes all the time."
"Are you just trying to make me happy? After all, you don't need to dress up specially, you're already very handsome."
Kato Megumi said this first, and then slowly began to speak.
"Moreover, compared to Asuna and Kotoko, the biggest difference between me and them isn't my appearance, but rather my overly ordinary and mediocre personality... Asuna is always so strong, as if she would never admit defeat to anything, and she's also very gentle. Kotoko, although she's rather abstract and often says strange things, has never shown any fear or panic..."
"And you, you have never shown any fear or panic. Just being by your side gives me a sense of security, as if any difficulty can be easily overcome."
"Compared to the three of you... I'm just too ordinary. Sometimes I even feel that it's only by chance, only because of good luck, that I was able to become your teammate. Actually, the teammate you really need... isn't someone like me..."
After Kato Megumi finished speaking, Asagiri waved his hand.
"Hey, what kind of talk is that?"
Just when Kato Megumi thought Asagiri was going to find a reason to comfort her, the next sentence she said made her burst out laughing, even though she was feeling a little sad.
"Both Kotoko Iwanaga and I are not quite mentally sound. This is the first time I've ever seen someone feel down because they're not mentally ill. In that respect, you're already extraordinary."
"Mental illness..."
Kato Megumi suppressed a laugh and pursed her lips.
"but……"
"No buts, but you're not ordinary either."
Asagiri interrupted Kato Megumi's chanting, speaking bluntly.
"Feeling fear and panic is a normal reaction. If you weren't in our team, Kotoko Iwanaga would never be afraid, Asuna Yuuki would always be stubborn and argumentative, and I would be a gambling addict. A team of three would be like a suicide squad, and we would have been in trouble long ago."
"Besides, it's not that you don't have a personality, it's just that your personality isn't as obvious as Kotoko's and Asuna's. In all the dungeons so far, how many times have you mediated at crucial moments, preventing those two from escalating from bickering to arguing?"
"In my opinion, the word 'ordinary' is too derogatory, and you are not ordinary at all. I have seen the greatness of Satoshi Megumi."
Upon hearing Asagiri's form of address, Kato Megumi remained noncommittal.
"A sage... isn't that a bit too exaggerated?"
Immediately afterwards, Kato Megumi smiled and said softly.
"But I'm actually quite happy to hear you say that."
"Just be happy."
Asagiri first replied with a smile, then sighed, her voice filled with unspeakable despair and resistance.
"So now you can tell me why you didn't go shopping for clothes with Asuna or Kotoko, but instead came to me?"
51
Chapter 51: A Contrasting Combination of Presence.
"Ok?"
Kato Megumi stopped and moved closer to Asagiri. Although she pretended to be angry, her tone was clearly joking.
"Does Utsunomiya-kun think that going shopping with me is a boring and torturous thing because she thinks I'm a boring person?"
"Don't even mention you, even if it were..."
At this point, Asagiri suddenly paused, which puzzled Kato Megumi.
After all, in her impression, Utsunomiya-san had always been quick-witted and could successfully resolve any situation with abstract reasoning. This was the first time she had seen her hesitate, as if she didn't know what to say.
Could it be... that my joke went too far and made Utsunomiya-san feel awkward?
Thinking of this, Kato Megumi quickly changed the subject.
"Um... I have a clothing store I frequent..."
"Huh? Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"
Asagiri glanced at the bewildered Kato Megumi, immediately discerning her thoughts, and waved her hand with a smile to explain.
"I am indeed in a bit of a dilemma, but it's not because of the joke you just made. Don't take it to heart."
Upon hearing this, Kato Megumi couldn't help but ask curiously, "That's...?"
Asagiri replied earnestly.
"In that context, I should have given an example of someone who is more interesting to me than you, but I really can't think of one."
"lie."
Kato Megumi turned her face away and whispered.
"Whether it's Kotoko or Asuna, you should find them both more interesting than me, right..."
"Look at what you're saying. If I didn't find you interesting, I wouldn't have agreed to go shopping with you."
"But didn't you say that shopping is a boring, even torturous thing?"
"Isn't that right?"
Kato Megumi looked puzzled upon hearing this.
"How is that right?"
Asagiri explained in a very serious tone.
"Even though shopping for clothes is so boring and utterly tedious for me, I still immediately agreed when you contacted me. Your importance in my heart goes without saying."
"Hey... now that you mention it, it does make sense."
Kato Megumi muttered something to herself, then came to her senses, staring at Asagiri's face with a look of emotion on her face.
"Speaking of which, Utsunomiya-kun, your methods for dealing with girls are quite skillful. Did you hone them while spending time with Asuna and Kotoko?"