School dismissal time in Japan feels exceptionally early compared to his previous life, generally ending around three or four in the afternoon.
The remaining students either participate in club activities, go to cram schools, or become members of the “Going Home Club” and head back to their respective residences.
With some time left before dinner, and having successfully mastered his “fast-track” swimming method to “slay” Morishita Ai in their duel, Mikage Touji was wandering through the convenience store to kill time.
Currently, the cultivation of his abilities had settled into a steady rhythm.
During the day, while wandering the campus, he would occasionally use “Detection.” The consumption of this skill was much lower than “Psychokinesis”; as long as he controlled the range, he could keep it active continuously.
At night, close to bedtime, he would use Psychokinesis to exhaust his mental energy in one go, sleeping soundly until dawn and never leaving fatigue for the next day.
For his remaining time, he planned to cultivate a hobby for himself—cooking!
Mikage Touji stopped in his tracks and glanced at the price.
[Titanium Alloy Stir-fry Pan: 35,600 pr]
“…”
Time to go, time to go.
He’d find someone reliable to advise him next time.
Leaving the kitchenware section, he entered the toiletries area where shampoo and body wash were sold.
In a corner, a shopping cart labeled “FREE” was stuffed with various daily necessities, accompanied by a note stating: “Maximum of three items per month.”
Used to this sight, Mikage Touji continued forward, his gaze coming to rest on a girl with silver hair, a petite frame, and a cane.
Her silver-frost hair draped smoothly over her shoulders, flowing with a delicate luster under the fluorescent lights.
Even leaning on a walking stick, she possessed a quiet elegance.
She first steadily leaned her cane against her side, her slender but well-defined hand gently gripping the edge of the shelf.
Her entire body stretched upward like a swan craning its neck.
Her porcelain-white small hand reached up, bit by bit, bit by—
The girl’s hand stopped in mid-air.
She turned to look at him, a hint of composure in her slender voice.
“Oh my, seeing a lady in distress and standing idly by is not what a gentleman should do.”
“I thought you didn’t need help.” That overflowing competitive spirit was practically spilling out.
Mikage Touji shrugged and walked over to help her retrieve the toiletry item from the shelf.
Was it a shampoo or a facial cleanser?
“If someone is willing to help, I naturally won’t refuse.” Taking the item, the girl smiled and bowed slightly toward Mikage Touji.
“Thank you for your assistance.
I am Sakayanagi Arisu from Class 1-D.”
“Class 1-A, Mikage Touji.”
Since it was just a small favor involving lifting a hand, Mikage Touji naturally didn’t think it was something worthy of a solemn thank you; the other party was merely doing so out of etiquette.
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
After giving her his name, Mikage Touji stepped toward the convenience store exit.
Left behind, Sakayanagi Arisu watched Mikage Touji’s back, a pleasant curve hooking at the corners of her mouth.
‘Class A, huh…’
.
.
.
Oden!
A Japanese specialty dish famous abroad.
Out of curiosity regarding its local flavor, Mikage Touji bought a portion and waited in the outdoor seating area outside the convenience store.
Amidst the curling white steam, the amber broth coated the trembling radish, and fat blossomed into translucent glaze on the beef tendon.
Imitating the Japanese way of eating, he first took a sip of the original broth to taste the freshness of the ingredients.
After one gulp, Mikage Touji smacked his lips, his eyes squeezing into slits.
It’s sweet!
“If you don’t mind, you can try this.” A bottle of green tea was placed on the table and pushed toward Mikage Touji.
Sakayanagi Arisu walked to the seat opposite Mikage Touji with her cane.
She raised her hand to press down her skirt and sat down with her legs together.
“Does Sakayanagi-san have something else?” Mikage Touji asked after swallowing a chicken meatball.
“I wanted to get to know Mikage-kun.
To tell the truth, I haven’t made many friends in Class D,” Sakayanagi Arisu replied with a smile.
“Are the students in Class D hard to get along with?
Mikage Touji’s level of understanding regarding the situation in Class D was the lowest.
According to Hashimoto, Class D was currently composed of several students leading their own small groups and doing their own thing, with no signs of unification at all.
Additionally, that Kushida Kikyo on Mikage Touji’s friend list would occasionally chat with him for a few lines online.
However, once the situation in Class D was involved, it was all “Ahaha, everyone is a good friend,” “Not at all, everyone is a good person and getting along with everyone is very pleasant, there are no conflicts or anything like that,” and so on.
“Not at all,” Sakayanagi Arisu covered her lips, saying with a hint of deeper meaning, “Everyone is very cute.”
“…”
‘You and her are the same.’
“What about Mikage-kun?
Being here alone at this time, do you prefer solitude?” Sakayanagi Arisu placed her cane aside and put both hands on her knees, which were covered in white silk stockings.
“Uh…
saying that isn’t exactly wrong, but I’m actually waiting for someone.”
Mikage Touji picked out a piece of beef tendon from the bowl and tossed it into his mouth, his eyes sweeping over Sakayanagi Arisu’s impaired leg.
“Sakayanagi-san is truly impressive.
Other schools might be one thing, but Advanced Nurturing requires you to be alone for three years, yet you still came here to study.”
Judging by Sakayanagi Arisu’s behavior, manner of speech, and her skin as delicate as egg whites, she was definitely a young lady from a wealthy family.
It was hard to imagine her family letting a girl with such limited mobility attend school alone.
“Actually, originally my father did not wish for me to attend school here.
But later, I suddenly discovered that someone I know was also coming here to study, so I requested my father to let me come here.” Sakayanagi Arisu’s voice carried a sense of joy.
“Then Sakayanagi-san must be getting along very happily with that classmate now?” Mikage Touji asked casually.
“No!”
Sakayanagi Arisu’s smile turned cold, and she said flatly, “I was stood up.”
“Ah…
that’s…” Mikage Touji, who was just about to admire the greatness of friendship, was instantly choked up.
“Did that classmate not tell you he wasn’t coming to Advanced Nurturing?”
“No,” Sakayanagi Arisu said with some frustration.
“In fact, it was only when his father came to visit our house that I learned he suddenly did not plan to come.”
“Then will Sakayanagi-san drop out?
I believe the school would understand your situation.” After all, the goal for coming to school was gone, so there was no reason to stay.
“I don’t have that plan for the time being.
After all, the students in our class are all so interesting; I plan to learn more about them.”
Sakayanagi Arisu’s eyes were smiling and her tone was gentle, but for some reason, Mikage Touji felt a chill down his spine.
“What about Mikage-kun’s Class A?
Are there any interesting classmates?” Sakayanagi Arisu’s purple eyes flickered with a glimmer of light.
“Capable classmates?” Mikage Touji squeezed some yellow mustard onto his skewer, trying hard to recall the students in his class.
“Hmm…
Katsuragi-kun in our class is quite good.”
“Is that so?
May I ask what kind of person he is?” Sakayanagi Arisu questioned further.
Mikage Touji gave her a thumbs-up, revealing his white teeth.
“An honest, reliable, responsible bald guy!”
“…”
“Hehe…
is that so…”
Mikage Touji felt that her enthusiasm for making friends had been significantly dampened.
At that moment, three boys carrying shopping bags walked out from the main entrance of the supermarket in the distance, chatting as they walked.
“Ah, Kushida-chan is so cute.
Last night I already thought of the names for our future children.”
“Screw off, Kushida-chan is mine.”
“It’s impossible.
Kushida-chan’s level is too high, you guys can’t catch up.
Give up.”
“Whew…
true.
Damn it, I really want a girlfriend!”
“Me too.
I definitely want to become popular!”
“Hey, listen to me, don’t tell anyone else.
Actually, Sakura from our class confessed to me a few days ago, but I have no interest in that kind of dorky girl.”
“You actually rejected her!
But speaking of confessions…
actually, I think Sakayanagi-chan might be interested in me?”
“Really, Ike?
You lucky bastard, I’m so jealous.”
“Sorry, it’s a no-go.
Sakayanagi-chan is cute, but I still like girls with big chests like Kushida-chan.
Besides, if I really married Sakayanagi-chan in the future, it would be too painful if that kind of thing didn’t work.
And, don’t you think Sakayanagi-chan is too ‘chuunibyou’?
Just like those characters in gal games.”
“That’s true…”
“Kushida-chan is more to my taste.
What about you, Ken?”
“I do want to be popular with girls, but that’s for later.
Right now, I still want to focus my energy on basketball.”
“Seriously, you don’t understand the beauty of youth at all.
Fine, I’ll lend you my ‘private collection’ for a bit.”
“Lend it to me too!”
“Sure, why not?
Who told us we’re best friends?”
“Hahahaha!”
As the three left with incredibly hearty laughter, only the two people sitting in the corner remained in dead silence.
Mikage Touji swallowed his food with a gulp, cautiously glancing at Sakayanagi Arisu, who was sitting frozen in her seat.
He felt it was best not to cross this girl right now.
Furthermore, this girl didn’t seem to be in great health; if she collapsed here, he might not be able to explain himself.
Under the sunshade, the porcelain-white face beneath the silver hair maintained a stiff smile.
Regrettably, her chest—which was originally flat but was now heaving violently—had completely exposed her mood.
After a moment of hesitation, Mikage Touji slowly, and with a hint of testing, slid that bottle of green tea back across the table.
“Drinking something will make you feel a bit better.”
“Thank you for your concern.
I am doing quite well.”
“How about…
I give you the oden too?
It’s sweet.”
“Please forgive me for refusing.
I actually don’t quite like eating sweet things, and I am currently in a very good mood.”
“Then…
should I introduce you to more of the outstanding boys in our class?”
“No thank you.”
“Do you need me to do anything?”
“Thank you again for your kindness.
I am feeling joyful.”
Facing Sakayanagi Arisu, who had already built up a “Wall of the Heart,” Mikage Touji felt as if a ticking time bomb was sitting next to him.
After flatly bidding farewell to Mikage Touji.
Sakayanagi Arisu, alone, leaning on her cane, slowly stepped toward the direction of the setting sun.
In the blood-red light, Sakayanagi Arisu’s shadow stretched out on the ground.
In a daze, Mikage Touji felt as if he saw a bottomless gate to hell silently cracking open behind her.