(Hello! Leave comments to inspire me to keep writing 😊 Oh, and by the way, please leave an overall review of the novel. I need it; it's been a long time since I got a review, and the novel has progressed a lot. Please, leave a review, it doesn't take much time. I'd appreciate it. I look forward to your opinions.)
CHAPTER 68 - End of the Special Test
(Pov - Saik)
Yuki fell asleep in my arms. I don't want to move and wake her, so I guess I'll sleep in this position. I'd say it's uncomfortable, but it's the opposite—I feel very comfortable like this. It makes me feel… like a father? No, it's not paternal love; it's sibling love, brotherhood… Wait… That's right… I… I feel love for Yuki. Familial love… True love… I love Yuki; I really consider her my little sister. My family. My only family.
My family… Family…
"Do I still want to kill myself?"
I don't know. With this new development, doubts about my future have just started to emerge. I've never had doubts about what I'd do in the future. Well, yes, but minor ones, like the possibility of not killing myself if I got Naima pregnant. But the doubts that have just arisen are far more powerful than the previous ones, and they're strong enough to make me change my mind. They have the power to change the course of my life.
I've seen thousands, hundreds of thousands of final moments of small children, and each one was horrific and painful. But… even though I experienced the pain they felt, I didn't feel bad for them… except for a few.
Three in particular genuinely made me suffer and managed to make someone like me feel empathy for them.
Number 1 was right about me—I'm a selfish person, and I want to change. I want to be kinder, a better person, someone capable of making Yuki say, "I'm so proud of my big brother! I love him so much!"
I want to be a good role model for Yuki. A good big brother to her.
The three final moments that changed my way of thinking and made me realize how important Yuki and Number 31 are to me were the saddest and most painful I experienced—not because they suffered more physical pain, but the opposite. Those three endings were among the least physically painful. The most painful endings were just that—physical pain—and I was more than used to that kind of pain.
I was raped countless times, in hundreds of different ways, and then killed, sometimes even buried alive or thrown into the water so the body wouldn't be found. But even though it was practically me being raped, I just ignored my surroundings and started thinking about how to dodge the Golem's attack and hit it. Why didn't I care about what I was feeling? Because I felt what the children felt, but it wasn't done to me directly. I knew my body was unharmed, and that knowledge made me feel calmer. Besides, if I let that pain affect me, I'd give that girl the satisfaction of seeing me suffer, and I didn't want to give her that pleasure.
Whenever I was raped or tortured, I ignored the pain and thought about other things. After figuring out how to dodge and hit the Golem, I thought about my school life, Naima, the president, Sylphie's mom, Number 31, and Yuki. Over time, in those final memories, I realized how important Number 31 and Yuki are to me—they were the people I missed seeing and talking to the most. The others… yeah, I missed them, but not as much as I missed Yuki and Number 31. I missed the sense of danger the president gave me, Naima's insults and disgusted looks, and how pleasant it was to talk to Sylphie's mom.
That's why the three final moments that impacted me the most hurt more, and one of them is related to Number 31, which is why I locked it away in my mind. I don't know what that memory about her contains; all I know is it's related to her. I gave myself instructions to show that memory to Number 31 when she wants to see it.
I know it's one of the three final moments that impacted me the most because no others affected me as deeply.
The first final moment is about sibling love. A little 7-year-old girl with Down syndrome was burned alive by those bastards from the ghost-hunting organization, just for witnessing a demon's presence. I know perfectly well that ghost hunters kill and eliminate witnesses without a trace to protect their existence and avoid being discovered, with no exceptions. They eliminate any witness, regardless of age. They burned that girl alive to death in front of her older brother's eyes, and the last thing he heard from his little sister were her screams of pain. Seeing the terror in her brother's tear-filled eyes made me think that even someone as expressionless as me would react that way if the same thing happened to Yuki. That final moment hit me because it put me in that boy's shoes, imagining Yuki in the girl's place. Watching your little sister die and being unable to stop her cruel fate fills even me, a third party, with helplessness. Her brother must have felt worse.
It also made me feel bad because it reminded me of what I did in the past. Because of me, because I took away the ghost protecting him, a little boy with Down syndrome died. It reminded me of one of my sins, that I'm a monster.
I don't want Yuki to find out about my past, much less for her beloved big brother to be a monster. That's why I want to change.
The second was watching an older brother, a teenager my age, die fighting an adult man to stop him from raping his little sister. That brother was weak and was killed, unable to prevent the man from raping his sister. Like the previous final moment, it made me feel helpless because I felt that boy's desperation.
I put myself in his shoes and felt miserable. I don't want Yuki to suffer, much less for something like that to happen to her. I'm powerful; no man could defeat me. But if life has taught me anything, it's that this world is disgusting and unpredictable.
I looked at her adorable face, her expression confirming she's deeply asleep and comfortable… So cute.
Ugh… Yuki deserves a trustworthy big brother, not a monster.
I want to stop being a monster, but… Wait… Monster…? Monster… Ugh, I always considered my actions necessary, but now remembering my past actions makes me feel… bad… Why do I feel this way now? Is it because of Yuki? Why? I've never felt like this, not even when my parents were alive.
…Am I maturing? Or am I just changing because I want to be someone Yuki can rely on? Ugh, Yuki, you have too much influence over me. Normally, I wouldn't allow that, but… Ugh…
"I don't know what to think about this."
I'm very confused about my current feelings. Before, I didn't consider myself a monster and thought my actions were necessary. Now that I want to be a better person for Yuki, those memories feel disgusting and make me feel like a monster.
Yuki, are you turning me into a sensitive guy?
"Saik, darling, are you okay?"
"Oh, hi, Number 31. Yeah, I'm fine. What did you think of your first conversation with Yuki? She's nice, right?"
Number 31 stayed silent, a worried expression on her face. Why is she still worried about me? It's all over.
"…What happened with the Golem? You look so… different…"
"…Different?"
Do I look different? What does she mean?
"Yes, you seem… weak."
"Weak?"
"You look down and sad. You don't look the same as before. What hap—?"
"Erase memory."
Time stopped, and the legendary ghost Number 97, the ghost of time, appeared in front of me.
"Are you sure you want to do this, master?"
I refuse to be weak. No wonder I started considering my past self a monster for doing all those horrible things. I'm becoming sensitive, and I refuse to be a sensitive guy.
If I change, I'll be easy prey for anyone. If I become a sensitive guy who cares about his actions and doesn't want to do certain things to achieve his goals just because it would hurt innocent people, Yuki will be in danger.
I need to stay the same Saik as always to keep Yuki safe while I train Sumi to protect her.
Even if I try to be a better person and don't want to kill myself, I won't be with Yuki for long—I've already sacrificed most of my life; I'll die in a few years. I'd put Yuki in danger if I were a sensitive guy. Yuki's future depends on Sumi, and if I train Sumi with a sensitive mindset, Yuki's future will be at risk. I need to train Sumi to be like the old Saik, not the current one.
The old Saik may have been a monster, but his methods always worked. That's what the world needs.
If I become a sensitive person who cares about others unrelated to me, Yuki will be in danger, and I don't want that.
For Yuki's sake, I need to stay the same monster as always. I can't afford to change. I won't change.
It's not worth risking Yuki's future just to satisfy my desire to be an exemplary big brother. I'll die in a few years, so being a sensitive guy to fulfill that desire isn't worth it. That satisfaction would only last a short time and would jeopardize Yuki's future. But if I stay the same cold monster, at least I can improve Sumi's chances of victory, securing a good future for Yuki. And if I hide my past from Yuki, she'll keep seeing me as a big brother, not a monster.
Being a sensitive guy who cares about others will only make me weaker. I can't afford to be weak.
I can't let my emotions control me.
"Yes, I want to do it."
"Erasing all those recent bad memories will cost you a lot, master. I think you'd have… two years left to live. Yes, you'd live two or three more years if you erase those memories, master."
"Do what you can, but make sure I have enough time to make it to graduation."
"I see… Master, you know the consequences of your actions. If you want to avoid hell, we could go to—"
"No, I'll accept the consequences of my actions. I'm not a coward who avoids punishment. Besides, I think I have acquaintances in hell; it won't be so bad."
"Do you really remember your wives in hell, master? Finally. I thought that shitty God's curse would last longer."
…
…
…
What?
"I have wives in hell?"
"Huh?"
"Did they cheat on me, or why did I erase my memories of them? And wives, plural? How many?"
"Master, you really didn't remember them just now?"
"No. And what shitty God are you talking about? The protector of souls?"
"…Damn… Well… Ugh… Alright, when he returns, you'll already be dead, so it doesn't matter. Confirm the memory erasure?"
"When he returns"? An enemy from the past I don't remember will come back? Ugh, I don't have time for this nonsense.
I know I should care, but that's exactly why I'm trying to ignore it. If I let something make me change my mind about erasing my memory, it'll mean I'm really becoming weak-minded. I need to stay the cold, powerful Saik. That's the Saik this world needs.
"Ugh, can that enemy be defeated by Sumi?"
"An 8-year-old Saik with 98 legendary ghosts barely defeated him. But Sumi showed immense spiritual power even without legendary ghosts… I'd say Sumi has an 80% chance of winning and 20% against."
"8-2, huh? Worth the risk… And I'm really married? Do I have kids?"
"Married, yes, but no kids."
"…I wonder if I got high in hell or something. Why did I get married? I guess it was necessary for my mission or something… Ugh, whatever."
"Sorry for bringing it up, but when you said you had acquaintances in hell, I thought you meant them."
"I meant the demons I made my slaves, but it doesn't matter anymore. Erase my memory, except for certain memories."
"Confirm? Are you sure you won't regret it?"
"I confirm. And this time, do a better job replacing the memories. I don't want to suspect anything."
"As you command, master."
Sumi, it's time to give you something special.
•
•
Ugh, I slept so well.
Tomorrow's the final; I can finally go home and enjoy my life.
"Good morning, Saik! I made you breakfast!"
"Let me guess, fruit salad."
"Hey, I'm not that predictable!"
"…"
"…"
"So, what did you make for breakfast, Yuki?"
"Well… We're going to eat lots of fruit cut up in a coconut!"
"Basically fruit salad."
"Yes, yes, we'll eat fruit salad like always! Happy?!"
"You woke up in a bad mood, huh?"
"Of course! Naima came and stole our fruit! And you wouldn't wake up! That's why I'm mad! You pretended to be asleep to avoid helping me stop her from stealing it!"
"I was actually asleep, not pretending. She really stole it?"
"Yes! Luckily, I found more for breakfast."
Well, well. Naima stole my fruit… Stole… Why steal from me now? Why not before? Is she just now getting desperate…? Or… maybe…
"Which way did Naima go?"
"Fufu. Oh, Saik, my hero, are you going to get our fruit back?!"
"I'm going to steal something from her. An eye for an eye."
"Hahahahahaha! Well done, Saik! This way, follow me!"
Sorry, Yuki, but I don't plan to steal anything from my future girlfriend; the only thing I'll steal is her heart in the future. I'm pretty sure there's another reason she decided to steal from me.
I followed Yuki along a certain path, and along the way, I noticed a lot of things—or rather, clues. Fruit peels and footprints. That trail was left on purpose. If Naima didn't want me to find her, she would've escaped without leaving fruit peels on the ground. It's too obvious a trail for an expert. Naima made sure to leave peels every so often to avoid being too obvious, but that would've only worked if I weren't an expert in tracking. Even ignoring the crushed leaves on the ground from Naima's heavy footsteps, it's too clear she wants me to find her.
"Yuki, I'll follow the trail; I know where she might be. Go back and make breakfast; I'll handle the rest. I'm starving and would rather not waste more time with her. I'll get to her camp and steal her food or clothes, whatever I find first."
"Hahahahahaha! Of course! Go, Saik, steal her underwear; you have my approval!"
"I'll try."
Yuki turned around, and I continued on my way.
Naima, you're already making your move, huh? Perfect, because I'm making mine too.
I took my phone out of my pocket and sent a message to a certain person.
[Now. I'll send my location when I see her.]
It's only a matter of time before they come for me for using my phone for something other than virtual classes, so…
[You are expelled from the special test.]
The bracelet activated. Well, I have a few minutes.
I started running, following the trail… Hmm… This way… Oh, well, well.
I emerged from the trees and saw Naima in the distance, sitting on the ground at the edge of a cliff.
She's eating my fruit, probably to provoke me and get me to approach her. Pretty smart, Naima. Too smart. If someone else were in my position, you would've won, but you had the bad luck of me being your "enemy."
I sent my location to "her" discreetly to avoid Naima seeing me do it.
I approached her, and she pretended not to see me, but I'm pretty sure she already did and is still eating to make me let my guard down.
I stood in front of her. The bracelet only activates for me, not for others. I found out Evelyn and Bell quit the test because I saw them attending in-person classes; the bracelet didn't notify me. I'll be safe for a few minutes.
"Hey, beautiful. Can you give me back my fruit? Get your own."
"…You know, you disgust me."
"Really? I thought those disgusted looks you gave me were love and friendship. I feel like an idiot."
"I thought you were a genius, annoying but at least reliable… Or so I thought. But you're just a disgusting pervert piece of shit."
Looking at me with disgust… No… With hatred… Ugh, president, you're truly amazing.
"Thanks for the lecture, but I'm hungry. Can you give me back the fruit?"
She stood up.
"If you save me, I'll let you touch my breasts."
"Huh?"
Oh, I see.
She stepped back to fall off the cliff on purpose, to certain death. Yes, women are definitely crazy. Was she really willing to go that far?
I grabbed her arm and pulled her to keep her from falling. I can feel immense fear in her; her heart is pounding at an alarming rate, and her bracelet activated in emergency mode. Yup, women are crazy.
She did that just to activate her bracelet, to make them believe her and not me.
"Noooooo! Let me go! I don't want to, I don't want to! Help, please, Saik wants to rape me!!"
"Well, well."
She threw herself on the ground and started screaming. Well, well, well.
Hmm… I'm almost naked, and Naima managed to genuinely activate her bracelet… Yeah, if I didn't have an emergency plan, this would've been my end, both academically and socially.
If someone else were in my place, Naima would've gotten away with it, but I'm not an idiot. She lost.
"Stop right there, Saik!!"
"If you move, I have permission to shoot!!"
Oh, the teacher from class 3-A got here too fast, and with him, a cop. Yeah, I see.
I peeked over the cliff. Well, well. A mattress used in movies for filming high-fall scenes is in the sea. If Naima had fallen onto that, she would've been unharmed; I think it's a mattress made by Lalo's company, and their products are almost miraculous.
President, you thought of everything, huh?
If I take out my phone, that cop will shoot me. I can't take a picture of the mattress to use as evidence. Well, well.
And I can't use it either because it's drifted too far from the shore, or rather, someone's pulling it away.
Well, well.
The cop is getting closer, and Naima won't stop crying. Ugh, you're incredible, Naima; you'd be a great actress.
I highly doubt that's a real cop; he's just another actor. That gun's fake too. Their methods are good, but they had the bad luck of me not being normal.
I took my phone out of my pocket.
"I said stop!!"
And I started taking pictures of the mattress, ignoring the supposed cop's desperate shouts.
Ugh, if only you'd gotten a real gun, sir.
"Alright, I have my first piece of evidence."
I glanced at the class 3-A teacher, angry because the supposed master plan just failed.
A supposed victim (Naima), a cop, and a gun. If I were another student, one ignorant about weapons, the plan would've worked; the student wouldn't have dared take out their phone to photograph the mattress and would have no evidence to support their version of the story. That student would definitely be expelled without hesitation, as Naima has very believable evidence.
But even if their gun were real, I'd rather get shot than lose. I'd have taken a bullet, but I'd have gotten proof that her accusation was false.
In any scenario, I come out on top, president.
"Well, Naima…"
I crouched down and looked into Naima's eyes.
"You always side with the person who benefits you the most, right? So why did you choose the president and not me? If you'd chosen me, this special test would've been a vacation for you, not hell. But you chose the president. And what did you get in return? You turned this test into hell, and now you'll be expelled. A nice ending, right?"
"Tch. If I'd been with you, you would've actually raped me! You're a disgusting pervert piece of shit! You think I don't know you're blackmailing a girl to take advantage of her?! It doesn't matter that you photographed the mattress; my evidence is better. That mattress could just be trash some idiot threw into the sea!"
"Oh, you mean Hanako? Want to meet her? Hanako, come here!!"
She emerged from the trees and ran toward us, phone in hand.
…Wow… Her breasts bounce a lot when she runs. Having such large breasts must be really uncomfortable for her, but as my teenage hormones are kicking in, I have to admit that scene is turning me on.
She's in a swimsuit, and her breasts bounce as she runs… Well, well. My younger self wasn't wrong; I definitely have good taste in women. It's a shame my relationship with her didn't work out. Well, now I have Naima—flat, but beautiful to me.
"The picture of the mattress isn't the only evidence I have."
"We also have a video of you trying to fall onto that mattress to activate your bracelet!" Hanako said.
"W-What?"
That expression on Naima… Confusion and… disappointment. Didn't think this could happen? Thought you'd win? Well, you were very wrong.
I knew this would happen. Why? Because I manipulated the situation to make this scenario occur.
The vice president was following me from a distance on the cruise, and I took advantage of that by pretending to take advantage of Hanako so the vice president would think I was a rapist and tell the president. She probably didn't believe it but used the opportunity to have fun with the outcome. Somehow, she convinced Naima to help her, and Naima even tried to sabotage several of the extra special tests, like the sand trail, where the hidden object was found by Naima and hidden elsewhere so I couldn't find it.
Why didn't Naima just throw those things into the sea instead of merely moving them? Because the president wouldn't enjoy an easy victory. That's why she preferred to make the tests harder but not impossible, and it also helped her gauge how far I could go.
Naima's hatred for me grew because she thought I was a rapist, which is why she's so confused right now.
"T-This… this is… Hey, you, there's a cop here! Stop pretending and tell him all the bad things Saik has done to you! I know perfectly well you're pretending to be his friend because he's threatening you!"
"Nope. He touched my breasts because we wanted to manipulate the vice president into telling the president that Saik's a pervert, so she'd tell you. Fufu. And it worked! Hahahahahaha! Saik, you're incredible!"
"N-No… This can't be real…"
I looked at the teacher.
"My teacher will be here soon, so don't leave, shitty teacher. We need witnesses."
"Tch."
Hanako smiled at me and approached.
"Did I do a good job?"
"More than good. Thank you so much, Hanako. I owe you one."
"Fufu. I'll cash it in later."
I'm scared of what she'll ask for, but I'll keep my word. I'm a man of my word.
Oh, here comes my teacher, along with more school staff. Good, time to show the evidence.
•
•
After an hour, everything was sorted out, and only the teachers, Naima, and I remained. Hanako was forgiven and allowed to return to the special test because she helped me avoid a false rape accusation. I was also forgiven and returned to the test, but Naima…
"Double expulsion. Saik said he won't press charges against you, but the school won't overlook this," the teacher said coldly.
"Yes… Yes, I accept it. I accept my punishment," Naima said, tears in her eyes.
She's genuinely sad; her younger siblings depend on her. She doesn't want to let them down.
Naima is a good person; she only agreed to help the president for two reasons: the main one being that she thought I was a rapist abusing Hanako. The second was the money the president offered her.
Naima's in school because a teacher from another class helps pay for it, but she's poor. The money was something she couldn't refuse… I think I love her even more.
Being willing to go that far just to give her younger siblings a better life… I love you, Naima.
She looks desperate, overwhelmed by a flood of negative, mostly sad emotions. She's lost everything. She lost her big chance to escape poverty. Her chance to graduate from one of the best high schools in the country. And why? For trying to earn money while doing something good (expelling a supposed rapist).
Naima, I'm sorry, I did this to earn your friendship. I promise to be a great friend and future boyfriend to make up for this pain.
"Double expulsion, huh? So her protection point won't work, right? Pretty smart, teacher. So, is that all? Can I go?"
"Yes."
"Let me confirm. Just double expulsion?"
"Yes. Did you want something else?"
"No, the opposite, I just wanted to make sure so she can't use a triple expulsion. I want to use my protection point on Naima."
"What?"
"Huh?" Naima said, confused.
"Do I need to sign something or what?"
"Wait, Saik. She tried to accuse you of rape. You really want to use your protection point on her?"
"I don't have anything against her; on the contrary, she and Ludius are the only people I like in the class. It'd be boring going to classes without Naima. Oh, and technically, I manipulated her into thinking I'm a rapist, so I wouldn't feel good if a good person like Naima got expelled for trying to expel a supposed rapist. I want to use my protection point on her."
"Wow… Well, if that's what you want. Naima, let's go, you're saved from expulsion, but you're still expelled from the test."
"Really…?! I-I mean… Y-You… You're really going to save me?!"
Should I take advantage of the situation and ask her out in exchange…? No, that'd be taking too much advantage of her. Little by little.
"Of course, thanks to you, I got to humiliate the president. It's the least I owe you."
"I… Well… Thank you… Really, thank you so much."
She extended her hand… The girl who hated me so much wants to shake my hand… Wow, my heart's racing. It feels good.
I took her hand.
"You're welcome, Naima. I hope we can be friends; I wasn't lying when I said you and Ludius are the only people I like in the class."
"Well… we can try to be friends, but don't you like Sylphie?"
"Ugh, it's complicated… Teacher, if I hit a teacher, will I get expelled from school or just the special test?"
"S-Suppose just from the test," she said, scared, thinking I'd hit her.
Don't worry, teacher, I was talking about the idiot next to you.
Without waiting another second, I punched the class 3-A teacher hard in the face, and he fell to the ground.
The teacher and Naima were shocked by my unexpected attack, and the professor just growled angrily, his nose and lips bleeding.
"I know perfectly well you helped the president, so you're my enemy too. Goodbye. Let's go, teacher, I want to go home."
"Huh? Oh, right… Let's go."
The teacher walked away, and I followed her, along with Naima. The professor stayed on the ground, needing to calm down to avoid hitting me. That teacher's too hot-headed. I could use that to my advantage later.
"Why the hell did you do that, you idiot?! They gave you a chance to stay in the special test, and you wasted it!"
Ugh, thanks for going back to normal, Naima; I like your violent side more than your sensitive, sad one.
"Hanako won't say anything, and neither will the teachers. I asked for this not to be made public. If we both get expelled, we could say we challenged another class and lost. They'll blame both of us, not just you. I'd rather avoid making you feel worse."
"And why do you care about me? You're a weirdo, you know that?"
"Because I like you, that's why I care."
"Yeah, yeah, you like me, blah, blah, blah. That doesn't make you less weird."
"I meant I like you romantically and all that. Ugh, I just hope my house isn't too dirty. I'm too lazy to clean when I get there."
"I thought you rich people had maids and… Wait… What did you say?!"
"My house will be really dirty and—"
"No, the other thing!"
"The part about being in love with you?"
"Yes, that!"
"Well, I like you. Why?"
"Arghhh! How do you say something so embarrassing so casually, you shitty idiot?!" Naima said, shaking my shoulders.
Wow, she's not blushing or shy; on the contrary, she's furious and full of rage.
"Ugh, you won't be easy to win over, huh? You didn't even get nervous. Will you at least let me try to win your heart?"
"You're a freaking weirdo! A weirdo!"
"I get that a lot, usually from you. So, will you let me try to make you fall for me? I'm a virgin, same with my lips. I've never kissed a woman, though Saoto, the class president, stole a kiss from me, but it grossed me out, I didn't enjoy it. I hope that last part doesn't bother you… Hmmph."
Naima pinched my lips with her fingers to stop me from talking.
"If I say yes, will you stop saying stupid things?!"
I nodded, and she let go of my lips.
"Tch. Seriously, you're a damn weirdo with no common sense."
"I thought we were friends, and friends are honest. Plus, I read online that if I want a romantic relationship with a girl, in this case you, I need to make my intentions clear from the start so you can see me as a potential romantic partner someday and not just a friend."
"…Do you really like me?"
"Quite a lot, I think."
"…Ugh, you're a freaking weirdo."
"Well, you're letting this weirdo try to win you over, so you're a weirdo too."
"More like I'm crazy… And Sylphie? I don't want trouble with her, so don't tell anyone how you feel about me."
"She doesn't do it for me."
"But she likes you."
"I know, but I've indirectly rejected her tons of times. She knows I don't like her."
"…Hey, idiot."
"Saik."
"…Hey, idiot, why me and not her? I hate to admit it, but she's prettier than me, and her breasts are huge. Why not fall for her?"
"Looks are temporary; my parents taught me to be attracted to feelings, not appearance. And you, Naima, make my heart race, and I love your personality; that's why I fell for you. Plus, you're a smart girl who knows how to avoid trouble, and I confirmed that when you didn't join your friends in the trap they were setting for me. I really love girls like you… Though I also have a theory that we're destined to be together because the president is way better than you, but I don't like her at all."
"Well, thanks for that last part."
"Just being honest."
"Tch. Whatever."
Well… I made huge progress with Naima today… Wow… It went better than I thought.
Officially, Naima and I are friends.
Next step: dating.
I've made my intentions clear, so now I just have to wait… Ugh, I'm hungry… Hungry… Oops.
Come here… Here she comes.
"Uwaaah!!"
Yuki crashed into me.
"Idiot, idiot, idiot! I almost choked on a piece of tangerine! And why did you take so long?!"
"Teacher, now that we're expelled from the special test, when do we head back to the city?"
"Today."
"Thank you."
"Huh?! They caught you stealing that idiot's underwear?!"
"So, Mr. Lovestruck, aren't you going to ask me out?"
"Huh? W-What does Naima mean by…?"
"You'd only say yes because I saved you from expulsion. I'd rather ask you out in the future, when we're good friends and you genuinely trust me. But we can hang out as friends to get to know each other better. Would you like to go to a concert? I like rock, and there's a rock music festival in the city in two weeks."
"Huh?!"
"Well, well. At least we have that in common. I love rock too. Alright, sounds fun. You can call it a date if you want, just because I'm in a good mood."
"Cool, it's a date."
"What the hell is going on?!"