『』『』『』『』『』
『Now then, what should we do, Kushida-chan? 』
"...Can we just go home? It's hot out here."
A few minutes had passed since they left the fortune-teller's shop. Instead of heading straight back, they were somehow wandering around Keyaki Mall. The summer heat was unbearable, though Kumagawa didn't seem affected in the slightest.
『Tsk tsk tsk. What are you saying? Isn't this the perfect time to enjoy your springtime of youth? Your summer vacation?』
"There's a time for that, and it's definitely not now..."
She almost added that spending it with him wasn't her idea of enjoying youth, but decided to keep that thought to herself. No point in provoking him and risking him getting petty over it.
『Besides, weren't you supposed to buy a birthday present for Kokoro-chan? You forgot, didn't you? What a useless classmate you are.』
"..."
She chose to ignore the last part, for obvious reasons. Still, he wasn't wrong. Since she was already out, it made sense to stop by and pick something up before going home. It wasn't like it would take that long to choose a gift.
A girl like Kokoro would probably be happy with anything—so long as it wasn't something weird. Still, just grabbing something random felt thoughtless. If she was going to buy a gift, she wanted it to be something the girl could genuinely enjoy.
"What about you, Kumagawa-kun? You haven't bought her anything either, right? Do you have something in mind?"
Since he was the one who brought it up first, she figured he might've been planning to get Kokoro a present too. That was just her assumption, of course. It was far more likely that he only said it to mock her for being a bad classmate.
Still, there was no harm in asking.
『Well, female high schoolers in underwear and cat ears are what I find hot. If that happened, I'd be very happy. That'd make my day.』
"..."
What the hell was this idiot saying?
She already knew he had no sense of shame or common sense, but wasn't this crossing a line?
Also, this was supposed to be a gift for Kokoro-chan. Something to make her happy, not something that made him happy.
"Kumagawa-kun, if you keep treating girls like that, there's a slight possibility you might get killed by one someday, you know?"
『???』
Kumagawa tilted his head and looked at Kushida like she was the strange one.
『What's wrong with that? Being killed by someone who loves you enough to kill you sounds like the best possible death to me. 』
"....."
He had completely missed the point.
What she meant was that someone might kill him out of hate, not affection. She wasn't sure if he genuinely believed that interpretation—or if he was deliberately twisting her words into something absurdly positive.
But... maybe it was better to let him keep thinking that way.
『Well, I don't really get it—stuff like buying presents or giving them—but how about something cute and a little useful? Like a hair accessory or a pouch. Don't girls love things like that for presents? The same way people love getting a copy of Shounen Jump as a gift. 』
"It's not the same, but... that's surprisingly sensible of you."
『Huhuhu. You didn't have to say it. I already knew.』
Kushida let out a short sigh and rolled her eyes, then started scanning the surrounding shops. There were plenty of stores in the area, and with that suggestion in mind, she already had a few ideas.
"Let's check that one."
She pointed toward a nearby shop selling accessories and other cute, everyday items.
The shop was filled with soft colors, pastel displays, and neatly arranged trinkets that clearly targeted a younger female demographic. Scrunchies, hairpins, hand mirrors, pouches, and other small items lined the shelves.
Kushida slowly browsed through them, occasionally picking one up and examining it.
Something useful, but also cute. Something Kokoro would actually use.
"How about this one?" she asked, holding up a soft pastel-blue pouch with a small ribbon stitched on the front.
『I don't have any ideas. I don't have any familiarity with this kind of situation. I do have some knowledge, but it's not like I'm experienced in picking a gift.』
"Then aren't you basically useless here...?"
『That's right. I'm a complete liability. I'm here to drag you down emotionally and financially. 』
He answered without a shred of shame.
Kushida let out a small sigh as she moved toward the shelf, glancing over the items again. There were still a few things that caught her eye, but having someone like Kumagawa beside her made it feel like shopping while babysitting an uncooperative child.
Still, despite the nonsense, he wasn't bothering other customers. That alone was already better than expected.
『Oh, oh, what about this one? A frog coin purse. Perfect for someone with a lot of pocket change and no sense of dignity. 』
"...We're not getting that."
『Tch. No taste. 』
"....."
Why would anyone even buy that? It's not like people here actually needed coin purses, since everything was handled through digital points. There wasn't even any physical money to carry around. So then, what was the point of selling something like that in the first place? Just for the novelty?
Despite everything, she couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
Maybe it was just her imagination, but spending time like this, doing something normal with someone not so normal. didn't feel as uncomfortable as she thought it would.
After a bit more browsing, Kushida finally decided on a small, cute accessory for Kokoro. Something simple but thoughtful. Kumagawa, on the other hand, thought about giving her a different kind of present...
『I'll just give her 3,000 points later. It's the same as giving money on Chinese New Year, right? No one hates free money. 』
...He said.
Of course, it was severely lacking in tact—comparing someone's birthday to Chinese New Year was wrong for all kinds of reasons, as it missed the entire point. But he said it with such complete confidence that Kushida didn't have the energy to argue.
In the end, it was probably best to leave it to individual values. If Kumagawa wanted to treat it like some kind of personal charity, that was on him. Besides, Kokoro-chan might actually need the points. At the very least, she'd probably accept it with a smile.
With that, Kushida walked over to the cashier and paid for her gift.
The clerk quickly packed it in a small, pastel-colored bag. Kushida took it and thanked them before leaving the store along with Kumagawa.
"Kumagawa-kun."
『What is it, Kushida-chan? 』
"Is it my imagination, or has that person been following us this entire time?"
She subtly pointed toward someone standing awkwardly behind a pillar across the store. The person wore a hat pulled low, sunglasses, and a mask that covered most of their face.
If not for the clearly noticeable chest—which at least confirmed she was a woman—Kushida might've already reported her to the staff as some kind of suspicious stalker. Given her own popularity and appearance, it wasn't entirely impossible for a creeper to be tailing her. But this situation felt... off in a different way.
『Hmm... A suspicious person with zero stealth, huh. That's pretty bold. 』
"You think she's watching us?"
『Probably you. No one cares enough to follow me. 』
"Don't say that so proudly."
Kushida had already noticed the woman's presence ever since they left the fortune-teller shop. At the time, she chose to ignore it—thinking maybe it was a coincidence, or just her overthinking things.
Kumagawa probably noticed even earlier, but since he hadn't said anything, she assumed it was nothing serious. Or more likely, he simply didn't care. So she followed his lead, letting it go.
But now, she was 100% sure that woman was following them.
She had no intention of chasing after someone, but the way the woman peeked from behind walls, had officially crossed the line from "maybe suspicious" to "definitely suspicious."
"...So what do we do now?"
『Hmm... All right, then I'll just go greet her then. 』
It seemed he was planning to confront the stalker head-on.
Did he even know the proper way to confront someone suspicious? Probably not. Still, it was better than him pretending it didn't exist.
At the very least, if something went wrong, she wouldn't be the one taking the blame.
Noticing that Kumagawa was approaching, the stalker flinched in surprise and instinctively tried to leave. But Kumagawa was faster.
He reached her before she could even take a step.
Kushida blinked. She knew Kumagawa wasn't normal, but even so, she hadn't expected this kind of speed. She'd already seen glimpses of it during the island exam, but seeing it again in a normal setting made it stand out even more.
Despite his unassuming build and lazy posture, he was clearly athletic. No, more than that—he was absurdly fast. She hadn't seen anyone move quicker in this school. Not even Sudou, who was supposed to be Class D's physical powerhouse, could compare.
Strength-wise, it was harder to tell. She had a feeling Kumagawa wasn't weak, but it wasn't the kind of strength you could easily measure. Not in a normal sense.
Was he stronger than Sudou? Maybe. Maybe not. But that question didn't seem to matter much now.
『Oho~ what are you doing here, Masumi Kamuro "the-betrayer"-chan? 』
The girl who had been tailing them visibly froze. Despite the mask, wig, and black-rimmed glasses, Kumagawa identified her instantly.
"Can you not call me that?!"
So she wasn't even going to deny it.
It seemed there was some sort of history between her and Kumagawa.
Kushida narrowed her eyes slightly, now able to get a better look at her. If she recalled correctly, this girl was one of Sakayanagi's underlings from Class C. Part of the trio that always hung around the petite leader. The other two were that sly playboy and the creepy glove guy.
What was someone like her doing here? And more importantly, why was she tailing them?
『So? Why'd you suddenly decide to tail us? Was the betrayer class not exciting enough after your promotion from thief? Did you decide to level up again and change your class to stalker instead? Is that it? 』
It honestly sounded less like an upgrade and more like a total downgrade.
"It's not like I want to do this either...." she muttered.
Kushida heard the muttering clearly—and for some inexplicable reason, felt a strange sense of kinship forming.
It wasn't a rational connection. But in that small moment, Kushida thought—
Ah.... I kind of get it....
Maybe that's why she felt a strange sense of kinship. Because, in a way, her situation resembled her own. Just from her expression, it was obvious she was reluctant about this whole stalker act—but she had no choice.
That's right.
She was being forced.
『So? What did you hope to accomplish by stalking us? Was this supposed to be part of some kind of game? Because if that's the case, you've greatly underestimated me, Kamuro-chan. 』
What kind of game was that even supposed to be...?
From the way he said it, Kushida couldn't help but suspect Kumagawa was imagining one of his usual perverted fantasies again. She'd been on the receiving end of those enough times to recognize the signs by now.
Of course, he was still as unpredictable as ever, but that didn't make it any better.
"Sakayanagi wanted to see you..." Kamuro finally said.
『Sakayanagi-chan? 』
"Sakayanagi-san?"
Sakayanagi Arisu.
Kushida remembered the name. One of the leaders of Class C, along with Katsuragi. Though, she only knew that much thanks to Kumagawa. Before he told her, she hadn't even realized Class C had two central figures vying for control.
From her perspective, Sakayanagi was just another influental student in her class, same as Katsuragi. She never thought much about it beyond that.
It couldn't be helped.
She never set out to collect information about the other classes. Her goal was to get along with everyone and raise her standing in the school, not to directly benefit Class D. Trying to dig into other classes could make people suspicious of her, and that was the last thing she wanted.
But still... why would someone like Sakayanagi go out of her way to order Kamuro to tail them?
『So, she wants to meet me? That cute and adorable Sakayanagi-chan wants to meet me? 』
"Kumagawa-kun, that's a bit..."
Even though Sakayanagi was petite for her age, it still felt off to call someone the same age as them "cute" and "adorable" so casually. If Sakayanagi herself heard it, she would probably be offended.
『Alright then. Let's go meet her. Let's meet this rumored student, Sakayanagi-chan. 』
"Eh? You're going?"
Kushida blinked in surprise.
『She went through all this trouble just to find me, didn't she? It'd be rude not to answer her invitation. 』
"Is that so....?"
Why would someone who trampled all over other people's consent start talking about manners now of all times? The whole situation was obviously suspicious, especially when Sakayanagi had sent someone to tail them instead of coming to speak directly.
How should she say this...
"...Kumagawa-kun, you're not seriously just going along with it, are you?"
『Of course I am. I'm curious.』
"Curious, huh..."
That was definitely not a good enough reason. But it was a still a better reason than usual. There is a high enough chance that the reason is because it was a girl, But arguing any further would probably just be a waste of time.
"...Well, then enjoy yourself."
She turned her back on him and casually waved, planning to leave him to it.
But—
『Hmm? Where are you going? At times like this, you're supposed to accompany me, right? That's your role, isn't it? 』
Kushida, who had taken just a few steps, paused and turned to face him.
".....What are you talking about, Kumagawa-kun?"
Her expression was one of honest confusion. She didn't understand what kind of nonsense he was spouting this time, so she figured it was better to ask directly.
If the story had gone normally, this would've been the part where she left him behind. But as always, Kumagawa added something completely unnecessary. She didn't want to repeat the same mistake of being dragged into another annoying situation like what happened with the student council just a week ago.
『That's obvious, isn't it? It's because I want to be with you, Kushida-chan. I love you and I love my childhood friend. If we're separated again, I don't know what I might do!』
It was a response more infuriating than she could've ever imagined. The person in front of her had just blackmailed her in broad daylight without a shred of guilt.
She looked at the clock on her phone.
"Ah! It's already 11 o'clock! Sorry, Kumagawa-kun, I just remembered—I need to go buy something important."
『11 o'clock? Don't tell me you mean the pre-order pickup for that new skincare serum? Didn't you already buy it last week? Wait, is there a new version already? You're late if that's the case! Appointmenter, you haven't considered my plans at all! Give me a break. I need to finish the meeting with Sakayanagi fast then! Let's go meet her right now!』
She stared at him in disbelief.
Why was he making it sound like they were on some kind of synced schedule? It was baffling how he could jump between nonsense and serious topics so effortlessly, and treat both with the same level of confidence.
『Now, Kamuro-chan, lead the way! 』
In the end, Kushida found herself getting dragged into another situation she wanted no part of. Once again, without her consent.
After walking for a bit behind Masumi Kamuro, they eventually arrived at the school library.
Of all places, the library?
Kushida couldn't help but think that it was a strange choice for a meeting. Normally, these things were done at cafés or restaurants. If they talked too much here, wouldn't it bother other people?
But once they stepped inside, it was clear that wasn't a concern.
The library was nearly empty, probably because most students were busy enjoying their summer vacation. The only ones here were either people with nothing better to do, or just the kind of students who didn't know what to do with free time in the first place.
They kept walking a little farther, heading toward the usual spot where the chessboard was set up.
In this library, there was a designated area for chess. Maybe it was because a quiet atmosphere suited it well. It wasn't uncommon for an elite school libraries to have a chess corner—after all, it was a game that demanded focus and silence.
There, sitting quietly in front of the board, was a petite girl with lilac-colored hair. Noticing that people were approaching, she looked up.
"Ah, Masumi-san, you're ba—"
She paused.
...Hmm? What was that?
It looked like she hadn't expected Kumagawa-kun at all. Or maybe that was just Kushida's imagination.
"I see, so you brought him here..." Sakayanagi muttered quietly.
Fixing her posture, Sakayanagi looked up at Kumagawa with a pleasant smile and greeted him.
"Good to see you again, Kumagawa-kun. Though I must admit, I wasn't expecting you to bring someone else. Didn't Masumi-san tell you I asked for a private meeting?"
She spoke politely, but her words clearly implied that Kushida's presence was unwelcome. That said, Kushida couldn't exactly blame her. She hadn't intended to get involved either. If it were up to her, she would've stayed far away from this whole situation. But since things had already progressed this far, there was no turning back.
『She didn't say anything like that. Well, even if she had, it's not like I would actually follow that, this is Kushida Kikyou-chan. My classmate, my appointmenter, and my long-lost childhood friend from the age of two Kushida-chan. 』
"....I see. I did hear rumors the two of you were childhood friends. What a fortunate reunion... almost like fate brought you back together."
With that, Sakayanagi turned her head toward Kushida and gave a gentle smile.
"This is our first time speaking face to face, isn't it? I'm Sakayanagi Arisu, from Class C. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Kushida-san."
"Yes, it's very nice to meet you too, Sakayanagi-san. I've heard a lot about you. You're quite famous even among the other classes." Kushida responded with a warm smile and a gentle nod.
Sakayanagi smiled politely in return.
"My apologies, Kushida-san. I truly appreciate your greeting, but for now, I'd prefer to speak with Kumagawa-kun alone. I hope you don't mind. I promise I won't take up too much of his time."
Even though her tone was and polite, her words left little room for misunderstanding.
She was asking Kushida to leave.
"..."
Kushida didn't like her.
Kushida didn't like the person named Sakayanagi Arisu.
She didn't like the way Sakayanagi looked at her in a condescending manner, like she was naturally the superior one among them. If this had been earlier, she might have bowed out immediately with a smile and walked away without question. But not this time.
Not with that look.
She didn't want to leave. Not because she had any real business staying—but because she didn't want to give Sakayanagi the satisfaction.
But how could she even reject it?
Sakayanagi had said it perfectly. Polite. Reasonable. All in all, it was a simple request. On top of that, this was their first time meeting face-to-face, which made it even harder to turn her down without looking petty or insecure.
Kushida was stuck. She couldn't find a good reason to stay, but she didn't want to back down either.
Fortunately, as usual, Kumagawa decided to chip in.
『If Kushida-chan were to leave, then that would mean I'm supposed to leave too. 』
All three of them turned to look at Kumagawa, their expressions varying shades of confusion. Sensing their collective silence, Kumagawa casually continued, ever generous in his willingness to share his logic.
『You see, Kushida-chan is my appointmenter. And if my appointmenter is told to leave, then that clearly implies the appointment is over. Which also means I have no business being here. Right? 』
"Kumagawa-kun...."
『Besides, Kushida-chan and I are practically one. We're connected, not by blood, but by soul. Soulmates are always tied together by the red thread of something right?. Half her heart is mine, and half of my heart is somewhere else. So logically, if Kushida-chan leaves, I would be dragged along too. After all, a heart can't be too far from its original owner, right? 』
"..."
"..."
"..."
What kind of explanation was that? It was completely all over the place. But more than that, the fact that Kushida somehow understood the general idea behind his nonsense irritated her.
She remembered reading somewhere that people with similar personalities often understood each other, even when they didn't make sense to anyone else.
If that applied here... didn't that mean she was similar to Kumagawa in some way?
That thought alone was a problem.
This time, it was Sakayanagi and Kamuro who turned to look at her with questioning eyes. Their expressions silently asked: "Are you really that close with Kumagawa?"
And honestly, she didn't know how to answer that.
Kushida, of course, didn't consider herself close to him.
But...
By definition, since Kumagawa was the only one who knew her secret, the one thing she'd kept hidden from everyone else, he technically was the closest guy to her at the moment. Whether she liked it or not.
Sure, most people with a childhood friend had a normal, platonic relationship. But the way Kumagawa phrased it added a strange nuance that made Sakayanagi and Kamuro look at her with clear suspicion.
Still, if it meant she didn't have to leave and get pushed around by Sakayanagi... then it wasn't a bad outcome.
"Fufufu, you two certainly seem... close. Though I must admit, your connection is more passionate than I expected from two classmates and childhood friend."
"Hahaha, Kumagawa-kun just has a habit of saying strange things. That's all." Kushida laughed softly, as if brushing it off.
"Oh? Is that so?" Sakayanagi replied, though judging by her tone, she clearly still somewhat doubtful about it, but she decided to just ignore it.
『So, Sakayanagi-chan. Did you have something to talk to me about? Answer me, Sakayanagi-chan.』
"Well, there were a number of things, but pressuring a girl to speak first isn't exactly gentlemanly, you know?"
『A gentleman like me can't possibly ignore a shallow line like that. But fortunately, I didn't have to follow any of those fancy rules. 』
"I suppose that's true. You're not the type to play by the book. But I do appreciate you showing up today, even with company."
She glanced at Kushida briefly, but didn't say anything further.
"By the way, how did you know it was me even before you exposed my disguise? I was pretty sure it was flawless," Kamuro asked, a hint of irritation in her voice.
It wasn't just a mask, she had taken the time to add a wig and glasses too. From a distance, she shouldn't have been recognizable at all.
『What a surprise. In your world, do you call changing your hair and wearing a mask a "disguise"? 』
"Ah..."
She couldn't really respond to that.
Kushida, listening beside him, had to admit, shouldn't a shallow disguise like that normally work on someone like Kumagawa? She always thought he was unpredictable in the worst ways, but when it came to observation, maybe she'd been underestimating him too much. Still, there was no reason he should have been able to identify someone so quickly from just a glance.
『And even if you ask me how I saw through your identity, I can only say it was for some reason or other. Like, your physique, or the atmosphere around you. No matter how much you hide your face, it's not like people can be judged based on their face alone. 』
Kumagawa's words clashed directly with the modern age of facial recognition and digital identity.
This guy sure did like to bring up issues like these.
And for Kamuro, who by all accounts was well-endowed and not exactly subtle in appearance, the implication that she had been "recognized" based on her body rather than her face could easily be taken the wrong way.
And coming from Kumagawa, the line between observation and violation always felt thin. He might not have meant it that way but it still sounded suggestive, because of how he phrased it.
『In particular, Kushida-chan, even if you tried to hide your face behind a mask, or change your hairstyle, or even dye your hair another color, I'd still be able to tell it was you... Or maybe not? I'm not sure if I actually have the ability to see through people or not, so my wording might be a little vague— 』
"You can stop now, Kumagawa-kun..."
Kushida cut him off flatly. The direction of the conversation was taking a turn she really didn't like.
She hadn't planned on spending so much time with him that he could recognize her based on just her physique or the atmosphere around her. But someone as dull as Kumagawa, who seemed to take zero interesnt in others saying something like that?
It was pretty unsettling.
"My, my... Kumagawa-kun, you certainly have a unique way of souring the atmosphere." She offered a soft, knowing smile, resting her hand gently on the table in front of her. "Well then, why don't we calm things down a bit? Since you've come all this way, how about we continue our conversation over a game of chess?"
『Chess? Is this your way of harassing me?』
"Harassing....?"
『Aren't you supposed to be good at chess, Sakayanagi-chan? Isn't this just you bullying me under the pretense of being civil? Trying to beat me at something you already know I'm not good at? 』
He wasn't angry, nor did it sound like an accusation. His tone was far too relaxed for that. With him, it was always hard to tell whether he was joking or being serious, he blurred the line so naturally that Sakayanagi didn't know how to respond properly.
".....That's a rather crude interpretation," she replied after a pause. "I simply thought it would be nice to have a conversation over something I enjoy. Given my physical limitations, there aren't many activities I can partake in with others. Chess is one of the few things that allow me to engage with people on equal footing."
『...Okay. 』
Kumagawa backed off. Even for him, it was hard to push back against a line like that without sounding like a jerk.
He really didn't seem to understand how other people felt, huh.
『So, are we going to play a regular chess? Don't act all haughty and just tell me. 』
"Yes, nothing special. Just a standard game of chess. Or were you expecting a different kind of game? I wouldn't mind, but if possible... I'd prefer something that doesn't involve any physical exertion." Sakayanagi replied with a faint smile.
She gestured to the chessboard in front of her.
Kumagawa took the seat across from her without hesitation. Despite his words, he didn't seem nervous in the slightest.
『Well, what I want to request is something else. You've probably heard already, but I have a whimsical personality, and maybe a bit of a gambling addiction.』
"You do?" Kushida asked, a little surprised.
『Well, maybe. I'm not exactly sure what you'd call it, but sometimes I just get the urge to make things more interesting. 』
"I see. So, are you saying you want to place a bet?" Sakayanagi responded calmly. "But even so, I have no obligation to accept it, do I?"
『Of course not. And I wouldn't drag you into it without offering something worth while in return. There's merit in it for you too. If you still hold any ill feelings against me, then consider this an opportunity. I'm giving you a chance, through this game of chess.』
"A chance...What do you mean?
『Sakayanagi-chan, we've had our little history, haven't we? Things got a bit messy before. But this time, I'm offering you a proper chance. If you win this game, you can stake anything you want. Anything at all. You understand what I mean, don't you?』
"Are you screwing with me, Kumagawa-kun? There's no way I can go along with a bet from someone as suspicious as you."
Sakayanagi was naturally distrustful of Kumagawa. After all, she had been humiliated by him after the sexual assault accusation incident involving him. It was only natural that she wouldn't take his words at face value.
『I knew you'd say something like that, Sakayanagi-chan. But there's no need to worry. It's still chess, something you're more than familiar with. Just a slightly different variant. 』
"A variant...?
『Yes. We're going to play a 2 vs. 2 team match. Bughouse chess.』
"Eh? 2 vs. 2? Then who's going to play with you, Kumagawa-kun?"
It was Kushida who asked the obvious question. The moment she heard the words "bughouse chess," she instinctively became wary. She already had a feeling about where this was heading.
『What are talking about Kushida-chan? We've got four people here arent' we? It's me and you againts Sakayanagi-chan and Kamuro chan. It's a perfect situation for a bughouse chess. 』
As expected....
Well, she already knew this was coming the moment she decided to stay. If anything, it was more her fault than his. She had the choice to leave, but in the end, her pride refused to let Sakayanagi feel satisfied by pushing her out.
That part of her, the one that couldn't stand being looked down on, had won.
"...I'm not really good at chess, though."
She only knew the basics. Against someone like Sakayanagi, who was probably well above average, there was no way she'd stand a chance in a regular match. She didn't know how skilled Kumagawa really was, but considering how confidently he proposed a bughouse match, that had to count for something.
...Probably good news.
But he had also lost to Sakayanagi before, which was definitely bad news.
But still, a bughouse chess huh....
Even though she wasn't exactly skilled in chess, Kushida was familiar with this particular variant.
It was a type of chess with an unusual rule, where two boards were placed side by side and played as a team.
The rules were a lot simpler compared to shogi, and if she had to say, chess was easier to get into. But the biggest difference between shogi and chess was whether or not you could reuse the pieces you captured.
In Japan, that kind of rule felt normal because people were used to shogi. But on a global scale, the idea of reusing captured pieces wasn't common, so in terms of popularity, shogi fell one step behind chess. However, when it came to bughouse chess, that rule had actually been adopted.
There was also another key difference. In chess, the pieces were clearly divided into black and white. To put it simply, there was a black team and a white team, and each piece belonged to its color.
Naturally, because the colors were different, it didn't make sense to capture an opponent's piece and use it yourself. But bughouse chess happens to be a revolutionary chess variant that solved that problem in a unique way.
First off, to explain the basic rules of bughouse chess: the game is played using two boards at once. Team A and Team B each control both black and white pieces, and the match is played in pairs.
On one board, Team A's Player A1 uses white pieces and plays against Team B's Player B1, who uses black pieces. On the other board, Team A's Player A2 uses black pieces against Team B's Player B2, who uses white.
And this is the crux of the rules—when a player captures a piece on one board, their teammate can use that piece on the other board. Because the teams are fixed, the captured piece retains its team color when it's passed over.
That's what makes this rule work in chess too.
If Player A1 captures a piece on Board 1, Player A2 can use it on Board 2. If Player B2 captures a piece on Board 2, Player B1 can use it on Board 1. It sounds pretty convoluted, and it actually is pretty convoluted, but anyway, it's a game that prioritizes team play.
Which is exactly why playing it with Kumagawa as her teammate sounded like a nightmare.
It wasn't like she had any faith in their team coordination, but the current situation wasn't exactly ideal for a game with a bet on the line.
Well, she wasn't sure if the other team had perfect coordination either. Just because they were classmates, didn't necessarily mean they worked well together. Maybe that's just something that happens in manga. But the fact that the Sakayanagi were experts at chess was something the whole school probably knew.
If there was one small salvation, it was that Kushida wasn't necessarily bad at strategy games. Kumagawa also had sharp observation skills, which could be useful. The real issue was whether or not he could apply those skills properly. Chess was a demanding game that required thinking several moves ahead. And in bughouse chess, you had to keep an eye on two boards at once.
The victory conditions were mostly the same—checkmate the opponent's king on either board, or force a surrender. Though with the current players, she doubted anyone would actually give up that easily.
Kamuro, who had been silently standing beside Sakayanagi, leaned over and whispered with a troubled look.
"...Are you really going through with this?"
"Of course. After all, he went out of his way to offer us something interesting. It would be rude not to play along." Sakayanagi replied with a calm smile, her fingers lightly touching the edge of the chessboard.
Kamuro gave a small sigh at her response. While she didn't have much experience playing chess herself, she'd watched Sakayanagi play enough times to pick up some basics. She could probably handle herself, at least enough not to drag the team down too much.
"By the way, Kumagawa-kun, since you suggested bughouse chess, may I offer a small rule as well?" Sakayanagi said with a relaxed experssion
『Hmm? Let's hear it. 』
"It's nothing strict. Just a small rule, no communication between teammates during the match. Of course, you're free to speak with your opponents. You could think of it as a self-imposed restriction. What do you think?"
『A self-imposed restriction... That sounds good to me. I'm not going to lie, I actually like that sort of thing. 』
"...Wha—are you seriously accepting that!?"
Kushida couldn't help but speak up.
What was this idiot thinking? It was already bad enough that they were going up against Sakayanagi, who was clearly on a different level. Now he was willingly handicapping them by cutting off any teamwork?
『Kushida-chan, do you want to talk about who it was that played Dragon Quest IX without any party members? 』
"Let's not."
She had no idea what was going on in his head.
But knowing him, he probably thought it'd be more fun that way.
『So, Sakayanagi-chan. If we're making this a bet, then I'd like to ask—what are you planning to wager? 』
And to make things worse, this was a bet match. Even now, no one had said what the stakes were. But despite that, Kumagawa still looked completely relaxed. Did he not feel nervous at all?
"We haven't decided on that yet, have we? But... I suppose it's only fair to make it clear before we begin."
And then she said it.
"If I win... can you get out of this school?"
『... 』
"...."
Kushida froze.
What kind of joke was that?
『Oho... now that's quite the request. Kicking someone out of school over a chess game? You're really not holding back, huh? 』
"Of course not. You were the one who brought up the idea of betting anything, weren't you?"
『Okay. Then I'll accept it. If we lose, I'll quietly leave this school. How's that? 』
Kushida's eyes widened.
"W-wait—are you serious?!"
『Hey, hey, why do you sound so surprised, Kushida-chan? Isn't this what you've always wanted? Just imagine I'm your best friend Horikita-chan. Then everything will be fun, right?』
"....."
She knew exactly what he was implying—and it didn't feel good at all.
Of course, she hated the fact that Kumagawa had found out her weakness. The mask she had carefully crafted to be accepted in this school, to be liked by everyone—he had uncovered it before the first semester even ended.
But now, her feelings were more complicated.
After all, he had helped her. More than once. And not for rewards or favors, but simply because he wanted to. Even though he still held that recording from the rooftop incident, there hadn't been any sign that he intended to use it against her.
So hearing him casually say he'd leave the school if they lost—without hesitation—left her with a strange, uncomfortable mix of emotions.
She didn't know how to feel about it.
"For your information, Kumagawa-kun, I recorded you saying that you will get out if this school quietly if you lose, so with this, the bet has become official."
Sakayangi put out her phone on the table as she said that.
At a school with rules as strict as this one, it wasn't unusual for students to secure verbal agreements with evidence. Normally, it would be through a written contract, but in cases like this, where the agreement came out of nowhere, a recording could serve as valid proof and collateral.
『Ahaha, you really went out of your way for something completely useless, Sakayanagi-chan. Even someone like me can keeps his promises or not keeps his promises once every thousand years or so. 』
Once every thousand years... That was way too low a frequency. And depending on his mood, sometimes he didn't even try in the first place.
"Well, you can't expect someone as shady as you to actually keep their word, right?"
『Now, now, you're giving me too much credit. 』
"...That's not a compliment, Kumagawa-kun. She meant you're unreliable. That no one in their right mind would trust someone like you." Kushida cut in flatly, not even trying to soften the blow. She didn't sugarcoat her tone either, it was probably the most direct she had sounded all day.
『...You know, tsunderes make good characters because they eventually say their true feelings that they've been unable to say, don't you think? 』
Though Kumagawa-kun had the peculiar personality of enjoying being hated by others, he could only respond like this to those words. Was he actually taken aback by her words just now?
CLAP!
Sakayanagi clapped her hands lightly, pulling their attention back.
"Now then, shall we play?"
The two chessboards had already been placed side by side.
Kumagawa had taken the white pieces, which meant Kushida naturally took the black.
In turn, Sakayanagi held the black pieces, and Kamuro took white.
The matchups were as expected—Kumagawa againts Sakayanagi, and Kushida againts Kamuro.
It was a natural flow of events. But even so, Kushida couldn't help but worry about Kumagawa, especially since his opponent was Sakayanagi. Of course, if someone asked her to switch places, she'd absolutely refuse. There was no way she wanted to face Sakayanagi herself. She'd be crushed in minutes.
Still, that didn't make her any less worried.
"Oh, well, whatever happens, happens!"
『Ahahaha. What's with saying 'whatever happens, happens', Kushida-chan? That's the second time I've seen anyone say something like that. 』
Kumagawa seemed to be having a good time.
Just from looking at him, he seemed fairly innocent, but someone who heartily laughed at a person's corncern could be nothing but wicked. At the very least, as the one being laughed at, it wasn't a pleasant feeling—it was like, who do you think I'm putting in all this effort for!
『Ahaha, don't get mad at me. If you do, it just feels like it's ruining something. 』
"...."
This guy was seriously annoying.
Just from his behavior, not showing the slightest bit of worry despite the threat of expulsion right before a new semester, he might've looked like someone brave, confident, and open-minded guy. But it wasn't really like that, he simply lacked any sense of self-awareness.
D'you want me to actually help Sakayanagi in expelling you this time? Well, she'd probably try to get rid of him eventually... probably. But today wasn't that day.
In fact, today, she was going to support him. She was going to do her best.
She'll serve him with her support on a silver platter.
Tap.
Kumagawa made the first move by advancing a white pawn. At the same time, Kamuro mirrored him on her board, also pushing a white pawn forward. In chess, black and white followed different strategies in the opening. White usually took the initiative, playing aggressively from the start, while black often had to respond with a more reactive approach.
Well, that was surprisingly appropriate, if not for the color of the piece. She could only picture Kumagawa using the black pieces, fitting for someone with a heart as black and rotten as his... if he even had one. But on second thought, white suited him just as well, considering how he always liked to start by provoking everyone.
"Well, I have to say, Kumagawa-kun... did your skills improve?"
『Improve? Ahaha, that's highly unlikely. I don't usually learn from my mistakes, so me getting better is probably just your delusion, Sakayanagi-chan. 』
Is that so...? Then perhaps I was simply imagining things."
『That's right, you're just imagining things. You can go ahead and underestimate me as usual.』
"Fufufu, underestimate you? After you dropped us all the way to Class C?"
『I don't know what you're talking about. Actually, I'm not even sure that really happened.』
As always, Kumagawa played dumb. But at this point, what was the point? Sakayanagi wasn't the type to throw out baseless accusations, and it was obvious Hashimoto had already told her about what went down during the special exam. His act could only come off as irritating now.
"But that's not what Hashimoto-kun told me, though."
『Tch. 』
Full of discontent, Kumagawa raised both arms as a display of surrender.
『You caught me—yes, yes, very refreshing. But even so, it's not really my fault things turned out that way. In the end, I didn't even get a single thing I wanted. 』
"You didn't get the thing that you wanted?" Sakayanagi tilted her head in slight confusion.
『Right. According to my plan, I was supposed to ruin Katsuragi with my own hand. No one else's. Not with anyone's help, not through anyone else just me, and only me. I planned to ruin him with my own hand. But that didn't happen. Because Hashimoto told Katsuragi about Kushida-chan's little talk with Ryuuen, Katsuragi ended up ruined anyway. And since it had nothing to do with me, since I wasn't the one who did it—I didn't get to ruin Katsuragi with my own hand. And because of that, I didn't get the one thing I wanted. It's really just that simple. 』
"...?"
"...?"
Both Kushida and Sakayanagi paused for a moment, clearly puzzled. As for Kamuro, she didn't seem to be paying much attention to what he was saying. Her eyes were fixed on her own board and her moves.
Meanwhile, Kushida and Sakayanagi kept an eye on both boards and the ongoing conversation.
For Kushida, multitasking wasn't exactly new, she could juggle multiple things at once, but that didn't mean it didn't take a toll. She had to push herself to stay focused. Sakayanagi, on the other hand, was simply that capable. She followed both the game and the conversation with relative ease.
And of course, Sakayanagi quickly understood what he meant.
But not Kushida.
Despite her efforts to follow what Kumagawa said. It was too hard to understand. She didn't get what he was saying.
It was like a Zen dialogue.
Well, if she were to forcibly interpret it in a way she could understand, then he was probably saying that if Katsuragi was ruined in the end, it didn't count if it wasn't by his own hand. If someone else did it, then it wasn't his win. The meaning had changed quite a bit, but if she interpreted it like that, it made more sense to her, at least.
Was this what a "Minus" was supposed to be like?
"If Hashimoto-kun were to hear that, he'd definitely be irritated," Sakayanagi said, eating one of Kumagawa's pieces without hesitation. "But don't worry, Kumagawa-kun. I'm not blaming you. What happened to our class could turn out to be a positive outcome in the long run."
『I'm grateful for that, Sakayanagi-chan. So that means it worked out well for both of us, right?』
Though his tone was friendly, it still had some provocative implications involved.
But Sakayanagi didn't mind. As far as she was concerned, there was still plenty of time left in this school. Three more years remained to change the status quo between classes, and their current situation was nothing more than a temporary setback.
Besides, Kumagawa's actions had indirectly helped solidify her position within the class.
Katsuragi's situation was unfortunate. He had the bad luck of going up against Kumagawa, and despite trying to help the class, he ended up being toyed with and discarded. It was honestly pitiful.
Well, in a way, everyone in the current first year was unlucky. Including herself—for having to be in the same year as someone like Kumagawa. If possible, she hoped to see him expelled as soon as possible.
She hadn't expected him to accept the bet so casually about and now that it was recorded, it counted as valid proof, an official agreement between two parties. Of course, she had no doubts about her chances of winning, but still... something about it felt a little off.
"Ah, now that I think about it, you haven't told us what you want from the bet yet, Kumagawa-kun."
『Now that you mention it, I feel like I had something in mind... but I forgot. Ehehe... 』
He laughed.
Kushida, who was sitting beside him, couldn't help but give him a look. For someone whose status as a student was on the line, he was strangely pretty lackluster about it.
In her next life, becoming someone like Kumagawa was probably the last thing she'd want. But at the same time... she couldn't deny that, just a little, it seemed like a fun way to live, although really, it was only a little.
『Anyway, I'll probably remember it by the end of the game. 』
"Fufufu, aren't you a little too calm, Kumagawa-kun? Don't you feel even a little nervous, knowing that if you lose, you'll be forced to leave this school?"
『Ah hah hah! I guess I've had so many happy thoughts during my time here, I'm feeling a bit cheeky right now. I'm enjoying myself quite a bit, actually. 』
Even though they had been talking casually up to this point, the pace of the game was gradually picking up—bit by bit, move by move.
Tap. Tap.
Tap. Tap.
The sound of the pieces hitting the board is getting faster.
Before long, both Kushida and Kamuro were breaking into a light sweat, focusing all their attention on the board. They could hardly think about anything else. It took everything they had just to keep up. Kumagawa and Sakayanagi were clearly playing at a faster pace now.
It took everything they had just to keep up. Kumagawa and Sakayanagi were clearly playing at a faster pace now. And since this was bughouse chess, they had to keep an eye on both boards. What happened on one side could affect the other.
Just following along was hard enough. Keeping up was something else entirely.
If there was one thought lingering in Kushida's mind besides the game, it was how Kumagawa could keep up with Sakayanagi's pace without much trouble.
How could someone so stupid... be so smart?
That was the question running through her head.
She didn't want to call him stupid outright, but the fact that he once got a single-digit score on a mock test pretty much said it all.
Still, it wasn't fair to judge someone's intelligence by grades alone. That kind of thinking was too narrow. Even so, she couldn't deny—Kumagawa could be unbelievably stupid sometimes.
And yet, he was still managing to keep up with Sakayanagi. That alone surprised her.
But as she continued to play, she couldn't help but notice just how burdensome his playstyle really was.
Normally in chess, you had to avoid reckless plays, since once your piece was captured, that was the end of it. But in bughouse chess, that rule didn't apply. Pieces taken by your teammate could be used again and again, giving the game a different way of playing.
Because of that, his reckless plays could still be covered.
But for that to happen... she had to be the one doing all the covering.
In other words, he was putting all the weight on her, and she had to work twice as hard to make up for it.
It took everything she had just to keep up with the two boards in front of her. She wasn't a machine, and mistakes could happen—but right now, she couldn't afford even one. Especially since she'd already noticed multiple moments where Kumagawa had been cornered during the game. If it weren't for her, he'd probably be kissing this school goodbye by now.
At this point, it felt like they were playing blitz chess. All four of them were moving at a rapid pace. And with the rule forbidding teammate communication, things were even trickier.
So Kushida decided to change tactics.
If she couldn't rely on teamwork, then she'd turn to something else—psychological warfare. It wasn't her specialty, not compared to Kumagawa, but having spent too much time around him, she figured she might've absorbed some of his charms.
"Hey, Kamuro-san? You're just being forced into this by Sakayanagi-san, right? Isn't this just another one of her whims, making you struggle for no reason? You don't really have to go along with this. I do feel a little sorry for you, but... I can't hold back either."
"Well, aren't you the same?"
"..."
She forced a smile.
She didn't have a comeback for that one. And honestly, it made her a little uneasy that Kamuro had seen through her so easily. It seemed she still had a long way to go before reaching Kumagawa's level when it came to psychological warfare.
...Of course, that was just her being modest.
『Ah, Sakayanagi-chan, Sakayanagi-chan. I forgot to ask, but what happens if the game ends in a draw? 』
"Draw...?"
Draws in chess weren't uncommon. But in bughouse chess, because of the concept of piece droping, achieving a draw was far less likely. Even when behind in pieces, the ability to reuse captured pieces onto the board opened up many chances to turn things around, or at least prolong the game.
"Well... I didn't really give it that much thought. Bughouse games don't usually last long, and they rarely end in draws to begin with. But if that does happen..."
She paused for a moment, letting her eyes briefly scan both boards before continuing.
"What about this? In the event of a draw... we'll say that neither side wins the bet. It simply becomes void. No gain, no loss. Does that sound fair?"
『All right. Then it's decided! 』
Kumagawa accepted the suggestion without hesitation.
In the end, if the match somehow ended in a draw, it would just become a normal game of bughouse chess, with the bet rendered meaningless. Nothing gained, nothing lost.
It would've been stupid to turn that down. Still, it didn't change the fact that the tension of the game, the pressure she'd been under, could all end up amounting to nothing. If that happened, all of Kushida's effort would go to waste.
Naturally, she felt frustrated. But even so, it wasn't a bad outcome either.
Now, they had two routes—either win or draw.
Still, this was bughouse chess. The structure of the game made draws highly unlikely. Thanks to piece drops, even a losing position could suddenly shift into a winning one. A draw usually only happened in an unusually long and balanced match.
And those didn't happen often.
—Or so she thought.
.
.
.
.
.
"Kumagawa-kun... I thought you said you hadn't improved at chess. Or was that just another one of your lie...?"
Sakayanagi spoke with a slight strain in her voice, something unusual for her.
The game had already lasted over an hour.
Normally, Sakayanagi wouldn't be bothered by the time, as she could play for hours without issue. Of course, that was under normal circumstances.
But playing against Kumagawa was anything but normal, and had clearly taken a toll on her.
His playstyle was reckless—reckless enough that, by all rights, he should've been checkmated a long time ago. Several times, even. And yet, like a cockroach, he kept slipping away. Whether by sheer coincidence or Kushida's frantic assists, he kept surviving.
His moves were inconsistent and hard to read and because of that facing him felt frustrating, even disgusting at times She thought she could adapt after playing him once, But clearly that wasn't the case.
Kushida and Kamuro were both visibly exhausted—more so than Sakayanagi herself.
At this point, neither of them was even trying to defeat the other. They were simply trading pieces, feeding them to their teammates, and repeating the cycle endlessly.
It had become a war of attrition.
She couldn't help but remember the fortune-teller's words from earlier.
—Soon, you'll get caught in something troublesome. And it'll take a long time and a lot of thinking before you can get out of it. —
So this is what she meant...
She silently cursed her past self. That arrogant, confident self from just one hour ago.
『Sakayanagi-chan, I'm a complete amateur at chess, and there's something I'd like for you to teach me about, so could you teach me a little? 』
"...What is it? I'll answer if it's something I can answer."
『Why is it that, in chess pieces, the queen moves more freely than the king? The king in chess is like the king in shogi, and can only move one space at a time in any direction... But the queen is like a combination of a rook and a bishop, and it can go in any direction as far as you want. Isn't that a little weird? 』
"Isn't it fine? There's no reason why the queen shouldn't be able to move better than the king, right? Maybe it's because chess was created in a culture where 'ladies first' was the norm."
『Right, and I don't see anything wrong with that, but in that case, shouldn't they have made the rules so that you win if you can capture the other player's queen? Because the queen is so much stronger than the king. 』
"You're thinking of something pretty stupid, aren't you."
Sakayanagi Arisu frowned. Kumagawa's odd question clearly rubbed her the wrong way, especially with how straining the game had become for her.
Meanwhile, Kumagawa casually moved one of his pieces, and quite fittingly, it was the queen piece.
He moved the queen on his side, in order to take Sakayanagi's queen. Though he'd taken a powerful piece from his opponent by capturing the queen, it ended up leaving his king practically defenseless, making it one of the worst of the worst possible moves.
『All right. Your turn, Sakayanagi-chan. 』
Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes.
If she could check the king, even once, she could follow up for a quick checkmate. But the position Kumagawa left behind was strange, so she looked again.
There were no legal moves.
Every piece she could move would place Kumagawa's king in check. But the king wasn't in check now, either. He was simply... stuck.
Her hand paused above her rook.
A realization slowly settled in.
"...It's a stalemate," she muttered under her breath.
In chess, if a player has no legal moves but isn't in check, the game is automatically declared a draw. Even in bughouse chess, that rule didn't change. If a win was secured on either board, the entire team won. But if a stalemate occurred on one side, that meant an immediate end in a draw—regardless of the momentum on the other.
It was a reckless move by all means. Especially in bughouse chess, where dropped pieces could change the tide in an instant, players were expected to protect their king above all else. Self-preservation was the baseline.
But, for Kumagawa Misogi, a Minus who didn't care about self-preservation, it wasn't unusual at all.
Sakayanagi closed her eyes for a moment.
"...So you really forced a draw," she said with a quiet sigh, as if the realization exhausted her more than the game itself.
『Splendid, right? What do you think so far? Well? Ladies of the elite? If you can't accept the outcome, if you don't like the result, I don't mind starting over from the beginning.』
Kushida, slumped in her seat from all the mental stress and effort she poured into what now felt like a pointless game, suddenly jolted upright. Without thinking, she grabbed Kumagawa by both shoulders and stared directly into his eyes.
"I don't think you should do that."
『Then I won't. 』
Kumagawa obediently listened to what she said. Though, Kushida didn't think for a second that it was out of respect or consideration. More than likely, It was probably just another one of Kumagawa's characteristic whims.
Sakayanagi let out a soft breath and leaned back slightly in her chair, her fingers gently brushing over the edge of the chessboard.
"You really are a strange one, Kumagawa-kun. You force a draw in a game like this, waste everyone's time, and yet walk away satisfied. Is that what you consider a victory?"
『Victory? Ahahaha. What kind of idiot thinks a draw is a victory? There's a difference between winning and not losing, just like there's a difference between losing and not winning. Just because you don't win doesn't mean you've lost. And just because it's a draw doesn't mean you've won either. 』
"...You really do have an annoying personality, don't you, Kumagawa-kun."
『Shouldn't you know that by now already? Or is it that, just like me, you're also someone who doesn't learn from the past? Well, they do say humanity is dumb enough to never learn from history.』
"...Fufufu, are you calling me an idiot by any chance?"
Though she responded with a soft, ladylike smile, there was nothing gentle in her tone. It wasn't just sarcasm—she was clearly irritated. With her pride, it'd be strange if she didn't take offense to such a veiled insult.
Kamuro glanced sideways at Sakayanagi, but as always, didn't say much. Kushida, still sitting beside Kumagawa, rested her chin on one hand and stared blankly at the board.
『Well, if I'm saying that much, then I'm even more of a deep-sea fish that belongs even less in a water tank like this. To the point where I wouldn't even mind if I were expelled. 』
"..."
Sakayanagi's gaze shifted slightly—this time to Kushida.
"You know, Kushida-san, I don't envy you. Being his teammate must be a full-time job in itself."
"Ahahaha..."
She forced a laugh.
"Well then, I suppose that's enough for today. Masumi-san, let's go back."
Kamuro gave a silent nod, quietly standing up from her seat. She didn't say anything, but her expression said it all—she looked tired in a way that had nothing to do with the game.
Sakayanagi turned her attention to the two still seated across the table brieflt before turning away. Kamuro followed close behind, and the two quietly exited the library.
『So... should we get some ice cream or something, Kushida-chan?』
"...Absolutely not."
『Ahaha, come on. Don't be like that. 』
"...You owe me so much for this."
『I'll write you a thank-you card. A really big one.』
"Because you're feeling confident from that almost-win?"
『What are you talking about? Forcing a draw doesn't mean you win, right? It's like putting out a fire by burning the whole house down. Sure, the fire's gone, but there's nothing left to save. 』
"....Which mean?"
For someone like him, who could lose without fear—
For someone who didn't cling to victory—
Even a draw was just another form of loss.
『It seems I lost once again. 』
『』『』『』『』『』
Heya, Kumagawa-kun. Don't you feel happy seeing your beloved Anshin'in-san again?
Did you sleep early after that tense chess game with that lilac-colored haired girl—what was her name again? Sakayanagi Arisu, right?
Well, for a talented girl like her to last that long against a minus like you, she must be pretty talented.
Also, haven't I been showing up in your dreams a lot lately? But don't get your hopes up, this is just one of the millions of pre-recorded versions of me talking to you.
Consider it me paying a little attention to you, since I adore you so much.
By the way, I heard you met one of my terminals?
Hmm? How do I know that? Well, this is just one of my many pre-recorded messages, right? But if this one just so happens to match your situation perfectly, then I guess I got lucky. Hooray for me
Now then, Uranaiya Urushione.
She's one of the many terminals I left in that world.
And you guessed correctly. If there are that many terminals around, then logically, it means I've been in that world for a while. The reason why? There's no way I would tell you. A delicate lady like me needs her privacy after all.
And about that girl, Uranaiya Urushione, I heard that she's a pretty successful fortune-teller now, even if she's not all that famous. Well, it's not that she can't be. She just doesn't want to.
For your information, most of her fortune-telling is actually accurate. That's thanks to her use of skills. In other words, she's a skill holder.
How can she use skills, you ask?
Hmmm... I suppose I never properly explained that to you.
Even though there's no such thing as "skills" in that world, there is a certain way to bypass that limitation. By the way, just for your information, if I were to give your skill back, you'd be able to use it normally. After all, you're not originally from that world. But of course, there's no way I'd let you use your skill again, let alone hand it back to you. That wouldn't be any fun, would it?
Well, I might make an exception on special occasions... but that's a different story. So there's no need to worry too much.
Now then, where was I? Ah, right.
There's a certain method that allows someone to use a skill in that world.
Although strictly speaking, it's not really bypassing, it's more like letting her use her use it unconsciously. Since humans born in that world can't be "abnormal," they don't have the framework to grasp the idea of skills. Their minds can't comprehend it, and their bodies can't handle the pressure. That's why they can't use them.
Don't give me that look. That's just how the rules of that world work. This kind and adorable Anshin'in-san isn't the heartless one here.
Well anyway, in order to let them use skills, the trick is to convert active skills into passive ones. You know, it's like the difference between electricity and magnetism. Passive and constant. In a way, it's like switching from a particle to a field. The energy's still there, just harder to notice.
And in Uranaiya Urushione's case, I gave her one of my fortune-telling skills—"Occupercent"—for her to use. Don't worry, I have a backup, so it's fine.
It's not exactly a skill for reading the future, that falls more under the category of my magic. This one's falls under a boss-type skill. Think of it as reading the probability of future outcomes and using that data to interpret the past. Confusing? Then just imagine it like checking an NPC's status in a RPG to guess their backstory and what might happen next.
Why did I give it to her, you ask?
Hmm... that's a tough one. Let's say she's a good-for-nothing who only had one real talent. A talent she hated. And this kind and respectable Anshin'in-san might've abuse her use that talent so much... that her hate turned into pure abhorrence.
Actually, she used to have two talents. She was too good at both. But she chose to abandon one. So, I helped her out with one of my own skills, "The Great Lupin." It's a skill that lets you steal talents.
Different from "Lip Service," which trades skills, this one lets you steal talents outright, with or without the person's consent.
In the end, I used "The Great Lupin" to steal the talent she loved most, at her own request of course, and left her with the one she hated.
Hmm? Why would someone do that? Why choose to live with a talent they loathe?
Beats me, can't you figure it out yourself? Well, knowing you... unless someone gives you the answer directly, you'll probably won't arrive at the answer for a while.
But if I had to say, it's probably because she's got a twisted in her own way.
Not as twisted as you, of course. Even after living for 3,402,193,822,311 years, I've never met anyone as twisted as you. You should be proud.
Now then, Kumagawa-kun.
I have some special information just for you. But that will have to wait.
For now, enjoy your chool life. Enjoy your homework...
And enjoy your time,
My cute little Demon King, Kumagawa.
『END』
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