Episode 15: What a narrow-minded person~!
Kazuma, who had been engaged in a fierce struggle with the National Defense Force late into the night, was sleep-deprived.
“Fwaaah… sleepy…”
Kazuma, stifling a yawn, had tears in his eyes. And no wonder. Last night, fueled by late-night energy, he had repeatedly engaged in bizarre antics. Granted, it was harassment directed at the National Defense Force, but he had gone too far.
Upon reaching the classroom, Kazuma went to his seat and slumped over his desk, intending to sleep until morning homeroom began. However, an unexpected assassin appeared.
“Good morning, Kazuma-san.”
Kazuma, slightly grumpy from having his sleep disturbed, lifted his heavy head and looked up at Momoko, his hated enemy.
“Morning… Shinonome-san.”
“Oh my, what’s wrong? You look very sleepy. Didn’t you sleep well last night?”
“Nah, haha. A lot happened yesterday.”
Though sleepy, he couldn’t just ignore her, so Kazuma battled Momoko while also fighting off his drowsiness.
(Damn it, I’m sleepy, so I wish she wouldn’t talk to me…)
(Hmph. It seems he couldn’t sleep properly last night. Good. I’m glad I turned off the monitor early.)
(Seriously, read the room! When someone’s slumped over their desk, it’s a clear sign they don’t want to be bothered!)
(This is payback for usual. Do you understand now? How I feel!)
(What a narrow-minded person~!)
(I’m not saying this out loud, am I? Why is he retorting so accurately to my complaints…?)
Kazuma didn’t have Mind Reading. Of course, he hadn’t learned it in the other world either. What Kazuma had learned was only countermeasures against Mind Reading. In other words, the fact that their conversation was making sense was pure coincidence. In a way, you could even call it a miracle.
“What kind of ‘lot’ happened?”
“There was an interesting video I saw on social media, so I was watching that.”
(So that’s why he was doing such strange things…)
(Damn it… I should have just gone to sleep quickly.)
(If you’re going to regret it, you shouldn’t have done it in the first place…)
(I have a mission…!)
He delivered the line with such conviction, as if clenching his molars, but Momoko had learned in a short time that he probably had no such thing.
(Yes, yes. His usual delusions.)
(Daily effort is essential to save the world, you know!)
He wasn’t entirely wrong. Kazuma had indeed strived daily to save the other world. In that sense, it might be true, but since Kazuma had no need to save this world, it was perhaps still meaningless.
“What kind of video was it?”
“Hmm, this one.”
Asked by Momoko what kind of video it was, Kazuma operated his device and showed her an account on social media that showcased a mysterious health regimen.
“What is this?”
“It’s a health regimen where you get stronger by burning your own life force, not by using Gifts.”
“A health regimen, not training or discipline…?”
“Yeah. There are a few others, but I watch them because they’re interesting.”
“I-I see… You probably shouldn’t get too into it.”
“Ahahaha~. Well, I’ll keep it in moderation~.”
After that, Momoko stopped talking to Kazuma and devoted herself to reading. Seeing Momoko start to read, Kazuma tried to resume sleeping, but just then, the usual gang arrived. Now unable to sleep, Kazuma continued to battle his drowsiness until morning homeroom, silently cursing Momoko.
◇◇◇◇
In the blink of an eye, it was after school. With no particular announcements today, Tanaka finished homeroom and quickly returned to the Faculty Office, while students heading home made their way to club activities or committee meetings.
As for Kazuma, just as he was about to go hang out with the usual group, a girl from the Combat Course peeked her head through the classroom door.
“Yahoo, Kazuma.”
Called out, Kazuma turned to see Kaede waving her hand cheerfully. Surprised by the unusual visitor, Kazuma approached her.
“This is rare. Makimura-san coming over here, what’s up?”
“I don’t have club activities today, so want to hang out?”
“Seriously? Wait a sec. I’ll go ask my friends.”
So, Kazuma asked Akatsuki and the others if they wanted to hang out together.
“Umm… Is it just Makimura-san?”
Curious, Akatsuki asked Kazuma, but he didn’t know either.
“Sorry. I’ll go ask.”
“Yeah.”
Kazuma returned to Kaede for a moment and asked if anyone else was coming.
“Others? Yeah. Two of my friends are coming, so including me, there’ll be three of us.”
“By any chance, are they people I know?”
“Hmm. Have we been in training together?”
“No, even if you ask me, I wouldn’t know.”
“For now, why don’t you just meet them?”
“Guess I’ll do that~.”
It was an incredibly casual atmosphere, but for the others, it was likely quite trying. They were practically strangers, so suddenly hanging out would likely be tough.
However, unlike Kazuma, Akatsuki and the others had been training for three months longer, so they might at least know their faces. Of course, if they had communicated properly, they should have reached an acquaintance level.
“I asked, and they said it’s three people on their side, including Makimura-san.”
“Three, huh~. There are four of us.”
“Kosuke. This isn’t a group date, you know?”
“I know that. But it’s true that our options are reduced, right?”
“Well, I guess so?”
Since it’s an odd number, games requiring team divisions would be difficult. That said, being Combat Course girls, they were stronger than the Support Course boys. So, even with a slight numerical disadvantage, it wouldn’t be a problem.
“So, what do you want to do? I’m fine either way, but what about you, Akatsuki and Kosuke?”
“Yeah, I’m fine either way too.”
“I’m okay with it!”
Taichi and Akatsuki seemed fine either way and didn’t particularly complain.
Kosuke was all for it if he could hang out with girls. However, even Kosuke had types of girls he wasn’t good with. He disliked girls who were violent or foul-mouthed.
Then again, most people, whether male or female, would probably dislike such individuals. It’s normal for living beings to reject stressful companions.
“Anyway, they said it’s okay.”
“Mm, roger. Well then, I’ll go call my friends, so can you wait a bit?”
“Wouldn’t a call or something be fine?”
“Ah, right.”
“Could it be, you forgot?”
“I don’t use it much.”
“I see. And while I’m at it, have you also forgotten that you exchanged contact info with me?”
“Hm? I remember that. But I thought it might be faster to tell you directly.”
“No, a call is faster…”
“Because I wanted to see you, Kazuma.”
“At least put a little more emotion into your voice. It’s super monotonous. Are you an audio guide or something?”
“Do I sound like one?”
“Umm… Kinda.”
“Yay.”
Kaede flashed a peace sign at Kazuma, but her expression remained stiff. It was almost like a Noh mask. Not scary, but unsettling.
“Well then, I’ll go get my friends.”
“Got it. I’ll wait here.”
Kaede returned to the Combat Course classroom to call her friends, and Kazuma told Akatsuki and the others that Kaede was going to get her friends.
Momoko, who had been watching this, wondered what to do. If she was to monitor Kazuma, she probably should go with them, but that would surely arouse suspicion. It would be strange for a mere classmate, not even a friend, to suddenly say she wanted to hang out with them.
(What should I do… It just seems like they’re going to hang out, so it probably wouldn’t be a problem if I don’t go…)
Deciding it couldn’t be helped, Momoko sighed and headed off to make her usual report.
Kazuma, watching her leave, wondered if it was okay for her to neglect her surveillance duty, but decided that if Momoko chose to do so, it must be fine, and decided to leave it be.
Besides, he wouldn’t be the one getting scolded, and it had nothing to do with him.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Then, a short while later, Kaede arrived with two friends in tow. Kazuma didn’t know the two behind her. Kazuma felt a slight stir of anticipation for these new encounters.
◇◇◇◇
Momoko, who had gone to make her usual report, informed them that Kazuma had gone out to hang out.
“Hmm… It’s a bit of a problem, but it should be alright.”
“That’s right. Getting too close unnecessarily would arouse suspicion, so that kind of distance is probably fine, don’t you think?”
Hearing that from the two of them, Momoko felt a little relieved. She had been wondering what she would do if they yelled at her for not following him. Now she could rest easy.
She would probably sleep soundly tonight as well. Provided, of course, that Kazuma behaved himself tonight.