“Kiraboshi-san. About the matter the other day, how is it?”
“I’m sorry, Shirogasaki-san. I still can’t accept the offer you gave me.”
The day after Kageichi finished cleaning the Dungeon, in the school library.
It was late April, and expectations for Golden Week were beginning to rise, Kiraboshi faced Shirogasaki with a deliberately displeased look on her face.
Two weeks since Kamase Aneki’s rampage. The noisy classroom is gradually returning to peace.
Kiraboshi has been safely recognized as a “poor victim” and is being treated more like a boil than being worried about by those around her, but she thinks that’s fine.
She was never good at interacting with others in the first place.
Now, her Dungeon job is fun. She even feels like this is the most fulfilling period of her life.
Her mother heard about the bullying and, perhaps out of sympathy, doesn’t interfere with her Dungeon job. But—
“I heard about Kiraboshi-san being bullied from the teacher. I think it’s very unfortunate, and I’ve experienced it myself, so I think I understand the pain. …But I also think it’s not good to stay like this.”
“Even if you say it’s not good… I don’t think they want to be friends, and I don’t want to either.”
“Is that really the case? Aneki-san isn’t coming to school, so I don’t know, but Imoutoya-san is here normally. How about talking to her once?”
Shirogasaki smiles like a flower.
…It’s been like this the whole time.
She probably believes that people can become friends by talking to each other. She doesn’t even notice that her classmates are subtly trying to avoid Kiraboshi and Imoutoya from meeting in class group assignments.
“Shirogasaki-san. Can you please just leave me alone?”
“No. If I leave you alone, you’ll stay the same forever, right? The wounds will only get deeper. …Are you going to spend the whole year like this? Besides, we can’t have misunderstandings deepen and turn into assault incidents like with Aneki-san.”
“Assault incident… But they were the ones who started it. I don’t know if Shirogasaki-san has heard, but I was almost killed by Aneki-san and Imoutoya-san.”
“…I heard a little about that when you were talking about the bullying…”
That dreadful incident still remains in Kiraboshi’s heart.
It was the trigger that turned her into a demon, the source of the impulse that makes her unable to forgive the Kamase Sisters.
But it’s no use venting it on her.
First, I have to endure it…
“Isn’t it possible that Kiraboshi-san is mistaken?”
“…Huh???”
“I don’t think even Aneki-san and Imoutoya-san would do something like trying to kill someone. We’re normal high school students, right? I was bullied a little in middle school, but it didn’t go as far as being killed… It’s not realistic, right?”
“…………”
“I understand that Kiraboshi-san was bullied. But to tell lies as if they were the truth is just paranoia. I think you should keep that kind of thing to the internet. Okay? There’s still time now…”
–This woman.
Am I seriously going to have to use her as a punching bag…?
Just as she was about to endure it, murderous intent overflowed, and she hurriedly bit her lip.
If she hits her here, she’ll end up like Aneki.
Moreover, Shirogasaki is not just a student. She’s a wealthy person at a level that ordinary citizens can’t touch.
She has a strong social background, and according to rumors, the Shirogasaki family has connections in the political world.
If she lays a hand on her easily, she’ll definitely be caught.
She’s the opposite of an invincible person in a way.
An oblivious, overwhelming powerhouse–
“Ugh…”
This girl. She’s stupid, but is she actually super strong…?
As Kiraboshi reconsiders her perception, she claps her hands as if she’s just had a flash of inspiration.
“That’s right, Kiraboshi-san. I was thinking about this the other day… Would you like to go to the Dungeon with me again?”
“…Again?”
“Yes. But not to a dangerous place like the other day, but to a place where anyone can enter, like the general route of the Rank S Dungeon ‘Nagi Plains’. …I’m just forcing my opinions on Kiraboshi-san, and I myself don’t know much about Dungeons yet. I also want to learn about that.”
The lower levels of the Rank S Dungeon “Nagi Plains” are open to the general public as a Dungeon spot.
The monsters on the first floor are weak, and it’s popular as a leisure facility where you can experience the Dungeon, and Kiraboshi and the others also use it for physical education classes.
That’s why it’s hard to refuse.
Ah. I feel frustrated.
An existence that isn’t clear whether it’s an enemy or an ally is annoying.
It would be quicker to just kill them all.
…But it’s also unadultlike not to respond to the other party’s proposal at all… If she falls out with her, there’s a possibility that strange bad rumors will spread in the classroom.
If Kiraboshi, who has gained the position of victim in the class, makes the first move, the game will turn over again like Othello–
“…I understand. Well, if it’s just Nagi Plains.”
“Wow, thank you! I’ll get ready!”
Shirogasaki jumps up with joy and is scolded to be quiet in the library.
Looking at her still happy, I can’t help but be amazed at how carefree she is.
…Well, I can probably have superficial friendships, and there are countless girls like this in the world who are mistaken.
Just going to the Dungeon with a friend.
Just a little bit of endurance on my part.
I’m not going to make up, Kiraboshi thought, hardening her mental guard, and reluctantly agreed–
The day after tomorrow, after school.
At the entrance Gate of the Rank S Dungeon “Nagi Plains” in front of the station, Kiraboshi stopped in her tracks in front of Shirogasaki, whom she had arranged to meet.
…That’s not happening.
That’s impossible, Shirogasaki-san.
Were you even listening to me?
She immediately turned on her heel, but Shirogasaki grabbed her arm.
Feeling heat all over her body, she glared at her–and barked at the woman standing diagonally behind her.
“…Why is Imoutoya-san with you?”
“I’m sorry. But when I told her, she said she wanted to apologize too, so she asked me to let her come with us…!”
“Then you should have contacted me in advance!?”
“Kiraboshi-san, you wouldn’t have come if I had contacted you, right? I don’t think we can overcome each other’s walls without an opportunity like this. Now is the time to take a step forward!”
That’s not the problem.
This girl, this woman, really doesn’t understand anything–
“Kiraboshi-san. Imoutoya-san has come to apologize with courage. But if you run away here… Kiraboshi-san, you’ll just become a coward, you know?”
“–!”
How cowardly, her whole body heats up.
If Kiraboshi were to go home in this situation while being told such a thing.
…Wouldn’t she be thought of as a coward who ran away in front of Imoutoya–!
“I understand. I was being unadultlike.”
Don’t mess with me. Don’t mess with me.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Remember this–Kiraboshi thought, with a Hannya-like expression on her face, and faced Shirogasaki, revving up the chainsaw in her heart with a VROOOOOOM, and reluctantly followed her.
Ugh, this is really frustrating…!