[Early Morning]
"Finally… survived…"
The feeble voice echoed in the quiet bedroom. Her silky long hair was now especially disheveled, her pretty face still flushed with a lingering red. A mischievous strand of golden hair stuck to the corner of her lips, and along with the fine sheen of sweat covering her fair forehead, silently told of the intensity of the battle.
Thinking back to her past self, how spirited she was, rubbing her fists in eagerness, swearing to wash away past shame.
But all those lofty ambitions, in the face of absolute strength, still ended up as bubbles in the sea, dispersing at a touch.
In stark contrast… even though they both fought until now, Kaito showed no sign of fatigue. His face wasn't red, his breathing was steady, as relaxed as if he had just gone downstairs to grab a package.
He even had the mood to issue a rematch invitation, "Want to go again?"
"No more, no more! I'd rather die than go again!", Yumiko shuddered violently and shook her little head like a rattle-drum.
She had thought that after her physical abilities were enhanced, even if she couldn't wipe the floor with the president, at the very least she should be able to fight him evenly.
'But… what the hell was this completely one-sided situation?'
The president's stamina seemed to have no limit, always capable of crushing any resistance she put up with overwhelming momentum, silencing her every attempt to rise and sing her own song.
'Even for the sake of my own well-being… No, I have to find a sister to help share the burden,' Yumiko recalled the girls she knew in her mind and suddenly realized there were quite a few suitable candidates.
Like Bocchi, like Nijika, and also Kita and Ryou, they all clearly had a good impression of the president, were all pretty and cute girls, and had a good relationship with her. If they could become lifelong sisters from now on, that would be a good thing too.
Among them, Yumiko's top pick was still Bocchi.
After all, her situation with the president, though currently well hidden, could backfire any day.
Rather than living in fear like this, why not just drag Bocchi into the water as well, and from then on be good sisters, sharing one man forever.
Also, she wouldn't have to maintain a subtle distance with the president at school anymore.
But… just thinking of Bocchi's personality made Yumiko feel troubled.
The girl was the ultimate social-phobic. School had been in session this long, and she still hadn't recognized all her classmates. Her habits were like a pill bug, aside from club activities, she most loved lurking in dark and damp corners.
'Such a little Bocchi… even if she likes a boy, she absolutely, absolutely, absolutely won't dare to pursue him actively, right?'
'She'd just shrink pitifully in a corner, watching helplessly as the boy she likes gets snatched away one day by some evil woman falling from the sky, stomp the ground hard, and yet not dare to say a word.'
'…Wait, ain't I that evil woman?'
'Well, never mind then.'
'Ahem, back to the topic.'
'With Bocchi's personality, she'll absolutely never be able to take the initiative.'
Yumiko was troubled, 'So what can I do to help her?'
'Ordinary methods definitely won't work. Even if I drug the president with sleeping tea and sent him to Bocchi's bed, that little social-phobe probably won't dare to do anything out of line.'
'More likely, she'll just tuck the president in nicely, then sleep on the floor herself all night.'
After thinking for a long time without coming up with an effective plan, Yumiko couldn't help but sigh, "So difficult and sleepy…"
"What's difficult?", Kaito glanced at her, not understanding why this girl suddenly looked so heavy-hearted.
"N-Nothing difficult…", Yumiko gave a light cough and sheepishly changed the subject, "I just suddenly thought… us secretly dating like this, keeping it from Bocchi all the time, isn't that kind of… not good?"
"You're only realizing that now?", Kaito also sighed. He had said it from the beginning. If the truth brings pain, lies only make it worse. But Yumiko hadn't listened at all back then.
"Ehehe~", The blonde girl stuck out her little tongue in embarrassment. Then, as if suddenly thinking of something, she spoke seriously, "In that case… as long as you conquer little Bocchi too, then no one gets hurt and world peace is achieved! Wouldn't that be the best outcome?"
Smack!
Kaito couldn't help it anymore and knocked her lightly on the head, "Before you say something like that, at least consider how Bocchi would feel."
"Do we even need to consider that…",.Yumiko muttered softly, "With Bocchi's personality, she probably wouldn't dare refuse a request from an outsider, right?"
'Besides, she probably wants it too.'
"Looks like you've recovered enough to be worrying about this kind of nonsense," Kaito said flatly, "Then you won't mind a quick rematch?"
"W-Wait… ugh… seriously can't take it anymore!"
———
The Miura couple didn't return home until the next day, Sunday afternoon.
The messy room and living room had already been cleaned up by Kaito using a cleaning spell, so there was no worry about leaving behind any kind of smell.
Mrs. Miura originally wanted to persuade him to stay another night, but Kaito politely declined. He still had other matters to take care of.
It was now 4 p.m.
At the train station, Kaito had no intention of heading straight home. Instead, he went to the STARRY Live Hall in Shimokitazawa.
There was still an hour before opening. With no customers around, the hall was naturally empty.
Store manager Seika was sitting at the bar, one leg crossed over the other, tapping away at a laptop keyboard. Every now and then she would take a sip from a box of "Good Kid" brand apple juice beside her. The sound engineer lady was curled up at her workstation, yawning lazily.
However, there was no sign of Nijika, Bocchi, or Ryou.
Hearing footsteps coming up the stairs, the tsundere store manager didn't even look up and habitually said, "It's not opening time yet. Please come back later."
"It's me."
Hearing the familiar voice, Ijichi Seika froze slightly. When she saw who it was, she forgot to swallow the apple juice in her mouth and ended up choking on it.
After hurriedly cleaning the bar she had just spilled on and discreetly putting down her crossed leg to sit more ladylike, she pretended to act calm and said, "Oh, it's you… is there something you need at the store?"
As soon as she spoke, Seika felt a bit of regret, feeling like her wording had come off a bit stiff, as if she wasn't happy to see him.
Kaito didn't seem to mind. Though he had a good relationship with Nijika, he hadn't interacted much with the tsundere store manager.
"I heard about Kita, so I came to check things out… Where are Nijika and the others?"
'So he came to see Nijika, huh,' Store manager Seika felt a little disappointed, but before she could speak, the sound engineer lady beside her grinned and said, "They're upstairs~ Just like you, worrying over little Kita's situation~"
The sound engineer usually didn't talk much, but her voice was very pleasant to hear, 'However, for some reason… she looks oddly familiar?'
After a quick recall in his mind, Kaito asked tentatively, "…Otokagi Alto?"
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y