[Jouno Tsukami: … Why did you retell it in third person?]
[Saruyama Kenichi: It's simple, I just love third person stories.]
[Jouno Tsukami: Oh…]
Dang, is this guy for real? Such a weird hobby, but not that I complain though…
I frowned at Saruyama's message, thinking a bit more about what he just told us. The most obvious one, of course, is that Saruyama has screwed up the foundation.
Specifically, the "confession" of our boy Rito, which somehow makes Lala fall in love with him despite the fact that he didn't even aim for that in the first place.
Seriously, the first time I read that, I had a totally dumbfounded look on my face, wondering whether this is the real thing or something else. Turns out, the whole thing is legit, which honestly makes me hooked on the manga…
Oh well, I already screwed it all up, why even bother paying concern over that?
[Kasumi Miwa: Interesting story, Saruyama…]
[Aya Koda: Eh? Kasumi-san also here?]
[Kasumi Miwa: I was here the whole time.]
Lying in her room at the palace, Kasumi shrugged looking at the girl's response.
Like what she said, she has been there from the beginning to the end, but she didn't bother to interrupt Saruyaassed ma's story in the chat, something that she feels pretty interested in.
It's pretty embarrassing for her to say, but she didn't have much of a hobby to begin with. Most of her time is spent on dealing with curses and assignments, and the remaining time is spent on training with her technique.
She did have some fondness over the manga on display at countless bookstores, but had to turn away from them for her two brothers, a mission that she can't bear to slack off.
To be honest, although she did have doubts on the whole chat thing, she did start to have some favour over everyone as the story unfolds before her eyes.
But still, that's all she can do right now, just lying there looking at everyone having their time with each other while she lives her boring life…
She never hated her life actually, since both her brothers are so precious to her, but she did sometimes ask herself the question whether she can enjoy herself or not.
Let out a sorrow sigh, she once again switched her attention to the chat.
[Kasumi Miwa: So what happened after that? Did she ask you for an explanation or what?]
[Saruyama Kenichi: Fufufu, you see, Kasumi-san—]
"—What did you do?"
Lala approached the man and questioned him with a question look, but he just shrugged casually with her, hiding the device from both of them per Zastin request.
"Nothing much, just ask him to extend your stay on Earth."
"Really…?"
But despite my answer, Lala still seems doubtful about the whole thing. Based on her look and Zastin's hostile actions just now, I would say that he's some strict guardian of Lala…
"But how can he accept that quickly? Normally he would try to beg me at this point…"
… Or not. Seems like the Zastin image in Lala is that low.
"Anyway, if what you say is true, then thank you."
Lala then suddenly bowed her head with gratitude, one that earned a raised eyebrow from him. But the moment is short-lived, as she bounced at him with glittering eyes.
"But still ~ how can you actually convince him? And what's with being my "bodyguard" you talking about ~?"
"Well, I just asked Zastin that maybe, leaving the supervision on me, someone who's more familiar on the planet and have a close look on you while he look for other that might approached and waiting for your response, without being forced or anything from his team, could hypothetically a better ideas than what it is…"
"Oh…"
Lala then fell into deep thought, thinking more about his response. He, on the other hand, looks back at the surroundings that have been destroyed by Zastin blade, letting out a sight.
He did let out a crucial part in his response over Lala, is that if the whole chasing thing keeps happening, they might accidentally kill someone which could lead to further escalations than her "childish tantrum" matter.
Whatever, now that things have fallen into my hand, might as well be balled with it, he shrugged.
"So what will you do from now on, you pervert?"
Yui asked me with a dissatisfied voice, and he then realized the reason for her being with him in the first place and quietly looked for his goods.
"Don't even try, here."
Like she can read his mind, Yui shows him the bag that he bought, containing all the goods that he just got from Roy, and his face immediately pale in horror.
Although he knows that he is just some perverted friend of Rito, the fodder that exists solely for his harem to thrive upon, his hobbies are still real to him. He can't just suddenly burn all his collection, or try to sell them back to Roy or some online auction.
And worst of all, he can't just give them up to Yui, especially Kotegawa Yui… And that's why…
He slowly walked up to Yui, who started to get uncomfortable with his actions, and then stood face-to-face with her.
He swiftly makes up his decision, one that makes even Yui surprised in an instant!
"Please give it back to me!!! Please, Kotegawa-san!!"
He lay down on the ground, begging Yui with all heart. Yui look down on me with a totally dumbfounded look, while Lala just giggling right behind him—
[Saruyama Kenichi: —And he failed horribly at getting back the stuff, everyone then went back to their house. The end.]
[Kasumi Miwa: Wow…]
[Aya Koda: That's…]
[Jouno Tsukami: … Pathetic. Truly below than scum.]
I nodded in agreement with Aya's opinion, now sitting on the chair with a conflicted look.
To even lower himself on the foot of a girl and be pleased with hentai books, he truly has no dignity left in his guts…
[Saruyama Kenichi: Oh come on ~ It's that bad?]
[Kasumi Miwa, Aya Koda: Y-E-S!]
Both Miwa and Aya post their message at the same time, which I found hilarious but not Saruyama, the man in question, for sure.
[Saruyama Kenichi: Aw man…]
On the other side, Saruyama frowned deep with the response, rethinking about his behavior just now.
His actions are quite unforgivable, that's for sure. But still, is it even that bad?
… Nah, let's skip the thinking for now, he glinted, regretting the whole events back are pointless. It's not like he can just magically turn back time… right?
That's what he originally thought about aliens and other worlds, up until he got to meet Lala and have this chat group. So naturally, magic should've existed in his world in some form, right?
Well, not like he ever wanted that to happen though. His life has already flipped upside-down for now, and he doesn't need another wacky thing to happen to him…
"Talk about that…"
He looks down at the device that was given to him by Zastin, now resides on the bed, and takes it to the middle of the room. After some simple actions, which Zastin has told him about, the crystal on the device suddenly glows up and projects a screen, showing a familiar figure.
[Saruyama-san, good to see you again.]
"Good to see you too, Zastin-san."
Saruyama awkwardly waved at the projection of Zastin, his face stiffening a bit with his calm demeanor unlike thirty minutes earlier.
[So you got the drill right? To watch over Lala everyday and report it back to me, while convincing her to return to Deviluke.]
"Yeah…"
He growled deep in his thought, not angry nor annoying, it was just… he just wanted to growl, that's all.
[… I won't force you on this mission, Saruyama-san, since this is entirely your request. You can still back out right now, and we wouldn't mind a bit.]
Seeing Saruyama's reaction, or based on him being silent for quite long, Zastin squinted his eyes and spoke back at him with an apology voice.
"No… It's nothing Zastin-san. I will carry on with the duty!"
Saruyama immediately salutes at Zastin, and that man falls silent, probably confused with his sudden change in his demeanor.
[If you say so, then we won't press it further… We're looking forward to tomorrow's report, Saruyama-san.]
And with that, the whole screen faded away, leaving Saruyama once again alone in his room.
"Hahhhhhhhh, it's so annoying ~"
After a while, he let himself fall down on the bed, growling to the ceiling with a frustrated look, despite him not actually being angry at anything.
Hopefully tomorrow will be better, he thought to himself…