“Even if you say so.”
Kato Megumi didn't react much after listening to Akiyoshi Eiji's story.
To have someone with no presence become the female lead, it sounded a bit touching at first, but thinking about it carefully, this was Akiyoshi Eiji’s expectation, not hers.
Kato Megumi’s mindset had changed slightly, and Yan Xi had a large part of the responsibility.
Through Yan Xi and Sakurajima Mai, she came into contact with the unnatural side of the world. Now, going back to the ordinary high school club activities felt a bit boring.
Akiyoshi Eiji's argument couldn't move Kato Megumi. In her eyes, it was just a game of make-believe to satisfy his own fantasies.
“Sorry, Akiyoshi-kun.”
Kato Megumi refused, and Akiyoshi Eiji was hurt again.
“Uh… Can you tell me why?” Akiyoshi Eiji said painfully, clutching his chest.
“Reason…”
Would it be too hurtful to say directly that she wasn't interested?
Kato Megumi was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to do so.
“Because your plan is too boring.” Yan Xi interrupted Kato Megumi.
“Pfft!”
Akiyoshi Eiji was only serious about things related to the second dimension. Being mocked by Yan Xi about his carefully prepared plan was even more uncomfortable than he expected.
“Yan Xi-kun, you should say less.” Kato Megumi said in a low voice.
“Well, sorry about that, I just love to tell the truth.” Yan Xi shrugged.
Akiyoshi Eiji clenched his fists and said, “Let’s settle this with a battle of wills!”
Yan Xi: “…”
“How did you come to that conclusion?”
Akiyoshi Eiji snorted and said, “Didn't you say my plan was boring? Then you should come up with an interesting one!”
“Whoever has the more interesting plan gets Kato!”
Kato Megumi: “…Can you stop talking like this?”
Even someone with Kato Megumi’s good temperament was a bit unhappy.
“Don’t worry, Kato, I’ll protect you! Our game!” Akiyoshi Eiji was lost in his own world.
Kato Megumi didn't know what to say.
Akiyoshi Eiji's behavior, according to the popular internet term, would be considered a "shrimp head male"?
“Interesting, then I accept your challenge!”
The line was quite middle-school, Yan Xi said it with great courage, his face flushed.
Kato Megumi leaned in close to Yan Xi and whispered, “Just don't cause trouble.”
Yan Xi said, “How can it be considered causing trouble?”
Kato Megumi gave him a questioning look. Could there be other interpretations?
Yan Xi said, “Because it’s more fun this way.”
Kato Megumi: “…”
The person in front of her was a cunning, mischievous person. Kato Megumi once again realized this.
“It’s settled!”
Akiyoshi Eiji and Yan Xi made a pact as men, although only he thought so.
…
Akiyoshi Eiji rode his bicycle home, facing the setting sun, prompting Yan Xi to say, “What a youthful scene.”
Kato Megumi said, “Akiyoshi-kun must be rushing home to work on a new plan.”
“For the sake of winning over the woman they love, two men fight a duel… Such things were quite common in the Showa era.”
“Haha… Yan Xi-kun, you can make jokes like this too.”
Kato Megumi gave a dry laugh, a reading without any real laughter, which was an unexpected kind of cute.
“Yan Xi-kun, are you really going to compete with Akiyoshi-kun?” Kato Megumi asked.
“If I said yes, which side would you stand on?” Yan Xi asked back.
“It’s too troublesome, so I won't stand on either side.” Kato Megumi was quite zen about it.
Ultimately, they hadn't considered her at all, and Kato Megumi was actually a bit angry.
“Are you angry?”
“No, I’m not.”
“With that expression, you're obviously angry.”
Kato Megumi rarely showed any emotion, so she was very surprised to hear Yan Xi say this.
It was like that feeling of 'This person understands me.'
“Ah, I am a bit angry.” Kato Megumi said frankly.
“Honesty is a virtue. Since that’s the case, let me apologize. Would you like to have dinner with me? My treat.” Yan Xi said.
Treating a girl to dinner, that was something he wouldn't have even dared to dream of in the past… mainly because he didn't have the money.
Suddenly rich, Yan Xi immediately put on the airs of a nouveau riche. It would have been perfect if he had a big gold chain too.
Kato Megumi thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
This time it was Yan Xi’s turn to be surprised. He said, “To be honest, I thought you'd refuse.”
With Kato Megumi’s personality, she should have said ‘Dinner is already prepared at home’ to decline.
“Because Yan Xi-kun said you'd treat me, and I'll take advantage of the deal if there’s one.” Kato Megumi said.
Of course, this wasn't the truth.
Kato Megumi wanted to interact with Yan Xi out of her own volition, to learn about the ‘real’ side of the world.
The truth of the world, it sounded like Pandora's Box, something most people would want to know.
And Kato Megumi was one of the ‘majority’.
Yan Xi smiled and said, “Too bad, I thought it was the influence of my own charm.”
“Yan Xi-kun is quite narcissistic.” Kato Megumi said.
She didn't mean anything by it, she was simply stating a fact.
The two of them went to a nearby family restaurant, and when they first entered, the waiter even recommended a couple's set meal.
It was easy to be misunderstood when high school students of the opposite sex had dinner together after school.
After ordering their food, Kato Megumi asked, “Is Sakurajima-san’s condition improving?”
“Is that all you want to talk about?” Yan Xi nodded and said, “It's already been resolved, thanks to your help.”
“No, I didn't do much.” Kato Megumi hesitated for two seconds, then asked, “Can you tell me about the ‘real’ side of this world?”
The thirst for knowledge is hardwired into human DNA.
The classic saying, “Curiosity killed the cat”, has been passed down through generations.
“Knowing too much is not good for ordinary people.” Yan Xi tried to act cool and mysterious.
“Not possible…” Kato Megumi's tone was tinged with disappointment.
“It's not impossible.”
Kato Megumi asked, “It won’t come with some strange price, will it?”
“Of course not, I rarely do such tasteless things.”
Kato Megumi thought to herself, in her opinion, he had already done enough tasteless things.
But considering that she was asking for a favor, she didn't say it out loud.
“The truth of this world… Let me think about it.”
“Once, the Ten Warriors who saved the world of Digimon, their warrior spirit has now awakened again.”
“???”
Kato Megumi’s head was full of question marks.
This world doesn't have the Digimon series, otherwise, it would have been immediately exposed.
“Okay, that was a joke.”
…………
PS: Today is the first chapter. I’m releasing it at midnight, please support!