Episode 52: The Beautiful Girl and the Stage
Jouka.
For some reason, she’s a presence that often brings about significant changes in my actions.
She doesn’t seem to be an original character or a regular student carrying something important.
If anything, it’s probably just that she’s being chased by the Kisou Academy discipline committee and Rokuhara because of her excessive streaming activities.
Well, she’s pretty much like any other student at Kisou Academy.
“Solciera’s name isn’t quite fitting right now.”
“Oh, is that Na Takikai? Sorry, I couldn’t help but call out when I saw you.”
“Completely… It’s troublesome that you’ve found out my true identity.”
I let out a theatrical sigh.
“Why are you here?”
“There’s been an increase in abductions around here, so I’m trying to find some clues. Though, I’ve left the evidence hunting to the ma-chan team; I’m currently shopping while blending into the crowd.”
Abductions?
Ah, there was such an event in the original story too.
I think the Professor was looking for someone compatible with a knockoff Demons Gear they made.
Of course, since it’s just a fake, it won’t succeed, and Tourak will beat them up when he finds out.
It’ll be resolved soon, so you can leave it alone.
So, why don’t you go home?
“It would be bad if the Enforcers find you. Just saying, I won’t help you.”
“No worries! The ma-chan team is watching all the floors of this building and its surroundings. If anything happens, it’ll explode.”
Eh, so this building is full of bombs?
Isn’t that dangerous?
…No, Solciera will be fine. Hahaha.
“Yes. Then it’s good.”
Jouka is my best acquaintance who always accompanies me as a mysterious beautiful girl, even though she’s neither an original character nor a student at Factom General Academy.
She’s just an ordinary beautiful girl you’d find anywhere.
An incredibly convenient existence.
“Hmm, why don’t you let someone pick out your costume? Their third-party opinion on Solciera might be useful.”
I see…
Alright, I’ll ask once.
“Hey, could you pick out my clothes?”
“…Eh?”
“I thought it might be nice to have someone else choose for a change.”
Jouka looks surprised.
That’s right, that’s right.
When a mysterious beautiful girl suddenly shows a side of herself as just a girl, it’s captivating.
“Me?”
“Yes. Is it not okay?”
“It’s fine, but am I really alright for this? And… is this private?”
Jouka seems to think I’ve only come to buy clothes.
Hmm…
While femininity is necessary, a mysterious beautiful girl wouldn’t just come to buy clothes.
I don’t want to show that much girlishness.
“The one who suggested it might say it’s bothersome… but aren’t you actually just here to buy clothes?”
That’s true, but even when buying clothes, I want it to have meaning.
“I do want you to pick out my clothes…”
Yeah, but I want the act of choosing clothes to also have meaning.
I want to do the episode where I just buy clothes with everyone from Factom General Academy.
Around episode five of Season 2.
“You digest your own way of life as content too, huh? Moreover, you already have plans until Season 2?”
The Star Reader’s Staff comments with admiration.
Haha, I have plans until Season 5 and there’s even an OVA.
No, what I mean is, this is a pretext for the mysterious beautiful girl to buy clothes.
Hmm… That’s right!
“By the way, there’s going to be a big stage soon. Right here at Kisou Academy.”
“A stage?”
“Yes. A strange stage born from the alignment of stars. It sounds interesting, so I’ve decided to take the stage myself. For such a grand stage, I must look appropriate.”
I speak cryptically.
My gestures and glances are directed meaningfully toward the pointed building outside the window.
Why is that building’s tip so sharp anyway? Is that part of its design?
“…Something is going to happen soon?”
Jouka says this, having fallen for my bait completely.
But later, if it turns out to be a lie, it’ll get awkward.
Maybe I should mention one of the main characters involved in the upcoming event.
“—Professor, by the way, would you know anything about it?”
“Wha—?”
Ah, that worked.
Once they believe it, it’s mine to control.
Let’s keep up the cool mysterious-girl act.
“…Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me the exact date and time. Who else is involved besides Solciera? And how do you plan to kill that guy!?”
“Eh?”
Dangerous, dangerous.
I didn’t expect her to latch onto it this much.
I thought she’d react with something like “Impressive… truly worthy of a mysterious beautiful girl.”
She bites into it hard.
Are you maybe related to the Professor?
“Finally… I can kill him.”
Did you hear that? Kill… Are we talking about killing?
Wait, does ‘killing’ mean staging?
Am I buying costumes for a murder now?
What a crazy beautiful girl.
I don’t mind the Professor dying, but that guy’s soul is special, so he won’t die anyway.
“He can be killed.”
“Eh?”
For the first time in a while, you scared me.
Since you’re absolutely not getting involved with the Professor, please put away that ability.
“So your plan is finally starting, huh?”
“……Yes.”
I said it.
Still, the Professor will be dealt with by Tourak soon enough.
I’ll buy the costume and head home quickly.
If I stay here, I might end up saying more than I should.
“—What should I do?”
Jouka grabs my hand and asks.
So strong… Her eyes are glaring intensely too.
…Oh yeah, I may or may not have mentioned involving Jouka in the plan before.
“You definitely said it.”
Why do I make such careless statements?
Don’t I realize it’ll cause trouble for my future self?
“Answer me. I’ll do anything to kill that guy.”
Somewhere along the line, she dropped the honorifics. She’s showing her true self.
“Don’t rush. You’re ruining your cute face.”
“Don’t hold back—tell me!”
I place my fingertip over Jouka’s mouth and gently silence her.
“Calm down a little.”
Your Honor! I object—I’m a beautiful girl, so I’m innocent!
“Innocent,” the voice declares.
Yay! Let’s go!
“I understand your feelings. That’s why I’ll prepare a stage more suited for you. This is still the prologue. It’s not your turn yet.”
“A stage… for me?”
“Yes. To fulfill your true wish. For that.”
With that, I give her my most heartfelt smile.
Not a flower-like smile,
but a bewitching moon-like, eerie grin.
“Will you trust me?”
“…There’s nothing else I can do. Against Solciera, there’s little I can accomplish on my own. Besides, you’ll destroy Kisou Academy, right?”
“Yes.”
Tourak will!
“Then I trust you.”
She smiles after saying that. Her eyes seem a bit off, but I’ll pretend not to notice.
Somehow, I managed to pull it off as a mysterious beautiful girl. Good job!
“Such words will only bring suffering to yourself, you know?”
No no, Kisou Academy will indeed be destroyed by Tourak, the Professor will be captured, so everything I said is correct and fine.
In the worst case, I can just kidnap the Professor and throw him in front of Jouka.
“You really lack hesitation when you’re not a beautiful girl.”
The Professor mocks beautiful girls.
He’s the worst.
Alright, let’s refocus and have Jouka pick out my costume.
“Then, let’s start again—hm?”
A notification comes through on my Dive Gear.
What bad timing.
Who could it be at a time like this?
…Oh no, it’s Mizuki Senpai.
“This doesn’t feel good at all.”
I excuse myself to Jouka and answer the call from a distance.
From the other side, an urgent voice comes through.
“Kei, where are you right now?”
“Uh… well…”
Eh? Did I get caught?
Did they find out I’m shopping at Kisou Academy?
If they did, that’s terrible impression-wise.
It’s practically betrayal to shop at the evil academy we’re stealing money from.
“Got it. So you’re already at Kisou Academy?”
“……Yes.”
They know my location…!?
Alright, that’s it for me.
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