Chapter 70: Third Starlight Squad Commander

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Translator: Soafp

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“Thank you for visiting! We look forward to seeing you again.”

“Y-yes… (utterly exhausted).”

“…Can I just take one last look at you?”

“S-sure (please, someone save me).”

“Ah, under the moonlight, you look even more magnificent—”

“Okay, that's enough☆ Bye-bye now!”

“Thank goodness.”

As expected, the demon queen is strong.

Finally escaping the stylish salon, I walk down the street at night with Hiiragi-san.

“I am taking the train, but what about you, Toumachi?”

“I’m taking the train too. I’ll accompany you to the station (formal tone).”

“Why so formal☆”

“I didn't know you were a model…”

“Aren't you working a part-time job too, Toumachi?”

“Yeah… I used to.”

“See, same thing! At the end of the day, we're both making money☆”

“I guess that’s one way to look at it…”

Well, my part-time job (six straight hours of shoving cucumbers into a machine) had its struggles.

But compared to a model’s job… it's like night and day.

“——Hey, Toumachi.”

“Y-yes?”

Suddenly, her tone got serious.

It's rare… I thought to myself.

“Why were you at the club that day?”

“Uh… well, I just felt like going…”

“Why did you suddenly dye your hair rainbow-colored?”

“That, uh… I just felt like it too…”

“You've changed a lot since May, Toumachi☆”

“Yeah, I've had a lot going on.”

Walking down the night street, her casual tone somehow felt like an interrogation.

“I've seen a lot of people, Toumachi☆ But I've never seen anyone quite like you☆”

“…Thanks, I guess…”

“Your transformation isn't something an average person goes through☆”

“…Yeah…”

“It's hard to put into words, but—”

It was like she could see right through me.

“——it's like there are a lot of people inside you, something like that?”

“!?”

I couldn’t find any words to respond.

She obviously doesn't know about all the wild stuff I’ve done.

But she's hit the nail on the head. No doubt about it.

“Just kidding! It's not like you're haunted or something☆”

“…Yeah, I don’t believe in that stuff. I’m a science guy (firm belief).”

“Hahaha! With hair like that, no ghost would dare come near you☆”

“Haha, true.”

“By the way, you haven't eaten yet, have you?”

“Not yet…”

“Let's grab a bite together☆”

“Wait, what?”

“Toumachi, you don't have any family waiting for you at home, right?”

“Y-yes… (terrified).”

[Breaking news] Hiiragi-san is way too scary right now (thread title).

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At 9 p.m., we found ourselves in a family restaurant.

Hiiragi-san and I sat across from each other, handed over our order sheet to the waiter, and checked our phones.

She was messaging me the details of tomorrow's meet-up.

“Toumachi, your profile picture's still the default one! Hilarious☆”

“…Yeah, I guess.”

She laughs at my blank profile picture.

But putting in a random photo would just make me look weird. It's not like I have any pictures with friends (tears).

The default icon is probably something the developers carefully designed, so it must be something amazing. It has to be (denial).

And then there's Hiiragi-san's LIME profile picture… a selfie, of course. So bright (compared to me).

“Here's the meeting spot, and here's the restaurant too!”

“Th-thanks.”

“Why are you so tense?”

“I-I’ve never been to a group date before…”

I never thought I'd ever attend something like that in my entire life.

There's no way I could mentally prepare for this (introvert alert).

“——Well, all the people coming tomorrow are high school students, so☆ Nobody’s used to this!”

“Oh, that's a relief.”

“Though they're a bit eccentric☆ Want to see some photos?”

“…Sure, why not.”

Her phone, cutely decorated, lights up, and on the screen—

“Huh?”

Wait, am I seeing this right?

Their clothes say things like “Supreme Ruler” or “Once-in-a-Lifetime Chance” and “Swastika Ultimate Swastika.”

All of them are facing backwards, so I can only see their backs. Those long coats… are those school uniforms?

They're all heavily modified. Is that wire inside? The structure is just wrong.

And the color—everything is just off. Pure white, like a blank canvas.

Am I a joke machine or something (ultimate evolution)?

“…Yeah, I get it now (understanding).”

“Full-on delinquents, huh☆”

“No, no, no.”

“Don't worry, that was their middle school graduation photo☆ They're all fine now! I made sure to ‘exclude’ anyone who's still a bit too dangerous.”

“…(mind completely blank).”

“Oh, and the girls too—”

Not good. I don't want to see this.

But my eyes… they’re moving on their own—

[This life dedicated to my friends, once in a lifetime.]

[No regrets on the path I've chosen.]

[The last glorious moment of the Reiwa era, tonight we party.]

Wow, those are some great poems.

It'd be nice if they wrote them on paper instead of their uniforms (despair).

Wait, hold on a second.

“Where's Yumesaki-san?”

“Huh, Ichigo? She's right here☆”

“Wait, what…? Oh (I found her).”

“Smack in the middle☆”

[Third-generation Star Flash Gang, Leader]

[Ichigo Yumesaki]

There she was—wearing a bright red uniform, slightly shorter than she is now.

Without a doubt, that's Yumesaki-san. Only her back is visible, but still.

Her presence is overwhelming.

She's about a hundred times more masculine than I am—what is this?

Was I supposed to be the girl here…? (fainting).

“This group date is with some of Ichigo's old team☆ Ichigo and I are the organizers!”

“…(still can't process this).”

“Hahaha, sorry! I am honestly having a hard time too. But having you there, Toumachi, makes me feel a lot better☆”

“Wait, really?”

“But I won't push you☆ If you really don't want to, you don't have to—”

“I'll do my best (simple-minded response).”

If someone says something like that, right?

Plus, I'm the one who agreed in the first place.

I can't just bail on this (even though I really want to).

“Yay☆”

“Haha… (worried).”

“It'll be fine, as long as you don't get too popular, Toumachi!”

“…Then I think I'll be safe (relieved).”

“Though if you act all wimpy, you might get some pushback.”

Pushback (as in a punch or a kick), right?

…I thought about wearing a beanie or something, but let's not. If they notice, I'm screwed.

Yeah, there's no way someone like me would attract any attention from these people.

But just in case… just in case.

What if—by some impossible chance—a girl shows even a little bit of interest in me?

And what if one of the delinquent guys there happens to like that girl too?

I… I'm going to die, aren't I…?

“……”

“Well, we will just sit back and watch from above☆”

“Y-yeah…”

Anyway.

I need to hold an emergency strategy meeting when I get home (desperate).