Chapter 24: Re-encounter.

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Translated and Edited by: luccayn.

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you're close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it's cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one's older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.

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On the train heading towards the coast, I was idly reading a paperback novel. I wasn’t particularly focused. In fact, just a moment ago, I had been gazing at the surface of the lake the train passed by. My real intention was to come up with material to persuade Shizuku Kumoi.

However, I was curious about who U.N. Owen really was. Thinking and reading a mystery novel don’t go well together.

“The culprit is this person. They’re actually alive, you know.”

As the words were spoken, a finger pointing to a name in the text appeared in my field of vision. It was such a sudden event that I hadn’t noticed that person’s presence at all.

“…W-What!?”

“Hey, Shinji. Reading Christie? That’s quite the mainstream hobby, heh. Are you aspiring to be a detective after your recent sleuthing?”

Shocked by a spoiler from an impossible angle, I couldn’t help but shout and look up.

There, with a mischievous expression and slightly swaying, soft hair—

“Haha, what is it?”

Her hair wasn’t swaying as it usually did.

She wore a loosely permed chestnut hair, in a short cut that would fit both men and women, but wearing a sailor uniform. She stood there with an annoyingly smug smile.

“Don’t mess with me. Even if it’s something I’m reading for free, getting spoiled is irritating.”

“Shinji, reading a mystery novel in public and saying ‘don’t spoil it’ is like throwing a living person into a horde of zombies and telling them not to eat.”

“Does that mean you’re a mindless zombie?”

“Hehehe. Besides, you were the one who asked me to tell you about an unknown book. You should be grateful I told you.”

“…Damn, you’re not cute at all. I don’t even feel like reading anymore, it’s boring.”

Saying this, I took a good look at her. Then I noticed her thin neck and slightly healthier-looking skin, and eventually, the clear sense of strangeness that wasn’t just due to her hairstyle.

“You’ve grown taller.”

“Yeah. I also cut my hair really short. Cute, right?”

“Yeah, it suits you. Not bad.”

“Hehe. But no matter how much you regret it, I'll never go out with you. Die!”

Her childishly fun voice would evoke indescribable feelings in the heart of any guy. But saying anything here would just play into Saori’s hands, so I decided to quietly address the current issue.

…Well, with this much change, I can’t call her by her old nickname anymore.

“By the way, why did you spoil the book? Where did you come from?”

“I just happened to be on the same train, and of course, the spoiler was to vent my frustration after getting dumped. Rather, it’s Shinji, riding the train towards the coast, who seems more suspicious.”

That being her reason, I couldn’t say anything. Otherwise, I’d be the bad guy. Ugh, her and her unbeatable shield. She’s too damn strong, I tell you.

“Are you satisfied now?”

“Yeah, for now, I’m satisfied. No one understands better than I do how much you want to know the truth, Shinji.”

“Is that so?”

“Ahaha, but revenge really feels so good! I want to get even more revenge!”

“That’s dangerous.”

“I’ve decided! I’m going to keep getting revenge on you, Shinji! Be prepared to suffer from every possible angle!”

Saori’s triumphant laughter was like that of a villain plotting world domination. I wonder what the other passengers, who were watching us, were thinking. Hopefully, they’ll take the truth as it is.

“Heh, I got it. I’ll accept your challenge, Saori.”

If a nameless drowned corpse is found in the lakes along the line, it's probably me. After I added that, she sat next to me with a bright smile.

“Ahem. Well then, let’s start over. It’s been a while, Shinji.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while, Saori.”

“You seem busy. Who are you helping today?”

“That’s a secret.”

Of course, I can’t mention the name of the guy I completely tore down.

“Why not? Are you embarrassed because you decided not to help any more girls because of me?”

“You’re half right, but not quite. Besides, I don’t want to reveal information about my clients.”

“Then I’ll guess. It’s Hareta Kou, right? And the client is probably Michiru, isn’t it?”

No. She must have just guessed a name she knew. No need to be scared. It's not time to panic yet. It was just a lucky guess. Yes, a lucky guess!

“If I hadn’t started the class trial, it would’ve been a trouble that you’d definitely get involved in, Shinji. So, you couldn’t just overlook it, could you? You think Hareta Kou’s suffering is your own sin for not being able to save Michiru properly, don’t you?”

Man, I give up. Seriously, I give up.

“My hands are up. You’re seriously amazing.”

“Hehe, even if you praise me, I won’t forgive you. Idiot!”

Saori Yukihara.

My first love and the first girl I ever respected. She liked me so much that she ended up warping my personality. She’s the one who saw right through me with her weird, occult-like insight, a crazy genius with cheat-like abilities.

And she was once someone I thought I could never defeat.

“I don’t regret it, ’cause it’s not my fault.”

“Ah, you’re so annoying!”

“Get mad all you want, idiot.”

“Too bad, I go to Shu’un Academy. Shinji is the real idiot.”

“Guh…”

Earlier, I was mocked for my school’s average score, so now I can’t fight back based on personal ability. This hole I’ve dug myself into is so deep that it’s almost funny.

While we were bickering, the train arrived at the station near the river’s mouth, and I decided to slip away silently to avoid further defeat.

I really want to crawl into a hole, but it’s not like I can fit into this grave I’ve dug myself.

“Nope, it sounds interesting, so I’m coming too.”

“Don’t come. You’ll just cause more problems.”

“Do you really think an introvert like you can just walk up to a group of extroverts and get them to listen?”

“I have my ways.”

“You’re going to intimidate them to make sure they don’t ignore you, right? But that type is riskier than you think, especially if Michiru is involved. There will be people around, and they’ll play the victim. It will get messy.”

…

“R-Really?”

“Of course! Shizuku and you are a terrible match. But if I’m there, maybe I can at least minimize the damage.”

“I see. By the way, how do you know about the girl I’m going to talk to?”

“Hehe, that’s a secret!”

Seriously, she’s such a troublesome woman.

No point in overthinking it. Maybe she had some business at our school and happened to be around, coincidentally spying on us. Honestly, I could look up her travel history on her commuter pass, but it’s not worth that much trouble.

At this point, nothing Saori says can surprise me anymore.

“Fine, do as you like.”

“Do as I like?”

“Sorry, I misspoke. I guess I’ll just have to take you along. You should be grateful, okay?”

“That’s wrong! Why are you acting so superior, Shinji!?”

Still, I must be the number one guy she never wanted to see again. Whether she’s made peace with it or just moved on, Saori is definitely moving forward.

I hate to admit it, but if I had met her now, the way she is today, I probably would have still loved her.

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