Chapter 86: "I Said Keima-kun and I Were Just Studying Together, Do You Believe Me?"
Kushida Kikyo sat leaning against the table, taking small sips of tea, her gaze out of focus as she stared at a point in the air.
The churning resentment and anger hadn't vanished, but in such a bizarrely safe environment, accompanied by that freak who said such strange things...
...Her heart truly didn't feel as stifled.
'Why exactly is this?'
She clearly should have detested Katsuragi Keima, especially since he had seen things regarding her true self. For someone like that, Kikyo's only thought should have been to get them out of her life and out of her sight. Yet, for some reason, after hearing Keima's string of words, she found herself wavering.
Especially when Keima had said earlier—
"I care about you very much."
Why would someone who usually only pays attention to games say something like that? Kikyo didn't understand what was happening to herself.
She would usually maintain an ambiguous distance with boys on purpose, infatuating them so they would agree to her various requests. But somehow, she sensed something different coming from Keima.
'What am I thinking!
This guy is just a total freak!'
Kikyo turned her head to look over, only to find that Keima had already finished wiping his hands and was watching her.
"Kikyo, is there anything else you want to say?" Keima's expression was very serious, as if he truly wanted to confirm her answer.
"I... don't have anything else to say for now."
"Good. Then I'm ready to begin."
"Begin what?"
"Although activating this state reduces one's lifespan, if it's only four consoles, it shouldn't be a big problem."
"Reduces... lifespan?" Kikyo blinked in confusion.
The moment she tried to process his words, he moved. Two home consoles, two handhelds— Keima actually started playing four games simultaneously.
????
Kikyo watched the scene before her with an expression of shock. She wasn't just confused by Keima's nonsensical behavior; she was even more surprised by his ability. His fingers were moving so fast they left afterimages. Was playing four games at once truly something a human could do? It wasn't just the manipulation of the controls; it required dividing attention across four screens at once.
'Is this guy even human?'
...I should probably leave.
Just as Kikyo was about to depart, she heard a thump-thump-thump sound. A knock sounded at the door again—softer than Kikyo's earlier knock, even carrying a timid, tentative touch.
'Someone's coming this late? Is it Elsie?'
Kikyo guessed the visitor's identity; after all, Elsie was Keima's sister, so a late-night visit made sense. She had no idea that Elsie had been right there the whole time, holding her breath and watching them.
The momentary relaxation on Kikyo's face receded like a tide, replaced by her perfect, sweet mask. She opened the door to find Sakura Airi standing there, her hands tightly clutching a cloth bag with a bear pattern, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes darting around.
The moment Airi saw the door open, she immediately lowered her head in embarrassment.
"Kei... Keima-kun... good evening. Th-that..." Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, trembling noticeably. "I... I tried to bake some cookies. I don't know how they taste... I thought you, you might be hungry at night... so, so..."
She explained incoherently, thrusting the bag forward with both hands, her arms stiff from nervousness. lzcxK Airi had watched many videos previously, including ones about giving various snacks to the person one likes. Especially after seeing Horikita Suzune bring Keima a home-cooked meal at lunch, Airi was convinced that Horikita was her rival. Driven by the thought that she couldn't lose to Horikita, Airi spent the entire evening researching how to make things. After several hours of clumsy effort, she finally produced a small bag of cookies.
"Airi-san?" Kikyo expressed some surprise as to why Sakura Airi would come to this place.
".......!!!"
At that moment, Airi felt her brain go "buzz," as if struck by something heavy. The color drained from her face, leaving her pale. Her eyes widened, filled with unbelievable shock and confusion. Her hand, holding out the bag, froze in mid-air. Her entire being seemed petrified, and even her breathing appeared to stop. Along with her body, her ability to speak also froze.
'Ku-Kushida-san?
Why... why is she in Keima-kun's room? At this hour... she's wearing... casual clothes? What... are they doing?'
Normally, Airi wouldn't even dare to look up. But now, she used every ounce of strength she had to speak. lzcxK
"Ku-ku-ku-kikyo-san, why are you-you-you in Keima-kun's room?" Airi believed she had grown enough to ask such a question. In reality, however, her words were incredibly stuttered.
Kikyo maintained her smile. She even tilted her head slightly, taking the initiative to speak in that sweet voice that could melt most people:
"Good evening, Airi-san~ Are you here to see Keima-kun too? What a coincidence. We were just chatting about some things for a study group~" Kikyo said with a smile, switching to her usual warm and friendly persona.
"A-A study group?"
While Airi was dazed, Keima suddenly appeared beside her. lzcxK The abrupt speed even gave Kikyo a start.
"Cookies? I'm not very fond of sweets," Keima said as he took the cookies from Airi. This caused a slight tremor in Airi's heart. She hadn't considered that at all. In fact, she didn't even know what kind of food Keima actually liked.
But then, Keima spoke again: "However, if Airi made them, I definitely have to try one."
He took one out and put it in his mouth right in front of the others.
"Mmm! It's super delicious! It's still warm. Did you make these yourself, Airi?"
Keima hadn't expected Airi to visit suddenly at this time. If left alone, she would certainly let her imagination run wild.
Therefore, he had to divert her attention to himself before she could overthink things.
"Mmh!" Airi practically jumped upon hearing Keima's words.
'I was praised! I'm so happy! As long as Keima-kun likes eating them, then I'm very happy!'
"I, I... it's my first time making them..."
"Your first time? I think they're fantastic. They're completely different from the ones sold in stores. I actually quite like cookies like these."
"If Keima-kun likes them, I can keep making them!" Airi felt as if she had been injected with a massive amount of energy, and she nodded eagerly at Keima.
"I couldn't possibly trouble you like that."
"No, no, it's no trouble!"
"They really look delicious. Airi-san is so skillful~" Kikyo added a timely compliment to maintain the friendly atmosphere.
"Ah, oh, Kikyo-san, please have one too!" It wasn't until then that Airi remembered Kikyo was still there, and she spoke to her politely.
"I'll definitely try one if there's a chance next time, but it's a bit too late today." Kikyo said. "It's getting late, and Airi-san is really heartwarming. But Keima-kun looks like he'll be 'busy' for a while longer?"
She glanced pointedly at the four gaming devices still flickering in the room.
"Ah! Y-yes! I, I just came to deliver the cookies!" Airi finally recalled her original purpose and the current situation, nodding hurriedly.
"I, I won't disturb your... continued study group! I-I'll head back now!"
After speaking, she glanced at Keima once more. Receiving a nod from him, she let out a sigh of relief as if having completed a major mission, then turned to leave.
"Wait, Airi-san," Kikyo called out to her, her smile still perfect. "I happen to be heading back as well. Why don't we go together? Our rooms are on the same floor anyway."
She spoke considerately and naturally, perfectly fitting her usual image of caring for her classmates. Airi was taken aback and nodded subconsciously: "O-okay, thank you, Kikyo-san."
Thus, the two girls, each with their own thoughts, left Keima's room together and headed into the elevator.
The confusion and subtle concern in Airi's heart began to churn again. She stole a glance at the natural-looking Kikyo and, after much hesitation, summoned the courage to speak in a small, slightly more fluid but still nervous voice:
"U-um... Kikyo-san..."
"Hmm? What is it, Airi-san?" Kikyo turned her head with a flawless, kind smile, as if truly concerned about a classmate's troubles.
"It's... just..." Airi took a deep breath, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her shirt. "You... you and Keima-kun... seem to be... on quite good terms?"
She asked very subtly, but her wide eyes were written with "I care a lot." Kikyo understood clearly, her smile unchanging, even adopting a bit of ease as if asked about something amusing:
"Eh? Why do you ask that, Airi-san? Keima-kun... well, he really is a very special person, isn't he?" She cleverly used the word Keima often used himself. Furthermore, in Kikyo's heart, Keima truly was very special.
"Sp-special?" Airi repeated. Hearing that word from Kikyo made her heart skip a beat.
"Yes~" Kikyo's tone was light, as if sharing an insignificant observation. "See, he doesn't seem to care much about things in the real world, spending all day immersed in games and always saying strange things. But sometimes... he's surprisingly sharp and says things one wouldn't expect. As a classmate, isn't he 'special'?"
Her words sounded like an objective evaluation of an eccentric but harmless classmate, positioning her relationship with Keima within the realm of ordinary classmates, even slightly teasing.
However, in Airi's heart, currently filled with anxiety and over-analysis, the meaning of these words was completely different.
"...Kikyo-san also thinks Keima-kun is special? And she went to Keima-kun's room at night, wearing casual clothes... Even if it was for a study group... could it be that Kikyo-san also... toward Keima-kun...'
Airi's heart sank bit by bit, while a surge of frustration and urgency rose within her. She looked at Kikyo's impeccable, friendly, smiling face, and alarm bells rang in her heart.
Kushida-san was so popular and perfect; if she also had a special interest in Keima-kun... then wouldn't she be...
"I-is that so..." Airi's voice dropped, carrying unconcealed disappointment and a hint of panic. "Kikyo-san also thinks Keima-kun is special..."
"Yes~"
Her smile remained sweet and her tone casual, yet it felt like a large stone dropped into Airi's heart. "But Airi-san doesn't need to worry. Keima-kun and I are just ordinary classmates and friends."
Kikyo realized that Airi definitely had feelings for Keima and was likely jealous because of her. To maintain a good relationship with Airi, she needed to quickly clear up any misunderstandings.
However, those words made Airi even more nervous.
'I saw this in Keima-kun's guides! The more someone emphasizes they are 'ordinary classmates' or 'just friends,' the more it proves they like the other person!'
Airi was indeed even more confused. She lowered her head, her fingers twisting tighter.
"I-I see..." She could only manage a dry response, her mood heavier and more bewildered than when she had arrived.
"Kikyo-san is the best classmate I've ever met..."
"You are too, Airi!" Kikyo remained that little angel from before.
"But, I won't give up easily!"
"Give up easily?" Kikyo was stunned.
It wasn't until then that she finally realized something. Sakura Airi had completely misunderstood her. Initially, Kikyo just thought Airi was jealous of her spending time with Keima.
In the end... Airi thought she liked Keima?
'Don't be ridiculous!
How could I possibly like a guy like that! To me, Katsuragi Keima is just someone in my life who needs to be erased. He's just a passerby in my life. He couldn't possibly have any influence on my living!'
Kikyo confidently muttered to herself in her heart.
She didn't even notice that she and Airi had been in the elevator for several minutes already.
Neither of them had pressed a floor button.
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