Chapter 22: And So, Yuigahama Is a Dumb Nice Person

…

Wednesday was probably just another ordinary and boring day for Himekoji Akito.

When he walked through the school gate, he radiated his usual astonishing aura, creating a three-meter radius where no one dared to come close unaware.

By the way, here’s a little secret just for you. This super cool aura was Himekoji Akito’s unique special move—

Reality Marble – “King’s Solitude”!

Pretty cool, right?

“H-hey, umm… H-Himekoji?”

Crap… the barrier was broken…

Following the voice, Himekoji glanced at the clueless person who had run up and started talking to him without permission.

Bright eyes, a hair bun bobbing lightly, the same short skirt, two or three buttons on her blouse left undone making it cool and breezy, even faintly showing the girl’s smooth, pale collarbone.

Sure enough, it was Yuigahama Yui, who since yesterday just didn’t seem to have any situational awareness.

“Hmm?”

He answered indifferently.

This kind of cold reply was undoubtedly the ultimate conversation-killer, a must-have skill in every loner’s toolkit.

“Ah, it really is Himekoji!”

But… maybe it doesn’t work on idiots?

Giving him absolutely no say, the girl rescued the atmosphere from the brink of awkwardness with an artificially cheerful pitch. Hey! Did I allow that?

And what did she mean by “It really is Himekoji”? Don’t say such unnecessary, awkward things!

“Yesterday, you were really a pervert… ah, no, I mean really brave!”

The pause and awkward correction felt deeply suspicious, making Akito wonder if she was doing it on purpose.

Because really, she had blurted out “pervert” so bluntly! Correcting it now was way too slow and fake!

Himekoji Akito rolled his eyes and didn’t say anything back, but sped up his pace slightly.

Being a pervert meant anyone seen with him attracted trouble. Once, in cooking class, an unlucky girl paired up with him ended up crying thanks to nasty rumors spread by some jerks.

So, Yuigahama, please stay away. That’s what Himekoji Akito sighed inside.

Otherwise, he might get another black mark on his record. And he hadn’t even gotten his punishment from beating up those jerks last time lifted yet…

Might as well mention it: besides “Pervert,” Akito earned the title “Violent Maniac” after that incident after cooking class when he took on ten guys and beat them all. Got an ACE.

He’d only gotten into that one fight since entering high school, though. Because he was really, really mad.

He couldn’t stand seeing a girl cry. Guys are just like that.

For that very purpose, he paid 100 2D Points to the System back then to temporarily purchase a disposable skill – “King of Fighters.”

Alright, enough reminiscing about irrelevant past achievements.

He picked up the pace to shake off Yuigahama, but she suddenly reached out and grabbed the corner of his uniform shirt.

“What?”

His tone held its usual patient-loner note.

“I, um… have something to give you?”

The girl quickly let go of his shirt, then pressed her index fingers together, peeking up at Akito with sparkling, deer-like eyes.

Seeing those eyes might have made his heart skip a beat for a second. Akito quickly looked away, suddenly feeling guilty, tilting his head upwards.

“W-what?”

Whoa, why am I stuttering like Yuigahama? That’s too embarrassing! Let it be clear: I have zero expectations about whatever Yuigahama wants to give me!

“C-cookies! I made them myself, so… they might not taste very good.”

As she spoke, she fumbled nervously in her bag, pulled out a small packet of cookies, and shoved it into his arms without waiting for an answer, like she was terrified he might refuse.

“Ah… but don’t get the wrong idea! It’s to thank Hikki for saving Sabre… my dog… I had extras… oh! I also gave some to Yukinoshita! We made them yesterday after we went to the Service Club, with everyone’s help.”

She even specifically mentioned Yukinoshita, leaving absolutely no room for misunderstanding.

“You made them after going to the Service Club? Why didn’t I know?”

Himekoji asked a stupid question.

“Because… you ran away…”

Oh, right.

He glanced down at the cookies in his hand. Suddenly, he remembered.

Yuigahama Yui was always this kind person in class. No, a better description was a natural-born, simple kind of idiot. A nice person who worried about everybody.

This really had nothing to do with him. Just because he was briefly in the Service Club yesterday, she’d made a special trip just to give him some.

Nice people are nice to everyone. Unpopular guys who misunderstand are easy prey. If he remembered correctly, Yuigahama was pretty popular in class? Pretty sure she had a lot of competition.

But even so, daring to have dealings with a notorious pervert like him took either guts or being a total fool.

Of course, there was also the possibility… that option which appeared, triggered by seeing Yuigahama just after the System awakened a year ago…

He hoped it wasn’t for that reason. Or else, Himekoji Akito would feel like a real failure.

“Th… thanks. I’ll pay you for them.”

It might have been the first gift he’d received since becoming a pervert. Akito felt a little unaccustomed. He found himself saying this as he mechanically reached into his pocket for his wallet.

“N-no! It’s fine!”

Yuigahama answered while waving her hands, looking flustered.

She was probably meeting someone who wanted to pay for a gift for the first time. Dealing with him was definitely harder than talking to a normal person.

As they spoke, they’d reached the classroom door.

“You go in first. I’m going to buy a drink.”

Akito suddenly stopped walking, putting distance between them.

“Ah! I’ll have barley tea!”

She instantly replied, cheerful as ever.

Oh my god, is she truly this dense? Zero situational awareness!

He’d said it specifically to avoid a repeat of the cooking class situation. If they walked in laughing and chatting together, Yuigahama would be the next target of gossip.

And buying a girl a drink? Compared to just walking into class together? That’s way, way worse!

Noticing the strange look on Himekoji’s face, the girl timidly pulled her neck in.

“A girl naturally acting chummy and asking a boy to buy her stuff… so that’s really annoying?…”

Her voice softened weakly. After a slight pause, seeming to realize how awkward it sounded, she quickly plastered on her signature, slightly dim-witted smile.

“Ha ha! Just a joke! Don’t mind it!”

He hadn’t been thinking about it, but emphasizing it like that just made it feel strangely concerning…

“Agh.” Akito couldn’t help sighing. “Anyway, you go in first.”

“Okay… yes…”

Just before stepping inside, the girl turned back to wave cheerfully at him.

Truly, just another pointless act of kindness.