In high school, showing any weakness is tantamount to defeat.
For someone like me, who lacks social skills, living a normal life would mean being relegated to the lower tiers of the school hierarchy and being belittled by the popular crowd.
One failure is all it takes for others to nitpick and spread rumors, causing your social standing to plummet even further.
It’s a negative chain reaction.
But no one is without weaknesses.
That’s precisely why I must continue to put on a brave front.
Wearing the mask of an honor student, I need to keep winning to showcase myself as a perfect person.
Moreover, if I want to disguise myself and get through high school, I must carefully choose whom I associate with.
I absolutely can’t let those who enjoy seeing others falter discover my vulnerabilities.
It was after school on Friday, October 22nd.
I was waiting in the parking lot of a bookstore near the high school to make a transaction with a classmate who had just left the store.
“Did you get the item?”
“Yeah, no problems.”
“No one saw you, right?”
“Who do you think I am? I wouldn’t make such a rookie mistake.”
He said this with a cool smile on his face.
This guy’s name is Shinobu Kageyama. He’s a classmate of mine.
I’ve known him since middle school, and he’s the only person in this school I can trust right now.
Kageyama is tight-lipped and has few friends.
There’s no one more trustworthy than someone with few friends. After all, he has no opportunity to spill my secrets to others.
“Here, this is your payment.”
I handed Kageyama an envelope containing 7,700 yen and took the plastic bag from his hand, immediately placing it into my backpack.
Inside the bag was the first volume of the Blu-ray of the anime Divine Slayer Miko that was released today.
At a glance, it might seem like we’re engaged in some shady deal, but it’s just a bit of play-acting. When we’re alone, we often have these meaningless conversations.
“It’s fine if I buy it for you and earn some points, but why don’t you just buy the anime Blu-ray yourself?”
Dropping his merchant act, Kageyama asked with a half-smile.
“I can’t. If someone saw me, my image would crumble.”
In this day and age, you won’t be ostracized just for watching a cute-girl anime.
But a drop in social status is unavoidable.
“You really like to dramatize things, Hiroto. Aiming for top scores to appear as an honor student, pretending to read philosophy books during breaks.”
“Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason was too difficult, so lately I’ve been pretending to read Confucius’s Analects.”
“So, you can’t understand either but pretend to read them anyway.”
“If possible, I’d like to relax during breaks and chat about silly topics. But at this point, there’s no turning back.”
“You’ve sacrificed a lot to craft your image, and as a result, the girls in class are completely fooled and look at you with admiration.”
“When I hear the girls whispering about me, it feels fantastic.”
“But you’ve never thought about dating any of them, right?”
“Not at all.”
“Why not confess to someone? Your chances seem pretty good.”
“…If the success rate isn’t 100%, I won’t make a move. If I get rejected, I might embarrass myself in front of everyone.”
“I think you’re being overly cautious.”
“Even if you get a girlfriend, you’re worried she might expose your fetishes after you break up?”
“Why are you worrying about post-breakup issues before even dating?”
“Anyway, there’s no one in our class I’m willing to risk dating.”
“I think there are some cute girls. What’s your ideal type, Hiroto?”
“I don’t really know.”
Compared to that person, everyone else seems lacking…
“Maybe my standards for women’s appearances are pretty high.”
“You mean someone with celebrity-level looks?”
“Whether such a beauty would even consider me as a romantic interest is another matter, but that’s what I’m hoping for.”
“I see. Well, I don’t think our high school has anyone who could rival a celebrity—oh, but Yuina Asahi, who won first place in last month’s cultural festival’s ‘Most Desirable Bride’ contest, is as beautiful as any celebrity.”
“I didn’t attend the cultural festival, so I didn’t see that event.”
“I only saw the results, but she’s unbelievably gorgeous.”
As he spoke, Kageyama scrolled through his smartphone and showed me the winner’s profile.
On the screen was a photo of a beautiful girl resembling a popular idol.
Shiny black hair and eyes that sparkled like blue diamonds.
A well-defined nose and full, rosy lips.
A beauty with perfectly balanced facial features, displaying a smile as bright as a clear blue sky.
“Indeed, her facial features are off the charts. She must have won by a landslide.”
“Right?”
“But you haven’t seen her in person, have you? This photo must be edited.”
“Is that so?”
“I can’t imagine someone this beautiful existing in Miyagi Prefecture without some photo editing.”
“No, there are many famous people from Miyagi. And in reality, this Yuina Asahi did win the contest.”
“That’s true… Being this pretty, she was born into the winning side of life without even trying.”
“Indeed, life’s on easy mode for her.”
“How annoying.”
“Don’t harbor resentment toward a girl you’ve never met.”
Kageyama gave a wry smile and checked the time on his smartphone.
“Ah, I should get going.”
“Thanks, Kageyama. You really helped me out today.”
“Yeah. See you at school on Monday… I hope someday you’ll fall for a girl around you, Hiroto.”
After making that unsolicited comment, Kageyama got on his bike and rode off.
Feeling the Blu-ray case in my bag, I walked briskly toward the station.
I wanted to open the Blu-ray I got from Kageyama as soon as possible, but I couldn’t let anyone see it. I’d have to wait until I got home.
While I can watch the anime itself anytime on subscription streaming services, this Blu-ray comes with a character song CD by the lead female voice actress.
That lead actress, Maya Kanzaki, is my favorite.
Maya Kanzaki is an unimaginably beautiful woman, and since I often see her on social media, I find the girls in my class quite ordinary by comparison.
By the way, I’ve kept my admiration for Maya Kanzaki a secret even from Kageyama. He’d probably think I’m an idiot.
Ah, I can’t wait to get home and listen to the character songs…!!
Plus, this Blu-ray includes a “Priority Ticket Application Voucher” for an event.
The Priority Ticket Application Voucher allows you to enter a lottery for early access to a live event, commemorating the Blu-ray release.
There are two chances to get tickets: the early lottery sale and the general sale. But obtaining tickets to an event featuring several popular voice actresses through the general sale is extremely difficult.
Therefore, those who really want to attend the event buy the Blu-ray to apply for the early lottery sale.
However, even if you buy the Blu-ray, you can’t get a ticket unless you win the lottery.
A live event is a precious opportunity to see your favorite in person. Honestly, I wanted to buy multiple Blu-rays to increase my chances of winning.
But as a second-year high school student without a part-time job, I don’t have that kind of money.
All I can do is pray that I’ll be selected.
As I pondered these things and walked on, I noticed a small white object moving at the edge of my vision, accompanied by the sound of a bell.
I stopped and looked around, spotting an adorable white cat staring at me. Since it was wearing a collar, it was probably someone’s pet.
Drawn by its cuteness, I approached.
Of course, I know cats carry lots of germs. If I get bitten, who knows what diseases I might catch.
But I couldn’t ignore such cuteness.
Until recently, I was afraid of cats. I was bitten on the hand when I was a child, leaving a psychological scar.
But because Maya Kanzaki recently started keeping a cat and frequently uploads videos on social media of her talking to her cat in cat-speak like “It’s time to eat, meow” and “I’m off to work, meow,” I grew to like them as I watched.
Even I’m surprised by this change in my feelings, but it seems that fans are creatures who unconditionally love anything their favorite likes.
I inched closer to the white cat, but it didn’t seem inclined to run away.
Squatting down at a comfortable distance, I cautiously reached out and touched its throat. What an affectionate cat.
“You’re so cute. Out for a walk?”
Of course, the white cat didn’t respond, but seeing it purr contentedly, I couldn’t help but stroke it more. I petted not just its throat but also its head.
“I’d like to give you something in return for letting me pet you, but I didn’t bring any food…”
Come to think of it, I’m not sure what cats can and can’t eat.
“But you’re just so adorable, meow. What’s your name, meow?”
“—Do you like cats?”
Suddenly, someone spoke to me from behind, nearly stopping my heart.
I quickly turned around to find an incredibly cute girl standing there with a smile. For some reason, she was pointing her smartphone at me.
Taking a closer look at her face, I realized she was Yuina Asahi, who had ranked first in the “Most Desirable Bride” contest.
I had doubted earlier whether the photo Kageyama showed me was edited, but that was unjustified.
In person, she was an even more extraordinary beauty than expected.
But the reason my heart was pounding wasn’t because I was nervous about being approached by a beautiful girl.
…Did she hear me say, “You’re just so adorable, meow. What’s your name, meow?”
Because the cat was just too cute, I inadvertently used the cat-speak I’d picked up from repeatedly watching my favorite’s videos.
A lifelong blunder. I wanted to punch myself from ten seconds ago who forgot he was in a public place.
But it’s too soon to despair. My voice was quiet, so maybe she didn’t hear me.
—Alright, what should I do? Should I muster the courage to ask?
If she did hear me, I might be too mortified to recover for a while, but since Asahi is in a different grade, weird rumors probably won’t spread…
As I thought about this and looked at her, I saw Asahi bowing apologetically.
“Ah, I’m sorry. It was such a heartwarming scene that I couldn’t help but record a video.”
“—Wh-What did you say!?”
My face turned pale.
I didn’t expect things to turn out even worse than I’d imagined…!!
If a video of me talking to a cat on the street gets out, the honor student image I’ve built up until now will be ruined…!!
I hurriedly stood up and bowed my head.
“Please, just pretend you didn’t see what happened just now and delete the video…!!”
“Huh? Do you dislike it that much?”
“Of course I do. If people saw me talking to a cat, they’d question my sanity.”
“That’s not true at all. I often see people chatting with cats. Besides, if girls saw someone like you—the top student in our grade—playing innocently with a cat, they’d find it irresistibly charming.”
“No way they’d find that charming.”
As I denied it, a sudden doubt crossed my mind.
Wait, did Asahi just say, “someone like you—the top student in our grade”?
Could it be that my identity has been exposed?
“Hold on, how do you know I’m the top student?”
“A senior in my club mentioned it. They said there’s a boy in our class who’s been ranking first since the entrance exams.”
“I see…”
I didn’t expect rumors to spread even beyond our class.
Even amidst this crisis, that bit of information made me somewhat happy.
“But how did you know it was me just from hearing that?”
“Because I saw the photo that senior secretly took.”
“—Wait, someone took a candid photo of me?”
“Yes. They used software that silences the camera shutter sound.”
“That’s serious invasion of privacy.”
“Exactly. So I’m thinking of showing this video to that senior who took your photo and asking if she finds you charming in a new way.”
“Please don’t do that.”
That would be the worst possible use of the video.
“I’m begging you, if you delete the video, I’ll do anything…!!”
“Anything… you’ll do?”
At that moment, Asahi’s blue eyes gleamed mischievously.
“Then please tell me all about that Blu-ray disc you just received.”
“W-What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. You got the ‘Divine Slayer Miko’ Blu-ray from your friend, right? I saw your friend checking out at the store earlier.”
“Seriously…?”
That guy Kageyama was so confident, saying, ‘Who do you think I am? I wouldn’t make such a mistake’…!!
“Senpai, be honest with me. You’re planning to use the priority ticket application included with that Blu-ray to attend the event, aren’t you?”
“Wh-why do you know that…!?”
Seeing me flustered, Asahi chuckled playfully.
“Let’s go somewhere we can talk more comfortably. If you don’t want this video getting out, please honestly tell me who your favorite voice actress is.”
☆☆☆
And so, led by Asahi, we moved to a nearby park.
Having been caught in her snare, I had no choice but to obediently follow her.
What kind of ordeal awaits me next?
But more importantly, how did she find out I wanted to attend a live event?
I didn’t even tell Kageyama that I bought the Blu-ray specifically for the priority ticket application…
Am I going to be blackmailed and branded as a voice actress fanatic? Maybe I should just make a run for it?
But if I ignore the video, who knows what she’ll do with it.
I need to find a way to access Asahi’s smartphone and delete that video…
In the end, without any countermeasures, we arrived at the park and sat side by side on a bench.
“I haven’t properly introduced myself yet. I’m Yuina Asahi, a first-year student.”
Facing me, Asahi bowed her head.
Desperately trying to keep my anxiety from showing, I put on a calm demeanor.
“I’m Hiroto Fuwa, a second-year. You were ranked first in the ‘Most Desirable Wife’ poll at this year’s cultural festival, right? That’s impressive.”
“Indeed.”
“You don’t deny it, huh.”
“Don’t you think being modest after winning would be disrespectful to the other participants?”
“True, it might sound like you’re implying they only lost because they’re less attractive.”
“Not that they’re unattractive… But senpai, you’re popular enough to have someone secretly photographing you. If you entered the ‘Most Eligible Bachelor’ contest, you might just win.”
“I’m not interested in such trivial events.”
“But if you win, you get a week’s worth of free meal tickets at the cafeteria!”
“What kind of underwhelming prize is that…”
“No, no, it’s a fantastic prize! Your favorite meals become free!”
Clenching her fists, Asahi passionately argued her point.
“Every day, I eat the most expensive grilled meat set in the cafeteria. It’s absolutely wonderful. There’s nothing tastier than eating grilled meat on someone else’s dime.”
“Wait, are you saying you entered the contest just to get the cafeteria’s free meal tickets?”
“Of course! If there wasn’t a prize I wanted, I wouldn’t bother with such a hassle.”
“……”
Such a down-to-earth way of thinking.
I always thought people who entered beauty contests were driven by a desire to showcase themselves, wanting the world to acknowledge their beauty…
“—Alright, enough introductions. Let’s get to the main topic.”
After declaring that, Asahi straightened her posture and questioned me.
“Among the voice actresses appearing at the Blu-ray release event, who is your favorite, senpai?”
“I choose to remain silent.”
“Do you think you have the right to remain silent? Earlier, you said, ‘If you delete the video, I’ll do anything,’ didn’t you?”
As she spoke, Asahi flashed a genuine smile.
“I won’t tell anyone, so please share with me.”
“‘I won’t tell anyone’ is probably the least trustworthy phrase in the world, don’t you think?”
“That’s not true. I’m very good at keeping secrets.”
“How am I supposed to trust someone I’ve known for less than ten minutes?”
“Senpai, are you familiar with the concept of inherent human goodness?”
“I think good people wouldn’t use a video to blackmail others.”
“Fair point. You’ve got me there—so let’s discuss my deduction.”
“Deduction…?”
“Earlier, you were talking to a kitten in cat-speak. One of the main voice actresses in ‘Divine Slayer Miko’ recently started keeping a cat and often uploads videos of her playing with it. You picked up the cat-speak from watching those videos, didn’t you?”
“!? ”
How does she know…!?
“N-No… that’s…”
“Don’t lie, okay? Please look at this photo of Miss Maya and tell me the truth.”
As soon as she said that, Asahi displayed a picture of Maya Kanzaki on her smartphone and held it up to me.
It was a shot of Miss Kanzaki passionately singing at the concert held in May this year.
Dressed in her stage costume, she looked almost divine. I couldn’t help but relax my expression.
“Hehe, seems I don’t need to ask for an answer. Seeing your smile when looking at Miss Maya tells me everything.”
“Ugh…”
“Your favorite is Miss Maya, right?”
“W-What are you talking about?”
“Senpai, just admit it.”
“……”
There’s no way I can admit it.
Back in junior high, during a game where we had to reveal our favorite female celebrities, I named a busty gravure idol. The girls called me “disgusting,” plunging my school life into darkness.
No matter how good my grades are, just liking a gravure idol was enough to ruin my reputation.
So from that day on, I worked hard to keep my weaknesses hidden from others.
To avoid repeating the same mistakes.
“By the way, why do you know so much about Maya Kanzaki? Come to think of it, you pulled up her photo so quickly—is it saved on your smartphone?”
“Yes. Actually…”
Reaching into her bag, Asahi pulled out the ‘Divine Slayer Miko’ Blu-ray and held it up before me.
“She’s my favorite too—Miss Maya.”
“—Wait!? Seriously!?”
Since this anime is aimed at a male audience, I never expected Asahi to have bought the Blu-ray, leaving me too stunned to think.
But that explains it. The reason she was watching Kageyama at the bookstore earlier was because he bought the exact same Blu-ray.
“By the way, senpai, I just said ‘she’s my favorite too,’ but you didn’t deny it, right?”
“—Ah…”
“I’ll ask one more time. Your favorite is Miss Maya, isn’t it?”
Leaning forward, Asahi earnestly questioned me.
I’ve been completely found out. It seems impossible to keep hiding it any longer.
“…Yes. I bought the Blu-ray because I wanted to attend an event featuring Maya Kanzaki.”
I confessed, having made up my mind.
I never thought I’d be cornered by such a beautiful girl into admitting my favorite voice actress…
“I knew it. It would’ve been fine if you’d just said so earlier~”
Smiling, Asahi continued to fire off questions.
“By the way, how long have you been a fan, senpai?”
“…It’s been about half a year. Due to certain circumstances, I started following Maya Kanzaki’s activities this spring.”
Although I considered pretending to be a casual fan, it seemed pointless, so I answered honestly.
“That’s why you recognized that the photo was from the concert in May this year.”
“Wait, you can tell which concert it was just by the costume?”
“Yes, because I’ve watched Maya Kanzaki’s concerts on endless repeat; they’re deeply etched in my mind… Sorry if that creeped you out.”
“Not at all! I’m thrilled to meet a devoted fan!”
Her eyes sparkling, Asahi leaned even closer.
“Let’s talk all about what makes Miss Maya so wonderful! No one around me knows much about voice actors, so I’ve been dying to find someone to share this with!”
“Y-You…?”
“Miss Maya is skilled not only in acting but also in singing and dancing. She’s great at hosting, and her drawings are excellent too—she’s practically a perfect superhuman, isn’t she? But did you know that she wasn’t good at anything besides acting at first? She worked hard to master each new skill whenever it was required of her. Seeing her challenge her weaknesses to make her fans happy and striving to enjoy herself is what made me start supporting Miss Maya!”
Asahi rattled off excitedly to my bewildered self.
It seems she simply wants to exchange opinions with a fellow fan.
If she’s not planning to belittle me, then there’s no need for me to be so guarded…
“By the way, I think it’s wonderful how Miss Maya changes her hairstyle for each event, incorporating little jokes into her fashion to delight her fans.”
“I know! She changes her outfits and hair color to match the character she plays in the anime, right?”
“It’s amazing that she goes out of her way to dye her hair. Although she’s blonde now, her previous light brown hair was also beautiful.”
“Her black hair when she debuted was youthful and cute too.”
“Since her face is perfect, any hair color suits her.”
“Red and pink would probably look great on her too.”
“Absolutely. But I hope she doesn’t choose anything too outrageous.”
“But knowing Miss Maya, she just might.”
“Because she’s so considerate of her fans. She replies to many comments on social media and tries to read as many of their messages as possible on her radio shows. It’s her genuine kindness that makes people want to keep supporting her, right?”
“You understand so well…!! Miss Maya is now a regular on three radio shows. Which ones do you listen to, senpai?”
“All of them, of course. I make sure to catch her guest appearances on other programs, and I always watch her frequent game livestreams in real time.”
“I feel like I’ve found a true comrade…!! By the way, do you follow other voice actresses besides Miss Maya?”
“I keep up with social media and listen to various weekly radio shows and such.”
All of them happen to be female voice actresses, but let’s not mention that.
“However, the only one I follow closely enough to attend events for is Miss Maya.”
“Same here! Senpai, this must be fate! For a senior and junior at the same high school to support the same voice actress!”
Asahi jumped up from the bench in excitement.
“I’m so moved right now! If you were a girl, I’d hug you!”
“Well, considering Miss Maya has about 100,000 followers on social media, there must be plenty of fans who support only her, right?”
“Why would you say that!”
“I’m just stating the facts. But statistically speaking, maybe it is quite remarkable.”
“Exactly!”
After expressing her satisfaction, Asahi sat back down on the bench.
“By the way, senpai, since we’ve met by fate, would you consider forming a partnership with me?”
“A partnership? What do you have in mind?”
“I can’t say it too loudly, so please listen closely.”
As soon as she said that, Asahi turned and brought her beautiful face closer to mine.
If I moved carelessly, I might accidentally touch certain feminine features—that’s how close we were.
Paralyzed by confusion, I couldn’t move as Asahi cupped her right hand around her mouth and whispered into my ear.
“With the priority ticket application vouchers we each have, we can apply for up to two people at a time. Do you understand what that means?”
She spoke softly, her warm breath tickling my ear.
I was so nervous that I didn’t grasp her meaning at all.
“You mean…?”
“Senpai, you’re really slow. If we each apply for two tickets, we can double our chances of winning. That’s what I’m suggesting.”
“O-Oh, I see.”
“Don’t you think it’s a good idea? I absolutely must attend this event. You feel the same way, right?”
“Well, of course.”
“Great!”
My previously unsettled heart began to calm down.
“So, can I consider this a done deal?”
“No, I have to decline applying for two tickets.”
“—What!? Why?”
Asahi’s eyes widened in disbelief at being rejected.
She probably thought no guy would refuse a proposal from a beautiful girl like her. I felt a bit smug inside.
“Wh-Why are you turning me down!?”
“If I attend an event featuring Miss Maya, I don’t trust myself to stay composed. I might grin foolishly or behave inappropriately. I don’t want a junior from the same school to see me like that, so I wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy the event.”
“But you don’t have to worry about me being next to you.”
“I can’t help it. In some corner of my mind, I’d constantly worry that you might be thinking, ‘Wow, he’s really into this.'”
“You’re overthinking it. I’d be focused on the event too.”
“I know I’m overthinking, but that’s just how I am.”
If possible, I’d like to not care about others’ opinions and live more freely.
But my personality doesn’t allow it.
“So, I don’t want to be self-conscious around someone I know; I just want to enjoy the event by myself.”
“Senpai, you’re really a troublesome person.”
“I’m aware. Going to an event with someone like me wouldn’t be enjoyable, so let’s drop it.”
“You’re really good at pointing out your own flaws.”
“I’ve just discovered this talent myself.”
If I want to live a normal life, this kind of talent is clearly unnecessary.
“Well, you do have a point, senpai. While I’m thrilled to have met a fellow fan, when I think about it calmly, we don’t really know each other yet. Applying together at this stage might involve risks.”
“Exactly.”
“But for me, as long as we can double our chances of winning, I don’t care how difficult my companion might be. Whether you’re in debt or a two-timing scoundrel, as long as we get the tickets, I’d be happy to go with you. But to protect myself, I’d arm myself with a high-voltage stun gun.”
“You’re quite persistent.”
“So, give up on trying to make me give up.”
“What a hassle.”
“That said, a stun gun seems heavy, so I’d prefer not to bring it if possible. So starting today, I’d like to assess your character, senpai.”
“—Huh? What do you mean?”
“I want to determine whether I need to bring a stun gun when attending the event with you. At the same time, I want you to get to know me so you’ll feel comfortable going together.”
“……”
This is strange. What’s happening here?
I was supposed to make her give up, but the situation has only become more complicated…
“Senpai, the deadline for applying for the event tickets is the last day. If you change your mind before then, please apply for two people.”
“No, I can’t feel at ease unless I complete the application procedures as soon as they open.”
“If you refuse, I’ll show that video of you speaking cat language to the senior in my club who takes candid photos.”
Asahi held up her smartphone, smiling like a mischievous child.
“……Fine. I won’t apply until the last day.”
“If you apply on the last day, please send me a screenshot as proof. If you apply before then… you know what will happen, right?”
“……”
I had planned to apply immediately, but it seems she anticipated that.
“Can I consider your agreement not to apply until the last day as a condition for me deleting the cat video?”
“Thank you for understanding so quickly, senpai.”
“Can’t be helped… I’ll mark the last day of application on my calendar.”
I immediately took out my smartphone and set a reminder for the ticket application deadline on November 14th.
Although applications are valid until 11:59 p.m., I set the alarm for 1 p.m. to give myself some buffer time.
“Wow—you record all your plans on your calendar?”
“Yes. I need to set reminders for everything; otherwise, I can’t relax. By the way, I also note the expiration dates of my loyalty cards.”
As I spoke, I showed Asahi the screen of my smartphone.
“How meticulous… As expected of the top student.”
“It has nothing to do with grades.”
“Not at all. I think many smart people are perfectionists…”
Asahi murmured admiringly, then her gaze shifted downward.
“—Huh? Senpai, it says you have a ‘Real Escape Game’ scheduled at 1 p.m. the day after tomorrow. Could this be…”
“The one collaborating with ‘Divine Slayer Miko.'”
Real Escape Games are immersive events where you go to a venue and aim to solve all the puzzles prepared by the organizers within a time limit. Some games can be played solo, while others require multiple players.
“This ‘Divine Slayer Miko’ Real Escape Game features Miss Maya’s pre-recorded narration at the venue, right?”
“Yes. Honestly, I’m not particularly interested in Real Escape Games; I applied just to hear that narration.”
“By the way, have you arranged to go with anyone?”
“No, I’m going alone.”
“I see! If possible, I’d like to go too—”
“I refuse.”
“Why not? Miss Maya won’t be at the venue in person, right?”
“I don’t want someone I know to see me enthralled by Miss Maya’s voice.”
“But if we participate together, we can get to know each other better, right?”
“It’s fine if we don’t.”
“Ugh…”
Asahi pouted in dissatisfaction.
“Don’t be upset. Besides, the Real Escape Game isn’t a lottery; I can participate alone.”
“But isn’t it challenging to go alone to this kind of event? If we go together, we can deepen our connection; it’s killing two birds with one stone.”
“I’m the type who prefers to play games solo. I dislike situations where, if we fail to solve a puzzle, people start blaming each other.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“Even if you don’t, I might blame you.”
“In that case, you just need to restrain yourself.”
“I can’t. I find pointing out others’ mistakes to be the best form of entertainment, so I absolutely can’t hold back.”
“You really have a nasty personality…”
“If you’re with me, you’ll feel uncomfortable. So for your own good, it’s best not to get involved with someone like me. Don’t you have anyone else you can invite?”
“My parents aren’t interested in such games, and if I’m going anyway, I’d prefer to go with someone familiar with ‘Divine Slayer Miko,’ right?”
“True. Going with someone unfamiliar can create a disconnect.”
“In that sense, senpai is perfect. Plus, you’re the top student, so you’re good at problem-solving, right? I think you’d excel at Real Escape Games.”
“Yes. That’s why I’m fine on my own.”
“Won’t you help…”
“I won’t.”
“Well, that’s true…”
“I think even if they’re not familiar with the anime, you’d enjoy it more going with close friends rather than someone like me.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have any friends who like anime… Especially since ‘Divine Slayer Miko’ is aimed at male audiences, it’s hard to ask friends to join me. If I invite them, they’d feel obligated and find it hard to refuse, right?”
“I understand how you feel.”
It seems Asahi considers others’ feelings before inviting them. I don’t dislike people who are thoughtful like that.
“Alright, I get it. Since you’ve gone this far, I won’t participate in the Real Escape Game.”
“—Huh!? Why!?”
“The reason we’re having this debate is because I’m planning to go to the Real Escape Game. So if I remove that from the equation, it’s the quickest way to resolve this, right?”
“T-That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?”
“I’ve made up my mind. This way, there’s no option of ‘you and I going together,’ so you can either give up on going alone or invite someone else. Do as you like. Well then, I’m heading home.”
With that, I took advantage of Asahi’s confusion and dashed toward the station.
“—Ah! Wait, Senpai!”
I heard someone calling after me, but I ignored it and left the park.
Even though I’m uneasy about that video on Asahi’s smartphone, as long as I don’t apply before the deadline, she’ll delete it. For now, I’ll just make my escape.
Once she realizes I’m of no use, she’ll probably delete it.
If I want a clean resolution, this is the best course of action.
By the way, I’ve already bought my ticket, so telling her I won’t go to the Real Escape Game was a lie.
☆☆☆
And so, two days later.
To arrive at the venue 20 minutes before the Real Escape Game starts, I boarded the train to Sendai early.
Since it’s Sunday afternoon, the train was nearly empty.
Sitting down, I took out my smartphone and casually opened the page for this year’s cultural festival.
I navigated to the ‘Most Desirable Bride’ contest rankings and found Asahi’s photo along with a brief profile. To kill time, I started reading.
Birthday: December 28th. Height: 165 cm. Blood type: B. Member of the Literature Club.
Hobbies: making sweets. Specialty dish: hamburger steak.
Favorite color: pink. Future dream: to become a kindergarten teacher.
What a lineup of guy-pleasing details.
She probably wrote this while thinking about eating grilled meat on someone else’s dime. The boys who voted were completely taken in.
But since Asahi’s looks far surpass the other candidates, even if she’d written ‘Hobbies: sleeping in, Specialty: instant noodles,’ I think she’d still have won.
As I mused over these thoughts, the train arrived at Sendai Station.
Switching my smartphone screen to the map, I passed through the ticket gate and headed toward the Real Escape Game venue near the station.
The venue was a five-minute walk away. Without getting lost, I arrived as planned at 12:40.
—However, as soon as I entered the building, an unexpected scene awaited me.
Asahi, dressed in casual clothes, was waiting there.
Standing upright with her long ponytail swaying gently, she looked at me with displeasure.
“Senpai, I’ve been waiting for you.”
She was like a final boss in an RPG.
I didn’t see this coming at all.
Come to think of it, there’s only one Real Escape Game venue in Miyagi, so if she knew the date I was attending, she could ambush me.
But I didn’t think she’d go this far…
“So, since you’re here, can I assume that what you said to me in the park the other day was a lie?”
“W-What are you talking about? I’m just passing by; I’m definitely not here to play the Real Escape Game.”
“Do you think such a lame excuse will work on me?”
“It’s true. What’s your basis for claiming I’m lying?”
“Then let me ask you: can you happily chat with me until the game starts at 1 p.m.?”
“……”
I can’t do that. If I don’t check in before 1 p.m., the ticket I’ve purchased will become invalid.
“Please admit it straightforwardly. If you continue to lie, I have my own methods.”
Asahi closed the distance between us, delivering an ultimatum.
It seems I have no choice but to apologize.
“….I deeply regret the consequences of my actions. I will sincerely accept your criticism and respond earnestly.”
“Why do you sound like a politician?”
“I thought that using more formal language would better convey my sincerity in apologizing.”
“Is that how you really feel?”
“If I apologize normally, it feels like admitting defeat, and I can’t accept that.”
“Heh. You’re really stubborn, Senpai. Makes me want to force you into submission.”
Asahi said this with a devilish smile.
“I don’t accept that apology. If you’re going to reflect on your actions, please express it in your own words, not using a politician’s template.”
“……”
“Did you forget that I still have your weakness, meow?”
Asahi took out her smartphone, watching my expression.
It seems I have no choice but to completely surrender.
“….I’m sorry, I lied. I’m reflecting on my actions.”
“Good, well said. Excellent, excellent.”
She placed her right hand on my head and patted it gently.
“By the way, please apologize for leaving me and running away from the park.”
“….I’m sorry for leaving halfway through our conversation the other day.”
After I bowed my head again, Asahi displayed a triumphant smile.
“I’m satisfied now. So, to prevent this from happening again, let’s exchange contact information.”
“I didn’t bring my smartphone today.”
“I’m going to frisk you; please raise your hands.”
“What right do you have to—”
“Don’t resist unnecessarily; just surrender obediently.”
As she spoke, she pointed her smartphone screen at me.
On it was the video of me playing with a cat by the roadside.
“……I’m sorry.”
After I obediently handed over my smartphone, she swiftly took it, unlocked it using my face without permission, and ended up taking my personal information.
“Also, can you join me in the Real Escape Game today?”
“I suppose I have no choice…”
“No choice?”
“Please allow me to accompany you.”
“Of course, since you deceived me.”
Asahi said triumphantly and began walking toward the reception desk.
And so, utterly defeated, I ended up challenging the Real Escape Game together with Asahi.
☆☆☆
At the reception, Asahi purchased her ticket for the day and got ready to play.
Only now did I realize that the content for solo play differs significantly from the two-player game.
But it seems that before check-in, you can change the number of participants.
After completing the procedures, we sat on nearby chairs, waiting for 1 p.m.
“Still, I’m surprised you knew I’d come at this time. We could have easily missed each other.”
“Just in case, I was also watching the entrance for the 10 a.m. session.”
“It’s like police surveillance…”
“Also, to guard against you changing your schedule, I came yesterday to check all the sessions.”
“Do you have that much free time?”
“It’s all your fault!”
Asahi puffed out her cheeks and pinched my arm.
“I even thought about explaining the situation to the senior who took your candid photo to get your contact info.”
“Please don’t do that. Besides, I don’t have any acquaintances in the Literature Club with whom I’ve exchanged contact info.”
After I said that, Asahi tilted her head in confusion.
“Senpai, how do you know I’m in the Literature Club?”
“—Ah, well, that’s…”
“Could it be that you’re stalking me, Senpai?”
“Absolutely not. I only knew because it was written in the ‘Most Desirable Bride’ contest profile.”
“Heh~”
For some reason, after hearing my explanation, Asahi giggled.
“Why are you so happy?”
“Because you’ve memorized my profile. In other words, you’re very interested in me, right?”
“Ugh…”
It’s true that, though it was to kill time, I thoroughly read Asahi’s profile.
“If you want to know more about me, you can ask directly. Since we’re both fans of Miss Maya, I’ll answer any of your questions, Senpai.”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I only read your profile because I felt it necessary to understand someone who holds a weakness over me. Nothing more.”
“I see. But that profile is just filled with random things that guys would like; it’s not trustworthy at all.”
“That’s harsh.”
“Oh, by the way. To get to know me better, why not join the Literature Club, Senpai? If we become closer, you won’t mind attending events together, right?”
“I refuse.”
“It’s a relaxed club where you can go to the club room when you feel like it and read any books you like.”
“I’m not really into reading.”
“Don’t lie. You love reading, don’t you? The senior who took your candid photo said that you always read philosophy books during breaks.”
“Th-that’s…”
“Could you recommend a philosophy book that’s easy for beginners?”
“Well, that…”
I only read philosophy books as an act to appear more like an honor student; I’ve never found them interesting, and I barely remember any content.
I never thought this persona would one day put me in a bind…
“I’d like to try reading one. Please recommend a book, Senpai. Preferably something easy to understand.”
“……”
An easy-to-understand philosophy book? I’d like to know one myself.
If this continues, she’ll realize I’ve been faking it and gain more leverage over me.
I need to change the subject quickly—
Just then, I noticed Asahi’s hair beside me.
A few days ago, she simply let her hair down, but today she had it tied in a ponytail.
“Come to think of it, Asahi, you’ve tied your hair today.”
“You’re obviously changing the subject.”
She noticed?
“By the way, the reason I tied it in a ponytail today was to pass the time while waiting for you at the building entrance.”
And I’ve stepped on a landmine.
“I feel like I’ve caused you a lot of trouble.”
“No, no, I’m not angry anymore, so don’t worry. Being able to participate in the event with you means my efforts paid off.”
After saying that, Asahi smiled happily.
It seems she’s not the type to be driven by anger.
“And about the Literature Club—”
“Thank you for waiting. It’s now 1 p.m. Those who wish to participate in the Real Escape Game, please come to the reception desk.”
Just as she was returning to the topic, an announcement echoed in the venue.
I breathed a sigh of relief, stood up immediately, and headed to the end of the forming line.
Participants gathered at the reception were led into the depths of the building one after another.
Finally, it was our turn. Asahi and I were led by a female staff member into a small private room.
It was a space about six tatami mats in size, designed like a shrine, with a table and two chairs, and a large LCD screen displaying the main visual of ‘Real Escape Game: Divine Slayer Miko’.
After we sat side by side, the staff handed us two documents and two tablets.
The documents detailed how to use the tablets and precautions for the game. I asked the staff a question.
“May I start reading this document?”
“Yes, that’s fine. However, please do not touch this box until instructed.”
As she spoke, the staff placed a plain brown box on the table.
“With this, the preparations for the Real Escape Game are complete. The game will start shortly, so please wait here in the room.”
After the staff finished her explanation and left, I immediately began reviewing the documents.
Meanwhile, Asahi seemed to be looking at the ‘Divine Slayer Miko’ poster on the wall, touching the small torii gate.
“This is so exciting.”
“I’m going to memorize the content, so please don’t talk to me.”
“Memorize it… Are you serious, Senpai?”
“According to online comments, depending on how well we clear the game, Miss Maya Kanzaki’s narration will change. The full completion rate is about thirty percent, but since we’re here, we’d want to hear the full completion version, right?”
“True! Senpai, do your best!”
“You’re not planning to contribute to clearing the game?”
“I believe you can fully clear it, so I’ll just quietly watch.”
“You’re quite difficult to understand…”
I smiled wryly and continued reading.
“By the way, are you the type who carefully reads the instruction manuals when buying appliances, Senpai?”
“While I don’t read every page, I do get a general idea of what’s written.”
“You seem like you’d make a good husband in the future, Senpai.”
“—Eh? Why?”
Surprised by the unexpected compliment, I momentarily stopped thinking.
“Well, many girls aren’t good with gadgets. In such times, having someone like you around would be reassuring.”
“….Ah, so that’s what you meant.”
I was startled because Asahi, who was voted the ‘Most Desirable Bride,’ said I seemed like a good husband.
No, of course, there’s nothing special about it.
“—Ah. The TV is dimming. Is it starting?”
“Seems like it.”
We both looked at the screen.
A few seconds later, the theme song of ‘Divine Slayer Miko’ began playing, and the main character, Yui Mashiro, voiced by Miss Maya Kanzaki, appeared on the screen.
“Hello! Thank you so much for coming to the ‘Real Escape Game: Divine Slayer Miko’ today! From here on, please become shrine maidens, pair up in groups of two, and aim to slay the dragon that serves the deity! By the way, shrine maidens can be male or female, so don’t worry!”
Immersed in Miss Maya Kanzaki’s voice coming from the speakers, I was captivated.
How blissful. Despite the incident of being ambushed by Asahi, I’m really glad I came.
“Now, let’s begin the first trial!”
Then, Yui Mashiro disappeared from the screen, and the following words appeared:
“First Trial: Earn Recognition as a Shrine Maiden”
“As shrine maidens, having a pure heart and perfect harmony with your partner is crucial! Therefore, to showcase your qualities, please challenge the Synchronization Game starting now! Simple questions will appear on the screen; please answer them within the allotted time! No discussing with your partner! If your answers on the tablet match your partner’s three times, you’ll clear this stage and proceed to the next trial! So, please prepare your tablets!”
Following Miss Maya Kanzaki’s instructions, I activated the tablet we received.
A prompt appeared: “Ready?” I immediately tapped “Yes.”
However, next to me, Asahi still had her tablet on the table, staring blankly.
“Asahi? What’s wrong?”
“—Eh? …Ah, sorry, the game is starting, right?”
“Were you listening to the narration just now?”
“Of course… But my goal was to listen to Miss Maya’s narration, so I feel a sense of fulfillment as if I’ve reached the ending.”
“Don’t be self-satisfied.”
“But I did listen to the rules. We’re starting the Synchronization Game next, right?”
“Yes. It seems we’ll be comparing our answers. Since I’m older, I’ll adjust to your way of thinking, Asahi.”
“Thank you. You’re so kind, Senpai.”
“Let’s work together to clear all the trials. To hear Miss Maya Kanzaki’s full narration.”
“Got it!”
Asahi responded energetically and tapped her tablet.
Then, with Miss Maya Kanzaki’s voice saying, “Now, let’s start the first trial! Good luck!”, the screen changed.
“First question: When you think of something red, what is it?”
I see, so this is the Synchronization Game.
The question itself is simple, but there are countless correct answers. And with only thirty seconds, there’s no time for extended thinking. Matching answers seems challenging.
We can only answer based on intuition. Speaking of red things, the first thing that comes to mind is blood.
I thought of other red items—red balloons, red ribbons—but they didn’t seem quintessentially red.
With the time limit approaching, I wrote ‘blood’ on the tablet and sent it.
Then, Asahi’s answer appeared:
“Yui Mashiro’s swimsuit in episode 3”
“How could we possibly match with that answer…?”
“Senpai, that’s what I should be saying. Why choose something unrelated to the anime when we’re playing the ‘Divine Slayer Miko’ Real Escape Game?”
“…Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
“Even if you’re giving an answer unrelated to ‘Divine Slayer Miko,’ why ‘blood’? I can’t possibly write such a scary answer. If you’re trying to match me, please choose something cuter like an apple.”
“Huh, is blood scary? I have a pretty positive impression of blood donation and transfusions.”
“Leaving aside blood donation, is a transfusion really positive? Before receiving treatment, you’ve already lost a lot of blood, right?”
“I see… Then next time, I’ll give a cuter answer.”
“Please do.”
Reflecting on the first question, the second one came up.
“Second question: When you think of something purple, what is it?”
Purple… In ‘Divine Slayer Miko,’ the dragon’s blood is purple. In episode 5, the scene where purple blood splatters during the dragon-slaying left a strong impression.
But since blood is scary to Asahi, that’s out.
Since she suggested “please choose apples,” I’ll pick another fruit—grapes.
I wrote ‘grapes’ on the tablet and sent it.
On the other hand, Asahi’s answer was:
“Blood of the dragon Yui Mashiro slays in episode 5”
“What’s going on? Didn’t you say you couldn’t answer with ‘blood’ because it’s scary?”
“In episode 5, when they slay the dragon, there’s that impactful scene where purple blood splatters. Do you think I could ignore that?”
“That’s so unreasonable…”
But now I’ve grasped Asahi’s thought process.
Her answers are all related to ‘Divine Slayer Miko.’
Now that I know this, the rest is up to me.
“Third question: When you think of something pink, what is it?”
This is simple. In episode 4’s hot spring scene, the protagonist Yui Mashiro wears a full set of pink underwear during the changing scene.
Recalling the anime, there’s no other pink item that left a strong impression.
The question is whether Asahi would write ‘bra’ or ‘panties’… To match her, I wrote ‘Yui Mashiro’s underwear in episode 4’ and sent it.
Then, Asahi’s answer appeared:
“Peach”
“The third question, and she gives an answer unrelated to the anime…”
“Because I couldn’t think of any other pink things.”
“Why didn’t you write ‘Yui Mashiro’s underwear’?”
“Senpai, please think with common sense. How could I possibly give such an embarrassing answer?”
“But you wrote ‘swimsuit’ for the first question.”
“There’s nothing embarrassing about ‘swimsuit.'”
“I really don’t understand your boundaries.”
“Senpai, you really don’t understand a girl’s feelings.”
“I’m sorry.”
“By the way, Senpai, I’m impressed you remember the color of the underwear. Could it be you’re watching the anime with those kinds of intentions?”
As Asahi said this, she looked at me with a teasing gaze.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I don’t look at anime characters in a sexual way.”
“Really? Didn’t you pause during the changing scene in episode four?”
“Absolutely not. I just watched it normally and remembered it.”
“Normally, you wouldn’t remember the color of someone’s underwear, would you?”
“That’s not true. The color of underwear can reflect a person’s personality. Choosing white is completely different from choosing black. To accurately grasp a character’s personality, I even pay attention to the color of their underwear when I watch.”
“I see, so you’re an underwear critic, Senpai.”
“I don’t need such an embarrassing title.”
“Could it be that you usually imagine the color of girls’ underwear?”
“N-No, nothing like that…”
She questioned me in a teasing tone, and I couldn’t help but let my gaze drift toward Asahi’s chest.
“—Wait! Where are you looking!?”
Asahi’s cheeks flushed as she covered her chest with both hands.
“N-No! I was just led on by you!”
“Good grief… While you’re free to imagine, I won’t tell you the correct answer, you know?”
“No, I wasn’t imagining anything in the first place.”
Not knowing where to look, I shifted my gaze back to the tablet.
Then I noticed that during our conversation, we had skipped two questions and were now on the sixth question.
“It’s becoming harder to fully clear the game…”
“At this rate, we won’t get to hear the full narration version. We’ll have to come again.”
“I’d like to avoid that.”
“By the way, Senpai, I realized something.”
“Since there are no staff watching us in this game, we can cheat as much as we want, right?”
“True. Are you suggesting we fully clear the game through dishonest means, Asahi?”
“It’s a bit tricky… Although I’d feel guilty toward Miss Maya and the organizers, our main goal isn’t to enjoy the game but to hear Miss Maya’s full narration…”
“Indeed.”
“Shall we cheat, then?”
“No, I think we should refrain.”
“Huh? Why?”
“There are two reasons. First, at the beginning of the game, the narration said, ‘Shrine maidens must have pure hearts’ and ‘It’s crucial to be in sync with your partner.’ If ‘being in sync with your partner’ is measured through this synchronization game, then how do you think they judge ‘having a pure heart’?”
“—Ah! They’re checking if we’ll cheat during the synchronization game!”
“Yes. I believe there are cameras and microphones installed somewhere in this room to monitor whether participants will continue the game honestly even when they have the opportunity to cheat.”
“I see… By the way, what’s the other reason?”
“Just my intuition, but the full completion rate of this Real Escape Game is about thirty percent. If the organizers’ cheat detection isn’t working, don’t you think the completion rate would be higher?”
“That’s true… As expected of you, Senpai, thinking that far ahead!”
“Well, I’ve always been good at deducing the intentions of those who set the questions.”
“If you could deduce my answers like that, I’d be delighted.”
“I’ll do my best.”
With that, as we ended our conversation and returned our attention to the tablets, the time for answering the sixth question had ended.
Finally, after skipping three questions, the seventh question appeared.
**”When you think of something black, what is it?”**
—Alright.
Let’s cheat.
If we’re truly being monitored by the organizers, after hearing my earlier statements, they should let their guard down, thinking we wouldn’t cheat.
That said, I won’t engage in blatant cheating that would be immediately obvious.
I’ll try to predict what Asahi is writing based on her hand movements.
Of course, just by observing her hand movements, I can’t tell exactly what words she’s writing. But perhaps I can get a hint from the length and motion.
As I was thinking about this, Asahi began to write.
From her hand movements, I could tell the answer was quite long—at least six characters.
However, each character didn’t seem to have many strokes. So perhaps it’s written in hiragana or katakana.
Could it be English?
An English word longer than six characters when written in katakana, representing something black.
Based on her previous answers, when Asahi writes answers related to *Divine Slayer Miko*, she usually includes phrases like “in episode X.”
But she didn’t seem to write the kanji for “episode.”
In other words, unrelated to the anime, over six characters, in English, something black—
With the time limit approaching, I hurriedly began to write.
After submitting my answer, Asahi’s response appeared on the tablet screen.
**”Black Hole (ブラックホール)”**
“Ah! Our answers matched!”
Unaware of the truth, Asahi cheered happily.
Great. Looks like I got it right.
To avoid making the organizers suspect cheating, I pretended to be an innocent high school student and celebrated with Asahi.
“Let’s keep it up like this!”
“Yes, let’s.”
That said, consistently matching answers would also seem unnatural.
After that, I intentionally mixed in some incorrect answers and achieved three matches by the eleventh question.
“It seems our thoughts became more aligned in the latter half.”
“I analyzed your answers, Asahi, and traced your thought patterns.”
“Really!? As expected of the top student!”
Hearing my explanation, Asahi looked at me with admiring eyes. She didn’t seem to suspect that I had cheated.
As long as I casually mentioned “analyzing answers” and “tracing thought patterns,” I could bluff my way through.
At that moment, Yui Mashiro appeared on the TV screen.
Simultaneously, Miss Maya Kanzaki’s voice came through the speakers.
“Congratulations on clearing the first trial! Now, as shrine maidens, you’ve been recognized! Next, please begin your first task immediately! I’d like you to restore the shattered stone tablet! The pieces are in the brown box; please open it!”
I quickly opened the plain box on the table and found it filled with numerous puzzle pieces.
There were about a hundred pieces.
“Once you complete the stone tablet, you can proceed to the next trial! It’s tough, but do your best!”
After Miss Maya Kanzaki’s encouragement, the entire LCD screen displayed the following text:
**”Second Trial: Restore the Stone Tablet”**
The tablets only showed the same text; there was no image of the completed puzzle.
It seems we’ll have to assemble it without knowing the full picture. This is quite challenging…
“I’m not good at puzzles,” Asahi murmured anxiously.
“I have no idea where to start.”
“Don’t overthink it. First, gather the edge pieces without connections and assemble the frame. It’s like starting with the edges when assembling a jigsaw puzzle.”
As I spoke, I turned the puzzle box upside down, spilling the contents onto the table.
I spread the pieces face-up without overlapping them.
About eighty percent of the pieces had brown patterns, and the remaining twenty percent were black.
“Next, we can roughly sort them by color. The adjacent pieces are likely to have similar colors.”
“I see… I’ve learned something new.”
“After sorting, we’ll start assembling the pieces. Looking at the patterns might be confusing, so focus on whether the shapes fit together.”
“Got it. It’s challenging, but I’ll do my best.”
“Well then, Asahi, can you assemble the frame using the edge pieces?”
“Leave it to me!”
And so, we began working on the puzzle.
Standing on opposite sides of the table, we each sorted the pieces.
After a while, we finished organizing, and Asahi started assembling the frame while I began working on the inner sections.
However, due to similar patterns, my progress was slow.
Isn’t the difficulty level of this puzzle a bit off? At this rate, even elementary school kids might struggle.
“Senpai! I’ve completed the frame!”
When I had only completed about twenty percent of my section, Asahi happily reported to me.
Looking over, I saw a square frame about thirty centimeters across.
“Good job. Let’s each work on assembling the remaining pieces inside.”
“Understood!”
Asahi came over to my side and began looking for pieces that hadn’t been connected yet.
“Hmm… I can’t figure out which pieces go together…”
“The brown pieces have many black lines on them, right? The thickness of the lines varies subtly, so I think we can use that as a clue.”
As I explained, I reached for a piece in front of Asahi.
At that moment, Asahi leaned closer, and our thighs pressed tightly together.
I could feel the softness and slight warmth from Asahi, but she seemed fully focused on the puzzle and didn’t react.
“Once we finish this, we’ll have the complete stone tablet, right?”
“Yes. I think it’s a pattern drawn in black ink on a brown stone tablet.”
As we conversed, Asahi’s body leaned even closer toward me.
Then, a soft, round sensation brushed against my elbow.
I didn’t need to confirm what it was. The softness surpassed even the sensation from our thighs touching earlier.
Such tenderness could only be the unique curves of a girl.
Instinctively, I paused my work, focusing all my senses on my elbow.
…I can’t concentrate on the puzzle…!
Being this close to a girl who isn’t my girlfriend is unheard of in my daily life. Because of this, my ability to think vanished.
But saying something like, “I’m feeling embarrassed; could you move away?” was out of the question.
After all, if Asahi didn’t mind, it would seem like I was the only one getting distracted from the game by noticing such things.
There’s no need to give her ammunition to tease me.
So, battling my own rationality, I continued working on the puzzle.
—
After that, despite Asahi’s unintentional distractions, we progressed through the Real Escape Game.
In RPGs, when you get hit by an enemy’s seduction skill, you might be incapacitated for a while, but I never expected to be affected by an ally…
Even though I couldn’t perform at my best, we managed to clear the “Third Trial: Obtain the Dragon-Slaying Sword” and the “Fourth Trial: Defeat the God-Serving Dragon,” ultimately achieving full completion.
“Congratulations on fully clearing the game! You’ve been recognized as fully-fledged shrine maidens! However, our battle won’t end until we defeat the god! Let’s keep working together from now on!”
Not only did we receive praise from Miss Maya Kanzaki, but we were also acknowledged as companions. I felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Asahi beside me seemed the same; she closed her eyes, deeply moved.
After a while, the LCD screen displayed the main visual of *Divine Slayer Miko*, signaling the end of the game.
We left the room.
“I’m so happy. I’m truly overwhelmed,” Asahi remarked thoughtfully as we walked toward the building’s entrance.
“Thank you so much for accompanying me today, Senpai. I really do prefer attending such events with someone.”
“Is that so? I prefer to play alone.”
“This is your punishment for lying and running away on Friday. I came here several times to get a hold over you.”
“I already admitted it was my fault. That’s why I played with you, right?”
“I know. You’ve properly atoned for your wrongdoing.”
“In that case, I’ll apply for the event tickets as a single attendee.”
“I won’t force you. But I absolutely will change your mind before the ticket application deadline on November 14th. Absolutely.”
“Isn’t that coercion?”
“No, it’s not. I intend to change you as a person—to turn you into someone who feels that attending events with others is more enjoyable, which would be more convenient for me.”
Asahi declared firmly, clenching her fists tightly.
This approach is less gentle than outright coercion.
“By the way, I set my smartphone to vibrate even when I’m sleeping, so feel free to contact me anytime! If you decide to apply for two tickets, whether it’s late at night or early in the morning, please reach out immediately.”
“I won’t change my mind.”
“But you have a friend who buys Blu-rays at the bookstore for you, which means you’re willing to open up to others, right?”
“Of course.”
“In that case, if we become closer, you might change your mind. So let’s continue to chat a lot about Miss Maya from now on. If I want to talk to you, I’ll contact you. Please reply within a minute!”
Asahi said with an incredibly confident tone, flashing a radiant smile.
I could have rejected her outright, but I didn’t want to go that far. Talking about our shared favorite shouldn’t be a problem.
Perhaps because Asahi’s smile was too captivating, my resistance weakened temporarily.
It’s like how you can’t get annoyed no matter how much a baby cries. Cuteness is justice—it’s the strongest.
“—So, Senpai, what shall we do next?” As we reached the building’s entrance, Asahi asked.
“Shall we go to a café to celebrate our full completion and hold a thank-you party for Miss Maya’s wonderful narration?”
“No, since I don’t know where I might run into classmates, I’ll head straight home.”
“Wait, Senpai—”
Glancing at the bewildered Asahi, I started walking toward Sendai Station.
After all, if students from our high school saw me with Asahi, it could become troublesome.
“Honestly… You’re so inflexible, Senpai…”
I heard her exasperated voice from behind, but I didn’t stop walking.
