『』『』『』『』『』
"What should I do now?!"
—『Well... 』
"Don't act like this has nothing to do with you!"
Kushida was currently on the phone with Kumagawa in the middle of the night. It was rare for her to contact him at this hour, but something terrible had happened, leaving her with no choice but to reach out.
Unfortunately, it didn't help her situation in the slightest.
—『So let me reiterate what happened so far. The other day, someone happened to see the two of us together—probably when we were walking around after that whole student council thing. And now, thanks to that, a rumor started spreading that you and I are dating. Is that about right?』
Kushida had chosen to meet him in the morning to buy chocolate, hoping to avoid running into any classmates who were planning to hang out later in the day. But thanks to Kumagawa's headache, she ended up waiting for him for thirty minutes.
To make things worse, they happened to run into a student council member, which wasted even more time. By the time they finished talking with the student council president and finally went to buy the chocolate, some unknown first years caught a glimpse of them together—just enough to spark the rumor.
The previous rumor about her being close with Kumagawa on the ship didn't help either. Back then, most students brushed it off as a baseless rumor. But now, with this new story making the rounds, it only made the older one seem more believable.
There's even the fact that she had turned down an invitation to hang out with some classmates that day. And yet, they saw her with Kumagawa instead—that was what really turned the rumor into something harder to ignore.
It wasn't just bad timing. From an outsider's perspective, it looked like she had made an excuse just to meet up with him in secret.
"Aren't you taking this a little too lightly?!"
—『What are you talking about? I'm deeply troubled by this, you know. But since it's already a rumor, wouldn't it be easier to just go along with it? Seems like the path of least resistance. 』
"Wha-what are you even saying?! The whole point is to shut the rumor down!"
—『Hmm... Aren't you being a little unreasonable here? Something like that's just impossible. Besides, why are you making this my problem? I've never been an inconvenience to anyone. 』
"...What are you even talking about?"
What kind of nonsense was this piece of trash spouting now?
In the first place, isn't all of this happening because of him? Because he was craving chocolates in the first place. Because he made her wait for over 30 minutes without a word. Because he dragged her into that whole mess with the student council without explaining anything.
Not to mention the entire Nagumo Miyabi situation—something she never even wanted to be remotely involved with.
—『Ahaha, you must really be in a pinch if you're calling me trash so casually in your mind. But don't worry, I've been used to being called that since I was three years old. Besides, with how generous my heart is, I suppose I'll help you deal with this silly little mess of yours. 』
"...So? What are we gonna do about it?"
Kushida let out a tired sigh. Even if she argued, it would only seem like she was arguing for the sake of it. Of course, she could theoretically do that, but since this was her problem, she could only refrain from pushing it further.
—『Kushida-chan, the thing about so-called "rumors" is that they don't contain the whole truth. But since they're based on truth, they're not lies either. 』
"...."
Again...
Kumagawa, as always, said something roundabout. Something vague that made it hard to grasp what he actually meant. Based on her experience, during times like this, the best course of action was to just be blunt and force a clear answer out of him.
"Then how do we erase the rumor? Is there even a way to fix this?"
—『Fix...? What are you even talking about? You can't erase a rumor. That's just impossible, you know? 』
"Ugh...."
That was way too blunt.
And somehow, more infuriating than she could've imagined.
—『Still, just because you can't erase it doesn't mean you can't deal with it. There are countermeasures, after all. 』
"Countermeasures?"
Countermeasures.
Its basically a measure or action taken to counter or offset another. A tactical response meant to prevent an undesirable outcome.
It's such a simple concept that even animals can come up with it to survive.
But why does it sound so shady when he's the one bringing it up? Is it just lip service? For now, Kushida decided to hear him out. Who knows—maybe the so-called countermeasure he's come up with is actually decent.
Let's just hope so.
—『About the Mona Lisa, you know about it, right, Kushida-chan? 』
"Mona Lisa? If you mean the painting by Leonardo da Vinci that's displayed in the Louvre Museum, then yes, I do know about it..."
Since it was Kumagawa-kun who brought it up, she couldn't be too sure. There was always the chance he meant something completely different. So she answered cautiously, just in case.
—『Oh? You're pretty well-informed. You even knew it's on display at the Louvre Museum. Impressive. 』
"Isn't that something most people know? Anyway... what does the Mona Lisa have to do with your so-called countermeasure?"
—『Well, you know how the Mona Lisa has all those rumors about her identity? Some say she's Lisa Gherardini, others say it's actually da Vinci himself in disguise. Even after hundreds of years, the rumors haven't disappeared—they just keep changing. Don't you think your situation is kind of like that? 』
"..."
It was such a leap in logic that calling it a stretch didn't feel right anymore. No, it was less like a stretch and more like he switched trains halfway through the explanation. If anything, you'd have to brute-force that metaphor into place just to make it sound logical
—『Well, of course your situation isn't like that, but we can make it like that. 』
"Make it like that...? You're talking about the rumor, right?"
—『The rumor itself isn't the issue. It's the content that matters. Even if a thousand rumors spread like a disease, what really matters is what they say. Whether it hurts or not—whether it damages you or not—it all depends on the content. 』
"..."
That actually made sense.
For once, Kumagawa was saying something straightforward. There was nothing she could refute and strangely enough, nothing she wanted to either. Still, it was obvious he was hinting at something.
She couldn't even grasp at an inkling of an idea, so she had no choice but to ask.
"Then... how exactly are we supposed to handle it?"
—『Isn't it obvious? You don't kill a rumor by erasing it. You kill it by changing its content, while keeping the story the same. 』
"!!!"
Kushida finally understood where he was going with this. It was such a simple idea that it could be explained in just a few sentences.
But this was Kumagawa-kun we were talking about.
He had a habit of making everything more complicated than necessary—most likely just because he enjoyed doing pointless things. Or maybe, there was some completely unrelated and equally pointless reason behind it.
Either way, since it was him, she figured it was best not to dig too deeply into it.
—『Just to reiterate, the key point here is that you need to change the content without changing the narrative. In other words, you just need to lie. Something anyone can do. 』
"Yeah, for sure."
—『It's probably best to get it started early too, before it causes any more complications. You know how rumors are—the longer they're left alone, the more people start to believe them. 』
"Yeah... Hmm? Wait. Why are you saying it like I'm the one who's supposed to do all the work?"
—『Eh? Did I say something like that? I don't think I did. Well, even if I did, then that must be what I meant. So it's definitely not a coincidence. 』
"..."
Being told something like that was irritating.
But... could she really call this feeling irritation? No. It was closer to burning frustration. And yet, at the same time, there was relief. Even a strange sense of clarity. After all, there was a way out. But the one who dragged her into this mess... was also the one offering her that escape.
That contradiction made it hard for her to control her expression.
—『Ahaha, don't make a face like that, Kushida-chan. You'll get stuck with it if you're not careful. 』
"...How do you even know what kind of face I'm making while we're on the phone?"
—『I know you more than you know yourself. 』
"...?"
What... was that?
What did he mean by that?
She didn't know. She couldn't tell. But somehow, it sounded unsettling in all the wrong ways. He knows her better than she knows herself? That was the kind of line you'd expect a stalker to say.
A cold shiver ran down her body.
There it was again—that unpleasant feeling that always came when she dealt with him.
Maybe it was just one of those random lines he liked to throw out without thinking. Maybe he didn't mean anything by it. Just another one of his twisted ways of harrasing her.
She really, really hoped that was the case.
"A-anyway... are you saying I'm the one doing all the work? While you just sit back and watch? So basically, you don't plan to help me at all?"
—『Now that's not true, Kushida-chan. First and foremest, I'm completely untrustworthy.』
Kumagawa said it with a proud tone, as if revealing a national secret. It was rare to see someone so boldly announce their shortcomings in such a confident way.
—『And secondly, I have no credibility.』
"...Hm? It doesn't seem like there's a big difference between the first and second things?"
She immediately voiced the question that came to mind.
"Isn't being untrustworthy basically the same as having no credibility?"
—『There are people who are untrustworthy but still manage to be believed, right? And anyway, it's easier to understand if you separate the two, Kushida-chan. Basically, because I'm untrustworthy, no one takes my words seriously to begin with. There's a cruel gap there. 』
"There's a gap..."
A gap between the speaker and the listener.
That's the root of what makes rumors so potent and so hard to stop. It's not the words themselves that do the damage, but the space between what's said and what's believed. For someone like Kumagawa-kun, whose words always come as suspicious, that gap is unavoidable.
Even if he were to deny everything directly, that denial would only feed into the gossip. Because the truth doesn't matter when the person saying it has no credibility.
On the other hand, when someone well-liked or trusted speaks, even if what they say is vague or incomplete, it's taken as fact. heir version becomes the story, simply because they're the one saying it.
That's the cruel power of that gap.
—『In other word, you just have to utilize the feelings of love between us. The feeling of love between me and you! 』
"You mean feelings of friendship, right?"
She wish she wouldn't make dangerous statements like that. That in itself could pose a threat to their friendship.
—『... 』
"...."
—『If that's how you interpreted it, then that's fine too. I'll leave it to you. But don't push yourself too hard, Kushida-chan. Bye-bye. 』
And just like that, Kumagawa ended the call without giving her a chance to respond.
"Haaah... What a jerk."
Even though he was the one who caused all this in the first place, he still managed to offer her a way out. She hated to admit it, but a part of her was grateful.
Still, none of that changed the fact that the work would fall on her shoulders.
It wasn't clear where the rumor came from, or who started it in the first place. So, she decided to focus on the content, just like he said.
She figured it was best to aim for just one of the two—either the content or the source. And since the source was still unknown, all she could do was shape the story itself. In the days before the next semester began, she had to find a natural way to "insert" her version of the story carefully, so it wouldn't raise any suspicion. She had to keep circling the rumor without making it feel unnatural.
If she played it right, the original rumor would fade away, leaving behind only the version she wanted them to believe.
"Really... What an absolute pain."
『』『』『』『』『』
"Haa... I somehow managed to pull it off..."
A week had passed since then.
Using all the effort she could muster, Kushida managed to twist the ridiculous rumor into something far more harmless. While she couldn't completely erase the idea that she and Kumagawa were connected, at the very least, it no longer seemed strange for others to see them together.
That alone was good enough for now.
"Finally... I can breathe a little. Haa..."
Sprawled out on her bed, Kushida tried to enjoy the last bit of summer vacation. Thankfully, the school placed no restrictions on utility usage, so she could leave the air conditioner running without worrying about the electric bill.
A faint, cool breeze brushed against her skin.
She closed her eyes and let her body sink into the mattress. The stress from the past week hadn't completely disappeared, but it had lessened enough for her to relax.
"...Still, I can't believe it actually worked."
Changing the rumor without erasing it—when Kumagawa first mentioned it, she thought it was nonsense. Yet somehow, it had worked.
She expected it to be harder than it sounded, but surprisingly, everyone believed it. Though a few people remained skeptical, in the end, even they went along with it.
She guessed this was the cruel gap between the trustworthy and the untrustworthy.
"Haah... And to think I even forgot to buy a present for Kokoro-chan..."
Exhausted from everything over the past week, Kushida had completely forgotten to actually buy the present. She had meant to, but it slipped her mind. Even if she wanted to buy it now, she figured it could wait. As long as she gave it to her eventually, she could come up with a hundred excuses later.
Right now, she didn't want anyone bothering her.
She just wanted to relax.
No interruptions.
No messages.
No calls.
RING. RING. RING.
"....."
She slowly turned her head toward the source of the sound, her phone lit up on the desk, vibrating softly with each ring.
She didn't want to answer it.
She really didn't.
But at the same time, a small, anxious part of her whispered that ignoring it might only make things worse.
After a while, the phone died down.
"...Just five seconds. If there's no follow-up call in that time, I'll pretend I never heard or saw it."
She buried her face into her pillow and began counting in her head.
One. Two. Three—
RING. RING. RING.
"...You've gotta be kidding me..."
With a groan, she reached out and picked up the phone, not even checking the caller ID before answering.
"...Hello?"
—『Oh? You picked up faster than I thought. I'm touched, Kushida-chan. 』
"...Why is it always you?"
—『Because I'm the only one who calls you at the worst possible time. It's my special talent. 』
"...I wish you'd lose it."
She let out a tired sigh, already regretting her decision.
Of all people, why did it have to be him? Didn't he ever get tired of tormenting her?
Kushida felt a wave of frustration rising, but the exhaustion weighing down on her quickly dulled it. She didn't have the energy to stay angry.
"...So? What is it this time?"
—『Did you hear about the fortune teller at Keyaki Mall?』
"What about it?"
—『Apparently, it's become really popular among the students. 』
"Yeah, I've heard."
Fortune teller.
The Keyaki Mall was a commercial complex within the school grounds that students frequently visited. Since they weren't allowed to leave campus, the school had built facilities to cover most daily needs. Still, it couldn't offer the same variety as the outside world. In other words, their world was small—so whenever something new appeared, it naturally became a hot topic.
Naturally, she'd heard about it. Her friends talked about it all the time, saying the fortune teller's predictions were eerily accurate.
Of course, she was curious too. But curiosity alone wasn't enough to overcome her fatigue.
And besides, there was also that bothersome requirement to even get a session with the fortune teller.
"...So what is it?"
She already didn't like the direction this conversation was heading. But not knowing what he was planning felt worse than dealing with it head-on. So she asked, at the very least, she could prepare herself if it turned out to be something troublesome.
—『The thing is, I was just some lonely kid living in a world I had made for myself. And because of that, according to Anshin'in-san, I need to learn to socialize more. So I figured, hey, today might be a good day to try something new. Like, I don't know... seeing a fortune teller? 』
"...You think seeing a fortune teller counts as socializing?"
—『Well, technically, there's another person involved, right? That's already more interaction than usual for me. 』
"...That's a pretty low bar."
Even for him, that was low. But honestly, when it came down to it, he was better at socializing than he gave himself credit for. Whether he realized it or not. It was just his personality—always dragging the mood down, always leaving the other person feeling uncomfortable in some way.
Then again, he probably did it on purpose. He was annoying by nature.
And going against nature was never easy.
—『Huhuhu. You're making me blush.』
"It wasn't a compliment..."
—『Well, I'm just glad you picked up. If you hadn't, I was thinking of spending the rest of the day telling everyone that my partner, Kushida-chan, was ignoring my calls. But when I thought about my second-best plan... well, I didn't think that would work either. So just in case, I figured I'd try calling you first. And lucky me, you answered. 』
"....."
That's what he said.
That's what Kumagawa-kun said.
"You... wouldn't actually do that, right?"
—『... 』
"..."
That was close!!!
Kushida really did dodge a bullet there.
Kumagawa was definitely the type of person who would do that. As long as it inconvenienced someone, he'd go through with it. Even if it took a lot of effort, even if there was nothing to gain from it, he'd still do it without hesitation.
His dedication to doing pointless things for no reason—that was one of his defining traits.
The regret she felt for answering the call quietly faded. Instead, a strange sense of gratitude took its place.
He really was about to ruin everything she worked for over the past week... just because he felt like it.
But even if she pointed that out, Kumagawa-kun would definitely play dumb, acting like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. And so, I, Kushida Kikyou, ended up being forced into a situation I couldn't escape from, all because this piece of trash, Kumagawa Misogi, was about to completely undermine my entire week's worth of effort. I was forced into a situation I couldn't get out of."
Kushida ended up speaking like a third-person narrator, because she no longer knew how else to complain properly.
—『If you don't want to come, you don't have to. I don't expect there to be even a sliver of fun anyway.』
"I'll come with you. Even though you dragged me into this mess, Kumagawa-kun."
This was absolutely not how she wanted to spend her day.
『』『』『』『』『』
After deciding on a time, Kushida and Kumagawa agreed to meet near Keyaki Mall.
"Who in their right mind thinks it's a good idea to visit a fortune teller at this time of day..."
The intense late-August sun bore down on her. The shimmering heat waves ahead blurred the edges of the pavement and trees. With the dorms fully air-conditioned, she hadn't felt the summer heat too often—but under the open sun, she was instantly drenched in sweat.
Thankfully, she had expected this and wore light, breathable clothing. Still, summer was summer. It was hot, no matter what.
After waiting five minutes, Kumagawa finally arrived, dressed in all-black casual wear. Even from a distance, the outfit looked like it radiated heat just by existing.
『Oh, Kushida-chan. You're early today.』
"You're pretty early yourself, Kumagawa-kun."
He was more punctual than she expected—only five minutes late. That was a small, rare improvement for him.
A temporary one at best. Nothing about him ever stuck for long.
『Am I that early? I feel like I'm always on time though? 』
"..."
『Hm? You suddenly turned quiet. What's the matter, appointmenter-chan? I mean, appointmenter-chan? 』
This guy was fucking annoying.
He had to be doing this on purpose. There was no way someone could be this consistently irritating without intent. Was it really so fun for him to see her irritated? To push her buttons like this over and over again?
Unfortunately for him, she had already been pushed around enough these past two weeks to let something like that get to her.
"...Anyway, why are you in such a rush all of a sudden?"
Kumagawa had shown up at the meeting spot in a bit of a hurry—which was odd. For someone who always walked at his own pace and treated others time like it didn't matter, this was clearly out of character.
『Hm? Obviously, to get there faster. Believe it or not, I really hate standing in lines. I have absolutely no intention of waiting. So don't worry, Kushida-chan. As long as we hurry, we won't run into a crowd. 』
That was what he said.
But there was a fatal flaw in that logic. One that Kushida pointed out immediately and without mercy.
"...What's the point of rushing? We're already an hour and a half late."
For your information, the fortune teller opened at 8:00 AM.
And right now, it was 9:30 AM.
It was a time when the Keyaki Mall was usually empty—too early for most students to be out. In a way, she had to admit Kumagawa had managed to pick a surprisingly good time. Even for something so sudden, it was the perfect hour to avoid crowds.
But there was one thing he clearly forgot to consider.
It was still summer vacation.
『.... 』
"....."
As the Keyaki Mall came into view, the scene that greeted them was far from what Kumagawa had imagined.
Instead of a quiet morning with barely any students around, the place was packed. Groups of students in casual summer clothes lounged around, chatting and laughing, filling the mall with all kind of noises.
Kushida had expected it to be crowded, but not this crowded.
Maybe it was because summer vacation was almost over. Everyone was making the most of their remaining free time before the new semester started.
Not wanting to waste time in the middle of the crowd, Kushida grabbed Kumagawa by the wrist and pulled him toward the nearest elevator. The fortune teller's shop was on the fifth floor.
"Geh..."
She let out a grumble.
Around fifteen students were already gathered in front of the elevator, chatting and waiting. There was no doubt it would be crammed once the doors opened.
It would be a hassle.
So instead of forcing their way in, they opted to take a detour and head for a different elevator on the other side of the mall. That one was farther away, but at least it wasn't crowded.
The extra walk took more time and effort, but the peace of mind was worth it. After finally reaching the fifth floor, the two of them quietly made their way toward the fortune teller's shop.
『There are couples everywhere. 』
"It sure is..."
Boys and girls stood in pairs throughout the area. Many of them seemed to be actual couples.
This was the troublesome prerequisite Kushida had heard about.
'Guidance is for couples only. We humbly ask for your understanding.'
Apparently, the fortune teller only accepted readings from couples—or at least, a boy and a girl entering together. Even if they weren't dating, as long as they came as a male-female pair, they'd be let in.
Luckily, there weren't too many people in line. Only a few couples were waiting their turn. Off to the side, a small group of boys stood awkwardly, watching from a distance. They clearly wanted to go in but didn't have a partner.
Looking at that, it really did feel like there were a lot of single guys in this school.
『Hmm? Isn't that Ayanokouji-kun? 』
"Hah? Ayanokouji-kun?"
Kushida turned toward where Kumagawa was looking. Sure enough, Ayanokouji was standing in line at the fortune teller's shop—with a short-haired girl next to him. Her back was turned, but something about her looked familiar.
She couldn't quite place who it was, but there was no doubt she'd seen that girl before.
"Should we greet them, Kumagawa-kun?"
『What's this, Kushida-chan? Don't tell me you failed to make up with Ayanokouji-kun, and now you're trying to smooth things over?』
"..."
Of course he was talking about the rooftop incident—where he'd recorded everything about the fabricated evidence. Because of that, her relationship with Ayanokouji had taken a nosedive.
To put it simply, she didn't like him.
"Of course not..."
『I see. Then it's a good thing I asked first. 』
Kushida ignored his comment and started walking toward Ayanokouji and his partner. Kumagawa followed right behind her.
Ayanokouji and the girl beside him seemed to be next in line, waiting for the pair inside the tent to finish their reading.
As they approached, Kushida slowed her pace slightly, trying to get a better look at the girl beside Ayanokouji.
Ayanokouji noticed them first. His expression didn't change.
"Yo," he greeted flatly.
"What a coincidence. I didn't expect to see you here." Kushida gave a forced smile.
The girl beside him finally turned around.
"Ah—"
Now she remembered.
It was Ibuki Mio from Class B.
No wonder she looked familiar. Kushida still remembered how she often hang around Ryuuen and the rest of his group. There was also the time she acted as a spy during the island exam.
Kumagawa was the one who told her all that, since she didn't really get involved in that exam outside of keeping her class morale up.
"What are you looking at?"
Ibuki's tone was sharp the moment she noticed them. At first, Kushida thought she was talking to both of them, but she realized her glare was focused entirely on Kumagawa.
She glanced sideways.
Kumagawa, as usual, greeted her with a relaxed smile, waving lightly like they were on friendly terms.
『Hey there, Ahoge-chan.』
"..."
『Ahahaha. Ignored even after going out of my way to say hi. Well, it's not my first time, so I'm used to it. 』
"Tch." Ibuki clicked her tongue but didn't say anything else.
Then, suddenly—
"You."
"Me?"
Ibuki turned toward Kushida, pointing at her directly. The gesture was abrupt and a bit rude, but Kushida decided to brush it off with a calm smile. She was already used to difficult personalities.
"Kushida, right? Is it really true that you're childhood friends with this guy?"
She was probably referring to Kumagawa.
It wasn't exactly true, but Kushida had gone through a lot of effort to steer the rumor away from "dating" into something a little easier to manage.
Childhood friends.
Dating rumors were annoying, especially when you were the target. Kushida had spent the last week carefully change the narrative from "dating" to "childhood friends."
That way, no one would question why she and Kumagawa were so close, even though they weren't in a relationship. Because when people saw a boy and a girl together, their minds automatically jumped to romance. That's just how it was.
So Kushida worked hard to downplay the dating rumor and reinforce a much perfect excuses to swallow: they were childhood friends.
Why did she think it was the perfect excuse?
Because it came with the magic phrase—"we've known each other for years."
A magical explanation that made everything else make sense.
It was a believable excuse.
But it wasn't without flaws.
"That's weird. If you two are childhood friends, shouldn't you have recognized each other back in April? Like, during the entrance ceremony or the class introductions?" Ayanokouji said casually.
Kushida gave him a sharp glare for just a second before quickly returning to her usual expression.
She had prepared for most questions, but Ayanokouji had a way of making things unnecessarily complicated. Was this his way of getting back at her? She couldn't help but wonder.
Of course, Ayanokouji noticed the brief glare, but he didn't comment on it. From his perspective, it was simple curiosity. He genuinely wondered if the story about her and Kumagawa being childhood friends was true.
So, he couldn't understand the sudden hostility in her attitude.
"Well... we just knew each other a long time ago and lost touch. I only realized it after we had a proper conversation. Right, Kumagawa-kun?" she replied smoothly.
After speaking, Kushida glanced at Kumagawa, who had been watching the exchange with visible amusement.
What she wanted from him now was simple.
Just play along.
And all she could do was hope he understood her unspoken request.
『That's right. Kushida-chan is my dearest childhood friend since the age of four. It's no surprise she didn't recognize me. My hair used to be white back then. Here, look—this is me with my beloved, now missing, doll. 』
Kumagawa pulled out a piece of paper and showed them an old photo from his childhood.
Even back then, the strange atmosphere around him hadn't changed. If anything, it looked worse. It wasn't something they could explain clearly, but the discomfort was there the moment they saw it.
Kushida glanced at the photo, a little surprised by his sudden action. Still, her expression stayed composed.
It turned out better than she expected.
With this, no one would question why she didn't recognize him. The Kumagawa from back then and the one now looked different enough—aside from that lingering uncomfortable presence.
Still, why did he even have that photo?
Did he carry it around all the time?
Either way, it worked out. A wonderful coincidence
"Next, please."
A soft voice called out from inside the tent.
"I guess it's our turn," Ayanokouji said.
"Hmph."
Without waiting, Ibuki stepped into the tent ahead of him. Even though they were supposed to go in as a pair, she clearly didn't care.
『』『』『』『』『』
After Ayanokouji and Ibuki entered the tent, Kumagawa and Kushida returned to their spot in line and waited patiently. It seemed that each pair took about fifteen minutes for their reading, which meant they had to stand around a little longer.
Once Ayanokouji and Ibuki were done, two more pairs were still ahead of them. That meant another thirty minutes of waiting.
When they finally stepped out of the tent, Ibuki walked away without saying a word. Ayanokouji followed her from behind, keeping some distance. It looked like Ibuki didn't want to come near Kumagawa for some reason. She left the moment their reading was over.
At the very least, she gave a small nod in their direction—barely acknowledging them.
Still, Kushida felt it was bad manners.
Kumagawa didn't seem to care in the slightest.
"Next, please."
The voice from the tent called out again.
It was finally their turn.
When they stepped inside, the atmosphere changes completely. The interior looked like something straight out of a TV show. Dim lighting—probably no more than 30 lux filled the chamber.
In the center sat the fortune teller, her face mostly hidden under a dark hood. A thick, old-looking book lay open in front of her, and beside it was a crystal ball that looked almost too cliché to be real.
The whole setup gave off the same vibe as those shady shops you'd see in late-night dramas.
『Appointmenter-chan, Appointmenter-chan, look at that. Doesn't this feel like one of those mysterious characters from anime who gives advice to the protagonist, then vanishes after? 』
"Yeah... it definitely looks like that."
The atmosphere was just right—exactly what she imagined.
As she and Kumagawa stood in front of the fortune teller, Kushida braced herself. She expected something cool or mysterious, especially with all the rumors going around that this place was the real deal.
But what came out of the fortune teller's mouth was completely unexpected.
"Geh."
Huh?
Did she hear that right?
Kushida blinked. She must've misheard.
But no... she definitely heard a disgusted voice just now.
She glanced at Kumagawa.
He was staring straight at the fortune teller.
But that wasn't the issue.
What caught her attention was how Kumagawa kept staring at her in silence.
『Hmm...』
"....."
For some reason, the two of them seemed locked in a staring contest. Neither moved. Neither spoke.
Kushida looked between them, a little confused.
What's going on?
『Ah! 』
Kumagawa suddenly raised his voice, like he had just remembered something important.
『Are you supposed to be one of Anshin'in-san's terminals? 』
Kushida didn't understand what he was talking about.
"Terminal...?" she asked, tilting her head.
The fortune teller didn't respond right away.
"...I don't know what you're talking about."
『There's no need to lie. I've already been getting harassed by Anshin'in-san since yesterday, so seeing you here well, it's obvious. You're one of her terminals, right? No point in denying it.』
Kumagawa spoke with confidence. He had already made up his mind.
"...How did you know?"
That was fast.
Kushida had expected her to deny the accusation longer, whatever it meant. Though she didn't understand the full context, it was easy to tell this fortune teller had a unique personality.
『Anshin-in-san, told me that I have good eyes and also a good instint. 』
The fortune teller scoffed.
"Absolutely good eyes and instinct they are. Truly impressive levels of rotting."
She reached up and pulled back her hood.
She looked young—probably mid-twenties. But her expression was far from welcoming. The way she looked at Kumagawa made it clear that she didn't like who she was seeing.
"Um... what's going on?"
Kushida couldn't help but ask.
As soon as they entered, Kumagawa started throwing around unfamiliar terms like "terminals" and brought up that name again—Anshin'in-san. Someone she only knew from his strange dreams.
So... she's real?
"Kumagawa-kun, do you know who she is? Do you two know each other?"
『No, no, we've never met before, and I don't know who she is at all. But it seems like she knows who I am. 』
That made even less sense.
It wasn't strange if someone already knew about Kumagawa Misogi. For some reason, even the second and third-years seemed to know him. She didn't understand how, but it was definitely happening—or so she heard.
But this fortune teller was an outsider. So maybe they were acquaintances, or had some kind of history together. That would've made sense.
Except... that didn't seem to be the case either.
But the way Kumagawa-kun phrased it now, it felt like it carried a different nuance to it.
"Um... then how exactly do you know Kumagawa-kun, Miss Fortune Teller?"
Since it was useless expecting an answer from Kumagawa, Kushida turned her attention to the mature one instead. Hopefully, she's act her age, and just tell it without a roundbaout way like Kumagawa used to do.
"From Anshin'in-san, of course," she said plainly.
"..."
It felt like the conversation was going nowhere.
Seriously, what's wrong with both of them?
『Anyway, what's one of Anshin'in-san's terminals doing here? Did she send you, just like how I got here? If that's the case, it seems her pre-recorded personality hasn't changed a bit. 』
"What are you even talking about? I was born here. I live here."
『Hmm? So you're just a castaway then?』
"Castaway? Of course not. And besides, I'm not the only terminal in this world. Last I checked, there were around 500,000 of us—born, living, and eventually dying just like everything else. Though that's only what I personally know. There might be even more that I'm unaware of. Also, I'm not like some Villager A in a fantasy RPG. I don't carry a big glowing exclamation mark over my head. People don't just stand around waiting to answer every little question you throw at them. In this world, things aren't that convenient—there's no such thing as someone giving you answers for free without expecting something in return."
『Ahaha. But aren't Anshin'in-san's terminals made for that purpose? 』
"...That's the worst insult you could give to the likes of us."
The fortune teller eyes narrowed. She seemed exceedingly displeased.
Honestly, with the way things were going, Kushida felt like it wouldn't be strange if the woman suddenly hurled the crystal ball at Kumagawa's face. She really didn't fully grasp the context, but it seemed correct to assume that Kumagawa-kun had provoked her somehow.
To keep that scenario from escalating, Kushida decided to speak up.
"Um... what exactly are you two talking about? Anshin'in-san, terminals, pre-recorded personalities... It really feels like I'm the only one being left out."
Of course, it wouldn't be that big of a problem if the crystal ball actually hit Kumagawa-kun directly in the face. But right now, her curiosity outweighed that fleeting sense of satisfaction.
『Hmm? You can think of them as part of Anshin'in-san. Like a company with five hundred thousand employees, where she's both the heart and the editor-in-chief. Except she doesn't take any responsibility. All of it gets dumped onto the employees instead. 』
Although he gave an answer, it still didn't change the fact that she had no idea what was going on—or what any of it even meant.
All she could gather from that brief and vague explanation was that "terminals" probably referred to subordinates or something like that. If that was the case, then honestly, it sounded kind of cool. A bit chuuni, maybe, but cool in its own way.
Still, it sounded like a very tyrannical way of ruling.
No responsibilities, all the control.
This Anshin'in-san seemed to live quite a free life.
"I just don't understand," the fortune teller muttered.
『What is it? 』
"Why Anshin'in-san would send you to this place. Based on what I've heard about you from other terminals, sending you into a place like this—among students—should've been a disaster waiting to happen."
Kushida once again had no idea what they were talking about.
Strange terms like "terminals," this talk of "sending" someone to a school, and that name again—Anshin'in-san. At first, she thought Kumagawa had made it up, just one of his dream-like delusions. But now, it was clear: Anshin'in-san was real. And not just real, but someone both of them knew.
Though she usually wouldn't care about something this disconnected from her, the fact that she was completely left out of the conversation bothered her more than she expected.
"Um... Why is it weird that this Anshin'in-san sent Kumagawa-kun to this school?" she asked. "Isn't this school supposed to be for elites? Why would it be strange?"
To her, this Anshin'in-san sounded like a guardian or a sponsor of some sort. Maybe a parental figure in Kumagawa's life—or a replacement for one.
The fortune teller turned her gaze toward Kushida for the first time.
"You must be Kushida Kikyou, right? His current partner."
"..."
How did she know her name?
She was certain no one had mentioned it in the conversation so far.
Is this what a real fortune teller was supposed to be like?
"...Currently, yes," Kushida replied after a short pause.
Even though she felt uneasy when someone referred to them as a pair, under the current circumstances, it wasn't a stretch to call them partners. After all, that was the prerequisite just to enter this place.
But somehow... it felt like it meant something else.
"You must be not know what kind of person Kumagawa Misogi right?"
"What kind of person Kumagawa-kun is...?"
Kushida repeated the question to herself, unsure how to answer. What kind of person was he?
Well, if she had to say... he was troublesome. Annoying. A burden in every possible way. He always acted on his own, dragged people into his problem, and never seemed to follow any kind of common sense that normal people could understand.
A baggage of a person. That's what he was.
"Though this is just what I've heard from Anshin'in-san," she began, "Kumagawa Misogi is the kind of person with the worst possible personality. A true Minus. And not just any Minus—he's considered the worst among even them."
Kushida didn't react with surprise. If anything, she only nodded slightly, like she'd heard something obvious. It wasn't news to her. She didn't need someone else to tell her that Kumagawa had a twisted personality. She'd experienced it firsthand.
But there was one thing she still didn't understand.
"Uhm... I think I'm starting to get it a little, but what exactly is a 'Minus' supposed to be?" she said slowly.
Minus.
She'd heard Kumagawa refer to himself that way before, more than once. At first, she thought it was just a made up word, something he made up to frame himself in a negative light. But now that she was hearing it again from someone else, it didn't seem like something that simple.
Hearing that question, the fortune teller gave Kumagawa a glance, as if silently telling him to deal with it himself. She didn't look particularly interested in offering an explanation.
『Mmm... 』
Kumagawa gave the fortune teller a pensive look.
『Well, alright. 』 he said. 『Thankfully, I have a pathological distaste for pushing my own work onto someone else... I feverishly hate it, but, well, I guess it's fine if it's Kushida-chan, I guess. 』
"..."
『So, you want to know what "Minus" means, and what's the best way to explain it, right? 』
"Uh, yeah. Well, it doesn't have to be the best or anything. Just... understandable, at least."
『I see, I see. Got it. I've perfectly understood your selfish demand.』
"..."
There it was again.
That feeling. The kind of irritation that builds up one grain of sand at a time. But strangely, the more annoyed she got, the more she didn't want to back down. Because if she did, it would feel like a loss somehow.
『To put it in a simpler term, it's the strongest of the weak. 』
"....?"
『In this world, everything can be differentiated by two sides. Light and darkness, good and evil, poison and antidote, winning and losing, strength and weakness, black and white, success and failure. One way or the other, there is one side that is always advantageous, and the other side that is always disadvantageous. 』
He raised his finger.
『Plus, and minus. 』
"Plus and minus...."
『The dumb and the smart. The talentless and the gifted. The ignorant and the educated. The poor and the wealthy. The losers and the winners. As long as there are people in this world who have stable relationships, important work, and meaningful victories, then there will also be people who only have fragile relationships, useless work, and empty victories. 』
Although it was a little broad to categorize people who weren't "abnormals" as plus or minus, it was still the easiest way to explain things.
After all, this world didn't have the concept of "skills" or "skill holders."
So trying to define someone as talentless or weak wasn't entirely accurate—it was vague at best. But when looking at people through the lens of circumstance rather than ability, the terms became easier to understand.
That was why Kumagawa used them.
"But... isn't that just how the world works?" Kushida said. "You're talking like the hardship, suffering, and trauma of a 'minus' is something different from what anyone else goes through."
It was a good question.
Why make a distinction?
Suffering, trauma, hardship—those things couldn't be measured or compared.
Everyone had their own pain, and no two experiences were ever truly the same. So what made a "minus" any different from other people with similar struggles? Why draw a line between one kind of suffering and another?
『Hmm... now that I think about it, it's kind of strange that I haven't questioned that myself before... Ah, right. For example—someone once said this. "One's life is plus minus zero." 』
"Plus minus zero...? Like, it all evens out in the end?"
『Exactly. Those words were spoken by some unknown man, in some unknown place, at some unknown point in time. He probably wanted to say that everyone is equal. That no matter the differences in upbringing, circumstances, or skills, we all experience the same emotions. Joy, sadness, love, loss—everyone has a share of both the good and the bad.』
"...I guess that sounds fair," she said slowly. "Isn't that how most people think?"
『Probably. But that's exactly why I can say this for sure—the person who said "plus minus zero" wasn't a minus. It's only someone who still has hope left that can say something philosophical like that. Someone who still believes things will eventually balance out. At the very least... we minuses couldn't think like that. 』
Kushida went silent for a moment, mulling it over.
"But why...? Isn't the end goal for any human to be happy? Whether you're a plus or a minus... isn't that what we're all chasing?"
She wasn't trying to argue. It was an honest question.
Whether someone was fortunate or unfortunate, successful or not, wasn't the point. Everyone struggled for something. Everyone suffered at times. But in the end, didn't they all want the same thing?
Happiness.
So then, why separate it?
Why call some people "minuses," like they were something fundamentally different?
She looked at Kumagawa, waiting for his answer.
『Wanting to be happy and actually being able to be happy are two completely different things. 』
He said it plainly, as if it were obvious.
『We Minus are the kind of people who live under extreme circumstances. We accept every bit of misfortune that comes our way. Reckless challenges, making a fool of ourselves, getting laughed at, failing over and over again—no matter what kind of misery we face, we always laugh in the face of extreme adversity. 』
That was what made them different from the rest.
Of course, Kushida still didn't fully understand what it meant. But she felt like she was beginning to grasp the gist of it.
"...So you're saying a Minus is someone who lives through the worst circumstances, always smiling and laughing through it all, and ends up developing twisted personalities and tendencies because of it?"
『Yup. Usually, they're someone who's not right in the head.』
"Right..."
Well, if that's the case, then Kumagawa Misogi was someone who fit the concept of a Minus perfectly. While it was true that he seemed like someone with a few loose screws, it was probably more accurate to say the screws were missing altogether.
"Now, are you two done? If so, get out of my shop. I'm trying to work here."
The fortune-teller, who had been mostly quiet until now, finally spoke. She had spent the entire time just watching and listening to Kumagawa's explanation.
To be honest, Kushida hadn't expected things to turn out like this. It felt like there was a side of Kumagawa Misogi she still didn't know. Despite his usual attitude and behavior, he seemed a lot more complicated than he looked.
『Why? You haven't even read our fortune yet. Isn't it unprofessional for someone trying to make a living to kick out customers halfway through? I still don't understand my own fortune, so I can't leave until I do. 』
For someone who called himself a Minus, he sure acted full of confidence.
『Also, now that I think about it... how come you know so much about me? Aren't you supposed to be from this place? 』
"Well, even though we're treated as independent entities now, it's not like we're clueless about what happened in that place. Using one of her skills, Memory Patch, she gave us information about it. But in this case, Anshin'in-san only allowed access to events related to Hakoniwa Academy and a few others she approved. Since there's no concept of skills or skill holders in this world, it's just one-sided information from her to us. We had no choice but to accept it."
『I see... Then, did Anshin'in-san send you here the same way she sent terminals to Suisou Academy back then?』
"Suisou Academy? Ah, you mean that thing where she had some of her terminals to host a game that led to your expulsions? No, it's nothing like that. In fact, we haven't even heard from her since what happened at Hakoniwa academy. She basically cut ties and let us live normal lives."
『Ahaha, so you've been tossed aside. 』
Expelled..
.
Kushida, who had been quietly listening, had no idea what they were talking about.
But from the sound of it, Kumagawa and this Anshin'in-san had quite a colorful school life back then.
『But why would she give you information about what happened at Hakoniwa? Even though she loves doing things without asking, this doesn't sound like her usual tendencies.』
"Hmm... I suppose so. Well, let's just say I got caught up in one of her prototype projects that happened to be here. My job is just to carry out the project as Anshin'in-san told me to. It's a simple job that anyone can do."
『Prototype... 』
"Well, sooner or later, Anshin'in-san will drag you into the mess like she always does. And when that happens, she'll probably explain it herself. If she doesn't, just think of it as one of her usual pranks."
The fortune-teller spoke without a single change in her expression.
"Um... this Anshin'in-san person—just from listening to all this—why would she involve Kumagawa in somekind of problem like that?" Kushida asked.
It was a question that, on the surface, had nothing to do with her. Kushida didn't even know who this "Anshin'in-san" was supposed to be. But if there was even the slightest chance her own problems had reached Kumagawa's ears, then that meant she might get caught up in it too.
And that was the last thing she wanted.
『It can't be helped. That in itself is probably her way of harassing me. 』
"Harassing? Is she the kind of person that harasses people, that 'Anshin'in-san'?"
『Well, it's not like she isn't. She's the kind of person who loves turning her own problems into someone else's. She has that tendency. 』
"...That's awful."
Turning her own problems into someone else's.
From the way they talked, Kumagawa seemed to be fairly close to this Anshin'in-san. Which, in a way, explained a lot. That habit of dragging others into his mess... he probably picked it up from her.
"Now that you two are done, please get out from my shop."
The fortune-teller interrupted, chasing them out again. But before Kumagawa could fire back with another complaint, she added her reason.
"I can't even read your fortune, so you should just get the hell out of here. You already spent more than fifteen minutes in here. So please just go...."
This time, she didn't even hide the exhaustion in her voice. She looked at Kumagawa like she was begging him to understand.
She must've realized that Kumagawa wasn't going to give up easily. But even so, she made it clear—she couldn't read his fortune. Did that mean she was a fraud? Kushida naturally thought so. But right as the thought crossed her mind, the fortune-teller turned her gaze toward her—like she'd read it straight out of her head.
"Before you start thinking I'm a fraud, you should know that Kumagawa is fundamentally unpredictable. He's the kind of person who betrays your expectations by not betraying them. And if he doesn't betray them directly, he'll find some backwards way to twist them anyway. That's what Anshin'in-san told me." she said flatly. "In terms of fortune, he's even worse than that Tenchuusatsu boy from earlier."
It was a definitive statement with no room for interpretation and no opportunity for late throws.
"So it's pointless to read his fortune. He'll make sure it never comes true."
『Huhuhu, you're making me blush. 』
Kumagawa smiled like a child who felt proud just for causing trouble.
But... what's a Tenchuusatsu? Was it some kind of fortune-teller jargon? Kushida didn't understand, but she figured she'd look it up later.
"I see... Then what about me?" Kushida asked.
Even if Kumagawa was hopeless, she had waited nearly half an hour for this. Leaving without anything felt like a waste.
"You? As long as Kumagawa stays near you, there's not much I can do. His presence distorts the outcome." Said the fortune-teller
As expected...
For some reason, she had that feeling ever since it was explained that Kumagawa's fortune couldn't be read. It reminded her of something she'd read once—"Quantum Entanglement". Of course, she didn't fully understand how it worked. But there was one line from that book that stuck with her:
'Entanglement means what happens to one, happens to the other—even if no one else can see the connection.'
That seemed to fit what was happening now.
The "unpredictable" person with uncertain behavior—and the one who stays close to them becomes entangled through that connection. As a result, her own fortune becomes unclear, just like how an entangled particle takes on the uncertainty of its pair.
In other words, Because of Kumagawa, her own future had become unclear too.
Still, wasn't the fortune-teller being a bit too casual about this? At the very least, she could've shown a hint of concern. That's what adults were supposed to do, right? Act responsible. Offer guidance, especially when a high schooler was getting involved with someone like Kumagawa.
And more so when she clearly knew what kind of person he was.
"But I'll say one thing, consider it advice." the fortune-teller added.
She looked at Kushida and spoke plainly.
"Soon, you'll get caught in something troublesome. And it'll take a long time and a lot of thinking before you can get out of it."
"...."
Kushida didn't even know how to respond. That wasn't advice. That was just bad news. This fortune-teller clearly needed someone to explain what the word advice actually meant.
"Now that's done, it's time to pay up."
『We still have to pay, even though we didn't even get a reading? Isn't that what you call anarchy?』
"Consider it compensation for wasting my time. And no, it's called extortion, not anarchy. Completely different concept."
Isnt that just way worse?
Kushida naturally thought that way.
『Well, okay. Here you go... Mrs. Tossed-aside fortune-teller? 』
"It's Uranaiya Urushione! Now get out. There's a line of customers who've been waiting for over twenty minutes."
In the end, Kumagawa handed over 5,000 points for what could hardly be called a fortune-telling session.
For something advertised as fortune-telling, it was impressive how not a single thing actually resembled it.
『END』
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