Chika Fujiwara.
Height 154cm, visually estimated to be an E-cup or larger.
She is a second-year high school student at Shuchiin Academy and a good friend of Kaguya Shinomiya—in fact, she could be considered Kaguya Shinomiya's only friend.
In the original work, this girl had a rather unique personality, a whimsical existence who did as she pleased. Her character had a somewhat naive side, yet also possessed a dark, scheming streak and a destructive desire to stir up trouble. In a way, she and the relatively old-fashioned and conservative Kaguya were like polar opposites.
Incidentally, although she earned the title 'Cancer of the Earth' in the early parts of the story for her chaotic personality and the trouble she caused the protagonists, she later became one of the characters who was constantly tormented, which is an interesting development.
However, none of that had anything to do with the current Gao Hai.
Facing this cute girl with her magnificent figure, Gao Hai merely glanced at her before naturally averting his gaze. He turned to the owner of the ramen shop, casually ordered a bowl of tonkotsu ramen, and sat down to wait.
He didn't spare another look at the cute girl slurping noodles not far away.
Of course, this wasn't because Gao Hai had changed his personality—that was impossible. Gao Hai was, and always would be, a lecher, the kind of guy who would try to push a girl down if she didn't refuse a passionate kiss (though he did get kicked in the end). The reason he wasn't interested in Chika Fujiwara was that he was certain that he and this girl now belonged to two completely different, non-intersecting worlds. There was no need to engage with her.
His life was now measured month by month. If he ever encountered a Sacrificial Game instance where he used up all his rewind chances and still couldn't pass, his life would be over, with no future to speak of.
But the girl before him was the daughter of a political dynasty, the descendant of diplomats, living a privileged life. She was not in his circle at all. While the same was true for Kaguya and Maki, they were at least players like him. That shared status granted Gao Hai the right to interact and cooperate with them as equals. But with Chika Fujiwara, he couldn't find a single point of connection, and therefore had no intention of approaching her.
However, just as event branches in some gal games are forcibly shoved in the player's face by a sudden development, even if Gao Hai didn't initiate a conversation, Chika Fujiwara, having already noticed him, wasn't going to sit idly by. She immediately focused her gaze on him.
Gao Hai could feel her stare. There was no malice in it, perhaps just curiosity?
After all, the scene he had caused at Shuchiin was quite a big deal. Thinking back, many of his actions had been inappropriate, but at the time, he couldn't think about that. He just needed to see Maki and confirm she was okay to set his mind at ease.
The ramen was quickly served.
Mimicking the style of the Japanese people he'd seen over the past few days, Gao Hai said, "I'll dig in," and started eating his ramen.
His personal taste was on the lighter side; he didn't add garlic and didn't like his noodles too firm, but he always finished the broth. After a satisfying meal that left him full and refreshed, he paid and prepared to leave, only to turn and see Chika Fujiwara staring at him with a serious expression.
When Gao Hai entered the shop, her bowl had already been half-empty. Logically, she should have finished and left long ago, but she was still in her seat. The eager look on her face made it obvious she had been suffering through an agonizing wait for the gossip to come.
"Um, excuse me, are you Shijo-san's boyfriend?"
Perhaps from observing his interaction with the shop owner and confirming he wasn't some kind of potential threat, the girl who had been waiting for a while mustered her courage, leaned in a little closer, and asked with great curiosity.
This girl is huge.
Because they were face-to-face, Gao Hai's gaze couldn't help but stray slightly, but he quickly looked away.
"Yeah, I'm Maki's boyfriend. My name is Gao Hai."
Faced with Chika's question, Gao Hai answered without any hesitation.
"So straightforward... It really is love. Judging by the sound of your name, are you Chinese? Then I'll call you Gao-kun. You can just call me Fujiwara. Um, are you a student at a school somewhere? Or are you already working? That hug you gave at school the other day has become the hottest topic on campus lately, you know."
Seemingly because the topic of love came up, Chika Fujiwara's eyes visibly lit up, and her voice carried a hint of excitement.
"You could say I'm a working adult. I'm engaged in a job that can't be made public, a guardian working from the shadows, shouldering the future of all human civilization. Heh, just kidding. The way Maki and I met was... rather unique. Don't look at me like that. I'm not interested in sharing the details of my relationship with my girlfriend with outsiders."
Having no intention of chatting much with this love-gossip-loving girl, Gao Hai just said a few words casually before turning to leave with a cold expression, mentally remarking once again on her ample physique.
I've seen figures like that in adult films, but this is the first time in real life.
I didn't think much of it before, but comparing them now, both Maki and Kaguya seem pretty weak in terms of combat power. Ah, but of course, I'm not a breast man myself, so it doesn't really matter.
Compared to what was in the pot, Gao Hai found what was in his bowl to be more fragrant.
"Oh, is that so? What a shame..."
Behind him, Chika sighed. Although she desperately wanted to ask for more gossip, the girl, who at least knew how to be polite in front of strangers, didn't chase after him. She just frowned, contemplating whether she should try asking Maki Shijo at school tomorrow.
Beep beep—
His phone received a message.
Gao Hai opened it and saw a message from Maki in her typical style: 'There's no way I'd give you a reservation!'
His fingers moved, quickly typing and sending a reply, and the two began to chat.
[Gao Hai: I ran into a student from your school at the ramen shop. Seems like quite a few people are interested in our romance.]
[Maki Shijo: You have the nerve to say that? If you hadn't hugged me like that, how could this have blown up so much!]
[Gao Hai: I couldn't help it. I just wanted to see you so badly at that moment. Not security guards, not locked gates, not even laws or worldly morals could have stopped me in that state. Please try to understand.]
[Maki Shijo: You should really try to stop yourself when you're in 'that state'! You should be the one considering my difficulties! By the way, it's so late, what are you doing at a ramen shop? Did you just finish dinner? And was it a guy or a girl you met?]
[Gao Hai: A girl. Chika Fujiwara, do you know her?]
[Maki Shijo: A child of the Fujiwara family? Vaguely. I think she's in the game club... Wait, why did you run into her there? Was it a planned meeting? When did you get to know other students besides me and my great-aunt?]
[Gao Hai: I didn't. It was just a coincidence. I wouldn't have even known her name if she hadn't come up to me and asked about our relationship.]
[Maki Shijo: Sounds suspicious. And I haven't acknowledged you as my boyfriend yet!]
We've held hands, kissed, and hugged. The only thing left is the final step. How could we not be considered a couple? This girl's personality is just so stubborn.
Knowing Maki was just being difficult, Gao Hai smiled, not minding it at all, and prepared to send another teasing message.
He had just stepped out of the ramen shop and was walking slowly since he was texting, so he was still near the entrance. Behind him, inside the shop, Chika Fujiwara was saying goodbye to the owner; it seemed she had eaten here several times and was already familiar with him.
He thought he felt a faint chill.
Gao Hai stopped walking.
And at that exact moment, a message from Maki Shijo came through.
[Someone with obvious hostile intent is approaching. I might have a problem here. How are things on your end?]
There was no time to reply, because Gao Hai had already seen the figure emerge from the alley ahead.
And he felt the extremely intense malice emanating from her.
"A newbie who refused to sell his entry ticket at the market. I know the chances are slim, but I thought I'd ask anyway. Kiddo, was the first game you participated in the 'Shirakawa Apartments' instance?"
A woman in heavy makeup wore a seductive smile, yet radiated the malice of a viper ready to strike at any moment.
"Hey, is Gao-kun still at the—waaah!"
Chika Fujiwara, who was just about to leave the shop, spoke with some confusion before Gao Hai, without looking back, pressed her head down, pushed her back inside, and sent her tumbling to the floor. Ignoring her cry of pain, Gao Hai reached out, shut the shop door, grabbed a metal shovel that was leaning against the entrance, and jammed it through the hollow door handles to bar the door. Only then did he take a few steps forward to stand before the woman, smiling as he spoke:
"Take a guess."
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