Gao Hai felt a little awkward.
Faced with the two girls confronting each other, he almost subconsciously wanted to blurt out a line from some ridiculous commercial like, 'Don't fight, our operators are standing by!'
Hasn't Kaguya always been pretty cold to me? Why does she suddenly want to talk to me alone?
"I just have some private matters to discuss with Gao-kun. Or is it that you, Maki, feel that me getting too close to your boyfriend makes you uneasy? Do you feel like I might steal him away? If your self-esteem has fallen to such a level, then I won't discuss this with him."
As Gao Hai was still thinking, Kaguya, facing Maki's wary attitude, simply stated this with a deadpan expression.
"W-W-Who said he's my boyfriend?! I'm just worried you're going to trick him or something! And wait a minute, since when did you start calling him Gao-kun?"
Provoked by the keyword Kaguya had deliberately emphasized, the girl's face immediately flushed red as she waved her small hands and shouted.
"Ara, you think I would deceive Gao-kun? For the eldest daughter of the esteemed Shijo family to have such a childish thought... As a member of our team, what purpose would deceiving Gao-kun serve? Besides, to think that a simple form of address could provoke such a reaction from you. How cute."
A smile played on Kaguya's lips, and her words took on a teasing tone.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on here? Are you two acting out a scene from a light novel?"
Sensing something was off, Gao Hai interjected, but it was clear he was a step too late. Kaguya's provocation had completely set Maki off.
"I don't care what you want to say! Hmph, do whatever you two want, say whatever you want!"
Gritting her teeth, Maki stomped her foot, then turned and ran off. Seeing that Gao Hai intended to follow, she shot him a warning glare.
It was clear that Kaguya's words had provoked Maki and made the girl panic. Even so, Gao Hai had no intention of acting like a typical kind-hearted Japanese protagonist, standing around helplessly. He was going to follow Maki.
But then, Kaguya's hand grabbed him from behind, clamping down on him like a vise. Without using his full strength, Gao Hai really couldn't break free. As a result, he was a step too late, and Maki had run off to who-knows-where.
"Couldn't you just talk normally? Why did you have to make it like this?"
By the time Gao Hai reached the hallway, he couldn't find Maki anywhere, so he could only turn back to Kaguya in exasperation.
"This is actually better. It will make her more clearly aware of her possessiveness towards you."
Kaguya's expression didn't change as she spoke nonchalantly. Seeing her like this, Gao Hai even suspected she was enjoying it to some extent.
"So what is it that's so important we had to drive Maki away and talk in private? Couldn't it have been done over the phone or something?"
Returning to the room, he closed the door.
Gao Hai spoke as he pulled out a chair and sat down, looking directly at Kaguya and asking bluntly.
At this moment, with the departure of Itsuki Ogawa's and Nanami Aoyama's groups and Maki's flight, only Gao Hai and Kaguya remained in the room. There was no one else.
"Before we set out to come here, you suggested I take action against my family. I want to know why you brought up that topic."
Pulling out a chair as well, Kaguya sat directly opposite Gao Hai and didn't beat around the bush, immediately asking the question she wanted answered.
She was hung up on that?
Kaguya's words made Gao Hai realize at once that the girl had probably been dwelling on this ever since he'd mentioned it on the phone that morning. She had only temporarily suppressed her thoughts because more important matters were at hand.
"I just think your family situation is a real hassle."
Knowing why she had kept him behind, Gao Hai relaxed and answered casually.
"A hassle?"
Kaguya's brow gradually furrowed.
"To me, you're decisive and a strong woman of action. Having you as a teammate gives me a lot of peace of mind. But because of your family's inexplicable control, there are many things you can't participate in. Whether it was investigating the player market or the incident when Maki was attacked, you couldn't be there in person. From my perspective, all I see is trouble, which is why I couldn't help but butt in."
Gao Hai crossed his legs, explaining his thoughts quite frankly.
"...Even so, to directly suggest threatening my brothers... your way of thinking is quite unusual. It makes me wonder just what kind of person you are."
Kaguya fell silent for a long time before she slowly spoke, staring at Gao Hai with a blank expression.
Her words sounded somewhat uncomfortable.
But from that word, "wonder," Gao Hai realized that the girl's attitude was actually softening. She was now openly voicing her "doubts" to his face, instead of secretly sending people to investigate and tail him like before.
So, he lowered his head, thought for a moment, then looked up at the girl before him and slowly began to speak:
"What kind of person am I... well, let me think. A handsome, sunny boy? An outstanding new player? That might sound a bit narcissistic, but I think it's more or less accurate. Of course, I'm probably not a good person. I get upset when I see bad things happen—for instance, after learning what happened at the Shirakawa Apartments, I wanted to slaughter those two animals, and I was genuinely grateful to Xusheng. But if I had been the one to encounter that family back then, I probably wouldn't have gotten involved. I can't do things like that. I can't be a noble person. I'm very self-aware on that point."
"For me, if someone helps me or is good to me, I'll return that trust and help in kind. For those who can cooperate well and provide support, I'll conditionally reciprocate with what I can do. As for those who are completely useless, I can only say I won't have time to think about them in an emergency. And for those who only cause trouble, I'll consider whether or not to give them a punch. Maybe my way of thinking and acting is a little different from ordinary people. After all, a normal person doesn't usually think about taking someone out just because they don't get along, but that's truly the kind of person I am."
"As for my opinion on how to handle your family... well, maybe I'm thinking about it the wrong way, but from the tone and attitude you use when you talk about them, I don't sense much affection. When you mention your brothers and your father, it's more like you're discussing strangers you happen to share blood with. And the curfew and all the rules for going out that you have to endure... to put it bluntly, it's like they're raising a pet. If I were in your situation and had the power to fight back, I would absolutely refuse to tolerate such restrictions."
As Gao Hai spoke, he observed the girl's reaction.
But no matter what he said, Kaguya maintained her expressionless facade, always hiding her true reactions behind a mask, refusing to reveal even a hint.
Only after he finished and the room fell silent did Kaguya speak again:
"You are indeed very frank, very direct, and also very narcissistic."
As she said this, Gao Hai thought he could vaguely sense a hint of disdain in her gaze.
"For me, how should I put this... you're truly a rather special guy. I feel that among everyone I've ever met, you might be the most special one. So special that my common sense and way of thinking don't quite apply to you."
Then, the girl sighed softly and continued, her voice gradually taking on a helpless tone.
"Regarding my family's affairs... I will handle them myself. After becoming a player, I am indeed no longer the same person I was. I think that one day, I will confront my family head-on and break free from the cage they've planned for me. I will seriously consider your advice. Thank you, Gao-kun. I believe your existence has genuinely broadened my horizons and my way of thinking."
Standing up, the girl bowed her head slightly toward Gao Hai.
Not expecting Kaguya to be so formal, Gao Hai couldn't remain seated. He stood up and accepted her gesture, feeling a bit awkward.
"You're making me feel really embarrassed, you know."
Feeling awkward, Gao Hai scratched his cheek.
"Oh? The guy who can trick a girl into a kiss without batting an eye can actually feel embarrassed?"
Kaguya's gaze sharpened.
"Ahem, I thought I was about to kick the bucket back then. Besides, being lewd is in my nature, but on matters unrelated to lewdness, I still care about my pride."
Gao Hai coughed lightly, replying to Kaguya with great shyness (?).
"...I really can't see that. Honestly, you're the most thick-skinned person I've ever met."
This time, Kaguya chose her words carefully before managing to speak. To be honest, after learning that Gao Hai had nearly pushed Maki down, she found it very difficult to look at the man before her in a serious light and had even wondered if he was the incarnation of desire or something.
"Haha, thank you for the compliment. Anyway, if there's nothing else, I should go find Maki. It seems the kid misunderstood something, so I should probably explain things to her properly."
Seeing that Kaguya didn't seem to have anything more to say, Gao Hai turned to leave.
However, just as he was about to reach the door, Kaguya, who had fallen silent, suddenly spoke again.
"Gao-kun..."
Turning his head, Gao Hai saw her hesitant expression.
"To be honest, I still don't quite understand. You and Maki have only known each other for a few days. Is such a short amount of time enough to warrant such deep devotion from you?"
The girl asked with great earnestness.
After their conversation in this small room, that cold mask seemed to have cracked, just a little.
And so, she finally asked Gao Hai this question, the one she had been intensely curious about and had wanted an answer to.
Love.
To invest feelings in each other, to like each other, to be intimate.
In Kaguya's view, such things were utterly boring and completely meaningless.
[Do not rely on others, only use them; do not accept favors, only take; do not fall in love with others, there are no exceptions.]
The girl, who had grown up under these three utterly twisted Shinomiya family precepts, had always found it difficult to understand how Maki Shijo, a fellow daughter of a financial conglomerate, could treat others with kindness. She couldn't comprehend the lovey-dovey couples at school. The value of a person was solely based on their utility; everything else was irrelevant. Having had this mindset drilled into her since childhood, the girl finally voiced her confusion today, directing her inquiry at someone she didn't know how to describe, someone who seemed to be from another world.
"Because it's what I want to do, so I just do it."
But Gao Hai simply answered Kaguya's question with nonchalance.
"Why does there have to be a reason? So what if it's been a short time? I like girls like her, and she doesn't dislike me, so I'm going to find a way to be with her. That's my thinking, and I just act on it. This need to assign meaning to every person and every event seems really boring to me. When you like something or someone, you should proactively go after it and grab it. Besides, didn't you say it yourself? I'm the most thick-skinned person you've ever met. That's my character trait, so of course, I have to live up to it, right?"
Gao Hai chuckled and answered casually as he reached out and opened the door.
"Because of her personality? Her looks? Or what?"
Seemingly unsatisfied with his answer, Kaguya pressed on.
"Well, her personality, of course, I like it. She's both haughty and shy, which makes her fun to tease, and she's also caring like a little angel. Who wouldn't like a girl like that? Her appearance is a bonus, of course. In fact, a girl that pretty and cute is dream-girl level. Of course, ahem, her figure also has its points. Her skin has a great texture, that delicate feeling of being just a handful, and, ahem, wait, it's not appropriate to discuss this with you. Anyway, being petite has its advantages. For me, a girl you can just scoop up and hold in your arms is really great, you know!"
As his last sentence fell, Gao Hai had already stepped outside and placed his hand on the head of Maki, who had been hiding behind the door trying to eavesdrop.
The sounds at the doorway devolved into chaos for a moment. Amidst Maki's flustered and angry struggles, the two of them walked further away. Kaguya, who had been sitting frozen in her chair, only came back to her senses after a long while, and then she took a deep breath.
That man... the look in his eyes when he mentioned Maki's figure at the end was truly terrifying, like a carnivore.
Kaguya couldn't help but think of him tricking her into a kiss in the ruins.
When you want something, you should proactively go after it?
And he likes the type you can pick up and hold in your arms?
His target is just Maki, right? It doesn't include others of the same type, does it?!
Suddenly realizing that her height, weight, and build were all similar to Maki's, Kaguya became inexplicably nervous for a moment, yet she didn't know where this tension was coming from.
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