Kato Megumi remained expressionless, but Hayama Kazuto felt his life was threatened.
Okamoto was certainly not bought by Sora Ginko, but it was absolutely not bought by Hayama Kazuto either! It was very likely that when Hayama Kazuto was checking out, it was accidentally mixed in! Hayama Kazuto was too embarrassed to check those items one by one, so he just bought them confusedly.
"No wonder a few small packs cost over four thousand yen at checkout; turns out I accidentally bought too many things," Hayama Kazuto said with a forced smile and a laugh.
"Is that so?"
Kato Megumi still had some doubts, but she reluctantly believed Hayama Kazuto, and a crisis was finally averted. Hayama Kazuto felt the pressure in his heart lessen by a few points.
"Is Megumi Kato still uncomfortable anywhere?"
"I'm fine; I feel much better after putting on the warm patches."
Although Kato Megumi's tone had not changed, the shift in her attitude was obvious.
"Then I'll take my leave. Does Megumi Kato need me to help her ask for leave tomorrow?" Hayama Kazuto was preparing to leave. It was getting late, and Kato Megumi's parents should be back soon. It wouldn't be good if it caused any misunderstandings. Especially the matter of him buying Okamoto; if Kato Megumi's parents found out, he might have to commit seppuku!
"No need! Tomorrow, I'll ask my father to drive me to school."
"Then, Megumi Kato, see you tomorrow." Hayama Kazuto walked to the door.
"Wait a moment, Hayama-kun."
"Does Megumi Kato have anything else?" Hayama Kazuto turned around.
"Take this with you." Kato Megumi extended her hand, turning her face away. Even the saint-like Megumi Kato, who was detached from worldly affairs, couldn't casually hand a box of Okamoto to a boy!
Hayama Kazuto lowered his head, took the small box from Kato Megumi's hand, and put it into his pocket: "Sorry, I just... forgot."
"Hayama-kun, can, can you wait for me to ask you two questions before you go?" Kato Megumi still had her face turned to the side, speaking softly.
"Please ask." Hayama Kazuto suddenly felt his heart beating much faster.
What is this feeling? Is it excessive phenylethylamine secretion or a surge of dopamine?
"Um, Hayama-kun, what did it feel like when you were carrying me on your back?"
The first question was a death trap, even more troublesome than the question Kato Megumi asked in the taxi. Hayama Kazuto still remembered that feeling of the air conditioning being too low.
After thinking for a moment, Hayama Kazuto felt it was better to answer honestly: "It felt soft on my back and a little springy, and then my body felt a bit warm, my breathing was slightly rapid, and, well, my mouth felt a bit dry."
"Hayama-kun is really terrible."
Although he didn't know why he was terrible, Hayama Kazuto wisely chose to keep quiet.
"There's one more thing I've wanted to ask for a long time, and I've been a bit concerned... Hmm, I hope Hayama-kun answers me seriously."
Hayama Kazuto nodded.
"Actually, I've had very little presence since I was little! Whether at school, on the street, or at home, I'm often forgotten or ignored. To use a popular term, I'm like an invisible person."
"After so many years, I've gotten used to being a 'little transparent'. It's quite nice to be alone. Teachers often overlook me when assigning chores, which means I've done a lot fewer chores! Originally, when I came to Toyonosaki to study, I was prepared to be unnoticed, but Hayama-kun actually remembered me on the first day."
"Hmm, Hayama-kun has a very good memory. Is it because he remembers everyone, which is why he remembered me?"
Kato Megumi was speaking the truth. She didn't dislike being a 'little transparent', but she was still very happy that someone could remember her and be friends with her.
"It's not that I remember everyone. For example, I haven't remembered a single member of my football club."
(Author: Nonsense, the Football Club members don't even have character designs, only jersey numbers. What can you remember?)"
"Megumi Kato is very special!"
Hayama Kazuto's answer was very serious. On the first day of school, he discovered Kato Megumi's unique quality—that ability to be invisible in a crowd and still influence her surroundings, which made Hayama Kazuto resolutely choose the seat next to Kato Megumi.
"Hmm..."
"Megumi Kato, then I'll go now..."
Seeing Kato Megumi remain silent for a long time, Hayama Kazuto decided to leave early. After all, he had promised Sora Ginko to play shogi with her after returning home.
"From now on, just call me Kato."
Chapter 11: Chance Encounter
After grabbing a quick bite at the train station, Hayama Kazuto walked home.
"Oh, right, doesn't Aki Tomoya like Sayuka's posters? Why don't I go to the bookstore again and ask? If they have any in stock, I'll give him one. I just hope he won't bother me anymore."
As he walked, Hayama Kazuto stopped in front of a bookshop. bookshopThe promotional posters were still displayed at the entrance. Hayama Kazuto walked into the bookshop: "Boss, do you still give Sayuka posters with the purchase of Love Metronome?"
"They ran out this morning!" The boss shook his head. Each bookshop only had ten Sayuka posters. If this store hadn't been so small, they might have run out by yesterday morning when they first went on sale.
"They're gone?" Hayama Kazuto was a bit disappointed. It would have been great if there were extras. When you eat someone's food or take their things, you're indebted to them. Hayama Kazuto thought it was worth it to use a Sayuka poster as hush money for Aki Tomoya.
"Is that poster very popular? There's a student inside who also came to ask about that poster."
The bookshop owner's expression seemed a bit annoyed. If he had known so many people liked the Sayuka poster, he would have priced it at two hundred yen each.
"This, I don't really know?"
Hayama Kazuto was about to leave when the person inside walked out holding a paperback: "Hayama-kun, why are you here?"
"He's just like you, here to ask about the Sayuka poster!" the boss said garrulously.
Hayama Kazuto felt like today was his disaster day. The person holding the paperback was none other than Aki Tomoya!
"Hayama-kun is really insincere. He clearly likes Sayuka so much... There's no one else here now, Hayama-kun; why don't you just admit your otaku identity?"
Aki Tomoya blinked his charming eyes with a smile, looking like, "Just give in to me." Hayama Kazuto was so scared he took a few steps back.
"Aki Tomoya, please maintain a safe distance from me."
"I didn't expect Hayama-kun's devotion to Sayuka to be even stronger than mine! Is this the legendary gap moe?"
Aki Tomoya pressed closer, and Hayama Kazuto retreated repeatedly, being forced out of the bookshop in a few steps.
"Don't go, Hayama-kun! Although Hayama-kun's thirst and possessiveness for Sayuka made me lose the chance to buy the Sayuka poster, I'm really happy! I haven't seen an otaku with such strong faith in a long time. We're kindred spirits!"
Hayama Kazuto felt that Aki Tomoya was probably crazy.
"Hayama-kun, come home with me! I have many, many games, light novels, manga, and figures at my house! When it comes to being an otaku, I, Aki Tomoya, am quite confident."
Hayama Kazuto took to his heels. He really couldn't handle Aki Tomoya's severe delusion. Especially the last part about coming home with him; it felt even scarier than Kiyotaki Kosuke!
"Eh? Why did he run away?" Aki Tomoya stood alone, bewildered in the wind.
Perhaps Hayama-kun is the kind of person who responds to softness, not hardness. Maybe I can change my strategy? Hmm, no, why am I using the word 'strategy'? Never mind, it doesn't matter. I still have two part-time jobs to finish today! Come on, Aki Tomoya!
Hayama Kazuto ran all the way back to his apartment and felt a lingering fear sitting on the sofa. He thought he probably hadn't checked his horoscope today.
After washing his face and drinking a bottle of juice, Hayama Kazuto finally managed to calm down and opened his phone.
"The total transfer amount is 240 million yen? Directly deducting ten million yen, that's really ruthless."
Closing the text message, Hayama Kazuto opened Line again. Sora Ginko had already sent the software, which was for computer use.
"Kato, I'm home now."
"Okay, Hayama. (′ - ω - `)"
Kato Megumi's reply was still incredibly fast.
An emoticon! That Kato actually uses emoticons?!
Hayama Kazuto suddenly remembered a term Aki Tomoya had mentioned—gap moe. Using 'gap moe' to describe Kato Megumi couldn't be more fitting.
After opening his computer and installing and registering the software, Hayama Kazuto sent a message to Sora Ginko.
"Send me your ID!" It took a full seventeen minutes for Sora Ginko to reply, and her reply was still so domineering.
However, Hayama Kazuto still obediently sent his ID. It would be bad if Sora Ginko dragged him to Kiyotaki Kosuke's house to play shogi next time.
Soon, an invitation was sent, and Hayama Kazuto's phone also rang simultaneously.
"Do we need a video call to play Shogi?" Hayama Kazuto felt a bit awkward.
"Less nonsense; this is to monitor whether you're doing something else while playing shogi!"
Alright, Hayama Kazuto's little trick was seen through. He had originally planned to play mahjong while playing shogi.
What, maths is a mathematical tool? Maybe you don't know how satisfying it is to run Matlab on a top-tier computer.
"Blitz Shogi, thirty seconds per move, okay?" Sora Ginko quickly set up the game.
"I don't care."
Thirty seconds per move was a bit difficult to endure. Sora Ginko played very carefully and silently, taking more than twenty seconds for almost every move. As they played, Hayama Kazuto even yawned a few times.
"Be serious!" Sora Ginko slapped her fan on the webcam, startling Hayama Kazuto. After 127 moves, Hayama Kazuto lost.
Despite defeating Hayama Kazuto, Sora Ginko was not very happy. Last time in a thirty-second blitz game, she only needed about 100 moves to win.
"Did you secretly practise at home?" Sora Ginko asked suspiciously.
"No, why would I practise shogi for no reason?"
"Shut up, one more game!"
In the second game, Sora Ginko won in 115 moves.
Although she won with twelve fewer moves, Sora Ginko wasn't happy at all. After one game, her energy was depleted; she was panting and sweating profusely. Hayama Kazuto didn't have a particular style in shogi; he simply used his calculation power to overwhelm his opponent. Playing against such a person put immense pressure on both mind and body.
Moreover, this game was much harder than the last one. For at least fifteen moves, Sora Ginko waited until the very last second to make her move. If she had made two or more mistakes in those fifteen moves, Sora Ginko had no doubt she would have been utterly defeated!
What a monster!
Sora Ginko couldn't help but curse silently. Hayama Kazuto's progress was simply visible to the naked eye!
"Hah~" Hayama Kazuto yawned again at an inopportune moment, and what greeted him was Sora Ginko's icy glare.
"Do you want to continue? You look very tired." Hayama Kazuto quickly sat up straight.
"I'm not tired; continue!"
Sora Ginko started another game. The number of moves exceeded one hundred, and both sides were still evenly matched.
Sora Ginko felt a bit dizzy. Her physical and mental calculation abilities were starting to lag.
Hayama Kazuto also felt a bit dizzy. An even game was the most boring. But every time he wanted to yawn, he was stared down by Sora Ginko.
"How about we chat for a bit? You look tired from playing shogi," Hayama Kazuto suggested.
"You're the one who's about to fall asleep," Sora Ginko retorted, though her voice was inexplicably a bit childish and endearing.
Ultimately, Sora Ginko agreed to Hayama Kazuto's suggestion. Concentrating all one's energy on the board isn't always a good thing, especially when nearing exhaustion. While talking can distract a shogi player, it can also help one stay awake.
The two chatted on and off. Hayama Kazuto felt much of his weariness dissipate, and he no longer had to count the seconds on the stopwatch on his computer desktop.
"Sora Ginko, are you not very good at blitz shogi?" Hayama Kazuto suddenly asked as they chatted.
Shogi, like chess, evolved from ancient military strategy games.
Sun Tzu's Art of War says, "Swift as the wind, silent as the forest, aggressive as fire, unmoving as mountains, unfathomable as the darkness, and sudden as thunder."
Generally speaking, playing blitz shogi requires achieving half of these qualities—swift as the wind, aggressive as fire, and sudden as thunder. However, Sora Ginko's playing style was almost the opposite.
"Nosy!" Sora Ginko immediately became displeased.
After making a few silent moves, Sora Ginko spoke first: "Just as you said before, my calculation ability isn't high. Blitz Shogi is a challenge for me. I'm better at defensive long-term battles and psychological tactics. However, I don't use psychological tactics much."
"Psychological tactics?"
Hayama Kazuto dismissed this. Psychological warfare wasn't anything advanced; it was simply using various means to prevent the opponent from concentrating on the board. The strongest force on the board was the player themselves. For a strong player, psychological tactics were nothing more than trivial.
"Then why are you called Naniwa's White Snow Princess? I thought it meant you played shogi both loosely and quickly."
"Lewd!" Sora Ginko glared at Hayama Kazuto, seething with killing intent.
"Naniwa refers to the Naniwa region, not the lewd meaning you're imagining!"
Sora Ginko made her move again.
"Naniwa region?" Hayama Kazuto recalled his geography knowledge.
"Isn't that the Osaka area? Then why are you in Tokyo now? Were you born in the Naniwa region?"
Sora Ginko suddenly clenched her teeth even tighter: "You're so annoying! Stop asking!