Chapter 56: When The Slippery Slope Trick Comes Around, The Bright Person Can Go Through It Brilliantly


TL: Akabane


***


Circle camp is the ultimate jovial event. Naturally, the tension is high even at night. The camp members rented out an entire plaza overlooking Lake Hamana and began a loud BBQ. The male members of this circle are the upper class. Naturally, there were many expensive meats on skewers that the lower ranks could not eat.


"Wow! This meat! It melted in my mouth! I'm not lying! It's true!"


Igarashi was really enjoying the skewer.


"I see. That's good to hear. But if you could, could you help me grill them?"


I was assigned by the representative to the tough job of skewering meat and vegetables, pouring sauce on them, and grilling them. Apparently, my biting of the representative during the day had upset him. I was harassed.


"A commoner like me can't do such a big thing as a BBQ master! Next time, please make the skewers with more green peppers and eggplant and thicker sauce if possible! Fufu..."


"Hey, hey, do you want a healthy, girlish skewer with only vegetables? It's very healthy with less sauce!"


"No, thank you. I'll pass, because if it doesn't have a strong flavor, it won't go well with sake. Fufufu."


Igarashi has been eating and drinking in front of me while I cook. It's really annoying. But I'm grateful that she's nearby so I can keep an eye on her.


--- "Well! Now for the booby prize! The pair of Houjou and Igarashi! Please come forward!!!"


Kokuwagata, the MC, called out Igarashi with a microphone.


"Booby prize? What is it? What do you think it is?"


"I don't know? It's a story item anyway. Seriously, it's probably just some random merchandise."


"Heh. I'm a little excited! I wonder what kind of stupid item it is. Fufufu!"


Igarashi walked forward with a beer can in her hand.


"I wonder what kind of stupid items they are. I guess it's a dirty joke type?"


Tsukasa, who was cutting vegetables behind me, said happily. Tsukasa is my idol, but when I was assigned to be the cook, he volunteered to work with me. Seriously, he's so sweet.


"Isn't that right? I've heard of some places that give out a year's supply of condoms, or a coupon for a love hotel, or something like that, and then they do the sliding trick."


"Wow, that's terrible... But on the other hand, it's also a chance to be popular, isn't it?"


"Yes, yes. It's an event where you can make a good blurring things out and have everyone think you're a funny guy. In a way, it's delicious, isn't it?


"I think BBQ with you is more delicious."


"Hahaha! Thank you, Tsukasa! I'll give you the best meat."


"Yay!"


I hand the comb of the best meat to Tsukasa. I took one of the skewers myself and decided to take a break.


--- "This year's booby prize went to---"


--- """"What?""""


I knew I was in the groove. I'm sure that's where the under-the-table goods come from.


--- "What! A pair of overnight hotel tickets to that wonderful amusement park in Chiba but calling itself Tokyo!"


--- """"Wooooooooo!!!""""


The cheers roared. I've usually come up with a crazy good product. This ain't no blah event. The guy from Kokuwagata made a discovery for Houjou. He must have been bought off.


--- "If you won the booby prize, it means you don't have enough power to be good friends yet! Please use this ticket and become friends with him!"


--- """"Uwoooooo!!""""


Wow. It's getting to be like a blind date. Houjou is smiling like he's really enjoying himself. Igarashi, on the other hand, is looking blank. In this situation, it would be hard for a normal girl to refuse an invitation using a ticket. Or rather, not only would she not refuse, but she would probably be enthusiastic about it. Houjou is a student at a top liberal arts national university, and his family is rich. He also has a good face. There was no reason for her to refuse.


"Hey, Kanata. Isn't that tasteless? Igarashi, he's putting her in a mood where she can't say no!"


Tsukasa looks worried.


"Don't worry, it's okay. Because it's Igarashi..."


Even that Hagiri is sometimes tossed about by a woman named Ririse Igarashi.


--- "Igarashi! Please go with me!!!"


With the ticket, Houjou invites Igarashi to a sleepover date in front of everyone. The audience is excited by the yellow voices of "Oh" and "Kyaa". But...


--- "What? But I already have an annual pass."


With that comment, the air in the venue instantly froze. I couldn't help but laugh.


"Wow, that was messy! The way she said no is messy! She's too bad at saying no! Your girl power is too low!"


Tsukasa was taken back by Igarashi's comment.


--- "And I'm from Tokyo, so I don't mind if we don't stay overnight. It's a waste of a ticket, isn't it? I'll give them to Houjo and you can cash them in for money! I'm sure you'll have a rich school diet!"


Igarashi gives a thumbs up with a nice smile. Houjou, on the other hand, is trembling. I wonder if she thinks she said something nice.


--- "Ah, well. As for the annual pass... yeah... it's not what I expected... what the heck!"


--- """"Don't mind, Houjou!""""


Bright person is strong because they can fool around with just momentum and loudness in these situations. But Houjou will now understand that Igarashi has no buds at all. I'm so sorry to hear that, but he should be more hurt. It has to be so. There is such a sinfulness in that day's blue sake. Hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt. And I'll ruin it with my own hands.


"Wow. Pity. But I guess I don't feel sorry for him. And it was really bad in middle school when he was fishing for girls. There were so many girls who got hurt. Because of people like that, people can't like other people and ruin their lives. I really wonder why people like that enjoy their lives..."


Tsukasa put his hand on his forehead and meditated painfully. It looked as if he was holding something back.


"Oh no...I forgot to take my medicine. I was having so much fun... but I guess I can't escape after all..."


Taking the pill case out of his pocket, Tsukasa swallowed the pills and capsules inside without water. I've seen those pills before. I had taken them in a previous world.


"Tsukasa. That's an antidepressant. It's a very high dose. Is it heavy?"


"Yes, it is. I've been taking it since middle school. I can't think straight without it."


I felt lonely as Tsukasa smiled self-mockingly at me. In my previous world, after Igarashi's affair, it triggered my depression. A person's heart can be broken so easily.


"I see. That's tough.... I'm sorry, Tsukasa. Can I ask you something?"


"What is it?"


"Did Houjou take away your sleeping aid?"


Tsukasa's eyes widened in surprise. Apparently, this prediction was correct. The sleeping aid that Houjou had hidden in his room could only be obtained with a prescription from a doctor. But Houjou himself had no history of hospital visits.


"...That's right. It was just recently, wasn't it? I met Houjou on my way back from Menkuri. That's when he took it from me. I couldn't resist. My body trembled with fear that was etched in my mind from junior high school. That's why I came here. I have to get the medicine back. That was a very strong drug. Houjou would never use it for anything bad... But...I couldn't do it after all. I've always been afraid of it, and it's never going to change."


Tsukasa stared at his trembling hands with empty eyes.


"My creation is to expose my own emotional wounds. I want everyone to know this wound. I want people to be comforted. I paint for the most trivial of motives... it's a desecration of beauty."


Art is also about exposing the state of the mind to the outside world. Sometimes people criticize the motives of art. They blame the artist, saying that the motive for expression must be noble. But.


"No, that's not true. Tsukasa. Your paintings are beautiful. Everything you create is beautiful. You are ashamed of your motives. But you know what? I'm okay with that. If you can continue to create something, I'll accept any motive."


"Kanata...but...I...am weak..."


"That's fine. I don't care. You may be ashamed of yourself, but I was moved by what you created. And when I met the man himself, I had a very, very good time together. That's all that matters."


It could have been anything. No matter what state you are in, you can have fun together. And I'm happy. It doesn't matter what the motive is. Just being together was all that mattered.


"I...I...Kanata...I...!"


"Leave it to me to get the drugs back. I'll take care of what you can't. I'll take care of it. I'll put an end to the stagnation in your mind."


"...Yes! Please! Stop him for me! Save me!"


"Yes, I will. I'll take care of it!"


I laughed. Tsukasa, who was shedding tears, caught me and laughed too. It was a beautiful smile, befitting my guess.


"Ah! What are you doing? Why are you making Mikamo cry!


"...Wow. You make anyone cry, no matter who they are. Tokiwa is really anti-social, isn't he!"


I noticed that Igarashi and Mashiba were by our side.


"Haha! No, this is just me crying while I was cutting onions! He didn't make me cry! In fact, it's the opposite! Haha!"


Tsukasa wipes away his tears and smiles. He's okay now. That's what I thought.


"Really? If you get bullied by those thugs there, tell us! We and Hagiri will protect you!"


The name of a nasty guy came up. Could it be that Mashiba is after Mikamo? It's strange to begin with. Why would a venture business entrepreneur want a talent in the entertainment industry like Tenketsu-sensei or Milan? If you add Tsukasa to the mix, it gets even more confusing. I can understand why they want Yuzuriha and Santennani. With them, they would be able to produce inventions that would generate enormous wealth. What on earth is Hagiri trying to do? I know the outcome, but why do his moves look so creepy? What in the world kind of business did that guy get into?


"Tokiwa? What's wrong? Your face is too anti-social."


Igarashi's voice brings me back to reality.


"I want you to at least just tell me that my face is scary. Well don't worry, I was just thinking."


No point in thinking any more, I guess. I'm supposed to be just kicking the crap out of Kuzu Blue, but I've just been exposed to a part of his conspiracy. The real darkness is still tangling at my feet.


"Yeah? Well, don't think too much! If you think too much, you won't have any fun! Haha!"


Igarashi smiles wryly. I don't know what the future holds. But I don't want to overshadow this smile. That's what I thought.



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