Chapter 88: Extra: Accompanied Date In Campus (After)


TL: Akabane


***


After lunch, we left the cafeteria and wandered around the campus. For me, this scenery is familiar even with the inclusion of the previous world, but for Suo, it seems to be something new. She scurried around here and there and smiled happily.


"It's a really nice atmosphere! I wish my brother could see it too!"


"Oh, by the way, you said you have a younger brother. Would you recommend him to take the entrance exam here?"


"Ah. Umm. That's right. I know it's strange to say this, but he's a good student.... It's just..."


Suo's expression turns somewhat unhappy.


"Is there a problem?"


"...He's having trouble adjusting to junior high school...he's a quiet and gentle boy.... Well..."


The way she was hesitant to say it, I wondered if he was being bullied or something. Suo is clutching the hem of her skirt.


"...He's finally been able to live like a human being...but he's still a long way from happiness...I have to work harder..."


It was such a fragile, sad smile that if it were an act, she would be a better actress than Milan. But maybe not. Most women in the nightlife who pull money from men are probably making up stories. Or they lie. But this girl didn't smell like that. So I had a hunch. Hagiri probably took advantage of this girl's predicament. When I met her in the previous world, she was a lawyer and a close associate of Hagiri. That man, to my abhorrence, is genuine only in his ability to see through others. I should say that he has the ability to judge people. He sees something in Suo. He sees something in her, and he sees it as a very important tool. I don't know what it is. But I wanted to do something to entertain this sad-looking girl. It's strange that I'm the one who entertains her, even though I'm the one who is paying for the date. But you know what? I think it's more fun that way. I grabbed Suo's hand and decided to take her to a place.


"I'm going to give you a little reward for your hard work. Follow me."


"...Ah...your hand...warm..."


I bring her to a certain old and majestic building. And we are inside.


"Is this a library by any chance?"


"Yes."


"But, you can't let outsiders into the library, right?"


That's right. Nowadays, all libraries require students to hold up their student ID cards at the gate. That's why outsiders aren't allowed in.


"You just have to do it this way."


I wait for the librarians to take their eyes off the gate. Then, I hold up my student ID card and open the gate.


"Kya! What are you doing?!"


I pick Suo up and carry her in my arms as a princess.


"If I don't do this, the sensor will judge that two people have passed and you won't be able to enter. So I have no choice. Please forgive me."


"...Is that so? Then, it can't be helped...ugh..."


And we passed through the gate without incident. I don't think the sensors on the library gate are that accurate, so even if the two of us went through the gate together, we probably wouldn't be detected. But we want some perks, don't we? I mean, this is something I can brag about to the other fat clients at Suoh. Maybe I should have some confidence as a man! I'm so proud of my tribute, man! And when we got to the front of the big meeting in the center atrium, I put Suo down.


"Ah...so lovely..."


Suo let out an exclamation in an enraptured voice. This central library is one of the specialties of this university. It has a unique atmosphere that combines the history, tradition, and prestige of the space with the quiet but enthusiastic enthusiasm of the students for their studies. Suo puts her face close to my ear and whispers sweetly in a small voice.


"Thank you for bringing me here."


She takes my hand in hers and begs.


"I'd like to look over there."


"Okay. Let's go."


The library here is quite a chaotic place. There is a mezzanine floor, aisles that are unnecessarily complicated, an overwhelming number of books, dim lighting, books that cover the walls, study desks, and heavy chairs. Suo touched them and smiled calmly. She picked up a book that looked difficult, poured over it with a serious face, and put it back on the bookshelf with a satisfied look. I was glad I had brought her with me. I stayed with her until she was satisfied with her exploration of the library.













After that, we left the library and went for a walk around the engineering school. We only passed boys around here. So when I walked around with Suo, who is incredibly beautiful, I naturally attracted a lot of attention.


"I don't see any girls around here."


"Well, I'm a science major around here."


"Ah! You're in the science department? I was good at it! Science!"


"Really? Then were you a science major in high school or something?"


"Um.... I didn't go to high school..."


"Eh? What? Really?"


"Ahaha. I was already working by then."


Suo seemed somewhat ashamed. I think this is rare in Japan nowadays. In Japan, even the so-called poor go to high school. I can only surmise that the environment in which Suo was or is living is not good. It's repulsive to think that Hagiri is taking advantage of such a child.


"Ah! But I passed the high school graduation test! So don't worry about me! I have to work for my family!"


Apparently, my indignation was showing on my face. Suo seemed flustered and followed up. But there was a delicate atmosphere between us. That's when it happened. Students and professors were gathered in front of the engineering building, making a lot of noise. A hexapod robot was walking on the road.


"Heh. A robot. That's amazing. It's romantic, isn't it?"


I said to Suo, who was standing next to me. But she didn't reply. Suo was staring at the robot with a very excited look on her face.


"...It's so cute..."


"Huh? Cute?"


Suo's cheeks rose and she stared at the robot with ululating eyes. She looks like a girl who has found a cute cat at a pet store.


"Do you like robots, by any chance?"


"Yes! I love robots, cars, vacuum cleaners, fans, gas stoves, telephone poles, and machines!"


She says something very unexpected.


"Oh, really? Do you play with machines?"


"Yes! When I was a kid, I used to fiddle with the wiring on telephone poles and stea-- turn off the electricity...oh, I loved looking at telephone poles and such!"


Wasn't she just about to say "steal"? Suo turns away from me, clearly in a hurry.


"Well, I like machines! I also like motorcycles, and I often ride the ones my customers give me! I also do a lot of maintenance myself. Isn't that amazing?


She is clearly trying to change the subject. Personally, I hate motorcycles to death because in a previous world I was almost run over and killed by Igarashi's ex-boyfriend's motorcycle and somehow survived after major surgery, but I'll go along with the story anyway.


"Well, yeah. That's amazing."


"Yes! Someday, I'll make my own original robots and games...sorry. Forget what I just said. All I want is to send my brother to college and have a comfortable life for my parents..."


Suo looks down, as if she has given up on something.


"I don't think it's wrong to have your own dreams..."


"I don't mind. I have a kind family. But if I don't work, I can't protect my family. So I can't have any more dreams than that."


"Yes. But I enjoyed seeing your own smile today."


Suo rolled her eyes for a moment and then smiled fleetingly. She certainly had a beauty that was beautiful, yet so pitifully beautiful. I reached for her cheek. And I stroked her cheek. Suo didn't reject it. She meditated and leaned her head into my hand as if to rest her head in mine. Maybe this is how men are deceived by women and become swamped. That's when it happened. I heard the ringtone of her phone echoing from her bag. Suo put her hand in her bag and disconnected the ringtone. But soon the sound rang again.


"Excuse me...another customer is calling. May I?"


Suo said with a disappointed look on her face. I just nodded. She took her face away from my hand. Then, she picked up the phone a little ways away from me.


"I thought we agreed not to work today. I'll give you another day, or let previous kid to do it. ......! I know! I'll be right there."


Suo hung up the phone and her face was terribly cold. And yet, her eyes looked so regretful and sad.


"I'm sorry. I have some urgent business. Please let me stop accompanying you. Please cancel your plans to come to the restaurant in the evening. Of course, since it's for my own reasons, I will pay you the service fee including the accompaniment and the cancellation fee as compensation."


"I don't want that. Suo. It was fun and I was happy to see your many faces today. But I can't take your money on top of that."


"But...that's the deal."


Tears are about to spill from Suo's eyes.


"Then, we'll do it next time. That's right. I want to see you as an individual, not as a customer."


"But that's... that's..."


That would probably be against the rules. I'm the bad guy who's taking advantage of Suo's loss. But I have to take a chance. I have a bad feeling about this. I'm sure the call is from Hagiri.


"I've made up my mind. I don't want to collect money from you, I want a smile."


"Eh? ...N...ah..."


I put my hand on Suo's cheek. Then I wipe the corner of her tear-filled eyes with my thumb. My fingertips get a little wet.


"I'll see you again, right?"


"...Yes! Again! I promise I'll see you again!"


Suo said this to me with a tearful smile. She gave me a glorious curtsey and scuttled away from this place. My accompanying date was halfway over. But if I had been able to entertain her, I would have been happy. I thought so.















[Suo's POV]


The shadows of hell always come near my feet. Even when I was in that town with God, hell was always next to me. But today was different. Hell wasn't next to me. What was next to me was a man with a mysterious atmosphere. I have seduced many men who were my customers. I had never doubted that men are stupid creatures. But he was different. Sure, he had a lot of foolishness in him. But I found it strangely endearing. I had never had such a feeling before. I had never felt such a fluffy, wobbly, unstable, hot feeling. I don't know what it is. No, I know what it is. But if I admit it, I would be one of the fools. So I want to pretend that I don't know. At least in front of this man, this demon Hagiri.


"You're acting very demure today, aren't you? Earlier you were so disgusted with me on the phone."


Hagiri came to pick me up in a luxurious limousine. This man likes to show off his extravagance in this way. I found it irresistible.


"I know. You are a horrible man. But I'm not going to fight you in the first place. You pays me well."


"Hmm. If that's the case, that's very good. But if that's the way you are now, maybe..."


Hagiri looked at me as if he were observing a guinea pig. I didn't like these eyes. All men give me are disgusting eyes. Even though Hagiri is a man, this man has been looking at me with eyes as if he was trying to judge me from the first time I met him. He naturally looks at me as if he has no desire for women, and his mentality must be a kind of monster. I have seen many men in my life. I have seen many men in my life, and this man is definitely one of the craziest among them.


"The analysis of sacrifices is still in it's infancy. Maybe you are qualified to be a part of it. It would be a great honor."


"I don't know what you want to involve me in, but I don't want to add to the work you're doing."


"Really? Well, that's okay. For now, I'd like you to concentrate on today's work."


Hagiri hands me a duralumin case. Along with it, he offers me a file. In it were the men's mugshots and information about them.


"There are some yakuza who are pretending to be militants who are fighting against me. So show them the real violence ・・・・・ Of course. I don't want you to go easy on them like you did the other day."


I could smell hell. Hell is right next to me. So I can be part of hell myself. I feel sorry for those caught up in it. So at least. I hope that at least he, who I spent time with today, won't get caught up in me. And yet, I still couldn't. I wanted to see him again. That's what I prayed to God for.










***Author's musings***



I want to do a swimming pool story next time!


I've come up with an emo pool story, so stay tuned!


After I finish that pool extra, I'll start season 4! I look forward to working with you!


By the way, did you think Suo was cute? If so, the author is very happy!


She seems to have a lot of unhappy attributes, but I think she's a nice girl, so please be nice to her!


Please keep up the good work!



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