Chapter 125: Please Don’t Get to Know Him, Okay?

Kanzaki Sou politely turned toward Kiyono Arisa’s direction, his eyes showing no hint of the strange emotions one might feel about her overly concealed outfit.

“It’s okay now. That bad person has run away.”

“—With someone as reliable as your older sister here, there’s no need to be afraid.”

“….”

The moment Kanzaki Sou spoke so gently.

Xiao Chun Miura suddenly felt the hand gripping the corner of her clothes tighten abruptly.

It wasn’t until she could hear the sound of suppressed breathing from behind her that the grip slowly loosened a bit.

“—”

…Even though Kanzaki Sou had addressed her, Kiyono Arisa did not respond.

Judging by the direction of the footsteps, Kiyono Arisa even silently shrank behind Xiao Chun Miura, as if trying to hide herself in the shadow of the girl in front of her.

—Even though Kiyono Arisa didn’t speak and instead responded to Kanzaki Sou with silence.

…But Xiao Chun Miura still felt a wave of unease.

If she didn’t speak, Kanzaki Sou indeed wouldn’t hear Kiyono Arisa’s voice prematurely; as for her appearance, being so heavily covered up should also prevent Kanzaki Sou from remembering Kiyono Arisa’s face.

But…

Although Kiyono Arisa successfully concealed her identity, the development of this Plot Trigger… why does it feel more and more off?

Kanzaki Sou appeared out of nowhere; the probability of running into him on a day off should have been very low. She thought meeting him at the Bookstore last time was already rare enough, but—

Coming out on a weekend morning to a secluded place to return a lost item to Kiyono Arisa… and she could still run into Kanzaki Sou?

Seriously, give me a break.

It was true that she had a motive for contacting Kiyono Arisa, but she never wanted Kanzaki Sou to get to know her ahead of time.

If they learned each other’s names here, how would the Plot Trigger develop after this?

The few Innate Advantage she relied on to survive in this World was having some impression of “what was supposed to happen.”

If even this advantage was lost due to sudden changes, she really didn’t know how much longer she could hold out under such immense pressure.

—The silver lining was that she had already taken the initiative to forge Kiyono Arisa’s name, identity, and background in front of Kanzaki Sou, which should also meet Kiyono Arisa’s needs… so there shouldn’t be any problems. Kiyono Arisa and Kanzaki Sou wouldn’t recognize each other here.

But…

The misfortune within the misfortune was…

Xiao Chun Miura’s attention couldn’t help but focus on the force being applied to the corner of her clothes.

—Judging by Kiyono Arisa’s physical reaction.

The impact Kanzaki Sou was having on her right now seemed quite significant.

But she couldn’t hear any special meaning in his words; it was just a polite greeting.

Does Kanzaki Sou, this Natural Charmer, have this kind of effect just by saying something casually?

—Why on earth do I have to suffer like this…

Xiao Chun Miura complained incessantly in her heart.

“—Th-That…”

Seeing that neither of them had any intention of speaking after several seconds, Xiao Chun Miura plucked up the courage to break the subtle atmosphere.

“Th-Thank you so much, Kanzaki Classmate. If it weren’t for you, I really don’t know what would have happened just now…”

Xiao Chun Miura gave a dry laugh.

“It was just a small matter, no need for thanks, Miura-san.”

Kanzaki Sou stood up straight, his gentle gaze returning to Xiao Chun Miura. His tone became slightly more serious, “…But since this has happened, it’s better not to stay here for long.”

Even though that man ran away, there’s no guarantee he won’t come back.

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

Hearing this, Xiao Chun Miura couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “We’re just… getting ready to go back.”

“Where are you going? To the station?”

Kanzaki Sou took out his Mobile Phone and glanced at it. “If you don’t mind, I can walk you part of the way.”

Xiao Chun Miura and Kiyono Arisa behind her froze at the same time.

Xiao Chun Miura didn’t know specifically what Kiyono Arisa was thinking right now, but it was probably something like “I hope I can get away from this boy quickly” or “Can this boy leave here already.”

But what she was thinking was different.

Escort?!

A chance encounter was bad enough, and now he wanted to walk them?

The longer Kiyono Arisa and Kanzaki Sou spent time together, the greater the possibility that Kiyono Arisa would leave a deep impression on him. Even if her identity weren’t exposed now, when they met again in the future and recognized each other, how would Kanzaki Sou view her act of deceiving him now?

More importantly…

Xiao Chun Miura recalled Kiyono Arisa’s physical reaction when Kanzaki Sou spoke.

—If she really let this Charming Constitution stay with Kiyono Arisa any longer.

What would she do if the Goodwill increased!

“N-No, there’s no need, no need!”

Covered in goosebumps, Xiao Chun Miura shook her head like a rattle. “You still have to walk your dog… Kanzaki Classmate, and we… um, we need to go to the Supermarket to buy some things before going back! It certainly won’t be over anytime soon… If Kanzaki Classmate escorts us, it will definitely take quite a while.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Kanzaki Sou widened his eyes slightly, then turned his head to look at the golden retriever lying bored on the ground. “In that case, I’ll leave you both to it.”

“Yeah, we’re leaving now, Kanzaki Classmate.”

Anxious, Xiao Chun Miura turned around and dragged Kiyono Arisa away.

“—However, Miura-san.”

From behind, Kanzaki Sou’s voice suddenly called out, stopping her just as she was about to slip away with her newcomer “younger cousin.”

“……Um? Is something wrong, Kanzaki Classmate?”

“—See you on Monday, Miura-san.”

Kanzaki Sou was still standing there, politely waving to Xiao Chun Miura.

“……Okay, see you at School, Kanzaki Classmate.”

After Xiao Chun Miura replied, she turned and left again.

……

“That……”

As they were walking, a low voice came from behind.

Xiao Chun Miura turned her head and saw that Kiyono Arisa had already neatly let go of the hand gripping the corner of her clothes.

“Kiyono Classmate?”

“……Has he left?”

Kiyono Arisa asked, her voice having returned to its original tone, though it was still a bit hoarse.

Him?

Xiao Chun Miura was startled, then slowly replied, “Yeah, he’s gone.”

Kiyono Arisa suddenly raised her hand and took off the Sunglasses on her face, revealing those beautiful, slightly reddened eyes.

“That person just now…… is he your classmate?”

She looked at Xiao Chun Miura with a seriousness and inquisitiveness in her eyes that had never been there before.

“——Ah…… yeah.”

Xiao Chun Miura’s heart skipped a beat. “But he’s not from the same Class.”

“What is his name?”

What are you trying to do, Kiyono Arisa!

“……Kanzaki Sou.”

Although she was very reluctant, since it was just a name, she had no excuse not to say it.

“Kanzaki…… Sou. Sou?”

Kiyono Arisa repeated the name in a low voice.

The way she looked made Xiao Chun Miura’s eye twitch.