It feels like itâs been a long time since weâve met face-to-face like this.
Well, it hasnât been that long since I met him on the street a while ago and asked him not to bully me too much because Iâm a mob character.
Anyway,⦠you look terrible.
Nakayama used to be an expressionless guy who never showed any kind of facial expression no matter what happened.
He is a person with little emotion for joy, anger, sorrow, or pleasure, and he is strongly perceived as a very boring person.
He only laughs in front of Shimotsuki. In front of other people, he is as smooth as a robot.
However, Nakayama is a bit worn out now, and his face is paler than his usual expressionless face.
âDonât you look so energetic?â
I said to him with a grin, and he breathed a sigh of exasperation.
âSarcasm?â
âDo you think thereâs any other meaning?â
âI see. Iâm glad to see youâre feeling better.â
Nakayama looked at me and took another deep breath.
He was completely oblivious to my attempts to provoke him.
No, I guessed he was thinking about something, but I couldnât read his feelings at all.
He is still the same old jerk.
The only time he gets emotional is when it comes to Shiho.
He is emotionless in other matters, which again made me snicker.
âTch, this is boring. You should get angry when youâre provoked, ⦠but youâre not worth the trouble.â
âIâm sorry about that.â
Shaking his head silently, Nakayama breaks his gaze from me.
That is also uncomfortable.
âHey, donât you want to know why Iâm here? You also want to know more about me getting better, donât you?â
I sow the bait.
I spread information that Nakayama might be interested in, and I cast a fishing line, hoping to get him to bite at any cost.
But this guy was unfazed.
âThereâs no point in asking. You wonât tell me, and I have no idea what ⦠happened, but thereâs no way that a revitalized Ryuzaki will help me, is there?â
â⦠You know perfectly well, donât you?â
That kind of mechanical thinking is irritating
âI hate you after all.â
I tell him clearly.
When I spewed out my feelings, which I confirmed once again, Nakayama gave me a wry smile.
âI see. I donât like you either, so I guess itâs mutual.â
With that, Nakayama walked away.
His back was curled up as he headed toward Kururiâs home.
âI really donât careâ¦â
I let out a click of my tongue and then turned my back to Nakayama.
Then I finally remembered that there was still someone else there.
âHey, kid. Whatâs your relationship with the Kurumizawa familyâs daughter? It might be useful in the future, so let me hear what you have to say.â
The woman looking at me while smoking a cigarette is the one who brought Nakayama by car.
She has a slender body but her chest is plump, which is a little s**y. Her hair is pulled back in a bun, which is a little unfortunate. ⦠If she let her hair down, she would be even more beautiful.
Her long slit eyes and well-shaped lips are great. However, the dark circles around her eyes and her pale skin are a negative. Maybe she is a workaholic as she looks. ⦠Maybe she doesnât get enough sleep.
Now, who is this beautiful lady?
What kind of relationship does she have with Nakayama?
âIâm Kururiâs ⦠well, friend? No, no.â
I try to talk about a common relationship, but I deny myself that it is not true.
My relationship with Kururi is not that of a friend.
âI am Kururiâs âheroâ.â
Strictly speaking, this is the most suitable answer.
Iâm not lying. I told the truth about our relationship, but the beautiful woman snickered.
âYou kid. Donât make fun of adults.â
âI didnât lie.â
Oh man, she doesnât seem to believe me.
âIâm just a friend then. Yeah, Iâm Kururiâs friend. So, what about you? Iâd like to know your name, beautiful lady, if you donât mind me asking.â
I asked her, and she told me her name with a cigarette in her mouth.
âMy name is Chisato Ichijo. Despite my appearance, Iâm 32 years old and a pretty gal. Nice to meet you, you brat.â
âYou look ⦠like youâre only 18, but thatâs surprising.â
â Thatâs flattering, but itâs not even heartwarming. You make me laugh.â
The fact that she didnât even smile as she said that was, on the contrary, interesting.
She is quite a nice woman. I feel comfortable with such an orderly woman, so I think I can get along with her.
âSo, whatâs your relationship with Nakayama?â
âIâm related to that kid. My sisterâs son is Kotaro, I would be his ⦠commonly known âauntâ.â
Chisato muttered this as if it was someone elseâs business, despite the fact that it was her own.
I see, so you are related to Nakayama.
(Why did his aunt pick him up and drop him off at Kururiâs house? â¦I smell something.)
Feeling the artificial traces of someone, I think about it a little.
Is this another guidance from the god of romantic comedies?
(Itâs not a bad idea to pretend not to know here and go homeâ¦)
But that may not be enough to say that I have fulfilled my promise to Shimotsuki.
(Although I donât feel comfortable helping Nakayama.)
Anyway.
Thatâs the frustrating thing about honestly doing what that guy wants, âI wonât help Nakayamaâ.
(Iâll lend you a hand, Nakayama⦠this is the first and last time Iâll help you.)
Then, I decided, on a whim, to lend a hand for onceâ¦