Chapter 20 - Getting Excited?
I think the karaoke session is really taking off. Thanks to the sacrifice of the first performer, everyone, including Takahashi, has relaxed and is enjoying singing their favorite songs.
Takahashi has a wide range of tastes and is singing various genres.
Ayase is mainly choosing J-pop songs, but since it's her first time at karaoke, she’s quite fresh and innocent about it.
Kushibiki is the best singer among the four of us. Naturally, since she’s actually a V-streamer named Hoshimiya Azusa. Knowing that she sings well, it feels like Hoshimiya Azusa is performing when I close my eyes!
Of course, I got extremely excited imagining Hoshimiya Azusa doing a live performance in my head, but Kushibiki stepped on my foot and brought me back to reality.
Damn... when I open my eyes, it’s Kushibiki. When I close my eyes, it’s Hoshimiya Azusa. What a sinful woman.
The drink bar offers unlimited drinks for a set fee, so I’ve been going back and forth between the room and the drink bar, drinking orange juice non-stop.
Obviously, drinking so much made me need to go to the bathroom.
Luckily, the bathroom was empty, and I used the stall at the very end.
A typical Japanese trait: we like the ends. No objections allowed.
After finishing, I washed my hands thoroughly and was about to return to the room, but Ayase was waiting in front of the bathroom. She’s not here to shake me down, right?
“Can we talk for a bit?”
Ayase said and turned her back, starting to walk. I followed her.
In the karaoke place we’re in, there’s a drink bar, maracas, tambourines, and other small items at the reception area, along with sofas and tables for customers to use.
Ayase and I sat on the sofa there. Ayase looked at me intently, as if she had something to say.
“What is it?”
“When did you get so close with Kushibiki?”
“Huh?”
Ayase looked slightly annoyed. Why?
From Ayase’s perspective, it’s understandable that she thinks Kushibiki and I suddenly got close. But I can’t explain everything, so I chose my words carefully and started talking.
“She wanted to talk to Takahashi, so I was just mediating and ended up talking to her more often. We’re not really close. It’s nothing more than that.”
Though because of that, weird rumors spread and caused me trouble.
The rumors Still ongoing, but fortunately, thanks to my bad and twisted personality, the rumors are gradually dying down.
The reason is that everyone already knew I was a jerk, and since no big shots like Ayase were involved, people quickly got bored of it. Seriously, the pace of consumption these days is ridiculous. It’s like anime fans who were excitedly talking about last season’s show suddenly saying “that character from this new show is cute,” in fast talk.
They have no loyalty and are not single-minded at all. Seriously, otaku should take a lesson from me.
I’m devoted to Hoshimiya Azusa! Oh, but it’s a secret that I was obsessed with a mobile game featuring a certain teacher protagonist for a while☆
That wasn’t cheating, just part of my research. I wasn’t really hooked!
“Even so, you and Kushibiki seem really close.”
“In what way? She’s actually quite scary. She plays a character to be seen and loved by everyone because of her huge craving for attention. Really scary. She probably hates me too.”
“Is that so? When I see Kushibiki, it just seems... No, is it possible she only shows her true self to you?”
“I have no idea what she’s thinking.”
If Kushibiki is hiding her true self, it means she doesn’t want anyone to see it.
With such a bad personality, it’s obvious she wouldn’t make friends.
That’s why she’s wearing that fluffy mask, and she’s also using her V-streamer activities as an outlet for her attention cravings.
“I see. You’re unaware.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Nothing.”
What? Now Ayase’s sulking like a child who didn’t get a toy.
Is this my fault?
Hmm... understanding people's hearts is hard. Maybe that’s why real-life relationships are interesting.
“What is it? Are you an attention seeker too?”
“What!? I am not!!!”
Unusually for Ayase, she reacted emotionally. She slammed the table and stood up to deny it, drawing the attention of other customers and staff. Embarrassed, Ayase sat back down quietly.
“I was just curious. Nothing more.”
“Really? There’s no way I’m close with Kushibiki. I’ll deny it repeatedly, and if you knew her real personality, your view of her would change too.”
"Uh, Yeah..."
Uh... what's this? Am I the one at fault here?
Ayase looks completely dejected, and everyone around is giving me that look, as if to say, "It's your fault, right?"
"Don't worry about it. I'm not going anywhere, nor do I plan to. I'll keep getting along with Takahashi and you, Ayase."
I feel my whole body itching as I say this. I'm not the type to say such cheesy lines. These are words that the protagonist of "I Can't Stop Loving You!"—Takahashi—should be saying.
"You really have changed, haven't you, Tachibana?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you really not remember?"
"Remember what?"
"Maybe I should tell you... but then again..."
Ayase starts muttering to herself. The background music in the store and the distant singing make it hard to hear what she's saying.
"No, it's okay. I'll wait for you to realize it on your own."
"Uh, okay..."
Her vague and unclear way of speaking leaves me confused.
Humans are communicative creatures. That's why language developed and writing was invented.
If you want to convey something, you have to explain it clearly and understandably, or people will get confused and won't understand.
Otherwise, the other person might misinterpret or take it to mean something different.
Such small miscommunications have moved history and even caused wars.
That's why I try to be clear in my communication, no matter how I'm perceived.
Ayase is really hard to understand. Does she have some hidden agenda or a different intention?
I don't know. And it's fine if I don't know. I'm just a supporting character. I tell myself that.
"I like the current Tachibana better because you're cuter."
"...You mean like a rare animal, right?"
Yeah, yeah! It's like saying a slightly ugly but endearing animal is cute.
Like an alpaca! By the way, I love wombats, and I highly recommend them to everyone!
"Hehe. Indeed. There aren't many people as twisted at the soul as you."
"My soul draws a beautiful curve like a magatama, so it's not strange if it seems that way."
"That's an insult to magatamas."
"What's insulting about that!?"
"Exactly what I said. Your magatama is cloudy and dirty. It's like a mockery of a magatama made out of mud."
"Indeed... wait, stop dissing me so casually!"
She always says harsh things to me.
Well, as long as Ayase is laughing and having fun, it's fine. Her smile is eye-catching. It's not a dull, gloomy smile like mine.
Alright. Thanks to chatting with Ayase, Takahashi and Kushibiki are alone in the private room. It was partly due to our bathroom breaks coinciding, but I also played my part by reading the situation. Kudos to me for a nice play.
But we can't stay away forever, so Ayase and I head back.
So, are they having a romantic moment?
"Oh, welcome back~"
Takahashi greets us cheerfully. As for Kushibiki, she seems completely absorbed in singing karaoke by herself. She's good, and cute; she reminds me of Hoshimiya Azusa.
Hey, no way... did nothing happen while they were alone?
"By the way, has Kushibiki been singing the whole time?"
"Yeah, she's really good, so I was just mesmerized the whole time. I've been in awe."
"...You're kidding me."
How could you blow such a golden opportunity?
Hey, you over there, giving off the vibe of performing in a packed arena!
"Sigh..."
Alright, time for a little payback.
Perfect. She's singing the same song she often sings on her streams.
I grab the mic on the table and start singing along with Kushibiki.
"Hey, what!?!"
"Hey hey hey! Our duet is starting now~~~!!!"
After we finished singing, Kushibiki punched me a bunch, but your weak punches don't hurt!
Muhahaha... ow, it actually hurts, please stop, I'm sorry, it was my fault, okay.
[T/N: Guys, Check out these new novels also:
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