Chapter 141
"To be honest, I never joke about this," Aragaki Shun asserted confidently. "I'm so good-looking, why should I go against my conscience and compromise my own aesthetic sense?"
Tachibana Akane: "..."
This person is far too narcissistic!
What's even more disheartening is that, faced with such stark truths, even if she instinctively wanted to refute them, she could only remain silent, completely unable to ignore the objective reality without batting an eye.
"Tch! I'll take that as a compliment to my senior. You have excellent taste."
With one hand casually on her hip, Tachibana Akane's mood improved considerably, but the girl didn't dare linger on the topic, so she decisively changed the subject to divert the other person's attention.
"Don't you want to know what important things have happened among the upperclassmen and the Student Council during this time?"
"Actually, it's not just first graders who need to take Special Exam; the school has the same requirement for second and Third Year as well. Therefore, the older students, like you, are just starting their official summer vacation."
"There's nothing urgent at the Student Council, but to enhance the summer vacation's entertainment value, the school has invited a famous fortune teller. If you're interested, you can bring your girlfriend to see if his predictions are accurate."
At this point, Tachibana Akane's voice became inexplicably low.
"A fortune teller?" Aragaki Shun was somewhat surprised. "The school even arranged this kind of activity?"
The campus of Kodo Ikusei Senior High School is quite large, and it has a full range of facilities such as supermarkets, cafes, karaoke bars, and electronics stores.
But this is ultimately just a school; it can't have the limitless possibilities of the outside world.
Aside from the more commonly used facilities, other entertainment venues that are not practical for students, such as concert halls, amusement parks, and zoos, do not exist at this school.
Perhaps for this reason, in order to prevent students from getting sick from being bored during three years of closed-campus teaching, the school often arranges some new activities that are of interest to young people.
I never expected that the fun activity this summer vacation would be fortune telling.
"I do have some interest in these kinds of metaphysical things."
Aragaki Shun rested his chin on his hand, appearing to be deep in thought.
His own time travel was a supernatural event, so regarding the existence of gods and ghosts... he couldn't say for sure, but he leaned towards the idea that they existed.
Even if it doesn't exist in this world, it certainly will in other worlds!
The reason is simple: the world he is in now was an animated story that was adapted for the screen in his previous life.
A flower is a world. If those anime and novels from my past life had real-world counterparts, the terrifying gods and demons in those worlds would probably be more numerous than the stars in the sky.
He wasn't even sure if gods and demons existed in this world, let alone another world.
What if he's simply too weak to sense the true powerhouses?
Another possibility is that this world truly has no extraordinary beings, but is unexpectedly connected to some extraordinary worlds.
Novels featuring protagonists like Satou Kazuma and Natsuki Subaru lived in ordinary modern cities before they were transported to the world they inhabited.
Moreover, even if none of these are present, the luck represented by the Source Power is certainly there.
Under this premise, divination and other mystical practices are not necessarily purely fraudulent.
"When does this divination begin?"
"I heard they open at 10 a. m. tomorrow, but based on past experience, these kinds of novel events are always very lively. If you really want to go, you should probably go early and queue up."
"Oh, right," Senior Tachibana Akane added, "That fortune teller seems to only accept clients in pairs. Don't be silly and run over alone, only to come back looking pitiful."
"Of course, it's just a pair, there's no rule that it has to be a male-female couple. If you want, you can bring a male classmate along, that shouldn't be a problem."
Faced with the ill-intentioned teasing from the Bun-haired Senior, Aragaki Shun was speechless, so he retaliated with mockery without backing down.
"Does the senior think I'm the kind of single aristocrat who can't find a female companion to participate in divination activities?"
"It's a pity, but it seems like I have too many people to choose from, which makes it a bit troublesome."
"I wonder if you've arranged to participate in this activity with any friends? If you're alone, I wouldn't mind helping out and easing your loneliness."
Judging from Tachibana Akane's somewhat dejected attitude just now, it's likely that she's quite interested in this so-called fortune-telling, but she just can't find a group to go with her.
As for who she wants to invite, that's even more obvious.
However, just as a first-grader can hardly imagine what it's like for Horikita Suzune to fall in love, Manabu Horikita, as the older brother she imitates, also seems like an insurmountable peak in the realm of romantic relationships.
These two siblings are actually quite similar in some ways, except that the older brother is capable and successful, while the other is arrogant and is simply a younger sister.
"You wicked junior! Who asked you to fill in the gaps or relieve your loneliness? You're just teasing the senior girls again! You're a complete pervert! The worst!"
Feeling utterly humiliated by the mockery, the Bun-haired Senior felt like she was about to explode with anger.
She glared fiercely at Aragaki Shun, then decisively tapped him on the shoulder twice with her notebook before disappearing down the corridor in a flash.
"This is punishment. Let's see if you dare to look down on me again."
Shaking his head, watching the secretary's figure disappear, Aragaki Shun muttered to himself twice before leisurely walking back to his apartment.
"It feels like being a child..."
Back at the apartment, Aragaki Shun intended to mention the fortune-telling to Chihiro Shiranami and the Shiranami Chihiro, but he didn't expect that the news was already being discussed everywhere in the class group chat.
It seems the school administration put in the effort, advertising the fortune-telling event on the School Forum.
It makes sense when you think about it; after all, they paid a fortune teller, so they can't just run a shop and do nothing, can they?
If that's the case, then wouldn't the school's money have been wasted?
And then, as expected, both Shiranami Chihiro and Wang Meiyu were very interested in the activity.
Or rather, they simply wanted to go on a date with Aragaki Shun under the guise of fortune-telling.
As for Yamamura Miki, it wasn't that she didn't want to, but she was a little afraid of attracting attention in crowded places.
However, adhering to the principle that "it's not scarcity that's the problem, but inequality," Aragaki Shun decided to dedicate three time slots—tomorrow morning, tomorrow afternoon, and the morning after tomorrow—to dates with his three girlfriends.
In this way, whether they want to participate in the divination activities or not is fine, as long as they have fun.
Then the Leader of Class A suddenly realized that the situation was inexplicably getting out of control.
After finishing his date with Chihiro, Xiao Mei, and Miki, Aragaki Shun was about to return to his dorm when Kobashi Yume and Amikura Mako suddenly appeared from the side, each grabbing one of his arms and laughing as they led him back to the shopping center.
"Class monitor, don't forget about me and Little Asako!"
Seeing Kobashi Yume's smiling face, the boy hesitated, but in the end, he didn't say anything stupid like, "You two can team up."
So, at Amikura Mako's polite request, Aragaki Shun, as Kobashi Yume's companion, stepped into the familiar fortune-telling room for the fourth time.
"It's you again?"
Beside her sat a crystal ball, and the hooded fortune teller, an elderly woman, looked utterly bewildered.
"How many times has this happened? And each time it's a different girl?"
"Because I'm extremely popular and rich, I became the class's fortune teller and payment wallet."
Aragaki Shun casually made a perfunctory remark, but to his surprise, the old woman actually nodded as if she were really going to agree.
"Indeed, this is the first time I've seen such a beautiful child like you. No wonder all the girls want you to accompany them for fortune telling."
Thinking about it this way, things seem to make sense.
After all, small groups tend to love to show off and compare themselves to each other.
In this way, it seems normal that once a girl takes action to save face, others will follow suit.
"Forget it, I don't understand the things between you young people."
"I'm just an ordinary fortune teller. You can choose your package now."
"You choose, Yume," Aragaki Shun gestured somewhat boredly to the girl with short, light blue hair beside him. "I've tried three times already, and the results haven't been much different."
"Then, please let me have my love fortune told." Kobashi Yume smiled brightly, looking very excited.
The fortune teller sighed upon seeing this. Fortunately, her years of professional experience reminded her, otherwise she really would have wanted to complain outright.
"Your eyes are practically drooling, do you really need me to do divination? Besides, don't you understand the situation with that kid next to you?"
After receiving some helpful advice from the fortune teller, Aragaki Shun and the cheerful Kobashi Yume came out and immediately went to Amikura Mako, who was waiting in line.
Faced with the strange looks from the staff, the boy shrugged and offered the same explanation:
"Didn't you limit it to two people per group? So today I became the class's fortune-telling tool, specifically responsible for helping to make up the numbers."
Then, those words immediately came true. A certain pink-haired Archangel had been observing for a long time pulled Himeno Yuki closer and grinned as he agreed.
"That's right. I'm also asking you for Yuki, Aragaki-kun."
With a slightly numb expression, Aragaki Shun stared at the messages in the class group chat with a twitching smile. The messages showed that many people in Class A who were interested in divination were rushing over.
Oh no! I've really become a tool!
211. An overly accurate fortune telling; and Ibuki being trapped in the elevator.
"Huh~ Ibuki, why are you joining in the fun too?"
Being forced to become the class's fortune-telling tool, accompanying familiar faces in team-ups, is quite a unique experience.
After all the girls from Class A who wanted him to do fortune-telling had finished their rounds, Aragaki Shun found yet another guy seeking a group service.
Ibuki Mio, Class 1-C, is usually quiet and prefers to act alone. She is also the representative that Ibuki Mio, the Leader of Class A, placed in Class C.
"That's really rare. I never expected you Ibuki, to be interested in something like this. It's completely unexpected."
"Can't I be interested in divination?"
With her eyebrows slightly raised, the girl with short blue hair and purple eyes seemed somewhat displeased.
"That doesn't make sense," Aragaki Shun shook her head. "It's just that the impression you usually give is more like that of a brave and fierce samurai woman."
No matter how you look at it, Ibuki is the kind of girl who is highly competitive and even Combat with delinquents.
It's surprising that someone like her would be interested in divination... Is that an endearing contrast?
"Bold and aggressive?" Ibuki Mio scoffed. "That's quite a blunt assessment."
"But I consider myself a normal person, and it's normal to have some hobbies that other people generally like, right?"
Besides fortune telling, she also enjoys things like watching movies.
It's just that no one has ever wanted to play with her.
"It seems I don't know you well enough. But Ibuki, do you believe in this kind of divination?"
"If you believe, it exists; if you don't, it doesn't," Ibuki Mio said without hesitation. "I don't believe in divination unconditionally, but if you start with nothing but doubt, you won't gain anything."
"People who look down on divination usually have conflicting feelings. Many people say that gods and Buddhas don't exist, but when they're troubled, they still go to gods and Buddhas to pray."
"Normal religious beliefs are still necessary," Aragaki Shun smiled. "People who like to pray to gods and Buddhas may not actually believe in their existence; they are more likely just trying to put their minds at ease."
"To put it bluntly, this is just finding a scapegoat. When you encounter difficulties, you pray to gods and Buddhas. If the difficulties are resolved, you boast about your efforts. If you ultimately fail, you have reason to curse those gods and Buddhas as completely untrustworthy."
This direct statement left Ibuki completely dumbfounded.
So, if there are benefits, it's all due to one's own efforts; if there are drawbacks, it's all the fault of gods and Buddhas? Isn't this approach a bit too utilitarian?
"Of course, this is only the role that religious belief can play in this era; I myself am not that type."
"To be honest, I do believe in the existence of gods and Buddhas, but it's better to rely on yourself than on gods. I never thought that ordinary people could turn gods and Buddhas into their obedient slaves by burning a stick of incense."
More importantly, Aragaki Shun was confident that after a long period of time, he would truly step into the realm of gods and Buddhas with the help of his Source Power.
Putting myself in their shoes, if that day comes and he too is enshrined in a temple by ordinary people, and then a bunch of so-called believers come to worship him and demand that he fulfill countless wishes, and if he can't, he will be scorned... Hmm, I guess I should just slap him down and destroy the temple and the people together.
Why do some people always think that a few words of faith can be used to confine a being beyond human comprehension into a loyal servant?
In situations where there is inequality in status, it is difficult to maintain an equal exchange between people; more often than not, those in positions of power exploit those in positions of power.
On the contrary, in the extraordinary world, are gods and Buddhas subject to the arbitrary command of mortals?
Just thinking about it makes it clear how absurd it is. Aragaki Shun dismissed it as mere religious ramblings, using this false hope to fool those seeking peace of mind.
In reality, those who truly need faith are not the invisible gods and Buddhas, but the religious people who make a living by living in temples, such as monks, Daoist priests, witches, and pastors.
"It's better to rely on yourself than on God..." Ibuki Mio was somewhat speechless. "Someone with your strength naturally has the confidence to back it up."
"But for an ordinary person like me, there's no harm in studying things like divination."
"If you're just going to give it a try, and the fortune teller is wrong, you can just laugh it off and leave; if they're right, won't you be happy?"
Aragaki Shun chuckled, neither confirming nor denying the matter.
"In short, as long as you know your limits, that's fine. And if you encounter any difficulties, instead of praying to gods and Buddhas, I suggest you come directly to me."
In this world, he is certainly not omnipotent.