First, something important. Since the number of readers has exceeded this little author's expectations, and after spending the past few days looking through the questions raised in the comments and reviews, the author has prepared a few patches regarding the characters and setting (over 1,000 words of patches [coming in swinging]). They've been added after the main text of Chapter One. I hope you'll take a look; they should clear up some of the confusion readers have had.
You really have to read them! I'm begging you. Seriously, please!
Sigh, this little author can't figure out why this story got popular. Readers, could you tell me what you think while reading it? Leave me a message in the comments, or just @ me. You can also leave any suggestions in the comments. I'll read them.
The author had no idea this story would attract so many readers. The main thing is that the readership has surged over the past few days. The number of people currently reading (the total number of users who have listened to or read the story in the past 14 days) went from 3,000 to 54,000 in three days. In other words, more than 50,000 people have read this story in the past three days. Even the author can't figure out why... So some readers didn't understand or relate to the characters and setting, and dropped the story partway through. The author feels awful about that. I'm seriously falling apart here! Tomato didn't give me any time to react.
I'll also fix some minor issues later, like the endless nose-rubbing, and Sakayanagi getting angry and squeezing her cane. (Sakayanagi only has two ways to show she's angry: the hand gripping her cane and her little face. But she's a young lady, after all, and naturally a