Chapter 94
"Okay, but I've been quite busy lately, so I might not be able to attend the event on time."
"No problem. Club activities are limited in time anyway. It's just that everyone likes to get together and have fun. How about next week? We'll have a diving activity. I'll let you know then."
"Uh, I've heard about the Diving Club's reputation too. Imamura-kun, why are you crying?"
Yuki saw the blond handsome guy cover his face, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Does our club really... really know how to dive?"
"Yeah, otherwise why would it be called the Diving Club?"
"Isn't it the drinking club? Or the baseball boxing club?"
"Kohei Imamura is really joking." Tokita chuckled, then looked at Yuki: "Sorashima, we're going to a Grand Blue party, do you want to come?"
Yuki hesitated for a moment, and before he could answer, he saw Tokita trying to persuade him from the front, Kohei Imamura quietly added to the message.
"The party will be over by eight o'clock, it'll be quick."
"Then you'll be asleep until morning."
"Joining the fun with everyone helps you integrate into the club quickly."
"Yes, you'll learn baseball boxing very soon."
"Kohei Imamura, what are you secretly adding to my feed?"
"Senior, I'm just telling the truth!"
Yuki couldn't help but laugh. Everyone in the Diving Club was a real character, living up to their reputation. How could you possibly feel even a little bit heavy when you were with them?
"Alright, I still have homework to do tonight, maybe next time."
"Really? I certainly can't let this interfere with your studies. I'll contact you again at the next event so you can meet everyone properly." Shinji Tokita instantly became serious. Despite his teasing, he had high emotional intelligence and wouldn't put anyone in a difficult position. He reached out and grabbed Kohei Imamura, who was trying to sneak away.
"Kohei Imamura- kun, where are you going? We still need to discuss the male contest tonight."
"Sorashima, save me... save me..."
Yuki watched with a smile as he was dragged away. The laughter faded into the distance, and he stood alone on the steps, his envious gaze gradually fading as he looked out over the tranquil campus and the distant Grand Blue.
A moment later, I took out my phone, swiped the screen with my thumb, a picture of a castle flashed by, and what remained was a screenshot from Facebook.
Urban Legends: Exploring a Terrifying Abandoned Complex of Buildings
A social media influencer's exploration log post features a picture at the top: a huge building.
An abandoned hospital.
Chapter Five: Hmph, I knew it!
A week later, Yuki returned to his rented apartment. He couldn't sleep that night, so he continued to dig for clues on the forum. By the time he came to his senses, it was already morning, and he cleaned the room inside and out again.
If it weren't for my senior coming today, Yuuki would have been having a good time with Yuki and the Kohei Imamura last night. There's no dungeon nightmare that a cup of oolong tea can't solve; if there is, then bring on the Water of Life.
"But I can't let my senior see my 'Male Black Sphere,' which has evolved from a pig's head to a pervert so quickly."
Yuki dropped the mop, made sure his biological research materials were hidden properly, and then nodded in satisfaction.
After confirming that Iori Kitahara's matter would have to wait, who knows when the next dungeon will start? I also need to take this time to finish a few important things.
The Shijo Conglomerate is ramping up preparations, and there's also Shiina Hiyori's school...
"Damn it, why is it still so brain-teasing now that I'm back?"
He actually wanted to fight tooth and nail in the dungeons, then come back and live a life of carefree bliss with the idiots in the Diving Club. Unfortunately, as a seasoned schemer, there were certain things he just couldn't let go of.
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang, Yuki jumped up from the sofa and walked to the entrance to open the door in a few steps.
A slightly warm sea breeze suddenly rushed in, and he saw a tall, slender figure standing in the doorway.
Wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a sun hat, her entire face was covered, but her pink dress and black stockings made it impossible to see her face at all.
"Senior, why are you acting so suspiciously?"
"I'm afraid of being recognized." Mai Sakurajima took a step forward, pushed Yuki back into the room, and then turned around and closed the door.
She executed a series of moves flawlessly, but only after the door was locked did she realize something was amiss.
Thinking that it was too forward of her to visit a man's house for the first time, she turned her back to Yuki, her cheeks burning, and racked her brains for a way to smooth things over.
"Uh, the slippers are in the closet, I just bought them last night." Yuki found it amusing but offered a way out.
"Ahem, at least you have good eyesight." Mai Sakurajima decisively caught it, pulled out her small, chocolate-ice cream-like foot, and quickly stuffed it into the slipper.
Yuki a pang of regret. He wished he hadn't bought the shoes; he could have let his senior walk barefoot on the floor and admire her for a longer time.
"You... there's nothing to hide in your room, is there?" Mai Sakurajima asked suspiciously, only to see Yuki turn and leave. She was immediately confused. "I asked you a question, why are you running away?"
"Since you want to check, senior, I'll show you. Don't worry, I'm a fan of beautiful legs and stockings."
Mai Sakurajima was slightly taken aback, then heard the sound of something being rummaged through, and immediately gave chase.
"Get back here! Who wants to inspect?"
The aroma of tea filled the air. Mai Sakurajima, curled up on the sofa, exuded a languid air as she stared at the ceiling, then covered her face in apparent anguish.
Why is it that I, who am known for my maturity and composure, am always led by the nose by him?
I was already a bit disoriented when I arrived, and I completely forgot the battle plan I had come up with on the way. In order to get ahead of Hayasaka -san, I got up very early to travel.
Feeling somewhat annoyed, he swept his gaze across the room with disapproval; there wasn't much to see in this rented apartment.
It was small, dilapidated, and simply furnished, with the kitchen, bedroom, and living room all crammed into one room. There wasn't even a television. It was nothing like his own luxury apartment. Fortunately, the owner had cleaned it, so it looked fairly tidy and didn't have any strange smells.
"How long have you lived here?" she asked the man guarding the electric kettle.
"A few months, maybe."
Where did you live before?
"Why are you so interested in my past, senior?"
"Fine, don't tell me then."
"Okay, I used to live in Fukuoka, in my parents' property, but I rarely went home." Yuki picked up the electric kettle, poured himself a cup of tea, and sat cross-legged by the low coffee table. "Back then, I was flying all over the world, and I quickly ran out of money. I had to sell the house to go to university."
"Just for your weird interests?"
"Of course, traveling around is very expensive."
Mai Sakurajima was speechless for a moment. She also noticed that the bookshelf was filled with books in various languages, many of which were related to religion and mysticism. It was clear that this guy had studied a lot of random things.
"Didn't you ever think that without the Reincarnation Game, your life would be ruined?"
"If the assumption doesn't hold true, fine. Even if it doesn't, these experiences have broadened my horizons, and I can still make money by writing books in the future." Yuki shrugged. He had already prepared a backup plan. He stared at Mai Sakurajima with a look of longing on his face.
"If this path doesn't work out, I can still become a doctor, find a wife, and live a peaceful life. That wouldn't be bad either."
Mai Sakurajima's cheeks flushed from his gaze, and she unconsciously looked away. "You're different from Li Dan."
"What's the difference?"
"It's the pursuit of power. Many people, after experiencing the Transcendental Grade, lose interest in ordinary reality."
"Of course, power breeds ambition, an endless pursuit until you reach the peak or die along the way." Yuki took a sip of tea and said somewhat nonchalantly, "But I'm different. Power is just a means for me to survive, not my ultimate goal."
"So what is your goal?" Mai Sakurajima unconsciously sat up straight. She thought she was going to be overwhelmed by flirtatious talk, but she didn't expect to hear the truth.
"Just like I said, be a writer, get married, have children, and live a peaceful life."
He deliberately concealed the quantifier, and Mai Sakurajima didn't care. She was pondering with a strange expression, only feeling that Yuki's wish was much more difficult than that of ordinary players, no, it was simply impossible to achieve.
Because the prerequisite for achieving the goal is to escape the Reincarnation Game —no, to eliminate the Reincarnation Game altogether. She can also sense the player's erosion of reality; simply escaping is useless.
"Your goal sounds truly hopeless."
"Haha, anything is possible, right? Want to join me?" Yuki seemed quite nonchalant, even though he couldn't see a glimmer of hope right now.
Looking into the girl's clear eyes, it was clear that she had no desire for power and her struggle was merely for survival. Yuki's goal seemed unattainable, but it at least gave her some direction.
"Hmm, we can give it a try."
Ring ring.
The wind chimes tinkled, and the two sat facing each other across the coffee table, yet felt their hearts draw closer. Yuki saw the black hair being blown by the sea breeze, the small face gleaming in the sunlight, and of course, the long legs in black stockings folded together.
The atmosphere was nice.
Yuki decided to strike while the iron was hot and took out the 'Singer's White Veil', which immediately caught Mai Sakurajima's eye.
The gauze dress was as light and thin as paper, its surface embroidered with beautiful patterns, like musical notes, and with long lace trim.
Although the props couldn't be used in reality, their descriptions were still visible. Mai Sakurajima focused her attention, a clear expression of surprise appearing on her face.
It's not just about being good-looking; it also solved her biggest problem—
Crispy crust.
Mai Sakurajima is too fragile. The moves Yuki can only deal with newbies. Even with her special ability activated, she is still afraid of wide-area attacks. If she gets splashed, she will either die or be seriously injured.
Therefore, during the battle with Dean Fukawa, they could only lay landmines.
"This gift is a way of returning the favor I owe you, Quiet Dew." Yuki tossed the gauze over. He was a very easygoing person; Mai Sakurajima hadn't uttered a word when he took the Quiet Dew, so he wouldn't hold a grudge either.
"Thank you, this gift is very precious." Mai Sakurajima stroked the exquisitely soft gauze dress, a faint smile appearing on her face. "Just tell me, how do you want me to reward you?"
A kiss? A hug? Or maybe a begging comment?
With so many choices, Yuki hesitated. She could have confessed her feelings then, but should she keep track of the progress in her pursuit of Yuuki?
Knock knock knock knock.
In the silence, Mai Sakurajima felt her heart racing, repeatedly recalling whether her actions just now were composed enough and whether she had gained the upper hand.
Anyway, I've given you a chance. Whether you're worried about flirting with me or genuinely like me, you'll soon find out the answer.
Mai Sakurajima stared directly at Yuki, vaguely sensing that this man would not hesitate. She saw his expression gradually harden, his mouth slowly open, and then he quickly turned his head away.
She had no intention of backing down, but she felt a sharp, piercing gaze coming from behind her. Sure enough, she saw a golden head with a single ponytail staring at her expressionlessly through the open window.
His blue eyes were devoid of emotion, followed by a cool smile, a hint of smugness that he couldn't hide.
Hmph, I knew it.
I also like Chapter Six.
She did it on purpose.
Mai Sakurajima's eyes twitched slightly. Some things between women don't need to be said aloud; a huge amount of information can be gleaned from that smile alone.
Some things are changing quietly. After the Crimson Moon ended, what was just a simple cooperative relationship has gradually changed.
Wait, it seems like I'm the same way!
Slightly startled, Mai Sakurajima didn't feel ashamed of being caught red-handed, nor did she lose her composure. Instead, she gracefully extended her hand.
"Hayasaka- san, the door is over there."
A kind of poised and elegant demeanor, like that of a hostess?
"Well, there were too many people at the apartment entrance, and since it was time for my special ability to enter, I decided to climb up from the seaside side," Hayasaka Ai explained calmly, jumping into the room with all her might.
She remembered what Yuki had said in the elevator at the Demon Hospital, so she didn't plan to switch to her girl-next-door form.
Besides, why should I act in her area of expertise?
She glanced at Mai Sakurajima again, then fixed her gaze on Yuki's hesitant face, making the latter's scalp tingle.
"Hayasaka -san, you're here so early?" Yuki suddenly regretted what she had said before. Hayasaka Ai in her maid form was easier to deal with; at least she would feel ashamed because of her foolish master.
"Yes, we just arrived."
"It must have been a tough journey."
"Thank goodness, I almost missed a good show."
Her azure eyes reflected the man scratching his face. Hayasaka Ai's fingers, hidden behind her back, twitched restlessly. She was about to burst; she felt her face swelling up, and a little devil the Roar inside her.