A Choice Between Two

Looking at the one million points on his phone, Kato Satsu felt a wave of daze wash over him.

He did not know why, but a surge of regret welled up from the bottom of his heart.

"My three hundred million!"

In a deserted corner, Kato Satsu crouched on the ground, clutching his head and weeping silently.

His expression was exaggerated, yet his voice was barely a whisper; he did not know if it was because he did not want to be heard, or if he was too emotionally overwhelmed to make a sound.

"Just how insane do you have to be to trade three hundred million yen for one million useless points!"

"The funniest part is, I have to pay it back! If I don't pay it back in a month, I'll be expelled!"

Kato Satsu continued to mutter to himself, and gradually, his body began to twitch, his expression slowly twisting.

"Thump, thump, thump."

Whether it was the roaring in his eardrums or the powerful beating of his heart, Kato Satsu only felt as if someone were drumming inside his brain.

"Ugh~ ah~"

"Ugh~ ah~"

Accompanied by strange, shivering noises from his mouth, the pain in Kato Satsu's body became even more intense, evolving from a slight, continuous tremor into violent, rhythmic spasms.

It felt as if his soul were slamming against his body, trying to break free.

"Waaah!"

Kato Satsu let out a sudden, massive roar, the volume of which nearly echoed throughout the entire corridor.

"Hah... hah..."

He gasped for air, drenched in sweat as if he had just woken up from a nightmare.

"Noisy. I have my own rhythm."

Kato Satsu said something nonsensical, and then his mind flickered.

Wait, why did I say that?

As he spoke, Kato Satsu noticed the abnormality in his body.

The most immediate sensation was exhaustion; his muscles ached all over, as if he had just undergone exercise that pushed his body beyond its limits.

The dizziness in his head was even more severe. Kato Satsu forced himself to stand up, leaning against the wall: "What on earth is going on? It's that same feeling from last time."

"I am completely unable to control the surge of regret in my heart; I can only watch helplessly as it swallows my sanity."

"And this time it's even worse. When I hit the clerk, at least I knew what I was doing. This time, it felt like I had been disconnected."

Recalling his state just moments ago, Kato Satsu couldn't help but feel a lingering fear, his hand instinctively moving to his forehead.

"If last time was because of self-defense and emotional agitation..."

"Then what was this for? I didn't encounter any danger, nor did I have any major emotional fluctuations."

"Damn it, does this mean I'm going to be deprived of control over my body at random times?"

"Is it the original owner's consciousness? Didn't he already kill himself! If you're going to die, die completely!"

Kato Satsu pondered, slamming a fist against the wall, but his reason quickly regained the upper hand: Calm down, Kato Satsu! Calm down, getting angry might just make me lose control again.

"Kato-kun?"

Hearing someone call his name, Kato Satsu quickly turned around and realized that the person calling him was Kokoro Inogashira.

"Oh, Inogashira-san! You..."

Kato Satsu scrutinized Kokoro Inogashira, his tone probing: "What did you see just now?"

"I didn't see anything. I heard your scream and rushed over here in a hurry."

Kato Satsu did not answer immediately, instead focusing all his attention on Kokoro Inogashira. After confirming multiple times that he was not reading any relevant inner thoughts, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Kato-kun, are you... alright?" Kokoro Inogashira asked hesitantly.

"I'm fine. I just accidentally stubbed my toe against the wall," Kato Satsu said, making up a random excuse to brush her off.

"Do you need me to help you back to the dormitory? You look like you're in a lot of pain; you must have hit it really hard."

As she spoke, Kokoro Inogashira took hold of Kato Satsu's arm before he could even answer. The latter did not refuse; after all, given his current physical state, having someone to help was indeed a good thing.

"Sorry to trouble you, Inogashira-san."

"Just call me Kokoro. I'll call you Satsu."

Waaah! Satsu's physique is so sturdy; I can clearly feel his muscles. (Kokoro Inogashira)

Hearing these excited inner thoughts from the young girl, Kato Satsu ignored them and said nonchalantly: "Sorry to trouble you, Kokoro."

The two walked very slowly, neither of them speaking. Kato Satsu felt miserable all over and had no mood to talk, while Kokoro was lost in her own world, unable to pull herself out.

The sunset, the injured Satsu, and me supporting him—this is exactly like a scene from a school romance novel where the heroine supports the hero who got hurt protecting her! (Kokoro Inogashira)

Good imagination. (Kato Satsu)

They hadn't walked long before they saw Hasebe, who also spotted the two of them at first glance.

A flicker of something imperceptible crossed Haruka Hasebe's otherwise calm face as she asked, "What's going on, Kato Satsu?"

"Didn't you go to the teachers' office with Ichinose? Why are you tangled up with Kokoro Inogashira again?" (Haruka Hasebe)

Crap, Haruka Hasebe is jumping to the wrong conclusion! I need to clear up this misunderstanding fast. (Kato Satsu)

Just as Kato Satsu prepared to speak, Kokoro Inogashira beat him to it. She spoke up, "Satsu bumped his foot, so I was just about to help him back to the dorms."

Sa...tsu? Kokoro Inogashira, who's never been good with social interactions, suddenly dares to call him by his first name? (Haruka Hasebe)

This is bad! (Kato Satsu)

Why did she have to show up right now and ruin the atmosphere between me and Satsu! (Kokoro Inogashira)

"Why is Haruka Hasebe here?" Kokoro Inogashira asked, her tone immediately turning hostile.

What's with that tone? Did I interrupt their little world for two? (Haruka Hasebe)

I'm doomed!!! (Kato Satsu)

Haruka Hasebe glanced at Kokoro Inogashira and said coldly, "I was waiting in the classroom for Kato Satsu to head back to the dorms together, but since he didn't return after a long time, I came looking for him."

"Then you can head back now. Kato Satsu's foot is injured and he's walking slowly, so I'll be responsible for helping him back," Kokoro Inogashira replied, her tone equally icy.

"Actually, it's not that serious..."

Kato Satsu spoke up timidly, but it was clear that neither Haruka Hasebe nor Kokoro Inogashira heard him as they continued to lock horns.

Think, you idiot, think! What can I say to take control of this situation! (Kato Satsu)

Whatever, just interrupt them! (Kato Satsu)

"Kato, about you stopping Ayanokoji...!"

Before Kato Satsu could even open his mouth, Horikita Suzune appeared at the most inopportune moment.

Haruka Hasebe and Kokoro Inogashira both turned to look at her with eyes full of vigilance, and even a hint of anger.

Kato Satsu looked over helplessly as well. Horikita Suzune was stunned by the three of them staring at her, but after scanning the scene, she instantly understood what was happening and flashed a mocking smile.

Looks like you've capsized, serves you right! (Horikita Suzune)

"We'll talk another day."

Leaving those words behind, Horikita Suzune turned and walked away without hesitation.

Seeing that no one else was joining the fray, Haruka Hasebe and Kokoro Inogashira turned their attention back to each other.

"Kato Satsu, I remember you promised me we'd go to the mall together," Haruka Hasebe said.

"Obviously Kato Satsu can't go now; he should be heading back to the dorms!" Kokoro Inogashira countered.

Suddenly, both of them looked at Kato Satsu in unison and demanded, "Say something!"

"Oh, f*ck." (Kato Satsu)