Act 3: Horrible-Girl-Shambles
The other day, Kushina and Mion judged the face reveal incident as “no problem for now.”
However, a fundamental issue remained that I couldn’t discuss with the three of them.
The fact is, Rui and I are actually close in reality.
We have Hinata-chan in common, and if we’re not careful, there’s a risk of running into each other.
This is something I can’t consult anyone about.
It’s obvious why I know this, and I can’t explain it to others.
All I can do is be extremely cautious to avoid an encounter.
“Sigh, I’m anxious… Well, it’s my own fault though.”
I glance around, slightly downcast.
People bustling about in the crowd. People waiting in front of the landmark statue. People sitting on benches fiddling with their smartphones.
Everywhere I look, there are people, people, people.
It’s a daily scene here, but the thought that my nemesis might be among them makes me freeze.
— Sakuramura, one of Tokyo’s busiest shopping districts.
Being a busy area, its station has multiple exits.
Each exit has its own square, and although not explicitly stated, they naturally became used for different purposes.
It’s an unspoken rule.
Among these station squares, the “Goddess Statue Square” was often used for young people’s meetups.
The main reason is its proximity to entertainment areas.
Another reason might be the statue of , a hero of [Cycle Guardian White Scale : Prim-Libra].
Especially recently, young people tend to admire her, so this place is often chosen.
So, why am I here?
— Simply put, Hinata-chan invited me shopping…!
Isn’t it amazing? A world where your Oshi invites you shopping.
To be precise, I wasn’t the only one invited; Kushina was too.
However, she declined with a smile, saying, “Come to think of it, I have a lot of errands to run in that area,” so it ended up being just Hinata-chan and me shopping.
While I’m internally excited, with so many people around, I’m really on edge.
With Rui’s recent incident — even though it’s pointless to worry about meeting her here — I naturally keep my head down.
Then, a shadow appeared before me.
“Hey, hey, onii san, are you alone by any chance?”
“Want to come play with us?”
Looking up, I saw two unfamiliar women standing there.
They seemed a few years older than me.
I try to put on the friendliest smile I can muster.
“I’m sorry, but I’m waiting for someone right now…”
“Is it a girl~?”
“Yes, it is…”
“Eh~, a girl who makes you wait? Let’s ditch her~”
In this world where the power dynamics between men and women have collapsed, women generally view men as “useless guys.”
This has a double meaning: the plain fact that “they can’t use Natural Talent Luxs” and the contempt that “unlike us, they can’t contribute to society.”
As a result, women in this world tend to be quite haughty.
In reality, given the current social structure, it’s women’s Natural Talent Luxs that contribute to the development of commerce and industry, so it can’t be helped.
In this era, women are literally out of reach for most men.
— Except for a handful of men.
Yes, men who can use Natural Talent Luxs are treated differently just for that.
They’re upgraded from “useless guys” to “equal members of the opposite sex.”
For ordinary men who can’t use Natural Talent Luxs, unless they’re exceptionally handsome, great athletes, or excel at something, they won’t be seen as “equals of the opposite sex.”
It’s a harsh world…
In that regard, I’m not particularly exceptional at anything.
However, being a man with Natural Talent Luxs, I’ve often been approached like this since long ago.
By the way, when Kushina is with me, this never happens.
That girl is unbelievably beautiful, even to me, her childhood friend, so I understand.
It’s one of the reasons we usually stick together.
Still… this is strange.
I knew I’d be alone today, so I took precautions beforehand…
As I was struggling to firmly reject them without being too harsh, at that moment.
“Excuse me.”
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An angelic voice rang out.
“What? We’re in the middle of…”
The women who turned around, annoyed at the interruption, were at a loss for words.
And for good reason.
Standing before them was the most precious creature in this world (in my opinion).
“I’m the one he’s waiting for.”
It’s not that the older women weren’t beautiful, but Hinata-chan is on a different level.
If Kushina is the pinnacle of [beauty], then Hinata-chan could be called the pinnacle of [cuteness].
With her caramel-latte-like light brown hair and large eyes like white cherry blossom pearls or rose quartz.
My Oshi, smiling shyly, is truly an angel.
“…Let’s go.”
“…Yeah, let’s.”
Beaten down by the violence of cuteness, the two women skulked away.
…Come to think of it, shouldn’t this situation be reversed?
Shouldn’t I be the one helping Hinata-chan?
“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting, onii san.”
Hinata-chan, who had accomplished this feat, beamed with a full smile.
I smile back honestly.
“No, I just got here.”
“…Hehe, I’ve always dreamed of doing something like this.”
“—-“
Cool and cute at the same time, are you an angel? Yes, she is.
“onii san?”
“Don’t mind me. I was just overwhelmed with joy at confirming the existence of an angel in this mundane world.”
“? Huh…”
Hinata-chan tilted her head at my (18) incomprehensible statement, but then suddenly puffed out her cheeks.
Oh, how cu–
“But you need to be a little more careful too, you know?”
“…Huh, me?”
“Yes, you.”
After thinking for a moment, I realized.
“Of course, I’m hiding the fact that I have Natural Talent Luxs, you know?”
“N-no, that’s not it.”
“Hm?”
“Well, that too, but your mask and, um…”
Hinata-chan’s words suddenly became hesitant.
From her behavior, I could tell she didn’t understand how I was found out either.
After all, even I, the person in question, have no idea!
“Geez, really.”
Her cheeks slightly flushed, she turned away.
“Kushina-chan spoils you too much.”
“Spoils me…? Is that a new plant species…?”
While Kushina might have in the past, recently she’s been quite strict with me…
Moreover, why are we suddenly talking about me being spoiled?
“I don’t know! Come on, let’s go.”
“…Yeah, sure.”
Nodding, I fell into step beside Hinata-chan as she started walking towards the main street leading to the shopping mall.
“So, you said you wanted to buy casual clothes today, right?”
I brought up the reason for today’s outing.
Hinata-chan nodded shyly.
“Yes. Until just a few weeks ago, I was living in the training school dormitory, so I hardly have any casual clothes…”
I glanced at the girl’s outfit.
Today, she was wearing a spring-like ensemble: a white blouse with a cherry-blossom-colored ribbon hanging down, paired with a young leaf-green flared skirt.
My Oshi looks supreme in anything, but today she’s especially precious.
“Today’s outfit really suits you and looks cute, you know?”
“Really…? Hehe, I’m glad.”
Hinata-chan blushes at my words, which are a hundred-fold dilution of the fanboy raging inside my chest. Seeing this, I feel myself reaching new limits of adoration.
“But actually, this is my only nice outfit. At the training school, we only went out once every two months or so, even on holidays.”
“That sounds… like quite a rigorous training regimen…”
“Hmm, well, it was fun though?”
The fact that she can say that so easily is why she’s called a genius…
“But in that case, wouldn’t it have been better to have Kushina’s opinion? You know, Kushina has great sense.”
I don’t like to admit it to others, but basically, Kushina holds the right to coordinate my outfits.
Wait a minute. Come to think of it, isn’t this the first time Hinata-chan and I have gone out just the two of us…?
In the past, we’ve always gone places as a trio including Kushina, but I don’t think we’ve ever formally gone out just the two of us like this.
“Oh no, this is bad,” I thought, suddenly feeling nervous as I realized we were alone together.
Becoming aware of this belated realization, I started acting suspiciously.
Next to this suspicious person, the angel said with a hint of loneliness:
“Do you dislike being alone with me…?”
“No, no, no, no, no, no! I’m just worried because I’ve never helped choose clothes for a girl before…!”
“Then there’s no problem. I just want you to tell me which clothes you think look good.”
Ugh, my oshi’s straightforward smile is too precious…
Well, I guess she’s just looking for a valuable male opinion since there aren’t many guys around her, but when she says it with such a bright smile, this onii san might get the wrong idea…!
Though of course, an idol is just an idol, and it doesn’t turn into romantic feelings (said with a straight face).
“I’ll do my best.”
“Yes, please do your best.”
For Hinata-chan’s sake, I’d be willing to dedicate my life to choosing clothes.
— That’s what the usual me would have said, but today’s me is different.
Because along with choosing Hinata-chan’s clothes, there was another important objective.
It stemmed from Utsurugi Rui’s statement the other day.
Needless to say, Hinata-chan is my number one idol.
But since I’m basically a fan of all the “Watayume” characters, Rui is also one of my favorites.
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