Unlimited Ambition

"Speaking of which, Yuki, are there different factions within the Information Integration Thought Entity?"

“That’s right. But don’t worry, the conservatives are in the lead right now. So just keep things as they are.” After saying that, Yuki paused for a moment, then added, “I’ll protect you.”

"That's a really reassuring setup," I chuckled. "Then I'll be relying on you from now on, Nagato Yuki-san."

"This is my responsibility."

Before this, the entire space was sealed off. Even those pure spiritual entities from other worlds couldn't detect it—meaning that everything Asakura Ryoko perceived before, and the connection between her and the Information Integration Thought Entity, was actually something I imitated after reading her memories.

The enclosed form of the entire space also originated from the previous plane, which I learned from those pure spiritual beings. It must have something in common with this plane.

Yuki can naturally sense it.

Naturally, people would assume that it was Ryoko Asakura, a radical member, who was behind this.

Naturally, they wouldn't suspect me.

My purpose, of course, is for Yuki-kun.

Let's confuse her and make her draw the wrong conclusion. That way, we can have a better strategy for the future.

I took advantage of you a little, Ryoko Asakura.

But the dead can't hear apologies, can they?

So I'll save this energy and continue with the calculations.

The attack I just unleashed seemed to have drained Yuki of all her strength. She hasn't recovered yet. She can only lie quietly in my arms.

If I didn't do something at a time like this, wouldn't it be a shame to let myself down? I thought to myself, then chuckled and took off Yuki's glasses, putting them in the pocket of my suit jacket.

"Can I have this?"

"Huh?"

She's so cute! Yuki was already cute when she was expressionless earlier. Now, Yuki is even cuter when she's slightly surprised.

I couldn't resist reaching out to touch her hair.

Yuki looked at me with a slightly puzzled expression.

Just then, someone appeared to cause trouble.

"I forgot, I forgot to bring my schoolbag home..." I sang this off-key little tune. That idiot Taniguchi opened the door—and there he was, along with Yuki, in a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.

"...I'm sorry, I really didn't know you two were here. I'll disappear without a trace, don't worry about me, please continue—"

Damn bastard! You ruined the atmosphere! You bastard, you bastard, you bastard, you bastard!

After that, Yuki seemed to have regained her strength and stood up. Then she turned around and walked towards the door: "Suzumiya-san must be getting impatient. Let's go."

"Oh..." Although I was a little disappointed, I know what's good for me. Yuki had just contacted her boss, but that jerk ruined it. But there will be plenty of opportunities. A little while won't make a difference.

"And also, about Ryoko Asakura..." I caught up with Yuki and asked her this.

“I will change the information so that everyone thinks she transferred schools,” Yuki replied.

"This has been a huge help."

"No, it's what I should do."

And so, Yuki and I arrived at the door of the clubroom. After knocking, we heard the club president's authoritative voice: "Come in!"

So he pushed the door open and went inside.

"So slow! I need to—cough… Okay, sit down, let's start the meeting."

Wait, you weren't just going to fine me, were you? You definitely were going to fine me, weren't you? Are you obsessed with money? You gold digger!

"Alright, now that everyone's here, let's begin the meeting! Mikuru, you take notes!"

"Eh... okay." Speaking of which, these past few days, Mikuru has been following Haruhi's wicked tastes, wearing a maid outfit in the clubroom. The kind with a long skirt and an apron. Slightly different from the black miniskirt and black stockings I imagined—of course, I absolutely couldn't tell Haruhi about that.

"First of all, I feel that our organization's reputation is still not very strong. No one has come to our door for the past few days. And the city search has yielded absolutely no results."

It's completely impossible for it to work out—if the people around you are still here.

As I thought this, I sighed and said, "Shikuru, pour the tea."

"Ah...yes." Upon hearing this, Mikuru hurriedly poured me a cup of tea. Come to think of it, she had been providing the club's tea and drinks for the past few days.

"Hmph..." Haruhi snorted slightly, sounding a bit dissatisfied. Koizumi Ichiki smiled wryly, thinking that his workload was going to increase again today.

"So! I've decided to make a movie!" Haruhi stood up, stepping on a stool and shouting.

"Movie?"

"Movie."

Should we film it?

"Yes."

"...Let me make it clear beforehand that I don't have any footage or cameras at home, so there's absolutely no way you'd expect me to pay for it."

"Kyon, really... can't you be a little more manly?"

"Just because I'm a man doesn't mean I'm a sucker!"

"They're arguing again..." Mikuru muttered to herself.

"Anyway! You don't need to worry about this! I'll take care of all the work—screenwriting, directing, and producing! You just need to do odd jobs on the side!"

Finally, Kasuga ended the argument with these words.

"Our goal is to win first place at this year's school festival! Let's do our best, everyone!"

"Oh!" Only Mikuru was forced to cheer—aside from that, Koizumi Itsuki, with his squinty eyes, was clapping.

What an idiot.

I rolled my eyes.

"Yuki, Kazuki, that's all for you. You can go home now. Kyon and Mikuru, come with me. We're going to get the camera." Kasuga said this as she pushed open the door, seemingly about to leave.

"...Um, I have something to do, could I go now—" Upon hearing Haruhi say this, Mikuru's face turned deathly pale. She was clearly still shaken, remembering Haruhi's previous computer robbery.

"Don't worry," I comforted Mikuru, holding her hand. "If you don't explain what's going on, Mikuru and I definitely won't go with you!"

"What are you two thinking?!" Haruhi frowned in displeasure. "What are you hesitating about?! It's about getting sponsorship! It would be much easier if you brought the male and female leads along, wouldn't it?"

"Wait, you said the male and female leads... do you mean me and Mikuru?"

"That's right! Although I'm reluctant to admit it, you're definitely a master actor. Add to that a pure and innocent character like Mikuru, and the movie is sure to be a huge hit! Then I'll have enough reason to retaliate against that damn Kyon fan club."

Is it all because of this in the end?

Seriously, what are these women thinking about all day long? (Women's jealousy is just like men's philandering. So you have absolutely no right to criticize them.)

And so, the three of us—Kasuga, Mikuru, and I—ran together until we reached a nearby shopping street. Then Kasuga stopped at an electronics store, said, "Wait here," and went inside.

Mikuru seemed completely captivated by the various electrical appliances displayed in the shop window. Perhaps in her eyes, these things were like Western Zhou bronzes or Song Dynasty porcelain—extremely precious antiques and cultural relics.

But I didn't let my guard down. I was just waiting for Haruhi to make her move so I could pick up Mikuru and run away. Otherwise, I might really be sold off.

I watched as Haruhi chatted with the seemingly kind and approachable shop manager. She kept gesturing towards me and Mikuru outside the shop. Could she really have sold us out? No?!

The middle-aged man kept nodding for some reason. This significantly lowered my opinion of him—this guy must be a middle-aged man with strange quirks, either divorced or still single.

Just as I was internally criticizing the store manager, Haruhi walked out with a big smile, carrying a brand-new digital camcorder.

"It's done," she said, handing me the box containing the digital camera. Then, full of confidence, she continued walking forward.

"So what exactly did you do? Did you catch that store manager red-handed?" I asked Kasuga as I pulled Mikuru along a few steps.

"Why do you say that?"

"Otherwise, why would he give you such a high-level item?"

Hearing what I could call a compliment, the last vestiges of spring almost flew into the sky. Yet, she still pretended to be completely indifferent.

“I just said I wanted to make a movie, but I didn’t have a camera, so he gave me this.”

"Who would believe that!"

And so, Haruhi, full of energy, led us on a rampage through the entire street. Besides the electronics store we started with, there was a small inn, a vegetable shop, and a model shop that got caught in the crossfire. The shop owner, for some inexplicable reason, had signed an unequal contract with Haruhi.

I wonder if this guy would use his dimensional power for such a small matter?

Or is it that spring itself possesses this convincing magic?

I'm a little confused...

This girl... she really is something.

Without realizing it, my gaze toward spring softened, and a smile of contentment appeared on my face—just as it had been until a moment ago.

"Hey? Kyon, you're here. What a coincidence."

At this moment, one of the people who should least have appeared showed up.

Yukari Yakumo, the great youkai from the gap, along with the big spender of North High School and my boss, bumped into us at the next corner.

Chapter Seventeen: Can I have that girl?

Seriously... what an unfortunate day. Tonight I had to save the world, then in the early morning I discovered my own sister had taken advantage of me, then at noon I found out I'd been tricked by Yukari Yakumo and had a random fan club formed, then in the afternoon I was assassinated by the class president. After that, I was made a laborer by Kasuga. And finally, I encountered a chaotic love triangle... Seriously?! Can't I just have a moment of peace?!

However, both Yukari Yakumo and Haruhi Suzumiya are arrogant and extremely self-centered. Getting them to listen to me is practically impossible—no, impossible compared to that. I'm a non-human who has achieved some level of cultivation now, after all.

"Kyon?!" Haruhi saw Yakumo Yukari walk over and call out my name, and immediately looked at me with an unfriendly expression.

"...Let me introduce you, this is Ms. Yukari Yakumo. My... um... friend?"

However, Yukari Yakumo seemed somewhat dissatisfied with my statement: "Utsuro-chan is really cold... Our relationship was clearly much closer—just yesterday we were— um!"

I immediately reached out and covered Yakumo Yukari's mouth, warning her with my eyes not to say anything out of line.

But who is Haruhi Suzumiya? How could she not sense that there was more to what Murasaki was saying? I was also being inconsiderate; my hasty actions only made me more suspicious.

"Kyon... what's going on?" Haruhi lowered her voice, and in my experience over the past few years, this was a sign that she was about to explode.

"Did I already tell you?" I said casually, releasing my hand from Zi's. Then I shrugged. "That's pretty much the kind of person she is. She talks nonsense and nothing is reliable. Don't trust her too much."

"Is that what you think of me, Uro-chan? How sad..." After saying that, Yukari Yakumo pretended to rub her eyes and fell to the ground, looking as miserable as a wife who had been heartlessly abandoned by her husband after he had an affair.

trouble.