Unlimited Ambition

"...Actually, you're already surrounded by people from other worlds, aliens, time travelers, and superpowered individuals. You're such a lucky young lady who doesn't know how good you have it."

"Huh?"

"Sorry I was just talking nonsense, please ignore it—I actually wanted to tell you that it would be better if we split up."

"Is that so?" Haruhi seemed a little shy, clearly having misunderstood me and thinking that I wanted to be alone with her, which was why she said that.

Of course, the ending was not quite what she had imagined.

"I'll be in one group with Tsuruya, and the three of you will be in another group. That's all. Goodbye—" After I finished speaking, I pulled Tsuruya-senpai away without waiting for Haruhi's reply.

Perhaps I'll have to face spring's wrath when I get back. But who cares? I thought to myself as I dragged Tsuruya-senpai along the street aimlessly.

"...What exactly are you trying to do, Kyon?" Tsuruya-senpai asked, puzzled.

"I'd like to discuss something with you," I replied.

"Could you let go of my hand before that?" Tsuruya-senpai asked in return.

"Ah... I'm so sorry. But I don't think there's anything wrong with it." I continued to shamelessly hold Tsuruya-senpai's hand and whispered this.

Perhaps in other people's eyes, this is just a young couple flirting.

At least I hope so.

However, Tsuruya-senpai clearly didn't appreciate it. She snorted coldly, forcefully pulled her hand back, crossed her arms, and turned her head away.

That was a classic pose of arrogance. I wanted to laugh, but I had to hold it in. I patted Tsuruya-senpai on the shoulder and then pulled her to sit on a bench under the shade of a tree. I bought her an ice cream cone as an apology. Only after all that was done did we begin our formal negotiations.

Yes, negotiations, because we have disagreements.

"So, that means you're actually from another world?" Tsuruya-senpai looked at me with a hint of surprise.

“That’s right.” I nodded. “But if I could, I would prefer you to call me a fallen angel.”

"That kind of thing doesn't matter anymore," Tsuruya-senpai replied. "Besides, your purpose in coming here is for the so-called dimensional power on Kasuga?"

“That’s right.” I nodded, then shook my head. “But I’ve already given up on that goal. Anyway, crossing an interdimensional tunnel is a life-or-death situation, and those idiot demons wouldn’t care too much. They’ve probably forgotten about me by now.”

“Is that so…” Tsuruya hesitated slightly: “It’s not that I don’t want to believe you… but this is a bit too outrageous… By the way, what’s so great about Kasuga that would attract a womanizer like you to abandon your mission and stay in another world?”

……

I didn't say anything, just quietly looked at her. After staring at her for several seconds, Tsuruya-senpai finally couldn't take it anymore and looked away, muttering, "I'm really defeated by you." She reluctantly accepted my comment.

"Alright, let's leave it at that. Wouldn't it be better to quietly protect Haruhi for the rest of your life? We made an agreement before. It was already difficult enough to try so hard to stop Haruhi from knowing about her power. Why did you have to cause trouble again?"

“Because Haruhi will die.” I said bluntly, “As the host of the power of the plane, Haruhi is just a mortal. A mere mortal, yet she bears the terrifying power of an entire plane. How long do you think she can hold on?”

"Haruhi... will die?" Tsuruya-senpai was startled by the news at first, and then she keenly noticed the loophole in my words: "You mean Haruhi is just a mortal, and the power of the plane is attached to her - that is to say..." Tsuruya-senpai couldn't continue after saying this.

"So, her death wouldn't cause any harm to the Earth, right?" I chuckled as I said the rest of Tsuruya-senpai's sentence.

Tsuruya-senpai looked a little embarrassed and lowered her head without saying a word.

"There's a 50% chance," I continued, telling her.

"What do you mean, a 50% chance?" Tsuruya-senpai looked up at me again, a bad feeling creeping into her heart.

“This world was indeed not built by Kasuga—but three years ago, after she gained the power of the plane, she completely transformed this world.” I said this half-truthfully, “In other words, the world we live in now is indeed Kasuga’s creation.”

"So what was the original world like?" Tsuruya-senpai asked.

"How would I know?" I smiled and pretended to be clueless.

"Aren't you from another world?" Tsuruya-senpai was a little angry.

“That’s certainly true in terms of the soul. But my body is a native of Earth, and it took me seventeen long years to grow into what it is now.” I replied, “So, in fact, the large-scale world correction three years ago also included me. Therefore, it’s understandable that I don’t know.”

"Well..." Tsuruya-senpai looked a little confused.

"How do you feel about the world right now, senior?" I asked.

"Although there are still quite a few loopholes and shortcomings, it's barely passable overall, which is why I made up my mind to protect Kasuga," Tsuruya-senpai replied.

“Very good. So if Haruhi dies, the power of the plane will find a new host. How that host will change the world is unknown; perhaps for better, perhaps for worse. That’s why I said there’s a fifty percent chance.”

"...Let's play it safe," Tsuruya-senpai said weakly.

"Now you understand why I'll try my best to extend Haruhi's lifespan, right, senior?"

"Oh..." Tsuruya-senpai was still weak and listless.

So, at noon, we went back to the ice cream shop to meet up again, as usual. The other girls looked at Tsuruya-senpai, who seemed lost and dejected. They all found it strange. The senpai they knew was completely different from the energetic person they remembered—and then, their anger suddenly turned towards me.

"Kyon! What exactly did you do to Tsuruya-senpai?"

During the afternoon shopping trip, Chunri used her authority as group leader to force me to be grouped with her. After the two groups parted ways, she couldn't wait to ask me this question.

"It's nothing—none of the things you're imagining will happen." I explained to Haruhi with a smile, "Oh, I trust you a lot, Haruhi, so please trust me as much as I trust you."

Chunri pouted but didn't make a sound, and finally collapsed into my arms.

And so, another day passed. Time flew by. In the end, we still found nothing.

However, Haruhi didn't seem to care: "There are times like this, where you wander around all day and nothing happens afterward—so let's disperse, and we still need to meet here at the designated time tomorrow."

After saying that, she took my hand and left.

So the next day, they patrolled the city again, and still found nothing. The third day, they patrolled the city again, and still found nothing. On the fourth day, Haruhi finally decided to end this boring activity. So she took us to a taxi and sped off towards the swimming pool.

To be honest, cramming six people, including the driver, into a small car was indeed a bit cramped. Especially when there was a girl with a large bust like Mikuru Asahina among them. And Kasuga, because of some inexplicable sense of pride, sat in the very front. So...

"Kyon... move a little over there..." After I repeatedly and unintentionally touched Mikuru's body as the car swayed, the shy little fairy couldn't take it anymore and weakly protested in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Just bear with it. Even if you tell me to go that way, there's nowhere for me to move." I said this while glancing at Tsuruya-senpai's chest on the other side.

"Where are you looking, you bastard?!" Tsuruya-senpai whispered in my ear, though there didn't seem to be much anger in her tone.

"Pretty much, that's where it's attractive..." I whispered in her ear.

Further to the side, Yuki flipped open a page of her book with a "swish," as if in silent protest.

And just like that, another day passed. We spent the whole day playing in the water at the swimming pool. Afterwards, we went back to sleep.

I'm slightly concerned about Yuki. I don't know why, but she seems a little lonely.

On the fifth day, I have two things to do: catch cicadas during the day and go to the night market in the evening.

Although I've never been interested in anything that makes noise and disturbs the peace, we needed to submit biological specimens for biology class in elementary school. So, I did have a set of mesh bags and plastic boxes at home. I dug them out of a dusty storage box, saw they were still usable, and took them with me.

After I went outside, Haruhi said with a smile, "You're so slow! You'll have to pay a fine!"

"...Haven't we assembled yet?"

"Making the great SOS Brigade commander wait is itself a crime."

"Whatever you want, I'm always the one paying anyway."

Besides the cost of drinks, there was another expense today. The girls wanted to buy new yukatas at the night market, and I had to choose them all. Of course, I had to pay for them too.

However, this expense was well worth it.

Chapter Thirty-Four: Night, Night, and Night Again

The allure of girls in yukatas has been dramatically enhanced. Even having admired their charm countless times, I was slightly dazed upon seeing this beautiful sight again.

It's so good to be alive, I'm so happy... That's what I thought at the time, and I didn't hesitate to express my feelings. I used just the right amount of slightly exaggerated praise to compliment the girls' charm.

"Kyū, you're exaggerating."

"It's not as good as you say..."

"Idiot Kyon..."

"..."

Although the girls said that, they couldn't hide the smiles on their faces. They seemed to really appreciate my compliment.

A girl who says one thing but means another.

But it's kind of cute, actually.

After that, we went into the night market again. It was completely dark, and because it was a cloudy day, there was no moonlight. However, the lights from the two rows of vendors illuminated the street, making it lively with people coming and going. This is one of the benefits of technology, I suppose. In the Middle Ages, in weather like this, there was nothing to do but sleep.

"Ah, goldfish..." At that moment, Mikuru pointed to the goldfish scooping stall not far ahead with shining eyes and shouted. Then she ran over.

We quickly followed.

“So cute…” Mikuru said, watching the various goldfish swimming around.

"Actually, you're cuter," I said softly with a smile.

"Oh, is this young man here with his girlfriend?" the goldfish stall owner asked.

"More or less..." I replied vaguely. For some reason, none of the girls around me objected.

"Then let's have a go. It's 100 yuan a time, isn't that cheap?" The boss smiled and took the 5,000 yuan bill I handed over, and then handed each of us five ten paper net bags.

This is really a rip-off! The paper is so thin, and it's even wet. It'll tear if you put any weight on it. I thought to myself as I cast a hardening spell on the paper. Then, chuckling to myself, I started catching goldfish.

Ten minutes later, the boss looked at us, who were leaving with a long face, speechless.

"Apple candy..."

Takoyaki...

"Marshmallow……"

The sounds of vendors hawking their wares filled the air, and I was actually quite hungry. Just then, as if reading my mind, Chunri ran to a nearby stall and bought a box of takoyaki.

"I should buy you things as a reward from time to time..." Haruhi said a little shyly, seeing my slightly touched expression.

"Then I won't be polite," I said, picking up a toothpick, sticking it into a takoyaki, and then putting it in my mouth. The other girls followed suit, eating happily.

After that, Chunri bought a huge pile of cheap fireworks and began her great environmental pollution mission. The girls easily gained satisfaction; the simple sparks from the fireworks were enough to attract their attention, and they would shout "Wow!"

In the middle of the night, the Bon dance began. Although I repeatedly said that I didn't know how to dance, Kasuga still pulled me over: "What does it matter?" Then I awkwardly imitated the others' movements and started dancing together.

After that, dazzling fireworks lit up the entire night sky. The girls started cheering—but I was reminded of some less pleasant memories. I felt a little sad.

That was back in Academy City, when my plan was thwarted—of course, it wasn't my fault—but it was embarrassing enough—and there were lots of fireworks in the sky that night.

How are you all doing?

I miss you all.