I really don't want to be reborn.

Chapter Twelve: I Don't Like You, I Don't Like You

"If I win this competition, I will put in a good word for Kanako with the president of her agency. Actually, she has wanted to be a model for a long time."

"She didn't know it was cosplay?"

"I don't know—although I mentioned it before, what do you think now that you've seen the real person?"

Kyosuke Kosaka had no objection to Kanako's appearance: "She really looks like her, she has the same face as Meruru! I never noticed before."

Yes.

Kanako Kurusu and Meruru.

Her face, her chest, her physique, her hairstyle—the more you look at her, the more she resembles her. If she dressed up as Meruru at a cosplay event, she would definitely win.

Convincing Kanako to participate in the competition was naturally Ayase Aragaki's responsibility, because it was impossible to just say it directly. Kanako wasn't an otaku, and even had some prejudice against otaku, so it was impossible for her to participate in such a shameful imitation show.

Therefore, besides making the promise, Ms. Ayase Aragaki also concealed the type of the competition from her.

"Kanako really wants to be a model, so I'll talk to the president if she's willing. Actually, I had already planned to introduce Kanako to the president."

"You're quite the trickster, Ayase-chan."

"Brother, could you please stop calling me that? It's disgusting."

Kyosuke Kosaka fell silent. His girlfriend was very interested to see him make a fool of himself, especially in front of a middle school girl like this.

"Even so, she'll notice immediately when she's wearing cosplay clothes."

"Yeah, Kasumigaoka-senpai, could you help me out later? If you have that, it'll be fine."

Ayase Aragaki raised her hands and clasped them together in a pleading gesture to Utaha: "If anything happens in the future, please help me out, because... I've also prepared my own cosplay outfit."

If Kanako runs away, she's prepared to make her own appearance.

Even knowing how sexually suggestive the clothes were, she still did it.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes gleamed with admiration, and she nodded slightly: "If that's the case, I'll take responsibility, don't worry."

This girl's intense devotion to her best friend reminded her of Kirino's devotion to her brother.

That unwavering dedication is like the feathers of a flamingo, inspiring awe.

Ayase Aragaki waved to the approaching van and said, "Then, senpai, let's help Kanako change her clothes together."

"Okay."

Kasumigaoka Utaha became interested: "If it's that kind of clothing, it's really not easy to wear. I'll help too."

Kanako, who was being pushed into the van, giggled happily: "Hehehe, it feels like we're filming a movie, so great."

Yes, yes, that's great.

The car door closed, and it was pitch black inside because the lights weren't on—Kyosuke could only hear the sounds from outside.

You can only hear sounds from inside.

"Come on, Kanako, hurry up and take your clothes off!"

Aragaki's joyful voice sounded like that of a female hooligan.

"Hey, stop touching my chest!"

"Sorry, my hand slipped! Oh, my hand slipped again—oops! I slipped again!"

"Ayase, you've gone too far! I'll touch it too! Huh... this amount???"

"Excuse me, you should have touched me by now."

"Ah~ I'm so sorry, Kasumigaoka-senpai!"

The car, due to the girls' antics, also emitted shameless vibrations, shaking violently.

Kyosuke Kosaka knocked on the car window: "You guys are having so much fun, can I join in? Sharing is caring!"

Soon, the car door opened.

Stepping out of the car were two women with long, straight black hair who seemed reluctant to leave, and one more...

What the hell!

Kyosuke opened his mouth slightly, forced to feign surprise.

Because, after dressing up, Kanako Kurusu really looks no different from Meruru, except for her expression...

"Woo-ha".

The freshly baked Meruru was squatting on the ground in a squatting position, with a look on her face that said she had been played with terribly. It seemed she was exhausted from being in the van earlier.

Ayase Aragaki raised her hand towards the old woman in the driver's seat of the van.

"Ah, it's done now, thank you!"

The nanny van just drove away like that.

He carried the clothes that Kanako had changed out of.

Decisive action is necessary; cutting off the source of the problem is the best approach. Ms. Aragaki is truly cool.

The level of danger has increased even further. If Ayase Aragaki, who only knew how to yell and hit people before, was a weakling with a combat power of only 10, now the level of danger has doubled.

After updating the character information in his mind, Kousaka Kyosuke walked with them up the stairs to UDX. Unfortunately, just as he was trying to cheer himself up, Kanako noticed her ridiculous outfit in the rearview mirror of a nearby car.

"Whoa, what is this?!"

"It suits you perfectly, Kanako."

The little imp dressed as Meruru jumped up: "Suitable my foot! You're all big liars!!"

Kyosuke coughed, his applause sounding forced, almost like the applause of a leader giving a speech: "Actually, you're quite cute, aren't you, Kasumigaoka?"

"Yes, she's just as cute as Gokou's Night Queen."

"but--"

"No buts!"

Aragaki abruptly interrupted her, a smile still gracing his cute face, displaying a sophisticated air he seemed to have picked up from somewhere: "Sorry, I forgot to mention, the competition Kanako is participating in this time is actually a cosplay competition."

"COS...PLAY? I think I've heard my older sister mention it...that, that..."

Kanako Kurusu's intelligence finally kicked in, and she stood up fiercely, shouting at the three of them, "Why does Kanako have to participate in this pointless thing?! I don't want to!"

Two high school students made a gesture in unison: "┓(′?`)┏"

Ayase Aragaki didn't even flinch, scratching the back of her head and getting away with it cutely: "Oh dear, that's troublesome, because Kanako's clothes are currently on the Metropolitan Expressway."

The fool Kanako dejectedly accepted her fate, her helpless expression mirroring that of those johns who had condoms but couldn't find a prostitute.

It looks pitiful, yet I also want to laugh.

"Actually, I had no choice. Only Kanako can win, because Kanako is so cute! Right, brother?"

"Huh? Huh? Oh... um."

"Right, right! No one can compare to Kanako's cuteness!"

Kyosuke rolled his eyes comically: "Yeah, yeah, super erotic and super cute! Just like someone who stepped out of an adult film—pfft!"

His girlfriend stopped him from saying anything bad by pressing her hand against his mouth.

Kanako chuckled after being praised by everyone, swaggering around like a centipede missing ninety-eight legs: "Well, what can I do? Hehe, since you put it that way... I, I'll make my appearance?"

He gently kissed Kasumigaoka's soft palm while mentally updating the character information once again.

Originally possessing a mischievous streak, Kanako Kurusu was completely categorized as a "middle school idiot with an excessive sense of self who can be easily fooled."

"Is Kirino's stupidity contagious?"

"It's hard to say who infected whom."

Led by Ayase, they entered the dressing room at the back of the venue. After confirming that there was no danger around, Kousaka Kyosuke stood on the balcony not far away.

Overlooking the view – actually there’s not much scenery here, except for some Meruru posters and staff constantly walking back and forth.

It seemed to be because of an official event; everyone's expression was very serious, as serious as if a magical girl were about to destroy the earth.

Kyosuke's expression gradually relaxed. He raised his head slightly and smiled, "How long are you going to hide?"

"..."

"Come down and stay with me, Shino."

A face drooped down from above, staring at him expressionlessly.

"What's with this thriller plot twist?"

A flash of blue appeared, and a petite girl with short, azure hair slid down from above, her movements as agile as a large raccoon.

Standing on the edge of the balcony, Miss Shino stood ramrod straight, completely oblivious to how dangerous her movements and position were.

The weather wasn't great today, and she didn't smile, but Kyosuke felt that her face was radiant with sunshine.

She is a handsome and charming little girl.

"Just like those female heroes in American movies, cool."

His praise was met only with silence.

The girl gazed at him for a long time with her lake-like eyes, which sparkled like wet leaves: "How did you know I was nearby? Even my sister didn't know."

Kyosuke Kosaka pondered, "I don't know, I just had a gut feeling that you're here. You seem to have been avoiding me lately, why?"

She glared at him: "Because I don't like you."

He looked into her eyes, but couldn't see the bottom.

Shino's statement is quite interesting.

That's what it meant, not what it meant.

--------

Ugh, do you have any razor blades? I'll be updating seriously today!

I saw my senior urging me in the thread, but she said not to rush me, that I need to prepare for a while.