I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

What puzzled me was that, despite the slapping noise being so loud to me and the bookstore being so quiet, no one came to check on what had happened. Fortunately, Rinquanchuan and I reacted quickly and simultaneously picked up the magazines nearby and pretended to read them, but in reality, no one was so idle as to be so careless.

Well, in that case, the alarm is temporarily lifted.

"Um, anyway... I'm sorry."

Although the main fault was not mine, as a man, I should apologize to the girl first, especially such an unreasonable girl.

Well, actually, it's impossible to expect her to apologize.

"Umm, it's okay."

Maybe it was because of that slap, but now Rinquanchuan doesn't seem so angry anymore. Now, I think I understand why she's so angry... I was always at a disadvantage, but just one sentence almost turned the tables on me. Anyone would be upset in this situation.

If I had to give an example, it would be the feeling of having survived two Iceboxes on the other side, only to have the opponent's Mage suddenly use Frostbolts and Ice Lance, which have reduced their cost, to kill you. [Ice Mage of Heaven]

"I won't get angry at that kind of childish, mischievous declaration."

"..." It seems that this is the reason why he is still worried.

"You say things like that without thinking. Oh, it seems you're still a child, both physically and mentally."

"If you say she's not mature yet..." My eyes turned to her breasts. They still looked the same as before, without any visible bulge. To say they were developing slowly was already a very kind word.

"You, too."

"If you don't look away from me, I won't mind striking you again and dyeing your right cheek the color of the sunset."

"Ah...my bad."

He returned his sight to the magazine he had just picked up. Regarding how to cook, I think Ye Hui would need a book... but even if there were recipes, she probably wouldn't follow them exactly.

"By the way, why is it dyed with the color of the sunset?"

I suddenly noticed this. Generally speaking, the face should be red after being slapped, but the color is too different from the sunset.

"...Hmm, because it sounds cool."

She responded, stroking her chin.

"Is this the reason..." It feels so far-fetched.

"Oh my, you're a man, but you don't understand the importance of being handsome." He cast a disdainful look at me again, "Are you really a man?"

"Of course I know... But as a girl, you are also interested in the things that boys are interested in..." It seems that I don't know much about her other hobbies besides her love of games.

"What era is this? Why can you still say such discriminatory things? What's wrong with girls liking cool things..."

"I didn't mean that..." And I was clearly following her words...

"As the saying goes, 'Everyone loves beauty,' don't you also like men's muscular bodies?"

"If it's just for the sake of appreciation, it's fine... I really have no interest in that aspect."

"Do you enjoy wrestling?"

"No... If I had to say it, I'm just envious. I wish I could be a little stronger..."

"Aha, forget it. You wouldn't become like that even if I gave you thirty years."

“…”

She paused briefly before changing the subject. "Well, whether it's handsome or cute, everyone has the right to appreciate it. So the handsome guys I like and the elementary school students you like are essentially the same."

"Wait, what crime are you accusing me of without making a sound?" Defaming others at will will result in legal liability.

"Ah...isn't it common sense that a pervert would like elementary school students?" She actually looked puzzled. "Could it be that they have to be even younger to be interested? Hmm, I see. You're indeed a man-made pervert, Qi Kaiji-kun."

"No, no, no, you must have some misunderstanding about me." I quickly waved my hand to refuse, "And please let Qi Kaida go, Mr. Ishimori will be sad."

"Ah, la la, despite your low intelligence, you're still diligently collecting information about this world. You're actually interested in special effects, which is commendable. It shows that even as a lowly creature, you haven't lost your artistic judgment. I'm going to look at you with new eyes, Mushiko-san."

...It seems like this guy is a bit into tokusatsu...To be honest, I'm a bit surprised too.

"If possible, please call me by my name. I would be very grateful." Although I don't have any big objection to being called like this, it would probably make others feel a little uncomfortable.

"Wow, that's a truly remarkable statement. In your ridiculous worldview, are we close enough to call each other by name? Oh, could you please wake up from your daydream for a moment? We're not even close at all."

If you really don't know each other, why would you keep talking here? I'm afraid you won't even get close to me.

"Well...it's not just calling my name, but adding something like 'classmate' after my name. Calling me 'Shaji-kun' makes it seem more normal, just like how I often call you Miss Rin."

"Ah, being a classmate with a creature like you is already a great shame for me, and now you actually want me to talk about it for the world to know..." She covered her mouth nervously, "Such a vicious method, are you a demon?"

"...I don't think this is too much..."

I just want to regain the dignity that belongs to me.

"What do you mean... not excessive? On the contrary, it's excessive. Wouldn't that be like elevating you to the same level as me? If I were to address you like that, it would be disrespectful not only to me but also to you."

"You are disrespecting me."

This joke isn't over yet...

"No, I'm not wrong to tell you the truth. It's just your perception of yourself that's wrong. You don't want to admit that you're an inferior creature, that's all." He stretched out his hand and waved it in front of my eyes. "Remember this quickly! You're at the bottom of the food chain."

"Don't try to implant memories in me that don't exist."

"Excuse me, it would be better for you to accept reformation in your current state. That way you can fight against the evil forces that are endangering the world."

"The world is really dangerous..." Being targeted by evil organizations every moment, "So what exactly is endangering the world?"

"The artificial pervert Qi Kaiji."

"Why me..."

...I seem to have accepted this setting unconsciously.

"Foolish, haven't you ever heard the saying 'Your greatest enemy is yourself'? In conclusion, for the sake of world peace, you should end your sinful life as soon as possible."

"Forgive me for refusing."

"That's really a shame."

"Don't give me any regrets." I sighed helplessly, "If I really wanted to commit suicide, I don't think you would agree."

"Oh, are you going to tell me specifically if you're going to commit suicide?" She seemed interested and put down the magazine in her hand. "I'm really curious about what you have to say."

"...I've never considered this before, but if it were my personality, I'd probably say goodbye to you without revealing anything."

"Oh my, that's an unexpected answer."

Even though she responded, her expression remained unchanged. Perhaps this matter wasn't important to her... or perhaps she simply dismissed it as a joke.

"Speaking of which, are you going back soon?"

"That's right. A car will be here to pick me up in about ten minutes." She looked at me. "Why, do you want to invite me?"

"...Well, actually, I didn't mean to do anything...I was just asking."

"What..." Although it was barely noticeable, I still noticed her frown. "If you have no purpose, then don't ask random questions."

"I'm not saying this out of the blue. It's just that when I bumped into you today, I realized we haven't seen each other much since summer vacation... How should I put it..." He unconsciously raised his hand, curled his index finger, and scratched his numb cheek. "I feel a little happy."

“…”

But Rinquanchuan on the side didn't react at all, just lowered his head and looked at the magazine.

"...So that's how you feel, are you happy? I see..." He stopped flipping through the pages and said, "Huh... Let me be clear, I don't have any such thoughts at all."

“…Is that so…”

"Oh, I was just trying to relax and pick out some books, but I ended up sensing a perverted vibe in the air. It's a surefire way to ruin anyone's mood. And curiosity got the better of me, so I actually found you. My mood couldn't be any worse."

"..."

She was very serious when she said the above words to me, so for a moment I couldn't tell whether it was a joke or the truth.

「よろこびの时笑えない人」

A vaguely familiar melody suddenly appeared, and Linquanchuan turned his attention to the handbag on his right.

"Looks like my pick-up person is here." She said and hung up the phone. "Well, I'll be leaving now."

"Oh... then..."

I reached out and waved goodbye to her.

She waved her hand and turned away.

Then, it's time for me to leave.

"Now, don't you feel uncomfortable in this hot weather?"

She suddenly asked this question with her back to me.

"Ok?"

Only then did I pick up the two comic books I had originally wanted to buy.

"Ah... It's okay if I stay at home, since there's air conditioning. But if I go out and walk around, it's really unbearable."

I responded like this.

"This is... summer vacation..."

"...?"

"Well, to be honest, I don't really like this kind of weather."

She turned her head slightly, causing her short, straight, black hair to flutter slightly, and her eyes met mine.

His eyes, which had shown no emotion when he talked to me, now showed a rare smile.

"So, it would be great if this were to end quickly."

Chapter 32: Conversation and Talk

"Thank you for your patronage."

Anyway, after some consideration, I decided to buy three books. In addition to the comic book from the past and the comic book I was going to bring for Ye Jin, there was also a book about cooking.

It was a sudden impulse or something... Anyway, I just suddenly wanted to know what cooking was all about. I know this behavior is a bit unusual, like if I always go to the school newsstand to buy books like Youth's Digest and suddenly want a firearms guide. The shopkeeper will definitely think I'm buying it for someone else or pointed to the wrong book, and will never think that I'm actually interested in firearms.

Well, I actually only bought it because I needed material for my work. Then I just threw it away somewhere and it didn't even deserve to be on my bookshelf.

"...It's so hot."

Thinking about it, I'd been in the bookstore for quite a while, and being exposed to the sun wasn't exactly a pleasant experience. But even so, I still didn't have the same thoughts I'd had about Rinsen River. I wish summer vacation would just end soon... wouldn't that shorten the holiday? And thinking about starting school just a few days into the holiday is simply ridiculous.

"Ah...it's better to go out less often in the future..."

I think it's just too boring to just sit in my room playing games all the time. Games get boring eventually, and sometimes you get stuck or get beaten so badly that you doubt your life. At that point, it's helpful to distract yourself by doing something else. And since I've been catching up on Shokugeki no Soma lately, I've developed a slight interest in cooking.

It wasn't a coincidence, actually. As a child, I'd always wanted to know how to make dishes that glowed golden. I even asked my dad, who was my cooking at the time, about it, and his answer, which I now think is brilliant in every way, was brilliant.

"Put more oil."

This also made me realize very early on that many things in animation are actually not credible.

...Well, someone like me who suddenly gets the urge to cook is certainly no match for Soma-kun, who's been wielding a kitchen knife since childhood, so it's probably unlikely I'll make anyone burst with my clothes. If someone tastes my food and says something like, "Ah, it's not bad," then I'd be truly grateful.

"squeak--"

Glancing at the red light in front of him, he immediately stepped on the brake and stopped steadily in front of the intersection.

"......"

Cars are coming and going in front of me.

It suddenly occurred to me that there might be another option: taking the bus. Buses have air conditioning in this kind of weather. If you're free, you could probably take a bus to the terminal for two yuan and then take the bus back from there.

"..."

But I think few people my age would do that.

......

Green light.

..........

At this time, in order to block the strong sunlight slanting down from the side, I had to push the cart with one hand, and then use the other hand to pick up the book and put it next to my face to block some of the sunlight.

Although this method is usually used during school hours, I sometimes can't sleep because of the sun, as I live near a window. So, I pick up my books and hold them up to block out the sun... Of course, such an obvious move is only made during study time.

"......"

Returning along the same route, the downhill slope that was quite easy when we came here became a difficult uphill slope.