Uneasy daily life

Bai Ying nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Angelina.

Angelina winked: My job is to perform with superpowers, and we don't have any props during rehearsals! I can't exactly make everyone fly on stage, can I?

“Over-reliance on talent inevitably leads to bottlenecks. You need to think carefully about what you don’t have yet. You can’t just emphasize what you have.” Bai Ying earnestly gave Angelina two bowls of chicken soup, and then concluded, “Although there are still some problems, they’re not serious. Take a short rest and adjust now, and we’ll try again later!”

Tsurumi Rumi looked up, somewhat bewildered. She was already thinking about how to respond to Bai Ying's pointing fingers, but seeing the scene of preparing to rest, she felt her mind was left unsettled.

"Um... how was my performance?"

Rumi Tsurumi hesitated for a few seconds, then finally made a sound.

Bai Ying looked at her in surprise: "Don't you know whether your acting was bad or not?"

"#!" Rumi Tsurumi retorted, "I acted according to your instructions."

“Yeah, my requirement is just that the child is alive.” Bai Ying shrugged. “You fit my requirements perfectly, so it doesn’t matter if you’re bad. You’re just a minor supporting character anyway, so just follow the script.”

Rumi Tsurumi angrily found a stool and sat down to rest.

White Shadow caught up with Hachiman Hikigaya and Angelina, pulled them aside and began explaining the performance details and script content—mainly concerning the use of superpowers. For the sake of Hayato Hayama's worldview, he wouldn't be included in the performance.

Hmm... Tiga? Gatanothor? Ultraman?

Tsurumi Rumi pondered absentmindedly. She didn't really know much about these things; she'd only overheard her classmates talking about them a few times... To perform better, she really needed to learn more, right? Hmph! It doesn't matter what kind of bad she is, as long as she's a living kid...

Suddenly, Tsurumi caught a glimpse of Hayama Hayato sitting next to her out of the corner of her eye. She felt a little uncomfortable, but didn't want to move.

Anyway, there weren't any of my classmates around.

"Who told you to ostracize me before? I will never forgive you."

"?"

Rumi Tsurumi paused for a few seconds, tilted her head, and looked at Hayato Hayama with a face full of question marks.

Hayato Hayama had a tense expression, his elbows pressed against his thighs, and his hands unconsciously clasped together, feeling his blood surging through his body.

After a silence of about ten seconds...

Hayato Hayama couldn't hold back any longer: "Ahem—isn't that what you really think?"

"Naive," Rumi Tsurumi commented.

"Hahaha..." Hayama Hayato couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly, "Then why didn't you call some classmates over for rehearsals?"

Rumi Tsurumi fell silent, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.

...Under normal circumstances, the proper course of action is to respect the other person and not to press them for answers.

Hayato Hayama suddenly said slowly, "There is a set of 'friendly templates' for how people should get along: smile more, maintain good personal hygiene, do not point out the other person's shortcomings, offer help when someone asks for it, do not disappoint the other person's expectations, do not talk about the other person behind their back, maintain an enthusiastic and positive attitude, take the initiative to communicate with others, and do not let emotions drive your words and actions."

Rumi Tsurumi couldn't help but say, "Boring."

“It might be quite boring,” Hayato Hayama chuckled. “But as long as you do these things, even if you can’t become friends with some people, you won’t be disliked by them… Many popular people do these things unconsciously, while I do them consciously.”

Rumi Tsurumi thought for a moment: "Aren't you tired? You really want to be popular?"

“No.” Hayato Hayama pondered for a moment, then said softly, “I just got used to it, and I did it by chance.”

Tsurumi Rumi tilted her head in confusion: "By the way?"

"Well... you should have experienced this at your age, right? Your parents, teachers, relatives... they'll all make the same demands of you to some extent, and they'll find some role models to set an example for you." Hayama Hayato said with a wry smile, "I just did it, that's all."

"..." Tsurumi Rumi was speechless for a moment, not knowing whether to say that the other party was very capable or that the other party was also very strange.

"Of course, they're just talking—even those who seem to be perfect role models are actually just pretending to be good kids." Hayama Hayato shrugged. "I'm the one who actually believed it."

Rumi Tsurumi casually remarked, "Isn't this great? Everyone will praise you."

Hayato Hayama shook his head and said, "You won't."

Rumi Tsurumi felt something was off: "Am I that important?"

“It’s somewhat important…” Hayama Hayato remarked. “This may show that I also wear a mask, or rather, that friendly template cannot solve the various problems and complex feelings I encounter. There is no such thing as an all-powerful, self-evident truth in the world.”

Does Soubu High School produce all sorts of eccentric characters?

Rumi Tsurumi's thoughts wandered a bit. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, "There used to be a game in our class about breaking up with someone."

"Breaking off relations... in a game?"

Hayato Hayama finds it difficult to connect the two words together.

“Yes, it’s the game of breaking up with friends.” Tsurumi Rumi said in a flat tone, “Everyone excitedly announces to their friends that they are breaking up with them, and everyone has to participate… In the end, everyone gets used to ignoring me. This game just hasn’t ended with me yet.”

Hayato Hayama had a vague feeling that Rumi Tsurumi had many things she hadn't said, but those details were irrelevant to the current situation.

Games... Back then, Yukinoshita was ostracized, and for everyone involved, it was probably a kind of habitual game.

"So you're wrong. I don't hate everyone. They're just a bunch of gaming idiots."

Rumi Tsurumi said softly, "I don't know why you care so much... maybe it's because you're a so-called 'nice guy'? Anyway, the last semester is almost over. After I graduate from elementary school, I'll have new relationships in junior high, and everything will be resolved then..."

“Congratulations to the brave mini for advancing to junior high school. Please choose your career path—” A white figure suddenly appeared from behind, raising her left hand. “This is the Deadly Chef branch—actively make friends in the new environment, consciously integrate into everyone, and become a member of the current class. The price is that you will deliberately suppress your true desires and develop a bad habit of distorting yourself to maintain interpersonal relationships!”

Bai Ying raised her right hand: "This is the Hero branch—because they are used to being ostracized and ignored, they choose to enrich their hearts in other ways. At the same time, they become adapted to being subjected to emotional abuse. In order to protect themselves, they begin to strengthen their aggression and embark on a lonely path to seek the 'right'. They develop a cute habit of being sensitive, awkward, and eager yet escaping from interpersonal relationships!"

Rumi Tsurumi and Hayato Hayama were dumbfounded.

Hachiman Hikigaya complained, "President, I think I hear you saying you're treating people differently."

"Huh?" Bai Ying said in surprise, "You want me to treat the Deadly Chef and the Hero equally? As expected of my subordinate, you have guts..."

Hachiman Hikigaya immediately replied, "I'm sorry, I was wrong, please continue to torture me. Who told you to ostracize me before? I will never forgive you!" He was a classmate and a kid who said, "Everything will be alright in junior high!"

Hayama Hayato: "?"

Rumi Tsurumi: "?"

Angelina's mouth is full of gossip—tsk tsk tsk! Has Hachiman caught his superior's bad habit? He just spouts off insults about everyone being treated equally!

"Enough with the chit-chat. You hate your own hero Mini, and you don't understand people's hearts, Your Highness. It's time to continue rehearsing."

Chapter 703, Chapter Seventy-Eight: Probably Dislike

Giants fighting monsters—that's Ultraman, no different from any other boring cartoon.

At home, Rumi Tsurumi is using her father's computer to catch up on her studies.

Although Bai Ying said that he was just an extra, as long as he was alive, that was fine, and that he had no requirements for him, just showing his face was enough...

angry.

Who are you looking down on?

Rumi Tsurumi diligently studied the background information of the script and watched the show by fast-forwarding through the plot and skipping over parts such as Ultraman fighting monsters.

It was determined to be boredom.

Anyway, it's all the same content as those cartoons. They put together some scenes that make kids cheer and excited, and then they silly-soundingly talk about themes like unity, friendship, courage, and wisdom. It's as boring as writing a set essay. Unfortunately, most elementary school students are stupid and are satisfied as long as they can see Ultraman fighting monsters.

Therefore, we can conclude that a high school student = Bai Ying = likes Ultraman = elementary school student = idiot?

Rumi Tsurumi gave a small yawn, moved the mouse expressionlessly, and did the most provocative thing for fans of the work—she started skipping through the pages.

Ultraman Tiga and stuff like that are so boring.

……

On the streets at night, Daigo wandered aimlessly...

As night fell, Zigela's power weakened, and people returned from their beautiful dreams to the real world. In order to obtain Zigela's pollen and re-enter the dreamland without regret, pain, sorrow, or fatigue, the people in the streets were scrambling for Zigela.

Daigo walked through the chaotic crowd, at a loss for what to do. He had no reason to stop anyone; all he could do was wander aimlessly and watch, utterly bewildered and unable to act. After all, even his companions were captivated by that irresistible dream—

The captain, relieved of the weariness of responsibility, no longer worries about work and position; the vice-captain, indulging in the childlike joys of fitness and self-indulgence, no longer needs to constantly try to maintain a stern face and act like a mature man, after all, he doesn't even drink alcohol; the scientist can finally put down his work and immerse himself in research with his initial passion...

Everyone was engrossed in their joy.

Daigo remained awake, all alone.

Light doesn't interfere with human choices, but you are different; you are both light and human.

So how should I choose? And what should I believe?

Believe in yourself? Believe in the light? Believe in courage? Believe in miracles? Believe in your companions? Believe in the future?

What should I believe now?

"...Even Ultraman can't defeat 'everyone'."

Rumi Tsurumi huddled in her chair, muttering to herself as she stared intently at the screen, curious about what would happen next.

The protagonist is definitely different. In a story for idiots, the protagonist will definitely win. But how will he win? How will he defeat 'everyone'? Will he transform into Ultraman and start attacking 'everyone'? Or will he forcibly burn down the beloved Gijera? Or will he simply ignore it and leave? Speaking of which, the previous plot mentioned that after the ancient people fell into the same situation, the Ultramen left.

He either becomes the villain standing against 'everyone,' or leaves alone... Or perhaps he watches 'everyone' head towards destruction with a lonely and clear-headed attitude, filled with sorrow and in vain? No, no, no, the TV show certainly won't portray it that way.

She couldn't figure it out, but she was certain that even Ultraman couldn't beat 'everyone'.

Daigo! Go do what you believe is right!

So you choose to believe in yourself? So you're destined to become the villain standing against 'everyone'?

Rumi Tsurumi was somewhat surprised; this sudden plot twist didn't seem to be just an ordinary idiot story...

[To be honest, I really admire Ultraman Tiga. Even knowing it meant going against the entire world, he still risked everything to save us.]

No, I believe that ultimately, it is humanity that makes the choice.

Rumi Tsurumi watched this episode of Ultraman Tiga silently. After finishing it, she pursed her lips, didn't continue watching the next episode, and simply closed the webpage.

What a joke... it turns out to be a childish and silly story.

It seems like he believes in himself, but in reality, he believes in humanity. Although the protagonist is indeed human, believing in himself is tantamount to believing in humanity...

Ugh! My head is spinning!

It's just a stupid story! The idea that if you believe everyone, everyone will believe you? What a naive person to write that!

Rumi Tsurumi turned off her computer.

……

"Oh! You also think that episode's plot wasn't interesting enough?"

Bai Ying revealed an expression as if she had found a kindred spirit.

Rumi Tsurumi twitched her lips, feeling like an idiot for wanting to discuss her own feelings with the other person: "Hmm... it was resolved too easily. I didn't feel any cause-and-effect connection, nor did I feel any logic or persuasiveness in the story's development."

Bai Ying nodded repeatedly: "Right, right? It's like the screenwriter wanted to write it that way, and that's how the story developed. It's neither reasonable nor realistic!"

"Ultimately, it's a work aimed at a young audience," commented Rumi Tsurumi. "Considering its children's focus, this development isn't surprising—if it were you, how would you write it?"

"Of course, it's because humans are intoxicated by Gijera's pollen, and Daigo is powerless to stop it. He made the choice to fight, but he couldn't defeat Gijera. However, Gijera won't kill him either. Because Gijera is Earth's euthanasia for humanity, allowing humanity to die with beautiful dreams before being destroyed in despair and darkness. Therefore, Gijera has no intention of destruction or killing."

The white figure, hands behind his back, slowly paced back and forth, saying, "Daigo is awake because he is light; Daigo is in pain because he is human—he can neither indulge in beautiful dreams nor leave like the lights of the past, but can only wander like a ghost across the land where Gijera blooms. All he sees are humans who are gradually withering and dying, their appearances horrifying, yet they are exceptionally happy. He is Ultraman, he is light, he can defeat monsters; he is Daigo, he is human, he cannot defeat human."

"As the last ray of sunlight is swallowed by the sea, and endless darkness envelops the entire earth, the ancient roars slowly creep onto the shore, threatening to usher those lives already lost in dreams into the next era—"

A ray of light flickered in the darkness.

"The ruler of darkness slowly moved forward, stepping onto the earth. Behind its terrifying body, a giant stone statue faced the surging sea, as if still fighting against the wind and waves, standing firm."

"Humanity dies peacefully, while the last warrior chooses to be the first to die in battle. Even in death, he will stand in the endless darkness, watching the next dawn rise..."

The white figure drew a long, drawn-out conclusion: "To die standing up like a human being, what do you think of this twist?"

Tsurumi Rumi's eyebrows twitched, inexplicably annoyed: "That sounds really sick."

Bai Ying declared confidently, "Hmph! Superficial! Romanticism chooses to believe in humanity, while realism chooses to believe in power. By slightly blending the two, wouldn't the final creation be both romantic and realistic?"

"Huh?" Angelina interjected, "Both romantic and realistic, isn't that just a sign of mental illness?"

The white figure suddenly turned around, raised her hand and pinched Angelina's slightly chubby cheek: "Oh! My 9527, what you said is so true!"

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

Ha...that's really quite a commotion.

Tsurumi Rumi, already used to this, sighed and continued rehearsing for a while before it was time to gather and leave Soubu High School.

I'm hesitant again.

Although the people rehearsing here are all eccentric, it's surprisingly comfortable and relaxing, and once I'm back among the crowd...

Then I would have to continue playing the role of the isolated one.

Tsurumi Rumi had mixed feelings, but she couldn't skip the gathering.