My youth story cannot be a knight war

[“——As expected of you, you are my close friend!”]

【Hikigaya was startled and subconsciously thought that Zaimokuza had suddenly gone mad, but he suddenly stopped laughing and lowered his head to look at him.】

Zaimokuza's usual unaffected smug smile was once again plastered on his face. He placed one hand in front of him and raised the other to the side of his face in a pose. The lenses of his glasses emitted an eerie white glow as he smirked at Hikigaya, his teeth gleaming in the light.

[“You are able to see through the endless potential hidden deep within this general. Your vision is truly admirable! You are worthy of being the only close friend I recognize! Meeting you is truly like a thousand-mile horse being like a horse trainer, and Liu Bei being like Zhuge Liang. It is a match made in heaven!”]

【“From this! I have decided!”】

[Zaimokuza stretched out his right hand, and an index finger with a clear swirl fingerprint popped out and pressed it against the forehead of the stiff-faced Hikigaya Hachiman. His posture was very similar to that of Phoenix Wright, the protagonist of Ace Attorney.]

[“Next time, when I create a masterpiece that will make you cry, you will definitely be the first person to appreciate it. Feel happy, my dear friend!”]

[Hikigaya Hachiman: “…”]

[Did I say it too gently, causing this fat guy to get carried away again? ]

【"well……"】

[Looking at Zaimokuza, who was grinning with both rows of teeth showing, Hikigaya's eyes twitched a few times, and he helplessly covered his face with his hands and sighed.]

[——But, I finally solved this guy's psychological problem. ]

[“So, do you plan to continue writing this story?”]

[Hikigaya put down his hand and raised his eyes to ask, while Zaimokuza gave a thumbs up affirmatively. ]

[“Of course I have to write it!”]

[“Although I cannot write this story now, I believe that as long as I persevere, sooner or later, I will be able to write a story that will make me proud and move others.”]

[“I promise that by then, Hachiman, you will be the first reader of this story!”]

[“…Is that so? Then I’ll keep looking forward to it.”]

[Hikigaya nodded nonchalantly, and turned towards the door as Zaimokuza smiled, preparing to leave. It was almost time for class.]

[“That’s right.”]

[Hikigaya stopped just before reaching the door, as if remembering something, and turned back to Zaimokuza.]

[“It’s just a little suggestion from the readers to the author after reading the story. Of course, it’s up to you to decide whether to adopt it or not.”]

[“Oh!? How come you have a new idea so soon? Please present it to me quickly, my dear friend?”]

【Hikigaya rolled his eyes and said to Zaimokuza.】

[“It’s not really an opinion, just some small suggestions on character creation.”]

[“Generally, when creating characters, light novel authors always give the protagonist certain specific characteristics in order to distinguish him from other characters, such as unique appearance or habits of speech and behavior, that is, settings such as catchphrases.”]

[“You can also give the protagonist a similar catchphrase to enhance the character’s distinctive features and leave a deeper impression on the reader.”]

[“Oh? I see… Then Hachiman, do you have any opinion?”]

【Zaimokuza crossed his arms and nodded seriously, but soon he looked up at Hikigaya with hope on his face.】

[“…Can’t you try to come up with one yourself?”]

[Hikigaya took the strawberry 100% drink he had bought and placed on the table, and said speechlessly while looking at Zaimokuza.]

[“But when it comes to inspiration, I really can’t compare to you, Hachiman?”]

[The fat guy scratched his hair in embarrassment, and said to Hikigaya with a shy face. His pitiful eyes made the other person's skin crawl with goose bumps.]

[“That’s enough! I can help you think about it, okay?”]

[Hikigaya crossed his arms over his chest with a look of disgust on his face. At this moment, he caught a glimpse of the can of drink in his hand from the corner of his eye.]

[There is exactly a slogan written on the packaging of the drink: 100% sweetness, summer の日を一素に笑面にしましょう-]

[A flash of inspiration flashed through Hikigaya's mind, and he suddenly came up with an idea. ]

[“Smile—smile, just use smile.”]

[“You can set the protagonist as a person who likes to say smile as his catchphrase. This is much better than saying “Smile! Smile!” to everyone you meet. At least it won’t make people feel too embarrassed.”]

[“Smile… This is such a great idea!”]

【Zaimokuza muttered this word, his eyes becoming brighter and brighter, and finally he happily opened his arms and rushed towards Hikigaya who was staring at him with wide eyes.】

[“My dear friend! You are so amazing! Awesome!”]

[“Gua! Don’t rush over and hug me all of a sudden! You’re hugging me too hard! My ribs are making strange noises!!!”]

……

【"Oh?"】

[Listening to Zaimokuza's laughter and Hikigaya's screams in the Service Club, Hiratsuka Shizuka, who was originally going to ask why Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui both took leave today, couldn't help but smile. 】

[“Smile? These two guys are quite interesting.”]

[She withdrew her upper body from the door and eavesdropped, and left here secretly before they found out.]

【“…”】

【Watching Hiratsuka Shizuka leave his sight, Zaimokuza, who was kneeling at the door, turned back to look at the door of the Service Club in a daze.】

[“Really? So that’s how it is…”]

[Once upon a time, Shizuka Hiratsuka made a promise to him on that rainy day, and that catchphrase has been used by him ever since, becoming one of his unique personal labels.]

【Zaimokuza originally thought that it was Hiratsuka Shizuka who came up with this idea, but until today, he finally understood when this sentence originated.】

【“Hachiman——Ugh!”】

[——Something’s wrong. What’s wrong with me? Why do I feel so bad? ]

[Zaimokuza, sweating profusely, stood up shakily, gritting his teeth and holding on to the floor, despite his throbbing heart.]

【“…”】

[He looked at the sliding door that was so close in front of him, and reached out to grab the door handle with a dazed look in his eyes.]

[At this moment, on the other side of the door, the person from the past is inside. ]

[Zaimokuza's palm trembles, and then he turns the handle vigorously.]

[Click——]

19. The Door of Memory: Before Tragedy (I)

Chiba Prefecture, Chiba Benzun High School, Health Room.39HNFu

"Zaimu seat?" 39HNFu

When he saw the body of "Zaimokuza Yoshiki" on the light screen become transparent and illusory the moment he knelt down, Kousaka Kyosuke almost couldn't help but exclaimed.

Although he calmed down in the next second, he still looked at the scene with a frown, his eyes filled with uncontrollable worry.

He is not stupid, and he has long guessed from a series of previous intelligence that the place where "Zaimokuza" is now is not reality, but a dream, which means that the other party is dreaming.

The one who can move around now is just a thought body similar to the materialization of the spirit, and not the physical body of "Zaimokuza".

Kousaka Kyosuke didn't know who the mysterious woman who had appeared beside the seriously injured Zaimokuza was, but from her words, he could tell that the reason she had used some special method to make Zaimokuza fall into a dream was to heal his serious injuries, which even the Yamadam Reishi Stone couldn't heal. She was basically a friend, not an enemy.

This scene really represents a very bad possibility. What kind of situation would cause a person's spiritual body to collapse like this?

Consciousness relies on the existence of matter, and matter determines consciousness. This means that there must be a huge problem with the body of the real "Zaimokuza", which is why such a phenomenon occurs.

At this moment, Kousaka Kyosuke suddenly remembered the story in the previous chapter, where his future self stood by the riverbank with a lonely expression, watching the endless flow of the river, and the series of actions he took after taking out the postcard, and his heart was inevitably covered with a layer of haze.

Could it be that the future Zaimokuza will really appear in this chapter...

"No, it won't..."

As if to get rid of this idea from his mind, Kousaka Kyosuke shook his head vigorously, and looked at the "Zaimokuza Yoshiki" who was vaguely visible in the light curtain with a serious and worried look.

Haven't you fulfilled your dream of becoming a famous light novel writer? And aren't you the one who keeps your promises? 39HNFu

You haven't handed over the promised windbreaker to Tsurumi Rumi yet, and haven't written that touching story yet, so how can you stop here? And the most important point - 39HNFu

"You're the protagonist of this story! How could the protagonist die before the end of the story?"

[Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Bellissimo Ricordo Restaurant.] 39HNFu

【11:27 PM】39HNFu

"Okay, I understand. Thank you for calling to tell me this."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely tell Manager Saki... Thank you for your hard work, Officer Kosaka."

[Click.] 39HNFu

19. The Door of Memory: Before Tragedy (Part )

Asahina Mikuru put the phone back on the landline after hanging up, exhaled softly, and then turned and walked towards the counter not far away.

[Saki Kawasaki, dressed in a waiter's uniform, was looking up at the TV mounted on the cabinet with a frown on her face. The program was a news station, and the anchor was holding a stack of documents and reporting today's events with deep emotion.] 39HNFu

[“—During this encounter in Shinjuku, the unidentified lifeform No. 39 was severely injured and escaped during the chaos while the police, dressed as Gulkiller, and No. were fighting. Gulkiller successfully destroyed the giant plant-like body that No. had transformed into, but due to insufficient intelligence, a poison gas leak occurred.”] HNFu

"——According to reporters' statistics, the poison gas has spread to nearly half of Shinjuku Ward, affecting a large number of citizens. Currently, the surrounding hospitals are completely full with victims of related incidents, but new casualties are still being brought in. The number is said to have exceeded four digits. The damage caused has far exceeded all previous unconfirmed life event incidents." 39HNFu

[“——This major incident has caused the yen to depreciate and the stock market to fluctuate significantly. The affected citizens and their families are extremely angry. The Metropolitan Police Department has now held a press conference. In response to the anger and accusations of the general public, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner bowed and apologized on the spot, and stated that they will definitely punish the next crime on the 39th——”] HNFu

【Snap.】39HNFu

【"Really! There is not a single good thing..."】39HNFu

Saki Kawasaki turned off the TV with the remote control, looking distraught at the endless stream of cars outside the restaurant, and stomped her high-heeled feet on the floor anxiously.

"It's such a mess outside, where the hell did that idiot Zaimokuza go—"

【“Um… the store manager.”】39HNFu

[Just as Kawasaki Saki was mumbling, a soft voice came from behind her, causing her to subconsciously look back. The irritated expression startled Asahina Mikuru, and she shrank back.] 39HNFu

[“Ah… Mikuru, I’m sorry, I’m not in a good mood.”] 39HNFu

"No, it's okay. I understand how you feel."

Asahina Mikuru forced a smile, twisting her fingers nervously together.

【“That——”】39HNFu

[When she first said this, her expression hesitated for a moment for some reason, but she continued to speak to Kawasaki Saki.] 39HNFu

"Manager, Mr. Kosaka just called."

"Hmm? Officer Kosaka?"

After hearing this, Kawasaki Saki perked up and stared closely at Asahina Mikuru.

"Officer Kosaka called? Is it related to Zaimokuza?"

19. The Door of Memory: Before Tragedy (Part )

"Hmm... yes, he said that the Metropolitan Police Department is in chaos right now because of Unidentified Lifeform No. 39, and Zaimokuza-san is staying with him, so he can't leave for the time being."

Asahina Mikuru bit her lip, suppressed her inner guilt, and nodded.

[I didn’t lie, I didn’t lie, I didn’t lie… The girl silently hypnotized herself in her heart.]

"What the hell... that dead rabbit turned out to be fine. If it was fine, why didn't you call and tell me earlier? You made me so worried about him!" 39HNFu

Upon hearing this news, Kawasaki Saki's tense shoulders relaxed, and even her tone became a little more relaxed as she complained unhappily.

"Really? No wonder he didn't come home for dinner today. He's usually the most punctual at this time. He was already sitting at the table with his bowl and chopsticks, staring at me before dinner even started... He's been so tired lately. To reward him, I even made his favorite hamburger steak today." 39HNFu

Saki Kawasaki looked at a table not far away. On it was a bowl of white rice and a plate of hamburger steaks drizzled with sauce. The appearance alone was appetizing. To prevent spoilage, the food was wrapped in a plastic bag.

Although she always threatens Zaimokuza with dinner, she never really takes action. On the contrary, she even remembers his favorite food. This is also a unique gentleness of Kawasaki Saki. 39HNFu

"We can't waste such good food... It's decided! When that kid comes back tomorrow, we'll treat this as his dinner. It's our punishment for breaking our promise to be back before dinner!"

"Hahaha... Zaimokuza-senpai will have diarrhea if he eats that."

【Asahina Mikuru said this with a smile on her face.】39HNFu