Chapter 15: The Unchanged Gaze

“Aoyama-kun.”

During the break between classes, Shiraishi Kisa’s appearance in the Year Two, Class Three classroom caused an immediate stir.

You there, in the front! Your gaze is far too obvious.

And you, beside them, aren’t you a girl?

Shiraishi Kisa extended a club application form for the Manga Club towards me.

I was overcome with trepidation.

For the club president to personally deliver it felt almost like a royal decree, a preordained selection.

The surrounding gazes made me feel as though I were sitting on pins and needles.

My carefully maintained ‘transparent persona’ (TL Note: A self-effacing facade to avoid drawing attention) from the first day shattered under Shiraishi Kisa’s radiance, causing me to reflect her brilliance.

Are you, perhaps, the sun itself?

I, who should have withered away like moss beneath a stone, found my hairs standing on end at Shiraishi Kisa’s next whispered words.

“You looked very dashing this morning, Aoyama-kun.”

For some inexplicable reason, Shiraishi Kisa’s voice sounded utterly delighted.

A marshmallow-like sentiment seemed to bubble above her head.

I decided to set aside, for now, the question of why Shiraishi Kisa had become this way.

The real issue was, how did Shiraishi Kisa know I had transformed that morning?

I glanced to my side, where Little Black Cat Lingling was yawning on a tree branch outside the window.

The bright sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, and a gentle breeze rustled them gracefully.

Moreover, Shiraishi Kisa, do you have no sense of propriety between the sexes (TL Note: A traditional concept of maintaining distance between men and women)?

A pleasant scent wafted from her.

Unlike Hayato, it was a subtle, floral fragrance.

Faint and delicately sweet.

Could it be that the physiology of a normie (TL Note: ‘Riachuu’ or ‘jūshō,’ referring to someone who enjoys a fulfilling real life, often in contrast to an otaku) differs from that of an otaku (TL Note: ‘Taku,’ someone obsessed with hobbies, often indoors)?

Or perhaps, are the two entirely different life forms?

I subtly shifted my body sideways.

You’re too close!

The eyes of the surrounding classmates were about to turn into laser beams!

I certainly didn’t want to become the target of public criticism on only the second day of school!

The girl next to me stared as if she wanted to devour me whole.

Intense jealousy, like a thick fog, enveloped me.

In the past, whenever I spoke with Shiraishi Kisa, Hayato would always be by my side.

Why, without Watanabe Hayato as my shield, did all the animosity (TL Note: ‘Hate value’ or ‘aggro,’ a gaming term for drawing negative attention) suddenly target me?

My HP, my Hit Points!

However, a thought suddenly struck me.

Why did both Hayato and Shiraishi Kisa say I looked dashing after transforming?

Two people having the same assessment was probably no coincidence.

Could it be that I truly possessed the talent to become a Kamen Rider?

“See you at club activities tonight, then.”

Shiraishi Kisa seemed to have come simply to give me the application form.

She smiled and waved at me, then bid farewell to the other students in the class before leaving the classroom.

That effortless grace was something I doubted I could ever learn in a lifetime.

She was truly incredible.

“Aoyama-kun, you actually know Shiraishi Kisa!”

Sure enough, not long after the girl closed the classroom door, my classmates swarmed around me.

Was I merely the floor a celebrity had trodden upon?

“She knows Hayato, she just came over to give me something today.”

I quickly replied.

It was best not to be openly associated with such an important person.

Upon hearing my words, the girl beside me adopted an expression as if facing a formidable enemy.

The others, meanwhile, nodded as if it were entirely expected.

Could it be that my reputation as Watanabe Hayato’s sidekick was actually quite well-known?

After most of the classmates dispersed, only that one girl remained by my side.

She seemed to have something she wanted to say to me.

She hesitated, and so did I.

I vaguely recalled her surname being Hasegawa from yesterday’s self-introduction, though I hadn’t remembered her given name.

She had only transferred to Shinonome High School this year.

Her name being quite uncommon had made a deeper impression on me.

“Um, Hasegawa-san?”

With class about to begin, I couldn’t help but break the silence.

“I… I have a question I’d like to ask you, Aoyama-kun.”

Her voice was extremely faint.

Hold on, your demeanor just now was far from this timid.

“Is Shiraishi Kisa… and Watanabe Hayato’s relationship very good?”

An excellent question.

In truth, Shiraishi Kisa harbored a secret crush on Hayato.

However, on the progress bar of pursuing Hayato, Kato Eri-senpai was currently in the lead.

Had I not been standing at the school gate yesterday, Kato Eri-senpai would likely have dragged Hayato off to confess her feelings.

Yet, upon closer reflection, Shiraishi Kisa didn’t seem to have had many private conversations with Hayato either.

The student council rumors mostly involved Hayato and Kato Eri-senpai.

When Shiraishi Kisa appeared, it was often when Hayato was chatting with me.

When she spoke, she always made sure to include everyone, myself included.

It was precisely for this reason that my relationship with Shiraishi Kisa was quite good.

But why had Shiraishi Kisa’s attitude towards me remained unchanged today?

Unsure how to face Shiraishi Kisa, I hadn’t sought her out during the first break.

I hadn’t expected her to come to me instead.

After all, in my transformed state, I had forcefully kissed Hayato right in front of Shiraishi Kisa.

“Ah… Shiraishi Kisa is the student council secretary, and Hayato is the vice-president, so their relationship should be pretty good normally, right?”

I truly didn’t know how to answer without causing distress to the parties involved, so I resorted to a well-known, non-committal response.

“I see, thank you, Aoyama-kun!”

Hasegawa bowed ninety degrees to me.

That was far too formal!

I quickly stood up, noticing others were already looking our way.

“I just transferred here, and I don’t know many people yet, Aoyama-kun. Do you have a messaging app? Could we add each other as friends?”

Hasegawa took out her phone.

I saw that her phone wallpaper, phone case, and even her charm were all related to Magical Girl Sakura Tsui.

Even her SNS (Social Networking Service) avatar was a chibi version of Sakura Tsui, holding a heart-shaped bow and arrow.

In this way, I had made my first friend since entering the second year.

As for Hasegawa knowing that Shiraishi Kisa was her idol, I thought it was highly unlikely.

The distorted perception field of a Magical Girl was, in a sense, quite formidable.

Had I not possessed the special ability to perceive emotions, I would likely interact with Shiraishi Kisa on a daily basis without ever realizing.

Otherwise, it would be utterly impossible to recognize the true identity of Magical Girl Sakura Tsui.

Human emotions were generally similar, with only subtle individual differences.

It was Shiraishi Kisa’s particular romantic feelings that were so unique, allowing me to find a distinguishing characteristic and differentiate them.

What did Hayato mean to Shiraishi Kisa?

Why wasn’t Shiraishi Kisa angry with me?

I was utterly perplexed.

It wasn’t until just before school ended that I arrived at a conclusion.

Shiraishi Kisa did not believe that the kiss between Aoyama Ren and Watanabe Hayato represented romantic love between a man and a woman.

Therefore, she wasn’t bothered by it in the slightest.

I admired Shiraishi Kisa’s magnanimity.

From now on, I would do my best to help Shiraishi Kisa with her romantic endeavors (TL Note: ‘Assist,’ often used in gaming or romance to help someone achieve their goal).

This was my apology and gratitude; please accept it.

“…”

There was also another point that kept me from feeling happy all day.

I seemed to have messed up my relationship with Hayato.

Passing by the Year Two, Class One classroom, I didn’t even dare to look inside.

Hayato hadn’t sent any messages on my phone either.

Yet, the atmosphere between us had been quite amicable until we reached the school gate.

My transformed self had indeed gotten too carried away by success.

Perhaps there was a certain balance between the joys and sorrows of life.

However happy I had been in the morning, that was how troubled I was now.

The silver lining, fortunately, was that I had fainted before sticking out my tongue.

An accident still had a chance of salvage.

And one more thing remained utterly incomprehensible to me.

What did it mean that Hayato had voluntarily kissed “me” this morning?

Normally, good friends wouldn’t do such a thing, would they?

Yet, undeniably, Hayato’s feelings for me had never changed.

I could clearly sense it.

Since the age of eight, Hayato and I had never argued, and even small disagreements in life could be resolved peacefully.

I clearly understood that this kind of interaction was probably what constituted a reasonable friendship.

Was Hayato angry?

Or did he dislike me because transforming meant I would revert to my old self?

The application for the Manga Club had already been submitted.

When no monsters appeared, Lingling was just like an ordinary little black cat, wandering carefree around the campus.

Occasionally, it would appear before me, with a leaf perched on its head.

“What’s wrong, little Ren? You look so sad.”

Following me down the corridor towards the Manga Club, it looked up at me with its round eyes.

When I didn’t answer, it jumped onto my head again.

Classmates walked past, chatting and laughing, completely oblivious to the small, dark cat on my head.

“I’m wondering if, in the future, I should keep my distance from Hayato whenever I transform?”

I looked into the distance; the gymnasium was on the other side of the sports field, where the Basketball Club should be having their activities.

“Why?”

The childlike voice inquired innocently.

“…”

Yes, why? I couldn’t even say.

The emotions in my chest were a tangled mess.

Knocking on the Manga Club door, I heard Shiraishi Kisa’s response.

And then, immediately afterward, another familiar voice.

I couldn’t possibly be mistaken; it was Hayato’s voice.

My hand paused on the doorknob, but both their gazes had already fallen upon me.

“Ren.”

“Aoyama-kun.”

Piles of manga were stacked everywhere—on bookshelves, tables, and the floor.

The two individuals, seated opposite each other at a rectangular table in the center of the classroom, greeted me simultaneously.

Little Black Cat Lingling went ahead, stepping inside.

“…”

I had initially thought Shiraishi Kisa might want to share some insights as a senior Magical Girl.

But now, all I wanted to do was close the door and flee immediately.

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