Volume 10 - CH 15
Tanikawa Sakuya messes about
Today, we all commuted to the academy together like usual and I’m currently chatting alone with Takeru in the hallway just before the homeroom starts.
.
.
“So, Risa bought this at a 100-yen store. Convenient right?”
“Hmm, it certainly is.”
“Yeah, it’s like that thing on a quiz show isn’t it?”
“Yea~h”
.
.
With a catalog of goods from a 100-yen store on Takeru’s smartphone, he gave me a presentation about some interesting and useful goods that can be found there.
In response, my reactions were either, ‘hey, I’d totally buy this’ or ‘nope, I can’t use it’.
It was then.
.
.
“A, Akechi-san!”
“Oh, Mishima huh. What’s wrong?”
.
.
When I turned toward the voice, I found Mishima walking up toward Takeru and me.
Being in the same club, Takeru and Mishima also became familiar enough with each other now.
.
.
“Uh, Umm…….actually, Mitsuki-san wants to talk to Akechi-san about something.”
“Mitsuki?”
“That’s right. Good morning, Hideyori.”
“Oh, morning.”
.
.
Mitsuki, who was behind Mishima, gave me a greeting.
As usual, she is such a beauty. What a feast for the eyes.
.
.
“And he is?”
“Ah……., this is Juumonji Takeru. My best friend.”
“Hello, good morning.”
.
.
Takeru greets Mitsuki.
Oh?
It’s a scene where the protagonist meets a heroine.
In the game, a moment like this is where Takeru falls in love right? This is exciting.
He already went through that favorability-up event with Misuzu so I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets one with Mitsuki now.
.
.
“Are you perhaps Risa’s brother?”
“Yes. I’m Takeru, Risa’s older brother. I see, so you are an acquaintance of Risa. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Umu, nice to meet you too, Takeru.”
“Uhh, …..if that’s the case can I call you Mitsuki?”
“Yeah, that’s fine with me.”
.
.
Wow……
Setting aside Risa and Otoha who are his relatives and Yoru the main heroine, Takeru usually calls Eien-chan, Mishima, and the others using their surnames but he’s using first names with Mitsuki.
He might have really entered Mitsuki’s route huh?
I don’t think Takeru ever called her Fukamori in the game though……..
.
.
“By the way, Mitsuki, are you related to Fukamori Misuzu in my class?”
“That’s right. Misuzu is my twin sister.”
“Your personalities are pretty different huh.”
“Well, it can’t be helped……..”
.
.
Mitsuki’s expression turned complicated.
After the simple self-introduction was done, Mitsuki turned to face me.
.
.
“Hey, Hideyori. I heard from Haruka that you know a lot about Gift, is that true?”
“W, Well, yeah.”
“Yes!”
.
.
Mishima looked proud of me for some reason.
.
.
“Uhh….. do you by chance know anything about [Crest of Gift Acceptance]? It’s what is plaguing Misuzu.”
“ [Crest of Gift Acceptance]? You mean that cursed-mark-like thing on Fukamori’s face?”
“Yes, that’s correct, Takeru.”
“I’ve never met Mitsuki-san’s younger sister so I don’t know what it looks like though…….”
.
.
Mishima followed with a wry smile.
.
.
“Mostly, yes. I know how a [Crest of Gift Acceptance] is engraved on a human’s body.”
“Is, Is that so! So what I want to ask is–……”
“But I don’t know how to remove it.”
“………you don’t.”
.
.
I already pretty much figured out why Mitsuki used Mishima to call me out.
She wants to look into how to remove the [Crest of Gift Acceptance].
Of course, I know it since it is directly tied to the main conflict of [Moon&Bell]. I also know that Yoru Hiru also went through the same thing.
.
.
But in the game, there was no way to remove [Crest of Gift Acceptance] from someone who possesses no Gift Elements in their body.
.
.
“You probably won’t be able to find the answer you’re looking for no matter how hard you try……”
“…….I, I see.”
“I’m sorry…….”
“N, No! You don’t have to apologize, Hideyori…….don’t worry about it.”
.
.
At first, Mitsuki’s route was about how to help her break Misuzu’s curse.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t find anything.
Even Takeru’s [Anti Gift] couldn’t do it…….
.
.
“It’s, it’s going to be fine, Mitsuki-san! We might be able to find someone who has a [Curse Breaking] Gift in the future! I will help too so please don’t lose heart yet!”
“Thanks, Haruka. Sorry for bothering you, Hideyori.”
“It’s, it’s fine……I don’t mind.”
.
.
I don’t know what to do……
Just like the case with Richiho Aisa, it’s so frustrating to not be able to do anything even though I know the future.
.
.
“Mitsuki!”
“…..Hideyori?”
“I will try looking into it too. So, let’s do our best together okay.”
“Yeah, I never intended to give up from the start.”
.
.
Mitsuki smiled at me and replied.
Then, the man next to me speaks up.
.
.
“If you’re friends with Risa and Hideyori then you are my friend too. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“Takeru…… thank you, you two.”
.
.
Mitsuki lowered her head and thanked us before taking her leave.
Still, with this, we will really be entering [Moon&Bell] route right?
At this rate, Takeru and Mitsuki are going to try to find a way to remove the [Crest of Gift Acceptance] together…..
I know that Takeru can unknowingly enter his death route but why does it have to be this one of all things……
.
.
As I thought, I have to do something about Misuzu myself……
I have no choice but to play the villain here huh……
.
.
“Hideyori, you actually know a lot about Gifts?”
“Nn? Yeah.”
“You do!? You never said anything to me though.”
.
.
I don’t deny it.
Otoha already knows that I’m somewhat knowledgeable about Gifts after all.
I have to match everyone’s impressions of me.
.
Just like that, it was time for us to head back to our classroom.
.
.
“HEY! SAKUYA! GIVE ME BACK MY PHONE!”
“You can’t touch me. HIDEYORI GUARD.”
.
.
Sakuya runs down the hallway and uses me as a shield against Madoka.
My eyes opened wide with shock and I was at a loss for words.
.
.
“I totally can! Now give me back my phone!”
.
.
Madoka’s words brought me back to reality.
I immediately guessed the situation and speak to Sakuya who was using me as her shield.
.
.
“Come on, Sakuya, return it okay……”
“Sure, it’s just a joke anyway.”
“Seriously…….”
.
.
Sakuya is just messing with Madoka like usual.
I’m glad that they get along well.
.
.
.
.
A [Curse Breaking] Gift huh……
Sakuya……
……….no, it can’t be, right……?
Today, we all commuted to the academy together like usual and I’m currently chatting alone with Takeru in the hallway just before the homeroom starts.
.
.
“So, Risa bought this at a 100-yen store. Convenient right?”
“Hmm, it certainly is.”
“Yeah, it’s like that thing on a quiz show isn’t it?”
“Yea~h”
.
.
With a catalog of goods from a 100-yen store on Takeru’s smartphone, he gave me a presentation about some interesting and useful goods that can be found there.
In response, my reactions were either, ‘hey, I’d totally buy this’ or ‘nope, I can’t use it’.
It was then.
.
.
“A, Akechi-san!”
“Oh, Mishima huh. What’s wrong?”
.
.
When I turned toward the voice, I found Mishima walking up toward Takeru and me.
Being in the same club, Takeru and Mishima also became familiar enough with each other now.
.
.
“Uh, Umm…….actually, Mitsuki-san wants to talk to Akechi-san about something.”
“Mitsuki?”
“That’s right. Good morning, Hideyori.”
“Oh, morning.”
.
.
Mitsuki, who was behind Mishima, gave me a greeting.
As usual, she is such a beauty. What a feast for the eyes.
.
.
“And he is?”
“Ah……., this is Juumonji Takeru. My best friend.”
“Hello, good morning.”
.
.
Takeru greets Mitsuki.
Oh?
It’s a scene where the protagonist meets a heroine.
In the game, a moment like this is where Takeru falls in love right? This is exciting.
He already went through that favorability-up event with Misuzu so I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets one with Mitsuki now.
.
.
“Are you perhaps Risa’s brother?”
“Yes. I’m Takeru, Risa’s older brother. I see, so you are an acquaintance of Risa. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Umu, nice to meet you too, Takeru.”
“Uhh, …..if that’s the case can I call you Mitsuki?”
“Yeah, that’s fine with me.”
.
.
Wow……
Setting aside Risa and Otoha who are his relatives and Yoru the main heroine, Takeru usually calls Eien-chan, Mishima, and the others using their surnames but he’s using first names with Mitsuki.
He might have really entered Mitsuki’s route huh?
I don’t think Takeru ever called her Fukamori in the game though……..
.
.
“By the way, Mitsuki, are you related to Fukamori Misuzu in my class?”
“That’s right. Misuzu is my twin sister.”
“Your personalities are pretty different huh.”
“Well, it can’t be helped……..”
.
.
Mitsuki’s expression turned complicated.
After the simple self-introduction was done, Mitsuki turned to face me.
.
.
“Hey, Hideyori. I heard from Haruka that you know a lot about Gift, is that true?”
“W, Well, yeah.”
“Yes!”
.
.
Mishima looked proud of me for some reason.
.
.
“Uhh….. do you by chance know anything about [Crest of Gift Acceptance]? It’s what is plaguing Misuzu.”
“ [Crest of Gift Acceptance]? You mean that cursed-mark-like thing on Fukamori’s face?”
“Yes, that’s correct, Takeru.”
“I’ve never met Mitsuki-san’s younger sister so I don’t know what it looks like though…….”
.
.
Mishima followed with a wry smile.
.
.
“Mostly, yes. I know how a [Crest of Gift Acceptance] is engraved on a human’s body.”
“Is, Is that so! So what I want to ask is–……”
“But I don’t know how to remove it.”
“………you don’t.”
.
.
I already pretty much figured out why Mitsuki used Mishima to call me out.
She wants to look into how to remove the [Crest of Gift Acceptance].
Of course, I know it since it is directly tied to the main conflict of [Moon&Bell]. I also know that Yoru Hiru also went through the same thing.
.
.
But in the game, there was no way to remove [Crest of Gift Acceptance] from someone who possesses no Gift Elements in their body.
.
.
“You probably won’t be able to find the answer you’re looking for no matter how hard you try……”
“…….I, I see.”
“I’m sorry…….”
“N, No! You don’t have to apologize, Hideyori…….don’t worry about it.”
.
.
At first, Mitsuki’s route was about how to help her break Misuzu’s curse.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t find anything.
Even Takeru’s [Anti Gift] couldn’t do it…….
.
.
“It’s, it’s going to be fine, Mitsuki-san! We might be able to find someone who has a [Curse Breaking] Gift in the future! I will help too so please don’t lose heart yet!”
“Thanks, Haruka. Sorry for bothering you, Hideyori.”
“It’s, it’s fine……I don’t mind.”
.
.
I don’t know what to do……
Just like the case with Richiho Aisa, it’s so frustrating to not be able to do anything even though I know the future.
.
.
“Mitsuki!”
“…..Hideyori?”
“I will try looking into it too. So, let’s do our best together okay.”
“Yeah, I never intended to give up from the start.”
.
.
Mitsuki smiled at me and replied.
Then, the man next to me speaks up.
.
.
“If you’re friends with Risa and Hideyori then you are my friend too. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“Takeru…… thank you, you two.”
.
.
Mitsuki lowered her head and thanked us before taking her leave.
Still, with this, we will really be entering [Moon&Bell] route right?
At this rate, Takeru and Mitsuki are going to try to find a way to remove the [Crest of Gift Acceptance] together…..
I know that Takeru can unknowingly enter his death route but why does it have to be this one of all things……
.
.
As I thought, I have to do something about Misuzu myself……
I have no choice but to play the villain here huh……
.
.
“Hideyori, you actually know a lot about Gifts?”
“Nn? Yeah.”
“You do!? You never said anything to me though.”
.
.
I don’t deny it.
Otoha already knows that I’m somewhat knowledgeable about Gifts after all.
I have to match everyone’s impressions of me.
.
Just like that, it was time for us to head back to our classroom.
.
.
“HEY! SAKUYA! GIVE ME BACK MY PHONE!”
“You can’t touch me. HIDEYORI GUARD.”
.
.
Sakuya runs down the hallway and uses me as a shield against Madoka.
My eyes opened wide with shock and I was at a loss for words.
.
.
“I totally can! Now give me back my phone!”
.
.
Madoka’s words brought me back to reality.
I immediately guessed the situation and speak to Sakuya who was using me as her shield.
.
.
“Come on, Sakuya, return it okay……”
“Sure, it’s just a joke anyway.”
“Seriously…….”
.
.
Sakuya is just messing with Madoka like usual.
I’m glad that they get along well.
.
.
.
.
A [Curse Breaking] Gift huh……
Sakuya……
……….no, it can’t be, right……?