Volume 10 - CH 37

Seki Shou is Frustrated

“What master, that damn bastard……..”

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Seki Shou watches as Yurika runs off.

Unfortunately, since Yurika already lost interest in him, she didn’t hear anything he said.

He’s even considering quitting Gift Hunting just like Yurika.

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“Well, it’s not like I plan to betray Sensei though…….”

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Realizing that quitting would mean betraying the [Gift Revenger], Takiguchi-sensei, Seki abandoned that idea.

But it’s still frustrating.

Someday, Yurika will be disillusioned by that master guy and return to the Gift Hunters, Seki grumbles in his heart.

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It was when Seki got to his class.

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“Yo, Seki! You got shot down first thing in the morning huh!”

“Shut up, Saki!”

“E, Eimi-chan……..”

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Seki glares at his classmate Saki Eimi who’s still giving him a teasing smile.

Trying to put the brake on her was Mishima Haruka.

They probably saw him earlier, Seki guessed.

Saki Eimi is a fearless girl whose will is so strong that she wouldn’t back down from a fight even against a man.

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“Seki-kun.”

“What, Mishima!?”

“Seki-kun likes Uematsu-san right?”

“Guah!?”

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It appears that Haruka knows that it was Uematsu Yurika who he talked to earlier.

What kind of relationship does she have with her!? While that question came to his mind, Seki started thinking about Haruka and Uematsu’s possible points of contact.

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“Mishima…… does Uematsu like that Master guy?”

“I think so.”

“Guh…..her feeling, is it the romantic kind? Or is it just like? I think she just likes him as a person though?”

“I think it’s the romantic kind.”

“………….”

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Sheeeeen the inside of my head was flatlining.

No, No, No, No, I mean, if she loves him then why does she call him master?

In his heart, Seki desperately denies the possibility that Yurika is having an unrequited love for her master.

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“You’re merciless, Haruka.”

“If you don’t at least give him a gentle lie then Seki-kun won’t be able to move forward you know.”

“But, Seki is–.”

“…………..”

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(I’m not going to be shaken no matter what these two charmless women say.)

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Seik tries to steel his heart.

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While being seen off by the two, Seki took his seat.

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“Seki’s taking a seki(TLN: Seat in JP)……..”

“Seki-kun, you were aiming for this joke?”

“I wasn’t!?”

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That morning, he was mercilessly teased by Eimi and Haruka…….

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“Damn it all……..”

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His frustration dragged on even after school was over for the day.

Apparently, Eimi and Haruka’s teasing did get to him.

Perhaps because he lost his usual composure, he ended up on an unusual path on his way home.

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Rather, where am I?

Well, if I just walk back the way I came then I should be fine huh……..

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Seki calmly made a decision in this unfamiliar situation and turned around. After about 5 minutes, he found himself at the entrance of a seemingly empty but somehow fashionable coffee shop.

With the frustration that has been pent up since morning, he decided to try relaxing here while getting a cup of coffee to quench his thirst.

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“Welcome.”

“…….Hi.”

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He was greeted by a reasonably handsome man whose age he couldn’t quite tell.

It appears that he’s this coffee shop’s Master.

Seki didn’t know this but Yoru Hiru is working part-time here. However, she’s taking a day off today so he’s being served by Tanikawa Nagare instead.

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“Ohh, a new customer huh. Can I ask your name?”

“S, Seki Shou, sir.”

“Your name is rather short huh? I’m Tanikawa Nagare. You can call me Master or Manager, whatever you like.”

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That was a sudden introduction.

It appears that he’s no match for Master who has such a high communication skills.

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“Yes, Master, do you serve floats here?”

“We have melon soda and cola.”

“Then I’d like a melon soda float please.”

“Very well. Shou-kun, melon soda float coming right up. Sit wherever you like.”

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He told me to sit wherever I like but all the seats here are empty. It appears he said that in the literal sense.

I sat down at the counter near the entrance.

In the meantime, Master withdrew to the back of the shop.

When Seki’s eyes caught StarChild’s signature hanging on the wall despite the clear lack of customers, Seki was taken by surprise.

The place has a good atmosphere but Seki can’t help but worry that the shop might not make enough to go by because of how empty it is.

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“Haaa……..Girls are so difficult…….”

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As he grumbled to himself, a rattling sound came from the entrance.

When he reflexively turned to look, a boy with black hair and an androgynous face donning the same uniform as his came into the shop.

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“Hello, Master.”

“Ah, Takeru-kun, welcome.”

“A blend please.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

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Just from his voice alone, Master recognized that it was this Takeru person.

Either they know each other for a long time or Master’s memory is just that superb.

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Noticing that Seki was wearing the same uniform as him, Takeru walked up to Seki.

Curious, Takeru casually calls out to Seki despite it being their first meeting.

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“Oh, wow. Same uniform.”

“Ah?”

“I’m Juumonji Takeru. You are?”

“Seki Shou…….”

“Shou huh, nice to meet you.”

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What’s up with this coffee shop………?

Not only the owner himself but his customer also just waltz up to him for a self-introduction too……?

Feeling weirded out, Seki worries that he might have picked a strange place to relax in.

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“Haaa…….”

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Well, that doesn’t matter.

If only Uematsu would rejoin the Gift Hunters, my mood would be way better than this………

As he was grumbling away in his mind, Master came and served him the melon soda float and blended coffee for Takeru.

Just like that, he didn’t say anything more and walked back to behind the counter, waiting for new customers to arrive.

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“Hey, Shou.”

“What?”

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Takeru who was sitting a seat away from him called out.

Even though he’s a bit annoyed at how familiar he’s acting, he decided to answer.

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“You, you’re worrying about something right, it’s on your face.”

“Y, You can tell?”

“Yeah, I think you’d feel better if you let it out, I’m willing to listen you know.”

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Seki ponders for a few seconds at Takeru’s offer.

Master doesn’t have anything to do at the moment but it seems he doesn’t plan to say anything. He simply waits quietly to see how things are going to unfold.

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“Actually……, I have a crush on this girl, but it seems that she’s in love with another guy…… what do you think I should do here, Takeru?”

“…………right.”

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Takeru replied with a serious expression.

While he was doing that, the gears in his head are turning at full speed.

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(Th, this is serious stuff!? I thought it would be like [Ahh, the phy-ed teacher was so scary today!?] or something like that…….why did he ask that kind of question to a guy who only has 3 romantic experiences at most like me……. Akechi-sensei, Risa, Sasaki, Yoru, anyone is fine, lend me your wisdom………)

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Takeru was full-on panicking.

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(I mean, it’d be impossible for him to help with this right……..this guy here has absolutely no love experience after all…….the other guy does have a lot of romantic experiences but he doesn’t even recognize them as romantic experiences in the first place so they are practically the same huh……..why are all the boys around Sakuya are like this I wonder……)

Master thought as he noticed Takeru’s internal turmoil.

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(Help, Master.)

(I’m almost 40 already, there’s no way my advice would work for him right…….)

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Takeru and Master converse with their eyes.

Realizing that he has to rely on his wit alone, Takeru gathers his thoughts.

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“Th, This is that kind of situation right?”

“What kind?”

“It’s important not to give up, don’t you think?”

“Not give up, huh…….”

“And sometimes, you have to know when to give up as well.”

“Know when to give up…….”

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(The heck am I saying………?)

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Realizing that he’s completely contradicting himself here, Takeru’s face lit on fire from the embarrassment.

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(I mean, it can’t be helped right, I don’t even know who Shou likes! That’s right, there’s no way I can give him specific advice when I don’t even know what kind of woman his crush is! It’s not me Shou, it’s that girl’s fault!)

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Takeru’s logic went out the window.

Incidentally, since she’s his classmate and a member of the Western Army group, he actually knows her pretty well.

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“I see……To not give up and know when to quit. That’s the most important right.”

“Y, Yeah.”

“Thanks, Takeru! I’m going to face her again with that mindset!”

“S, Sure.”

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(What are you going to do?) that question came to his mind but he didn’t let it out of his mouth.

After that, Seki finished his glass of melon soda float and paid for it.

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“Master, Takeru, I will come again!”

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Saying so, Seki rushed out of the coffee shop.

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“What was that about?”

“W, who knows?”

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Still puzzled, Master and Takeru saw off Seki Shou.

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“Uematsu, I’m not going to give up on you but I’m going to give up on you!”

“What?”

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The next morning.

Seeing Seki being even weirder than usual, Uematsu Yurika was recoiled……

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(Nope……)

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The Shinobi’s reaction was pretty dry.

Author Note: Takeru is practically incompetent without Hideyori and Risa.

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Incidentally, SekiXYurika is not a thing.

ShishouXYurika all the way.

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Eimi’s surname was subtly revealed.

It will be a while until she has a turn though…….

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A class that has Mitsuki, Haruka, Eimi, Seki, and Tarzan, what kind of class is that?

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Next up, what does Misuzu look like from Madoka’s point of view……..?