Volume 10 - CH 20

Moon: [Get to know]

After the introduction was finished, Akechi asked Haruka [What’s up?] and she began to explain the circumstances.

I know that I should focus on the conversation here but that grin lingering on Akechi’s face is giving me the creeps.

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It’s the same grin those idiots who mock Misuzu behind her back had. It doesn’t seem like I will get along with this Akechi Hideyori.

I don’t even want to call him by his name.

While thinking that Haruka should be warier about who she makes friends with, I decided not to say anything since I don’t know what he may be like inside…….

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“Knowing lots about Gifts huh…….well, what kind of business do you have with me, Fukamori?”

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When Akechi looks at me, I get goosebumps.

I probably won’t ever get along with him.

With a business smile on my face, I speak to him without showing any weakness for him to exploit.

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“[Crest of Gift Acceptance]……….? Ahh, that magic thing those talentless fools tried to use to obtain Gifts huh.”

“Ha? Hideyori, what are you talking about?”

“It looks like a big crest on your face. Remember, the one on the younger Fukamori from our class?”

“Ahh, that black thing!”

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Akechi and Juumonji began chatting among themselves.

I’m rather impressed that Akechi knows about [Crest of Gift Acceptance], it’s supposed to be a secret technique and the info relating to it is not available on the internet after all.

I didn’t expect him to know so much.

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“Do you know how to remove it? I want to lift the curse on my sister.”

“Akechi-san, is there anything you can do?”

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“Nope, none at all.”

“Oi, Hideyori!?”

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Juumonji shouted while Akechi answered in his usual tone.

And as though to rub salt into the wound, Akechi continues.

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“There’s nothing to be done. Well, maybe if there’s a [Curse Lifting] Gift out there, there might still be hope though.”

“Maybe……”

“Right, Takeru-kun, you help Fukamori with this okay.”

“……Eh?”

“Do your bes~t.”

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Akechi turned and walked away.

Is he actually on bad terms with Juumonji-kun?”

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“Akechi-san, is he in a bad mood?”

“I tried to hide his piercing as a prank earlier so he’s probably trying to get back at me. I thought I was going to die when he found out I took it.”

“What were you thinking…….”

“That guy, he doesn’t like his personal belongings touched by someone else you see.”

“And you still did that? Why…….?”

“I just got the urge to tease him when I saw his face.”

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I smile bitterly at Haruka.

I don’t feel the unpleasantness Towa was talking about from Juumonji at all.

On the contrary, Akechi made me much more uncomfortable.

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“But, if it’s for Mishima’s friend then I will help.”

“Eh?”

“I don’t know Fukamori’s younger sister but if you want to find someone, having a guy with good communication skills would help right.”

“Are you really fine with this?”

“Yeah! Don’t hold back, you can count on me.”

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Juumonji’s words were so manly.

I felt like I could understand why Towa got so flustered.

If it’s this man, I think I can rely on him.

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“You can call me Mitsuki. It would be confusing to use my surname since there’s Misuzu after all. Can I call you Takeru too?”

“Sure! Let’s get along, Mitsuki!”

“Th, This is Mitsuki-san’s ‘let’s be friend’ power.”

“Hey.”

“Auu…….”

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I glared at Haruka a little for the extra thing she said.

Takeru saw that exchange and laughed at us.

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“Ahahaha! You two sure get along! Ahh, yeah, you balanced each other well!”

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I got a little embarrassed.

For some reason, I can’t take my eyes off him, it just feels like I can talk to him about anything and he seems so reliable.

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Takeru is probably the eldest son type.

Perhaps he also has a younger sister.

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“Well, when we have time, let’s go looking for someone who has a Curse Lifting Gift together.”

“Umu, let’s do that.”

“Then let’s exchange our contact, do you have RINE?”

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Like that, the name Juumonji Takeru was added to my phone’s contact list.

Aside from my father, he’s the first male on this list.

……it doesn’t feel bad.

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That was how I got acquainted with Takeru.

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“Ahhh, what a fool! HyaHaHaHaHa!”

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In the shadow, a man quietly laughed.

He looks like he just found something so amusing that he can’t help but laugh at it.

Knowing Gifts as much as he is, he already came to the conclusion that a [Curse Lifting] Gift just doesn’t exist.

After all, there’s no one who loves and believes in the potential of Gifts more than himself.

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“A Gift that can remove [Crest of Gift Acceptance]. Quite specific isn’t it.”

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Hideyori mockingly muttered.

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“Too bad, that exhibitionist ninja girl’s boss, that [Gift Revenger] already got to the guy who had that Gift. Haha, Ennoia herself said that no two Gifts can be the same. Well, it’s a shame but it’s just a fool’s errand now!”

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He thought back to when he tortured his classmate, Uematsu Yurika, who tried to kill him about a month ago.

Instead of using his [Dominating Decree] on her, he made her spill everything while taking his time torturing her.

The Gift Holder that Mitsuki was looking for existed in the list of the purged individuals. He also got the information on [Crest of Gift Acceptance] from Uematsu Yurika.

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“Sorry but it’s all a farce, Takeru-chan. Well, do your best to find a Gift that doesn’t exist anymore okay”

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Hideyori muttered as though it was someone else’s problem.

It truly is. After all, he wasn’t the one going around murdering Gift Holders left and right……..

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“HyaHaHaHa. Being a siscon aside, Mitsuki-chan also has a nice body, it would be fun to do her and ruin her life like I did to that birdcage girl. But I’m not that free either……….Mishima’s [Energy Drain] should be near the breaking point too.”

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While bitterly grumbling that he has so much to do, he went back to his class by himself……..

———-

Author Note: The timeline where Yurika doesn’t go about hunting down people who badmouthed her online is just too sad…….

She’s only a joke heroine but for some reason, she carried so many flags with her…….

The 2 airheads, Sakuya and Yurika, did not appear in the game so there’s no salvation for them…….

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In the game, Hideyori’s side did not get depicted so it was not revealed there that the whole search for [Curse Lifting] Gift was pointless from the start.

Recently, it felt to me like the game’s Hideyori was such a big bad that I think giving him a small evil role this time would be appropriate to keep his villainous persona.

I’m crying a bit that he inadvertently became a cupid for Takeru and Mitsuki’s love though……..

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Next up, Will Takeru and Mitsuki be able to find the [Curse Lifting] Gift?