The line moved forward.
Kazuki shuffled along with it, hands still in his pockets, trying to ignore the attention from the girls nearby.
The more he looked at them, the more they giggled.
And the more they giggled, the worse he felt.
They're totally laughing at me.
He looked down, his lips tight.
Is it the shoes? The shirt? Do I look that ridiculous?
A sigh escaped him, feeling defeated and drained.
This sucks… I didn't even do anything. Just trying to figure out where the hell I am.
Sob… sob… They're totally looking down on me now…
He stared straight ahead, keeping his expression blank, refusing to look back at them.
Meanwhile, the girls.
"Kyaa!! He's getting closer!"
"Look at him up close! He's even more handsome than I thought!"
"Ask him his name!"
"What!? No way, you ask him!"
"Me!? I already have a boyfriend!"
"Then why tell me?! I'm married!"
"Well—! It's not every day we see a guy like him, okay!?"
They giggled even more, covering their mouths with sleeves, glancing at him like schoolgirls at a festival.
But Kazuki didn't see any of that.
He was too busy mentally preparing for the gate ahead.
Focus. Clothes don't matter. Looks don't matter. Just get through the gate. Then figure out the money problem. Then the language problem. Then the whole "why the hell am I here" problem.
Suddenly, one of the girls stepped out of her line.
She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently touched Kazuki's arm.
He turned, surprised.
The girl fidgeted slightly, clearly nervous, but gave a small smile. "Hello~ My name is Sasha… your name?"
Behind her, the other girls almost burst with excitement, whispering and bouncing in place.
Kazuki stared at her.
Not because he was shocked—because he didn't understand a word she said.
He gave a small, apologetic smile. "Ah… sorry. I don't understand."
That seemed to catch her off guard. Her eyes widened a little.
But instead of giving up, she took a breath and tried again, with gestures this time.
She pointed to herself. "Me," she said slowly. "Sasha. Sa…sha."
Then she pointed to him. "You?"
Kazuki blinked.
She's introducing herself? Sasha… yeah, probably her name.
He pointed at her. "Sasha?"
Her face lit up with a smile. She nodded.
Then she pointed back at him.
Kazuki hesitated, then pointed to himself.
"Me? Kazuki. Ka…zu…ki."
Sasha repeated it softly, nodding as if trying to memorize.
"Kazuki…"
It wasn't much, but it was the first real connection he'd made in this world.
A name.
Then Sasha gently poked his arm again, looking up at him with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"Got a girlfriend?" she asked, smiling.
Kazuki stared at her.
Blank.
He heard the words, but they meant nothing. The tone was playful, but the language barrier still stood.
What's she trying to say now...?
He shook his head slowly, trying to signal the same thing as before.
"Sorry. I don't understand."
But his gesture was completely misunderstood.
Behind Sasha, the girls erupted in excitement again.
"Kyaa! He doesn't have a girlfriend!"
"He's single?!"
"Ask him out, Sasha! Hurry!!"
Sasha's face turned slightly red. She poked Kazuki again, then pointed to herself.
"Me," she said, then pointed to him. "You…"
Then she raised both hands, lifted her index fingers, and gently touched them together.
"Couple?"
Kazuki blinked.
He looked at her fingers. Then back at her.
Still didn't get it.
He scratched his head, clearly lost.
Sasha's smile faded. She lowered her hands slowly. Her eyes dropped to the ground. The excitement in her face drained away into disappointment.
She looked like she was about to cry.
Kazuki's heart skipped a beat.
Wait...what did I just do?
He panicked and raised both hands in a flurry.
"No, no—sorry! I didn't mean to upset you! I just don't understand—really!"
He waved frantically, trying to fix whatever damage he thought he caused.
But the damage was done.
Sasha looked away, biting her lip. Her friends stepped closer, whispering around her.
Kazuki stood frozen, watching Sasha's face fall.
Her smile was gone. Her eyes looked down. Her lower lip was trembling slightly.
Did I mess something up?
He didn't understand what she said or what she meant. But he could feel it.
He'd hurt her feelings.
I should do something. Say something. But… what do I even have?
He checked his pockets instinctively, hoping for a miracle.
And there it was.
A piece of candy.
Wrapped, slightly crushed, but still intact.
Probably something he bought during a late-night convenience store run and forgot about.
He looked at it in his palm. It wasn't much....but it was something.
Better than standing here like an idiot.
Kazuki reached out and gently tapped Sasha's shoulder with his finger.
She looked up, eyes already reddening, her lip still trembling.
He slowly opened his hand and showed her the candy.
Then he pointed to it, then to her, then back to the candy.
"You… you," he said, trying to mimic the word she had used earlier.
Sasha blinked, surprised. Her expression froze for a second.
Then her eyes softened.
She looked at the candy, then back at him.
"…For me?" she asked softly.
Kazuki had no idea what she said, but he nodded anyway, offering the candy with both hands.
Her hands shook slightly as she took it from his palm.
And finally, her smile returned.
Not a flirty one this time, just a small, honest smile.
"…Kazuki," she said softly.
He nodded again, relieved.
He might have completely misunderstood what was happening, but at least he hadn't made her cry.
( End Of Chapter )