"Really..."
Arisu Sakayanagi asked, puzzled.
"Really. I'm not lying this time, so don't you dare collapse, Sakayanagi."
Chen Yao tightened his grip on Arisu Sakayanagi's wrist, encouraging her.
"We've still got time—let's grab a coffee before we head back to Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School."
Suddenly, the half-dead Arisu Sakayanagi sat straight up, re-buttoning her blouse while shooting him a casual glance.
"..."
"..."
Chen Yao stood frozen, staring at the silver-haired girl who'd just sprung back to life, the very image of the screaming gopher she always said he was.
"Hold on—y-you're okay?"
Stunned, Chen Yao asked, no longer sure whether he was the Undead or she was.
"Mm... saying I'm fine would be wrong. I did trip and scrape my knee, but I never said I was having a heart attack."
Arisu finished dressing, her usual haughty elegance restored, and smiled at Chen Yao—yet this time the smile carried an indefinable warmth.
Chen Yao, however, remained too shocked to speak. Arisu grew uneasy; she knew the prank had gone too far. Seeing how much he worried and cared, she'd kept up the act, until she'd become afraid to break character.
"Um... please don't be angry. I admit the joke got out of hand, but I never imagined Mr. Chen Yao could be so attentive. If you want to hit me I've nothing to say—though that wasn't my original intent..."
Worried she'd hurt him, Arisu spoke softly, even bracing for an enraged slap—she deserved it. In interpersonal theory, hatred ranks above apathy, but driving someone to loathe you outright was another matter; a scolding or a blow was only fair.
"Phew... so you really are all right. That's all that matters. Your prank was awful, but you're safe—that's enough..."
Contrary to her fears, Chen Yao wasn't angry; he looked relieved. No one knew how many companions he'd already buried. If this was only a joke, what a blessing... "Y-you're truly not mad?" Arisu hesitated.
"Just don't ever pull a stunt like that again. You scared me half to death—it wasn't funny."
After a silence Chen Yao, deciding it had indeed been too much, finally scolded her.
"..."
Arisu was quiet a moment, then gave a small, contented smile. She'd thought clever people were born of darkness and calculation, well-versed in deceit, yet here was a man who fretted and suffered for her.
Chen Yao surrendered. He drove her back; Tokyo was safer. Arisu settled into the passenger seat without guilt. Her delicate fingers brushed the dash—clear proof the car had seen better days.
"By the way, aren't you afraid of the boy-who-cried-wolf effect? Never joke like that again—and your heart's fine, right?"
Chen Yao asked, still dubious, though he'd seen the prescription pills she carried.
"I do have congenital heart disease. My legs are weak, I can't walk far, and doctors warned I could drop dead without warning. Childbirth would be risky too—bleak prospects all around."
From the passenger seat Arisu turned to the glittering cityscape, a faintly happy look in her eyes.
As he listened, Chen Yao fell silent. For some reason he thought of an acquaintance: in the Dark Souls world he'd once freed a witch named Karura from an underground cell. A descendant of great mages, tainted by darkness, crippled, doomed to rot as a criminal, she'd been inspired by his defiance and fled with him. The world ended anyway, yet the faith he left behind let her start anew... Arisu seemed born optimistic and confident, yet Chen Yao told her, "Don't write off your fate so quickly. Many are cursed from birth, but those who fight wrong destinies blaze with searing light—glorious. I knew an amazing girl whose rebellion was mesmerizing."
"..." Arisu watched him, saw genuine pride and joy for that girl on his face, and a soft smile curved her snowy cheek.
"May I ask something, Gopher-kun?" Yanagisaka Arisu said.
"What is it?" Chen Yao asked, puzzled.
"Your hobbies—will you tell me?"
"Simple: games and manga."
"Mm, understood."
After that odd question the girl fell silent.
Chen Yao took a detour to deliver Yanagisaka Arisu back to the sealed Tokyo campus. Only the next noon did he grasp her cryptic query: the school guardroom received dozens of packages for him—PS4 consoles, stacks of mainstream game discs, all gift-wrapped, worth hundreds of thousands of yen. The sender? "Alice". Rumours swept Sobu High about Chen Yao's mysterious side-job... "Why send them to school of all places?"
Elated yet worried, Chen Yau fretted over what this meant for his future at Sobu... Chapter 14 – Gaming at Advanced Nurturing High
Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School stands by the sea, a short distance from the bustling city centre. Fully enclosed, it offers every facility and the latest equipment; Chiba Prefecture Sobu High can't compare.
A minibus rolled onto the grounds. Students in red uniforms glanced over as black-uniformed visitors stepped off. One girl drew every eye—long jet hair, stunning features, cool and quiet, a classic Japanese beauty.
Behind her came a petite, pale, adorable twin-tailed lolita radiating pride, likewise turning heads.
Just as some boys began to swarm, a dead-eyed boy and a cold, murderous-looking boy flanked the beauty, instantly scaring the Advanced Nurturing lads away.
"Looks like it's working,"
Hachiman Hikigaya on the left muttered, shoving hands in pockets.
"Do I have to keep this thug face on? What if they throw us out as delinquents?"
Chen Yao on the right asked, eyes narrowed in exhaustion.
"Hachiman-kun, Chen Yao-kun, you're clearly effective. If it prevents trouble, please endure it,"
Yukinoshita Yukino conceded, half praising.
"Damn it, why do we have to play thugs? I'm top of the grade—bad for Sobu's reputation. Hayato Hayama's here; do pretty boys get special treatment?"
Chen Yao grumbled, watching the Advanced Nurturing boys steer clear.
But this had nothing to do with looks; Shizuka Hiratsuka had long foreseen that the school would stir once Yukino arrived. Only the gloomy Hachiman Hikigaya, paired with Chen Yao's effortless air of someone who could win a fight, could jointly scare off these arrogant Koudo Ikusei students.
In the eyes of the Koudo Ikusei girls, the boys from Chiba Prefecture Sobu High School were surprisingly high-quality. Many recognized the famous lawyer's son, Hayato Hayama, while some baseball fans spotted Sobu's legendary ace pitcher Chen. A foreigner who looked good and threw even better, Chen Yao enjoyed sizable popularity—none of them realized it.
"Hayama, that's him, right…?"
Several girls grew excited, quietly pointing at Hayato Hayama walking behind them.
"Hayama-kun is so handsome."
Hayato Hayama had no choice but to offer a friendly smile in return.
"That's the ace pitcher who supposedly hits 130 km, Chen Yao?"
"I've watched his games—his pitches are lethal. He looks so cool in that helmet…"
Yet as they headed toward the other school's Student Council, Yukinoshita Yukino noticed girls greeting Chen Yao—he simply didn't hear them. Shizuka Hiratsuka and Student Council president Shiromawari Meguru had gone to meet Koudo Ikusei's president and teachers to discuss the exchange; for three days straight the five of them would rehearse here to foster mutual understanding.
"I hear this school's president is a real powerhouse—stronger than your sister," Hachiman Hikigaya said, hands in pockets, to Yukino.
"None of our business," Yukinoshita Yukino answered indifferently.
"And after the first rehearsal Tobe Sho couldn't take the pressure and quit. Honestly, I'm stressed too…"
Hachiman Hikigaya tried once more to bail out of the stage troupe.
Yukino showed an icy smile. "Could you be quiet?"
"…Got it." Hachiman dared say no more.
Yukino rubbed her temples as she glanced at Chen Yao, who stood gaping at Koudo Ikusei's top-tier arcade. "Truly a first-rate school—an arcade actually allowed on campus!"
Chen Yao muttered in jealous admiration.
"Mr. Chen Yao," Yukino said coldly, "didn't your wealthy patron just gift you two-hundred-thousand-yen worth of gaming gear? Still chasing something new?"
News of the extravagant gift had already leaked beyond campus; for days Yukino had been massaging her temples with menthol balm. If that month of freedom ever materialized, she dreaded what rumors would swirl around Sobu High. "You really are a damned Male Dancer."
Kagaribi no Kiriue overheard and shot Chen Yao a sidelong glance. "…So that's how it is."
"I just helped an acquaintance; the gear was a thank-you present. Don't start rumors," Chen Yao sighed.
Just then Shizuka Hiratsuka emerged, saw her students loitering, blinked and asked, "Why are you all standing around? Go explore the famous campus."
"Nothing worth seeing," Yukinoshita Yukino replied coldly.
Hiratsuka blinked, then pointed excitedly at the arcade like Chen had. "That arcade's supposed to be great. Rehearsal hasn't started—how about a round?"
Everyone agreed, especially Chen Yao and Hachiman Hikigaya. Laughing, the trio headed in, leaving Yukino and the neutral Yui Yuigahama looking resigned.
When the Sobu group stepped inside they found plenty of students already there—surprising for a top school. Yet heavy pressure breeds entertainment; the facilities flourished. "Hikigaya, any good at fighting games?" Chen Yao asked, eyeing King of Fighters.
"So-so—only managed a ten-win undefeated streak," Hachiman smirked; he had modest arcade fame.
They grinned, fed coins, and battled. Hachiman's skills were sharper than expected; even gaming buff Chen struggled. Soon Hiratsuka, curious Hayama, Kirie, and even the reluctant Yukino crowded around.
Chen beat Hachiman four rounds straight; the display drew applause from both schools.
"Hmph, he's clearly holding back," Kirie murmured, arms folded. She might not know games, but she sensed his reflexes were far above this.
Just as everyone relaxed, a tall, burly two-block-cut guy slammed Hachiman's cabinet off. "Losers move."
All stared; Hachiman, sensing serious violence, stayed silent.
"Hey, Sobu kid, you're decent," the hulk said, turning to Chen with a cold grin.
"Looking for trouble?" Chen asked after a pause.
"Machines are free. You play well—care to duel?"
At Hiratsuka's nod Hachiman yielded his seat; they wanted no clash with Koudo Ikusei's oddballs.
Hiratsuka recalled the name: Ryuuen Kakeru, C-class boss, violent dictator yet trying to drag his whole class to A-rank.
C-class boys faced off against Sobu students; Hiratsuka sensed their odd interest.
Then more red-uniform students entered. A girl's voice rang out: "My, Ryuuen, what are you planning with our guests?"
Sakayanagi Arisu arrived at the head of her group, smiling.
"Sobu friends, in the arcade? Shouldn't you scout the campus first?" fellow leader Katsuragi Kouhei asked.
A- and C-class leaders together, plus Sobu's elite, drew B- and D-class onlookers; soon the sharpest red-uniform heavyweights ringed the Sobu students, killing any chance of leisure.
"Tch, why do the pests gather?" Ryuuen glared, especially at Sakayanagi.
"By the way, Chen Yao, enjoying my gift? Feeling Japan's gaming culture?" Sakayanagi asked, glancing at Yukino.
Everyone—Kirie narrowing her eyes, nearly all Sobu students—turned to Chen like he'd sprouted thorns.
"…So she sent it," Kirie thought, oddly irritated though it wasn't her business.
Yukinoshita Yukino read Sakayanagi's intent and chose silence.
Only Chen, still seated, stared at these "wild spirits." He'd only wanted to play a game—why the tension?