[Warning 15+]
Part Two~Save That Old Energy Only For Me, Seriously!~Chapter 67Stripping Off the Mask, Exterminating the Monster Cat
The sky that morning had been gloomy and overcast since daybreak.
As Hayato walked down the path to school, he gave his nose a few little sniffs.
(The scent is faint, but it might just rain.)
Hayato knit his brows, looking like he'd just realized he'd messed up.
Before leaving the house this morning, Hayato'd looked at the sky and thought it wouldn't rain, but he'd definitely caught a whiff of it. Apparently, the scent of rain is way weaker around here. Even in small stuff like that, he could really feel the difference between the countryside and the big city.
Still, Hayato looked like he was in a pretty good mood. His step was light—honestly, you could say he was practically walking on air.
In fact, Hayato was seriously looking forward to the movies.
The sheer scale of the theater Himeko described was way beyond anything he could wrap Hayato's head around. It felt like some mysterious territory, and it really tickled his sense of adventure.
Plus, Hayato was going there with Haruki.
Dried-up wells, the ruins of an old monorail, a shrine abandoned deep in the mountains—it brought back memories of all the places they used to "explore" back in the day, and that just made Hayato's heart swell with even more excitement.
"Hey there. Something good happen, Kirishima-kun?"
"Ugh, Kaidō... ...it's nothing, man."
But then, right on the main road as school was getting closer, Hayato ran into Kaidō Kazuki, which made Hayato scowl immediately.
"Even though you've got such a happy look on your face?"
"...Must be your imagination, right?"
"Haha, fine then. We'll go with 'imagination'."
"...Tch."
As if he couldn't care less about Hayato's reaction, Kaidō Kazuki closed the gap and started walking right next to Hayato. Even though Kazuki was being treated like a total nuisance, he kept grinning like he was having the time of his life. In total contrast, Hayato just scowled and got even more cranky. Hayato felt like Kaidō Kazuki was just messing with him.
Hayato gave Kazuki a sidelong, judging look.
Lithe and just a bit taller than Hayato, with a toned body from sports and hair that was short but perfectly groomed—it all matched Kazuki's cool, refreshing eyes perfectly. Even a boy could tell this dude was a total chick magnet. And for real, Kaidō Kazuki really stood out in a crowd.
"Mornin', Kaidō!"
"Yo!"
"Oh, it's Kaidō-kun. Good morning!"
"Hey there, morning, guys."
Even now, students—both boys and girls—were calling out to Kazuki as they passed by.
When a boy like Kazuki responds with such a refreshing smile, it's honestly hard to have a bad opinion of him.
And with Hayato's sour, pouting face right next to Kazuki, that contrast probably made the effect stand out even more.
Kazuki was seriously just as popular as Haruki.
In fact, after watching Kazuki come by Hayato's classroom and join the boys in their rowdy, stupid banter, Hayato had—as much as he hated to admit it—started thinking Kazuki wasn't all that bad.
(Is this boy... ...wait...)
But as they walked side by side, something started to bug Hayato. He felt a weird sense of disconnect.
Despite all the charm, the smiles, the greetings, and even the waving, not a single person actually approached Kazuki. It inevitably made Hayato think of—.
"..."
"Hmm? Do I have something on my face?"
"Nah, not really. Just thought you're like some kind of idol."
"An idol, huh... ...Haha, you've got a way with words."
"Well, I mean, I'm being forced to watch you go all out with the fan service here."
"I see..."
For a split second, Kaidō Kazuki's eyes went wide, and then he just stood there blinking with a troubled look on his face.
Watching Kazuki, Hayato realized that the weird thing bugging himself this whole time was actually a sense of deja vu. Hayato scratched his head aggressively and tossed out his thoughts without holding back.
"I get it now. That face of yours is literally just a mask called 'the good-looking boy'."
"—!!"
From behind Hayato's back as he kept walking, he heard the sound of a sharp intake of breath, and then the footsteps stopped. At the same time, Hayato couldn't help but let out a sigh of his own.
Acting all nice to everyone while keeping a wall up against everyone—turns out, Kaidō Kazuki was exactly like Nikaidō Haruki.
Hayato had no clue what the reason was. Maybe it was just Kazuki's way of navigating through life. Besides, they barely knew each other, and it wasn't like Hayato even wanted to know.
But when Hayato compared Kazuki to Haruki, Hayato couldn't help but see those lonely expressions Haruki used to make overlapping with Hayato.
(Oh, d*mmit.)
Hayato knew he'd been rude and totally out of line. It's not like he wasn't curious about whatever was going on between Kazuki and Haruki, either. Hayato honestly wondered what the heck he was even thinking.
But when Hayato thought about the expression Kazuki behind him might be making, Hayato just couldn't bring himself to ignore Kazuki or cut Kazuki off—not after seeing Haruki in Kazuki. It would've left a bad taste in Hayato's mouth.
So, Hayato let out another long sigh, scratched his head through a whirlwind of emotions, and turned around.
"Hey, what are you just standing there for? I'm leaving you behind."
"—! Oh, right! Haha, ahahaha!"
Snapping back to reality at the sound of Hayato's voice, Kaidō Kazuki's face contorted for a split second, but he immediately regained his usual composure and jogged to catch up, walking side-by-side again.
His face was a mix of shock and total clarity, and being stared at like that made Hayato feel nothing but awkward.
"...What the heck, man? I'm not into that kind of thing."
"What a coincidence. Neither am I."
"Then what gives? It's not like my face is some rare sight or something."
"Nah, I just realized that you're a really good boy, Kirishima-kun."
"Huh?! Where'd that come from? You're creeping me out."
"Haha, fair point."
Kaidō Kazuki's shoulders shook as he laughed, genuinely amused, and he wiped a stray tear from the corner of his eye with his fingertip. Just like that, he started walking side-by-side with Hayato, who was feeling a bit conflicted.
"Besides, a rumor is just a rumor."
"Which rumor are you talking about?"
Then, lowering his voice so only Hayato could hear, Kazuki brought it up.
"—About Nikaidō-san."
"...!?"
With Haruki's name suddenly brought up like that, Hayato instinctively braced himself. His fists clenched on their own, and he shot a sharp, narrowed glare over Kazuki's shoulder.
But Kaidō Kazuki just took that look in stride, acting like he actually preferred seeing Hayato that way.
"To me, Nikaidō-san isn't someone like 'that'."
"...Heh."
"So, you don't have to worry about it."
"Hah, it's not like I've got a thing going on with Nikaidō, though."
"Haha, sure. If you say so. ...Hmm~."
Right then, Hayato noticed a look on Kaidō Kazuki's face—a mischievous grin that was totally out of character for Hayato.
"...What now?"
Hayato felt a weirdly familiar sense of deja vu from that look. Hayato started to think that maybe Kaidō Kazuki and Haruki were alike in some ways, but Hayato immediately shut that thought down.
(What the heck am I even thinking?)
Looking at Hayato's reaction, Kaidō Kazuki just nodded to himself in total understanding, like he was getting a huge kick out of the whole thing.
"So, after you went ahead and stripped the skin off that giant monster cat... ...I see. 'Not that kind of relationship,' huh?"
"Hey, man, 'monster cat'?"
"I gotta say, it's a pretty spot-on metaphor, don't you think?"
"...Can't really argue with that."
Kaidō Kazuki brushed off Hayato's glare with a cool face and shifted the topic just to mess with him. Kazuki was clearly one or two steps ahead in this mind game.
And as if the heavens were on Kazuki's side, a light drizzle started tapping against the ground. It was just a light sprinkle, not even worth pulling out an umbrella for.
"Let's hustle, Kirishima-kun. Race ya!"
"Oh, hey! Seriously, are you a freaking kid?!"
When provoked like that, Hayato instinctively started sprinting after Kazuki.
A faint smile was playing on Hayato's lips.
Author's Notes:
＊Announcement＊
My other work, "Kaiwa mo Shinai Tsurekko no Gimai ga, Naganen Issho ni Baka Yatte Kita Netoge no Fure datta" (My Little Stepsister Who Doesn't Even Talk to Me Turned Out to Be the Online Game Friend I've Been Fooling Around with for Years), won the Gold Prize at the 1st Shueisha Web Novel Awards and is officially getting a physical release (Light Novel)! Please check that one out too!
And, eh, about that. From mid-September on, the update schedule might get a bit messy since I'll be busy working on the book release... (whispering)
Meow
Translator's Notes:
We're actually pretty interested in that other Web Novel title, and there's a chance we might pick it up once we've wrapped up at least Part Four of our current project. But hey, it all depends on your feedback and whether you guys actually want to read it. What do you think? Should we go ahead and translate this one too?
If you're curious about the story, we've posted the cover art below. You can also check out the synopsis on NovelUpdates through this link:
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/kaiwa-mo-shinai-tsurekko-no-imouto-ga-naganen-issho-ni-baka-yatte-kita-netoge-no-friend-datta/
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
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Read in other languages:
The sky that morning had been gloomy and overcast since daybreak.
As Hayato walked down the path to school, he gave his nose a few little sniffs.
(The scent is faint, but it might just rain.)
Hayato knit his brows, looking like he'd just realized he'd messed up.
Before leaving the house this morning, Hayato'd looked at the sky and thought it wouldn't rain, but he'd definitely caught a whiff of it. Apparently, the scent of rain is way weaker around here. Even in small stuff like that, he could really feel the difference between the countryside and the big city.
Still, Hayato looked like he was in a pretty good mood. His step was light—honestly, you could say he was practically walking on air.
In fact, Hayato was seriously looking forward to the movies.
The sheer scale of the theater Himeko described was way beyond anything he could wrap Hayato's head around. It felt like some mysterious territory, and it really tickled his sense of adventure.
Plus, Hayato was going there with Haruki.
Dried-up wells, the ruins of an old monorail, a shrine abandoned deep in the mountains—it brought back memories of all the places they used to "explore" back in the day, and that just made Hayato's heart swell with even more excitement.
"Hey there. Something good happen, Kirishima-kun?"
"Ugh, Kaidō... ...it's nothing, man."
But then, right on the main road as school was getting closer, Hayato ran into Kaidō Kazuki, which made Hayato scowl immediately.
"Even though you've got such a happy look on your face?"
"...Must be your imagination, right?"
"Haha, fine then. We'll go with 'imagination'."
"...Tch."
As if he couldn't care less about Hayato's reaction, Kaidō Kazuki closed the gap and started walking right next to Hayato. Even though Kazuki was being treated like a total nuisance, he kept grinning like he was having the time of his life. In total contrast, Hayato just scowled and got even more cranky. Hayato felt like Kaidō Kazuki was just messing with him.
Hayato gave Kazuki a sidelong, judging look.
Lithe and just a bit taller than Hayato, with a toned body from sports and hair that was short but perfectly groomed—it all matched Kazuki's cool, refreshing eyes perfectly. Even a boy could tell this dude was a total chick magnet. And for real, Kaidō Kazuki really stood out in a crowd.
"Mornin', Kaidō!"
"Yo!"
"Oh, it's Kaidō-kun. Good morning!"
"Hey there, morning, guys."
Even now, students—both boys and girls—were calling out to Kazuki as they passed by.
When a boy like Kazuki responds with such a refreshing smile, it's honestly hard to have a bad opinion of him.
And with Hayato's sour, pouting face right next to Kazuki, that contrast probably made the effect stand out even more.
Kazuki was seriously just as popular as Haruki.
In fact, after watching Kazuki come by Hayato's classroom and join the boys in their rowdy, stupid banter, Hayato had—as much as he hated to admit it—started thinking Kazuki wasn't all that bad.
(Is this boy... ...wait...)
But as they walked side by side, something started to bug Hayato. He felt a weird sense of disconnect.
Despite all the charm, the smiles, the greetings, and even the waving, not a single person actually approached Kazuki. It inevitably made Hayato think of—.
"..."
"Hmm? Do I have something on my face?"
"Nah, not really. Just thought you're like some kind of idol."
"An idol, huh... ...Haha, you've got a way with words."
"Well, I mean, I'm being forced to watch you go all out with the fan service here."
"I see..."
For a split second, Kaidō Kazuki's eyes went wide, and then he just stood there blinking with a troubled look on his face.
Watching Kazuki, Hayato realized that the weird thing bugging himself this whole time was actually a sense of deja vu. Hayato scratched his head aggressively and tossed out his thoughts without holding back.
"I get it now. That face of yours is literally just a mask called 'the good-looking boy'."
"—!!"
From behind Hayato's back as he kept walking, he heard the sound of a sharp intake of breath, and then the footsteps stopped. At the same time, Hayato couldn't help but let out a sigh of his own.
Acting all nice to everyone while keeping a wall up against everyone—turns out, Kaidō Kazuki was exactly like Nikaidō Haruki.
Hayato had no clue what the reason was. Maybe it was just Kazuki's way of navigating through life. Besides, they barely knew each other, and it wasn't like Hayato even wanted to know.
But when Hayato compared Kazuki to Haruki, Hayato couldn't help but see those lonely expressions Haruki used to make overlapping with Hayato.
(Oh, d*mmit.)
Hayato knew he'd been rude and totally out of line. It's not like he wasn't curious about whatever was going on between Kazuki and Haruki, either. Hayato honestly wondered what the heck he was even thinking.
But when Hayato thought about the expression Kazuki behind him might be making, Hayato just couldn't bring himself to ignore Kazuki or cut Kazuki off—not after seeing Haruki in Kazuki. It would've left a bad taste in Hayato's mouth.
So, Hayato let out another long sigh, scratched his head through a whirlwind of emotions, and turned around.
"Hey, what are you just standing there for? I'm leaving you behind."
"—! Oh, right! Haha, ahahaha!"
Snapping back to reality at the sound of Hayato's voice, Kaidō Kazuki's face contorted for a split second, but he immediately regained his usual composure and jogged to catch up, walking side-by-side again.
His face was a mix of shock and total clarity, and being stared at like that made Hayato feel nothing but awkward.
"...What the heck, man? I'm not into that kind of thing."
"What a coincidence. Neither am I."
"Then what gives? It's not like my face is some rare sight or something."
"Nah, I just realized that you're a really good boy, Kirishima-kun."
"Huh?! Where'd that come from? You're creeping me out."
"Haha, fair point."
Kaidō Kazuki's shoulders shook as he laughed, genuinely amused, and he wiped a stray tear from the corner of his eye with his fingertip. Just like that, he started walking side-by-side with Hayato, who was feeling a bit conflicted.
"Besides, a rumor is just a rumor."
"Which rumor are you talking about?"
Then, lowering his voice so only Hayato could hear, Kazuki brought it up.
"—About Nikaidō-san."
"...!?"
With Haruki's name suddenly brought up like that, Hayato instinctively braced himself. His fists clenched on their own, and he shot a sharp, narrowed glare over Kazuki's shoulder.
But Kaidō Kazuki just took that look in stride, acting like he actually preferred seeing Hayato that way.
"To me, Nikaidō-san isn't someone like 'that'."
"...Heh."
"So, you don't have to worry about it."
"Hah, it's not like I've got a thing going on with Nikaidō, though."
"Haha, sure. If you say so. ...Hmm~."
Right then, Hayato noticed a look on Kaidō Kazuki's face—a mischievous grin that was totally out of character for Hayato.
"...What now?"
Hayato felt a weirdly familiar sense of deja vu from that look. Hayato started to think that maybe Kaidō Kazuki and Haruki were alike in some ways, but Hayato immediately shut that thought down.
(What the heck am I even thinking?)
Looking at Hayato's reaction, Kaidō Kazuki just nodded to himself in total understanding, like he was getting a huge kick out of the whole thing.
"So, after you went ahead and stripped the skin off that giant monster cat... ...I see. 'Not that kind of relationship,' huh?"
"Hey, man, 'monster cat'?"
"I gotta say, it's a pretty spot-on metaphor, don't you think?"
"...Can't really argue with that."
Kaidō Kazuki brushed off Hayato's glare with a cool face and shifted the topic just to mess with him. Kazuki was clearly one or two steps ahead in this mind game.
And as if the heavens were on Kazuki's side, a light drizzle started tapping against the ground. It was just a light sprinkle, not even worth pulling out an umbrella for.
"Let's hustle, Kirishima-kun. Race ya!"
"Oh, hey! Seriously, are you a freaking kid?!"
When provoked like that, Hayato instinctively started sprinting after Kazuki.
A faint smile was playing on Hayato's lips.
Author's Notes:
＊Announcement＊
My other work, "Kaiwa mo Shinai Tsurekko no Gimai ga, Naganen Issho ni Baka Yatte Kita Netoge no Fure datta" (My Little Stepsister Who Doesn't Even Talk to Me Turned Out to Be the Online Game Friend I've Been Fooling Around with for Years), won the Gold Prize at the 1st Shueisha Web Novel Awards and is officially getting a physical release (Light Novel)! Please check that one out too!
And, eh, about that. From mid-September on, the update schedule might get a bit messy since I'll be busy working on the book release... (whispering)
Meow
Translator's Notes:
We're actually pretty interested in that other Web Novel title, and there's a chance we might pick it up once we've wrapped up at least Part Four of our current project. But hey, it all depends on your feedback and whether you guys actually want to read it. What do you think? Should we go ahead and translate this one too?
If you're curious about the story, we've posted the cover art below. You can also check out the synopsis on NovelUpdates through this link:
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/kaiwa-mo-shinai-tsurekko-no-imouto-ga-naganen-issho-ni-baka-yatte-kita-netoge-no-friend-datta/
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: