Dong Hazuki Was Not Blessed

Going out to take a look does indeed help slow down the speed of decay.

Feeling the breath of nature can make people temporarily forget themselves—

For me.

It is not actually that accurate.

Kushō Yoshiko was already waiting early at the meeting point.

She was wearing clothes meant for an outing.

She should have belonged to the stereotypical image of a quiet girl with braided hair and black-framed glasses.

Yet she was giving off a rather strange, lively aura.

But—

People whose inner selves do not match their outer appearance are actually not rare.

If we talk about examples, I probably count as one.

Clearly looking lively and cheerful, yet bored as I watch everything around me.

Only fools judge a person by their appearance.

Unfortunately, among the people I have met, those like that make up the majority.

So that is what gives me the opportunity to put on an act.

At least, in the eyes of outsiders.

Dong Hazuki is the kind of person who is flawless and perfect.

[Good morning, President.]

I took a breath of air that felt especially refreshing from being tinged with morning moisture.

The lingering drowsiness in my head was temporarily cleared away.

The weather was fairly clear.

The spring breeze already carried a trace of the heat that signaled summer’s approach.

Going out on a day like this really did feel somewhat like a picnic.

Although for me.

It was actually nothing special.

It could not even stir much of a reaction in my heart.

[You came really early, Xiaoyue.
You must be looking forward to this activity a lot.]

Kushō Yoshiko was clearly the type who got close to people easily.

After only a few days of getting along, she had already changed how she addressed me, all to better express intimacy.

I had no resistance to this kind of behavior.

If anything, I was quite happy to see it.

At least it saved me the trouble of thinking about how to close the distance.

Playing the role of someone who loves making friends is actually harder than it sounds.

And what I get out of it is probably just the fleeting pleasure of seeing others be lured by my enthusiasm and take the initiative to show me goodwill.

But in the end, I still do not want to continue like this.

I need to be faster.

Faster, and go back.

[Of course.
After all, it is the club’s first activity.]

I responded with a gentle smile, while also glancing around.

[Is it just the two of us here?]

[Before you arrived, Xiaoyue, it was only me here.]

[I honestly did not expect you to come this early, President.
Compared to you, I am the one who is late.]

I lowered my head a little, looking embarrassed.

[Eh, eh.
So coming early is wrong too?]

[Of course not.
What I said just now was only a joke.]

[Haha.
Xiaoyue, you really are like this, always joking around.
Among the four of us, besides Xiao Jizhi, you are the one I like the most.]

The “like” here probably meant that she felt we could get along well.

Judging from my knowledge of her in the game and my observations during this time, she should not have those kinds of inclinations.

Otherwise, it would be troublesome for me too.

Although I always make friends with people in an enthusiastic manner, I have absolutely no intention of reaching intimate relationships.

Even Tenzan Kaoru, who looks rather close to me, is merely a tool for disguise.

After all, someone like me, who will soon lie in a coffin and rot, has no interest in making close friends.

Unless I am so bored that I want to drag a few people down to rot together.

I am not that twisted yet.

[By the way, they are really slow.]

Kushō Yoshiko looked toward the direction they were coming from.

[They probably need a bit more time.]

After all, we arrived too early.

This was actually already within my expectations.

Before grasping everyone’s movement patterns properly, it is better not to make rash judgments.

So I followed my usual early-rising schedule from school.

I even came earlier than that, just in case something unexpected happened.

Yet I did not expect Kushō Yoshiko to arrive exceptionally early as well.

She was clearly a minor character in the game.

Yet she was also showing some unexpected traits.

Of course, it might just be that I never noticed before.

After all, there are far too many characters like her in games.

Once they complete their role, they exit the stage.

Well, this is probably one of the difficulties of a game turning into reality.

You cannot treat it with the same mindset as playing on a computer.

Unlike preset processes and outcomes.

Each of them truly exists.

And thus is filled with countless uncertain variables.

This strange outdoor reading gathering is one such example.

What I need to do now is make the events proceed according to the flow I am familiar with.

So I must pay even more attention to collecting data about this world.

It seems that relying solely on what I know from the game is far from enough.

I need to understand their habits more deeply.

Just thinking about this is troublesome.

It made my bored heart feel a bit irritated.

Though it did not last long.

Only by staying calm can I reach the outcome I want.

[Someone is coming.]

Kushō Yoshiko called out, drawing my gaze into the distance.

[Sorry, sorry.
I am late, President, Xiaoyue.]

Behind me, Tenzan Kaoru arrived breathlessly in front of us.

As she got closer, she bent forward from exhaustion, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.

[It is not really that late.]

Kushō Yoshiko shook her head.

[But it seems Xiaoxun really likes this activity too.]

She seemed proud that the activity she planned had been acknowledged by everyone.

This kind of expression is really easy to read.

Even though she is a senior a year above us.

She still puts all her thoughts plainly on her face.

But it has no effect on me.

If anything.

It would actually be nice if everyone were this easy to read.

Of course, that does not include me.

Thinking this, I took a handkerchief out of my skirt pocket and handed it to Tenzan Kaoru.

[Even if you are really looking forward to it, you do not need to rush like this, Xiaoxun.
Here, use this to wipe your sweat.]

[It is just that seeing you waiting here so early made me feel bad.
But thank you, Xiaoyue.]

What I received was naturally Tenzan Kaoru’s nod of thanks.

Toward me.

A counterfeit who is deceiving her.

Truly.

How foolish.

[Still, you did not need to run all the way here.
Just wait and see how you handle the activity later.]

[Xiaoyue, you are underestimating me too much.
Do not look at me like this.
I usually exercise as well.
My stamina is not that bad.]

[Mm-hm.
Then I will remember that.
When you collapse from exhaustion later, I will make sure to laugh at you properly.]

[I think the one collapsing will be Xiaoyue.]

Tenzan Kaoru wiped the sweat off her forehead and let out a deep breath.

She looked much better now.

I also withdrew the concern from my face at the right time, replacing it with the smile that works on everyone.

Bright.

Cheerful.

[Then let us give it a try.]

[Alright, alright.
Why are you all imagining my activity like this.
The Classical Literature Club is not one of those sports clubs.]

Kushō Yoshiko protested a bit from the side, sounding dissatisfied.

[Sorry, President.]

[That is more like it—ah, the others are here too.]

Following her words, I looked into the distance.

At the same time, with a strange gaze.

Ichijō Riku’s figure could vaguely be seen.

Beside him was another person.

Nishimura Jizhi.

They were walking together.

I could even see that they were talking about something.

Of course.

I could hear it clearly.

The earphone had already connected when he approached.

Relatively clear conversation flowed through.

[I did not expect to run into Jizhi on the way here.]

[Yeah.
That is right.]

[Ha.
The weather is really nice.]

[It is.]

[Jizhi, did you sleep well last night?]

[Pretty well.]

[——]

[Eh.
Why did you stop talking again?]

Tenzan Kaoru said in confusion.

[That is obviously because he does not know how to talk.]

The remark slipped out just like that.

Then I saw Ichijō Riku turn his head toward us.

Just like me.

He could already hear it too.

[I am really sorry for being so bad at conversation.]

There was a hint of complaint in his words.

He was talking to me.

And the one who answered him—

[Riku, you are very talkative.
It is my own issue.]

Mm-hm.

That was not said by me.

Because I was listening to Tenzan Kaoru’s consolation.

[It should be fine, Xiaoyue.
Ichijō might have just happened to run into Jizhi.]

I was being treated as if I were jealous.

[President, sorry to keep you waiting.]

[It is fine, Xiao Jizhi.
Alright, let us prepare to depart next.]

[An outdoor reading gathering refers to visiting the scenes described in books, thereby gaining the author’s feelings and insights at the time.]

Kushō Yoshiko enthusiastically explained the activity she had planned.

[In “Spring Outing, Gazing at the Mountain” by Mr. Yunju, the scenery of Spring-Gazing Mountain is described in detail, as well as the sights encountered along the way.
He uses those descriptions to express his emotions and aspirations at the time.]

She was talking about a piece of classical literature.

In practice, it was knowledge outside the classroom.

For me, it was more like extra information acquired.

Well.

Classical literature is boring anyway.

So it actually suits me quite well.

Strangely, I did not feel much resistance to it.

Perhaps I really do belong to the Classical Literature Club.

[We definitely cannot go to Spring-Gazing Mountain.]

[But—]

Kushō Yoshiko turned around and pointed at a mountain not far away.

It was lush and green, covered in trees.

At the same time, it was hard to see what lay inside.

[Our Sakurano Village has Sakuragami Mountain.]

That was also the only landmark here truly worth noting.

[I believe our Sakuragami Mountain is no worse than Spring-Gazing Mountain.]

[Next, we head in that direction.]

With Kushō Yoshiko’s impassioned shout, our pace picked up once again.

In the end, it took quite some time before we reached the foot of the mountain.

It looked so close.

Yet walking to it was not easy at all.

[We finally arrived, Xiaoyue—eh?]

Tenzan Kaoru spoke with fatigue.

Then her expression turned into surprise.

At my actions.

Facing Sakuragami Mountain, I clapped my hands twice and silently apologized in my heart.

That was what I was doing.

[I have heard that Sakuragami Mountain has a mountain god.
We should not lose proper etiquette.]

[That is right.
What Xiaoyue said is correct.
We should also inform the mountain god.]

At those words, everyone clapped twice, facing Sakuragami Mountain.

Then.

A strong wind blew through, as if in response.

It came with a howling sound.

Mm.

It might really be a response.

I narrowed my eyes and felt the comfortable spring breeze.

I hope the mountain god will bless us.

Please let nothing unexpected happen.

[Finally, for the groups.
Xiaoyue and Xiao Jizhi will be one group.
Riku and Xiaoxun will be another.
I will go alone.
We will gather back here in one hour.
Remember not to go too far.]