Chapter 82

"You always talk like that. Can you even function in daily life?"

Holding the pharmacy bag, Kim Deok-sung's appearance made Rin wipe her tears with the sleeve of her kimono.

"He, he didn't go... ..."

Thank goodness.

He hasn't hated me yet.

"Phew."

Kim Deok-sung sighed and took out a patch from the bag, sticking it to her ankle.

"Ah!"

As his hand touched her, Rin's heart raced.

Her face turned red.

"Just hold still for a moment."

Watching her squirm like a fish, Kim Deok-sung applied ointment to the spaces between her toes, which were chafed from the sandals.

Squish, squish.

The cold ointment mixed with Kim Deok-sung's body heat, giving Rin a strange sensation, making her face turn red.

"Ah."

A moan escaped her lips.

Regardless, after applying the ointment, Kim Deok-sung wiped his hands with a tissue and handed the pharmacy bag to Rin.

"If it hurts, apply it yourself. Don't bother me."

"..., I understand... ..."

Rustle.

Rin's face turned red as she clutched the pharmacy bag.

Her heart was pounding as if it would burst.

'H, he came back... ...'

She thought he had been hated.

She thought he would leave under the pretext of buying medicine.

But he came back.

Not only did he buy medicine for her, but he even applied it himself.

She recalled his touch on her foot.

Her toes felt as if they were burned by fire.

Rin's face grew hot.

"Hey, Rin."

His voice reached her ear.

She looked up.

There was Kim Deok-sung's face, full of irritation.

"And stop making those, human torpedo attacks. It's annoying. Why do you do it when you know it doesn't work?"

"That's... ..."

Rin's words were cut off.

She bowed her head.

"I, I have low womanly skills... ... I don't know much... ... I can't cook well like Nishizawa... ... I can't be considerate like Bonaparte... ... The only thing left for me is my body... ..."

Rin stammered.

She reviewed her situation.

Feeling miserable.

Drip, drip.

Tears streamed down her eyes.

"The only thing I can do is that... ..."

"What nonsense. Why do you compare yourself to others?"

Kim Deok-sung's words made Rin snap to attention.

Kim Deok-sung sighed and said,

"The onigiri you made last time was quite delicious, and you did a good job as a tour guide today. Just keep doing that. Don't get inferior and make reckless moves by comparing yourself to others. It's embarrassing to watch and it makes me angry."

"That's... ..."

Rin's eyes widened.

Her heart raced.

Her indigo eyes trembled.

"Is, is it okay for me? As me, not Nishizawa or Bonaparte?"

"Why do you always make it sound like that when I tell you not to make reckless moves? Whatever, think what you want. You guys always misinterpret what I say to fit your own desires."

Kim Deok-sung waved his hand as if annoyed and closed his mouth.

But Rin knew.

He was surprisingly not very honest.

His denial was as good as an affirmation.

Rin bowed her head.

Holding her heart that was about to burst, she said,

"... You're really a bad guy. You, you... ..."

How could she not fall for a guy who says such things?

Indeed, I, Rin Shinozaki, am infatuated with that bad guy.

But even now, I want more.

'A little more, can I be a bit more greedy... ...'

She wanted to be loved more by him.

Rin smiled as she thought this.

*

At the same time.

Kiyomizu-dera Main Hall.

Wearing a white school uniform, the long-haired purple-haired girl, Kasumi, hummed a tune and muttered,

"Coming to Kyoto for the second time is also enjoyable."

Last year, this year.

The Kyoto trip was enjoyable.

While some students complained about always going to Kyoto for school trips, Kasumi was not one of them.

For her, an orphan, a spy, and a chimera with mixed genes of non-human species, reading and traveling were the only ways to alleviate her loneliness.

"If only my junior and the cute junior girls could have come with me... ..."

Kasumi was slightly surprised by her own words.

"I, I've gotten used to not being alone... ..."

I miss my junior.

Kasumi quietly swallowed the rest of her words and smiled.

Just as her face turned a cherry blossom pink,

Buzz.

Kasumi's phone rang.

"Is it my junior?"

Thump, thump.

Kasumi, with her heart racing, nervously checked the message on her phone.

[This is an order from the League. Code name: Purple.]

[The operation will take place on the 9th night of the training.]

[The targets are Kurose Yuji, Kim Deok-sung, and all the Shuou students, including Saionji Arisu.]

[The mission type is 'annihilation'.]

[For detailed mission information, contact Student Council President Maruyama Ryosuke. End.]

Kasumi's face turned cold and rigid.

Cold sweat trickled down her forehead.

New World League.

They have started to move underground.

Why is this woman like this?

"Is it enough now?"

"I'm feeling much better, but walking alone is still... ... a bit... ... too much... ... Can you help me?"

Rin bowed her head, her face red.

Well, it's hard to scold someone who's hurt. Sigh.

My fate.

Sighing inwardly, he extended his hand.

"Here."

"Thank you, Kim Deok-sung."

Rin, holding his hand, linked her arms with his again.

The soft touch on his arm made Rin's face turn red.

"T, this... ... I, I didn't mean it like that... ... M, my chest size is just... ... so... ... big... ..."

"Got it, stop explaining. Everyone can see it."

If I say such lines, the reason I mustered the courage to speak earlier is gone.

"... I understand. Hehe."

Rin, smiling meaningfully, clung to him.

Her attitude seemed subtly different from before.

She seemed to have gained a bit more confidence.

Well, if it's good, it's good.

"The next destination is the Kiyomizu-dera Main Hall. It's a famous spot known for its stage built on a cliff. The guidebook says it's worth visiting when you come to Kyoto."

Rin, adding her explanation, led him.

After walking around Kiyomizu-dera for a while,

Drip, drip.

Suddenly, cold droplets hit his cheeks.

"What is it?"

Just as he frowned,

Pitter-patter.

A sudden downpour began.

Damn.

Why does it rain like crazy when I'm with her?

It feels like a cursed day.

"Suddenly it's raining... ... Ugh... ..."

Rin, hit by the heavy rain, started to shiver.

Her wet kimono clung to her body, creating an embarrassing scene.

She's going to catch a cold.

"Let's, let's quickly go to the main hall. I'm sorry for being a burden... ..."

Rin, looking dejected, said.

If Rin, who already has a sprained leg, catches a cold, it would be a big problem.

Especially since we don't know how the original story will unfold.

To prepare for all situations, we can't afford to lose any members.

I really don't want to do this.

"There's no spare clothes."

"What do you mean... ..."

With trembling hands, he took off his school uniform shirt and wrapped it around Rin.

He was wearing a black T-shirt underneath, so it didn't matter if he took it off.

"W, what... ...!"

"Put it on so you don't catch a cold."

"A, are you worried about me... ... like last time... ..."

Rin's eyes trembled.

Do you really want to do this in this situation?

"No, just shut up and follow me."

"... I understand."

Rin, smiling, followed him.

He led her to the Kiyomizu-dera Main Hall.

Pitter-patter.

They entered the covered stage.

As a famous photo spot and a landmark representing Kiyomizu-dera and Kyoto, it was crowded with many people.

Due to the sudden downpour, many people had taken refuge there.

Ignoring them, he led Rin to the railing.

The stage of Kiyomizu-dera, built on a cliff, offered a view of Kyoto's night lights.

The scenery, representing a major tourist destination in Japan, was quite spectacular, allowing him to momentarily forget his complicated thoughts.

"How is it? The view of Kyoto from the Kiyomizu-dera stage. They say it's a must to take a commemorative photo at the Kiyomizu-dera railing when you come to Kyoto."

Rin, who was not asked, started explaining.

This scene has appeared countless times in anime and manga.

It's the first time I've seen it in person, though.

"Um, if it's okay... ... Could you, could you take a, a commemorative... ... photo with me?"

Rin fumbled with a selfie stick and attached it to her smartphone.

When did she bring that?

"If you don't want to, it's fine... ..."

Rin's shoulders drooped.

Drip, drip.

Raindrops dripped from her onto the stage.

If I don