Chapter 60: The Third's Skill (2)

"Alright, shall we start now?"

"Ah, ah...!"

"Die!!"

The fight began as Luna slammed Raimon to the ground.

"Who do you think will win today?"

"Hehe, it's obviously Miss Luna."

"I think so too. Unfortunately, we can't make a bet on it."

Despite the intense... no, one-sided beating taking place in front of us, Alex and I were having a normal conversation.

The two of them fighting over me has become a part of our daily routine.

Alex glanced sideways.

His gaze was directed at the ice cream in my hand.

"Three-layer ice cream... impressive."

"Hehe, Miss Luna bought it for me."

"I've never seen one before. It's quite expensive, and there's too much to eat all at once."

Come to think of it, something seemed off.

Luna isn't the type to indulge in such luxury.

"Does it have some special meaning? Like, she's going to stab you with it or something..."

"Pfft! What are you talking about? Don't you think it's a special day when this happens?"

Even while watching the murderous Luna right in front of us, he could say that?

"Cobra Breaker!"

"K, kyaahhh!!"

But I couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Could it be a special day, as Alex suggested?

I need to think about it seriously.

If I can't answer a question like, 'Don't you know what day it is today?'

'That Cobra Breaker will come at me.'

Is it the 30th day since we met? Or the 100th time of biting?

Or is today the day I die?

The last one seems the most likely.

"Hmm... I feel like I might have interfered. I'm sorry."

"Interfered?"

"Yeah, we're interrupting their alone time, right?"

"...What?"

Despite my confusion, Alex just smiled.

He must still be misunderstanding.

Let me clarify again, my type is a straight guy, not a kid like that.

"Pfft! Just a greeting! I'll just greet you!"

"A greeting can be done from far away! About 30km? Do it from there!"

Luna, are human eyes telescopes?

You can't even hear my voice!

'Well, it's about time for another one to show up.'

Beep!

"Improper interactions with the opposite sex... are not just grounds for demerits, but are forbidden!"

Oh, the line has changed.

Not just demerits, but forbidden.

It seems the prank I pulled last time had an effect.

Rodelin approached us with quick steps.

"Stop fighting immediately. What are you doing to each other as friends?"

"Senior, I've never had a friend like this."

"Me, me neither!"

But they had no choice but to stop.

Rodelin smiled, a smile that meant if they continued, they would have to face her as well.

"It seems Zero is the problem again."

"Hehe, I was just standing there."

"That might be the problem. How about you clearly state who you want to play with today?"

So, he wants me to declare who I want to play with to end the fight?

Well, my answer is already decided.

"Hehe, I want to be with Miss Luna today."

"Great!"

"No, no way! My Zero can't be best friends with Luna!"

Luna cheered, and Raimon screamed.

Oh dear, that's why being a popular guy is tough.

My very existence is a sin. It's a sad thing indeed.

Click.

Luna draped her arm over my shoulder.

Then, she lifted her chin and said,

"This guy is already mine. He's become a body that can't be satisfied without me~ That's what I mean."

...Huh? Luna, that could be misunderstood if heard a certain way.

It doesn't seem to be my imagination.

Rodelin's face was as red as if it was about to explode.

Alex was laughing uncontrollably.

"Z, Zero! P, perverted talk is a demerit... a demerit!"

Rodelin pulled out her notebook.

I felt wronged. I was just standing there.

Well, a demerit or two doesn't matter.

That's when it happened.

"Senior, it was me."

"Huh, huh?"

"Zero is innocent. If anyone should get a demerit, it should be me."

...What? Is this a new kind of phishing?

Or a new biting strategy?

I was genuinely surprised that Luna could say something like that.

"...No, I got too excited. I'll pretend this never happened."

Rodelin put her notebook away.

Luna poked my chest.

"Be grateful to this big sister."

"Hehe, I can't argue with that this time."

Perhaps our affectionate appearance made Raimon feel defeated.

Luna began to circle him, showing off her superiority.

'What is she doing? She's not a chimpanzee.'

I chuckled at the sight of Chimpanzee Luna.

Then, I overheard Alex and Rodelin's conversation.

"I found a fragment of a sword. But... it was imbued with dark energy."

"Dark energy?"

"Yes. We should investigate it, don't you think?"

A sword fragment imbued with dark energy.

One of the clues leading to Leang, the boss of Chapter 1.

It seems the story is progressing smoothly, so there's no need to worry.

"Then we'll be on our way. We have an urgent matter to attend to."

"Z, Zero... see you next time."

"Next time? Get lost already!?"

Luna's outburst.

Raimon wiped away his tears and ran off.

As the noisy surroundings suddenly became quiet, I couldn't help but fall into deep thought again.

'Can I kill someone?'

The quest has appeared, but there's still quite some time before I face Leang.

Until Alex and the others track down the traces of the cursed sword and reach Leang.

It will probably take about ten days.

'Tsk, it would have been better if it ended quickly.'

The mental and emotional pressure until then feels overwhelming.

Well, [Mental Defense] will block it all.

"Hey."

That's when Luna called me.

Oh, I was so lost in thought.

Leaving Obsessive Luna alone.

I need to give her a good scolding.

"Hehe, did you call me?"

"Let's play."

"Excuse me?"

"Let's play!"

Luna grabbed my hand and started running.

* * *

As the dim darkness began to fall.

Luna stretched lightly, raising her interlocked hands.

"Ah, today was fun, right?"

"Hehe, was it? It doesn't seem like we did much."

Luna led me to play, but it was just another ordinary day.

Well, it couldn't be helped.

Today is a weekday. It's impossible to go to the square.

"Huh? We spent the day together. How could it not be fun?"

Luna smiled sweetly.

Our Luna has such a cute smile.

If only her personality were a bit tamer, she'd have many more friends.

When we arrived at the dormitory entrance.

"Hey, I have a question."

"Hehe, go ahead."

"Are you... not feeling well?"

"Excuse me?"

"You've been sulking since class ended. It's not because of me, so there must be some other problem... I just can't figure it out."

I couldn't help but feel bad.

Ever since the quest appeared, I've been thinking about killing all day.

But I didn't show it.

I acted perfectly normal on the outside.

'Alex, Raimon, Rodelin... none of them asked if I had any worries...'

Luna must have sensed it.

That I wasn't feeling well.

Click.

Luna kicked a small pebble with her toe.

Her head was bowed.

"If something's bothering you, talk about it. That's how we can share our worries, right?"

Click, click.

"Or, is there something I can't help with?"

Click, click, click.

"I have a terrible personality and don't know how to comfort people. I tried, but... I guess I'm not good enough to comfort you."

Sniff.

Then I realized.

Buying the three-layer ice cream, circling Raimon like a chimpanzee, and stopping Rodelin from giving me a demerit.

It was Luna's way of showing care and comfort.

'What a fool.'

To receive comfort from Luna and even cry.

I'm such a wimp.

"Miss Luna..."

"Ah, really... I'm not crying because of you. I'm disappointed in myself, disappointed in myself."

Luna wiped away her tears, turning her back to me.

Being unable to comfort a friend.

Not being able to rely on her only friend must be quite a blow to her.

'Well, let's talk about it.'

Even if I can't get any advice from a kid.

They say sharing a worry halves it.

I approached Luna and gently wiped away her tears.

"Go away, you idiot."

"Is it okay? You might regret it."

"Regret what?"

"I was about to ask for advice. From my best friend and someone I can rely on."

Luna's body trembled.

Luna, who wiped her tears with her sleeve, crossed her arms and shouted.

"Hmph! I can't help it. Listening to your worries is part of being a friend."

"Thank you."

"Let me tell you, I'm the god of advice! You can expect great things!"

Luna declared confidently.

If only her voice wasn't so nasally.

Well, whatever.

* * *

In front of the dormitory, on a bench.

Luna greeted me as I returned with drinks.

"Come on! The Luna Advice Booth is now open!"

But despite her words, Luna looked extremely nervous.

...Is this her first time giving advice?

Sharing worries might double them.

Bang!

As soon as I sat down, Luna leaned in close.

What's this? A Luna-fu master?

"So, what's your worry? Grades? Complexes? Money? Or love? Well, that's my specialty, after all."

Love being her specialty?

The moment my trust in the Luna Advice Booth plummeted.

"Um, I think I'll go now."

"What? Why?"

"The moment I sat down, my worries were solved. You really are the god of advice."

"Coming in was your choice, but leaving isn't."

"Solved...?"

"Sit down."

Hmm, it seems there are only two ways to leave this place.

Share my worries or my life.

Obviously, I should share my worries.

"Miss Luna, have you ever killed someone?"

"...Yeah, I have."

Luna's expression turned somber.

Well, I expected she might have, given how murderous she was during the entrance exam.

"You've been through a lot."

"What? I've noticed you act like it's nothing."

"No, I haven't."

"Huh? Really?"

Luna was genuinely surprised.

"That's strange. I thought you must have killed at least a hundred people."

To think you'd have such thoughts about my innocent appearance.

And a hundred people would make you a crazy serial killer!

Just as I was about to grumble,

Luna held out her left hand.

"I've killed five. They all deserved it."

They all deserved it. I decided not to ask.

It must be a painful memory for her.

"By the way, just to let you know, I haven't been a victim of anything terrible."

"Excuse me?"

"No, just in case. Forget it, forget it."

Luna waved her hand.

Hmm, she seemed to be trying to say something, but I missed it while thinking.

Was it important information? I should ask her again if I get the chance.

"But why are you asking about killing? Out of the blue."