Chapter 37

"Still, it's surprising how few people come up to you, isn't it?"

While walking through the city, I muttered to Rin, who was walking beside me.

Rin is a noticeable person.

She's beautiful, has an excellent figure, and is tall enough to stand out among women. If Rin walks through the city without disguising herself, she would immediately catch attention.

Moreover, as a streamer, professional gamer, and video uploader, she is quite well-known, and many people recognize her face.

Walking through the city, she might not be surrounded by fans, but she certainly attracts enough attention to make her movements difficult.

However, Rin is exceptionally skilled at disguising herself. So much so that even I, who have known her for a long time, can't recognize her at first glance.

Even now, with so many people around, no one is even looking at Rin. In fact, the indifference of the people around us is almost scary.

"With a bit of disguise and some gaze redirection, it's this easy."

"I'm completely hopeless at that kind of thing."

Gaze redirection... it's called misdirection. It's something magicians do to plant the trick.

When I heard about it, I was completely lost, but Rin showed me an old basketball manga. Rin acts as if it's something she can do effortlessly, but it's a skill I can't manage.

Rin is so multi-talented that, aside from her physical abilities, there's hardly anything she can't do.

She doesn't start things on her own, but if the need arises, she picks them up quickly.

When her mother scolded her for playing too many games, she returned a perfect test. Even now, she learns special skills to eliminate obstacles in her daily life.

Rin simply doesn't like being hindered from doing what she wants.

Incidentally, the reason Rin isn't interested in fashion is probably because she doesn't have many occasions to dress up.

I thought she could become a model... but I remember she did some gravure work a few times. For game magazines, to attract customers.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing."

Perhaps noticing that I was lost in thought, Rin asked me with a slightly worried look.

When I answered and looked ahead, the shopping mall was right in front of us.

It's not just any mall; this one, which I remember Rin frequents, has some high-end stores.

When asked why she frequents it, it's because there's a delicious pastry shop that doesn't do online sales.

Actually, Rin loves cookies.

"Since Nana is here, we can stock up."

"Ah, so I'm the bag carrier?"

"It's a chance to put your bear-like arm strength to use."

Bears... at least gorillas... but which is stronger, gorillas or bears?

"If it's a request from Rin, sure. By the way, when is Toka coming?"

"She said she has a few things to do and won't be here until after 4. I told her to meet us at the cafe after we finish shopping."

"Hmm, students are so busy."

We chatted as we walked through the mall.

The pastry shop we were aiming for is on the basement floor, so we headed downstairs.

"Welcome!"

"Today, butter and... cocoa and..."

"Hehe, don't go overboard."

I lightly teased Rin, who immediately had the sharp eyes of a hawk looking for prey, while I browsed the selection to see if there was anything I wanted to eat. Rin's goal is cookies, but this pastry shop, of course, also sells cakes, cream puffs, biscuits, and madeleines.

I should probably be moderate with cakes since I've eaten a whole one for two days in a row.

"Hey... isn't that Nana-senpai? Isn't it Nana-senpai?"

"Huh?"

I was looking at a seasonal selection of madeleines in the baked goods section when I was suddenly called out. I recognized the voice and turned around to see a familiar figure.

"It's Saku!"

"Yep!"

A very friendly girl... or rather, a boy.

He answered enthusiastically.

☆

His name is Saku Sato. At first glance, he looks androgynous and could pass for a girl, but he is a genuine boy.

I met him when he was working part-time at a restaurant. It was one of the three part-time jobs he had at the time.

"Wow, you're working here now?"

"Yeah, the pay is good for the work."

"You really thought about what to do after quitting, didn't you?"

I couldn't help but pat him on the head, and he closed his eyes in pleasure.

He's such a cute kid; he accepts things that would make most people blush.

He's really friendly. That's why he was very popular with the part-time workers at his previous job.

"By the way, Saku, I started playing WLO."

"Really?!"

"Really, really. I don't lie."

I can almost see the illusion of a wagging tail.

Saku and I were close in age among the part-time workers, so we often chatted during work.

Especially since his hobby is games, and I used to watch games with Rin all the time.

I responded to his niche conversations, and he became very attached to me.

I knew about WLO before Rin mentioned it, thanks to him.

"Don't suddenly start talking like that. But, you always said you were too busy to play any game... By the way, what are you doing for work now, Nana-senpai?"

"I'm on a break. I think I worked too much."

"Senpai, you really do work too much. That's the right decision. Oh, but your complexion looks a bit better."

"Really? You're observant."

This is one of his talents or characteristics. He's very observant of very subtle changes, like a new haircut, a different hairstyle, or a new shampoo.

"Here, Nana, I bought these. Can you hold them... Oh, who's this kid?"

She must have finished shopping.

Rin, holding four bags of cookies in both hands, quickly handed them to me and looked at Saku with a curious expression.

"I met him at my part-time job. He works here now."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Saku Sato."

"Oh, nice to meet you. I'm Rin Hayate."

Despite her disguise, Rin's responses were a bit sloppy, and as expected, she was immediately recognized by the gamer.

"Huh? This voice... Rinne...?"

She was wearing sunglasses, so he didn't recognize her immediately, but after looking her up and down, he seemed to be sure.

Saku, slightly trembling, spoke.

"P-P-Professional gamer Rinne...?"

"Yes. Nice to meet you?"

Rin winked by pushing her sunglasses up, and Saku's face turned bright red as he froze.

It's good that he's serving us, but I wonder if his part-time job is okay...

While thinking about this rather important but irrelevant matter, I watched this slightly amusing scene.

Saku was hinted at early on. He's a boy who looks slightly more androgynous.

Incidentally, he is not the same person as Shuya.