As Sato glanced over the character panel, the doubts in his heart were instantly resolved.
After what he'd just seen with Saiki, he decided to check out Kirigaya Kazuto's card as well.
[Name: Kirigaya Kazuto]
[Race: Human]
[Job: Student, Hardcore Gamer]
[Age: 16]
[Threat Level: F]
Looks like there were still plenty of normal people in this world. Sato let out a small sigh of relief.
Noticing Saiki Kusuo still watching him with suspicion, Sato smoothly steered the conversation in a new direction.
"By the way, have you guys thought about what clubs to join?"
Even though Private Mixed High was mainly focused on academics, like many elite schools, it also encouraged students to develop in all areas from intellectual, physical, artistic, and social. So, joining a club was practically mandatory.
And that meant the school had a wide range of clubs.
"Clubs, huh? I think I'll join the kendo club…" Kirigaya Kazuto replied after thinking for a moment.
Sato and Saiki both looked at him with interest.
"Kendo?"
"Yeah, I actually started learning when I was a kid. My family has an old dojo at home. But ever since my grandfather passed, the dojo hasn't been used much."
"I haven't trained seriously in a while, but I still remember the basics."
Kazuto spoke honestly.
"So that means your family is pretty well-off, huh? If I remember right, your house isn't far from the school either?"
After all, owning a building big enough to be called a dojo in a bustling city meant his family must have some real standing.
Kazuto scratched his head awkwardly. "Well… I wouldn't say we're wealthy. Besides the dojo, the rest of the house is just average."
"What about you, Saiki?"
"Me?"
Under Sato's expectant gaze, the usually expressionless Saiki stirred slightly and opened his mouth with some difficulty.
So exhausting…
His brow twitched faintly. It had been so long since he spoke aloud, he almost forgot how.
"Probably something like the film club or the cooking club."
He spoke in a calm tone.
"Movies and cooking, huh…"
Sato nodded thoughtfully.
"What about you, Sato? Got any plans?" Kazuto asked with curiosity.
"Not yet. I'll look around first and see what fits."
"How about joining the kendo club with me?"
"I'll think about it," Sato said with a smile, not committing just yet.
…
Night.
Stars glittered across the deep, mesmerizing sky. The clouds were faint, stained by moonlight.
"Ah, Sato, heading out?"
As Sato was just about to leave, the door of the next unit opened as well. Doma Tahei (Umaru's older brother) paused at the sight of him, then greeted him with a smile.
Sato nodded and smiled. "Just going to the convenience store to pick up a few things."
Tahei blinked, a spark of hope flashing in his eyes. He scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.
"Uh… Sato, can I ask you for a favor?"
"Hm? Go ahead."
Sato looked at him in mild surprise.
"Could you help me pick up the latest manga magazine from the convenience store? I'm a bit tied up with something."
He glanced inside the apartment.
Sato peeked in and saw a brightly lit computer screen, lines of code running across it.
Sheesh, this guy's a programmer all right… what a life.
"No problem. It's just a small thing."
"Ah, you're a lifesaver. Seriously, thanks."
"Lifesaver is a bit much."
Tahei chuckled, then quickly pulled a 1,000 yen bill from his bag and handed it to Sato.
"Please and thank you!"
After giving Sato a prayer-hands salute, he ducked back into the room and returned to his coding grind.
Sato looked at the bill in his hand for a moment, then shook his head with a hint of amusement.
Who would've thought that even Doma-san was a closet otaku? Guy's ready to drop everything for his manga.
Meanwhile, back inside the Doma household…
"Huh? Onii-chan, why're you back? Where's my manga?"
Wearing her orange hamster hoodie, Umaru put down her game console with a sigh, only to look up and see her brother already seated at his desk, hard at work.
Tahei glanced at his shut-in little sister and replied with a frown, "I ran into Sato on the way out. He was heading to the convenience store, so I asked him to grab it."
"Ohhh, I see!"
Umaru nodded in realization, then tensed up. "Wait, you didn't say it was for me, right?"
Rolling his eyes, Tahei said, "No."
Hearing that, Umaru's eyes sparkled, and she suddenly let out a mischievous giggle.
When Tahei heard that slightly "gross" laugh, he felt a chill run down his spine and shuddered.
"What're you scheming, Umaru?"
"Nothing, nothing!"
Umaru chuckled slyly, wiping imaginary drool from the corner of her mouth.
Really?
Tahei gave her a suspicious look but, not knowing what she was really thinking, went back to his work.
Heh… Sato's pretty easy to ask for favors, huh?
Then from now on, I'll just ask him to buy stuff for me… under my brother's name, of course.
…
The area around Aoyama Apartments was a residential zone, but there were three convenience stores within ten minutes on foot.
Sato walked into the one closest to his building. Just as he stepped inside, a voice greeted him, a voice that sounded very familiar.
"Welcome!"
Following the voice, Sato looked over and spotted a familiar face behind the counter.
His eyes widened in surprise.
"It's you?!"