Chapter 130: Inner Wavering
Early the next morning, sunlight spilled through the gaps in the leaves into the Class D camp, dappled light dancing on the ground like countless fine fragments of gold.
When Ibuki Mio crawled out of her tent, the camp was already bustling. Elsie was squatting by the campfire, holding several skewers of fish and flipping them back and forth as she grilled them. The fish skin hissed and crackled under the heat of the flames, releasing an enticing aroma. Her face was flushed red from the firelight, and she was humming an unknown little tune.
"You're awake? Come have breakfast quickly!" Elsie saw her and waved excitedly.
Ibuki walked over, took the grilled fish, and sat silently by the fire. Habitually, she scanned the camp—a reflex developed over years; whenever she arrived at a new place, she would first observe the environment and the distribution of personnel.
Ike Kanji and Sudo Ken were washing their faces by the distant stream, Hirata Yousuke sat alone in a corner lost in thought, and Horikita Suzune was studying today's route on a map. There were also several girls gathered around Katsuragi Keima.
Karuizawa Kei held a water bottle, extending it toward Katsuragi Keima: "Keima-kun, have some water. You've been playing games since you woke up; isn't your throat dry?"
Katsuragi Keima didn't even look up: "Thanks for the hard work. Just leave it there for now."
"Leave it where? You're surrounded by stuff," Karuizawa muttered, yet she still leaned over to place the water bottle in a spot where he could reach it easily.
Sakura Airi stood on the other side, holding a small bundle wrapped in leaves. Her face was slightly flushed, and her voice was as quiet as a mosquito: "Ke-Keima-kun, these are wild fruits I picked this morning... they're very sweet, please try some..."
Katsuragi Keima looked up, glanced at her, and took the bundle. "Thank you very much."
Sakura Airi's face turned even redder. She turned and walked away quickly, but after a few steps, she couldn't help but steal another look back. Sato Maya was more direct; she simply sat down next to Katsuragi Keima and rested her chin on her hands to watch him play.
"Keima-kun, are you going to teach me how to clear that level today? I tried so many times yesterday and couldn't pass."
"Which level?"
"The one where... where the character has to confess! I selected the options several times and got rejected every time!" Sato Maya said it matter-of-factly, completely unbothered by those nearby.
Ever since getting close to Katsuragi Keima, Sato Maya wanted to understand him deeper, so she had tried playing similar games. However, she hadn't managed to "capture" even one
character yet. Regardless of the character, Sato Maya would mindlessly launch a direct offensive, which instead made it easy to lower the character's affection.
Hearing her question, Katsuragi Keima instantly became serious: "You need enough affection points first."
"How do I raise them?"
"Send her things she likes."
"What does she like?"
"You didn't understand her at all before, did you? Food-wise, she likes oden and curry; in terms of colors, she likes purple; for animals, she prefers cats..." Katsuragi Keima rattled off information about the character as if reciting scripture, leaving Sato Maya momentarily stunned.
Ibuki Mio watched all of this from the side, forgetting to even eat her grilled fish. She noticed—
Karuizawa Kei claimed not to care, but when she placed the water bottle, she specifically chose a spot closest to Katsuragi Keima, and she didn't leave immediately; she stood there for two seconds to ensure he wouldn't knock it over. After delivering the fruit, Sakura Airi didn't return to her spot but sat not far away pretending to space out, though her eyes kept drifting toward Katsuragi Keima; she didn't even notice she was holding her book upside down.
As for Sato Maya, she was practically pressed up against Katsuragi Keima, her eyes shining as if she had seen the most attractive thing in the world.
And what about Katsuragi Keima? He played games the entire time. But he accepted the water, took the fruit, and answered the questions. He didn't refuse.
Ibuki recalled that in Class C, unless permitted, anyone who dared to get this close to Ryuen Kakeru would have been cursed out long ago. Let alone bringing water or food—Ryuen would only think you were brown-nosing and then order you around even more severely.
But here was different. These girls approached Katsuragi Keima not because they feared him, nor because they wanted some benefit from him. They just... wanted to be near him.
"What are you looking at?" Elsie's voice suddenly rang in her ear.
Ibuki snapped back to reality and found Elsie sitting next to her at some point, tilting her head to look at her.
"Nothing." She lowered her head and took a bite of the fish.
Elsie followed her gaze and saw Sato Maya leaning in to talk to Katsuragi Keima, a smile appearing on Elsie's face. "Maya really likes Kami-nii-sama."
Ibuki's movement faltered. "...It's obvious."
"It's not just Maya, you know," Elsie counted on her fingers. "Kei likes him, Airi likes him, Kikyo likes him, Suzune doesn't say it but she pays special attention to him, and then there's Haru, she actually has some good feelings too..."
"Who is Haru?"
"That's Hasebe-san! Though she doesn't come by often, every time she does, she stares at Kami-nii-sama for a long time."
Ibuki fell silent. This many? Isn't this guy just an ordinary gamer? Why could he attract so many people? And these people seemed... to have very good relationships? Ibuki simply couldn't understand it.
"Don't they... fight?"
Elsie blinked. "Fight? Why would they fight?"
"Because... they all like the same person."
Elsie thought for a bit. "Liking someone isn't a bad thing. Why would they fight?" She tilted her head in confusion. "Besides, Kami-nii-sama isn't an object that belongs to whoever grabs him first. He is his own person; he has his own thoughts."
Ibuki was stunned. She had never considered such a perspective. In Class C, every resource had to be fought for. Fighting for scores, fighting for points, fighting for Ryuen Kakeru's trust. Those who couldn't snatch it were destined to be trampled.
But here— "Then what about them? Do they just stay like this?"
Elsie tilted her head. "Isn't this good? Being able to stay by his side, talk to him, give him things. That makes them very happy." Elsie's face broke into a smile. "Liking someone doesn't necessarily mean you have to get something. If you can make him happy, you'll be happy too."
Ibuki didn't know what to say. This way of thinking was too foreign to her. Her first reaction was: isn't Katsuragi Keima just a scumbag maintaining ambiguous relationships with multiple girls? But looking at them, it felt different. In Katsuragi Keima, there wasn't that hypocrisy that Ibuki detested. Instead... he was very sincere?
Ibuki remembered her conversation with him last night; those words didn't sound like lies.
After breakfast, following a discussion between Horikita Suzune and Katsuragi Keima, tasks began to be assigned.
"Today we are going to the eastern spot. The distance is quite far and might take the whole day. Ibuki-san, come with us."
Ibuki nodded. After ten minutes of preparation, the team set off. Katsuragi Keima walked in front, still holding his handheld console. Ibuki followed beside him, while Elsie skipped along on the other side.
The paths in the jungle were difficult; vines and shrubs nearly blocked the way. Katsuragi Keima played his game as he walked, yet he managed to avoid obstacles with precision as if he had a map in his head. After walking for about half an hour, a stream appeared.
Katsuragi Keima stopped and put away his console. "Let's rest. The path will get harder after we cross the river."
The group began a short break, and Sakura Airi, Sato Maya, and the others immediately swarmed around him again, seemingly trying to establish their presence. Ibuki now understood why Katsuragi Keima was so cared for. It wasn't just his terrifying strength, but that powerful magnetism.
'This person... what is his deal?'
When the rest ended, the team continued. After crossing the river, the path indeed became more difficult. Horikita Suzune walked in the middle of the line, her expression still cold, but her gaze was also on Katsuragi Keima.
Ibuki suddenly remembered what Elsie said last night: "Suzune is cold but very responsible." Now it seemed "responsible" wasn't just toward the class, but toward him.
Another hour of walking finally brought them to the eastern spot. It was a small cave with a machine placed in front—the machine used for occupying spots. Ibuki didn't step forward; she just turned her head, facing away from them. She figured since Katsuragi Keima and the others already knew her identity, there was no need to invite a snub.
While the others entered the cave, Elsie quickly swiped the card. "Done."
Horikita Suzune handed over a map. "There's another spot nearby, right?" Originally the handbook only had a very rudimentary map, but under Katsuragi Keima's annotations, it had become very detailed.
Katsuragi Keima glanced at the map and pointed in a direction. "Over there. But we just occupied a spot; we can't occupy another for 8 hours. The primary goal right now is to scout the surroundings and check the status of other classes."
Horikita nodded, tucked away the map, and turned to arrange the return trip. Several students in the class voluntarily split into groups for different tasks. Ibuki stood to the side, taking it all in. She suddenly felt that the atmosphere of this class was truly strange.
Ryuen Kakeru ruled with violence, drove with fear, and bound with interest. No one would truly be kind to another, because sincerity was a luxury there, something to be mocked. But here—these girls were kind to Katsuragi Keima not to get something from him. Katsuragi Keima was kind to them not to use them. They simply... coexisted like this.
Simply. Naturally.
Ibuki remembered Elsie's words: "Say what you want to say, do what you want to do. Kami-nii-sama says that's called 'being yourself.'"
Being yourself. In Class C, no one could be themselves. Everyone was acting; everyone was faking. Acting for Ryuen, faking for other classmates. Afraid that if they accidentally exposed their true thoughts, they would be used, marginalized, or trampled.
She was the same. She had been acting too. Acting cold, acting like she didn't care, acting like nothing mattered. Even though she hated that behavior.
But here— "Ibuki-san?" Elsie's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Ibuki snapped out of it. "What is it?"
"You're spacing out again," Elsie tilted her head at her. "Are you thinking about Kami-nii-sama?"
Ibuki's face flushed instantly. "No! What nonsense are you saying?"
"You are~" Elsie said giggling. "Your face is all red."
Ibuki didn't want to talk anymore. Elsie laughed even harder. "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing. Let's go, it's time to head back."
By the time they returned to camp, it was almost dark. Katsuragi Keima sat under the large tree, continuing to play his game. Everything seemed normal, but Ibuki knew something had already changed. She sat by the campfire, watching the flickering flames. The day's scenes replayed in her mind.
"Mio-chan, why do you have a frowning face every day?" Elsie sat next to her again.
Ibuki looked at her, brow furrowed. "What did you just call me?"
"Best friends are supposed to use nicknames!"
"We aren't friends yet."
"Aw! What are you saying! We are friends!" Elsie's sheer innocence left Ibuki unsure how to respond for a moment.
After a sigh, Ibuki seemed to think of something and asked, "Elsie."
"Mhm?"
"What... do you think your brother is like as a person?"
Elsie blinked. "Kami-nii-sama is Kami-nii-sama."
"What does that mean?"
"It's just..." Elsie thought for a moment. "Following Kami-nii-sama makes me very happy. He teaches me to play games, helps me solve problems, and chats with me when I can't sleep." She smiled. "Even though he always calls me stupid, he never leaves me behind."
Ibuki fell silent, seemingly deep in thought.
On the other side, the game-playing Katsuragi Keima sat on the ground, brow furrowed, then suddenly put down his console.
"What's wrong? You actually stopped playing? Surely you aren't thinking of a strategy for the exam?" Horikita Suzune sat down beside him. She hadn't seen Katsuragi Keima with such a serious expression in a long time.
"I made a miscalculation."
"What?"
"The power bank provided by the school has too low an output! The capacity is also very low!" Katsuragi Keima's tone became somewhat agitated as he spoke. Only two days had passed, and the power bank's charge was almost gone. This meant he would have to spend points to buy more power banks.
"Hey, hey, you're playing games almost every waking second; how could it not drain power?!" Horikita Suzune was somewhat exasperated.
"It seems I have to conserve electricity... wait, I'll go ask Chabashira-sensei. Maybe there's a solution!"
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