Days slipped away quietly amid continuous training and studying.
In the blink of an eye, the weekend arrived, and tomorrow was Saturday. Shōgo invited Rina to watch a basketball game together.
Early in the morning, Shōgo, dressed in fresh casual clothes and wearing large sunglasses, left the house.
At the convenience store, he bought energy bars, chocolates, popcorn, and Rina's favorite lemon water, filling a big bag of snacks. He felt embarrassed as he left the store under the curious and strange looks he received from the pretty cashier.
In the city center, at the sports arena.
Rina, dressed in a white long dress, stood at the entrance of the sports arena, charming and alluring, yet with a hint of fierceness in her eyes.
The passersby couldn't help but cast curious and envious glances at the girl waiting at the entrance of the sports arena.
Wearing a casual white shirt and silver-gray hair, Shōgo quietly approached from behind Rina and spoke in a coarse voice.
"Miss, would you like to watch the game with me?"
"Sorry, I'm waiting for someone!"
The resolute refusal and distant meaning of the girl in front of him made Shōgo suddenly feel like he had gone too far.
He couldn't help but wonder, should he take care of this girl properly, or would teasing her bring divine retribution?
"Cough, cough, cough! Rina-chan, it's me."
The girl turned her head, looked at Shōgo with a smile, and her face bloomed with joy like a blossoming flower. A hint of shyness flashed briefly across her face before she regained her composure.
"Shōgo-kun, you're here."
The fresh and elegant Rina, untainted by the mundane world, instantly captured Shōgo's restless heart.
Without arrogance or coquetry, without heavy makeup, without playing the weak and helpless bird, she stood tall and had bright, clear eyes and white teeth.
"Rina-chan, you are my rose, you are my flower."
Shōgo spontaneously blurted out a slightly cheesy compliment, and instead of eliciting shyness from Rina, it brought forth a beaming smile.
As game time approached, Shōgo led Rina into the sports arena.
They found a convenient spot in the stands and took their seats.
Handing over some snacks from his other hand, Shōgo proudly said, "Here you go, all kinds of treats; chocolate, strawberries, and your favorite lemon water."
"Thank you, Shōgo-kun!"
The girl in front of him was beaming, emitting an air of pure joy.
The atmosphere was harmonious, their relationship was ambiguous, and everything felt great. This pleasant feeling made Shōgo slightly addicted.
Soon, the game began as the two of them licked their energy bars.
"Shōgo-kun, are both of these teams strong?"
"Well, they're decent. Kyoto University and Osaka University are both strong teams, ranked in the top eight nationally."
"I see. Shōgo-kun, which team do you support?"
"I support both."
"Why?"
"Because I don't have any favorites or dislikes."
In the stands, the questions and answers between the young boys and girls created a perfect ebb and flow of voices.
During halftime, Shōgo didn't forget his purpose.
He started talking to Rina, intentionally or unintentionally.
"Rina-chan, which team do you think is stronger?"
"I think Kyoto University in white uniforms is really strong, with an intimidating presence. Osaka University in green uniforms is also good; they seem like a cohesive unit, very united."
Shōgo didn't answer immediately. He lowered his head in thought, considering the strengths of the two teams from his perspective.
"Rina-chan, who do you think will win? If you guess right, I'll give you a prize, a small gift."
"Shōgo-kun?"
"Yes!"
"I think Kyoto University's number 11 is like a tiger, but the others are like sheep. And Osaka University's team is like a pack of wolves. I'll choose Osaka University to win, Shōgo-kun."
"Osaka University, huh? Alright, you guessed right. I'll give you a small gift. If you guessed wrong, you'd have to prepare a small gift for me."
"Okay, Shōgo-kun."
As they continued to watch the game, Shōgo's mind was spinning rapidly. His prediction for the game's outcome was the same as Rina's.
However, to verify something, he had to take the opposite side to test it.
While watching the game, Shōgo suddenly had a bright idea. He realized there was a question he wanted to ask Rina.
"Why did you describe the players of these two teams as a tiger, a wolf, and sheep, Rina-chan?"
Rina turned her head, gazing at Shōgo for a few seconds with a hint of shyness before turning away.
After a while, her soft voice reached Shōgo's ears.
"Shōgo-kun is like an ancient behemoth, insatiably voracious."
"A behemoth?"
Shōgo didn't reply, his gaze was fixed on the game. Yet, in his mind, he kept repeating: "Behemoth... Behemoth... Behemoth."
And at that moment, on Shōgo's virtual data panel, two special skills shone brightly.
Special Skill 1: Plunder
Skill Description: "Plunder" others' skills and transform them into your style and rhythm, causing opponents to unconsciously lose their rhythm, preventing them from using the same technique again.
Special Skill 2: Devour (Soul Fusion Advanced Skill)
Skill Description: "Devour" others' skills, converting them into your permanent abilities. Each instance of devouring requires the consumption of 1 Devouring Energy.
Was this description just a coincidence, or was it...
While his gaze remained on the game, Shōgo's peripheral vision was quietly assessing the enigmatic and beautiful girl before him.
Was this her talent?
Or was the sixth sense unique to women?
Was it Rina's special perception ability?
Could it be the rumored resurgence of the human sense of smell, evolved and revived?
Suddenly, Shōgo felt a tremor, a sensation like discovering an earth-shattering treasure.
Because just now, the final whistle of the game had already blown.
Osaka University triumphed over Kyoto University. Rina's prediction was accurate, earning her a small gift from Shōgo.
Looking at the girl before him, her eyes wide open and her small hand extended, wanting the gift, Shōgo felt the urge to escape. He reluctantly extended his large hand and patted her small hand.
"There you go, I owe you the gift. I'll give it to you when I'm ready."
Rina withdrew her hand and made a scissors gesture toward Shōgo.
The joy of victory overflowed and radiated from her.
Holding the girl's small hand, they walked out of the sports arena with the crowd. Shōgo remained silent throughout the journey, his thoughts wandering far away.