Chapter 79: The Vain Girl and the Nonchalant Girl
Raika was someone who rarely showed her emotions. When it came to pinpointing when that started, she couldn't recall.
She remembered back in elementary school when a girl sitting in front of her turned around and asked, "Raika, don't you ever smile?"
At first, Raika didn't know how to respond, so she merely tilted her head, waiting for the other person's reaction.
However, the response she hoped for never came.
Instead, she faced the cruel remarks like, "Raika is so scary; I don't like being around her."
Whenever she encountered such blunt, childlike comments, Raika didn't let them affect her deeply; she simply accepted the situation with indifference.
From a young age, Raika had developed a habit of thinking through things methodically, which made her quite awkward in unexpected situations. Many times, she would stand there, lost in thought.
While others laughed, Raika would ponder why they were laughing, and gradually, the people around her began to dwindle.
Perhaps this was why her academic performance remained unaffected.
Although her teachers encouraged her to aim for higher-ranked universities, Raika ultimately chose Tama University, which was closer to home.
She believed that the time spent commuting and living independently was simply not worth it.
As for the reason involving Kaoruko, it was less relevant to her.
For Raika, there were more important issues to address than academics or career prospects.
—Why do people laugh?
This was a perplexing question, yet it held significant importance for her.
Entering the university campus with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, Raika was immediately disappointed.
Today, her aunt, who was also known as one of the three beauties of the academy, Kaoruko, had given her a task: observe Segawa Yuta.
This was her graduation project, which would determine how much help she could expect from her aunt and influence her evaluation at graduation.
So, Raika came here.
Raika and Yuta were acquaintances. Most new students in the academy had considered pursuing Raika after enrollment, but they all met with failure. However, some, like Yuta, hadn't given up.
Well, Yuta from before.
Yuta used to have a picture of Raika on his phone, but he had since replaced it with one of Hina.
Their relationship was that of casual acquaintances, but they still needed to exchange greetings.
Yuta smiled at Raika and said, "Raika-senpai, is there something you need?"
Raika looked at Yuta, trying to gauge his feelings and the reactions of those around him. Was he smiling out of happiness? It didn't seem like it. So, why was he smiling?
As Yuta stood in front of her, silent, he could clearly feel the eyes of the surrounding crowd fixed on them.
To Raika, who was lost in thought trying to figure out Yuta's intentions, it looked like she was deliberately making things difficult for him!
"Here we go again! Oda is definitely going to reject that guy!"
"What a shame! With her looks and figure, she doesn't know how to take advantage of it and just keeps doing strange things. Life is unfair!"
"Not only does she struggle to get along with guys, but she also has a hard time with girls. I feel scared talking to her!"
"Exactly! She clearly doesn't want to participate in mixers, yet she attends every time, ruining the atmosphere for the rest of us!"
"Damn it! I can't find a boyfriend because of her!"
Um… yeah… the others looked at the short, chubby guy with a face full of acne and wondered why he didn't reflect on his own issues.
While the girls were filled with jealousy and gossip, the boys were merely watching the spectacle unfold with amused expressions.
"Another clueless kid thinking he can chase after Oda Raika."
"He isn't even as good-looking as I am, yet he wants to pursue Oda Raika without considering his own appearance!"
"I think Oda Raika is just messing with this kid on purpose!"
"Oda Raika really is a weirdo; she always offends people. We're all classmates—why can't she just get along?"
"A social failure like her, no matter how good her grades are, will contribute nothing to society!"
"Heh, you can't say that. A woman, no matter what, can still bring a bit of vitality to society~"
"This guy seems like a pro; he must have a wealth of knowledge. Could I borrow a volume of your wisdom?"
"Of course! Whether it's Asuna or Cecilia, I have them all!"
"Wow, a seasoned expert! But who's Asuna?"
Nearby, one person sighed and explained to the confused young man, "He's definitely a pro, but in the world of anime; in reality, he's just a shut-in virgin, talking about fictional characters..."
"Damn it! I've been fooled! I have no interest in that stuff!"
Not far away, Sayoko was also watching the scene, keeping a close eye on Raika, the woman who outshone her in every aspect.
Upon seeing Yuta, Sayoko, like everyone else, assumed that this was just another one of Raika's pranks—she loved to engage in such strange antics.
Hmph! Just trying to attract attention!
Yuta had become somewhat accustomed to the stares of those around him.
He didn't pay much mind to the opinions of others. Seeing Raika deep in thought in front of him, he helplessly said, "Raika-senpai, would you like to walk home together?"
Raika turned to Yuta, noting the lack of a smile on his face. He must have something serious to discuss with her.
"Okay," she replied.
Yuta sighed with relief and stepped outside. Raika walked alongside him, her purpose now to learn more about the person he was.
"Together?" A boy next to Sayoko stared in shock at the two, unable to comprehend why a goddess he couldn't pursue was now being approached by an ordinary guy.
The others began to react as well. One person, disappointed, remarked, "It seems like Oda Raika sought him out. They look so natural together; their relationship must be something special..."
Some were skeptical, believing Raika was just toying with Yuta, but the majority felt there was indeed a significant connection between them.
As everyone continued discussing Raika, including those who had just surrounded Sayako to offer her gifts and invitations, Sayoko realized she was no longer the center of attention. The hottest topic in the academy was now Raika.
"Hmph!" After shooting a fierce glare in their direction, Sayoko stormed off, refusing to let anyone steal her spotlight!
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