Chapter 71: Convergence
I have always had a question in my head since a long time ago and now I would like to say them out loud. If someone is reading my thoughts, I would like you to take a moment to think of the answers. Don't rush through it or offer a generic response. Take your time. Even though I won't be getting any sort of answers anyway, it will be staying in my mind .
[How do you define a genius?]
Most of you might say a genius is someone who effortlessly solves complex problems or generates brilliant ideas—something along those lines. But is that truly what defines a genius?
Think about it. Lock in and use some juice in your brain to think about it, since I think none of you use that juice anyway.
The term 'genius' is often used loosely and subjectively. In reality, the world doesn't harbor true geniuses, at least not in the way we often imagine.
A true genius would have to conceive extraordinary strategies constantly, possess the knowledge of countless book, and recall every detail with perfect clarity. Is that even possible for a human being? From my point of view , I don't think so.
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"You're finally here…" Rentaro's deep , rough voice cut through the chatter as I approached the group. He towered over everyone, his height and rough appearance drawing attention, though not all of it welcome. The others were clustered together, and as expected, Rentaro was the center of attention. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight; his intimidating presence never failed to draw curious glances.
"Hey, what took you so long?!" Okabe called out, a teasing grin on his face. His easygoing nature made him the social butterfly of the group, always trying to keep things light. Honestly I appreciate it , don't wanna do the talking.
"Nothing much," I shrugged, brushing off his question. "So, where are those guys you were talking about, Mikage?"
Mikage, ever calm and composed, glanced at his phone, probably looking at the time, "They'll be here. Don't worry about it."
"But what if they're late?" Keitaro chimed in, his voice tinged with skepticism. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Unlike Okabe, he was less inclined to engage with others, especially when he didn't see the point.
"They won't be."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Just trust me," Mikage replied confidently. "I know they won't."
Keitaro's brow furrowed, the tension between them palpable. "They've only got a few minutes left. If they're not here by then, we're out."
Mikage and Keitaro started talking over each other, their tones heated enough to draw attention from passersby. It wasn't unusual—Mikage's steady calm often clashed with Keitaro's impatience. To an outsider, it would have looked like an argument, but those who knew them well enough understood this was just how they communicated—intense, but never malicious.
Rentaro crossed his arms, frustration evident in his tone. "But let me say this: if they start judging us based on those stupid rumors, I'm out. I'm sick of us getting blamed for things we didn't do."
Before anyone could respond, a girl from the other group—her voice smooth, yet slightly rough around the edges—spoke up, "How about we go to a karaoke and talk there? I think we might be attracting too much attention here."
Mikage nodded, relieved to diffuse the situation. "Yeah, let's do that."
With that, we all agreed and headed to the nearest karaoke bar.
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The room we booked was cozy but large enough to fit both groups comfortably. The table between us served as a boundary, a subtle reminder that despite this meeting, we were still separate entities. I noticed how easily a few members from both groups hit it off—Mikage with the quiet guy from their side, Okabe chatting animatedly with the lazy one, and mikage, laughing with Rentaro and the redhead.
Meanwhile, Keitaro sat directly across from Ren, the tension between them thicker than the air. Ren glanced at Keitaro, opening his mouth to speak, but Keitaro averted his gaze, the silence between them heavy, almost suffocating.
The girl from the other group broke the ice. "Alright, let me introduce everyone. Oh, and by the way, I've already told them all your names, so no need to repeat yourselves. But it seems Yorita hasn't mentioned these guys to you yet, has he?"
Mikage rubbed the back of his neck nervously, then cleared his throat to speak. "Well then, let's get started. This is Ming Chen," he pointed at a guy with mixed features, "This one is Yukimiya Namakemono. For your own safety, just call him Namak," he added with a smirk that made me raise an eyebrow. What kind of parents give their kid such a long name?
Mikage continued, "This is Wakaba Yuuki, our resident comedian," he said, nodding towards a guy who grinned widely. "And this is Tokusake Ren," he gestured toward the guy with striking red eyes, "Please, let us know what happened between you two so we can clear the air and start fresh."
I hesitated, the weight of expectation pressing down on me. Before I could respond, Mikage moved on. "And this is Tarazune Akeshi." The way he said it was so matter-of-fact, so simple, that it took a moment for the name to register.
The effect was instantaneous. Everyone's eyes, except Mikage's, and the guys from the other group, widened in disbelief. It felt like the ground had shifted beneath us. Tarazune Akeshi? The Tarazune Akeshi? No wonder Mikage hadn't mentioned anything earlier; he knew we might have been too intimidated to show up.
Akeshi seemed to notice our shocked expressions. "What's with those eyes? It looks like they're about to pop out of your heads."
Ming Chen smirked and chimed in, "Oh, and before you guys misunderstand, let me clear something up." He pointed to Akeshi. "This is a guy, not a girl. So don't think of him as 'her.' His name 'Akeshi' is quite rare."
Another wave of disbelief crashed over us, and the karaoke room erupted with voices dripping with shock.
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As the initial shock subsided, tarazune-san settled into his seat, eyes scanning the room as if gauging each person's reaction. The tension eased somewhat as conversation started to flow, albeit with some awkwardness.
Yukimiya leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, his eyes half-lidded as if he was perpetually on the verge of sleep. "So, what's the deal? we were here for a hangout right?"
Mikage nodded. "Yeah, that was the original idea. "
Wakaba, who had been relatively quiet, suddenly piped up, "As long as we get along and keep things light, I'm in. But if this turns into a pity party or some kind of detective shit, I'm out."
Tokusake, who had been observing the conversation closely, finally spoke. "Why in the world will this then into a pity party or detective stuff anyway?"
"Cuz the last time I was in this blind handout, it turned into pity party." wakaba said.
"I feel like I heard 'blind date' not 'blind handout ' first time hearing this kind of stuff."
"Its just my way if saying. There's no such shit like that."
While the two of them talked , tarazune-sans gaze shifted to me, and I felt the weight of his attention. His presence had a way of drawing people in, making you want to hear what he had to say next.
"I think it's clear we're all here for a reason," tarazune-san finally said, his voice calm but with an edge of authority. "You guys are anti-social, so are these guys. So we need to bond together to make sure we have some people to call friends who aren't classmates."
Everyone nodded their head , understanding what he just said. It was true if thought about it . Okabe is , yes , social butterfly but only in our class not outside of it. From the looks of it , they are classmates as well. So I suppose it was a good idea to bring people from another school and make friends with them.
I finally broke my silence, albeit reluctantly. "And if this doesn't work out?"
Akeshi looked directly at me, his gaze steady. "Then we try again. We aren't like water and oil , so no need to worry about it."
As the conversation continued, I noticed the lines between the two groups beginning deepen but it's only from my perspective , probably
All of them talked about various things which went from manga to novel to some parts of daily life. It was a nice atmosphere which seems to have slowly broke a part of the line that was in between us. But I know that it will take time. Because all of us are from whole different worlds.
Outside, the city buzzed with life, unaware of the pact being formed in a small, dimly lit karaoke room. Inside, a group of misfits were finding common ground, forming bonds that, if nurtured, could change the course of their lives.