Chapter 43: Power Generation Through Cutting
In the end, Shunsuke explained everything to Chitanda in a rather "diplomatic" manner.
By the time he finished, Chitanda's face was as red as a tomato.
Compared to Eriri, who only played the role of an upper-class lady, Eru Chitanda, whose family owned hundreds of years of farmland in the countryside, truly had the air of a refined young lady.
But despite her background, Chitanda was humble, often commuting by bicycle and maintaining an approachable, friendly demeanor in her daily interactions—a perfect lady, as if from a fairytale, leaving a certain someone far behind in elegance.
Meanwhile, Marin had finally found the picture she was looking for, one of the few "safe-for-work" images from the game.
"I do have common sense, you know. I'd never show that kind of picture to Chitanda-senpai," she said, a bit sulkily.
"Sorry for judging you unfairly…if you really think I'd say that, you're way too naive," Shunsuke retorted, grinning like a villain. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that someone who introduces risqué games to their upperclassman has 'common sense'? You're a riot."
Marin puffed her cheeks in frustration, but she couldn't exactly argue with him.
Still, no one was more shocked than Aiko Iwase. She was so stunned that she forgot to keep up her usual watchful demeanor. Abruptly standing up, she knocked her chair back. "Fujii-kun, you actually play those kinds of games!?"
"Uh…" Shunsuke hesitated, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I'm not sure what image you have of me, Iwase, but as a normal high school guy, well…sometimes a little 'power generation' is only natural."
"Power generation?" Chitanda and Iwase echoed, both looking utterly confused.
Under their innocent, bewildered gazes, Shunsuke felt the pressure mounting.
He looked to Marin for help, but she started whistling nonchalantly. He turned to Eriri, who looked away. Then he tried Koizumi and Mashiro, who had been silent this whole time.
"Mashiro, what are you writing in that notebook?"
"Writing down manga material," Mashiro replied without looking up, continuing to jot down notes.
With no help in sight, Shunsuke had to come up with his own explanation.
Trying to be as delicate as possible, he formed a fist with the four fingers of his right hand. "Power generation… get it?"
(Get It?)
Chitanda's face instantly flushed bright red, steam practically rising from her head, while Iwase, who was studying literature, still looked utterly lost.
However, seeing Chitanda's expression and piecing things together, Iwase finally figured it out.
"Pervert!"
"You were the ones who made me explain! And what's so perverted about it? It's just normal human behavior," Shunsuke muttered, feeling a bit wronged.
Iwase, still flustered, exclaimed, "It's normal to have those needs; I mean, why not just get a girlfriend or something instead? But Fujii-kun, why would you—"
Halfway through her sentence, she realized what she'd just blurted out in her excitement.
"..."
An awkward silence fell over the room.
With a loud bang, the current president of the Classic Literature Club fled her own territory in embarrassment.
"Wow, Iwase-senpai is bolder than she looks," Marin murmured. "I mean, she has that reserved look."
"Let's just make sure not to bring this up around her," Shunsuke suggested.
"I do have common sense, after all," Marin insisted.
Shunsuke and Marin made casual small talk to break the tension, though it didn't seem to help much.
"Well, Chitanda, we'll be heading out. Could you wait here until Iwase gets back?"
"Sure. Fujii-san, Sawamura-san, Shiina-san, Kitagawa-san, and…"
"She's Koizumi," Shunsuke added, introducing her.
"Yes, and Koizumi-san. See you all next time," Chitanda said, waving goodbye to each of them.
.....
Leaving the Classic Literature Club, Shunsuke originally planned to stop by the Service Club. But considering the current group with him, he figured Yukino would probably roll her eyes, leaving him with an extremely bad impression.
He wasn't worried about making a bad impression on Utaha, though. With his standing as; "Fujii-sensei," any current misunderstandings would eventually transform into a deeply ingrained positive impression. She wouldn't be able to escape it.
However, with Yukino, whom he'd never met before, Shunsuke wasn't about to risk it.
Right now, Miss Perfect was still in her "absolutely right" phase. Whether she was actually right or not was debatable, but her obstinance and self-assured superiority were top-notch.
If his image didn't flip later, he'd be in trouble.
Thinking this, Shunsuke decided it was time to head home. As for the group he was hosting…
"Eriri, aren't you going home?" Shunsuke asked her, feigning innocence despite knowing full well her intentions.
"Can't I pay a visit to Izumi-sensei?" Eriri's eyes narrowed, but she couldn't help glancing over at Koizumi.
"And Kitagawa-san, don't you need to let your family know?"
"No problem, I'm living alone right now," Marin replied cheerfully, perhaps missing the subtleties in Shunsuke's tone.
This was only their second real meeting, yet she'd effortlessly blended into their group, heading to a senior's house—something even Shunsuke found a bit fast.
The last blonde girl with similar… qualities who casually visited an upperclassman's place got herself invited to a death game, didn't she?
With the unexpected company, Shunsuke swung by a grocery store.
"Didn't expect you to be the domestic type," Marin said.
"And what kind of guy did you think I was?"
"Ummm," Marin thought, smirking. "Like a protagonist who goes after moms, daughters, and childhood friends all at once?"
"Eriri, what have you been telling her?!" Shunsuke exclaimed.
"Not that! She's coming up with that herself!" Eriri retorted, looking horrified.
"Please, Eriri-senpai, stand proud!" Marin beamed, patting her on the back. "I'm sure you have tons of fans like me!"
"Those kinds of fans I definitely don't need!"
As they debated, Shunsuke turned around, glancing about. "Mashiro, you—"
Wait. Where'd she go?
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