nChapter 112: Smile

nTranslator: imperfectluck Editor: vb24

nShe wanted to have the light?

nWas she asking for his help?

nSeiji slowly put down his hands and looked at Shika once more.

n

"Didn’t I just say it? I’d like to help in any way I can, if I can be of service.

"

n

"…So you’ve agreed?

" Shika was still looking at him intently.

nHer tone of voice and gaze were both calm, but her beautiful eyes seemed to contain some deep emotions within them.

nSeiji looked directly at her.

nThis sounded like a perfectly ordinary confirmation question, but for some reason, Seiji felt Shika’s question… might not be ordinary at all.

nThis felt like Kyubey cutely asking if he wanted to sign a contract to become a magical girl… er, was this analogy a bad one?

nAt any rate, Seiji had the premonition that something big would happen if he promised her directly.

nBut so what?

n‘I’m the physical actualization of light, and light is fearless!’

n…Of course not! Why was his brain thinking such things!?

n‘Am I actually enjoying this!? Acting like an immature middle schooler with this girl I barely even know… No, stop thinking about this!’

nBut still, since she remained so calm throughout, he would seem like an idiot if he cared so much about appearances.

nSeiji smiled as he came to a conclusion.

n

"Yep, I promise. It could even be said that I came here especially for this reason.

" Seiji combed his hand through his hair in an attempt to look cool.

n

"Oh, lonely girl in the darkness, your summoning of the light has been heard by me. I shall bestow the light upon you!

"

nSeiji made the most pious expression he could manage as he reached his hand out to her.

nHe had activated his clown mode.

nIn this mode, Seiji was able to temporarily forgo all sense of embarrassment and double his mental resistance. It didn’t matter if he was acting like an immature middle school student or if he was being pretentious; he could do anything!

nNormally, he would only use this mode with close friends such as Chiaki and Mika.

nBut since he was already so embarrassed, he decided there was no harm in using this mode on the literature-loving girl named Shika Kagura!

nWould she be stunned in amazement or comment on it?

nNeither.

nShe continued to silently watch Seiji’s pretentious act.

nThis… was more damaging to Seiji’s psyche than either of the above options!

nHe felt an overwhelming urge to take his hand back.

nHowever, Shika’s hand rose in response.

nShe slowly extended her tiny hand as she moved her gaze towards his much larger hand.

nThere wasn’t much distance between the two swings they were sitting on. It would be easy for the two of them to touch each other.

nSeiji was a bit surprised at seeing this, but he cooperated and straightened his arm.

nShika Kagura’s tiny hand slowly edged closer.

nIn the quiet atmosphere, this scene seemed rather… formal, almost ritualistic.

nTheir hands were almost touching.

nSeiji waited for her.

nHowever, just as they were about to come into contact, Shika’s hand stopped moving.

n

"No… This won’t work…

"

nFor the first time, her face showed an expression other than calmness.

nEven though it wasn’t obvious, Seiji realized her expression was filled with a mixture of pain, sadness, and darkness.

nHe had witnessed a similar expression on Hoshi’s face a few days prior. He had no desire to see this type of expression around him again.

n

"You…

" Seiji furrowed his brows and prepared to speak.

n

"I cannot possess the light,

" Shika muttered to herself, retracting her hand and averting her gaze.

nShe then stood up and began walking out of the park.

nSeiji was stunned.

n

"Wait a moment!

" he called as he rose from the swing.

nShe was leaving just like this?

nWhat the heck? Why?

nShika’s steps didn’t slow down at all for him as she continued walking.

nSeiji chased after her.

n

"Wait up! You…

" He reached out his hand, wanting to stop her.

nShika turned around, avoiding his hand.

n

"Don’t touch me,

" she said expressionlessly.

nHer tone of voice was still calm; it contained no coldness, condescension, or any other emotions.

nSeiji finally noticed that… no, it should be said that he confirmed it.

nThis girl named Shika Kagura was abnormal.

nOr, she was in some sort of abnormal situation.

nShe wanted to ask for help.

nBut she didn’t dare to do so… or for some unknown reason, wasn’t able to do so.

nSeiji furrowed his brows deeply.

n

"Sorry, Seigo Harano.

"

nShe left only those calm words behind as she gradually walked off.

n

"I know it’s your choice whether or not to tell me anything,

" Seiji called out to her back.

"But if you don’t say anything, nobody will be able to help you.

"

nThe girl showed no signs of slowing down.

n

"Weren’t you actually waiting here for me!?

" Seiji raised his voice as he asked a question.

nThis time, her steps finally halted.

n

"You must have learned from Hoshi that I was working at the Divine Taste confectionery store. You even found out my work schedule and the path I would take home and waited for me here on purpose as you knew I’d pass by here after work!

"

nSeiji kept looking towards her back.

n

"Spending so much effort to meet with me and talk to me… you must have had something you wanted to say!

"

nShika merely stood there without turning around or continuing to walk.

n

"If you want to say something, then say it! I don’t have mind-reading powers, so I won’t know anything if you don’t tell me!

"

nNobody would be able to help someone who remained silent.

nSeiji started walking forward.

n

"Hoshi Amami… he seemed so similar to you at that time. But you did something better than him; you chose to ask for help of your own volition. But why did you give up at the very end? There was only one more step to go!

n

"Do you feel that I’m not as reliable as you imagined? You think I won’t be of any help? Of course, I’m no superhero, and I can’t promise that I can do anything, but you made such an effort to meet me, so at the very least… say something!

n

"Even if I can’t do anything, I can at least… listen to your problem.

"

nHe walked closer to her as he spoke; he was now mere inches away from her back.

nShe slowly turned around.

nSeiji widened his eyes in surprise when he saw her expression.

nShe was smiling.

nA faint smile bloomed across Shika Kagura’s exquisite, delicate face.

nThe dim streetlights granted this scene an indescribable beauty!

nHowever, it wasn’t only Shika’s beauty that left Seiji stunned.

nIt was her smile, which contained… numerous deep emotions!

nHer emotional smile was a huge contrast with her seemingly unshakeable calmness from earlier.

nThis was what struck awe into Seiji’s heart.

nAlthough it was such a short moment, he could detect sadness, helplessness, gentleness, and loneliness in her smile…

n

"Thank you.

"

nA soft voice weakly faded and dissolved into the night as if it were a bubble.

nHer expression subsequently returned to its typical calm state.

nShe turned around as she continued to leave.

nSeiji remained rooted to ground as he watched her leave.

nOnly when her figure was on the verge of disappearing into the night did he suddenly shout,

"I’ll come back here tomorrow! At the same time and place!

"

n‘If you want to ask for help, or tell me something, come,’ he said in his heart.

nThis was all that he could do.

n…

n

"Shika Kagura?

"

nHoshi was overjoyed at receiving a phone call from his senpai, but he was confused about the name his senpai asked him about.

n

"How do you know her, Senpai?

"

n

"What? She went to look for you!?

"

nHoshi was dumbfounded.

nThis… this was quite different from the girl that he knew.

nHis Harano-senpai continued to ask him about her on the phone.

n

"What type of person is she?

"

nHoshi returned to his senses as he contemplated the question.

n

"Hmm… I don’t know how to describe her… At any rate, in our Literature club… as well as in our class, she’s secretly called…

"

nSeiji’s eyebrows shot upwards as he heard Shika’s nickname from Hoshi.

n‘What the hell?’

n