Tokyo Psychic

Page 203

Misaki Miku didn't know where she got the courage, but she quickened her pace and followed behind Tsurumaki Kokoro, saying, "I don't like Shoko."

"Oh." Kokoro's expression was now close to disgust, and her tone in response to Misaki Miku was no longer as enthusiastic and positive as usual; it was just a very cold reply.

Misaki Miku clenched her fists. "I just... want to take revenge on the Toyokawa family."

Tsurumaki Shin completely ignored the first-year girl, walked up the stairs on her own, and disappeared from Misaki Miku's sight.

Miku Miku completely lost all her strength and slowly slumped to the ground, leaning against the wall.

Revenge? ... She chewed on the word, a complex bitterness appearing on her face.

As the illegitimate daughter of the current head of the family who is a son-in-law, and who has no bloodline in the Toyokawa family at all, what right does she have to approach that conglomerate that controls a huge amount of manpower and resources?

He couldn't even approach that dazzling girl normally, let alone try to "take revenge".

Misaki Miku understands better than anyone that it's a pipe dream for her to be able to be friends with Toyokawa Shoko normally.

Being able to communicate with her on social media, and not revealing her identity before I did that yesterday... this is already a result of the Toyokawa family giving me a break.

She simply didn't have the opportunity to meet Toyokawa Shoko unless she took the initiative to invite her.

Despite being unable to interact with each other as ordinary friends, Misaki Misaki has repeatedly fantasized about becoming "friends" with Toyokawa Shoko that are even closer than "ordinary."

Even though she knew that as a woman, she could never allow this to happen to her—the Toyokawa family would not agree, Xiangzi herself, with her normal values, would never accept it, and even her father, who had secretly helped her, would probably send her back to that artificial island without mercy after his shock and anger.

In that instant, the look of disgust that Shin Tsurumaki had just shown seemed to overlap on Toyokawa Shoko's face.

Miku covered her eyes in agony, trying desperately not to recall those details.

She couldn't understand why, knowing that doing so would have very serious consequences, she would still risk being punished by the Toyokawa family to do such a terrible thing.

Deliberately spreading rumors online to smear Toyokawa Shoko and Kurusu Akira...

Miku Miku clenched her fist, vaguely realizing that in that moment she seemed to have become distorted and unfamiliar.

It's too late.

It's too late to regret it now.

Miku Miku realized this, and a dark emotion began to spread in her heart.

She knew perfectly well that she was jealous of the boy named "Amamiya Ren".

She was jealous that he could stand beside Toyokawa Shoko, and at the same time hated that he, who already had Shoko, still got entangled with more girls.

But this jealousy was the one thing she couldn't face.

Miku Miku wants to escape this version of herself.

What if... what if I really did this because I wanted revenge against the Toyokawa family?

A terrifying thought flashed through Misaki Miku's mind, and her remaining rationality desperately tried to make her deny those plans that could destroy her current life.

But her world had long since consisted only of the girl who saved her in her childhood... Perhaps, if Akira Kurusu had been more devoted to Shoko Toyokawa and made her happier, she wouldn't have developed such unpleasant emotions.

He immediately recalled the question that Genjuro had asked earlier.

Do you like Ren Amamiya?

like?......

I hate Ren Amamiya, and I envy Ren Amamiya.

I was jealous and resentful that he possessed everything I could never have but didn't appreciate it.

Miku Miku clenched her fists, her lowered face contorted into a ferocious expression.

At this moment, countless dark emotions swelled up from the depths of his heart and quickly took over his thoughts.

Think about it carefully, Miku Miku in her triangle pose, what else can you do...?

She stood up unsteadily, slapped away the right hand offered by a senior student who approached with a worried expression, and moved with difficulty as if she were a walking corpse, heading out of the teaching building.

171. Discussing marriage (two parts combined)

The sweltering heat lingered between the telephone poles; the time before sunset was the most intense part of summer.

【PM4:11】

The private academy and its library are exquisite.

Jing Qinren lay listlessly on the table, with an open math test paper in front of her.

I just finished a PE class. Although the gym has air conditioning, I still couldn't help but sweat a bit. However, on the way back to the teaching building, my body temperature and the sunlight further enhanced the complex scent of laundry detergent, shower gel, and shampoo. The small amount of sweat had long been absorbed by my clothes, so it didn't smell sour at all. On the contrary, under the influence of puberty hormones, it smelled subtly pleasant.

It might sound strange, but if you associate this scent with the girl's fair skin and delicate features, it does indeed evoke a "cat-cuddling" feeling...

Even though they know that cats often groom themselves with saliva and like to climb walls and explore all sorts of dirty corners in the house, when a cat lies on the ground waving its limbs, making soft meows, and showing its soft belly to its owner, almost no human can resist the urge to lower their heads, bury their heads in its belly, and take a deep breath.

Akira Kurusu did indeed do that... It wasn't to the point of actually burying her head in Serina Izayoi's arms and breathing heavily; she simply sniffed the faint, peculiar fragrance emanating from Serina Izayoi's hair while helping her with her homework.

Leaving aside the various chemical components and even the psychological effects, let's summarize the subjective arguments here—

It smells really good.

Izuru Rina didn't seem to care that Akira Kurusu was sitting almost right next to her. Rather than saying she had no sense of distance, it would be more accurate to say that she had no sense of distance from Akira Kurusu.

Let alone the wariness and caution a teenage girl would have towards a man her own age... When she sensed Akira Kurusu approaching, Izare Jinna almost subconsciously shifted her position, trying to get closer to Akira Kurusu.

But in this way, she looks like she's completely nestled in Akira Kurusu's arms.

If you get any closer, then the only option left is to sit on Akira Kurusu's lap and do your homework.

A girl with short, black hair sat opposite the two of them. She was a third-year student at Shujin High School and currently the student council's disciplinary committee member. She was an upperclassman who had some contact with both of them. Her name was "Niijima Makoto".

Seeing them so blaspheming this sacred place of learning, Makoto Niijima was filled with rage and instinctively wanted to get up and stop them—but then she strangely began to reflect on her actions.

It's quite normal for young couples to date in the library... Every day during self-study periods, couples take advantage of the quiet atmosphere to flirt quietly here, so why am I reacting so strongly?

Makoto Niijima rubbed the knuckles of his right hand, which had unconsciously clenched into a fist.

After racking my brains for a while, I decided to leave this "place of trouble" as soon as possible.

Out of sight, out of mind.

So the disciplinary committee member picked up her study materials and quickly left the library.

As the door closed, Akira Kurusu subconsciously looked up in the direction Makoto Niijima had left.

Here we go again... this inexplicable sense of familiarity and closeness.

It was as if we had fought side by side in some distant, untraceable time and space.

The phantom thief played with Iori Rina's hair, casually explaining to her how to correct the mistakes on her test paper, but his thoughts gradually wandered.

The notebook of incorrect answers was quickly filled with a whole page. After tidying up the test paper, Izayoi borrowed a copy of Natsume Soseki's "I Am a Cat" from the bookshelf and slowly flipped through it while leaning on Kurusu Akira's shoulder.

The air conditioning in the library was very cold, and she was wearing short sleeves and shorts. Because she was slightly sweaty, she felt a chill that seemed to penetrate her skin and reach her internal organs.

Simply leaning against Kurashio wasn't enough for her. She tossed and turned several times, either curling up her legs in the chair or turning her back to the air conditioner... Finally, she gave up her slight reserve and lay on Kurashio's lap to start flipping through a book, which made her feel a little warmer.

The two spent a very quiet half hour before Xiujin was dismissed from school.

......

Akira Kurusu closed the book in her hand. "It's time to go to STARRY for training. We have a live show tonight."

Will everyone from 'MYGO' come too?

"Yes, we've agreed to practice together every day before the performance on the 27th."

"They don't even have keyboards."

"That's normal. Keyboardists have always been hard to find... The prerequisite for playing keyboards is being able to play the piano, and a significant portion of people who study 'classical' instruments like the piano don't really look down on unorthodox 'pop rock'."

"Amamiya knows so much!"

"This is actually Tao Xiang's nonsense after getting drunk, so its authenticity needs to be verified."

"I see..."

Jingqin Rencai took the book from Kurusu Akira and they went to the bookshelf to return it.

She wanted to hold onto Akira's sleeve, but Akira was wearing Xiujin's summer school uniform today, which is short-sleeved, so she could only hold Akira's hand.

"The band is really interesting."

"It's only been less than a month since our debut, right? Including yesterday's concert, that's a total of two live shows."

"Amamiya doesn't understand at all! Everyone needs each other on stage, and everyone's cooperation is indispensable. Then, we use this tacit understanding and dedication to create a performance that the audience loves..."

"You're not going to say something like 'using your singing to move the audience, and at the same time, move yourself and everyone in the band' next, are you?"

“Amamiya clearly understands!” Izayoi Nina said with a grin, linking arms with Kurusu Akira. “No wonder Akira always says things like ‘forever, forever.’ After all, forming a band is already incredibly difficult, and getting the ‘right people’ is even harder… This bond that was born in the band is definitely worth cherishing!”

Don't take the idea that you'll be in a band for life to heart.

"If we're in a band for life, can't we be best friends with Amamiya for life?"

"According to your logic, we should also break off our friendship when the band disbands."

"Wow! Don't say such scary things!" Izana bumped her forehead against Akira Kurusu's hand.

Akira Kurusu steadyed Serina Ii's head and gave the girl a heads-up, saying, "You'd better not make any promises like, 'I'm willing to do anything to keep the band from disbanding and to keep everyone as good friends.'"

"What do you mean by that?!"

"If you really want to make that promise, then you'd better watch out, or I might take advantage of you."

"Taking advantage of someone's vulnerability?" Jing Qinrencai looked completely bewildered.

Lai Xixiao gently kneaded her cold face, "For example, doing things that will make you a mess."

"H is forbidden!" Izana made an "X" sign with both hands, glaring angrily at the boy in front of her. "Don't make such vulgar jokes with girls!"

"I often make Subaru's body look messy."

"Ugh, this is so annoying! ...You two are in that kind of relationship, you can definitely do H things!!" Izana was so angry she almost screamed.

"What does Narencai think our relationship is?"

"Of course, best friends! ... Best friends shouldn't do lewd things!"

"What if we can't be good friends if we don't do H things?" Akira Kurusu successfully blew up Serina Izayoi's little head with just one sentence.

The girl's face was flushed, and her eyes were brimming with tears as she looked at Akira Kurusu. She was probably really caught in the difficult choice between "sacrificing her chastity" and "keeping her best friend."

It wasn't until Akira Kurusu, both amused and exasperated, slapped her forehead hard, saying, "What kind of image do I have in your heart? You actually want to consider something like this?"

“Even... even Amamiya is not allowed,” Izare Nina replied in a voice barely audible. In the midst of a fierce internal struggle, her rigid and strict upbringing ultimately prevailed.

Akira Kurusu stroked her soft hair. "After all, in Nina's mind, that kind of thing should only be done with her future husband, right?"

Jingqin Rencai nodded earnestly, then felt even more shy. "Don't talk about such strange topics!"

"After all, I'm curious about what kind of person Rina's future husband will be."

Jingqin Rencai stammered for a while, and only after she sat in the tram car did she put her arms around Laixi Xiao's shoulders and start counting on her fingers, "First of all, you have to be taller than me."

"If a guy is shorter than you, he's doomed for life."

"Oh no... don't interrupt me! It took me so long to muster up the courage!"

"Then continue," said Akira Kurishi, adopting an attitude of listening attentively.

With a blush, Jingqin Rencai muttered to herself, "And then, it would be best if he were a handsome guy... the more handsome the better! Hmm, it would be best if he didn't dye his hair, and it would be even better if he could wear glasses, as glasses would make him look more refined."

Is there anything else?

"Also, you need to be outstanding, with good academic performance, and secondly, good at sports. Of course, besides these, you also need to know how to play a musical instrument!"

"Ren Cai has so many requirements."

"Are you the one asking me about my 'future husband'?!"

So, is there anything else?

"Of course! I have very high standards! If it's a guy I like, he has to be very righteous!"

"..."

"Oh, right, I almost forgot the most important point!" Jingqin Rencai swung her porcelain-white legs, the front of her clean sneakers, wiped with a wet tissue, bumping against Kurusu Akira's ankle little by little.

She gave a longing yet shy smile.

"If only the guy I like could be a better listener, no matter what grand ambitions I make or what nonsense I suddenly ramble on about, he could be tolerant and understanding..."