Overloaded With Attributes Chapter 31

The Distant Girl 

Time has passed. It's the day after the entrance ceremony.

Wait, it hasn't passed at all!

I'm trudging along the same school route, which subjectively feels about three times as crowded as it was yesterday. They always build schools on hills. I know it's because they're designated evacuation shelters, but still.

It's not like anyone is talking to me, but the stares are coming from all 360 degrees, just clinging to me. To be honest, it's a little gross.

I get it. So this is the lewd gaze that girls with huge boobs are always talking about!

I tried to correct myself and just ended up being more vulgar.

Anyway, setting aside this morning's little drama.

I noticed this yesterday, but those people in black suits and sunglasses, the ones who look like Shouko-san's clones. They're GENE employees, right? There are even more of them today. They're my bodyguards, aren't they?

Honestly, it feels wrong to make them all move just for my selfish whims. Maybe I should just ask Shouko to drive me in the mornings.

"Yo, morning. You're earlier today." 

"Morning, Yuu. I was made to wake up about two hours early." 

"Two hours?! That's not early morning, that's the middle of the night! Is your house a temple? Are you in training? I like short hair, but a girl with a shaved head is less cute and more pitiful, so please don't."

 "I wouldn't shave my head!"

Just like the commute, the school is packed. From the shoe lockers to the classroom, it's just people. And when I got to my classroom, every single one of my classmates was already here.

What is this? Why am I surrounded by this uselessly well-trained group of girls?

It's a little weird, but part of me feels kind of warm.

I said hi to Atena, and then exchanged a look with Tiara-chan. I still don't get the logic, but for some reason, I have this mind-reading power that only works on her.

Next was Shizuka-san. Or so I thought.

Yesterday, she was staring a hole through me. Today, she hasn't looked at me once. In fact, she's just face-down on her desk, not moving. Ah, no. Wait.

I can just barely see her peeking at me from the gap between her arms and the desk.

Hmm. I'm curious, but I don't want to be too familiar. I'll just watch her for a bit.

It's only the second day, so no real classes. After homeroom, it was just school facility tours and Labyrinth Dept. orientation all morning.

In between, I chatted with Atena and Tiara, but Shizuka-san still hasn't come over. She's not even looking at me anymore.

Did I do something to make her hate me?

I mean, yeah, she's a little scary when she's in full-attack mode, but she's also a super beautiful girl, a distant-moonlight kind of presence.

"Haaa. I can't even see Shizuka-tan's face. My world is overcast." 

"Tan? What's with the tan? And I'm right here next to you. Isn't that a little rude?" 

"True, Atena. You're my..." 

"...Your...?" 

"...Sexy Comedy-Relief Sidekick." 

"...No, I'm not."

She seemed so happy at karaoke yesterday. I can't think of anything I did.

"Atena, about Shizuka-tan. Did you talk to her this morning?" 

"What kind of vague question is that? Hmm, no, not really. She's not really the proactive-social type, you know. But now that you mention it, she did look a little pale." 

"I see. Not feeling well. AH! I get it! Of course! It's that time of the month (lit: Girl's Day)!" 

"YUU?! You can't just yell that out loud!"

Wait. Was that weird?

No, wait. Thinking about it, that was pretty gross.

"Well, it's probably annoying to be bugged when you're not feeling well. I'll just leave her alone. And you, if your day is heavy, you tell me, okay?" 

"Like hell I will! No matter how close we are, no girl reports that to a boy!" 

"Yuugiri-kun. Unfortunately, your deduction is incorrect. Also, this is my cycle chart. Please use it."

O-OAH?!

She appeared from behind me without a sound. Wait, weren't you just sitting in front of me?!

"Akashi-san, handing that over is a little much," Atena said, cringing. "And why did you say use it? Not have it?" 

"Fufu. I have no secrets from him. Well, only a few."

No, please, have secrets. I'm an isekai-returnee, an alien. I'm nothing but secrets.

But still, Shizuka-san really has no energy today.

"A tame Shizuka-san is just a normal beautiful girl." 

"Th-Thank you..."

This is throwing me off. This is the girl who prostrated herself five seconds after meeting me! The super-pervert who tried to get a stranger to body-paint (write obscenities on) her!

And she just says "Thank you"? Is that even possible?

"Um, maybe, is something wrong? I mean, you seem like the type to solve all your own problems, but I can at least listen, if you want."

She paused, thinking.

"Yes. Yes, you're right. You are my destined person. We are one. A shared destiny. A cellular colony."

 "No, I just meant as a friend. I'm not sure about cellular colony." 

"Fufu. And to think I was trying to be considerate of you. Even if the world is my enemy, you are on my side, right? To try and hide this from you was how rude of me. I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking." 

"What exactly is Shizuka-tan planning to do? I'm pretty sure the enemy of the world is not my ally. And please, be considerate. Maintain a proper distance." 

"You see, it's about what happened when I got home yesterday—" 

"She's not listening to a word I'm saying!"

I mean, really. If Shizuka-tan wasn't a super beautiful girl...

Well, okay. If any girl who liked me was acting like this, I'd probably still welcome it.

And so, Shizuka-tan's confession time began.

Class? It's already after school. No problem...

No, wait. It is a half-day, but nobody's leaving. This classroom is way too crowded to talk.

"Right. Let's change locations."

And so, for the second day in a row, we went to the karaoke place. I have zero hesitation about using the payment I earned for my labor!

(I am kind of an annoying person.)

"Whoa, the lobby is packed today. What's... oh!"

I saw it. The photo from yesterday.

Except, it's been blown up into a life-sized panel.

Isn't that a little too fast?!

"Tenchou (Manager), Onee-chan! I'm home!" 

"Fwah?! O-O-Otouto-kun (Little Bro)?! I'm home?! Y-You you said I'm home... Uuu, a boy said I'm home to me...!"

The Onee-chan Manager, who was energetically at the counter again, just collapsed, crying.

Yep. Just as emotionally unstable as yesterday.

"Kashiwagi-sama, causing a scene at the entrance is dangerous. Please follow me, I will escort you to your room." 

"O-Okay. No, wait! Shouko-san, you don't work here, right?!"

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