"So, Daijin, why are you here?"
He finally finished that hard-to-swallow thing with coffee. This kind of compressed biscuit tends to cause bloating when eaten with water.
"...I like quiet, secluded places. In fact, this place is my recently discovered secret spot. But... why are you here?"
After spending a little time together, the two could now communicate normally. After all, before, they had only lacked a certain catalyst.
However, due to her personality, Daijin's tone sounded somewhat cold, but Kazuo was used to it.
After all, if you were to compare her to an animal, Daijin was like a cat-like girl, wasn't she?
"Should I say it was a coincidence? But I didn't know Daijin would like this kind of place."
Although one can try to interact with others, it still requires a gradual process.
Kazuo understood that this situation couldn't be rushed, so he patiently communicated with her.
"Well... the place I was resting earlier was taken by a kitten... so I had no choice but to move here."
She really is cat-like, isn't she? Kazuo couldn't help but think this, then spoke again: "Is that so? But Xiao Hai Wan should be happy to eat with you, right?"
After all, they're roommates and friends, aren't they?
However, when she heard Kazuo mention Xiao Hai Wan, she slightly turned her face away.
"Ah... how to put it, I'm not very good at dealing with her."
Kazuo tried to imagine the two of them together—
Hmm... seeing such a small Daijin walking in front, one would instinctively rush over and hug her.
She would also want to stick to the other person daily, especially for a girl like Daijin, who, to Xiao Hai Wan, looks like she could easily inspire protective instincts.
He could imagine how Xiao Hai Wan would treat her.
"Ah, I can imagine. Xiao Hai Wan really likes to dote on people... if you're not careful, she'll spoil you."
As someone who had experienced it firsthand, Kazuo felt he had a lot of say in this matter.
Hearing him say that, Daijin couldn't help but recall what had happened before and realized that this person in front of her seemed to have a very close relationship with her roommate.
"I wanted to ask earlier, what is your relationship with Xiao Hai Wan...?"
When Daijin said this, she herself felt as if it could easily lead to misunderstandings.
However, Kazuo didn't react much; he pondered for a moment, then nodded and said:
"Well... if I have to say, our relationship is indeed quite unusual, isn't it?"
Kazuo looked up and thought carefully. It had only been a little over three weeks since he came to school. It was already quite marvelous that he and Xiao Hai Wan could meet, let alone later becoming partners—
But his current relationship with Xiao Hai Wan was indeed a bit delicate. A temporary contract? A prospective Trainer?
Perhaps it was something like that?
Kazuo's words directly stunned Daijin.
"A very unusual relationship—"
How unusual? Thinking of their familiar way of interacting—
"Well, although we haven't fully become a team yet, we've made a verbal temporary contract. After all, I'm not qualified to be a Trainer yet. If I have to say, it's because Xiao Hai Wan chose me and wants me to be her Trainer, so I need to work even harder..."
Kazuo thought of Xiao Hai Wan's encouragement and support behind him, and how they could support and rely on each other in a foreign land.
Meeting Xiao Hai Wan was indeed a fortunate event in his life.
"Is, is that so...?"
Daijin let out a soft "oh," and she didn't even realize that when she heard their relationship wasn't what she had imagined, she genuinely felt a sense of relief in her heart.
However, she immediately sensed something was off.
"—Aren't you a Trainer?"
She had always thought Kazuo was a newly enrolled Trainer. Although he looked young, he was still a teacher.
It was only from what Kazuo said that Daijin couldn't help but feel surprised.
If he wasn't a Trainer, then why was this person helping her?
She couldn't help but recall everything she had seen in the computer room that day. This boy, who wasn't even considered a Trainer yet, was sifting through various materials for her, even finding the videotapes from her former school... What she knew from her mother was that the one who connected her with Teacher Shanlu was no one else but this teacher who looked only a few years older than herself... Could this really be done by just an ordinary person?
"Then you..."
"Hmm...?"
"No... nothing..."
Daijin mumbled softly and shook her head. If she said it out loud here, wouldn't it expose that she had been peeking from outside the door that day? No matter how Kazuo would react, she herself would definitely feel shy first.
"So, I'm currently preparing for the qualification exam in May. With that, I can officially be considered a Trainer..."
The streaky clouds in the clear blue sky looked so beautiful, and Kazuo couldn't help but exclaim.
Now, as long as he passed this hurdle, his career as a Trainer would officially begin, right?
Even a slight imagination couldn't help but make one look forward to the future.
"By the way, Daijin, have you found your Trainer yet?"
Since the topic came up, Kazuo first wanted to ask about Daijin's situation.
After the qualification assessment, Daijin should have perfectly displayed her talent and strength. Logically, many Trainers should have extended an olive branch to her.
At the mention of this, Daijin appeared very cold.
"Hmm... well, many people did find me... but I rejected them all. The people who used to belittle me, the people who advised me to give up, even if they come back now and invite me, it would only cause more unease, wouldn't it?"
Daijin was right; people are fickle, and many also choose to forget selectively.
However, as the person involved, she remembered all those who had once looked down on her.
It wasn't for revenge or anything; it was just that with every victory, she would display herself with the most brilliant smile.
This was the most powerful counterattack a competitor could make.
"I see. Indeed, if you can think that way, then that's great."
As long as Daijin wasn't bound by her past, Kazuo could rest assured.
Given Daijin's strength, Kazuo also had reason to believe she could carve out her own path.
Hearing Kazuo affirm her like this, Daijin's expression became a little unnatural.
Besides that factor, she actually had another reason for rejecting others.
It's just that if she were to bring up this matter first—
She absolutely couldn't do it.
So, seeing Kazuo affirm her, she subconsciously thought Kazuo would make some kind of gesture.
Just as her heart started to race.
The result—
"Well, with Daijin's strength, you'll definitely find the Trainer you like best."
Kazuo was clearly encouraging Daijin, but she seemed to turn completely gray, stiffening entirely in place, not moving a muscle.
In that moment, Narita Taishin stopped thinking.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.