If Shikime Natsu were an ordinary person, he would probably feel guilty. No, rather, even if Shikime Natsu were an ordinary person, he wouldn't feel guilty.
Shikime Natsu felt that this matter had absolutely nothing to do with him; how did he suddenly become the ringleader of this trouble?
It seemed she was also a problem child. Hmm, Morishita Ai considered Shikime Natsu the culprit who prevented her from conducting her research, while Shikime Natsu considered the other party a problem child. It was a fair exchange.
"Have you been observing the ants all this time?"
Shikime Natsu spoke up to ask. Well, the number of problem children Shikime Natsu had come into contact with was already high enough, so he didn't mind one more. Besides, problem children could often trigger CGs.
"That's right. I've been here observing since seven o'clock this morning," Morishita Ai replied earnestly.
"If what you say is true, your observation of the stray ant hasn't been going on for that long, right?"
Ants move at any time. Even a snail would have moved a considerable distance in such a long time. If he remembered correctly, the time a stray ant would stay put absolutely wouldn't exceed five minutes.
"To treat the length of linear time as the sole standard for measuring the value of observation... Shikime Natsu, your mode of thinking is too simple. This is a typical layman's fallacy."
This was the first time Shikime Natsu had been looked down upon so lightly since coming to this school. Even Sakayanagi Arisu hadn't slighted him this much.
However, the most critical point was that Shikime Natsu really couldn't refute what Morishita Ai said. He felt that his communication with Morishita Ai seemed to be on the same channel, yet also seemed not to be.
Morishita Ai finally stopped lying on the ground. She stood up and rubbed her tender neck; it seemed that staying prone on the ground wasn't an easy task and was quite exhausting.
[Ding~]
[CG 28: The Observer (Morishita Ai)]
[I want to understand the person known as Shikime Natsu]
[Congratulations Host on obtaining Skill Card: Eye Instruments (Your eyes can serve as telescopes, magnifying glasses, microscopes, and all other auxiliary visual instruments)]
There was no smile on Morishita Ai's face either. She looked like a rather strict old scholar, her eyes gazing faintly at Shikime Natsu.
If not for the text beneath the CG, Shikime Natsu would have really thought that in Morishita Ai's heart, a living person like himself couldn't compare to an ant.
If he really couldn't compare to an ant, then that would truly be quite a failure.
"So, Shikime Natsu, do you have business with me?"
Morishita Ai patted the dust off her body. It had to be said, Morishita Ai was wearing quite decent clothes; they were rather dirt-resistant.
"How long have you been studying these ants?"
Shikime Natsu didn't answer immediately, but instead fired back a question.
"Shikime Natsu, this is my question time."
An ordinary person would probably answer Shikime Natsu's question first, but Morishita Ai was indeed no ordinary person.
"How about we have a contest? Let's see whose bond with the ants is stronger: yours, or mine and the an—"
Shikime Natsu decided to cut into the segment.
"Shikime Natsu, are you sick? Why would you have a bond with ants?"
...
Listening to Morishita Ai's rather flat words, Shikime Natsu felt insulted.
"Fine. Conversing with ants—can you do it?"
Shikime Natsu looked at Morishita Ai. Very good, he had finally met a worthy opponent.
"I cannot achieve dialogue, but I can listen to their voices," Morishita Ai said, her tone seeming to carry a hint of pride.
"I can."
Shikime Natsu looked at Morishita Ai's appearance and spoke slowly.
"You're lying to me?" Morishita Ai looked at Shikime Natsu, obviously distrustful.
"Want to see?"
Shikime Natsu looked at Morishita Ai, who was staying by his side, and smiled quite casually.
Morishita Ai nodded. In her view, Shikime Natsu was truly a god-man; she had learned of an unusual side to him. Hmm, he really was a rather complex figure.
Shikime Natsu squatted beside the ant colony.
"You, come here. Or I'll kill you."
Shikime Natsu extended his index finger and placed it next to one of the ants, about five centimeters away. This was to let Morishita Ai know that the ant wouldn't crawl onto his finger just because he was too close.
"I thought you were going to make ant sounds."
Morishita Ai squatted down beside Shikime Natsu in disappointment. Fortunately, the skirt she wore was long enough; otherwise, squatting like that would really risk a wardrobe malfunction.
Ant sounds? Good grief, no matter how amazing he was, he couldn't possibly produce ant sounds, right?
He had mastered language proficiency, which allowed for communication, not making those kinds of sounds. Hmm, language proficiency meant automatically translating what he said into words the other party could understand, and then translating the other party's words into something he could understand.
"You're overthinking it."
Shikime Natsu's gaze fell upon that ant.
"Woo woo woo, don't kill me!"
That ant crawled onto Shikime Natsu's index finger quite obediently.
"How about that?" Shikime Natsu looked at Morishita Ai as if showing off.
"Coincidence."
Although Morishita Ai was somewhat moved, she was still stubborn about it being a coincidence.
However... she looked at Shikime Natsu with some expectation. Could this guy really communicate with ants?
"Everyone, don't move. Otherwise..."
Shikime Natsu spoke to the ants before him, the threat in his tone quite obvious.
In the next instant, all the ants acted as if they were dead, completely motionless.
Seeing this, Morishita Ai finally thoroughly believed in Shikime Natsu's ability.
"Move."
Morishita Ai poked an ant closer to her with her slender index finger, but even though she touched it, the ant remained completely still.
"How did you do that?"
Morishita Ai turned her head to look at Shikime Natsu. Very good, man, you have caught my attention.
"Morishita-san, do you know why I am the class leader? It is precisely because I possess formidable talent."
Shikime Natsu was quite satisfied with Morishita Ai's little expression.
"I see." Morishita Ai nodded, agreeing with Shikime Natsu's words.
"So... Morishita-san, do you still think I am the culprit?"
"No, I don't think so at all, Sir!"
Morishita Ai gave Shikime Natsu a salute. Was she playing a role-playing game directly?
"That's good, Corporal Morishita."
Shikime Natsu was also quite willing to play this kind of game with her. At least his mood was pleasant, even if Morishita Ai's personality was a little bit eccentric.
"It's time to eat. Morishita-san, want to join me?"
He checked the time; it was already mealtime.
"Is Shikime Natsu planning to treat me to a meal?"
Morishita Ai stepped out of the role-play.
"Of course."
Shikime Natsu nodded.
"Is being this generous to gain my favor? Shikime Natsu, you have successfully done so. But don't worry, I won't order anything too expensive, because I am a woman who is gentle to wallets."
Morishita Ai spoke on her own accord.
Gentle to wallets? That was indeed very gentle.
___
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