Chapter 93- The reason of guilt

I was in the second grade of middle school when I got acquainted with a very beautiful but cold beauty named Kishimoto Rika.

She deemed me a friend since I was academically good and helped her with her weakest subject. We used to chat a lot in our leisure periods and also sometimes met outside the school. Library dates were common in those days but more than studies we never did anything.

Reason? She was dating someone.

He was a pretty easygoing and friendly person—someone that can be regarded as Protagonist material. He was the kind of person who himself could be in a pinch but wouldn't back off from helping someone.

A person in stark contrast to how my real self was.

Naturally, since Rika liked him, she would have hated the real self of mine that's why I wore a facade around her and waited for the right moment to lose my virginity to her.

That time came around the end of that year when Rika argued with her boyfriend because he went to help his childhood friend and missed Rika's birthday. Later, Rika received a picture from the same childhood friend of the two sharing the same bed or something.

Rika was devastated because of that and she asked me to stay with her a little longer.

I did as she said but in place of merely consoling her, I began manipulating the girl at her lowest. I tricked her into believing that to get revenge on her boyfriend, it would be best for Rika to cheat on him.

And the moment she lowered her guard, I lunged at her like a hungry wolf.

That was the last time I had a conversation with Rika since after that night she remained isolated most of the time and since I also felt a little bad, I also ignored her.

I don't know when things began to change for bad, but her depression consumed her and she attempted to kill herself, two months after she did it with me.

Maybe she got to know that the childhood friend of her boyfriend was just trying to create a misunderstanding and her boyfriend was innocent. Or maybe, it was Rika's personality that didn't allow her to live with the burden of betraying her boyfriend?

Regardless, after that incident, she never returned to school and slowly I forgot about her existence...more like I have been trying to forget about her but my guilt never subdued.

And now, witnessing the same girl sitting on the desk beside mine made me feel all sorts of emotions that I hadn't felt for a long time.

Her long silver hair was tied in a ponytail and her aquamarine eyes read the book quite intently. Although she has retained her beauty, the smile she flashed from the podium earlier was something new and concerning.

I can't focus on the class at all—I sighed.

Glancing at her, I decided to read her thoughts to discern her intentions. However, to my utter shock, something that had never happened before occurred,

[Name: Kishimoto K. Rika]

[Race: ???]

[Age: ???]

[Current thoughts: ???]

....

'...system?' Thoughtlessly I called out for my only savior,

[It seems the target of Appraisal is a higher being which the Host couldn't assess. Being on a higher power level and having a superior bloodline can cause this effect. And also, some specific artifacts.]

"..." I was disoriented.

Was she always a supernatural being or did she turn into one in these few years I wasn't around her? And what was her intention toward me? More like does she even remember me as 'Minoru' or was she merely addressing my presence before, since we both are supernatural?

I don't know...and being not fully in control of the situation was making me frustrated.

'If I try to alter her memory or pry in her mindscape....how certain my success rate is?'

[Considering the uncertainty of the target's race and the purity of Bloodline, the success rate lowers to twenty percent.]

... that's surprisingly high, to be honest. I was thinking she was completely out of my league or something. However, it seems, that if I play my cards right, I can get the answers I desire to hear.

*****

For the rest of the three periods, Rika didn't look at me nor spoke a word to me. Naturally, I also didn't go to her and said something like, 'Hey you remember, we fucked the other day?'

I wasn't stupid enough to grab a passing arrow and plunge it up my ass. If things are going flawlessly until now, then I better leave it at that.

'...haah...I just want to relax now...' Without realizing I have burdened myself with the thought of Rika since morning.

Since Akisu had some homework left which he needed to submit just after lunch, I headed out without him.

I didn't bother with the glances I was receiving today and went to the cafeteria.

'....damn, it's busy as ever...' I forgot that regardless of day or season, this place never remains peaceful.

The crowd of students pushing and pulling each other. Some guys taking advantage by groping the girls. The counter lady handling everything with ease...yes, it's a normal day.

I decided to use my Skill to navigate through the crowd like I did yesterday and get myself a salted bun...when suddenly someone tapped on my shoulder.

"Here. You can have this, Senpai."

The short green-haired girl stood there with a pretty smile on her face. Her dimples made her look adorable which ushered me to pinch her cheeks a bit.

"S-Senpai?"

I smiled at her reddening face before letting go of her soft cheeks and apologizing to her, "Sorry. Got carried away."

Taking out the money I had in my pocket I handed it to Satomi before taking the bun from her, "Thank you for this."

"...you don't have to pay me, you know?"

I raised my brows, "How can I let my junior spend on me when it should be the other way around?"

"But Senpai is also a student right?"

"Nope~I do a part time job at a restaurant as a waiter."

I lied...well not completely since I had already found a job at a resturant near the station and today is my interview. I want to earn some money so I can spend whatever I have in my bank account without worrying of getting suspected.

"That's so cool, Senpai!" Her eyes brightened as we walked out of the cafeteria.

It was strange but with her, I feel so relaxed, so comfortable....

...that I didn't even notice the prying gaze looking at us intently.

*******

A/N:- Hmm~ hmmm~