Everyone Has Talent. If Only We Could Realize It - Volume 1 Chapter 4.4

Confrontation

Beside me, she sat down at the leg press, positioning her legs on the plate, getting ready.

With the sound of the machine in the background, she began speaking, “It wasn’t a coincidence. I came here wanting to talk to you, Ikebukuro Rakuto.”

“Ah… about my sister?”

With the milestone of a million views, Shiika’s fame within the school had skyrocketed.

It wouldn’t be strange if some niche student group knew of me, her brother.

But it’s not like anyone would have business with me myself. Her aim was… perhaps a collaboration with Shiika?

To my question, she gave an unexpected response.

“No, not particularly. While I do find her talent remarkable… I’m quite intrigued by you.”

“Me?”

“Please, don’t be so wary. It’s not a pickup, I assure you.”

“…I’d appreciate it if you didn’t instantly see through me like that…”

Indeed, I was on guard.

A beautiful woman approaching me, who’s neither active nor particularly noticeable in this school, claiming to be intrigued… either she was mocking me, or she had malicious intentions towards Shiika. Even if I let my brain wander into the most optimistic territory, I could only think of a honey trap.

“Ever since I happened to see you around the school, I’ve wanted to speak with you. And now seemed like the perfect opportunity, so here I am.”

“Ah, well… I’m just a random NPC you could snag anywhere, but okay.”

“Is that true? The way you walk and carry yourself seems very refined to me.”

“…Just a slacker’s stroll, what’s it to you?”

“You practice martial arts, don’t you?”

“If by martial arts, you mean mimicking manga moves with a ‘bam, bam,’ then sure. Just an extension of a middle schooler’s training fantasies, pretty standard.”

“You look to be around 50kg, right?”

“Being able to guess that accurately is kind of scary, but yeah, about that.”

“It’s rare for someone at that weight to handle 200kg on the leg press.”

“…Really?”

“Really.”

I stopped my legs, which had been moving rhythmically until then.

I hadn’t compared myself to others since no one else was using the machine, but was it actually that heavy?

“Doesn’t seem like the strength of a shut-in, does it?”

“It’s precisely because I’m a shut-in, got nothing but time at home, I end up working out a lot. Ah, ahaha.”

“I see, that’s how it is… Hmm, huff…”

Behind her understanding tone, seductive breaths mixed in. The sight of her tight abs contracting was oddly stirring.

Don’t look, don’t pay attention, clear your mind. I reminded myself and refocused on moving my legs.

Unperturbed by my uncertain response, she continued speaking melodiously.

“Working as an actress, I’ve naturally developed the habit of observing people.”

“Huff, puff, huff…”

“People live their lives thinking about what parts of themselves to show or hide.”

“Huff, puff, heave…”

“It’s not just a matter of front and back, but a six-sided die. Or perhaps something even more complex─”

“Puff, huff, puff…”

“Though there are slight differences among individuals, most men tend to show a similar ‘face’ to me.”

“Huh, puff, huff, is that so?”

“They try to hide their ulterior motives while showing off what they believe are their most attractive qualities. Whether blatantly or subtly. That intention is clear to me.”

Her side of the conversation halted.

Drawn in, I glanced her way─ and instantly regretted it.

Because I found myself directly facing the transparent eyes of Kanda Io.

“You were the opposite.”

Smiling gently with those captivating eyes, she dismounted the leg press, sat back down, and wiped the sweat from her neck with a towel.

“Showing your ulterior motives while stubbornly hiding the fact you’re working out. You’ve piqued my curiosity.”

“Ah, well… You’re quite unique, aren’t you?”

“Thank you.”

“…No, I mean, isn’t that an odd thing to thank someone for?”

“Perhaps it means we each think the other is unique, so we can fill the gaps in our curiosities, I suppose.”

“That’s quite a leap in logic…”

“If I see you around the school, may I speak to you like this again?”

“Not too keen on drawing attention to myself.”

“Secret meetings are welcome, then. Understood, noted.”

A severe misunderstanding.

As I was baffled, I pondered what to do next.

It seemed she was keen on delving deeper, aware of my situation, making her a potentially risky acquaintance.

Yet, as the top talent of RyouRan High School, getting closer could undoubtedly benefit Shiika’s future and serve my immediate goals for collaboration.

There was only one answer, then.

“I’d be happy if you’d befriend not just me but my sister as well… uh, Kanda-senpai?”

“Io. Please call me by my first name. I’ll call you ‘Rakuto-san’ in return.”

“Isn’t calling a senior by their first name a bit too presumptuous?”

“No need for honorifics, either. After all, Rakuto-san, you’re the same age as me, right?”

“How do you even know that?”

Even classmates might not know that unless they had a particular interest.

Being thoroughly researched to that extent made me more fearful than grateful…

“This is part of the job.”

“Still feels a bit excessive…”

“─Let’s be friends, Rakuto-san.”

Cutting off my retort with a pure smile, Kanda-senpai─ no, Io stood up.

Resigned, I sighed deeply and said, “Alright… nice to meet you, Io.”

“Yes. Then, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be going ahead.”

Io left without losing her composure until the end. Watching her back, I resumed the leg press with a “click-clack.”

I pondered how to explain this encounter to Shiika and Akiha… and decided it was too much trouble to think about.

Ah, I’ll just mention it casually at the right time.