What If You Spoil a High School Girl Who Looks Like a Landmine? - Volume 1 Chapter 4.7

Fight a monster with a monster 7

“Um, Chifuji-san, did something happen today? …Do you, um, have something to tell me?”

As I asked Chifuji-san this question, my heart was beating incredibly fast, not in a good excited way, but with intense tension.

“Yes? …Um.”

“…?”

It’s our usual Sunday outing.

We meet around ten, and now we’re having lunch together, but he’s been acting strange since the start.

He seems like he wants to say something to me but then stops himself.

Of course, he’s not doing it too overtly, but I’m the kind of girl who would plant listening devices in someone’s home, so my observational skills are probably sharper than most. So I noticed.

And… yes, a listening device.

“That…I’d appreciate it if you’d speak freely.”

Did he perhaps notice it?

He’s so kind; he’s probably struggling with how to broach the topic. It must be that.

Since the day I planted it and went to the park, I haven’t listened to it again, even once.

But that doesn’t mean it’s naturally forgiven.

What should I do?

No, It’s not about what to do; I’ve done something I shouldn’t have, in other words, I am ——”

“…Wow, did you see through me? How embarrassing.”

“No…that’s not it.”

“Um, Raihara-san… Ehm… This is hard to say, but… Do you have any questions about me…?”

“…What?”

What?

“No, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m being so self-conscious about this… The thing is…”

Chifuji-san explained, a bit bashfully, that the store manager, who is also his uncle, had advised him, ‘Why don’t you tell Raihara-san a bit more about yourself?’

He wanted to tell me, but couldn’t think of what to talk about.

…It wasn’t about the listening device.

“Well, I wasn’t sure what to share. The more I thought about it, the more confused I became. So, I wondered if maybe you could ask me something instead…”

Chifuji-san continued hesitantly in front of me, looking more and more embarrassed.

Then he continued,

“…The more I explain, the more embarrassing it becomes. I’m overly self-conscious and indecisive. …What do you think? I’ll answer anything.”

“Anything?”

I reacted strongly to that word.

Look at how shallow I am…

“Ah, yes.”

“Sorry, but… “

Anything?

Anything!

Anything…

Thoughts raced through my mind at an incredible speed.

A significant portion of them was painted in an unspeakable pink hue of lust, which I immediately shook off with vigor.

Calm down… Calm down.

After all——I had already given up.

Rather, a no-good woman like me shouldn’t be beside someone like Chifuji-san. So, I decided to lock away these feelings.

“Haha, I intend to answer anything, so if you have any questions, don’t hesitate.”

Even though I had decided that!

It felt like there were two of me inside.

Both were unmistakably me, but one of them was noisy…

‘What type of woman do you prefer?’

…Wouldn’t it be bad to ask that?!

Too direct? Isn’t that practically a confession? Or maybe not?

Maybe casually say, ‘Well… hehe, I’m curious about what type of person Chifuji-san prefers. You never talk about that kind of thing, so I’m curious!’

Oh, isn’t that good? This feels right!

Okay, maybe I’ll ask it——but if I let my guard down, my consciousness will drift to the shamefully sinful side of me and I
‘ll get carried away.

I shouldn’t say it, I mustn’t.

“…Ahaha, I guess you don’t have anything to ask me after all,”

No, no, no, no, it’s not like that!

I’m just silent, giving him the wrong impression!

I don’t want to make him think like that!

“No! Wait a moment! There’s a glitch in my personality!”

“G-glitch in your personality…?”

“…Future plans!”

The word that my rapidly thinking mind came up with was those words.

“Future plans! I’ve always wanted to know what Chifuji-san plans to do after high school graduation!”

“Ah, I see.”

Somewhat pressed by my mysterious insistence, Chifuji-san nodded his head.

It was a reasonable and interesting topic, yet also appropriate for high school students.

I believe I managed to come up with something decent on the spot.

Of course, I also did want to know about his future plans.

I’ve never discussed this with Chifuji-san before.

“By the way, I plan to go to university. I’m still a bit undecided about my top choice, though.”

“I see. There are many options when it comes to universities.”

“Yes. And Chifuji-san is…”

“I’m going to work.”

“Work?”

There’s no hierarchy between pursuing further studies and finding a job, and I don’t have any particular thoughts on that matter, but…

“Chifuji-san’s school is a college-prep school, right? I had the impression that not many choose that path.”

“Haha, it might not be common, it’s been many years since I’ve heard someone do that. Actually, my teachers have been advising me to reconsider for a long time… but I thought it might be better to start working soon and bring more money into the house.”

“I see…”

…It’s a topic I’m hesitant to delve into, probably due to family circumstances.

“Besides, no matter what I do, I feel I don’t have talent. I don’t think there’s enough potential growth in me to justify going to college. So, I feel it might be better to get a job and at least earn some money.”

“…Chifuji-san, you often say that, don’t you?”

“Yes?”

“That you don’t have talent in anything.”

Just as he needs to be ‘proper’, this sentiment occasionally escapes his lips.

“If there’s something I wanted to ask Chifuji-san, it’s that. I’ve always been curious. Why do you think that way?”

“…Why? …Hmm…”

Chifuji-san’s face seems to indicate he’s been caught off guard.

After freezing for a moment, he bows his head in thought.

“Well, it’s because… uh, just because… To be honest, I’m full of flaws.”

“…But you attend a college-prep school, you’re relied upon at your part-time job, and from what I’ve seen, you’re also good at sports, aren’t you?”

“Haha, I barely manage in my studies. At the part-time job, I’m simply the most experienced there, and as for sports, it’s nothing impressive. My physical strength isn’t particularly great either.”

Chifuji-san continues with a wry smile.

“In real life, I’ve always struggled with everything… haha, if there’s one thing I can be proud of, it’s that I’ve been lucky with the people I’ve met.”

“Lucky…with the people you’ve met?”

“At both school and my part-time job, everyone around me is kind. They don’t get mad at me and even flatter and praise me. I always think I’m fortunate.”

“…..”

…Somehow.

Isn’t it a bit strange?

What Chifuji-san is saying makes sense, but there seems to be something inherently skewed about that logic.

He’s strangely reluctant to recognize his own worth——no, that’s not it.

I feel like he’s already concluded that he’s worthless, and it’s as if he’s twisting all his perceptions to match that.

It may be humility that is typical of this person, but… can it really be called humility?

“At home, I’ve always been a burden to my mother. I’ve constantly caused trouble for my uncle as well. At the part-time job, I sometimes nag him about minor things, but still, he has always taken care of me. All things considered, I’ve only been on the receiving end.”

“…I, I see.”

“Yes…Ah, speaking of my uncle, it reminds me of something. Well, it’s not related to our current conversation.”

“Did something happen to the manager?”

“When we were talking about movies, for some reason, he said, ‘Tell Raihara-san about my favorite movie.’ I have no idea why.”

“…Um, what?”

“Haha, probably just one of his high-level jokes. He sometimes says weird things… by the way, the title he mentioned was unexpected.”

Now that he mentions it, being someone interested in movies, I’m curious.

“What was the title?”

“Oh, it’s not some hidden masterpiece. On the contrary, it’s super famous. It’s ‘Alien vs. Predator 1.’ “

“Ah, a renowned film.”

The clear stance of ‘Fight a monster with a monster!’ is immediately conveyed from the title.

It has the impression of being one of the pioneering films about monstrous confrontations.

“I didn’t think my uncle was the type to enjoy such flashy blockbusters, but maybe that’s just my own assumption. You never really know… Hmm, I wonder if his past girlfriends knew about it.”

“Haha, our impressions of someone can change a lot depending on who’s looking.”

I suddenly realized from my own words.

…That’s right, it might be the same for Chifuji-san.

What I’ve heard today is the story of himself from his perspective.

I wanted to hear about Chifuji-san from someone else’s perspective.

Because, no matter what, the image Chifuji-san paints of himself seems skewed.

And within that distortion, I feel there’s something crucial that shouldn’t be overlooked.

…Now, who should I ask?