Ch. 58: A Ridiculous World Without Tsukkomi 2

Previously…
Our Iori told a girl that she was cute….
It was so natural, a natural course of action…

The girl who was told this, named Hoshikawa Aoi, froze for a while, but Iori continued the conversation in a frighteningly natural way, and at the moment, the atmosphere was harmonious.

Iori, really, who did you admire…?

It had been an hour and a half since the two of them had entered the room.
Me and Yuka are facing each other, leaning against the wall.
Every time something happened, Yuika would react like she heard something shameful and rolling like a worm.

“S-Souta, what should we do…I’m tired from all the excitement. My HP is already at zero…I think I’m about to sink. I’m going to go to the item store and buy some emergency repairs…”

“If that would help you recover, I’d go get one too…Unfortunately, there are no prepaid cards here. That’s because the funds have been turned into a new comic book in Iori’s room. …See, the two of them are having a blast with that manga. You did a good thing, me…”

“Fu, although you missed out on a hug with me for that good deed…?”
“Please don’t tell me about the no bra hug, please, I still regret missing it, it’s really hard.”

I say languidly, tears welling up in my eyes.

“Anyway…and take it down a notch from here. If this keeps up, I’ll really lose my mind and body.”

Just as I said this, a new spark was thrown into the fire from behind the wall.

“‘Iori-kun, you have a lot of light novels as well as manga.’”
“‘Yeah, it’s all for boys, so Aoi probably won’t read much of it, but…’”
“‘No, that’s not true. Actually, I’ve read a series recently too.’”

“‘Eh, really? Do I know the title?’”
“‘Let’s see, it’s about a prison break in a fantasy world…It’s on the bookshelf there. Iori-kun said it was interesting with all the boys in the classroom.’”

Yuika’s and my eyes widened at the same time.
Blood rushed to my almost corpse-like body, and my whispering loud mode was reactivated.

“(Kyaa! Kyaa! The one where you want to know what the person you like likes, so you watch or read about it and get caught up in it. It’s a common occurrence in anime and manga! How nice, I wish I could do that just once!)”

“(Yes yes yes, it’s the kind of thing where you want to know what the person you like likes, and before you know it, you know more about them than they do. It’s a classic! But I don’t mind it! I’d like to try it at least once, wouldn’t you? Well, I’ve never seen anyone do it before!)”

We both breathed heavily on each other’s shoulders as our HP bars are drained.

“I’m going to die. If the item doesn’t work, call a medic…”
“A medic…it’s like in the movies those who called the medic get headshotted…”

As we were talking about this, Yuka suddenly mumbled, “Ah.”
I looked at the laptop on the table.

“It’s past time to refresh the exercises, but I forgot to check. Kanata, check it out.”
“A fleet game…No, you’re closer to the table than I am…”
“Kanata has more strength than me, right? Check it out. Do it!”
“Hey hey…”

I whipped my battered body into shape and moved on.
Thanks to the fact that I was far away from the lovey-dovey center of the next room, I calmed down a bit and looked at the screen of her laptop.

“There’s a six-ship submarine formation.”
“Ah, well, make sure you get an S-win with the sea defenders.”
“It’s more like a German destroyer. The next event takes place in Europe, right? And your level is still in the early 90s.”

“Ah, is that so? I thought I was already at max level…”
“I’ll mix in some Italian destroyers and put out a sonar set. Here we go. S victory.”
“Umu, hurry.”

After finishing the job, I returned to the wall.
Admiral Yuka tapped me on the shoulder and thanked me.

“It was a good job…Kanata knows a lot about that game, even though you doesn’t play it yourself. Usually, non-players don’t even know where the events take place, you know?”
“Ah, I look at the wiki during breaks at work. It became a habit before I knew it. It’s a habit. A habit.”

“Heh, weird habit.”
“Guess so. I think so too.”

We laughed at each other cheerfully as if we were in a scene from an anime.
Before I knew it, I’ve gained a mysterious habit, there are strange things in this world.

Now, when I pressed my ear against the wall again, they seemed to be talking about Iori’s favorite novel that they had mentioned earlier.

“‘Which character do you like, Aoi-chan?’”
“‘Well, I think I like the heroine of the dancer he met in the prison. The part where she dares to lie for the sake of the person she loves just made me in love with her.’”

“‘Ah, I understand. I feel the same way about lying for the sake of the person I love…I really sympathize with you…ahaha.
“‘H-Hang in there, Iori-kun. I’ll do my best too…’”

For some reason, Iori sighed, and for some reason, Hoshikawa Aoi encouraged him.

“‘Ah. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have sighed! I’m sorry, Aoi-chan. I’ll do my best.’”
“‘No, it’s okay. Let’s do our best together.’”
“‘Umm, let’s continue with the…story. Uh, well, let’s see…’”

At that moment, my sixth sense suddenly reacted.
With Iori’s current mood, this was not good. A feeling of inadequacy spread through my chest before logic.

But I still couldn’t catch up with my senses. What is it? What am I thinking that is wrong?

Then, Yuka quickly grabbed my arm.
I saw the look on her face and knew she felt the same way I did.

“(Yuika…? I see!)”
“(Souta…? That’s right)”

We both noticed it at the same time.
Iori’s current mood. This was the atmosphere when Yuika was spinning out of control and making a mess!

“(No! Iori, don’t talk! Take a beat and a deep breath…!)”
“(Don’t be so quick, Iori! Don’t be like your sister!)”

Our prayers were not answered, and Iori said in a cheerful voice.

“‘Uh, yeah, that’s right!’”

He was clearly trying too hard and spinning out of control, and with an attitude that he didn’t even realize it.

“‘There are a lot of erotic developments in this novel, which scene do you like, Aoi-chan?’”
“‘E-Ehhhh…!?’”

The girl’s confused voice rang out, and Yuka and I both looked up to the heavens with a, “Godd*mn”