Unspeakable bubbles

If we cause any more trouble, it would be a loss that outweighs the gain.

Yes, despite Misa Ohara's attempts to conceal it, she couldn't fool the shrewd old man, Nakamura.

Putting everything else aside, the fact that they only came to me after dragging this out for three whole days is enough to tell me something.

So, what should we do now?

Nakamura couldn't possibly delay his own plans just to solve her problem, but he couldn't completely ignore it either.

Should we seek help from other mysterious individuals?

Well, I'm already under pressure from the Seventh Ring Tower, and the people I usually associate with aren't exactly respectable.

Going after those guys will only cause trouble and won't do any good.

Should we seek help from the headquarters of Qihuan Tower?

It seems like a feasible solution.

But then, some people might laugh at me for not being able to take care of my own disciples... Well, that's a small matter.

The key point is that Misa Ohara's body couldn't have suddenly changed for no reason; the Seven Rings Tower must know the cause and effect.

She could come up with a plausible reason, but what about her?

Nakamura glanced at Misa Ohara silently. Could she keep her mouth shut and not say anything unnecessary?

Once trust is broken, it is difficult to repair. Nakamura was really worried that Misa Ohara would betray him in order to get better treatment.

This disciple knew perfectly well what kind of shady dealings he had done over the years.

Would those who always find fault with her not let this opportunity pass by? Could Misa Ohara resist the temptation?

As he pondered this, a murderous intent suddenly arose in Nakamura's heart.

Shall we take action?

Nakamura hesitated, not because of their relationship over the years, but because the consequences were quite serious.

She was, after all, someone in the mystical world, even if she was only a half-baked one.

But if someone dies suddenly and for no apparent reason, the Seven Rings Tower will not let them off easily.

There will definitely be special investigators going to this college.

The arrival of the investigators will disrupt my research.

After hesitating for a long time, Nakamura gave up his plan to kill her.

Seeing her mentor sitting there silently, Misa Ohara, unaware that she had just returned from the brink of death, asked anxiously, "Mentor, is there... is there any way?"

“…Misa, don’t worry too much,” Nakamura said in a calm voice.

(If this won't work and that won't work, there's only one way: stall.)

"This level of alienation is no challenge for me."

(But I don't have time.)

"Take some medication to suppress the symptoms first, and wait a few days."

(Just stall for a while and suppress the erosion until I break through...)

"I'll just perform a purification ritual for you."

(Once you break through, you can die.)

Chapter 56, Section 056: Farewell, My Friend

Outside Bubble's dormitory, two furtive figures were crouching.

Kimiko stared blankly at the scene inside through the crack in the door.

To explain why she and Naoe would do something like spying in a place like this... well, it all started two hours earlier.

"Come with me to Yuko's dorm in a bit," Naoe said to his roommate after receiving Yuko's order.

"Yuko's dorm room?" Kimiko looked at her hesitantly.

"Yes, I'll show you some good stuff."

'But I don't want to see anything good,' that's what Kimiko thought, but she didn't have the courage to say it out loud.

"Hehe," Naoe suddenly laughed as he looked at her.

"W-what's wrong?"

“You’re such a selfish guy,” Naoe said mockingly.

"Huh?" Kimiko didn't expect Naoe to say that.

“Selfish?” Her eyes were full of incomprehension.

"Yes."

Naoe nodded and said calmly, "I switched dorms with Bubble, so who is she with now?"

"Ikuko, right?"

“That’s right, it’s that Yuko.” Naoe said meaningfully.

Kimiko stood there for a while, then suddenly tried to rush out the door like a madwoman.

Naoe Akimoto reacted quickly and grabbed her: "Hey!"

"Let me go, I'm going to find Bubbles."

Kimiko looked anxious. She tried to shake off Naoe's hand, but Naoe suddenly stood in front of her again.

"Now you know you're in a hurry?"

"Get out of the way!" For once, Kimiko glared at the person in front of her with genuine anger.

"Calm down. What good will it do if you rush out? Do you want to fight Yuko by yourself?"

“Even so, I’m going!” Kimiko said firmly.

“…You can’t win alone. I’ll join you later.” Naoe said something astonishing.

"You?" Kimiko looked incredulous. "You'll help me?"

"I'm not helping you. You know about my relationship with Yu Zi, right? I won't let any opportunity to cause trouble for her slip by."

Naoe explained further, "Right now, we can't find anyone in the class who dares to defy her, so we can only make do with you."

Actually, there are many flaws in this statement; upon closer examination, one will discover the suspicious points.

She, Akimoto Naoe, had led so many people to a crushing defeat before, and now there are only two of them. Where does she get her confidence?

However, Kimiko is not a very clever person, and at this moment she was too hot-blooded to think about so many things.

"Okay, let's go together now!"

"I already said to wait a bit, there are some things we still need to figure out," Naoe said impatiently.

"Something's wrong?"

"Hmm," Naoe nodded and asked, "Has Bubble been behaving strangely lately?"

Kimiko thought for a moment and said, "No."

"Isn't that strange? He didn't change much when he was with that Yuko."

Naoe changed her tone: "So we need to observe first."

She paused, then said with amusement, "Maybe they'll unexpectedly become good friends."

"Impossible!" Even Naoe was startled by the sharp tone.

"Impossible, impossible, impossible!"

"I'm Bubble's only friend!"

Kimiko shook her head frantically, her voice trembling.

"You..." This scene was not within Naoe's expectations, and even Yuko probably did not expect that Bubbles held such an important place in Kimiko's heart.

"Maybe, I mean maybe."

"Impossible!"

It's impossible, it's clearly impossible.

Kimiko peeked through the crack in the door and watched as Yuko kindly tutored Bubble with her homework.

It's impossible. Before she knew it, tears were welling up in her eyes.

It's all an illusion; I'm your real friend.

"Oh my, that's really unexpected," Naoe said in a low voice, leaning close to her ear.

"However, it's not surprising when you think about it."

"She's the kind of person who's naturally likable. The reason you became friends with her is simply because Bubble just transferred to this school and wasn't familiar with anything, and she just happened to sit next to you."

As she spoke the vicious words that Yuko had taught her, Naoe felt a strange pleasure mixed with a dull ache in her heart.

I don't want to say this, but there's no way around it; it's part of the punishment.

I know I'm wrong, but... what's with this feeling of liberation?

Naoe's mind was in a mess, but that didn't stop her from continuing to vomit venom.

“Look, even Yuko is so kind to her.”

"Soon she'll have more friends, and Bubble won't need you anymore,"

"You are no longer of any use."

It's no use, it's no use, it's no use.

These three words kept echoing in Kimiko's mind, and her eyes suddenly lost their luster.

'I...I'm so useless.'