The story we started

[Speaking of this, Yukinoshita Yukino turned around and looked at the "gift" Zaimokuza had given her before. The pile of manuscripts was still pressing on the stone mask, and the black air emanating from it even pressed the mask underneath, which looked very evil, so that it seemed to be unable to breathe.]

[As if she had seen something dirty, Yukinoshita Yukino silently turned her head to look at the sunset outside the window and continued. ]

[“Yui, do you still remember how we evaluated each other at the beginning?”]

[“I’ve long forgotten it. After all, so many years have passed.”]

[“Really? But I still remember it. I’ve never forgotten it, so I also remember what happened afterwards.”]

[“That day, when we all thought that Zaimokuza would never be able to achieve his dream, someone encouraged him. It was that person’s encouragement that made him pursue his dream until now without giving up.”]

【"encourage……"】

[Long-lost memories were brought back by Yukinoshita Yukino's words, and Yuigahama Yui's expression suddenly froze. ]

[“What you said, is it…”]

[“Yeah, it’s just as you thought.”]

[Yukinoshita Yukino looked at the photo on the table. The dead fish eyes of Hikigaya Hachiman in the photo were exactly the same as she remembered, without any fading.]

[“When we all thought he couldn’t do it, it was Hikigaya who encouraged him and made Zaimokuza continue to pursue his dream.”]

[“Small business…”]

[Hearing this familiar name again, Yuigahama Yui couldn't help but put her palm on her heart, which was fuller than her friend's, and gently clenched her palm. ]

[“I’ve always thought that maybe at that time, Hikigaya-san had already seen something. After all, he has always been very good at seeing through people’s hearts and the nature of others.”]

[“When both of us denied Zaimokuza, Hikigaya might have seen some possibility in him, a possibility to achieve the dream he pursued, and saw his persistence and never giving up... and now, I understand his thoughts at that time a little bit.”]

【“——So, Yui.”】

[Speaking of this, Yukinoshita Yukino's voice became serious, with unquestionable trust and determination. ]

[“Please believe in Zaimokuza-san. Believe in the man I believe in now. Believe in the man Hikigaya-san believed in back then. Believe that Zaimokuza Yoshiki will definitely be able to fulfill his promise and protect everyone’s smiles.”]

【“——”】

[Yuigahama Yui doesn’t quite remember what Yukinoshita Yukino said afterwards. 】

[In the space that gradually became darker as the sun set, she put down her cell phone that had been disconnected, and stared blankly at the photo on the table in front of her, looking at the helpless Hikigaya Hachiman being hugged by Zaimokuza.]

[Yuigahama Yui looked at the familiar boy, and the emotions that had been buried in her heart for a long time gradually began to surge, with the same vivid colors as before, illuminating her memories. ]

[“Xiaoqi, at that time, you really had already…”]

[At this moment, the TV news channel that had been on nearby interrupted with an urgent news report, and the host's voice attracted Yui Higashihama's attention.]

【“——”】

[Listening to what the host said, Yuigahama Yui's pink eyes gradually widened. ]

[“Emergency news interruption. Unidentified life form No. 4 once again engaged in a fierce battle with No. 21 at the harbor near the Sumida River. Unlike the previous battle where it was completely crushed, this time No. 4 showed a new attitude and strength, and completely defeated No. 21 with an absolute advantage, winning the battle!”]

[“No. 4 has once again won the battle against its own kind. Why did it do this? Is it because—”]

[Yuigahama Yui stared at the news anchor's emotional report, and recalled what Yukinoshita Yukino said before, and what Zaimokuza said when he left.]

[——Please believe in Zaimokuza-san, believe in the him that I believe in now, believe in the him that Hikigaya-san believed in back then, believe that Zaimokuza Yoshiki will definitely be able to fulfill his promise and protect everyone's smiles. ]

【——Big husband! 】

[——As for me now, there is absolutely no problem.]

【Finally, Yuigahama Yui recalled a long-ago past. 】

[That was the question she asked to the boy who had not yet left her world when she was still in Sobu High School.]

[“Huh? You ask me why I encouraged that guy Zaimokuza?”]

[The dead-eyed boy who was drinking a 100% sweet strawberry drink with a straw turned his head to look at himself with a curious face and rolled his eyes.]

[“There’s no reason. I just think that guy might be able to do what he says.”]

56. Kousaka Kyousuke's Good Friday -in-

"Hachiman! So you trust me so much! My lifelong best friend!!!"

"This is so disgusting! I hate any contact with men, especially hugs! Stay away from me! Your snot! Your snot is all over my clothes! Ugh!"

Zaimokuza was so moved that he opened his arms with tears streaming down his face and wanted to give Hikigaya Hachiman a bear hug, but he was quick-witted and grabbed both of his hands and tried to push them away. However, a 100-jin lightweight could not beat a 200-jin heavyweight. Hikigaya Hachiman watched helplessly in despair as the fat man's tearful face in front of him got closer and closer, and the drooping snot kept getting closer and closer to Hikigaya's bloodshot eyes and shrinking pupils.

The next moment, shrill screams resounded throughout the health room. Hayato Hayama, who was standing next to the two men, turned his head away, unable to bear to watch. Facing the miserable sight of Hikigaya who was screaming under the pressure of a mountain and attacked by snot, the corners of his mouth kept twitching and he almost couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Well, how should I describe this scene? Um... the unique friendship between men?"

"Then this friendship is too tragic. I'm afraid Hikigaya-san will be traumatized forever by this."

Yukinoshita Yukino made a sharp complaint as she watched Hikigaya, who was pinned down by a two-hundred-pound mountain of flesh, stretch out an arm to her that was trembling constantly in request for help, but ultimately fell powerlessly to the floor of the infirmary.

"It feels like if this continues, Hikigaya-san will die at Zaimokuza-san's hands before we learn of his cause of death in the future through the video... huh?"

Speaking of this, Yukinoshita Yukino's heart moved, and the look in her eyes when she looked at the two of them immediately became different.

"Could it be... that this is how Hikigaya-san will die at Zaimokuza-san's hands in the future?"

"No, no, no, Yukinoshita, your idea is a bit too extreme. No matter what Zaimokuza says, he won't - no, maybe this is really possible..."

Seeing Hikigaya rolling his eyes and foaming at the mouth as he was pinned down by Zaimokuza, Hiratsuka Shizuka held her forehead in silence.

"Perhaps, should we remind Zaimokuza to be careful? Or should we ask Zaimokuza and Hikigaya to maintain an appropriate social distance? Or should we simply forbid them from meeting each other? Or--"

"...Teacher, if you keep saying 'still', Hikigaya-san will really die."

[Intensive Care Unit on the third floor, Kanto Medical University Hospital, downtown Tokyo.]

[The name "Zaimokuza Yoshiki" is written on the doorplate of the intensive care unit. ]

[“Hmm——”]

[Looking at Zaimokuza who was sleeping on the bed in front of him, Makishima Saori propped her chin with her fingers and murmured in a low voice, her glasses reflecting a strange light like a dead fish. ]

【"What's wrong with you again, Makishima?"】

[Kousaka Kyosuke next to him looked as if he was not surprised. He found that since he met her and Zaimokuza, his ability to withstand pressure and accept abnormal things has increased sharply. ]

[“How should I put it? It feels a bit out of place~”]

[Makishima Saori smacked her lips and said this.]

[“Inharmonious? Do you feel there is something wrong with Zaimokuza?”]

[“It’s none of his business, Kosaka-kun, look over there!”]

[Kousaka Kyousuke looked to the side following Makishima Saori's white and tender finger, and saw a clean and tidy hospital bed. That bed was exactly the one he had stayed in during his previous hospitalizations.]

【“What happened to the bed?”】

[“Think about it, you two always came to the hospital together and stayed in the same ward. This ward was almost occupied by you and Zaimokuza-san. You even used the same paper for the door number. But this time, only Zaimokuza-san came in. I’m a little uncomfortable with this~”]

[Hearing her regretful truth, Kousaka Kyosuke's face turned dark, and veins on his forehead throbbed like a crossroads.]

[“…You sound like you’re sorry that I didn’t come with you this time.”]

[“Yeah, after all, you look cute when you’re asleep, Kousaka-kun. I’ve made a lot of money just by selling photos of you sleeping. If you don’t come, I’ll lose a lot!”]

[Makishima Saori pouted and said, a top-notch queen making such an expression is extremely cute in contrast. If a man who doesn't know her saw her expression, he would probably be so cute that his face would bleed. ]

[But Kousaka Kyosuke didn't think she was cute at all. Instead, he felt creepy. Makishima Saori's words revealed a chilling message to him. ]

[“Wait! My photo? You sold the photo of me sleeping to someone else???”]

[“Oh.”]

【Realizing that she had let the cat out of the bag, Makishima Saori tilted her head and stuck out her tongue, then clenched her hands into fists and hit herself on the head.】

[“Hey, Kousaka-kun, what are you talking about? I don’t quite understand~”]

[“Don’t try to fool me with this trick. Tell me, who did you sell my photos to?!”]

【Kousaka Kyosuke was not fooled by her cute behavior. Knowing the bad nature of this woman, he held Makishima Saori's shoulder tightly with one hand and asked aggressively.】

[“Well, I didn’t sell it to anyone.”]

【Seeing that she couldn't fool people, Makishima Saori simply spoke out. 】

[“That is, your fans, Kosaka-kun, and some of your little fans, and——”]

[“Who else?”]

【Kousaka Kyosuke's eyes twitched because of her sudden pause, and a bad premonition surged from his heart.】

[“Well——just some special people!”]

【"Special people..."】

【Faced with Makishima Saori smiling and raising a finger as she said this, Kousaka Kyosuke muttered these four words with twitching eyes.】

[For some reason, he felt the hairs on his body stand up because of these words, especially his buttocks felt cold, just like sleeping at home without clothes or a blanket.]

[At the moment when he was stunned, Makishima Saori quietly slipped to the door, and Kousaka Kyosuke reacted and asked hurriedly. ]

[“Stop! Who are the special people? What else have you done besides this? Hey!”]

[“Oh, yeah, I have a few seriously ill patients to take care of right now, so I’ll be leaving now. Please stay with Mr. Zaimokuza.”]

【Makishima Saori smiled as she opened the door and walked out of the ward amidst Kousaka Kyosuke's shouts. Before leaving, she tilted her head back at a 45-degree angle and looked at Kousaka Kyosuke with a half-smile. Her long straight black hair almost fell to the ground because of her action, and her slender waist was bent in an arc that made people worry that it might break.】

[“Also, Kosaka-kun, I’ve reserved this ward for you. The fee will be halved when you come next time.”]

【Click! 】

[After saying this, she closed the door and ran away without waiting for Kousaka Kyosuke to answer.]

[Kosaka Kyosuke: "..."]

[Sooner or later I will press this woman on my legs and beat her butt until it is swollen! ]

[Secretly swearing in his heart, Kousaka Kyousuke turned his head to look at Zaimokuza who was lying unconscious on the bed, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. ]

[He only remembered this after Makishima Saori reminded him. Although he knew that such a thought was very unfair to Zaimokuza who had fainted after fighting until he was exhausted, Kousaka Kyousuke was sincerely glad that he did not come in with him this time. ]

[Sharing a dorm room with a white-haired male god sounds pretty good, but Kousaka Kyousuke, who has actually experienced it, knows what it feels like. It is definitely different from the romantic scene that many girls imagine: "You are sleeping under the moonlight, and I am counting your eyelashes until dawn."]

[Because when girls imagine themselves sleeping with their idols, they never imagine that they are snoring loudly, just like a chainsaw sawing a tree.]

[For them, geigei snoring while sleeping is absolutely impossible, just like fairies don’t need to go to the toilet, it is the absolute truth of this world. ]

[Therefore, they don’t know that sleeping with a male god is not necessarily a wonderful thing, and they may even want to kill the male god. ]

[“Hmph… That’s all. See you tomorrow, Zaimokuza.”]

[Kousaka Kyosuke rubbed his sore brows. He felt very tired after a whole day of investigation. He turned around and went out to rest at the Metropolitan Police Department.]

……

【Tokyo City, Metropolitan Police Department. 】

【08:45p.m】

[Kousaka Kyosuke returned to his desk and sat down, covering his face with his hands and exhaled deeply, as if he wanted to exhale all his fatigue.]

【"Um?"】

[Just as he was about to tidy up the documents on the table and return to the dormitory to rest, to gather his energy for tomorrow's press conference on Unconfirmed Lifeform No. 21 and a new round of search operations, a thick file bag on the table attracted Kousaka Kyousuke's attention. ]

【"This is?"】

[Kousaka Kyosuke reached out and picked up the file bag with doubt. When he saw the words "For Mr. Kosaka!" written on the front of the file bag and a thumbs-up emoticon attached at the back, he knew who had given it to him.]

[Kousaka Kyosuke curiously untied the drawstring of the file bag and reached out to pull out a thick stack of manuscript paper from the file bag.]

[“My Life as a Cowherd? The author is General Ashikaga Yoshiteru II?”]

[Looking at the title written on the cover of the manuscript, Kousaka Kyosuke was full of suspicion. What is this? ]

[Suddenly, he remembered a conversation between Zaimokuza and himself more than a month ago before he set out to expel No. 6.]

[——That's really hard~ By the way, Mr. Kosaka, if you can't sleep, why don't you read my new novel? This is a work I'm confident in! Maybe it can improve your sleep quality. ]

【--novel?】

[——That’s right! I’ll show you the manuscript when I get back. Mr. Kosaka, you’re the first reader of this work of mine!]

[——Thank you very much. I really want to find a book to read recently.]