Huh? - 17
That crazy pedo!
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I thought as I left the Schale building.
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Our game of tag ended with a miraculous negotiation where Sensei offering to buy me a meal later.
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But didn't he already buy me a meal?
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Come to think of it, I'm not gaining anything from this.
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In that case, I'll make sure to eat somewhere really expensive later.
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...Though I can't eat much.
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Why do I always end up going home so late?
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The streets, covered in quiet darkness, are lined up without a single point of light.
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The darkness of the streets becomes even darker whenever the moon, the only light illuminating the streets, is hidden by clouds.
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It's just... I never really observed it closely before, but...
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Isn't this quite dangerous...?
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Realizing this, I start walking faster.
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I walked and walked and finally arrived home.
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"Huff... huff..."
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When I got home, I was breathing heavily, either from practically running or from being too tense.
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I unlocked the door and entered the house.
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Click-
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Turning on the lights, I see the scene inside the room.
It's a very reassuring sight.
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Whoosh-
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I hastily took off my clothes and changed into pajamas.
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"Uuuu..."
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After changing and stretching once, I lay down on the bed.
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Next to me is a cat doll.
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As always, it's fluffy, soft, and squishy.
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I hugged it and tried to sleep.
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30 minutes later,
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I still couldn't fall asleep.
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I can't... sleep...!
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My sleep schedule is completely ruined.
This is hopeless...
I have to have class with Sensei again tomorrow, and if I end up dozing off like today...
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"@%#^&%#!"
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Thinking about it again, it was a truly awful experience.
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How can every single action and word he says be so annoying?
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Thump-!
Thump-!
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Only the innocent blanket flew up and down.
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"Ugh..."
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I feel like I've been letting my guard down a lot lately.
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That Sensei... I can't let my guard down.
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If my vigilance keeps decreasing like this, eventually...
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-Nito, you're cute today too.
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-Hehe...
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Oh, crap.
That's crazy.
Just imagining it is horrifying.
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I'd rather volunteer for Gematria's biological experiments than end up like that.
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Isn't Sensei's bond rank system, which alters people's perceptions, basically a biological experiment anyway?
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The problem is that Sensei is a pedophile to begin with.
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Why does he keep teasing me?
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Is my reaction that amusing...?
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I've never heard that in my life.
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I hate that my image has become so childish lately.
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How did this happen...
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It's all because of Momotalk.
If it weren't for that damn system, this wouldn't have happened.
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Well, it's not...
Actually, I know the problem isn't the Momotalk system, it's me.
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I just don't want to admit it.
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Anyway, it's unfair.
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I only slept for 5 hours in the end.
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Even that much sleep wouldn't normally disrupt my life... but I guess this body is different.
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I seriously need to get my Halo checked for authenticity.
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I dragged my tired body to Schale.
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I absolutely must not fall asleep in front of Sensei today.
I made that resolution, although I can't guarantee I'll keep it.
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When I arrived at Schale after a long walk, Sensei was working.
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He started pretty early?
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"Oh, Nito. You're here?"
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"...Yes."
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"Did you get home okay yesterday?"
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"..."
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"Haha..."
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Sensei laughed awkwardly.
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You find it ridiculous too, don't you?
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After doing that last night.
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"Are you... tired again today?"
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Oh, was that not it?
Well, of course Sensei wouldn't have any tact.
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"A little..."
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"Okay... then take a rest! I'll try to finish work quickly today."
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"Okay..."
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An unexpected break time.
I had thought there might be some time to rest.
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I went into the lounge where Sensei couldn't see me.
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I see a coffee machine in the lounge.
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...Should I drink that?
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It might be good to get some caffeine to wake me up.
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Just a little... let's drink just a little.
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I made coffee.
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It came out pretty decent.
Is it because the machine is expensive?
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Sip-
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"Hot, hap, hueh..."
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It's hot...
And...
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"Cough, cough. Why is it so bitter!"
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It's incredibly bitter.
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Do they only have black coffee here?
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I'm awake now.
It definitely woke me up.
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"Ugh..."
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The aftertaste of the coffee lingers in my mouth.
I can still taste the bitterness.
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I used to be good at drinking bitter things...
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Sigh...
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Anyway, there's really nothing to do.
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Should I check Momotalk?
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There aren't any messages, but I can just send one first.
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For example,
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-Momoi
11:27 AM
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-Huh? Nito?
11:28 AM
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Right.
I figured you'd be free, Momoi.
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-I just texted because I was bored
11:28 AM
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-?
11:29 AM
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Momoi expressed everything with just that one question mark.
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As expected of a Millennium student (prospective)?
Very efficient.
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Isn't this pretty fun?
Should I try it with the president too?
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Buzz-!
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-I'm busy right now, please do it later!
11:31 AM
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...That's genuinely creepy.
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There's no one else to do it with...
These are the only two people registered.
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Looking at it like this... am I just a loner?
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That can't be...
I can confidently say my social skills are pretty good.
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Aside from the friend who sold me Blue Archive, I had plenty of friends.
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I haven't made any new close friends since becoming an adult, but isn't it fine to just hang out with my old friends?
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Ugh... so this is... Nito's problem.
It's definitely not my problem.
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Actually, thanks to me, Nito has one more friend on her list, so my social skills are practically proven.
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Yes, that's right.
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Knock knock-
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"Nito, is it okay if I come in?"
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What, is he done with work already?
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"Yes."
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Creak-
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"You're already done with work?"
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"Yeah. So let's start class soon."
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"Okay."
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How did he do that?
Was there less work today?
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"Yawn..."
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Don't tell me... he didn't sleep last night?
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"Teacher, I'm just asking just in case..."
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"Hmm? What is it?"
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"What time did you sleep yesterday...?"
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"Hmm... around 9 PM?"
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What, he slept early?
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He slept as soon as I left.
Then did he wake up and sleep at Schale?
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"You slept early?"
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"Huh? No, well... I slept for about an hour and a half this morning at 9 AM."
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?
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"An hour and a half...?"
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"Yeah, why?"
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I have a Halo, and I'm worse off than Sensei?
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I'm... below Sensei...?
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I felt a sense of emptiness as I prepared to listen to the lesson.
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The lesson started quickly, but the content didn't easily sink into my head.
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