Chapter 171, Wang Ma, this time, your fate...
That happened some time ago, before the start of this semester, no, even before the start of the previous holiday.
At that time, it hadn't been long since Hyuga Hajime successfully acquired those memories from the future.
Back then, in the dormitory of the preparatory course, Tsukino and Chiya learned some stories about the future of this world from Hinata Hajime… especially about Enoshima Junko. Well, if you just listened to it as a story, it was quite exciting. But when this kind of thing actually reflects the original course of the future, it becomes less funny.
Although in the end, everything was still developing in a positive direction, it came at a great cost.
However, that's not the point.
The key point is that at that time, Tsukino, Chiya, and Hinata Hajime all knew one thing:
In that future, there was no Wangma Xiaoji.
Yes, they both knew it, but at the end of that conversation, Tsukino and Chiya still asked.
"Then...did you not see the existence of 'Ouma Kokichi' in the memories you gained yesterday?"
Hajime Hinata's answer was brief, but sufficient: "That's right."
Having confirmed this, Tsukino and Chiya didn't ask any further questions, and Hinata Hajime didn't say much either. Because what followed was about Tsukino and Chiya dealing with Ohma Kokichi.
Even if Hyuga Hajime might have used his talent to deduce some things related to Ohma Shokichi, he wasn't the kind of person who would tell others these things privately without Ohma Shokichi's permission. Tsukino and Chiya, on the other hand, preferred to hear Hyuga Hajime's speculations directly from Ohma Shokichi himself.
So afterwards... after successfully retrieving the arrows from the Tsurumori Shrine, Tsukino and Chiya encountered Ohma Kokichi, who had openly appeared in their dormitory room, and chose to ask him directly and bluntly.
"Wang Ma, could you explain in detail?"
"—About what happened before you and I met."
Ohma Kokichi seemed to have anticipated this... no, it should be said that he had. After all, Ohma knew that Hinata Hajime had gained memories of the future, so he naturally knew that Hinata Hajime would know that he didn't exist in that future.
However, asking Wang Ma Xiaoji such a question directly might be a direct interrogation of his secret... which seems a bit cruel to Wang Ma Xiaoji.
Even so, Tsukino and Chiya still asked that question.
"As expected, this kind of heartless, cold-hearted, and unwavering person... is Kazuo Kozuki."
The purple-haired boy sitting in the chair didn't seem offended by having his secrets exposed; he simply spoke with great interest.
"But... I don't dislike it."
After saying that, he seemed to deflate again, leaning back lazily in his chair. He casually changed the subject to the weather and said in a nonchalant tone, "Well, since Kozuki has asked to this extent... and given that I'm currently being held hostage in the enemy camp, it doesn't seem very wise for me to continue lying now."
Tsukino and Chiya: "But, Ohma came to my dorm by himself, didn't he?" And what's this about the enemy camp? Are they enemies? No, right?
Wangma Xiaoji: "Oh dear—don't worry about these details at a time like this... After all, I'm from another world, so it's normal that I don't understand the rules of your world, right?"
Tsukino and Chiya: "Putting aside the fact that this world is really that different from your original world, Ohma... actually, no matter where you are, Ohma, you don't seem like the kind of person who would obediently follow the rules."
Wang Ma Xiaoji: "That's so unfair! How could Xiaoyue Ye make such a false accusation? I'm the most obedient student in the class! Not only does our current teacher, Xue Ran, say I'm the most diligent and obedient person in the whole class, but it was the same before! In the school I attended before coming here, I was the most disciplined, honest, and easiest to bully among all the students!"
Tsukino and Chiya: "Um, that was indeed a misunderstanding on my part. I'm sorry, Ohma."
Wang Ma Xiaoji: "Hahaha, Xiaoyueye and Shijiye don't need to apologize. Because what we just said was all a lie!"
Tsukino and Chiya: "Really? Um, I didn't notice at all."
The atmosphere in the dormitory seemed unchanged. Tsukino and Chiya thought it was because Ouma Kichichi was still treating them with the same attitude he habitually displayed to others. The atmosphere of the upcoming conversation seemed to be entirely under Ouma Kichichi's control.
Tsukino and Chiya had no intention of breaking this control. And coincidentally, Ohma Shokichi also disliked an overly serious and boring atmosphere.
So even though they both knew that what was about to happen might be a heavy topic defined by worldly standards, they still talked as if they were having a casual chat.
"Could Ohma tell us the story of the original world?"
"Hehe, is Tsukino Kazuha very curious?"
"Things about another world...wouldn't anyone be curious about them?"
"So... you're willing to pay such a price to hear this kind of story?"
"that……"
Wangma Xiaoji eventually revealed his story from his original world, but not much. More precisely, he only recounted the cause of his own death and a vague recollection of encountering someone resembling Aurora. Therefore, when Aurora showed Tsukino and Chiya those past scenes… what happened there, at that Talented Prison Academy, was something Tsukino and Chiya had already heard about from Wangma Xiaoji.
So when he actually witnessed that scene, his emotions weren't as bad as Aurora had imagined. His perpetually expressionless face had one advantage: it made it easy for some people to imagine his true emotions. In fact, Tsukino and Chiya were indeed as calm as their expressions suggested in many situations.
Aurora wanted to take advantage of the chaos he had just witnessed, to persuade him to do things for her while he was in a state of confusion... She had a beautiful plan, but unfortunately, she miscalculated.
However, it would be impossible to say that he was completely unmoved when he saw that place.
The tears I shed back then were indeed...
Knowing how the story would unfold, seeing that scene still moved them... so when Tsukino and Chiya first heard about it from Ouma Kokichi, their feelings weren't very pleasant either.
After all, no one would be happy to hear someone they like casually recount their death story, right?
...Well, we can't be too certain. Maybe there are such people in this world, but that doesn't include Tsukino and Chiya. He's just an ordinary person.
Tsukino and Chiya were once very curious about Ohma Kokichi's past—and to be honest, he still is. After all, Ohma only told them the story that happened at that talent academy; many things about him remain a mystery.
Upon realizing that Ouma Kokichi truly came from another world, Tsukino and Chiya felt a sense of "I knew it." Shortly after taking in the purple-haired boy, they had tried to investigate his identity, but ultimately found nothing. They had also attempted to piece together the little conman's past using their own abilities, but unexpectedly, they learned that story from him first.
But what should he say after that? Words of comfort? For Ohma Kokichi, who has lived more than a year since his previous death, is that necessary? Is it too late? Or will it seem pale and powerless?
"Huh? What's Kozuki thinking about? Could she be really taking it seriously?"
While Tsukino and Chiya were momentarily speechless due to a lack of words, it was Ouma Kokichi, who had casually recounted his own death, who spoke up first with a grin.
The purple-haired boy jumped off the chair and leaned out to carefully observe Tsukino and Chiya's expressions: "Really? Tsukino and Chiya know perfectly well that I'm a liar."
"I believe you, Ohma." Tsukino and Chiya met those purple eyes and said earnestly, "I won't let you die."
"..."
"...Ah, I didn't expect Kozuki to say something like that. I just praised you for being heartless and cold-blooded not long ago?"
After an eerie silence, Wang Ma Xiaoji spoke in a voice that was somewhat doubtful but generally calm. He tilted his head slightly, seemingly genuinely puzzled.
"But Kazuha Kozuki clearly knows that such a guarantee is meaningless at a time like this. After all, Kazuha Kozuki can't predict the future, and who knows what will happen next? Even so, do you still want to say that?"
“Even so, I would still say that.” Tsukino and Chiya nodded. “Ohma was the same… Why did he make that choice back then?”
"...Oh dear—there's just no way to deal with it!"
The purple-haired boy stared at Tsukino and Chiya expressionlessly for a few seconds, then suddenly took a step back, and a smile returned to his face.
"Hehe, isn't it human that we do things that even we find inexplicable when we think about them? Ah... no, no, it still feels a bit strange to suddenly say this kind of line. Anyway, it's normal for me to do something impulsive again, right?"
"Kazuki, I know what you want to say. But let's talk about some things after this is over. After all, it wouldn't be good if we suddenly made some cheesy promises like 'we'll go back to our hometown and get married after this war' in this kind of situation!"
Tsukino and Chiya understood what Oma Kokichi was talking about.
He knew it... and Wangma Xiaoji knew it too.
"Then," Tsukino asked Chiya, "when that time comes, will you respond?"
"Kazuno Kazuya, this question is kind of like a flag being raised," Ohma Kokichi said, waving goodbye to Kazuya and Tsukino before leaving the dormitory. "So I won't answer. Bye-bye~"
...That's what happened in the dormitory that day.
And now.
Tsukino and Chiya stopped in their tracks, and he pushed open a door.
Wang Ma, what will your fate be this time? Or will you... be far from the end of your life, as everyone expects?
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