Chapter 257 Love Strategist Xiaowan 1
My relationship with Asao has undoubtedly deepened recently. I am very satisfied and happy about this change. However, I am not very willing to share the details with others, especially with No. 2 Xiaowan.
Just like how I lied to Asahi in the past, I also fabricated my motives for approaching Asahi in front of Little Bowl No. 2. Now that Little Bowl No. 2 knows that she has the ability to see through lies, I certainly can't continue to make up stories for her. But I also know very well that I can't avoid this topic. And she probably knew from the beginning that I had lied about that.
Of all the people I know, she's undoubtedly the one who understands Asao the most. Therefore, I'll likely encounter many situations in the future where I need to consult her regarding Asao. And when it comes to matters concerning the Void Realm, there are bound to be many areas where we'll need to collaborate with her. It's best to be open and honest with her now.
After a moment of preparation, I began my story from the time I last logged out of the virtual realm. I spoke of the unknown and unpredictable forces that coveted Asahi's life, my true needs for Asahi, and the results of my two "confessions" to her. Meanwhile, Little Bowl Number Two's body tensed with worry at times, showed surprise at others, and nodded with a relieved smile at still others.
Having just faced the direct threat of an unknown and unpredictable force not long ago, I now stand in this misty, dreamlike realm, recounting my experiences to this obediently listening young girl as if telling a story from the past. It seems I've become a little too relaxed. However, as I tell her this, I feel my heart gradually becoming peaceful. This secluded dream space seems to have shut out many of the troubles of the real world, allowing me to regain my tranquility.
Sometimes, she'd suddenly ask a few questions, some of which I hadn't even considered, or some I'd intended to gloss over. Sure enough, she's very sharp, and her questions are always spot-on. But I have my own bottom line; when it comes to questions like whether I hope for the apocalypse, I absolutely won't reveal my answer. At least not now.
Fortunately, she hadn't asked any questions in that direction. No matter how intelligent she was, having struggled to survive in a post-apocalyptic world, she probably wouldn't imagine that someone in peacetime would secretly hope for the end of the world. Whether one can see this depends less on intelligence and more on their thought process, or rather, whether their "wavering" is compatible.
After listening, the second bowl became very quiet, as if it was processing the information it had heard.
I carefully observed the changes in her attitude. Regardless, I had harbored ill intentions and deceived her and Asahi with lies. Even if the latter ultimately chose to accept it, it didn't mean she could accept it.
But judging from her reaction, she didn't seem to be hostile towards me at all; on the contrary, she seemed to be satisfied and happy.
"Don't you think I'm a bad person?" I probed.
"—A bad guy?"
She repeated it in confusion at first, then suddenly realized and said, "Of course, I think you're a bad guy, Mr. Number Three."
Actually, I was waiting for her to deny it. If she thought I was a bad person, how could she possibly show that kind of positive emotion? I didn't expect her to give this answer.
"Aren't you afraid that I, this scoundrel, might do something bad to your sister Asaho? You and she are not in the same era now, so even if you wanted to warn her or stop me, it would be too late," I asked.
She explained, “I don’t know exactly what moral values are like in peacetime, but, Mr. Number Three, in my time, discussing good and evil is a luxury. Asahi-nee seems to think it’s important, but I genuinely feel it’s insignificant. Of course, if Asahi-nee weren’t that kind of person, I wouldn’t be saved, so I wouldn’t offer her any opinions…”
"To get back to the point, even if you're a bad guy, you wouldn't hurt Asaha-neechan, right, Mr. Number Three?"
Without hesitation, I answered, "Of course."
“I can assure you that you mean it sincerely.” She nodded. “Besides, there’s another reason why I’m not worried that you might harm Asahi-neechan.”
"Do you mean your wish?" I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “When I was escaping the Great Demon of Disaster, my prayers were not only that Asaha go to a place where she wouldn’t encounter strange things, but also that she could meet someone who could accept her… I think that person is you, Mr. Number Three.”
Even after arriving in modern society, Asaha still inevitably attracted one extraordinary event after another. However, compared to the post-apocalyptic world, modern society is indeed a place where it is relatively difficult to encounter strange things, so the prayer of the second bowl was definitely effective.
As for me, although I believe my approach to Asaha was entirely of my own volition, I have no resistance whatsoever to the fact that this serendipitous connection contains an element of the pure prayer of this young girl before me. Isn't this wonderful? I even think so.
At the same time, I also firmly believe that only I can accept all the incomprehensible calamities brought by Asaho with a positive attitude, and only I can save Asaho's soul.
"If I had to say something, it's not that I have no opinions at all..." Little Bowl No. 2 suddenly became quiet.
"Do you have any opinions?" I asked.
"Well, what I mean is... Sister Asaho is still not even fourteen years old yet, Mr. Number Three, your advances are so intense, isn't it a bit...?" Her tone was very tactful. "Also, Mr. Number Three... isn't your expression of affection a bit frightening? I've read some old-fashioned literary works before, and there seems to be a word that's particularly suitable for describing a character like you who has an unusually heavy emotional attachment to the opposite sex and is ruthless in killing. Do you know what it is?"
I don't really want to know... that's what I thought to myself.
Actually, I didn't explicitly tell her about my feelings for Asaho, but it was impossible to hide it from her.
As she spoke, she seemed to have given in first, saying as if to herself, "No, is this really my fault...? When I was praying, did I unconsciously hope that Asahi-neechan would meet a prince charming?"
"Asahina's personality is also very awkward. She easily runs away from intimate relationships. If the other person's feelings aren't heavy or emotional, they might really let Asahina go... Mr. Number Three doesn't seem to be that old. If there's only a few years difference, he might not be so abnormal in ten or twenty years..."
"What are you saying?" I prompted.
She slowly raised her head, observed me for a while, and then said earnestly, "You can't do that kind of thing too early, Mr. Number Three."
I understood immediately and answered without hesitation, "I won't do it."
She added, "Even if you do it, remember to take precautions first."
What nonsense is this little girl spouting?
However, speaking of which, there's something I have to ask her. She's the person who knows Asahi best, and perhaps she can help me figure this out. Originally, I shouldn't be saying this to her, but now I have no choice.
"I have a question for you..." I asked very seriously, "Do you think it's possible that Asahi might like me?"
"Of course I like it?" she said, bewildered.
"I mean attraction to the opposite sex," I added.
She first looked puzzled, then lowered her head in thought, and then seemed to understand what I meant, saying, "In other words, Mr. Number Three, you like Asahi-nee as a member of the opposite sex, but you don't know if Asahi-nee likes you in the same way. Because there are many kinds of liking, Asahi-nee may lack romantic inclinations, or she may think that romance is too early for her, so even if she accepts and has strong feelings for you, it doesn't mean that she has romantic feelings for you."
"That's exactly right." I've decided to go all out.
Number Two Little Bowl said speechlessly, "Although I said those things to you before, Mr. Number Three, you actually have feelings for Asahi-neechan, and you even admitted it to me..."
"So you really think this is a very perverted thing?" I asked.
"I'd say he's a normal pervert..."
I really don't know what her criteria for judging perverts are. She continued, "In the past, Asahi-neechan and I have come into contact with other survivors. Some of them are mentally abnormal perverts who not only look at Asahi-neechan like that, but they even look at me like that... Just in case, let me ask you first, Mr. Number Three, you wouldn't look at me like that, would you?"
"Won't."
I first assured her, and then asked, "What was Ma's attitude when he encountered those perverts?"
Because I had explicitly hinted at my feelings for her, she might think I have a perverted hobby.
Judging from the fact that she blushed when I held her hand, she definitely perceived me as a member of the opposite sex. However, I'm not sure if she feels the same way about me. Actually, she initially reflexively tried to pull her hand away. Was that pull out of shyness or dislike?
“I despise them,” said Little Bowl No. 2. “Sister Mazao really hates men who like young girls, and she always looks down on me when she mentions them.”
This is really bad.
My bad thoughts intensified, and Little Bowl Number Two seemed to realize the seriousness of the problem, cautiously asking, "Mr. Number Three, has Sister Asaho ever shown you any dislike or resistance to physical contact?"
(End of this chapter)
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