NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 6: The Budding Phase
Hello Dear Readers.
Author here.
So, finally, here's the new chapter. It's pretty long, so I hope you guys enjoy. Make sure to give me powerstones and leave comments.
That's it.
Peace.
---
It's not every day you get to be part of the norm.
For some, it's a completely foreign concept. Being sheltered their entire lives, hidden from the eyes of the world, they never get to enjoy the simple things—school, friends, youth.
Source: Me.
And to be honest? Normal was boring. Especially school.
This was only my second day as a normal high school student in this world.
Everything about me—my name, my appearance, my life—had changed. But it wasn't just me. The entire world was different, a complete contrast to the one I once knew. I wouldn't lie and say I had gotten used to it. But at the very least, I had learned how to cope.
If I had died in my previous world, then maybe… just maybe, this was an opportunity. A chance to experience the things I never could before. Like finishing high school.
…Not that I particularly wanted to now.
"That's it for today, class. I expect you all to be good little boys and girls and finish your homework, alright?"
Kano-sensei winked, her flirtatious tone making the entire class collectively blush. A few guys were even drooling.
Ugh. Weirdos.
Lusting after an older woman never ends well.
Source: Also me.
"I don't like naughty students." She licked her lips, her voice taking on a sultry edge. This was yet another thing I couldn't get used to—a homeroom teacher who acted like a seductive temptress rather than an educator.
For some reason, a shiver ran down my spine.
…Wait.
Did she just look at me when she said that?
"Alright, now. You're free to go!"
The room erupted into cheers. Students scrambled to pack their bags, eager to escape. I was no exception—minus the enthusiasm. I had important things to do after all. Like lazing around, wasting time, and sleeping. My schedule was packed.
But, of course—
"Kido-kun, wait up!"
I barely made it two steps out the door before Kanzaki appeared beside me, flashing that same friendly smile.
What now?
Ever since that lunch with his group of friends, Kanzaki had latched onto me like an overly friendly parasite. For some reason, he was convinced that I was now part of their little circle. Delusional. Did you think I'd go through character development so soon? Dream on.
"You walk too fast, Kido-kun. I thought I lost you like yesterday."
That's because I want you to lose me.
Please don't tell me he wants to walk home together. It's a real possibility since all his friends are busy with their clubs—Hori and Nishina are in the art club, and Suzumori, his childhood sweetheart, is in the track team. That leaves Kanzaki all alone.
That's probably why he approached me—to walk home together like we're best buddies or something. No hate if that's your thing, but I'm not exactly looking for a bromance.
"…What's up?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I was just wondering if you lived around here. Maybe we could—"
"I'll pass."
"Huh? I didn't even say anything yet."
"Whatever it is, I'll pass."
I picked up the pace, but Kanzaki kept up effortlessly. Ugh. What are you, a baby chick? Did you imprint on me or something?
Where are you, Suzumori? Come collect your puppy.
"…I saw you dozing off in Kano-sensei's class."
I shot him a look. Why was he staring at me during class? That's stalker behaviour, you know.
"I wasn't dozing off. I was concentrating."
"It didn't look like it."
"Yeah, well, I just have that sort of face."
Still, he kept following me. This guy really couldn't read the room. Ugh. He reminded me a little too much of my old landlord—and I hated that guy. Even after dying and ending up in a whole new world, I still can't escape the memory of that stingy bastard.
"What's up with her, anyway?" I asked, hoping to change the subject. "Kano-sensei, I mean. What kind of teacher talks like that?"
Kanzaki chuckled nervously.
"She's… unique. But she's also pretty strict. I know a few guys who got on her bad side. She called them in alone afterwards, and let's just say… they never misbehaved again."
I frowned.
"…That doesn't sound right at all."
"Yeah, I know. That's why I'd advise you not to be naughty, as she puts it." He shuddered. "Honestly? She scares the crap out of me."
My eyebrow twitched.
What doesn't?
Still, his words gave me something to think about. This world was still new to me. These situations were foreign. But as long as I didn't stand out too much, I'd be fine.
It's not like she was going to suck the life out of me, right?
"Yeah, well, I'll keep that in mind."
Before Kanzaki could drag this conversation on any longer, my phone pinged. I pulled it out, brows raising at the message. Kanzaki peeked curiously but had the decency not to ask.
[ Greetings, Kido-kun. Hanamura Sumire here. ]
[ I'm sorry for the sudden message, but can we meet today? It's about the gift we talked about. ]
[ It's okay if you're too busy. I'll understand :3 ]
I sighed.
This was going to be a long day.
---
Hanamura Sumire was nervous.
She had never gone out with friends before—let alone with a boy her age. This was completely uncharted territory for her, but circumstances had left her with no choice. Kido-kun was her saviour, after all, and a genuinely good person who had offered to help her pick out a gift for her stepfather.
Since he was a guy, he probably had a better idea of what men liked, right? Never mind the age gap—something thoughtful and suited to her stepfather's tastes would surely make for a meaningful gift.
She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, her cheeks dusted pink.
"...I hope I don't look overdressed."
Her mother had picked out this outfit—a simple but elegant dress. Ever since Sumire had first met Kido-kun, her mother hadn't stopped teasing her. It hadn't even been that long since they'd met, and yet here she was, feeling an unfamiliar mix of excitement and nerves.
She was still new to all of this—
"Oh, you're here already."
A voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She jolted, looking up to find the familiar, frail-looking figure of Kido Yuuto standing in front of her. His expression, as always, was unreadable, his posture casual with his hands tucked into his pockets. The wrinkles in his shirt suggested he had barely put in any effort to get ready.
Still, he was here.
Sumire quickly composed herself, offering him a warm smile as she rose to her feet.
"Ah, yes. But I haven't been waiting long."
"Then it's fine. So, where to first?" He looked at her expectantly. "Any idea what our birthday boy might like?"
Sumire hesitated, furrowing her brows.
"Uhm... I honestly don't know. Stepfather likes to eat, so maybe some treats?"
"That's a pretty bad idea."
Sumire winced. So blunt!
"W-why do you say that?"
"A gift should be something memorable. If you just get him food, he'll enjoy it once, and that's it. It's basic—practically a formality. If you want to make an impression, you should get him something he can actually treasure."
He paused, before offering her a small, amused smile.
"How about something he use regularly?"
Sumire blinked. That... actually made sense. She had been so focused on just getting something that she hadn't thought about what would truly make him happy.
She pursed her lips, thinking.
"...Maybe some clothes?"
"Yup. That sounds like a good start."
Her hesitation melted away, replaced by newfound determination. Without thinking, she reached forward and grabbed Kido's hand, lacing her fingers around his wrist as she pulled him forward.
"Then it's decided! Follow me, Kido-kun—we're going to find the perfect gift!"
Kido blinked, momentarily surprised. Then, his lips curled into a faint smirk.
"I like your enthusiasm."
---
Fuck her enthusiasm.
My eyebrow twitched as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Behind me, Hanamura stood, eyes sparkling with excitement, her arms overloaded with various outfits. The shy, reserved girl I had met earlier was nowhere to be found. In her place was a child playing dress-up—except the unfortunate doll in question was me.
"Mhm, these clothes are nice... but they still don't have that oomph, Kido-kun. Let's try a few more!"
"...You've been saying that same shit for two hours now. What the hell do you even mean?"
I groaned, eyeing my reflection again. I was drowning in oversized clothes that looked like they belonged to a man twice my size. Probably because they were—Hanamura had picked them out based on her stepfather's measurements.
Why the hell did I have to be the test subject? I just wanted to go home.
"Ah, you're right." Hanamura blushed slightly, a guilty look crossing her face. Well, at least she realized she was being way too into this. "It's just... I'm trying to find something that fits my stepfather's style. I'm really sorry for making you do this, Kido-kun, but I thought maybe I could find inspiration through you."
...I still don't get it.
With a sigh, I pulled off the muffler. It was too damn hot to be wearing this. Honestly, why were these even still on sale?
"...Ugh, whatever. Just give me the next batch. Let's get this over with."
Hanamura blinked, then beamed.
"Yes! Please try these on, Kido-kun!"
I barely had time to brace myself before she shoved another pile of clothes into my arms. So heavy.
I glanced around as I headed back into the changing room. A few female staff members giggled, clearly entertained by my suffering. Meanwhile, the male staff looked... displeased. What was their deal?
Shaking my head, I shut the door and started changing.
I was never the type to care about fashion. Even in my past life, I wore whatever I could find, and Kido Yuuto had apparently lived the same way. Not exactly something to be proud of, but whatever. Even today, I have thrown on whatever was closest in my closet.
Hanamura, on the other hand, looked effortlessly good in anything. Cute dress? Check. Probably could make a trash bag look stylish? Also, check. Must be nice.
I adjusted the sleeves of the new outfit and examined myself in the mirror.
"They're still too loose."
Seriously, was her stepfather a bear? Did they even make XL in this size?
But… aside from the poor fit, the clothes weren't bad. Not too flashy, not too plain. Even someone as unremarkable as Kido Yuuto looked a little more put-together in them.
A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
"Are you done, Kido-kun?"
"Yeah, just a sec."
I opened the door to find Hanamura staring at me. Her eyes trailed up and down, and for a moment, I felt weirdly self-conscious.
"...So? How is it?"
She didn't answer right away.
"Hanamura-san?"
"...Wait a moment, Kido-kun."
Without further explanation, she spun on her heel and marched off.
I sighed. Not these either, huh?
"Hmm, your girlfriend seems to like those."
I turned to find a female staff member standing nearby, grinning like a schoolgirl. "Ah, young love. Makes me feel so old."
What the hell was she on about? Did she seriously think we were a couple? I mean, it wasn't a crazy assumption, but she couldn't be more wrong.
Besides, I doubted I'd even see Hanamura again after today. Some connections fizzle out before they even have a chance to form. This one seemed like it would be no different.
Before I could reply, Hanamura returned, holding another set of clothes.
"Kido-kun, try these."
I glanced down. They looked exactly like what I was already wearing—except they were actually my size.
I raised a brow at her. "...Okay?"
"Yup. Please don't take long. I'll wait."
With a shrug, I went back inside to change. As expected, these fit way better. When I stepped out, Hanamura's gaze swept over me again, her lips curling into a bright smile.
She turned to the staff. "We'll take these!"
"Huh?"
---
"Thanks for coming! Please visit again!"
We finally stepped out of the clothing store after what felt like an eternity—technically two and a half hours, but my exhausted body insisted it had been much longer. I glanced at Hanamura, who was practically glowing with satisfaction, her earlier nervousness completely gone. At least one of us had enjoyed this.
In my right hand, I carried two bags filled with the clothes she had carefully selected for her stepfather—nothing flashy, just a mix of professional and casual attire. But more importantly, each piece had been chosen with thought. They weren't just clothes; they meant something to her.
Then, there was the bag in my left hand.
I sighed. "I still don't get why you bought me these."
Hanamura had offered to carry some of the bags, but I refused. They weren't heavy, and letting her carry them just didn't sit right with me.
"...It's just something I wanted to do, Kido-kun," she said softly. "You helped me today, and I wanted to do something for you in return."
"You didn't have to. I offered to help on my own."
"I know, but I wanted to."
"It was unnecessary—"
"It's a gift, Kido-kun," she cut in, her gaze meeting mine. "The clothes you wore today looked a little worn out. And, well... I noticed you were wearing the same shirt the last time we met."
I blinked. Was I?
"I just thought... this way, today could be memorable for both of us. Not as repayment—just because I wanted to."
I fell silent. A gift, huh? I wasn't used to this. In my past life, I hadn't gotten many after my mother passed.
After a moment, I muttered, "...Thanks, then."
That was all I could say. Hanamura just smiled and walked beside me, matching my pace.
As we approached the mall exit, a familiar voice made my head spin.
"Woah, what a coincidence. It's you guys."
Not again.
I stopped in my tracks. Just outside the mall, the same blonde douchebag from before stood in our path.
Next to me, Hanamura went rigid. She hesitated, glancing at me before inching closer. Her discomfort was palpable.
Well, that made two of us.
"Who are they, Masaru? That girl's cute," the girl clinging to his arm spoke up. She was the typical gal—tanned, skimpily dressed, and completely unbothered. "The guy's kinda meh, though. Are they your friends?"
The blonde douche chuckled. His eyes flickered to me briefly before shamelessly drinking in Hanamura.
"Oh, yeah. We just had a little misunderstanding last time," he said smoothly. "Didn't know you two were a thing. Or maybe I helped? Man, I'm such a great guy."
No, you're a perverted douchebag.
"Yeah, so great. See ya."
"Huh?"
I didn't give him a chance to respond. Ignoring him completely, I grabbed Hanamura's hand and started walking. She hesitated for a second before following my lead, her fingers tightening slightly around mine.
What was the point in sticking around? All he was going to do was piss me off. I might as well just knock his teeth out and be done with it.
Then again, it wasn't really my place to interfere—
"Oh? Looks like I've been misunderstood by your boyfriend again, Hanamura-chan."
Her fingers twitched against mine.
Wait.
How does he know her name?
I shot him a sharp look. He just smirked.
"Don't look at me like that," he said lazily. "Hanamura-chan goes to my school. She's a first-year, like me. She's also pretty popular. Ask around, you'll hear plenty."
I raised a brow at that. Hanamura's body had gone completely still.
Blondie took a slow step closer, his eyes glinting with something unpleasant.
"Isn't that right, Hanamura Sumire-chan?"
Hanamura didn't respond. She was frozen in place, her grip on my hand tightening just a little more.
What is going on here?
She was clearly uncomfortable. Hell, no—this wasn't just discomfort. She looked trapped.
Why wasn't she saying anything? Why wasn't she fighting back? What was stopping her?
Blondie chuckled, finally stepping away. "Well, I don't wanna be a bother. Guess I'll see ya around." His gaze flickered to Hanamura one last time. "Especially you, Hanamura-chan~."
Hanamura flinched.
That was enough for me.
I plastered on the most insufferable grin I could muster. "Oh, for sure. She's just a little shy right now, but don't worry—she'll warm up to you eventually."
The blonde douche blinked, clearly not expecting that. Then, his smirk returned.
"Is that so? Well then, I'll be looking forward to it."
With that, he turned and walked off, his little sidepiece following close behind.
Silence settled between us.
I glanced at Hanamura. She was still holding onto my hand, her fingers trembling slightly.
I sighed. Looks like I just got involved in something messy.
---
"Thank you so much for today, Kido-kun."
"I told you not to mention it."
Hanamura smiled as I placed her bags inside the cab. The earlier anxiety in her eyes had faded, replaced by an awkward hesitation. She clearly wanted to say something but was holding back.
I didn't bring up the blonde douche again. But the thought nagged at me. That bastard was in her school, and if I knew his type, he wouldn't stop. Not until she stood up for herself.
I sighed. This was such a mess.
"...Send me a text when you get home, alright?"
She blinked at my words before smiling softly.
"I will."
There was still something on her mind. So, I waited. After a pause, she finally spoke.
"About earlier, I... I didn't know what to do. I... Thank you for being there for me. Again, you saved me, Kido-kun." She looked away, rubbing her arm awkwardly. "I'm glad you didn't have to resort to violence this time because of me."
I scoffed.
"Not like that would've solved anything. That guy's not going to stop until you tell him off yourself."
She bit her lip, her gaze dropping.
Seriously. I don't get it. She wasn't that meek—she had been so decisive when picking out her stepfather's gift. She had a clear sense of taste, knew what she wanted. So why—
Why couldn't she just say no?
"I–"
I cut in, my voice calm but firm.
"It's not that tough, you know? You're not the one at fault here. If you don't like something, you have the right to refuse." Hanamura tensed as I continued, "Just say no. If you don't dare to even say that much, how can you expect others to understand? How can you expect anyone to help if they don't even know you need help?"
Her hands clenched into fists. She looked like she wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
I sighed again, shaking my head.
"It's fine. Take your time. This world's weird like that—you'll have plenty of chances to do it." I turned to leave, then paused. Without looking back, I added, "And when you have the courage to ask for help... you have my number."
With that, I walked away, but lingering thoughts still swirled in my mind.
There are certain things in this world I still can't get used to. People's behavior, for one. Some are too bold, some too cliché, and others too damn meek.
All in all, this world is a mess, and somehow, I've been dragged into it.
I'm not the type to seek trouble. Hell, I go out of my way to avoid it. But sometimes, trouble doesn't give you a choice.
So how do I deal with it?
Simple. I crush it before it has the chance to grow.
Which brings me to my current situation.
"Let's find the blonde douche and end this before it begins."
Hanamura might find her courage in time, but this problem needs to be handled before it spirals out of control. Patience isn't exactly my strong suit—hell, I barely have any to begin with.
I'm not letting this escalate.
This arc dies in its budding phase.