NOVEL NEXT chapter 29
29: The Unknown
A part of me that has been reincarnated a million times is sounding the alarm.
That’s right, why didn’t I notice?
Martin’s invitation and Karina’s ready agreement. The conversation about going to the pool was settled smoothly, and there seemed to be no obstacles.
I easily achieved my goal.
Strange.
Because things are not supposed to go well. If things are going well, it means I should suspect it as a trap set by the “enemy”.
Even so—during the middle school summer vacation, we are planning to go to the swimming amusement facility in pairs of boys and girls. There seem to be no obstacles, and we were easily getting ready to enjoy the summer.
No doubt. It’s a trap.
But I don’t know who set the trap for me and for what purpose.
This is a threat.
The “enemy” is still invisible. Therefore, the purpose is also unknown. The only thing I know about the “enemy” is the general policy of “trying to undermine the fighting spirit”.
Verification is necessary.
As the weekend approached, when we were about to go to the large swimming amusement facility, I was considering who the instigator of the “trap” might be.
There are two forces involved in this situation.
Martin, who suggested going to the pool and brought the tickets.
And Karina, who easily accepted my invitation.
Martin is a childhood friend.
We’ve been friends since nursery school. In other words, we’ve been friends for ten years.
I have been carefully examining his words, actions, and thoughts, so it seems unlikely that Martin is the “enemy”.
However, on the other hand, there seems to be a trap in the fact that he “received the pool tickets from a relative”.
The possibility that a “relative” is trying to use Martin for something cannot be ruled out.
And Karina.
She seems to be a comrade of mine from a previous life.
But I don’t know much about Karina… We talk a lot about fighting against the “enemy” or studying for external exams, but I have no information about her personal data.
In the first place, in my estimation, the girl named Karina was supposed to be the type who absolutely wouldn’t want to go to the amusement facility during summer vacation.
And yet, she easily agreed to go.
I initially accepted the reason for her agreement as “a thank-you for teaching me”, but I can’t imagine it being the source of motivation for “going to a space of light attributes that she doesn’t want to go to”.
Or perhaps, is that the capricious nature of girls?
I don’t know.
I was ignorant about girls. I even wished to understand them, but unlike boys, the inner world of girls is complex, and I always struggled to speculate about their true feelings.
There is less than a week left until the day we go to the pool. During this period, it seems impossible for me to accomplish the difficult task of “understanding girls” that I have never achieved before.
So, to understand the inner world of girls, I decided to invite an advisor.
It was Milim, who had become a first-year junior high school student.
While inviting her to my house to check homework, I asked Milim—actually, we are going to the large pool next weekend, you know, over there…
“…I wasn’t invited.”
I saw Milim’s tail swaying behind her on the other side of the table.
On the carpeted floor, her fluffy black tail drooped and moved leisurely as if rubbing against the floor.
That was a sign of “displeasure.”
I hastily added—well, because of socializing with classmates. It came up in conversation with my classmates, what was it? I didn’t have time to invite a junior…
For some reason, I felt incredibly defensive.
While talking, I fed Milim cookies. She nibbled on the cookies I offered, munching on them.
I don’t understand. Why am I being so humble to Milim?
“I didn’t invite Milim to the playdate that came up with my classmates”—it’s not really strange. It’s not strange at all, but for some reason, I felt terribly guilty about it.
Controlled.
Through self-analysis, I discovered it. I was extremely afraid of upsetting Milim.
Milim is like a cute little sister. Our relationship is long and deep. Milim comes to my house at least once a month, even if she doesn’t have any reason to.
It had become a habit, and if there was a month when I didn’t invite Milim into my room, I felt uneasy.
Yes, for me, Milim was like “water,” “air,” “food,” and “Milim.” Essential elements for life.
Because it’s essential for life, without it, I would die. I couldn’t imagine living as someone who is disliked by Milim. Without ruffling that jet-black short hair of hers at least once a month, I would lose the will to live.
The reason I fear upsetting Milim is because of that, and this is just like a baby’s mother’s breast, in other words, Milim is just like a breast to me. No, not really. Milim is not a breast… I was lacking composure.
Deep breath.
Once I regained my composure, before asking Milim about “the female heart,” she opened her mouth.
“Invite me?”
I tilted my head.
“I also want to go to the pool.”
Uh, well, is it okay? Isn’t it against the rules? Um, I think it might be difficult for you, but this is a clash of wills between men, so if I take you, it might lead to a result that unnecessarily crushes Martin, well, let’s go together.
I invited Milim.
Those black eyes staring at me render me completely helpless.
Milim, with a faint expression, smiled a little and wagged her tail behind her waist.
Due to the incompatibility between skirts and tails, Milim wears spats, so there’s no need to worry about her skirt flipping up. I don’t have to worry, but I wish she would do it only in front of me.
Milim took a cookie in her hand and brought it to my mouth.
I received it in my mouth and pondered. I wonder if Martin would go crazy if I asked him, “Can I bring one more person?”
There are so many mysteries in this world.
I can never understand a girl’s thoughts. It must be a complex and enigmatic intellectual entity that moves by mechanisms too difficult for me to comprehend.