NOVEL NEXT The Strongest Solo Gamer with Terrible Social Skills Reincarnates as a Hated NPC in a VRMMO Chapter 12
12 Red Feather’s Concern
――SIDE: Red Feather――
The three students with the lowest grades will be demoted.
When I heard those words from Mr. Kageyama, I was shocked to the point of being flustered.
The reason was――because of that guy.
“Shoma…”
Although the explanation wasn’t over yet, that guy had already fallen asleep on his desk, showing no enthusiasm. Even from the side, it was clear he had no motivation.
――Why is he like this?!
Normally, if someone were told they’d be expelled for being in the bottom three, they’d be worried! Doesn’t he understand his own situation? If things continue like this, he’ll definitely be expelled from the Academy!
“…Good job, Red Feather-chan”
“Huh?”
“It’s about Shoma. He’ll be expelled if he continues like this. You won’t have to see his unpleasant face anymore”
“…”
Utsumi-san, sitting next to me, whispered those words in my ear. She had taken a liking to me since I returned the camera yesterday. …In reality, it was that guy Shoma who had risked his body to retrieve it, but the timing was bad, and I couldn’t correct her.
“Utsumi-san, about me and Shoma…”
“Yeah, I heard… Are you two engaged? I joined the reporting club, and during yesterday’s incident, I talked to the seniors and learned about the two of you. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable?”
“Club activities… Do they exist in the Academy too?”
“Of course they do. Most are related to ABYSS, though. There are people who film the inside of ABYSS and upload it to streaming sites. I want to become an ABYSS specialist reporter. Well, being a cameraman is fine too. Anyway, yesterday I was approached by a senior from the reporting club on my way back from the staff room. I was originally planning to join, so I was recruited and joined immediately.”
After getting into a fight with a 1-C student, we went to the staff room to report to the teacher. The result was unfortunate, but Utsumi-san seemed to have achieved something.
“Are you unhappy about marrying Shoma?”
“…”
“I heard about it. About Shoma’s past in middle school, and how you’re troubled by him… So, I want to help you.”
“Help me…?”
“First, I’ll work with the reporting club seniors to upload yesterday’s video online. Since we wrote about his past misdeeds on the bulletin board, I think he’ll be isolated. If he can’t form a party, it’ll be impossible for him to conquer ABYSS. He won’t be able to level up, and in a year, he’ll definitely be expelled…”
“――Stop it!”
I couldn’t help but raise my voice.
“……Red Feather-san?”
“……Sorry, please continue.”
I had interrupted the lesson. I apologized to Mr. Kageyama while replaying Utsumi-san’s words in my mind.
……Stop it?
Why did I say such a thing?
◆
The fourth period ended, and it was lunchtime.
Today’s lesson was mainly about school explanations and ABYSS exploration, which was very meaningful for us. From tomorrow, we’ll have regular subjects alongside ABYSS-related lessons.
As the students began to eat lunch in the classroom, I quietly stood up.
“Ah, Red Feather-chan――”
“Sorry, just a minute”
Leaving Utsumi-san’s voice behind, I headed towards Shoma, who was still sleeping.
“Gugaa, gugaa,…… fuhehe”
“——”
What a carefree sleeping posture.
I’m the one who’s worried, and it’s ridiculous.
I decided to relieve my stress by kicking Shinma’s seat with all my might.
“Guaa!? Wh-what’s going on!?”
He finally woke up, and his reaction was even more annoying.
Is this guy’s talent for real?
“——You finally woke up? You can sleep so soundly during class? Don’t you have any sense of becoming an explorer?”
“A-ah, Ku-Kurenai……?”
Shinma looked at my face and was excessively surprised.
“…What’s wrong? Is my face that rare?”
“N-no, it’s not that! It’s just, w-what do you want from me!?”
“…”
Why is he so tense? Ah, it’s been a while since we’ve had a normal conversation like this.
“You don’t know the content of this afternoon’s lesson, do you? It’s our first ABYSS exploration. We need to form a party during lunch break.”
“…Haa”
Shinma still doesn’t get it. I wish he could understand at least this much, but I guess it’s impossible.
“If you continue like this, you’ll definitely fall behind! Who would want to invite the lowest-ranked 1-D student to their party?”
“T-that might be true, but even if I do fall behind, it’s not a big deal, and……”
“What are you talking about!? You can’t possibly explore ABYSS alone with your overall low ranking! You need to have a sense of crisis! You’re attending class with a carefree attitude, and you’re the only one who slept during class!”
“I-it’s because I didn’t get enough sleep…”
“Ahn!?”
“Hee!?”
Not enough sleep!? He must have been doing something useless. His excuses won’t work on me. I slammed my hand on the desk and scolded him again.
“You’re going to get expelled if you continue like this! This isn’t a threat. You need to take it seriously! If you want to stay in the academy, you need to be more serious from now on!!”
“…Seriously”
“Yes, that’s right! Your family’s influence doesn’t work here! You can’t keep doing the same thing you’ve been doing until now——”
“…Kka… Yeah, that’s right… I also need to get serious…”
Just as he said that, Shinma suddenly put on a serious face and started muttering something. It was as if he didn’t hear what I said at all.
I was about to scold him further, but Shinma suddenly stood up.
“…I think I dozed off for a bit. I’m fine now. You don’t need to worry about me.”
What’s going on? Before I could even ask, Shinma stopped me with his hand. His flustered behavior from earlier was all an act. Has he finally regained his composure? The current Shinma was wearing the arrogant expression I knew so well.
“Maybe you think you need to join my party or something?”
“No way!”
“I guess not, since you dislike me and all. I know you don’t have that kind of intention.”
Shinma smiled and put his hand on my shoulder. ——In an instant, I brushed him off.
“Oh… You’re scary. You’re my fiancé, so can’t we get along a little?”
“Who’s going to get along with you!?”
“So, that’s the tone. Since I and Kouuha are mutual enemies, there’s no way we’d get along. …Afternoon classes? I don’t need Kouuha to worry about me; I can handle the lower levels of ABYSS on my own. I never needed help from others in the first place.”
“Hah, you think you can, lowest-ranked guy? You’re quite bold.”
“…It’s pathetic how people like you can only see things based on initial stats. I’m Shouma Kizuru, a member of the prestigious Kizuru family. I’ll surpass all of you soon enough.”
Shouma said this, putting his hands in his pockets, and walked out of the classroom.
A faint stir occurred in 1-D.
“What’s with that guy…?”
“He’s got a big mouth.”
“Doesn’t he know his own position?”
“At least, he’s got guts.”
The reactions from the surrounding students were the worst. Shouma seemed to have made a thoroughly bad impression.
“Are you okay, Kouuha-chan?”
“Utsunomiya-san…”
“Why did you talk to him? You knew he’d say something unpleasant…”
I couldn’t answer that, even to myself.
I didn’t have the correct answer within me.
“But with this, he’s definitely isolated himself. I don’t think there will be any students in Class D who’d want to team up with him.”
“Yeah, maybe…”
I didn’t understand.
What bothered me more was that Shouma remained Shouma.
People don’t change that easily. Or—