NOVEL NEXT Chapter 563
The seventieth-five Friendship exists… right?
“Are you here to play again?”
Drenched in sweat, Naoko placed her hands on her knees, panting heavily. Upon hearing Ash’s voice, she nodded eagerly with sparkling eyes.
Her eyes showed less disdain towards Ash and a tinge of excitement.
“Of course! I haven’t given up so easily!”
Quickly getting into action, Naoko kicked the ball toward Ash from an awkward angle, but the man, imitating someone’s movement, stomped his foot, making Naoko miss. Instead, the ball flew up along his knee.
“Do you have many siblings?”
While Ash focused on the ball, he was also talking to her.
To his surprise, despite initially being wary, Naoko opened up about personal matters during their intense exchange and gave straightforward answers to his questions. It was hard to tell if she was brave or too naive.
“Haha, we have five little ones at home, each just as troublesome as you are! They all love to give me a hard time!”
“So, you have five brothers or sisters who like football? That’s quite… you must be very busy.”
Recalling her own big brother who loved football and had equally troublesome siblings, and recalling all the trouble they caused, Ash shivered involuntarily.
Some worlds pass by, whether fighting alongside or battling against heroes, are enjoyable. But some… roles that evolve into something even stranger can be a bit taxing.
幸 good thing I’m an only child, no sibling troubles.
“Hmph, it’s useless trying to be friendly with me now!”
Is that so? Then why do you look like you’re smiling?
Quite easy to understand.
“Ugh!”
Seeing Ash distracted, Naoko seized the opportunity and finally regained control of the ball with a sliding tackle.
“How’s that? I won this time, didn’t I?!”
“You’ve only won one football. Is that enough for you?”
“Yeah! Since it’s the first time I’ve beaten you, it’s worth remembering!”
Naoko, standing tall with confidence, almost made him laugh, proud as a rooster.
“Speaking of which, Mr. Ash.”
Suddenly speaking earnestly, she used her toe to lift the ball and抱起，her eyes meeting the gaze underneath his sunglasses.
“You… aren’t a bad person, right?”
“No, why do you think that?” Ash was taken aback by Naoko’s sudden comment. “Because you’ve played football with me, did I go from being a reckless villain to a hero?”
“Yes, indeed. Because villains don’t play with others.”
Naoko’s straightforward response, her simple yet direct view of the world, rendered Ash, who prepared a new sharp retort, speechless.
Those from the Tragic Kingdom never play fair, even if they do participate in the game. And… she still had to nod reluctantly. “Plus, Akane and the others seem happy when they’re with you.”
“So even though it’s unusual, you shouldn’t be a—”
Just as she was speaking, Ash decisively cut her off.
“No, you’re not jealous of me; I recognize jealousy when I see it.”
For reasons unknown, the image of a glasses-wearing, blue-haired girl drifted into Ash’s mind.
“You’re angry with yourself, afraid of being left behind.”
“But as your friend, you know them best, right?” Ash’s gaze shifted. “Don’t you think they would accept you just because of this matter?”
Ash’s words silenced Naoko.
“Look, they’re coming.”
As he pointed aside, Naoko looked and saw Miyo, Rihua, Yayoi, and Akane, whom she had been anticipating, sitting aside waiting.
Someone patted her shoulder, offering encouragement with a glance.
“How about checking things out with them?”
“Mi—Naoko! Ash!”
Always cheerful, Miyo put her hand to her mouth to amplify her voice as she waved and happily called out their names.
“Rihua, Miyo, Yayoi, Akane, jester—Clown Monster!”
Just as Naoko was moved, a strange, arrow-shaped monster suddenly intruded, causing her to widen her eyes in shock. She focused completely on the ridiculous monster behind Miyo and company.
Why is the Clown Monster here? Moreover, that giant arrow is heading this way!
“Watch Out!”
The sudden appearance of the monster startled everyone except Ash. Slower to react, the girls took out their transformation devices from their pockets, and the monster shouted “Jest~er~Monster,” turning the arrow against them, sending an invisible wave of light over their bodies, tossing four of them screaming near Naoko’s feet.
“Miyo! Phew, thank goodness.”
Tense, Naoko hurried to check, relieved when she found her friend just in pain but unharmed. She reached out her hand.
“Come on, let me help you up—”
“Slap!”
Naoko’s reaching hand was unceremoniously knocked away.
“What, don’t touch me?”
Never frowning, Miyo, without hesitation, slapped Naoko’s hand away, visibly annoyed on her face.
“Huh?”
Confused, Naoko turned to Lyoha, but when she turned back, Lyoha stared at her with utter disgust.
“Cease.”
The once close friend brushed off dust and stepped away ruthlessly, clearly disgusted.
“Do not get close to me; we have nothing to say to each other.”
“Eh?”
Dazed, Naoko opened her mouth, her extended hands stuck in place, nowhere to hide.
What…
Happened?
Why?