Seriously, Am I About to Get Shot?
Men are creatures with two brains. One for thinking, one for breeding. Crude way to put it, but basically, guys fall hard for pretty girls. And as a healthy teenage boy going through puberty myself...
"Lord almighty, what is this fragrance?"
Stuff like that gets me every time.
"What'd you say? Wanna move in at the entryway? Come on in, don't be shy~"
"...Pardon the intrusion. Someone's home, right? Please?"
"Puhahaha! Junior, what kinda greeting is that?"
I needed someone right then to snap me out of my torment. Like a strict dad or a little brother. But Suo-senpai's words as she slipped off her sandals left my mind in a fog.
"Nobody's home. So treat it like your own place~ Relax."
Had to ask about that.
"Senpai, what if I'm a kidnapper or something? Inviting strangers in like that."
"For real? You're a kidnapper?"
"Just saying... Though in this future, who knows. People snap sometimes."
You never really know with people. One minute I'm grinding rice cakes on the street, next I'm at some girl's place for ice cream. Life's unpredictable.
Suo-senpai latched onto my deadpan joke, shoulders shaking with laughter.
"Kkh, heh... Okay! Then I'll play the kidnapper instead! Sit right here, hostage."
"I'm calling the cops..."
"Won't listen and I'll shoot ya!"
"Eek."
"Kidding, kidding. You're different... I mean, you seem nice, that's why I invited you!"
Suo-senpai finally shoved and pulled me inside. Next thing I know, I'm parked at a rich girl's dining table, blankly taking in the place.
"Ice cream coming right up. One sec."
That "one sec" gave me time to glance around. Whoa, rich people lighting is next level. Not just harsh white glow—soft hues that make the whole house feel abundant. Turn my head, and there's this massive high-ceilinged living room with a killer view. The TV's bigger than my bathroom, for crying out loud.
"Never seen a sight like this living in this neighborhood."
But the real shocker? The view outside the window. No tall buildings around means this wide-open, refreshing panorama. Taste of the upper class? Suddenly wanna rake in cash hand over fist. Too bad no crypto in this world—slim chances. But dreaming ain't a crime.
If I strike it rich, gotta buy Ishikawa 300 luxury bags or something.
Getting comfy with the place like that, Suo-senpai comes rushing back.
"What now, junior? Ice cream's all melted... Oh! Wanna do ramen instead?"
This senpai, seriously.
"Senpai, you know that's a dangerous thing to say, right?"
"Huh? What? It's just ramen."
Okay, this ain't Korea. "Wanna grab ramen?" doesn't mean that here.
Look at her—no aura at all, totally neutral.
Auras only show when emotions spike beyond normal...
So right now, it's just me overthinking solo. Drumming, cymbal crashing, and belting out a solo act.
Fine, whatever. Might as well chill.
Realizing that cleared my head a bit. Gaining this emotion-reading ability changed a lot. Knowing my feelings don't match others' cuts down on disappointments. Learned to relax quick, even if it wasn't on purpose.
Head's clearer, but not that clear. Puberty hormones are fucking intense, man.
"Up we go."
Shaking off the angst, I stand and head to the window that's been pulling my eyes. Satellite city a bit out from Saitama—prime spot, hits me again.
Suo-senpai teases, amused at me sightseeing from her house.
"Gonna snap pics soon? Need a model?"
"Views this epic are rare. No need for a model."
Thanks for the invite to a sweet pad, senpai. But don't stick so close.
I sidestep casually, then get to business. Real reason I'm here.
"Anyway, senpai, sign this first."
Gotta do what needs doing before I forget. We're already here, so she'll do it. Pull out the pen—
"Nah, don't wanna."
"...Pardon?"
What the hell did this senpai just say?
"No friends, super bored... I'm having a blast right now? But paperwork?"
Suo-senpai closes in, kinda pressuring. Then dead serious:
"You not having fun, junior? Just me?"
Wait, is Suo-senpai actually a kidnapper? Hikikomori 'cause she's into dark stuff...?
Aaah, save me.
"...F-Fun stuff. Totally having fun."
"Hehe, kidding~"
That joke was brutal. Anyway, she was bored stiff till the water boiled. Pours it into convenience store ramen, then trots back to the living room. Sits primly, reads the attendance form I hand over.
"Hm, don't wanna go to school..."
"..."
"But yeah, guess I gotta."
Picks a yellow pen and signs. Black would've been fine, but whatever. Name's on there.
"Done. Right?"
I thumbs-up her. She mutters something like weird kid and heads back for the ramen.
"Why don't you wanna go to school?"
Just curious. With her looks, I'd be at school strutting non-stop.
"Just... no fun."
Unlike my fantasies, queen bee life apparently sucks. Never been a hot girl via gender-swap, so whatever.
Time to kill till ramen's ready.
Hm, photos.
Classic house-visit move: sneaky photo peeks. Can't stare outright, so casual glances passing by. Family pics? Meh. This one's got my attention.
"Whoa..."
"Hm? Whatcha looking at... Oh."
Suo-senpai approaches with chopsticks. I shift aside, revealing the shot.
"Ah."
Her skydiving—mid-dive. Goggles on, face a mess. Hair whipped wild by wind, focus all off-kilter. Spotted it in the corner; expression's killer, though.
Figured she'd explain.
"It's nothing."
"...?"
Suddenly, dull purple aura around Suo-senpai.
What the—sudden shift?
Where've I seen that? Oh, right—unease and wariness. Similar shades, blend 'em and it goes black.
Why uneasy all of a sudden?
Didn't get it.
"Enough of that, ramen time!"
She covers the photo, aura still uneasy, turns away. I stare at her back, then lift it again. Messy face, off-focus, heavenly light makes it more painting than photo. But...
"C'mon, drop it and eat ramen..."
"It's cool, though."
"Huh?"
One spot wasn't a wreck.
"No way, that's really you, senpai???"
Her smile in the pic. Dead ringer for peak bliss. Pure joy. While I'm gaming, she's doing this? Ishikawa and I messing around like idiots—totally different worlds. If she'd been possessed instead of me, she'd rob banks? Nah, maybe not. But that happiness radiates.
Seeing emotions firsthand hits different. People's are muddy mixes—human nature. Pure colors rare. But this photo? Aura shines through. She's fucking ecstatic.
So yeah, felt kinda cool. Got jealous without realizing, blurting real talk.
"No way I could ever do that."
Pure, unfiltered truth. If I tried, vertigo would have me bawling post-jump.
Whew, nearly let that last bit slip. Dodged a bullet. Why's senpai quiet, though? Did I mumble it? Ishikawa turned me into a mutterer??
Hm. Wait—no. Holy shit.
Thinking it over, it clicked. Big problem.
Shit, I just critiqued her photo out loud? Cringe wave hits, hands shrivel. And she heard it all. Might get decked. This could legit end with a bullet. If she hates it, I'm screwed...
But.
"...Senpai?"
"......"
"Senpai?"
"Uh, yeah?"
………
Why's a bright yellow aura blasting? Joy color. Did I hit some cliché without knowing?
Totally getting dragged around, but junior's got cute sides.
At first, he seemed firm, kinda manly—surprised me. Mitsurugi Suo took interest, invited him over.
Boiling ramen water instead of ice cream, thinking: Jun's one weird dude.
How's he so funny without trying?
Serious deadpan gags, word choices unlike other kids. Hits my laugh spots dead-on, hyping my energy. Jun seems like a fun friend—treats me like a person, not just a girl. Felt relieved.
He's nice, that's why. Anyway, fun.
More intrigued, I amped the teasing. Kidnapper jokes flowed from the vibe. Played around till my gloom lifted. Time to eat ramen and send him off.
...That photo.
First skydive shot. Moment I fell for the thrill—heaven's rush, earth's crush. Body buzzing numb, ground looming. Her favorite scene.
But.
— "Suo! What's this? Hilarious. Joke shot?"
— "Photo's wrecked... Shoulda taken a good one."
— "Not this, how 'bout the one we just—S, Suo!? Where you going!?"
Others didn't see what she loved. Her joy. So only Suo cherished it.
Jun'd be same. Shoulda hidden it.
...Another shitty day.
Better if he says nothing. Ignore and eat ramen easier...
But next words stop her.
"It's cool, though."
……What?
"Heh, happiness at 200%. Lotto win?"
What? Why so hyped? Everyone else dismissed it, but suddenly...
"Nah, senpai, I've got vertigo? I'd jump eyes closed to the ground."
"Uh, yeah?"
"No way I could ever do that."
Jun. Random junior Jun. Sees her photo joy, brings it close, starts chatting.
Too new—Suo laughs without thinking.
What is this...!? Why so happy?
Mitsurugi Suo. Thrilled.
Big time.
"Eee!! R-Ramen time! Yeah? Y-Yeah?? Junior, such a flatterer!!"
"...Y-Yes, ma'am."
Her energy doubles over.