The Cheerful One-Eyed Beauty That’s Already a Broken Personality (3)
What the heck was this awful sense of refreshment and cheerfulness?
My body felt far more refreshed than usual. I scowled and tilted my head in confusion.
Normally, waking up refreshed should bring a good mood, right?
But I thought, 'If I feel this good in the morning like this, it almost always means something important is about to go wrong...'
On days I wake up refreshed and energetic, my experience tells me something bad usually happens later that day. That's just how it goes.
Deciding it was just my mood, I was actually looking forward to today's Yokai Extermination Division entrance exam.
Swish. Swish.
I swung my fist a few times in the air for no reason. I even did light strength exercises on the floor of the dorm room, something I never did before.
I was trying to make my well-rested body feel tired again, thanks to the sweet sleep.
Huu... huu... This guy's stamina is really trash.
Back in my original world, I never really trained hard for sports. But this body I reincarnated into had, surprisingly, terrible physical fitness.
Just a few punches in the air and a couple pull-ups, and my whole body was already worn out.
Well, that was lucky. The weird sense of refreshment floating around my body was easily swept away.
In my mind, I promised myself, 'I'll do some exercise later too. Even if I get into the Extermination Division, I'll probably end up running around a lot.'
I made that little resolution while wiping the sweat off for a shower. ...Yeah, up until that point, I had no idea what was coming.
The simple fist I swung to work up a sweat. The morning pull-ups I half-joked about. Who could've known they'd bring such a variable later?
* * *
''Please take your application forms over here, new students!''
''We're running the exams in each department's office. Follow the map and head to the main building for the entrance exams!''
A huge auditorium packed with fresh faces.
The voices of the second-year exorcists on duty echoed loudly across the hall.
''Huh...? A boy?''
''I heard there was a male transfer student this time... I guess it's true.''
''Short, and his face is hidden behind his messy hair. He looks kind of gross~''
Unlike the welcoming party on my first day, when everyone had cleared out quickly, the bright space kept the eyes on me even though I stood quietly in line.
But I didn't have the time or energy to care about those stares right now.
My only goal today was to pass the Information Division without a single variable getting in the way.
''I memorized every yokai type... and I remember all the strategies too. I don't think I missed anything, right?''
From what I remembered, the exam to join the Information Division was a written test checking the accuracy of the yokai information I provided.
After playing this game hundreds of times and meeting every kind of yokai, I should be fine.
In this world full of weird and absurd variables compared to reality, perfect preparation couldn't be a bad thing, right?
Before the voice of that mysterious senior calling for application forms came in, I was already sorting through every piece of yokai memory in my head.
''Next up, please come forward!''
''Oh, it's my turn already.''
It was time for the application form selection.
''Hello! You're the new male student?''
''Yes, senpai.''
''Which department are you applying to?''
''The Information Division, please. Thank you, senpai.''
After the kind words of the senior in charge asking which application I wanted, I answered without a second thought and reached for the Information Division form.
''Hey! New student! Just a moment, please.''
''...!''
''You're deciding too quickly. That wouldn't be fun, would it?''
Yeah, according to my plan, I should have grabbed that form right away.
A smug smile plastered across her face. It was Haruno Yukio, the second-year ace of the Extermination Division.
Before she could casually snatch my form away.
* * *
''Are you the new male student, Takumi Hitoshi-kun?''
''Yes... that's right, senpai.''
''Hee~ I'm so happy to meet you! I'm Yukio, the second-year ace of the Yokai Extermination Division.''
With a light laugh and a simple self-introduction, Yukio waved her hand in front of me.
But even if she hadn't introduced herself, I already knew her name.
Was I remembering her the same way I remembered Arasaki Yuri, the head of the exorcism department, as one of my favorite characters in the game?
Haha, if it was for such a simple and easy reason, how nice that would be.
'Whoa~ She's the second-year ace specialized in stealing personalities.'
If I looked away for even a second to watch over the others, she'd just steal another personality and come back to the academy.
How could I possibly forget the name of this sloppy second-year ace?
'Was it round 67? No, 68. The round I set her name to 'Cheerful Smile Cappybara' in the game.'
Of course she wasn't my favorite. That wasn't it.
A carefree and energetic personality, friendly like a retriever.
A unique but attractive way of speaking, and that special trait of half-closed eyes.
No matter how many times she got 'capped' by someone and came back, she always ended up making you think, 'I guess I can't hate you' after all.
''~seum-kka?''
''...Yes, yes?''
''Are you listening to what I'm saying? Why are you spacing out while staring at my face?''
''Sorry, senpai. If you could explain just once more...''
I apologized for not listening because I had gotten lost in my own memories.
''Well, it's fine~ I'm a bit of a talkative person, so I was planning to say it again anyway.''
Yukio, a big-hearted person who easily brushed off the situation that should have been uncomfortable, just laughed it off.
I thought, 'It'd be nice if she just lost her personality and left me alone,' but immediately shook my head to forget that bad thought and focused back on her.
''To put it simply, why not join our Extermination Division instead of the Information Division?''
''What? Huh?''
Damn it. I shouldn't have been so focused.
I had completely forgotten I'd be leaving an image of a rude junior behind.
The variable I was sure would never happen was happening right here, right now.
Once again, the truth that 'when you wake up refreshed in the morning, that day is doomed' was proven.
''You want me to join the Extermination Division? No... why?''
''I heard you have a special kind of youkai energy.''
''Me?''
''If you train well, it might help with exorcism.''
Would that really be the case? Was my youkai energy really special, or was there another reason?
My sharp intuition said it wasn't just that, there had to be something else, but I couldn't figure out exactly why.
'But I didn't think I could miss this variable. My mistake.'
Of course, the worst variable of all was failing the Information Division.
'Being noticed by a powerful person in the Extermination Division'
...That variable was right in front of me.
But I had already prepared countermeasures for that 'variable.'
''Sorry, senpai. I really want to join the Information Division.''
''Hee~ Is that so? If you'd like, I can ask why.''
''Since I entered this academy, my goal has been to use all the knowledge I've studied my whole life about yokai to the best of my ability.''
''Hieek... Is that... really it?''
''I'm really grateful you thought so highly of me, but since you're such a kind-looking person like you, senpai, I'm sure you'd respect my goal─''
''Ah, wait! Just a moment. There's no need to be that serious...''
''I believe you. So please forgive my rudeness!!''
My solution was simple: say the reason boldly and reject it.
Did I really need to use hypnosis? Saying 'I don't want to~' boldly should have been enough.
Forcing me into an elite group just because they were curious was weird in the first place.
''Since you put it that way, it's a shame, but I have no choice...''
''Thank you for understanding. Senior Yukio.''
Even though her appearance was creepy and gloomy, maybe because she gave such an enthusiastic speech, Yukio sighed as if she was more disappointed than relieved I was leaving.
Still, she couldn't become a bad senior who stopped a junior's goal.
Without a second thought, she handed me back the Information Division application form and turned to leave.
''But please make sure you achieve your goal, senpai. I'll cheer for you with all my heart as a senior.''
''Understood. I'll work hard to burn brightly for the boundless future of this exorcism academy.''
''N-no need to go that far...''
Now that the variable had disappeared, I turned to look at Yukio's back as she walked away.
And while watching the cute tentacles wriggling behind her back under her shirt, I began writing the Information Division application form again.
'Wait... damn tentacles? Why tentacles on Yukio's back?''
I hadn't even started yet, but because of her nickname 'Cheerful Smile Cappybara,'
I was staring at a tentacle yokai that looked dangerous just by looking at it, on her back.
I needed to confirm what kind of tentacle it was, but if I left it as is, I was sure I'd get 'capped' again.
With tears in my eyes, I had no choice but to stop the variable I was about to let go.
''...But!!''
''Eh?''
''If you would have a little more conversation with me, in a quieter place, just the two of us, I won't change my goal.''
''W-what? Suddenly? Weren't you just talking about your goal earlier?''
''Because I don't dwell on past goals, I...''
''Hee~ Interesting junior, da!''
''Well then, I understand. Let's go to our club room and talk, okay?''
''Let's go right now. Time is short.''
In my hand holding the smartphone, the hypnosis app was already turned on, its pink glow on.
First, whether I liked it or not, I had to use hypnosis to pull those tentacles off this cheerful cappybara girl's body.