This chapter is updated by wuxiaworld.eu
On todayās sunny morning, I went for a jog and went farther than usual to do some light shopping. Thereupon, I saw a familiar back in front of me and called out to her.
[So, youāve comeā¦ā¦ Do you know what day it is today!?]
[Yes, itās Serious Day! In other words, itās my day!!!]
When I called out to her, thinking it was Shea-san, she started to say incomprehensible things with high tension, and thatās when I realized that the person in front of me wasnāt Shea-san.
[Ahh, itās Senpai. I see, itās that time already huh.]
[No, donāt make it sound like my appearance is something like a seasonā¦ā¦]
No, what I actually feel like is that sheās an unusual person who appears only once a year, so itās a misstatement to say that sheās someone who appears along with a season.
This self-proclaimed incarnation of seriousness, Serious-senpai, is apparently normally confined in a strange room and can only come out once a year.
It sounds like sheās involved in some kind of strange incident, but it doesnāt seem like Senpai feels tragic about it, showing up once a year to go sightseeing.
[However, I sure meet Senpai everytime you come out. Senpai only gets out once a year, right?]
[No, I feel like every time I was able to go outside, I would be hurled near your locationā¦ā¦ so I guess basically when I go outside my room, you would be nearby.]
[ā¦ā¦I donāt have anything to do with that strange room thoughā¦ā¦]
[Youāre the only one who thinks soā¦ā¦ Well, nevermind.]
After looking at me with astounded eyes, Serious-senpai cleared her throat, before she looked straight at me and spoke.
[ā¦ā¦This is the third time weāve met! You should already know what I want, right!!!?]
[Ah, yes. Then, where should we go today? If you havenāt had breakfast yet, thereās a good bakery nearby, so why donāt we check it out? They allow dine-in there.]
[Ahh, that sounds nice. Bread and coffee in the morning really gets you-not!!! Itās the seriousness I want, seriousness!!! The heck do you think my goal is for coming here!?]
[ā¦ā¦Isnāt it for your once-a-year sightseeing trip?]
[ā¦ā¦It hurts that I canāt deny that at all.]
As usual, sheās a person with quite the tension around her. I never get tired of watching her expression and seeing her excitement get directed from one moment to another.
Well, of course, I know that sheās looking for something serious, but even she doesnāt know the specifics, and she just ends up sightseeing every time.
This time too, she started walking towards the bakery with me, so I wonder if the person herself intends to just go sightseeing? Well, I donāt think she would admit it even if I pointed it out thoughā¦ā¦
[Ah, right, right, listen! I got double Vs! Isnāt that great, you can compliment me, you know?]
[Double Vs? ā¦ā¦Were you part of some kind of contest?]
[Yes! I was voted number one in the Popularity Poll two times in a row! Also, itās an overwhelming victoryā¦ā¦ Awesome, right?]
[Itās amazing. That means many people love Senpai.]
ā¦ā¦Popularity Poll? What kind of Popularity Poll is that? She mentioned how she usually stays in a strange room, but who in the world is she competing with for popularity?
Well, Senpai saying strange things is just the usual, so I guess I shouldnāt worry too much about it. Since Senpai seemed to want praise anyway, I decided to just give it to her.
[Fufufu, more, gimme more!]
[Since youāve won twice in a row, it means it wasnāt just a short-term popularity, but one youāve gained from a long time. Itās great that youāve been able to maintain their support, so Iām sure many people find Serious-senpai charming.]
[In fact, when Iām with Senpai, things get bustling and fun, making the atmosphere around you cheerful. That kind of personality is what makes Senpai so appealing, isnāt it?]
[ā¦ā¦Auuuā¦ā¦ U- Ummmā¦ā¦ I think itās time you stā¦ā¦]
[Youāre also beautiful and have a very attractive smile. Itās rare for someone to possess different kinds of charms, so you should be proud of yourself.]
[Stoooooooop! I get so embarrassed when people praise me like that! Iād end up getting captured!]
As I praised her while walking, Serious-senpai shouted with a face that was red to the ears. She was still saying things that I didnāt understandā¦ā¦ but it seemed like sheās feeling embarrassed.
ā¦ā¦Even though she herself asked for praiseā¦ā¦
[ā¦ā¦Haahhhā¦ā¦ Haahhhā¦ā¦ D*mn it, sheās more used to women than last year. However, donāt underestimate me, Flag King! I wonāt fall for just that muchā¦ā¦]
[Ahh, Senpai, thatās the path for carriages, so move this way.]
[Hyaaahh!? H- H- He suddenly held my handā¦ā¦ Awawawaā¦ā¦ P- Please be gentleā¦ā¦]
[ā¦ā¦Ahh, I see the bakery.]
Wryly smiling at Senpai whose tension kept changing and was shouting around again, I decided to entered the bakery.
After breakfast, the sightseeing continues in the guise of the search for seriousness.
[Do Senpai have any interior decorations in your room?]
[I donāt think so. Just a table, a chair, and a sofa.]
[Thatās a rather simple room. Couldnāt you put something on the table, or have a plant or something on the side?]
[Well, I supposeā¦ā¦ that would be nice.]
As we were walking along while having such a conversation, I found a portrait shop in one corner of the plaza. They would apparently draw the portrait of whatever we request and frame it.
[That looks interesting. Since weāre at it, why donāt we have a portrait of us together painted?]
[T- Together? W- Well, if Kaito insists that much, I guess it canāt be helpedā¦ā¦ I also owe you, so it canāt be helped!!!]
While emphasizing that she had no choice in this matter, her face is blushing a bit, so I guess sheās probably embarrassed. Sheās not quite a tsundere, but I suppose sheās not being honest in some way.
Well, thinking how thatās also a part of her that makes me smile, we just walked to the portrait stall.
[The heck are you doing here, idiotā¦ā¦]
[Iām just trying to earn some extra cash.]
[She seriously went and said itā¦ā¦]
The shopkeeper was a man wearing a beretā¦ā¦ but I somehow thought it was Alice again, so I astoundedly called out to her, and she said she was making some extra cash.
Iām sure the one in front of us is a clone, but just as usual, this guy is seriously all over the placeā¦ā¦ Well, since itās Alice drawing us, we can be assured of the quality.
[ā¦ā¦Wait, if it isnāt Serious-senpai? Ahh, I see, today is April Foolās Day back in Japan huh.]
[Youāre also treating my appearance as something seasonal huhā¦ā¦]
[Weāre not! Iām on an endless journey in quest for seriousness, pursuing seriousness!!!]
ā¦ā¦Thereās a lot of semantics involved in that quest and pursuit thoughā¦ā¦ W- Well, I guess thatās another part of Senpaiās seriousness. Rather, it seems like these two really know each other huh.
When she was wearing that black cat costume though, she claimed she wasnāt Alice, even though it was quite obviousā¦ā¦
[Now, now. So, you want me to draw a portrait for you?]
[Yeah, one with both of us together.]
[Alrighty~~ Here, finished.]
I donāt know if I should say itās to be expected or not, but Alice seems to have completed the drawing in just a few seconds, and she handed the portrait to Senpai. From where I stand, I couldnāt see the drawing Senpai was holding, so I moved my body a little to check it outā¦ā¦ but Senpai suddenly folded the drawing and moved away from me at a great speed.
[You b*stardā¦ā¦ Stop messing around!!! What the heck is with this picture you painted!!!?]
[Havenāt I painted it well?]
[Youāre fabricating things here!!!]
Hmmm, Iām not sure what the circumstances are, but I guess Alice felt like pulling a prank again and drawing a strange picture, which she gave to Senpai. The fact that she didnāt want me to see it and hid it away means that it wasnāt me, but Senpai who was drawn in a weird way.
[ā¦ā¦Then, should we throw that away?]
[ā¦ā¦N- No, Iāll take this oneā¦ā¦ but make sure to draw another one properly.]
[Yes, yes, you sure got lots of requests.]
It was a rather strange exchange, so, confused, I tilted my head and called out to Senpai.
[D- Donāt you dare come near right now. This is a very dangerous itemā¦ā¦ and I will definitely not let myself be captured!!!]
Hmmm, I really have no idea what she meansā¦ā¦ but her face is red again. Hmmm, from the exchange she had with Alice, I have the feeling that Senpai was the type that gets teased.
Well, I donāt really mind this boisterous atmosphereā¦ā¦
The picture Serious-senpai was desperately trying to hide so that it wouldnāt be seen by Kaitoā¦ā¦ was just as they requested in the beginning, a picture with both Serious-senpai and Kaito on it.
However, because of Aliceās teasing mind, the picture drawn was of Serious-senpai kissing Kaito on the cheek, with a quality that makes it look like a photograph.