Chat Group Crossover: My System Simulates Infinite Anime Worlds — Chapter 63

Chapter 62: A Lie Not Even a Dog Would Believe

In the brief second that followed the door slamming open, a thousand calculations flashed through Nagumo’s mind.

The biting chill that had permeated the clubroom air began to recede as Yukinoshita Yukino concluded her meditation. She exhaled, a thin, silvery wisp of turbid energy escaping her lips. The cold aura that clung to her like a shroud withdrew, and her sharp, intelligent eyes opened, fixing on the intruders with an icy glare.

“Hiratsuka-sensei, please knock before entering. Do you have any concept of what could happen if you were to rashly disturb someone during their cultivation? A qi deviation is not a trivial matter.”

Shizuka Hiratsuka rubbed the back of her head, a sheepish, almost apologetic grin spreading across her face. “Sorry, sorry! I’ll be sure to do it next time. But really, it’s no big deal, is it? Just a little disorder in your vital energy. I can help you smooth that out.”

Yukinoshita Yukino said nothing. She simply stared, her expression a mask of stoicism, at the older woman. Seeing that her teacher showed absolutely no sign of genuine remorse, she let out a quiet, resigned sigh. After all this time, she was used to it.

Her gaze then shifted, landing squarely on Nagumo. Her mind whirred, searching through her memories for any information on the boy standing beside her teacher. She met his eyes directly, her voice as cool and clear as a winter stream.

“I recall you are Nagumo-kun, correct? Do you have some business here?”

Nagumo simply pointed a thumb toward Shizuka. “She dragged me here. I have no more idea what Hiratsuka-sensei is planning than you do.”

Yukinoshita’s piercing gaze shifted back to her teacher.

Shizuka clapped a heavy hand on Nagumo’s shoulder. “Yukino, you said you were short on club members, didn’t you? Well, I’ve brought you one!” She gave Nagumo a little shake. “In exchange, you can guide him in his cultivation. You know the rules—a club needs five members to get funding. Otherwise, this little club of yours is getting scrapped.”

Yukinoshita’s eyes swept over Nagumo, sizing him up from head to toe. She lowered her head, a thoughtful expression on her face. Internally, she had to admit he seemed like a decent candidate. From what little she knew, the boy before her was a martial arts fanatic, a true zealot. He was always training while others were resting. Even on Saturdays and Sundays, his figure was a common sight in the school’s training facilities.

Just as a decision began to form in her mind, Nagumo crossed his arms, his expression turning gravely, intensely serious.

“What is the meaning of this?” he declared, his voice connecting with theatrical weight. “Aren’t you even going to ask for my opinion? You dragged me all the way here just to join some club? This is a complete waste of my precious time.”

He paused for dramatic effect, then proclaimed, “I, Nagumo, get the greatest thrill from telling self-righteous people ‘NO’!”

As his voice fell, the room plunged into a sudden, awkward silence.

A vein throbbed at Shizuka Hiratsuka’s temple. Why does that line sound so damn familiar?

Her mind raced, and she suddenly remembered seeing something similar in the Chat Group. A few volumes of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure had been released earlier in this world than on Earth; there was definitely a line like that in there.

A ridiculous, impossible thought struck her: Could Nagumo be a transmigrator?

But just as quickly as the thought appeared, she forcefully dismissed it. It was far more likely to be a coincidence. Besides, based on her observations of his personality over the past few weeks, it wasn’t entirely out of character for him to say something so dramatic and defiant.

Yukinoshita Yukino let out another soft sigh, gently tucking a stray strand of black hair behind her ear. “Hiratsuka-sensei, it seems you’ve brought me a problem student. I understand your request now.”

Hearing this, Shizuka was completely lost. Several invisible question marks popped up over her head. “What do you mean, ‘my request’? What problem student? Are we even on the same page here?”

“Hahahahaha!” A sudden, hearty laugh erupted from Nagumo, shattering the tension.

Both Shizuka and Yukinoshita turned to him with baffled expressions, utterly failing to comprehend what he found so amusing. What was so funny?

It might not have been funny to them, but to Nagumo, it was hilarious. It was all an act, a little performance to vent some steam, and he felt a bit better for it. This was far more entertaining than the time he forced a squad of Greater Daemons in the Warp to wear clown suits and tap dance.

Yukinoshita stared at him, her brow slightly furrowed. “Nagumo-kun, what are you laughing at?”

Nagumo waved a dismissive hand. “Nothing, I just thought of something funny.” He turned on his heel. “Since there’s nothing for me to do here, I’ll be going.”

And with that, he walked out.

Shizuka watched his departing back, her brain finally catching up to the situation. She had brought the kid here to be reformed, not to let him just walk away!

By the time she rushed out of the clubroom, Nagumo was already nowhere to be seen.

Shizuka stood in the empty hallway, hands on her hips in exasperation. “That damn brat runs fast. At this rate, I really doubt you’ll ever find a girlfriend.”

Nagumo walked out of the school gates, his pace measured and unhurried. He glanced back over his shoulder once, and just as he was about to continue on his way…

A cool, almost emotionless voice spoke from directly behind him.

“You seem happy. What were you laughing at?”

Nagumo stopped, his hands still tucked into his pockets. He answered calmly without turning around. “What I’m laughing at is none of your business, is it? Also, try not to be so elusive. You know, you could scare someone to death appearing like that.”

“Really?” The girl who had just spoken took a few quick steps to position herself directly in front of him, tilting her head as she observed his expression. “From your tone and your face, I don’t see you being scared at all.”

Nagumo looked at the beautifully proportioned girl in the school uniform standing before him—the one and only Grand Assassin, Kato Megumi.

At that moment, Megumi silently raised a hand to subtly cover her chest, though her placid expression never changed. “Nagumo-kun, please don’t look at me with those eyes.”

“Then what kind of eyes am I supposed to use?” Nagumo retorted dryly. “I am, after all, an adolescent male.”

Hearing this, Kato Megumi was momentarily speechless. While she was happy to be noticed by him, he really shouldn’t talk to a girl like that. But then she remembered his personality; he was just a block of wood when it came to romance. She briefly thought about Nishinomiya Shoko, and how she had managed to stick by his side for so long without ever leaving.

Nagumo, his hands still in his pockets, sensed the subtle shift in her vital energy. “Looks like you’ve made a breakthrough.”

Kato Megumi nodded. “That’s right. I had a feeling over the weekend. I didn’t come to school yesterday because I went to the guild for my certification. I was hoping… we could take a mission together. Earn some pocket money.”

“Sorry,” Nagumo said, shaking his head with a sigh of deep regret. His expression was one of deep apology. “I’d really love to go with you, but I haven’t reached Two-Star yet.”

Hearing this, Kato Megumi gave him a flat, skeptical stare. It was a look that clearly communicated that not even a dog would believe a word he was saying.

Nagumo saw her expression and held up his hands defensively. “I’m telling the truth.”

As he spoke, he raised his wrist, tapping the face of his watch-like device. He expertly manipulated his aura, controlling his vital energy level to appear as a peak One-Star.

“If you don’t believe me, look.” The device’s screen lit up. “If you don’t trust my words, trust the machine. I’m still at the ninth stage of One-Star, stuck right at the final membrane. I just can’t seem to break through, no matter what I do.”

Kato Megumi leaned in, her gaze falling upon the value displayed on the device. The glowing number was precisely maintained at 99.9.

Just one tiny fraction more, and he would break through to the Two-Star realm—at least, that’s what it would look like for any ordinary cultivator.