Chapter 159: 159

Hearing the words the dumbfounded Kusunoki-san muttered, I also became surprised as if time had stopped .

[……How did you know that name, Kusunoki-san……]

[…………… . . ]

Kusunoki-san doesn’t say anything . She just froze with her eyes wide open, and after a moment…… tears appeared in her eyes .

I was surprised by those tears, but I was even more astonished by the words she said next .

[……I’m…… “Hibis”……]

[……Eh? Eeehhhh!?]

K- Kusunoki-san is Hibis-kun!? That is…… N- No, she certainly had the same age as him .

To be honest, I’ve always assumed that he was a boy since he told me that he was a boy right from the start but…… There are many people who play online games with false genders, such as Nekamas and Nenabes .

(T/N: Nekamas is a boy pretending to be a girl, well this one should be quite well known, there are lots of them in MMOs . Nenabes is the opposite, a girl pretending to be a boy . )

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[Kusunoki-san…… is Hibis-kun?]

[……Yes . ]

Kusunoki-san nodded at my words, holding back her tears as I asked her, still quite dubious if she’s telling the truth .

……The world really is quite a small place, and even though we are in a different world now, coincidences really happen in places you least expect it . I never expected to see Hibis-kun again here right at this moment .

No, to begin with, she’s a girl who is four years younger than me…… If I hadn’t been summoned to another world, there’s no way we would have even talked with each other like this .

Just accidentally getting caught up in a hero summoning, and among the people that were also caught up was a girl younger than me, who just so happened to be someone I met in an MMO with tens of thousands of people playing, and that girl remembers me…… I think that’s already enough to be called a miracle .

[Ciel-san!?]

[Wha!? Wait, K- Kusunoki-san!?]

[Ciel-san…… As I thought…… You’re Ciel-san……]

[……Unnn . Errr…… It’s been a while, I guess?]

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[ ! ? ]

Kusunoki-san, who jumped in to cling to my chest, was slightly trembling .

And with her voice blurred with tears…… She called the character name I used to use in that MMO many times . Yeah, how should I say this… Being called with that name in real life feels kind of embarrassing……

[……Why… . . Why did you…… leave……]

[Eh?]

[……I…… I’m always…… always…… feeling lonely……]

[……Kusunoki-san . ]

It’s no exaggeration to say that me and Hibis-kun…… Well, Kusunoki-san were always together in that MMO .

I just happened to be the one who approached her when she was a newbie, but Kusunoki-san was always attached to me so much that she always spends the majority of her short log-in time with me .

When I told her that I was retiring three years ago, unlike usual, she connected with me for hours and said goodbye to me .

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Honestly, I felt like I had a little brother at that time too, and that’s why he was my biggest reason as to why I regret retiring .

[……I’m sorry, I was just taking exams at that time…… I lost my parents back then, and my relatives were the ones taking care of me at that time…… I can’t trouble them by becoming a ronin……]

(T/N: A middle schooler/high schooler that has graduated but has failed to enter a school at the next level . )

[……It’s okay . I’m sorry…… I’m the one who was being childish . ]

The main reason I retired from online gaming was to take college exams .

I thought that I would cause trouble for my aunt and uncle if I became a ronin, so I stepped away from online games to concentrate on my studies .

Once I left the game, I didn’t have much of a chance to get back to playing…… and in the end, I never went back to that game until now .

Kusunoki-san said that she’s still playing that game .

I may just be being conceited…… but perhaps, Kusunoki-san…… was waiting for me to come back for a long time .

[……I see, Kusunoki-san is Hibis-kun huh . ]

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[……Yes . ]

[……Well, it’s not like I’ve seen you before, and I’ve always thought you were a boy…… But you’ve grown up huh . I’m glad we met again . ]

[……Ciel……-san…… I…… I……]

Putting my hand on Kusunoki-san’s trembling head, I stroked it as gently as I can .

Kusunoki-san looked like she really was overcome with emotion, and in the end, with large drops of tears streaming down her eyes, she tightly clung on my body .

Although being hugged by a lovely high school girl is a great situation to be in…… There’s an important problem here .

The place where we’re in isn’t exactly my room where we have some sort of privacy, but we’re in the main street…… Yep, in the middle of the main street .

A man and a woman hugging each other in the middle of such a busy street, and the woman is crying while holding onto a man…… Even if I’m the passerby, I would also stop and watch .

[K- Kusunoki-san!? For now, let’s change places!?]

[Eh? Ahh……]

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Hurriedly grabbing Kusunoki-san’s hand, we quickly left the place at a fast pace as I was exposed to strange stares from all directions .

Kusunoki-san looked a little surprised, but she didn’t resist and followed me looking embarrassed, her head held down to cover her face .

Reaching a small, sparsely populated plaza and sitting down next to each other on the wooden benches provided in the area…… We were just fine earlier, but I wonder why? It feels very awkward right now .

Kusunoki-san, still with her head lowered down, with her small hands clasped in front of her chest, seems to be fidgeting for some reason .

She looks very cute like that, but the silence feels heavy because she’s not saying anything .

[E- Errr, Kusunoki-san?]

[!? Y- Y- Y- Yes!?]

[……Are you alright?]

[I- I- I- I’m alright!]

When I called out to her, Kusunoki-san turned to me with a very flustered look on her face…… But when her eyes met mine, she turned bright red and looked away .

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[……You said “As I thought” earlier…… Did you realize earlier that I was Ciel?]

[……No, I wasn’t quite confident with my guess . However, when I thought about when you retired from online gaming and the age difference between you and me, I thought that maybe……]

[Is that so . Sorry, I didn’t notice it at all on my end……]

[No, I wasn’t sure either . Since your name is Kaito, I thought that you got it from the “Kai” in your name which means “Shell”, which had the same pronunciation as “Ciel”, but I thought it was too simple……]

[……I’m sorry I’m too simple . ]

[Eh? Ah, no, y- you’re mistaken! It’s not like I’m trying to make fun of Miyama-san!]

Just as Kusunoki-san said, the origin of my character name was very straightforward .

My real name is Kaito, so taking the Shell from Kai, I just used a word that sounds the as that and used it as my character name…… Yep . It’s very embarrassing . I feel like one of my black history is being exposed .

[……I also got my character name from my own name…… Hibis was taken from Hibiscus, which is a Mallow Flower (Aoika no Hana) . I’ve always said that my online self is different from my real self……]

[I see…… No, but then again, this is quite the coincidence, isn’t it? I never thought we would meet again in this way .

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[Yes, I’m also surprised…… but more than that, I’m glad . ]

[……Glad?]

Kusunoki-san once again looks down in embarrassment, and with a small voice, she muttered .

As I tilted my head at her words, she turned her gaze to me, her cheeks dyed red, and gave me a bashful smile .

[……I thought it would be great……if Ciel-san…… was Miyama-san……]

[ ! ? ]

I could say without hesitation that Kusunoki-san has the appearance that would define her as a beautiful girl .

Her long black hair is smooth and shiny, and as if it was well-practiced, her posture and back muscles were straightened, making the term “Yamato Nadeshiko” fit her really well .

The sight of Kusunoki-san being shy and embarrassed is very cute, and I can’t help but feel the heat rise up on my face without even noticing it .

[Ah, errrr, Kusunoki-sa—- [ Aoi . ] ——-Eh?]

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[Please . Please just call me Aoi…… by my name . If it’s possible, could you also please don’t use “-san”……]

[E- Errr, then…… Aoi-chan?]

[Yes!]

When I called her that, Kusunoki-san…… Aoi-chan let out a very happy smile .

Seeing that smile, which shows her straightforward trust for me, I realized once again that Aoi-chan is Hibis-kun .

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I flusteredly called out to Aoi-chan .

[I’m sure Bell is getting bored, so how about we continue our walk?]

[Yes . ]

Following me as I stand up from the bench, Aoi-chan also stands up .

And, just as I was about to walk over to Bell who was waiting a few distance away from us…… I felt a slight tug on my clothes .

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It’s not a very strong tug, but a gentle, but a reserved one as if it was gently touched…… but it made me stop walking, turning my head to Aoi-chan .

[……Ummm . ]

[Unnn?]

[……Could we go for a stroll together like this again?]

[U- Unnn . Of course, I don’t mind . ]

[……Thank you very much . Once again, I will be in your care . “Kaito-san”!]

Seeing Aoi-chan with a big smile on her face, as if her doubts had been cleared, a smile also appeared on my face .

Dear Mom, Dad—— Aoi-chan was actually the child who was quite attached to me in an MMO I used to play a long time ago . While I was surprised at the amazing coincidence, what bubbled up in my heart was—— gratitude for our strange connection .

I think Aoi-chan is actually quite a legitimate heroine .

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She’s got long black hair, his kouhai, and she’s in high school……

T/N: 33/209