Chapter 67 The Fisherman's Mental Pollution Aha (Koushi) immediately got up from the ground as if nothing had happened, even exaggeratingly patting away non-existent dust from his body.
Then, under Chinatsu's icy gaze, he did something that made Chinatsu's eye twitch slightly—
He lifted the arm that Chinatsu had just locked with a joint technique, an arm that theoretically should have been temporarily dislocated, and casually, as if just adjusting his posture.
With a 'click,' he effortlessly popped the joint back into place, the movement as fluid and natural as unscrewing a bottle cap.
After all that, he even gave Chinatsu a comical, clown-like curtain call.
His body bent into an exaggerated arch, his face beaming with that signature, seemingly never-fading, joyful smile.
"My dear'sister,'" he said in Koushi's voice, speaking in riddles.
"Today's performance is temporarily over, and Aha had a very happy time ~"
He straightened up, the mask-like mark in his eyes flickering slightly, and with endless mockery and profound malice, he whispered:
"However, before Aha leaves, let me leave you a small question ~"
"Do you want to guess what... true 'joy' is for Aha?"
He tilted his head, his smile growing brighter and more sinister:
"If you guess correctly... there's a 'reward' ~ ♪"
The moment his words fell, Chinatsu clearly felt the vast and chaotic will that had been entrenched within the 'Koushi' construct rapidly dissipate like a receding tide.
Deprived of support, the construct's eyes instantly became hollow and lifeless, its body swayed, and then, like a puppet with cut strings, it softly collapsed to the ground with a 'thump,' no longer moving.
The apartment immediately fell silent, leaving only Chinatsu's slightly hurried breathing.
She looked at the 'brother's' husk lying on the ground, weakly held her forehead, and let out a long sigh filled with exhaustion and exasperation.
"Ugh... what kind of situation is this..."
She walked over to the inactive construct, squatted down, and lightly touched its cold cheek with her fingertip.
After confirming that Aha had indeed left, a barely perceptible blue glow emanated from her palm, scanning the construct's entire body like a data stream.
The next moment, the meticulously constructed 'Koushi' body decomposed and vanished into the air as silently as if erased by an eraser, leaving no trace.
(True joy? Who wants to guess your twisted riddle!)
(I just hope this plague god doesn't come back... Tomorrow's 'date'... I still have to figure out how to get through it...)
Chinatsu felt more mentally exhausted than ever; not only did she have to deal with Fraxinus's strategy, but she also had to guard against a Stellaron who enjoyed causing trouble. Her future days were destined to be anything but peaceful.
Finally, Chinatsu was alone in the apartment. She irritably ran her fingers through her ice-blue long hair and slumped onto the sofa, feeling physically and mentally drained.
But thinking of that damn 'date' tomorrow, and the twisted task and punishment Aha had left, she had no choice but to force herself to perk up.
(Calm down, Phoenix-in Chinatsu, no, Koushi! What you need now is strategy!) she told herself.
First, analyze the enemy's modus operandi: "Fraxinus will definitely plan everything for Itsuka Shido. I don't need to worry about the location..."
She pouted, disdainful of such 'official cheats.'
"It's nothing more than those clichés—Amusement Park, movie theater, aquarium, at most a shopping street or a park stroll. So trite!"
Then, her thoughts inevitably drifted to that task punishment—permanently solidifying into a female form, and randomly losing male habits or memories!
(The right to pee standing up! My love for machinery and gaming magazines! And my limited edition Gundam models! No! Absolutely not!)
At this thought, she angrily punched the armrest of the sofa, letting out a muffled 'thud.'
"Damn Itsuka Shido! Why bring up 'getting to know each other'! Fine! Getting to know each other, is it? A date, is it?!"
She gritted her teeth, a strange flame, mixed with anger and a desire to win, burning in her eyes.
(Men understand men best! Your little schemes, how could I not know them?)
A stubbornness belonging to 'Koushi' surged within her.
(Since I can't avoid it, then bring it on! Let's see who outplays whom! If I don't reel you in like a bigmouth bass tomorrow, I'm not a man! Bah! I'm already a man!)
After venting, Chinatsu took a deep breath, and blue data streams cascaded through her eyes—Reason Law Jurisprudence Authority · Scenario Simulation, activated!
She decided to start practicing with the 'Amusement Park,' which had the highest probability.
Simulation Scenario One: Amusement Park · Roller Coaster
In an instant, the scenery around her twisted and recombined. Noisy crowds, colorful lights, and the roar of steel behemoths instantly surrounded her.
She'sat' in the front row of the roller coaster, next to a simulated Shido, who looked nervous but was trying to act calm.
(Alright! Begin!)
According to the plan, as the roller coaster climbed to its highest point, just before its descent, she let out a 'just right' short gasp.
Her body 'instinctively' pressed tightly against Shido next to her, her hands gripping his arm tightly, burying her face in his shoulder.
(Contact successful! Heart rate acceleration simulated! Fear emotion rendered! Perfect!)
However, the moment she buried her face according to the'script,' an extremely strong sense of awkwardness and repulsion, stemming from male instinct, shot through her body like an electric current!
(Wait! This posture...! Me, a grown man, burying my head in another man's shoulder?! What kind of gay operation is this?!)
She could even 'feel' the touch of Shido's arm muscles and body temperature transmitted through the simulation signal, which made her scalp tingle. But for the plan, she endured it!
The roller coaster plunged and spun wildly. She forced herself to maintain the 'dependent' posture.
She even, according to the calculation, let out a trembling, almost tearful sound during a sharp turn: "Ah—! Shido... I'm scared...!"
(Ugh—! I wasn't even scared when I piloted a Gundam through a hail of bullets back then! Why would I be scared on a roller coaster?! These lines are too embarrassing!)
The simulation ended, and the scene dissipated.
Chinatsu gasped sharply, rubbing her arms vigorously, feeling goosebumps rise.
(No, no! The Amusement Park is too dangerous! Too much physical contact, too much mental pollution! Change it!)
Simulation Scenario Two: Aquarium · Ethereal Tunnel
The scene switched.
Surrounded by deep blue, the shadows of giant whale sharks slowly glided overhead, serene and dreamlike.
She and Shido stood side by side in front of a giant glass wall.
(This is good, quiet, suitable for psychological warfare.)
According to the plan, she looked up slightly at the swimming fish, her ice-blue eyes particularly hazy in the dim blue light, her face revealing a just-right, subtly melancholic longing.
(Expression control perfect! Atmosphere full!)
She spoke softly, her voice deliberately gentle and slightly ethereal:
"They... look so free, carefree..."
(Good, evoke empathy!)
Then, following the optimal solution of the calculation, she quietly, as if unconsciously, gently moved her hand close to Shido's hand, which hung naturally by his side.
Her fingertips almost, but not quite, touching, conveying a delicate probe and intimacy.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch the back of Shido's hand—
Chinatsu's simulation program almost crashed directly!
(Oh my god! What am I doing?! Actively touching a man's hand?! How is this any different from being a pervert?!)
A chill ran from her tailbone straight to the top of her head!
She almost reflexively pulled her hand back, but reason (and the fear of the task punishment) forcibly suppressed her instinct.
Leaving that hand stiffly in place, maintaining that ambiguous and intensely uncomfortable distance.
The simulation ended.
Chinatsu looked at her right hand, which had just been 'up to no good,' her expression twisted.
(Damn... this aquarium looks quiet, but its destructive power is not small at all! This subtle seduction is even more uncomfortable than direct contact!)
Simulation Scenario Three: Movie Theater · Romance Film
The scene changed again.
In the dim cinema, a touching drama of life and death was playing on the screen.
She and Shido sat side by side, sharing a bucket of popcorn.
(Opportunity has come!)
According to the plan, at the crucial moment when the heroine was in tears, she should appropriately show empathy, for example... subtly wiping the corner of her eye.
So, she raised her hand and gently wiped the corner of her eye with her fingertip, her movement elegant and with a hint of fragility.
(Action completed! Effect...)
She subconsciously, through the simulation, felt her current'state'—a stunningly beautiful blue-haired girl, whose eyes were slightly red in the dim light due to a moving love story, her eyelashes damp, looking pitiful... (...Pitiful my ass! Am I crying because of this melodramatic plot?! No! I'm not crying at all! It's acting! Acting!)
A strong sense of self-loathing arose. She found herself so deeply immersed in playing a'soft girl moved by a love story.'
This made her feel like her soul as a man was trembling.
The simulation ended.
Chinatsu slumped on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling, feeling completely drained.
She had originally thought of herself as a 'fishing master' sitting firmly on the Diaoyu Islands.
Ready to manipulate Shido with her superb acting skills.
However, after these rounds of simulations, she was horrified to find that it seemed she was the first one to break down!
Every meticulously designed flirtatious move, every soft word spoken with a forced voice, was like a boomerang.
Accurately hitting her remaining dignity and cognition as a man, causing tons of mental damage.
(I was clearly scheming against him... why do I feel like I'm the one who's most unclean?!)
She was horrified to discover that in this fishing game, which she thought she was leading, she was the first one to be disgusted.
Every provocative move was like a boomerang, accurately hitting her last shred of dignity as a man.
She clutched her hair tightly, letting out a mournful cry:
"This job is not for humans—!!!"
However, at the thought of Aha's twisted punishment, she had no choice but to grit her teeth, sit up straight again, her eyes flashing with humiliated yet resolute light.
(No! For the right to pee standing up! For my Gundam models! I'll risk it all!)
She activated the Reason Law Jurisprudence Authority again, beginning a new round of 'combat drills' that caused her immense torment.
Only this time, her expression was more like someone heading to an execution ground than a romantic rendezvous.