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Faced with the girl's sincere plea, Asakura couldn't help but hesitate.
If the other party were a monster like Yamanokemono that couldn't be reasoned with, or an obvious villain, he would naturally burn them without any psychological burden, even feeling a bit of satisfaction. But now, the other party not only showed no malice but also promised to leave Gotō Hitori's body immediately after fulfilling her wish. In this situation, even Asakura found it difficult to act decisively.
But after a long period of contemplation, Asakura still shook his head.
"No, it's still—"
"I-I also beg Asakura-kun!"
Before Asakura could finish his refusal, Gotō Hitori, who had clearly regained control of her body, heavily slammed her head on the table, making a dull thud. Just listening to it sounded painful.
She probably intended to bow or prostrate herself, but because she didn't consider that she was sitting in a booth, she ended up doing this.
There weren't too many customers in the coffee shop at this time, but with the staff, the numerous gazes looking over still made Asakura feel a chill all over his body.
He glared in the direction of those people a few times, and they quickly quieted down, no longer looking this way.
Although there were exceptions, most islanders who grew up in an environment of 'reading the air' were actually quite indifferent by nature. Otherwise, school bullying wouldn't be so prevalent, even becoming a universal reason to explain the psychological perversion of most villain characters. From this perspective, it's not an exaggeration to even consider it a distorted culture of the island nation.
"I've always been alone, without any abilities, and couldn't help much. Even with my best guitar skills, I couldn't play a satisfactory ensemble with Nijika-senpai and the others... But, but even someone like me, Hoshino-san can understand... She can be my friend... If I can help Hoshino-san with anything..."
Even though her forehead must have been very painful from the impact, the girl still didn't lift her head. She probably felt that if she looked up and saw Asakura's face, the courage she had painstakingly gathered would slip away due to her introverted and timid personality. She only trembled and tried her best to convey her thoughts: "Then this body with a radius of 300mm, it doesn't matter if you take it... I-I think so."
Asakura looked at the girl in surprise.
He had always thought Gotō Hitori was a very timid and shy child. Although she might have a rich inner life and a longing for certain things, such as friendship, attention, and honor—the motivation provided by this level of longing couldn't break through the thick wall of 'introversion' on the outside of her heart. That's why the girl's past life never changed. Perhaps for her, learning to play the guitar and bringing it to school was already the maximum effort she could make.
She didn't want to confide in anyone, and she almost twistedly interpreted others' intentions to communicate in the most pessimistic way. If it weren't for an archangel like Nijika, whose warm care could reach her heart, or an eccentric like Yamada Ryo, whose communication style was inherently so trashy that it didn't matter how pessimistically it was interpreted, it probably wouldn't have been so easy to open the girl's heart.
And now, she had actively broken through her thick heart's wall, desperately conveying her true feelings to Asakura.
"Sigh..."
To this, Asakura could only sigh helplessly: "Since it's your wish, Hitori, as the 'victim', then so be it."
"R-really?!"
The girl looked up with a surprised expression. The bump on her forehead had indeed turned bright red. She would probably have to ice it when she got home, or it would swell up.
"But it will only last until that guy fulfills her wish... Also, Hitori, what's the situation like with you two coexisting?"
Asakura asked.
The girl's face showed a blank, bewildered expression, as if she didn't understand.
"Alright, let me rephrase. Whose hands is the initiative for you two to switch in?"
Asakura rubbed his temples and asked again.
"I don't know..."
The girl said timidly in a low voice, "It's just that when there's an impulse in my heart, it just pops out all of a sudden..."
Asakura pondered.
Listening to Gotō Hitori, it seemed that in her and Hoshino Ai's situation, whoever had a stronger 'impulse to do something' or a greater desire for action was more likely to gain control of the body?
"This won't do."
Asakura said decisively, "The initiative must be in your hands, Hitori."
"Even if Asakura-kun says so…"
The pink-haired girl mumbled softly, her expression showing not an ounce of confidence in herself.
Asakura, of course, knew that he couldn't force Gotō Hitori to overpower Hoshino Ai in terms of spiritual power, given that Hoshino Ai's lingering obsession after death was so strong it could even turn into a ghost.
So he took out a ring.
The ring was bright silver, about one centimeter wide, and its shape looked like willow branches formed into a circle. However, after Asakura's study of the 'leaf' shapes on it, he felt that it was probably mistletoe.
Inside the ring, an unknown orange gem was embedded.
This item was a reward for a past system mission. Asakura had hesitated for a long time between selling it and Phosphophyllite for money. However, when he had it appraised at a pawn shop later, the appraiser said that the ring's material was just ordinary silver, and the yellow beryl embedded in it was not only small but also of low purity, so it wouldn't sell for much. That's why it was ultimately rejected.
However, this item was described as a top-grade 'alchemy material' in the system's explanation, and given its small size, Asakura had always carried it with him.
He held the ring in his hand, his forehead lightly pressed against his fist, and while injecting Magic, he silently chanted: ""Scale""
The Magic representing 'severance' then attached itself to the ring.
"Alright, put on this ring."
Asakura handed the ring in his hand to the girl.
"P-p-p-proposal?!"
Gotō Hitori's facial features were so startled they looked like they were about to fly off her face.
"Of course not."
Asakura said with a strained smile, "It's for separating you and that guy named Hoshino. After wearing this, you'll have the switch to control body swapping."
"Sumimasen…"
Gotō Hitori immediately 'thudded' her head on the table again.
"Don't you feel any pain?"
Asakura said helplessly.
"It…it hurts so much…"
The girl raised her face, showing a (TдT) expression, and said tearfully.
"Seriously, can't you be more careful…? Give me your hand, I'll put it on for you. When you want to swap, just rub the ring face with your thumb…"
Asakura took the girl's hand and put the enchanted ring on her.
"Th-th-th-that…"
Gotō Hitori suddenly sounded strange, like a broken tape Scribe.
"What's wrong?"
Asakura asked, looking at her in confusion, while the girl just pointed to the side, drenched in cold sweat.
The booth Asakura and the girl chose was in a corner of the coffee shop, right next to a huge floor-to-ceiling window.
He looked towards the window and saw the other two members of Kessoku Band looking at them with shocked expressions, as well as Yuigahama Yui, whose expression, for some reason, reminded him of Yanami Anna.
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