Returning ho, ti flew by, and it was soon night. After several hours of intense training, Kitahara Sousuke took a comfortable bath, relieving the fatigue in his body. Sousuke had a bit of a martial arts foundation from his previous life, and upon observing the karate in this world, he realized there was no significant difference between them. The gap only manifested in the difference in physical fitness. All he needed to do was work hard to strengthen his body, to reach a level where he could easily break thick utility poles like the masters in this world.
Walking out of the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel, he collapsed onto the sofa.
On TV, Tokyo Broadcasting System was airing the news.
"A fire broke out in an apartnt in Shinjuku Ward. A man with severe burns died yesterday morning after 48 hours of rescue efforts. Police's preliminary conclusion is suicide."
Sousuke glanced at the victim's photo on the screen and muttered, "Ah... he's dead..."
The face looked like the small-ti thug he had encountered before. His death was unsurprising to Sousuke.
"He lasted a week. I wonder how he spent those seven days... well, whatever."
Sousuke quickly dismissed the thought and refocused on the growing desire in his heart to beco stronger. He picked up his phone and continued chatting with a senior from school.
Katou gumi's lack of presence at school was, in a way, advantageous for his pursuit. Humans, as social creatures, crave recognition from others. Perhaps it was one of the instincts inherent to living beings. Miss Katou gumi, being quiet and almost invisible at school, probably yearned to transform into soone more significant.
Sousuke considered himself a relatively good friend to her, given their interactions. As he thought this, his fingers began to type faster.
The news on TV continued with uninspiring content, truly living up to its na as the Tokyo Broadcasting System. He switched the channel off and picked up the large, not-yet-full trash bag, heading out to verify sothing.
Under the soft glow of the streetlights, the Lolita girl who had disappeared for several days reappeared.
"Hey, do you have a younger sister?" she asked with a cheerful grin, tilting her head.
Sousuke, ignoring her question and dropping the bag in his hand, kept his muscles tense and silently walked away. He couldn't help but feel a sigh escape his chest for the investigative abilities of this world's police.
When he returned ho safely, Sousuke had a sudden thought and typed a ssage into the app on his phone.
"Does Katou-senpai have an older brother at ho?"
anwhile, at Katou gumi's house, she lay sideways on the edge of her bed, wearing pale yellow, raindrop-patterned pajamas, swinging her slippered feet with a smile.
"Kitahara-kun hasn't replied... I wonder what he's doing right now..."
Her body lightly swayed as she turned to face the other side, placing her phone on the bed. She pondered what Sousuke might be doing, and then she saw his question.
"Hmm... no, but I have a male cousin."
The girl didn't find the question odd, as she quickly typed her response. Knowing Sousuke's personality, Katou gumi didn't think he'd ask a aningless question.
"A male cousin, huh... Anyway, please rember what I'm about to say."
Sousuke received her reply. Just in case, he vaguely conveyed what he knew about the Lolita girl. It might seem strange, but he didn't want to cause any regret from montary carelessness.
Katou gumi didn't think Sousuke would lie, and after so thought, she rembered sothing.
"What Kitahara-kun is referring to... could it be about that urban legend everyone calls 'the bizarre Lolita'?"
Sousuke replied, recalling so details about her.
"Yes, that's the one. And it's not just a rumor—it's a real living being."
He still didn't know exactly what she was. Was she truly human? Not only did she have power beyond what ordinary people could resist, but she seed to have the ability to distort reality itself. The things she had done were often deed by the police as human infighting or accidents. Could it really be re misjudgnt by the police?
Sousuke couldn't be sure. In this strange world, the true identity of that girl could be anything—human, ghost, or sothing else. It wouldn't surprise him.
"Perhaps, I need to pursue other kinds of power..." Sousuke thought, his desire growing.
Power wasn't just about martial prowess. The influence one could wield was also a form of ability. Sousuke wasn't particularly interested in it, but for the sake of those around him, maybe he should make himself stronger. After all, this world didn't seem safe.
So people despised power, believing that being different would bring misfortune. But Sousuke believed that having power, even if it didn't bring luck, was better than being powerless. The real misfortune was not being able to protect the people around you.
Sousuke pondered these thoughts while continuing his casual conversation with Katou gumi.
"I once tried to take a picture of that Lolita with my phone, but I failed."
Katou gumi, upon seeing this, didn't express curiosity or regret. Instead, she was concerned for his safety.
"Kitahara-kun's safety cos first. It's better not to risk it."
Sousuke replied, still with a tone of concern.
"Anyway, if you do encounter her, tell your cousin not to talk to her. She's really dangerous."
"Mmm, I'll rember. You be careful too," Katou gumi typed back.
Sousuke smiled slightly at her concern.
"Good night."
After chatting for a while longer, Sousuke sent the ssage and closed his eyes. Tomorrow, he would work hard again.
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