Multiverse: Starting with Cursed Spirit Manipulation Chapter 137: [137] : Aren’t You Afraid?

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"OF COURSE NOT!"

Yui Yuigahama, finally catching on to the situation, imdiately intervened. She bounced over to Hina Ebina, cheerfully wrapping her arms around the girl's sleeve.

"We're good friends! There's no way you'd be intruding!!" Yui didn't want her friend to feel awkward, so she jumped in and invited her right away.

"Exactly, Hina. Co with us!" Yumiko Miura also agreed, flashing her a warm smile.

"T-Then... I'll take you up on that!" Hina gave in after seeing how really excited Yui and Yumiko were. For a mont, her eyes showed just how grateful she felt.

'Thank goodness. I haven't been completely pushed out.'

She peeked quickly at Kai. She knew exactly what had happened. If Kai hadn't said sothing, Yui and Yumiko might not have rembered to invite her.

Catching Hina's intense stare, Kai simply offered a soothing smile.

"..."

That small gesture made Hina look down at the floor, too embarrassed to et his eyes.

'Maybe... joining Yumiko and Yui in this wouldn't be so bad. Kai is very talented and handso. It's not like I'd be losing out, right?'

While Hina struggled with her thoughts, Mai Sakurajima's voice sounded in Kai's ear again.

"Dammit! Another innocent girl is about to fall into your trap. I shouldn't have expected anything less from you." She spoke with obvious sarcasm.

Mai had an up-close view of the furious blush spreading on Hina's face. If she couldn't read the obvious signs of a crush, her years of surviving the entertainnt industry would have been for nothing.

"..."

Kai didn't even look at Mai. He ignored her sarcasm and kept pretending not to notice anything.

Sensing a subtle shift under the desk, he smoothly caught Yumiko's wrist. Glancing over to ensure Yui was still blissfully oblivious, he leaned in and whispered into Yumiko's ear, "You're getting bolder by the minute, aren't you?"

Yumiko's secret touches were getting bolder. If they weren't in a crowded classroom, Kai would have dealt with her teasing right away.

"Then hurry up and get Yui to accept the arrangent!" Yumiko was incredibly satisfied with his reaction. This was exactly the response she wanted to provoke. She whispered back into his ear.

If Yui knew the truth and accepted it, Yumiko wouldn't have to sneak around and play coy anymore.

"Relax. I'll eat you up sooner or later."

'She's getting impatient,' Kai thought with a quiet laugh. He pulled back and quickly returned to acting like a serious, model student.

"Hmph!" Yumiko let out a soft huff at his rapid switch.

Still deep down, she loved the difference. Watching him act polite in public but mischievous with her in private was exciting.

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During the lunch break.

Kai walked to the Service Club, with Mai following close behind. As expected, she saw a whole group of girls waiting in the clubroom.

"Hiss!" Mai took a sharp breath. She stared at Kai in shock. 'Wow. I thought I was exaggerating about how much of a scumbag you are, but I actually didn't give you enough credit.'

How does he even keep up with so many girls?

Luckily, Kai couldn't hear what she was thinking. If he could, he'd probably want to show her just how good he was at managing his ti.

"By the way, the family dinner is scheduled for tomorrow night. Don't forget," Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly spoke up. She dabbed her mouth with a napkin, feigning complete nonchalance as she addressed Kai.

"Tomorrow night?" Kai hadn't forgotten her invitation. "Alright, got it."

He didn't have any serious plans for tomorrow evening anyway, so attending wasn't an issue.

When he agreed so easily, Yukino gave a gentle smile.

"But wait!" Kai looked up, his eyes playful. "Since this is a formal Yukinoshita family dinner, what am I supposed to be? A friend? Or sothing else?"

He looked at her, waiting for her answer.

"A-As a friend, obviously!" Yukino stamred. She awkwardly turned her head, suddenly finding it impossible to et his gaze.

After all the ti they'd spent together, Yukino was no longer the distant Ice Queen she used to be. Without noticing, Kai had helped her open up.

"And here I thought I was going as your boyfriend!"

"W-What are you talking about?" Yukino jumped up, her face turning bright red. Kai teased her a lot, but he didn't usually say things this direct.

"Ara, ara!" Sitting next to gumi Kato, Marin Kitagawa giggled in delight at Yukino's flustered reaction. "I honestly thought our club president and Kai-kun were already dating! I guess I was wrong!"

"S-Since when??"

'Am I dating Kai? Why didn't I know?' Even though she tried to sound defensive, a bit of hope slipped into her voice.

"You aren't?" Marin tilted her head, studying Yukino's reaction for a mont before flashing a wicked grin. "In that case, I actually really like Kai-kun myself!"

Leaning over, Marin boldly wrapped her arms around one of Kai's arms. "If the president isn't interested in him, do you mind if I make a move?"

"No!" Yukino fired back instantly, without a single second of delay.

But as soon as she said it, she saw Marin's amused look. Yukino stamred, not sure how to explain herself.

"Alright, that's enough," gumi finally intervened. Shaking her head helplessly, she walked over and pulled Marin off Kai. "Sorry about that, President. Marin is just ssing with you!"

'I know you want to help Kai out,' gumi thought, 'but you're moving way too quickly. Yukino isn't soone you can win over that easily.'

"Hehe!" As she was dragged away, Marin unabashedly flashed a peace sign at Yukino, playing off her bold move as nothing more than a fun prank.

Phew...

No matter what Marin ant, gumi's help was a huge relief. Yukino let out a long sigh and gave gumi a grateful look. Without her, Yukino wouldn't have known how to get out of that situation.

But when Yukino saw Kai—the one who started all this—sitting there acting innocent, she rolled her eyes. "Wicked jerk."

Who do you think caused this ss in the first place??

Kai just smiled. He had to admit, seeing Yukino flustered and blushing was really cute.

"By the way," Kai suddenly turned his attention to Hitori Gotou, who was sitting quietly on the side. "When is your band's first live performance, Bocchi?"

Hitori was easy to please. For her, just knowing Kai rembered her and cared enough to ask was more than enough.

"T-The live performance is next week!"

"Next week? Got it. We'll all be there to support you when the ti cos!"

Even after all this ti, Hitori's social anxiety had barely improved. Kai was curious to see what kind of music she would play on stage now.

"Yeah, yeah! We'll definitely be there!"

"I really want to hear Hitori play too!"

Marin and the other girls imdiately chid in, showering Hitori with enthusiastic support.

"Mhm!" Hearing her friends cheer her on filled Hitori with tenderness and made her even more determined.

'I must do a fantastic performance. I can't fail my friends... And most certainly, I mustn't let Kai-kun down.'

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"How much longer are you going to ignore ??"

After school, while they walked ho, Mai finally lost her patience. She leaned close to Kai's ear and yelled. Being ignored all day had been torture.

"Can't be helped!" Kai shrugged, finally stopping his act and paying attention to her. "As you can see, Mai-senpai, most of my ti goes to my lovely girlfriends. I don't really have ti for anything else!"

"..."

He says that with so much pride...

'Girlfriends.' Plural. That was the keyword. If she hadn't seen it herself, Mai would never have believed soone as shaless as Kai could exist.

"Aren't you afraid one of them is going to snap and take a at cleaver to you one of these days?" she demanded, referencing the infamous School Days ending.

"I'm a Jujutsu Sorcerer, rember?"

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