Chapter Fifty-Four: The Moment the Genius Evil Spirit is Born
For the students,
Summer vacation always passes particularly quickly.
Except for the day he stayed over at Nagino’s house.
Kanzaki no longer felt that unsettling gaze directed at him.
He had reported this matter to Alice, but after some investigation, it seemed unrelated to the fantasy creatures.
Kanzaki could only regard it as one of those affectionate gazes from his childhood friend, albeit a bit more intense this time.
After all, Nagino’s outfit that day was indeed dazzling.
The relationship between Kanzaki and Nagino did not change much over the summer.
Kanzaki continued to exercise with Nagino every morning.
In the evenings, he practiced his abilities with DD-chan.
Sometimes he would consult Alice to learn some self-defense techniques.
He spent a holiday that was more fulfilling than usual.
The only regret for Kanzaki was not being able to attend the Kawano City summer festival with Nagino.
The Kawano City summer festival wasn’t large.
After all, it was just a small, remote town.
The venue was generally set at the foot and halfway up Shirayama, where people could stroll around the festival and pray at the shrine.
Kanzaki remembered that he rarely participated when he was younger.
Because he was just a child staying with his uncle and aunt, and they didn’t seem that interested in such events.
But starting this year, he was already a middle school student.
He had the right to go out in the evening as long as he didn’t come home too late.
He thought he could finally enjoy the summer festival with Nagino, but unfortunately, it rained heavily that day.
In the end, they couldn’t go after all.
But Kanzaki felt very content just to spend stable daily life with Nagino like this.
Today was the first day of the new school semester.
Wearing his middle school uniform, Kanzaki vaguely felt that the previously loose uniform had become better fitting.
Was it because he grew taller during the vacation? Or was it because exercising with Nagino every day had made his body stronger?
Kanzaki thought.
After he went downstairs to have breakfast,
the doorbell rang.
“Good morning, Kanzaki-kun~”
Opening the door revealed Nagino’s dignified and adorable figure.
As it was already early September,
Nagino had changed back to a long-sleeved uniform, with a pure white shirt and a vibrant red ribbon at the collar, and a gray and dark blue plaid skirt. Her long legs were still clad in black stockings.
Although Kanzaki had seen Nagino almost every day during summer vacation,
he was still stunned by her outstandingly cute appearance, and after this vacation,
he felt that Nagino was becoming more and more beautiful. Her originally tall stature had grown, and her body now exhibited more feminine curves.
Especially in the chest area, it could be described as “initially taking shape,” causing Kanzaki’s gaze to frequently wander there lately.
Kanzaki thought that after growing taller during this vacation, he might catch up to Nagino’s height.
But unexpectedly, he was still half a head shorter than her as before.
Now, after finishing their morning exercises,
Nagino would return home to wash up quickly before coming to pick up Kanzaki for school.
“Good morning, Nagino.”
Kanzaki greeted her.
Then, as usual, Nagino reached out her small hand to Kanzaki.
“D-do we have to do it again today?”
“Ugh— you clearly said you would always hold my hand to school~”
“I got it, so don’t lean your face closer… Too close!”
As Nagino’s stunningly cute face moved nearer, they were almost at a distance where their lips could touch.
Her bright eyes, adorned with countless starlights, exuded a charm that made it hard to look away.
The faint scent wafting from her made Kanzaki involuntarily step back repeatedly.
Fearing that he might not be able to resist kissing Nagino’s jelly-like, crystal-clear lips at any moment.
Aside from his physical growth, Kanzaki also felt his desires swelling.
He understood what was meant by the manga’s depiction of boys in puberty being filled with impure thoughts.
Having such thoughts about Nagino, a pure and naturally beautiful girl, made Kanzaki occasionally feel guilty, but he felt there was no helping it.
After all, who could endure a beautiful childhood friend completely unaware of her outstanding looks, who didn’t understand the distance between boys and girls, and who was always unguarded and clinging so closely?
Let alone the fact that she was the girl he had a crush on.
“Alright, let’s go,” Kanzaki finally mustered his courage and took Nagino’s hand.
The peaceful life had dulled Kanzaki’s heart.
Making him forget that there were truly malicious beings who would harbor ill intentions toward his childhood friend.
Not only supernatural entities—
……
……
In the second semester.
Not long after school started, it was time for the school visiting day.
To put it simply,
it was a day for parents to visit the school to observe their children in class.
At the same time, teachers communicated with the parents to understand students’ situations, and so on.
Some students were very anxious about this.
For example, Kanzaki, who stayed with relatives, had always been alone during the school visiting day during elementary school.
Although during this time, Nagino’s mother would generously treat Kanzaki as part of her family, taking part in various activities that required parental involvement.
Kanzaki was very grateful for that.
But for Kanzaki, it was also a very awkward time, as if his relationship with Nagino had gained approval from her mother.
It often led to classmates teasing him afterward, likening him and Nagino to a little couple.
However, this year, as Nagino’s parental representative, it was Sayaka, who had delayed her college start and could continue to stay in Kawano City.
While Nagino’s mother seemed to participate in another session on Renji’s side.
Sayaka wore a dignified and elegant black dress, and her outstanding appearance stood out among other parental representatives.
It even drew the attention of some male parents.
Thinking that she might be acting as his parental representative made Kanzaki feel a pang in his stomach.
The only good news was that Sayaka was more knowledgeable than Nagino and wouldn’t suddenly make any affectionate gestures.
At that moment, Sayaka sat excitedly at the back of the classroom, seemingly pleased to be able to see her sister in class.
But Nagino’s attention was not on her sister’s overly affectionate behavior.
By the way, why are all the children from the Hoshimiya family so infatuated with their younger sisters? Is this my fault too!? Nagino questioned herself inwardly.
Unfortunately, she could not find an answer.
What truly caught Nagino’s attention at that moment was the gentle-looking black-haired woman sitting at the back of the classroom, elegantly dressed.
During the break,
while Sayaka was engaging Kanzaki in conversation,
Nagino quickly ran out into the corridor to catch up with the black-haired woman.
“Sensei~” Nagino called out.
Her voice made the woman pause for a moment.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it~ Nagino-chan, how have you been lately?”
Aiko Yoko gradually turned around, revealing a faint smile of reminiscence.
She was the mother of Manaka Yoko.
At the same time, she was the mentor who had once taught Nagino acting and helped her enter the entertainment industry.
Since that incident occurred,
this close bond between master and student had become much rarer.
On previous school visiting days, Aiko would usually avoid Nagino.
Generally, it would be Manaka’s manager, Akiyano, who attended as the parental representative.
But today, Aiko surprisingly came to school.
This made Nagino sense something unusual.
Emotionally and logically, she felt compelled to greet her.
“I’m doing well~” Nagino replied innocently as usual.
“Is that so? That’s good~”
Seeing this, Aiko couldn’t help but reach out her hand, wanting to pat her student’s cute head just like before.
However, her hand stopped just a few centimeters away from Nagino’s silky hair.
When she thought she had acted a bit out of line and wanted to withdraw her hand,
Nagino lightly tiptoed and actively leaned her head toward Aiko’s palm.
“Hehe~”
Nagino revealed a happy smile.
“Really, Nagino-chan, you’re such a child~”
Aiko wore an expression of “you win,” gently caressing Nagino’s silky hair, which was akin to high-quality silk.
This made her recall her first encounter with the “genius child star” standing before her.
……
……
Aiko was once a celebrity in the entertainment industry and had married a foreign male star to give birth to Manaka.
However, in the year Manaka entered elementary school, this happy family faced turmoil.
At that time, Aiko had just divorced and subsequently withdrew from the entertainment industry.
Gaining custody of Manaka, she aimed to provide her daughter with better living conditions.
Thus, she took up a teaching position at a nearby children’s acting training class during her free time.
Although called a training class, many guests saw it as a playground where children could enjoy playing roles from their favorite fairy tales on stage.
So when Aiko first saw Nagino walk through the door, holding both parents’ hands, she thought she was also one of the participants.
At that time, Nagino was still in elementary school, petite and slender, with beautiful black hair akin to the night sky, her skin as white as snow, without a single flaw.
Having seen countless beautiful children in the entertainment industry, Aiko was still stunned by this girl’s angelic and exquisitely cute appearance, momentarily forgetting to breathe.
Especially her eyes, the black pupils were like tranquil lakes, deep and mysterious abysses, exuding an unspeakable charm.
It was as if one could be drawn into their depths—
Aiko subconsciously looked away.
Then her gaze met with the girl’s parents.
As the current responsible person at the venue, Aiko smiled as she approached.
“Good morning, nice to meet you, I am the teacher at the children’s acting training center, Aiko Yoko.”
“Hello! My name is Hoshimiya Nagino, I look forward to working with you.”
What surprised Aiko was that the cute black-haired angel responding to her self-introduction was Nagino.
Moreover, her voice was as melodious as silver bells, clearly articulated, completely devoid of the typical childish lisping, and her tone was steadier, showing no signs of nervousness or anxiety in front of adults.
Her polite demeanor and proactive behavior in greeting showed she had received a good education, and her outgoing nature was evident.
Combined with her seemingly expensive white dress, it was clear she was the daughter of a wealthy family.
Drawing on her observational skills honed during her acting days, Aiko initially categorized this girl named Hoshimiya Nagino.
“Hello, Hoshimiya-chan, what are you here to do today?” Aiko put on a friendly smile and used a tone suited for children based on the employee reception handbook.
“I want to be an actress! I want to learn how to act!”
“Is that so? Hoshimiya-chan is really impressive~” Aiko responded while secretly glancing up to catch the parents’ gaze.
From the parents’ expressions of wry smiles, Aiko made a judgment about the adorable girl before her.
Born into a wealthy family, this innocent little princess might have become enamored with a handsome actor from some show and whimsically wished to become an actress, her indulgent parents brought her here to satisfy her whim.
That was the sensation she got.
Aiko sighed inwardly.
Though the girl’s appearance was stunning at first glance, upon closer observation, she found that she was no different from other spoiled children brought by their parents for fun.
Children growing up in privileged environments couldn’t truly be interested in learning to act.
Aiko was confident in her judgment of people; during her acting career, she always relied on this intuition, and thus she lost interest in the girl before her immediately.
“So, Hoshimiya-chan, what role do you want to play?”
As an employee, Aiko still had to follow the procedures laid out in the handbook, though she had no expectations for the girl’s response.
Aiko had seen many girls of this age at the reception.
She knew they all aspired to play princesses or other seemingly sparkling roles from fairy tales.
“I want to play Sadako or Kayako!”
“Is that so? Hoshimiya-chan wants to play the—what?” Aiko doubted her hearing for a moment, her eyes widening.
How could she possibly hear the names of those spirits come out of the mouth of such a cute little girl?
It must have been a mishearing, right? Sigh, indeed, one’s hearing worsens with age.
“Ah, I don’t mean I must have Sadako or Kayako; I can also play Jason and Freddy!”
The girl anxiously added to the list of spirits.
Worried about that problem!? Aiko felt her confidence in her judgment slip for the first time.
This was the first meeting between Aiko and the future “genius child star” Hoshimiya Nagino.
