The World’s Strongest Bottom-Tier Dungeon Streamer, Who Buzzed Big after Streaming Post-ts Reincarnation Due to Immense Strength and Cuteness - Vol 2 Chapter 9/10

While eating in the cafeteria,I managed to have a conversation with Kanna-san and Ringo-san, though indirectly through Momoha.

“Why do you find it hard to talk?”

During such idle chatter, Kanna-san expressed her curiosity about me.

“…Oops.”

“Is it something you can talk about?”

“…Y-yes.”

I nodded in response to Momoha’s inquiry, bringing my mouth close to her ear. It wasn’t a topic that needed to be kept secret.

“Maybe from being abused in the past… I always worry that I might get yelled at or hit if I say something… so it always takes me a while to start talking. There’s this ever-fearful gatekeeper inside me that shrinks and recoils… Maybe it’s just my natural disposition too.”

And with that, I probably explained the root of my communication issues.

“…Is that so?”

“Y-yeah… probably.”

I nodded in response to Momoha’s words.

“…Mugh!”

“What?”

At that, Momoha suddenly embraced me.

“Just feel free to talk to me about anything, okay? I’ll accept whatever you say!”

“Y-yeah…!”

Having lived under the same roof for about a month, I had gradually come to instinctively accept Momoha.

I think I can talk without shrinking back when I’m with Momoha.

“What brought this on?”

“Was there something special?”

“Special, as in… it’s okay to talk, right?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded at Momoha’s words.

“…Well, Sakuya-chan had been abused, and because of those experiences, she finds it difficult to speak. It seems she gets yelled at and hit whenever she says something.”

And responding to that, I nodded as if completely agreeing with what Momoha had just said.

“…I see.”

“…That must have been quite harrowing.”

Hearing such a story, both Kanna-san and Ringo-san appeared utterly speechless.

“…Sorry for carelessly asking about such a delicate topic.”

“What!? …Uh, that…”

Kanna-san’s apology followed by her flustered voice.

“It’s… okay… Momoha.”

There were various unpleasant things in the past.

But now it’s different.

There’s no need to apologize, and there’s no need for the atmosphere to become somber.

“It’s okay now because Momoha is here, no need to apologize.”

“~~!”

In my haste to recover from the current situation, I conveyed to Momoha that I was happy now.

Living together, occasionally engaging in streaming activities to satisfy our endless desire for approval, I was content with our current situation.

◆　◇　◆

After I shared the reasons behind my social awkwardness, I think my classmates started to treat me a bit nicer.

Is this what they call sympathy? Hehe, I’m just happy that everyone is being kind.

But… I can’t let my guard down just yet.

Even if they are sympathetic now, if I become too complacent, they might grow tired of me eventually.

I must avoid that at all costs…!

“Then…”

As I resolved myself…

“Let’s study.”

The first challenge that confronted me was academic and had nothing to do with social skills.

“Ugh.”

After returning home from school, I groaned as Momoha laid out her study materials and suggested we study.

“Come on, don’t be so down. We need to take our studies seriously. It’s part of being a student, right?”

“But… I’m an adventurer. I probably don’t need to study for my future…”

“Still, studying is important for communication, right?”

“…!?”

“Mathematical reasoning and literacy are essential for smooth communication. Nobody wants to talk to someone who can’t understand basic things, and having a broad education means having more to talk about.”

“…!?”

I felt as if I had been struck by lightning at Momoha’s words.

“Studying is never a waste, you know? You might not use things like classical Chinese, but overall, it’s better to study. Shall we get started?”

“Uh, yeah. I’ll try my best…!”

It’s necessary for communication.

After hearing that, how could I possibly refuse?

“So, what should I start with?”

“Well, let’s start from the elementary level. Do you understand the content taught in sixth grade?”

“Haha, I only attended school up to the fifth grade of elementary. But, even so, I’ve managed to get by so far, right? Don’t underestimate me. Elementary school material is obviously something I should know!”

“Really? Then, good luck. I’ve brought some elementary level workbooks, can you solve them?”

“Leave it to me!”

I nodded at Momoha’s words and began to earnestly work through the workbook she had handed me.

“…”

By the way, despite what seemed like a set-up for future problems, I managed to grasp the material for sixth graders somewhat, and even what I didn’t understand, Momoha helped me enough to get by.

“I’ve definitely conquered the elementary level!”