Why Is the Prettiest Girl in School Trying to Talk to a Loner Like Me during Lunch Break? - Chapter 56: How to Distinguish Ghosts

Chapter 56: How to Distinguish Ghosts

“So lately, I’ve been really into isekai gourmet series too!”

“That’s so like you, Asakura-san – you still can’t stray from isekai stories no matter what.”

(It’s been about five minutes since the test of courage started, but Class Rep and Momoi-san haven’t pulled any tricks on us yet…)

“Still though… nighttime parks are pretty dark, aren’t they?”

“Well, Nishiguchi Park might have ‘park’ in the name, but size-wise it’s more like a small mountain. The course Class Rep and the others mapped out for us makes a big loop around the whole thing, so we’ve probably got another fifteen minutes or so ahead of us.”

(What’s going on here… At first when they said ‘test of courage,’ I was a little… well, maybe just a tiny bit scared? But now that we’ve started, nothing particularly frightening is happening. Since Momo and Class Rep said they’d be waiting at the goal, isn’t this just me and Andou-kun getting to talk about light novels to our hearts’ content!)

“By the way, Andou-kun, do you have any favorite light novel authors? You know, the kind where you’d automatically buy their new releases?”

“I do. My favorite author is Suidoubashi Shin’ichiro-sensei.”

“Hmm~ For example, what kind of light novels does he write?”

“Well, his debut work won the Thunderbolt Bunko newcomer award with ‘Beyond the Door’… and there’s also ‘Half-Kill Game Mansion’ published by Medical Works Bunko. All of them have skillful psychological descriptions of the characters and amazing story developments! Do you have a favorite author, Asakura-san?”

“Hmm, I don’t usually pick light novels by author… but I love works like ‘The Giver and the Given’ and ‘Hey, I Said I Wanted Average Stats!’ so I’d definitely want to read more by those authors!”

(Yep, still the same old OP cheat stuff. That’s Asakura-san for you.)

(Ufufu, to think I get to talk with Andou-kun this much… thank goodness for this test of courage. At this rate, even if a ghost or two showed up, I’d still be getting the better deal—)

“Aaaaaaaaaa———” ← Ghost

“…………” “…………”

(Just as I think that, there’s a ghost in a white dress with long black hair standing right in front of meeeeeeee!)

(That chest… it’s definitely Momoi-san with her ponytail down, wearing a white dress!)

“Aaaaaaaaaa———” ← Ghost

“Pigyaaaaaaaa! A-Andou-kun! Help me! Please! Don’t eat meeee!”

“Uwaaaaa! A-Asakura-san, calm down! If you cling to my arm that tight, your chest will— wait, huh?”

(That’s… weird? Even though Asakura-san is clinging so tightly to my arm, nothing’s hitting me?)

“A-ah, Andou-kun… in front! In front! Right in front of us… a gh-ghost!” Suka! Suka!

(Plus, Asakura-san seems really scared… She’s clinging to my arm but her hips are pulled way back… so that’s why her chest isn’t hitting me? But anyone could tell that’s just Momoi-san in disguise from that chest bulge alone… I should probably tell her the ghost’s real identity———)

“A ghost? What are you talking about, Asakura-san? I can’t see anything…”

(—is what I was thinking, but… since I want Asakura-san to keep clinging to me a little longer, I’ll just play along and pretend I can’t see anything.)

“Aaaaaaaaaa———” ← Ghost

“Can’t… see? Th-this thing…?”

“Yep, yep.”

(Fufufu… Sakura’s been fooled, but Andou-kun is sharp as expected. Just as I thought… even if he figured it out, I knew Andou-kun would read the atmosphere and play along♪)

(Besides, scared Asakura-san is pretty cute too…)

“It’s… it’s over… this is how I die…”

“Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh———” ← Momoi-san

“Pigyaaaaaaaa! Andou-kun! It’s there! Right there!” Suka! Suka!

“Where? I can’t see anything?”

(Yep, still nothing making contact…)

【Bonus Story】”Forgetfulness”

“Asakura-san, why do you think people forget things?”

“Hmm, maybe it’s because our brains would get tired if we remembered everything? So we take breaks by forgetting things sometimes?”

“I see… but then why do we always forget the important stuff? Like when you go out on weekends thinking ‘Oh, I should pick that up while I’m out’ and then completely forget?”

“Ah, that happens~”

“Same thing happens when I’m buying light novels. Even when I research exactly which titles I want beforehand, I always get home and realize I forgot to buy one of them…”

“Yes, yes, yes! That happens all the time~ And it’s always the one you were most excited about.”

“Exactly! Even though we’re the ones who suffer when we forget, we still end up forgetting anyway…”

“But there’s nothing we can do about what’s already been forgotten, right? I think we just have to be more careful next time.”

“Oh, Asakura-san… actually, speaking of forgetting things, sorry! I borrowed one yesterday but I forgot to buy a replacement, so could you lend me a mechanical pencil again today?”

“Of course that’s fine. Here you go, Andou-kun♪”

“Thanks! Asakura-san…”

“Hey… just so you know, we’re in the middle of math class right now. Be quiet.”

“”S-sorry…””

(We forgot we were in class…) (Andou and Asakura)

Translation Notes:

• “Suka! Suka!” is a sound effect indicating trembling or shaking
• Isekai gourmet series: A subgenre of isekai (other world) light novels focused on cooking and food experiences