Chapter 22: Heartbroken heroine and manipulative host
When Eiji and the others entered the Aquarium.
When they all walked through the tunnel that displayed the underwater scenery.
Colored by blue light.
Girls like Lala and Haruna were mesmerized by the scenery there.
Shimmering schools of fish glided through the water like a living rainbow, their scales catching the light and casting a dazzling display of colors along the passage.
Lala was excited, she walked to the side and touched the glass wall of the Aquarium curiously.
There happened to be jellyfish passing around and they were wandering around as if to show off in front of Lala.
"Eiji, Eiji, what is this creature?" Lala asked while pulling Eiji's hand.
"I don't know the details of the type, but it's definitely jellyfish." Eiji stared at the group of jellyfish spinning in front of them.
For a moment he wondered if jellyfish were always this smart?
I feel like this group of jellyfish know how to show off themselves in front of visitors.
Is this the result of training?
Lala shouted "Oh!", then she saw another sea creature and pointed at it.
"What about that one? It looks like the Kraken on planet Deviluke, but it's much smaller... Is it still the same Kraken?"
So there are Kraken-like creatures on planet Deviluke?
That giant octopus that's usually in movies like that Percy Jackson movie?
Now I know...
The original work never mentioned this or perhaps he himself forgot in which episode aliens like Karaken appeared.
Eiji couldn't help but smile and said: "That's Octopus, on earth such creatures can also be used as food."
"Is it delicious?"
"As long as the cook has enough skill. It's delicious, and actually not far from the Aquarium there are those who sell it."
"Really?" Lala looked interested. Actually since the first time he tried food on earth, Eiji felt that this girl was a bit of a foodie.
"Yes, some roadside stands sell octopus cooked into Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki."
Despite not knowing the meaning, Lala thought both types of food sounded delicious.
"After I'm done with the Aquarium. I want to try both! Eiji, is that okay?"
Eiji nodded. "Sure, I'll buy them for you later."
"Yey! Thanks Eiji!"
As the two appear to be embracing and continue talking about the passing sea animals.
Despite saying this was a double date, Eiji and Rito's group actually separated some distance after entering the Aquarium.
Right on the other side of the hallway, Rito and Haruna were also actually doing something somewhat similar to Eiji and Lala.
Haruna asked several questions and talked about the sea animals that passed around them.
But Rito was not focused, often he just answered Haruna with a nod and a little "Yes/oh."
His gaze also often glanced to the other side where he could see Lala and Eiji who were hugging and looking intimate while talking and laughing.
Rito again clenched his fists, his expression looking ugly.
He was so angry and jealous!
If gaze could kill, he would have killed Eiji many times with his fierce gaze.
{Damn it, damn it! Lala, you got fooled by that bastard! Ahh!!! It can't go on like this, I have to talk to Lala without that bastard around!}
{But how? Shit!}
Haruna who started to get excited when entering the Aquarium with Rito.
Hearing this, she froze and her excited expression gradually became sad.
Why...
Why doesn't Yuuki-kun pay attention to me and continue to pay attention to Lala-san?
Was Lala-san in previous life so important to you?
But she's with another man now.
Haruna could see that Lala was truly happy with Eiji, and from the blonde boy's inner voice. She knew Eiji wasn't deceiving Lala like Rito said, instead that blonde boy was spoiling Lala a lot.
Only Rito seemed to continue to misunderstand or maybe he just wanted to deceive himself that Lala was being deceived by Eiji.
Rito made excuses for himself so he could get Lala.
As a girl who likes watching dramas, Haruna can slightly guess what kind of love plot is in Rito's brain.
That's precisely why she was annoyed too!
Rito thought that far ahead to get another girl, but he was now not paying attention to her who was dating him!
Haruna wanted to scream that Rito was bastard, but since the other party was the boy she liked. It was hard for her to be angry and truly hate him.
Even so, that didn't mean she was just going to stand idly by while watching her crush continue to stare at other girl!
"Yuuki-kun, let's go over there. I saw a lot of people walking in that direction, maybe there's something interesting there." Haruna said while pulling Rito's shirt sleeve.
Rito who felt his shirt being pulled, turned to the purple-haired girl.
"Um... Haruna, why don't we wait for Eiji and Lala? We're on a double date."
"Wouldn't it make sense if we went together?"
Haruna gave Rito a flat look.
If I didn't hear your inner voice, I would definitely believe the excuses you made.
But no, you must just not want to let Lala-san out of your sight!
{Sorry Haruna, I can't go far away from Lala! If I go somewhere else, what if that blonde bastard does something perverted to Lala? And I'll also probably miss the chance to talk to Lala alone!}
See!
Your inner voice even admits it!
Haruna was getting annoyed.
For a girl, she clenched her small fists.
She still hadn't given up.
"No, Yuuki-kun. Don't you see that Seiya-kun and Lala-san are ignoring us? We might as well ignore them and go somewhere else."
"Uh Haruna, but..."
"Yuuki-kun... Didn't you say you were asking me out?"
"Ugh... I, yes."
"Then let's accompany me to another nice place in this Aquarium."
Perhaps because of her annoyance, Haruna seemed more straightforward and bold when talking to Rito.
She looked at Rito with a pleading gaze without blushing at all.
Rito had a troubled expression on face.
If it was in his previous life, when he was still obsessed with Haruna.
He would now definitely be very excited and ignore everything just to date Haruna.
In his previous life he had even left Lala at the clothing store when he saw Haruna and asked the purple-haired girl out on a date at the Aquarium.
To be honest the Aquarium they were in now was the same Aquarium in his previous life.
Some things were the same, for example he was still dating in this place with Haruna.
But there were many different things that made him very reluctant and unwilling.
It was because of Lala.
The girl who loved him so much and was so attached to him in his previous life. Now that girl was no longer with him... She, Lala has another fiancé who is not him.
In this life Lala was engaged to Eiji Seiya and the things she had done to him in his previous life, she might as well do to that blonde bastard!
The thing that happened in the bathroom must have happened to that blonde bastard instead of him!
Rito wasn't stupid, he was at least smart enough to guess why Eiji could be Lala's fiancé.
And it made him very angry and resentful why things were so different from his previous life.
Even so, he definitely wouldn't let Lala belong to another man, not even another woman who had loved him in his previous life - he wouldn't let them go either!
He also still loved Haruna of course, but Lala's situation was urgent and he really couldn't pay attention to Haruna for now.
"Haruna..."
"Yuuki-kun?"
Haruna thought Rito would agree because he said her name softly, which made her blush slightly.
Seeing Haruna's expression, Rito closed his mouth and wondered if he should agree to go somewhere else with Haruna?
If he refused, Haruna would be sad, right?
But if he agreed, he might miss the chance to talk with Lala...
Even so, to talk to Lala. Actually, he might also be able to do it at school.
Although it was unfortunate, he thought today was a good opportunity because Lala was right in front of his eyes.
Maybe he should give up today and try it the next time.
Rito was about to open his mouth to agree with Haruna, but at this moment.
His ears that basically had superhuman hearing, heard that the opportunity had arrived!
"Lala, wait here for a moment. I'm a little thirsty and will buy a drink at the vending machine over there."
Eiji pointed at the vending machine inside the Aquarium which was actually located only a few meters away from the crowd.
Lala who was originally having fun looking at the fish turned to him and nodded. "Un, I'll wait for Eiji here."
"That's good. Don't worry, I'll also buy a juice for you."
"Un! I want strawberry flavor like the one at home."
"Sure, I'll buy it for you."
Eiji turned around and walked to the vending machine.
There was a sly smile on his face, which Rito definitely didn't see.
In Rito's view, Lala was now alone looking at the fish and turtles.
{This is my chance! My chance to talk to Lala alone has come!}
He hurriedly turned to Haruna with an apologetic look and said, "Sorry Haruna, can you wait a moment? I have something to discuss with Lala."
"Uh, but Yuuki-kun we're on a date. You go to another girl, I..."
Haruna's eyes looked teary, her expression looked very pitiful and looked like she was going to cry at any moment.
Even so, Rito bit his lip and said: "Sorry Haruna, but this is important to me."
Without waiting for Haruna's response, he turned around and ran to Lala.
Haruna who saw Rito's back felt heartbroken.
She couldn't help but run towards the Aquarium exit while crying and shouting.
"Stupid, stupid!"
"Stupid Yuuki-kun!"
There were many people in the Aquarium, so there were quite a few people who saw a girl running while crying and cursing.
Many bystanders happened to also see the scene where Rito ran towards another girl and left the purple-haired girl behind.
It made them feel sorry for Haruna and looked at the boy named Rito with a reproachful gaze.
No matter how you look at it, that boy looks like a bastard who dumped his girlfriend because he saw a prettier girl.
It's like a bastard who forgets the old and chooses the new.
What a bastard!
Eiji who was buying drinks also naturally saw this scene.
His smile looked bright as if he succeeded with his little plan, making people who happened to be waiting in line to buy drinks at the vending machine dumbfounded to see him.
Of course, the dazed ones are the girls/womens who happen to be there.
As for the men? They clucked their tongues and were a little unhappy to see their girlfriends/wives who were dating them looking at the handsome boy instead of paying attention to them.
They feel a little green.
¶{Host, you did it! This way Haruna must hate protagonist Rito, right?}
Miss System suddenly cheered and asked in his head.
Eiji shook his head mentally. "Maybe."
¶{Why do you sound unsure?}
Miss System was confused.
Shouldn't you be happy?
"Although the previous scene looks like a breakup scene where a heartbroken girl sees the boy she likes go to another girl while they are on a date."
"Haruna must be on her way back home by now and is planning to lock herself up in the bedroom alone."
"It is at this time that the girl will calm down a bit and start wondering about the boy she likes."
"Judging from the original work, where Haruna should have liked Rito since middle school. I feel like the girl's liking for Rito did decrease after that incident, but it still doesn't seem to be enough to make her give up."
Eiji started babbling about his analysis, he even guessed Haruna's psychology right now like an expert psychologist.
Miss System was silent.
¶{Even so host... Aren't you too skeptical? Maybe now Haruna really hates protagonist Rito.}
"Miss System, sometimes you can't be too confident lest you get slapped when things go wrong."
¶{Huh? Wait, are you sure you're saying that? Who not long ago was so confident in his power that he could slap many people except those at the boss level!?}
"...Who?"
Eiji pretended to be confused as if to say "What are you talking about?".
Miss System rolled her eyes, her host was so shameless.
He was a fickle and inconsistent person.
Even so, she knew many shameless people sometimes outlived people who limited themselves with prestige and shame.
Hey where did she ever hear this?
¶{Forget my previous question. But host, you should now get back to Lala immediately, right? She's dealing with protagonist Rito alone right now.}
¶{Are you not worried that Lala will be charmed by Rito? After all, she's still the heroine in the To Love Ru franchise and Rito is the protagonist.}
Hearing this, Eiji silently glanced at Lala and Rito.
Rito seemed to start the conversation by saying bad things about him.
And Lala who heard her fiancé being insulted, raised her eyebrows with a rare look of displeasure on her face.
There was a relaxed smile on Eiji's face as he answered Miss System by saying, "I believe in Lala. Don't worry Miss System, let's wait a moment."
"And actually this is also a good opportunity to shoot two birds with one stone."
Miss System was dumbfounded by her host's cunning.
She honestly felt that her host was a perfect match for a manipulative villain character.
Perhaps he could transmigrate to a certain harem novel or franchise and replace the villain character there.
When that happened, it was only a matter of time before the protagonist there was stepped on by her host and given a lot of green hats.
The heroines will run to her host and get tricked by her host.
And the protagonist could only watch as the heroines fell in love and made love to her host.
Her host would glance at the protagonist kneeling in front of him while laughing evilly with the heroines hugging him in left and right.
The protagonist will despair at this and commit suicide due to the overwhelming pain of being a victim of NTR.
"..." Eiji.
Was it just his feeling that Miss System was thinking something bad about him?
Seriously, he felt that Miss System was thinking too much about him.
Hey this isn't right, right?
Maybe Miss System is secretly praising him.
Yes, it must be because of that.
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