Chapter 113: Silver Soul (Earth Arc)

"The competition has been underway for ten minutes now. abc.dotch (Number 3 and Nanako Hanada) have earned 3 points, while the Takamagahara team (Okita and Ayako Yamazaki) has earned 5 points. The Takamagahara team is currently in the lead," the emcee announced to the audience.

"..." Okakura Take thought, *Seriously? This is how they're doing it?*

"Okita-kun is quite impressive," Otae remarked.

"Really? What's so impressive about him?" Okakura Take asked, genuinely confused. She couldn't understand what was so skillful about that guy.

"He is making excellent use of a woman's sympathy. By telling that female guest about his tragic experiences, he first triggers her pity, then acts as if he doesn't care, which only makes a woman's sympathy grow even stronger. That man is a natural manipulator; he knows exactly how to play with people's psychology," Otae sighed.

"..." Okakura Take thought, *The problem is, the guy isn't even tragic! The one suffering is Hijikata-kun, who is being toyed with by him!*

Okakura Take felt that the developments in Okita's group were too absurd. She turned to look at Kagura, who was... still busy devouring food. Just how big was her stomach?

Watching Kagura, Okakura Take couldn't help but think of that jerk who treated eating like drinking. If all Yato had such massive appetites, she wondered how their history had managed to continue until now. Hadn't they eaten their own planet into bankruptcy?

Just then, Nanako Hanada, who had been chatting with Number 3, was startled by Kagura’s incessant eating. She leaned over, tapped Kagura on the shoulder, and asked, "You've been eating for so long—doesn't your stomach feel bloated?"

"Huh? Nah, I’m fine. I have a huge appetite, and I hadn't had a full meal in three days before this, so I can still eat plenty, aru," Kagura muttered while chewing her food.

"You haven't had a full meal in three days?" Nanako Hanada froze. Her gloomy eyes suddenly softened. "You don't look very old; you're at the age where you're still growing. Why is there no one feeding you?"

"There is, but the guy who’s supposed to feed me is useless. Every time he gets money, he spends it on Pachinko or drinks it all away. He’s a totally irresponsible adult. If it weren't for me, he wouldn't even be able to survive," Kagura said, narrowing her eyes.

"..." Okakura Take thought, *She’s definitely talking about that good-for-nothing curly-hair.*

Okakura Take looked at the "good-for-nothing" in question. He was still there, picking his nose while reading *Shonen Jump*, looking completely at ease, while Strawberry Kurosaki had started chatting with Number 7 from abc.dotch.

*What on earth is that guy even doing up there!* Okakura Take looked back toward Kagura.

After hearing Kagura’s words, tears welled up in Nanako Hanada’s eyes. She quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe them away. "It’s the same for me. My husband is also that kind of useless man. He comes home smelling of alcohol every single day. I've been with him for over twenty years, yet he hasn't made any progress at all. He never does any housework at home; he just props his feet up and reads the newspaper. Even at mealtime, he expects me to serve him..."

"That’s what they call a MADAO," Kagura replied, chewing on her kombu.

"It's true, he’s just a useless old man. Even our daughter has started to despise him, but he won't change his ways. He just goes out to drink; he never works hard. After all these years, he hasn't been promoted, his salary isn't high, and the household money he gives me is so little..." Nanako Hanada couldn't help but burst into tears.

"That sounds really tough. Useless middle-aged men are all like that, aru," Kagura nodded.

"..." Okakura Take thought, *Kagura, how old are you? How are you so well-versed in the topic of deadbeat middle-aged men with this lady?*

After hearing Kagura, Okakura Take couldn't help but look at Gin-toki. That good-for-nothing had truly led Kagura astray.

Next, Kagura and Nanako Hanada became even more engrossed in their discussion about deadbeat men. The handsome Number 3 couldn't even get a word in. As a young, handsome, and popular man, he had no idea what a deadbeat middle-aged man was like—they had absolutely nothing in common!

"Um... Miss Hanada, would you like another drink..." the handsome Number 3 tried to regain the woman's attention.

"That's right, my husband... he wasn't always this bad when he was young. I still remember how silly he looked when he proposed to me..." Nanako Hanada ignored him completely, starting to share her past love story with Kagura.

"Men are all like that. Before you're even part of their family, they’ll say anything to please you, but after you get married, they treat you like a live-in maid, aru," Kagura said with the air of an expert.

"..." Okakura Take thought, *Kagura-chan, you’ve never even been in a relationship!*

"That’s right! Exactly! When he confessed to me, he even wrote a thick love letter and knelt down to read it to me in front of everyone!" Nanako Hanada’s emotions surged. She picked up the scoring device and punched in a score.

"10 points! It's actually a perfect 10! Guest Number 1 just gave the Takamagahara team a 10! The Takamagahara team is amazing!" the emcee roared, pointing excitedly at the screen.

"No way, they actually got a 10..." Okakura Take was stunned.

"Kagura-chan is also very impressive," Otae remarked again.

"Yeah, she really is..." Okakura Take said, dazed. To think she could chat with a middle-aged woman for so long about deadbeat men—Kagura was truly something else.

"..." Over on the other side, Okita’s eyes darkened as he saw the perfect 10 on the screen. He was absolutely not going to lose to that little girl!

Okita leaned in, picked up the wine glass from the table, and moved closer to Ayako Yamazaki. "Miss Ayako," he said softly, "I just told you about my troubles..." He offered a shy smile. "This is the first time I've ever opened up about my heart."

"..." Okakura Take thought, *Liar! You talk about your desire to kill Hijikata every single day!*

"Because, when I saw you, Miss Ayako, I felt that you were a truly gentle person. Someone like you made me unable to keep my feelings inside. Now, would you be willing to tell me your troubles? May I?" Okita blinked, his face flushing, looking incredibly embarrassed.

"..." Okakura Take thought, *Who is this guy?*

"Okita-kun..." Ayako Yamazaki was completely captivated by this side of Okita. She looked at him with increasingly tender eyes.

She took the wine glass from his hand and took a small sip.

"It’s actually just some work-related issues," Ayako Yamazaki said, lowering her gaze.

"After I graduated from university, I joined my current company. It's a very famous firm with good benefits. I was lucky to get into such a place as a newcomer, but..." She paused.

"But?" Okita asked curiously.

"I have a supervisor I despise. He’s already married, but he harasses me every day. I've wanted to quit many times, but he threatens me, saying if I leave, I’ll never find work in this industry again... Waaah, I really don't know what to do!" Ayako Yamazaki covered her face and began to sob.

"That's simple," Okita said.

"Huh?" Ayako Yamazaki looked up at him through teary eyes.

"Just kill him," Okita said, making a slicing gesture across his throat.

"Hey! What kind of solution is that!" Okakura Take couldn't help but yell. She couldn't hold back; she had been wanting to complain for a long time.

"Kill him? But how would we dispose of the body?" Ayako Yamazaki asked, frowning.

"Wait, you're actually considering his advice? Don't do that!" Okakura Take said weakly.

"Don't worry. Chop him up and leave the rest to me. I'll make sure he ends up as an unidentified corpse," Okita said with a sadistic grin.

"Oh my, the Takamagahara team and the second female guest have said something quite explosive! I wonder how the audience feels about this?" The emcee held the microphone toward the crowd.

"That guy from Takamagahara is so cool! I love that sadistic vibe!" many women shrieked in excitement.

"..." Okakura Take felt she was losing touch with the rhythm of this world.

Suddenly, a light turned on at Guest Number 3's table, and another 10 appeared.

"No way! In such a short time, the Takamagahara team has scored another 10! What on earth are they doing to make the female guests so happy?" After the emcee finished speaking, the camera panned to table Number 3, where Strawberry Kurosaki sat.

"Sakata-san, what kind of line do you think would sound cooler when I unleash my Strawberry Getsuga?" Strawberry Kurosaki asked Gin-toki, sitting up straight.

"That? You’re going for a magical girl style, right? Why not just say, 'I’ll punish you in the name of the strawberry'?" Gin-toki said, picking his nose.

"No! That sounds like a Sailor Moon line! Besides, I’m tired of the cute look. I want something more mature," Strawberry Kurosaki frowned.

"Huh? A kid should act like a kid. If you try to be mature too early, you’ll overthink things, and your hairline will start receding fast," Gin-toki said with dead fish eyes.

"..." Okakura Take thought, *Why is the conversation between these two so bizarre?*

"No! I still want a mature style. Sakata-san, let me show you my Strawberry Getsuga now, and you can give me some feedback," Strawberry Kurosaki said, pulling out a wand studded with strawberry rhinestones.

"Sure," Gin-toki said with a yawn.

Okakura Take felt she could no longer follow these two's train of thought, so she turned back to look at Okita's side.

"So, Miss Yamazaki, can you tell me the name of that supervisor you hate?" Okita asked, looking at Ayako Yamazaki.

"Sure..." Ayako Yamazaki chuckled softly and then looked toward Okakura Take.

"..." Okakura Take was confused. Why was Ayako Yamazaki looking at her?

"The person I want to kill is sitting right there! Strawberry, move!" Ayako Yamazaki shouted as she quickly pulled a bazooka from under the sofa and aimed it at Okakura Take. Her gentle expression had vanished completely.

"Strawberry Getsuga!" From the other side, a barrage of strawberry bombs was hurled toward Okakura Take.

"Huh?!! What is going on!" Okakura Take screamed.

BOOM! The strawberries exploded. The competition stage was engulfed in thick smoke, and the situation remained unclear.