Bab 137: Ch 137. Iwanaga Kotoko's Offensive Round
"Yes," Yukino affirmed.
Kotoko Iwanaga's lips curved into an enigmatic smile as she looked slightly upward at Yukino. "So, what's the verdict? Have you confirmed it?"
"..." Yukino remained silent, staring back at Kotoko.
"It seems you've confirmed part of it." Kotoko raised her index finger and continued in a mysterious tone, "Yukinoshita-senpai, after your gaze lingered on my left leg for a while, it moved to my right eye and hasn't shifted since."
"From this, it seems you've deduced that my left leg is a prosthetic."
"Well~ It's unavoidable. After all, it's hard to conceal a prosthetic leg, and it's natural for it to be discovered upon closer inspection."
Kotoko pointed to the area a few centimeters above her left knee, where the black stocking had a noticeable bulge.
"Yukinoshita-senpai, you should have confirmed that my left lower leg is a prosthetic by this bulge, right?"
"..." Yukino nodded silently.
Kotoko smiled slightly and tapped her left lower leg twice with her cane.
"Clang-- Clang--"
The sound, akin to tapping plastic, confirmed that it was indeed a prosthetic.
"Indeed, a prosthetic leg is difficult to hide, but..." Kotoko pointed to her right eye, "an artificial eye is not so easily detected."
"My artificial eye was custom-made by my parents at great expense. It moves naturally with the eye socket muscles and is very similar to a normal eye."
"However, unfortunately, the pupil does not change. When stimulated, it's easy to identify as an artificial eye."
Kotoko lightly tapped her right eye twice with her finger.
"Tap-- Tap--"
The subtle sound also confirmed the authenticity of the artificial eye.
Kotoko looked up at Yukino, smiling as she asked, "Yukinoshita-senpai, how do you feel now that you've confirmed your rival has physical defects?"
"Happiness? There might be a little."
"Sympathy? Certainly. After all, a cute girl like me having physical defects would naturally evoke sympathy and regret in a normal person."
"And besides that? Yukinoshita-senpai, apart from happiness and sympathy, do you have any other emotions?"
"Perhaps thoughts of giving Hoshimi to me, this 'pitiful person'?"
"If that's the case, while I might feel some regret, I'd still happily take the victory."
Kotoko's smile carried an ambiguous undertone.
"Iwanaga-san," Yukino looked at Kotoko with an expressionless face and said, "I can tell you with certainty that I don't feel happy."
"Oh? Is that so? Then Yukinoshita-senpai, you are quite a good person. However..." Kotoko said playfully, "What about sympathy? You didn't deny it?"
"..." Yukino remained silent.
Kotoko's smile grew more playful as she stroked her cane and continued, "What about thoughts of giving Hoshimi to me?"
"..." Yukino tightened her grip on Hoshimi's hand without saying a word.
Hoshimi's eyelids twitched slightly; Yukino's grip was quite strong, and her fingers were squeezing his hand painfully.
Kotoko glanced at their tightly clasped hands. "I understand. It seems there aren't any."
"Then it looks like we'll have a fair competition." Kotoko slightly raised her head to look at Yukino and said meaningfully, "Yukinoshita-senpai, since Hoshimi has told you about my physical issues, he should have also told you about my identity."
"Let me introduce myself again."
Kotoko lifted her left hand holding the cane, covered her right eye with her right hand, and dramatically introduced herself.
"My name is Kotoko Iwanaga, and I am the 'Goddess of Wisdom' and the 'Yokai Priestess of Arbitration and Resolution of Disputes.'"
"Yukinoshita-senpai, let's compete fairly. I will give my all to defeat you."
Yukino frowned slightly as she stared at Kotoko.
After a moment, Yukino gave a barely perceptible nod.
"Heh~" Kotoko's smile became increasingly mischievous. She twirled her cane and said with an ill-intentioned grin, "Since it's a competition, I'll use all my means, such as..."
Kotoko paused, waiting for Yukino's attention to focus again, and then added playfully, "Summoning ghosts to help me with some things."
"?!!" Yukino's body tensed, and her grip on Hoshimi's hand immediately tightened.
"Hmm?" Hoshimi raised an eyebrow.
So Yukino is afraid of ghosts? That's quite unexpected...
"Oh ho~" Seeing Yukino's reaction, Kotoko's smile grew more mischievous.
Hoshimi blinked, realizing it was his turn to act.
He raised his hand and flicked Kotoko's forehead.
"Ouch~~" Kotoko covered her forehead, looking at Hoshimi with tearful eyes. "Hoshimi, why did you flick me?"
"To be harmonious and friendly, how can we scare our classmates with ghosts?" Hoshimi said, raising his index finger in a lecturing manner. "Kotoko, you're a noble balance keeper. How can you engage in such petty actions?"
"Hmph!" Kotoko scrunched up her nose and snorted. "Hoshimi, you're biased!"
"Alright, no scaring people. Everything else is fine." Hoshimi comforted Kotoko by rubbing her head.
It felt nice, so he rubbed it a couple more times.
"Biased..." Kotoko murmured, then raised her hand. "Hoshimi, I want to hold hands too. Otherwise, I'll reveal what happened last night..."
Before Kotoko could finish, Hoshimi grabbed her raised hand.
He gave her a gentle smile. "No problem."
He had already guessed what Kotoko was about to say—if he didn't hold her hand, she would reveal something embarrassing from last night's dream.
"Hehe~ This works~" Kotoko clasped Hoshimi's hand in return and then wrapped her arm around his, hugging it.
"Okay, let's go quickly. If we don't hurry, we'll be late." Hoshimi led Yukino with his left hand and Kotoko with his right, taking up a small part of the sidewalk as they headed towards Sobu High School.
When they were still a street away from school, Hoshimi suddenly asked, "Yukino, Kotoko, have you had breakfast?"
Yukino: "No."
Kotoko: "Yes."
Kotoko, who had full maid service, not only dressed and groomed faster than the other two but could enjoy breakfast anytime and anywhere after waking up.
Hoshimi asked, "I see. I'll go buy some breakfast. Yukino, what do you want? Kotoko, is there anything else you'd like?"
Yukino: "Anything."
Kotoko licked her lips, smiling as she poked Hoshimi's side. "Just a pack of sweet milk for me."
"Alright, then wait here for me." Hoshimi let go of their hands and headed towards a nearby convenience store.
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