43: Master of Dirty Jokes

Cough, cough, cough!

Seeing the strange looks from the others, Kashiwazaki Tenma's face turned red with anger.

That little brat was absolutely mocking him.

His lifelong reputation—ruined in an instant.

"Akira, come to my house tomorrow. Bring Eriri with you."

Before leaving, Kashiwazaki Sena waved and invited him over.

"No problem."

"Come on, can you guys keep your thoughts pure for once?"

"Sena and I are really just good friends."

"Why can't you believe in the existence of pure friendships between men and women?"

"Your thoughts are dirty, so everything you see is dirty."

Hearing this, the girls instantly exploded. This playboy still had the audacity to turn the tables on them!

He's obviously someone who falls for every girl he meets.

Otherwise, how would he have so many childhood friends?

"Just like Aria-senpai."

"Speaking of which, it feels weird that Aria-senpai didn't throw out any dirty jokes today."

Akira Sawamura's unexpected remark made the girls, who were about to leave, instinctively stop in their tracks.

Aria Shichijō: ...

Who would randomly blurt out dirty jokes in public?!

I am still the eldest daughter of the Shichijō family.

Do I not care about my family's reputation?

"Aria, no one will think you're mute if you just keep quiet."

Seeing the others' shocked and retreating expressions, Aria Shichijō covered her face in despair.

She was socially dead. Absolutely mortified.

"Sorry, I revealed so much today that my brain is a little scrambled."

"I forgot you prefer to have dirty joke competitions with your friends in the student council office."

Akira casually added.

"Akira!"

It was over. Her black history had been completely exposed today.

"Aria-senpai, don't mind it!"

"A simple hobby of telling dirty jokes is nothing compared to Sakurako-senpai."

Kujō Sakurako's mind also exploded.

Kashiwazaki Sena's eyes gleamed as she took out a silver cross necklace hanging from her slender neck, proudly showing it off:

"Akira and I hit it off immediately as good friends."

"This is the gift he gave me yesterday."

"Oh? So good friends give necklaces upon first meeting?"

"Akira, why didn't you give us one too?"

The others teased him sarcastically.

"We're already so close. No need for that, right?"

"Besides, none of you believe in Christianity."

"Giving you one would be a waste."

"I swiped this from a British bishop I know. It's good stuff."

"Akira, do ghosts really exist in this world?"

"Could crosses actually ward off evil spirits?"

Upon hearing this, Kashiwazaki Sena immediately asked with a nervous expression.

"How should I know?"

"But considering that Sakurako-senpai digs up corpses every other day and is still alive and well…"

"Probably not."

Kujō Sakurako: ...

She hated that description.

"Even if they do exist, normal people can't see them."

"Scientifically speaking, crosses work because faith alters the magnetic field around them, which in turn affects the wearer's mental state."

"In China, this would be explained through the concept of feng shui."

"After all, human emotions can influence reality to some extent."

"A daily example is my mother—years of guilt and worry affected her physical health."

"Even if supernatural beings do exist…"

"Do you think they could withstand the legendary sword Tai'e?"

"Tai'e has its own spirit."

"No matter what kind of ghosts or demons, just cut them down."

Akira pointed at the Tai'e sword he had temporarily placed to the side, then reached out and made a grabbing motion in midair.

The sword flew straight into his hand.

Clap, clap, clap!

The crowd couldn't help but applaud wildly at the spectacle.

"Wow! That's amazing! This isn't magic?"

"This… this is the legendary sword mastery from ancient Chinese legends!"

Bushijima Masamune was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out. His hands trembled as he spoke, and he accidentally yanked out a handful of his white beard.

"Grandfather, are you saying sword flight is real?"

"Like the immortals from Chinese legends?"

Bushijima Saeko's beautiful eyes narrowed as she immediately made the connection.

"That's ridiculous."

"How could a sword possibly support a person's weight?"

"Hoping for sword flight is less reliable than investing in personal flight devices."

"Top laboratories around the world have already integrated flight devices into shoes."

"In the future, people might be able to fly just by wearing a pair of sneakers."

"Then there's genetic technology. Once genetic enhancements become widespread, humans might easily live past a hundred years."

"That's far better than martial arts training."

"The cost-benefit ratio of martial arts is too low. Studying is a much better investment."

Although this world had some supernatural elements, it was still, at its core, a slice-of-life setting.

"Of course, you should all just focus on what you're good at."

"Most technological advancements come from a few geniuses pushing the limits."

"The majority of people just have to accept their mediocrity."

Damn it! That hurt.

As Akira spoke, a sly smile appeared on his face as he suddenly thought of something.

In a flash, he appeared in front of Sakayanagi Arisu, lifted her petite body high, and then gently placed her on the floating Tai'e sword.

Seeing Arisu sitting steadily on Tai'e in midair—

"Actually, Tai'e can carry Arisu just fine."

"Akira Sawamura, you bastard! I won't forgive you! Get me down right now!"

Sakayanagi Arisu felt a rush of heat to her head.

Her delicate, pale face instantly turned bright red.

Her small bottom was perched on the cold sword blade, barely ten centimeters wide.

Her slender legs, covered in white stockings, dangled in midair.

Her whole body tensed up, too scared to move an inch.

"Alright, alright, I was just kidding."

"Arisu, I'm sorry."

"I forgot about your heart condition."

"Please don't be mad."

Akira suddenly remembered that Sakayanagi Arisu had a congenital heart defect.

He quickly lifted her off the sword and placed her back down gently.

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