Chapter 404: You're Truly Brave
"My, my, Rinji-kun, you really continue to surprise me."
"Atenbo-san, this is a misunderstanding..."
When Rinji and Momo entered the fortune-telling tent run by Atenbo Yume, who was dressed as a witch, she didn't look surprised—only clearly pleased.
"If Momo-senpai wanted to come here, I couldn't stop her. Even though I already came with Hayasaka yesterday..."
"Rinji-kun."
Atenbo's expression suddenly turned serious.
"That was very wrong of you."
"Huh?"
"How could you mention, in front of one girl, that you came here with another?"
"…What's the problem?"
"Of course it's a problem," she said earnestly. "Otherwise, how are you supposed to get laid?"
"You've really got me all wrong. And do you always have to use such inappropriate words?"
"She's always like that."
Momo didn't seem surprised at Atenbo's comment.
"She tends to spout dirty jokes whenever she sees people acting like a couple during the Shuchiin Festival. Her bad personality is quite well-known around school."
And not just that—despite her refined appearance, Atenbo was infamous for her shamelessness. Emotionally impulsive, never holding long-term relationships with any of her boyfriends.
"I just can't resist teasing them," Atenbo said with a smile.
"What if they aren't even a couple?"
"I have faith in my fortune-telling. I wouldn't bother joking around with people who have no chance of becoming one." She smiled again. "So, Momo-san, Rinji-kun, what would you like me to divine today?"
"I don't have anything to ask," said Rinji.
He was just here to accompany Momo. He had nothing in particular to ask.
"I see. What about you, Momo-san?"
"I've got something I want to ask."
Saying that, she suddenly grabbed Rinji's head.
"Tell me what kind of relationship I'll have with this guy in the future."
"Eh? Momo-senpai, do you think our friendship won't last? We're practically childhood friends. That kind of worry is—"
"Shut up."
"Hmhm, divining your future relationship? That's easy."
Atenbo didn't seem fazed at all. She started theatrically rubbing a crystal ball on the table.
"Can you stop faking it? One hand's on the ball, the other's checking your phone."
"Some calculations are necessary. Fortune-telling needs to evolve with the times too."
"So it's just more Barnum effect stuff. I can't believe you actually pulled off this mystical nonsense in school."
"Can't help it. My family's in the business."
She looked up at Rinji.
"You don't believe in fortune-telling, Rinji-kun?"
"Why would I believe in mysticism that has no scientific basis?"
"Eh... fortune-telling has statistical principles too, and besides..."
At that moment, she opened her usually half-closed eyes slightly.
"Rinji-kun, you're not really one to talk, are you?"
"Hah? What do you mean?"
"Isn't alchemy also mysticism with no scientific basis?"
"..."
At that, Rinji fell silent.
He raised his head and stared at her sharply.
Momo could clearly feel the temperature inside the tent drop.
"You… what do you know?"
"Nothing. Just a general idea~"
Seeing that she didn't plan to be honest, Rinji leaned back in his chair and replied calmly, "Alchemy was the precursor to modern chemistry. There's scientific grounding in it."
"You're welcome to think that. But the world is more complex than you imagine. Just like I said yesterday in your reading—you might soon encounter something you'd call 'divine.' And it won't take long. Could be today. Could be tomorrow."
"Tch, you think I'll believe that crap?"
Despite saying that, deep down, Rinji began to doubt Atenbo's identity.
"If your prediction comes true, would you mind if I ask a small favor of you, Rinji-kun?"
"As long as it's not unreasonable."
"It should be easy for you," she smiled.
But Rinji found that smile increasingly off-putting.
"What do you want?"
"Introduce me to your father."
"...Why do you want to meet my old man?"
Atenbo didn't answer. She made a circle with her thumb and forefinger on one hand, and slid her other index finger through it.
Anyone could understand what she meant.
"If you don't want my mom to stick you in a fridge, you'd better not."
"Just kidding. I just want to ask him a few things."
"Fine. Only if your prediction turns out right."
Unable to take more of Atenbo's shameless behavior, Rinji stepped out of the tent.
Inside, only Momo and Atenbo remained. Momo was waiting for the reading.
"You actually trust me?"
"You're annoying most of the time, but you're good at what you do," she said calmly. "Tell me the result."
"You're awfully impatient."
Atenbo let out a light chuckle, clearly teasing her. But Momo's face began to show signs of annoyance.
"Just say it!"
"There's hope."
"..."
She clearly froze upon hearing it, then asked softly, "Are you serious?"
"Yeah. But the real outcome will depend on tonight. It's up to him whether he can seize his one and only opportunity."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't say much when it involves others. But it's true—I foresaw this. Rinji-kun has traits that attract women. Oddly enough, he doesn't even have the kind of personality girls normally like."
"...That's what I thought too."
She lowered her head slightly, seemingly recalling the past.
"To me, Rinji was the kind of person who became more addictive the more you got to know him. Wrapped in hostility, he had a gentle side you could barely sense. Back then, I thought only I knew about his charm. Only I could accept that side of him. I believed I had plenty of time to claim him before anyone else noticed that kindness… Then this semester, he suddenly became so popular."