NOVEL NEXT The Strongest Solo Gamer with Terrible Social Skills Reincarnates as a Hated NPC in a VRMMO Chapter 17
17: Solo Declaration
After Kageyama’s explanation, the students were given free time to form their parties.
In other words, it’s hell.
A four-person formation (Four-Man Cell)…?
With 25 students, we can divide them into six groups of four. But this calculation will definitely leave one person out. Is this just a coincidence?!
The students who had already decided on their party formations were chatting and laughing.
I’m being completely ignored.
“Has everyone decided on their party formation?”
To Kageyama’s ruthless question, I pretended not to exist. I was originally planning to go solo, but being alone in this situation makes me stand out like a sore thumb.
“……Uh, teacher. Shōma is alone…”
“Huh?”
Geez――ッ！！！
What are you doing, Kurenai――ッ！？
Everyone’s gaze is painful!!
This is already too embarrassing!!
“Is that so? Does anyone want to take Shōma-kun into their PT?”
『……』
The students avert their eyes at Kageyama’s question.
Their reluctance is palpable… If I had experienced this in my teens, I’d have developed a trauma.
But this has become a problem.
As for me, I don’t mind going solo, but Teacher Kageyama doesn’t seem to accept that easily. If this continues, I’ll be forced into some PT. The atmosphere is tense, and the students’ anxious expressions are evident. To break this stalemate, one male student looks at me and says, “Hey, how about joining our PT?”
“……Hey, did you say Akihira? Would you like to join us?”
“Ah, Aoba-kun!?”
Is this an unexpected invitation!?
The trash is joining Aoba’s PT!?
“We’re four people, so it’s fine to have five members (five-man cell). Or does Tōka oppose it?”
“Huh? Umm… I’ll follow what the leader decides…”
“Then, it’s up to Tōka’s feelings, right?”
“――Wait a minute!!”
To stop this unwanted development, I transform into “Akihira Shōma” and interrupt the main characters’ conversation.
“……Don’t just discuss this among yourselves. First, let’s talk about Aoba’s invitation. I’m not interested in joining. I decided to explore on my own from the start, and from my perspective, your concerns are unnecessary.”
“Unnecessary? What a rude thing to say!!”
Kurenai growls at my impolite attitude.
Sorry, Kurenai. Once I become “Akihira Shōma” (trash mode), I can’t stop.
Bear with it…!
“Ah, you’re still as annoying as ever… Basically, you didn’t immediately accept our invitation to join our PT, did you? You don’t want to work together, do you? Yet, you’re being a hypocrite… You’re good at talking.”
“!”
“Wait, Kurenai didn’t mean it that way――”
“Hah? Kurenai?… You’re calling me by my first name? We’ve become quite close, haven’t we? You’re quite quick, Aoba Sōji, the top student.”
I respond with an over-the-top, sarcastic reaction, dramatically shrugging my shoulders. I have to admit, my reenactment skills are quite high. This is a great performance. This is what “Akihira Shōma” does.
“It’s not like that with her, though――”
“No need to hide it. Kurenai and I are engaged, but we don’t have romantic feelings for each other. Free love? That’s fine. I don’t mind. We just want to maintain a relationship where we don’t get in each other’s way. This interference is unpleasant, though. If you could just leave us alone, I’d appreciate it――?”
“……So what? What will you do, someone who’s at the bottom of the overall rankings?”
A piercingly sharp remark.
But I’ve already decided on my response.
“I’m Ishizuru Shoma, the next head of the prestigious Ishizuru family! You guys are different from birth, and what’s with this ‘overall power’ nonsense? It’s just a number, and you’re looking down on me just because I have a slightly higher value?”
“What’s…!”
“I’ll declare it, Akane! From now on, I’ll become stronger! I’ll surpass your beloved Aiba, and when that time comes, I won’t be holding back! You can keep flirting with Aiba all you want, but I won’t fall in love with you!!”
“W-wait…!”
“That’s enough.”
Shadow Mountain calmed the heated atmosphere with a cool tone.
“But, Mr. Shadow…?”
“…PT formation is a personal choice. We can’t interfere with his will to go solo…”
Shadow Mountain cautioned Akane, who was about to protest.
“Does that apply to you too, Ishizuru-kun?”
Shadow Mountain pressed on, seeking confirmation.
The answer was, of course, yes.
“I don’t need any hindrances, anyway.”
“…Understood.”
Shadow Mountain nodded with a resigned expression, as if to say that it was pointless to argue. In reality, hindrances were indeed a nuisance. In this case, it was me, the one with the lowest overall power. I thought that our teamwork would change in various ways, and it would be troublesome to have Aiba and the others develop strange habits through their coordination.
I didn’t express my true thoughts, and instead turned to face the transfer stone.
My attitude indicated that the conversation was over. Even I couldn’t help but feel a wry smile at my excessive rudeness.
…I had done something bad to Akane. But in reality, I thought it would be troublesome if Ishizuru Shoma were to follow me. This incident was the result of my own judgment, taking into account the atmosphere. My popularity might have decreased, but since it was originally nonexistent, there was no need to worry about it.
“――Then, let’s begin our preparations.”
Shadow Mountain issued a command, as if to regain composure.
The ABYSS exploration was about to begin.