"Still, Masao, aren't you really good at imitating other people's voices? That's a talent too!"
Shin Chan suddenly remembered that Masao was incredibly skilled at voice imitation.
He could mimic voices of different ages and even genders so perfectly that it was impossible to tell the difference.
"Huh?"
Masao froze for a moment. He was good at imitating voices, but he found it embarrassing and had never taken it seriously.
"That's right!"
Toru Kazama recalled it as well. Masao had once imitated Ms. Matsuzaka so perfectly that Ms. Yoshinaga genuinely thought it was her.
"Masao, you could try training that skill seriously. Maybe you could become an anime voice actor."
Hearing the two of them say this, Masao's eyes lit up, as if a completely new path in life had opened before him.
Becoming a manga artist had always been a vague dream. Shin Chan's criticism earlier had hit the mark—most of that dream came from chuunibyou fantasies.
But becoming a voice actor?
That felt far more realistic, especially since he already had a natural gift for it.
At the same time, inside the faculty office of Shuchiin Academy, Shizuka Hiratsuka stared at the student file in her hands, her face pale with shock.
Her fingers were even trembling slightly.
Nohara Shin Chan… was actually her student?!
On her way back earlier, she'd been thinking about inviting him out for drinks at an izakaya.
She'd even foolishly imagined whether something wonderful might happen—whether she could finally put an end to her life as an older single woman.
But the boy who looked like a university student…
…was actually her student?!
Teacher–student relationships were an absolute taboo!
And she had just poured her heart out to a student?!
Who was guiding whose life here?!
"That damn brat!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka clenched her fists.
When school started, she would definitely let that hateful brat experience her Iron Fist of Love.
Meanwhile, the Kasukabe Defense Force had already arrived at the restaurant, and the conversation had shifted to interesting events from their lives.
"Youth… oh, youth. It really is nostalgic."
Shin Chan genuinely liked this atmosphere.
In this world, it felt like only he realized that time had once stopped for him at the age of five—for a very long time.
Combined with memories from another life, his mental age was far more mature than he looked.
Troubles of growing up?
Shin Chan had them too—but his were different, less pure than everyone else's.
"Why are you talking like an old man? We're still high school students."
"We don't know when we'll meet again, but the friendship of the Kasukabe Defense Force will never change!"
Toru Kazama raised his orange juice, his voice tinged with emotion.
He was the most tsundere and outwardly contradictory of the group. For him to say something like this meant he truly cherished their bond.
Shin Chan raised his own glass of juice, but an odd sense of déjà vu crept over him.
Kazama's tsundere behavior… why did it feel suspiciously like a heroine setup?
And wasn't it rumored that Kazama also had a hidden cross-dressing fetish…?
Happy times always ended quickly.
After dinner, it was time to part ways.
"Goodbye! Next time we meet, you have to try my carefully researched, upgraded, super-realistic house-play! It's totally suitable for high school students!"
Nene's smile carried a subtle killing intent. Everyone else stiffened instantly.
They had no doubt that if today hadn't been so tightly scheduled, they'd probably be undergoing some kind of torture right now.
Just hearing upgraded, super-realistic house-play was terrifying enough.
"Goodbye. When I have time, I'll come visit you again. I need to prepare for the start of school these next few days."
After saying their goodbyes, Toru made plans to visit Shin Chan's newly rented apartment sometime soon, then turned and left.
It wasn't very late. After all, they were still students.
Sitting on the train home, casually watching the darkening sky outside the window, Shin Chan thought about how he should spend his youth tonight.
"Hm?"
He suddenly felt someone's gaze.
Turning his head, he saw the girl from Detective Hill—the one whose hat he'd picked up earlier.
Megumi Kato noticed him too. Seeing that Shin Chan didn't ignore her but looked straight at her, she hesitated briefly, then took the initiative.
"Hello. Thank you for your help earlier. My name is Megumi Kato, and I'm a second-year student at Shuchiin Academy."
Megumi Kato had average grades, but she was fortunate enough to be selected from Toyonosaki High School to attend the merged academy.
"My name is Nohara Shin Chan. I'm a freshman at Shuchiin Academy. I didn't expect you to be my senior."
The name Megumi Kato sounded vaguely familiar to him, but most of his memories from his previous life were already blurred. The clearest impression he retained was still Eriri.
"Did you go out to buy groceries?"
Shin Chan glanced at the bag in Megumi's hand. It was filled with ingredients—probably for her family.
"Yes. I was supposed to do it this afternoon, but Aki-kun was a bit scary, so I went home first."
Megumi hadn't expected Shin Chan to be a freshman. He looked much more mature than her and gave off a very reliable feeling.
Thinking that, she couldn't help but study him more closely.
Soft, naturally curly hair. A tall, solid build. And a unique presence that made people feel at ease.
"Shin Chan-kun, could I have your LINE ID? I'd like to find a chance to properly thank you for today."
Being asked so suddenly, even Pickup Master Shin Chan was momentarily stunned.
But his level was no lower than that of the seemingly plain but quietly sharp girl in front of him.
The best option now was to go with the flow.
He took out his phone, and the two exchanged contact information. Before they could say anything else, the train slowly came to a stop.
They had arrived at a station.
Passengers surged in, making the already cramped carriage even more crowded.
Fortunately, Shin Chan was strong enough. Even when pressed to the side, he braced himself against the glass with both hands, creating a small space for Megumi.
"Kato-senpai, how many stops do you have left?"
A faint masculine scent drifted over—probably sweat from the crowded train. It wasn't unpleasant. On the contrary, it carried a subtle attraction.
Even Megumi, with her strong self-control, couldn't help but blush slightly.
"Two stops."
"That's good. I still have three."
Shin Chan himself didn't think much of it.
Although this was turning into a very light-novel-like situation, his aesthetic preferences hadn't changed.
Mature. Intellectual. Gentle.
And most importantly—
A good figure.
The Shin Chan who'd shown no interest in the girls around him back in kindergarten still felt little attraction now toward this cute, younger girl named Megumi Kato.