Chapter 425

He was eager to test the effect of this new equipment.

If the effect was significant, perhaps it could bring some unexpected help to his completed manuscript of "The Devotion of Suspect X," such as improving the readers' reading experience and indirectly promoting sales?

Carrying this expectation, Natsume Chikage took out his phone and tapped on the electronic manuscript file of "The Devotion of Suspect X."

The moment his gaze landed on the first paragraph of the text—

In his mind, clearer and more immersive scene images emerged naturally: as if he could "see" that lonely apartment, feel the cold air of the morning, and "hear" the protagonist's slightly tired footsteps.

This immersive reading experience was much more vivid and lively than the usual feeling he had when re-reading the manuscript as the author!

Natsume Chikage felt a surge of ecstasy in his heart.

This equipment effect was indeed concept-based, and it seemed to act directly on the "text" itself, regardless of the carrier!

However... was this effect only aimed at the electronic manuscript, or was it equally effective for text printed into a book?

It seemed he could only wait for Editor Takahashi to send the trial print before verifying it practically.

School.

The cherry blossoms on the cherry blossom road were no longer as lush and rich as they were at the beginning of April.

Many branches appeared sparse, and some were even bare, signaling the end of the grand flowering period.

But before they withered completely, this road was still shrouded in a faint pink.

A breeze blew by, and many fragile petals still drifted down like fine snow, gently brushing against the shoulders and hair of pedestrians.

Natsume Chikage and Yukimura Suzune walked side by side on the road covered with a layer of pink petals, emitting a faint rustling sound.

Just at this moment.

A tall, straight figure approached from the side and stopped at a position slightly in front of Natsume Chikage's side.

The person who came was the Kendo Club captain, Shanshan Hideki.

He was wearing a neat school uniform, his brows carrying the heroic spirit and calmness unique to kendo practitioners.

He glanced at Yukimura Suzune, who had a cold temperament beside Natsume Chikage, and quickly judged the relationship between the two—perhaps a girlfriend?

But he remembered the rumor that Natsume Chikage was single.

Asking rashly seemed inappropriate.

However, his purpose for coming wasn't to probe into personal relationships.

Shanshan Hideki faced Natsume Chikage and asked straight to the point, his tone earnest:

"Natsume-kun, excuse me. Is it convenient to chat while walking for a few words?"

Natsume Chikage felt slightly surprised and stopped:

"Captain Shanshan? May I ask what's the matter?"

Shanshan Hideki's gaze swept carefully over Natsume Chikage, especially his standing posture and shoulder and back lines, and then asked the question that had been lingering in his heart for several days straight:

"Natsume-kun... forgive my presumption, I feel your posture and physique, and the interest you showed in that old wooden sword before... have you ever practiced kendo?"

"If you have, no matter how long or short the time, please be sure to tell me truthfully!"

Natsume Chikage hadn't expected the other party to ask this at all, was stunned for a moment, then shook his head frankly:

"No. I have never formally studied kendo."

Shanshan Hideki's brows furrowed, appearing somewhat stunned and unwilling:

"Not even once? From childhood to now, haven't you even participated in interest classes or summer experience classes?"

Natsume Chikage shook his head again affirmatively and asked back:

"Really not even once. But, Captain Shanshan, why do you ask?"

The expression on Shanshan Hideki's face became somewhat strange and complex, mixed with confusion and a trace of imperceptible disappointment.

He muttered to himself in a low voice: "Could it really be that I was overthinking... and saw wrong?"

Subsequently, he seemed to give up on pursuing an unsolvable question, shook his head helplessly, and said to Natsume Chikage:

"It's just that last time in the club room, seeing the interest you showed in that old wooden sword and that... feeling of holding it, made me mistakenly think you had some foundation."

"Now it seems, perhaps I was too sensitive and had an illusion... Sorry to bother you."

After saying this, Shanshan Hideki, carrying some unresolved doubts and faint regret, nodded slightly to indicate, then turned and strode away toward the Kendo Club.

Natsume Chikage stood in place, looking at his back, somewhat confused.

But he didn't take this brief, inexplicable conversation too much to heart, just treating it as a small episode in his school life. ===== CHAPTER 426 =====