Erina Nakiri: ???
Wait—sorry for what?
Why did she suddenly get such a bad feeling?
Shirai Takeru: It's okay. It's just human nature.
Shirai Takeru: You don't need to apologize. You just spent a little time chasing a simple moment of happiness. If it made you feel good, then it was worth it.
Shirai Takeru: You didn't hurt anyone. You quietly sought comfort on your own. You're a lovely girl. It's okay to enjoy yourself in peace.
Robin: Is he… talking to himself?
Erina Nakiri: What are you even doing?
Kirino Kosaka: Wait, is this… is this what I think it is?
Kirino Kosaka: But... isn't everyone in this group a girl? How would a girl even...
Robin: I have a question. Who ever said the new member was a girl?
Miko Yotsuya: Huh? Isn't this supposed to be a girls-only chat group?
Robin: Have you ever seen a girl with a name like that?
Kirino Kosaka: Wait… now that you mention it...
Kirino Kosaka: So it really is what I think it is?
Shinobu Kocho: What are you guys even talking about? I don't understand.
Kirino Kosaka: Good, that means you're still a pure little angel.
Erina Nakiri: …
Erina Nakiri suddenly screamed, threw the dish she was holding, and scrambled back to her room.
She dove under her blanket and curled up, trembling.
It's over. She felt... tainted. What should she do?
"Heh, so this is actually a chat group," Shirai muttered to himself. "And the members... they're from different worlds too."
As the one responsible for all this, Shirai Takeru fell into deep thought. As a hardcore anime addict, he was very familiar with the concept of multiversal chat groups.
Still, he didn't expect that not only would he fuse with the Tartarus, but he'd also end up joining a chat group straight out of fiction.
Clearly, it looked like he had intercepted someone else's opportunity. Judging from the direction that glowing object had taken earlier, it definitely wasn't meant for him.
And based on what Miko Yotsuya and the others were saying, this chat group was probably meant only for girls.
Thinking about that... kind of made him excited.
"Ahem. I was just joking earlier," he typed. "Do I really seem like such a pervert?"
Erina Nakiri: Really?
She replied almost instantly. Her previously dull eyes now sparkled with hope.
Shirai Takeru: Of course.
Shirai Takeru: And technically speaking, I only typed a few random lines.
Shirai Takeru: As a pure and innocent guy, I have no idea what those girls were even talking about. Trust me!
Kirino Kosaka: Hah. You almost made me believe that.
Shinobu Kocho: I don't really know what's going on, but I don't think this guy is a bad person.
Robin: You're way too naïve.
Naïve?
In her room, Shinobu Kocho sat calmly, watching the flickering candlelight.
A faint, meaningful smile appeared on her lips.
Who's really the naïve one?
Faced with a mysterious chat group that suddenly appeared, they all just accepted the explanation that everyone came from different worlds—no questions asked.
Then they started exposing their true personalities and behaviors without hesitation.
Now that was naïve.
Take Robin, for example. Always suspicious, constantly doubting people. Definitely someone with major trust issues.
Shinobu could even guess what kind of place Robin had lived in before—likely somewhere unsafe and oppressive.
But even she was better than Erina Nakiri, who casually posted selfies all the time.
And now? She got hit with a "Sorry!"
That phrase was going to haunt her for at least two weeks.
Kirino Kosaka: So anyway, how come a guy can join this chat group?
Erina Nakiri: Yeah! I thought you were a girl like the rest of us!
Shirai Takeru: Maybe because I'm just too handsome. So handsome, the chat group couldn't resist inviting me.
Miko Yotsuya: …
Kirino Kosaka: Did you see that? I'm rolling my eyes. Just for you.
Shirai Takeru: Didn't see it. Maybe send a pic so I can see how white they are?
Kirino Kosaka: No way! Absolutely not!
Kirino Kosaka: I don't want to end up being "sorry'd" by you too!
Erina Nakiri: Can we just forget what happened earlier? Can we not say those word anymore?
Kirino Kosaka: Sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up. It just came up naturally.
Robin: Sorry, but it really did.
Miko Yotsuya: Sorry. I'll try not to say "sorry" again.
Erina Nakiri: …
Idiots. They were clearly doing it on purpose.
Shirai Takeru: I already said it was just a joke. Let's move on.
Shirai Takeru: By the way, does joining this chat group come with any benefits?