NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: Chapter 14
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Maria stepped into her house, dripping wet, and called out as she opened the front door.
"I'm home~!"
"Oh, welcome back, Masha,"
Alisa responded, walking out of her room after hearing the door. Her eyes widened when she saw Maria, still soaked from head to toe, water dripping from her clothes.
"Masha, what happened? Why are you so wet right now?"
Maria gave a sheepish smile, trying to keep things light. "Ah, well, I found a cat stuck in a tree, so I decided to help it. That's why I'm all wet."
She said this with a casual air, masking the tumult of emotions still swirling inside her. She didn't want Alisa to know what had just happened—the terrifying encounter with Poseidon, the God of the Sea, or the shocking revelation about Masachika's true nature. She couldn't bring herself to talk about it just yet.
"*Sigh* I see…"
Alisa couldn't help but exhale, a little exasperated by her sister's airheadedness. However, as she took a closer look, she noticed something unusual. There was a noticeable shift in Maria's demeanor—she seemed… happier than usual.
"Nee, Masha…" Alisa said, her voice a little softer now.
"Hm? What is it, Alya-chan?" Maria replied, still in a cheerful mood.
"Did something happen?"
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"No, it's just that… you seem really happy."
Maria couldn't help but smile at the thought. She was genuinely happy, not just because she had met her childhood friend again after so many years, but because the reunion had been so much more than she could've ever hoped for. It was the second time he had saved her—protecting her, even when things were dangerous. That act alone made her heart swell with affection, and, as always, it only deepened the love she'd always harbored for him.
"Well, you see, I had a pretty amazing encounter today," Maria said with a grin.
"Huh? An encounter? With who?" Alisa asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Hmm… it's a secret," Maria replied with a playful wink, tapping her index finger to her lips.
Maria walked past Alisa, heading toward her room, but paused just before entering.
"By the way, Alya-chan… about Kuze-kun…" she began, glancing over her shoulder.
"Hm? What about him?" Alisa raised an eyebrow, clearly curious about why Maria was bringing up Masachika now.
"Ah, never mind," Maria said with a shrug, a playful smirk on her lips. "He's a good boy. I can see why you'd fall for him."
Alisa scoffed, her hand moving to her hip. "I told you, I don't like him."
Maria's gaze lingered on her, studying her closely. "Really?"
Alisa rolled her eyes. "You're so annoying."
Maria stayed quiet for a moment, then tilted her head, reading her sister's expression. There was something there—a subtle shift in her demeanor that gave her away. Alisa might be good at hiding things, but Maria knew her better than anyone. She wasn't fooling her.
"Mm-hmm, I see. You're kind of cute when you're not being honest with yourself, Alya-chan," Maria teased with a playful smile, which only left her sister more confused.
"What?"
Maria shrugged nonchalantly, her grin never fading. "But if you like him, you'd better tell him before it's too late—before someone else comes along and snatches him up."
With that, Maria walked toward her room, preparing to change into dry clothes.
"What are you talking about?" Alisa called after her, still lost.
"Fufu, youth,"
Maria chuckled to herself, glancing over her shoulder with amusement at her sister's complete obliviousness. A smile lingered on her lips as she entered her room, finding it oddly endearing how Alisa was completely unaware of her own feelings.
Alisa stood in the hallway, still puzzled by Maria's cryptic words.
"Goodness, what was that about?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head in confusion.
With a sigh, she turned to head to her room. But as she walked, Maria's words about Masachika—how she had asked him if it was alright to call him by his first name—came rushing back to her. The thought made her face flush red in embarrassment.
To calm herself down, she decided to review the material she had studied in school, hoping that focusing on something productive would distract her from the embarrassing thought. She sat down at her desk, opened her textbooks, and began to read, though her mind kept drifting back to the moment with Masachika.
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The next afternoon, during lunch break at school, I sat quietly, immersed in a light novel. Takeshi and Hikaru had invited me to join them for lunch, but I'd turned them down, explaining that I'd already eaten too much this morning. After a hearty breakfast, I wasn't feeling particularly hungry. Besides, I was feeling refreshed and ready to tackle whatever challenges might come my way.
However, something slipped my mind until just now—I still hadn't checked the reward for defeating Poseidon. Thankfully, it seemed the system submitted it automatically.
When I finally took a look, I couldn't help but grin. The rewards were better than I expected: the Authority of Water and the Authority of Life. Both were incredibly versatile, and I couldn't wait to put them to the test.
But what really got me fired up was the Authority of Life. With it, I could potentially amplify my already immense strength, especially when combined with the power of Honkai Energy. The idea of pushing my abilities to a whole new level was exhilarating. And if that wasn't enough, the thought of summoning an army—ten thousand armed soldiers, all ready to fight by my side—was enough to make my heart race.
If it worked as I imagined, then... oh boy. I'd officially be the most overpowered, broken, and downright cheat-like existence in this world.
While reflecting on the topic of Poseidon, I decided to bring it up with Belfast. She explained that Poseidon had come to this world through a Dimensional Crack that connected to the Campione! world. When I heard that, my curiosity was piqued—I wondered if I could travel there to see just how powerful the other gods were.
But as soon as I remembered my fight with Poseidon, my interest waned almost immediately. If he was any indication of the gods in that world, they were probably weak too—not worth my time.
While I was immersed in reading a light novel—Tensura Vol. 12, of all things. Yeah, it exists in this world too, just like in my previous life. There are even other familiar titles that exist here as well, so it's not too surprising anymore. But whatever. As I flipped another page, a familiar voice suddenly broke through my thoughts, one I hadn't heard in a while.
(Yawn... Morning…)
(Morning? More like afternoon, you lazy fox.)
I retorted to Musashi, who had been sound asleep in her cozy Stigmata space while I was out there battling Poseidon yesterday. Typical of her to skip the chaos and show up only when everything had settled.
(Hm? What's wrong with you?)
(Go read the previous chapter if you want to know.)
(Huh?)
Musashi blinked, clearly confused by my brief break in the fourth wall. After a moment of silence, she sighed, clearly at a loss for words, and then said,
(Alright, I'll read it.)
A few minutes passed before I heard her voice again, this time laced with a mix of disbelief and realization. It was clear she had finally caught up on everything that had happened yesterday.
(ughhh… I see… so I missed out a lot huh… and the fight against Poseidon)
(Yeah, you missed a lot.)
(I see. I'm so Sorry about that…)
Musashi's apologetic tone made me sigh quietly.
Just then, my phone buzzed with a notification. Curious, I glanced at it and saw Yuki's message.
[Brother, I need your help after school!]
[Huh? Why do you need my help? Isn't Ayano with you after school?]
[Ayano's busy with something else. Just help me alright!]
I let out another sigh as I typed back.
[fine, so where do you need me for After School?]
[Storage Room.]
[Alright, after school, I'll be there.]
[Thanksies.]
As I settled back into reading my light novel, enjoying the peaceful moment, I heard murmurs from the class. My senses flickered, and sure enough, I could tell someone was walking into the room. Of course, it had to be her—Yuki Nonaka.
"Kuze-kun, I need—"
"No."
I didn't even spare her a glance, my attention locked firmly on the pages of the novel.
"But—"
"No."
I cut her off, my tone cold, my eyes never leaving the book.
(Damn, Masachika. That's cold.)
(That's how it's gotta be. I don't want to be her friend.)
(Yeah, I get it, after reading the previous chapter, but isn't that a bit harsh?)
(Musashi look, you should know that we are dealing with Clan that is so high in their Ass calling them a Hero even though they are just a normal human with passable power.)
I thought to myself, They really are arrogant, calling themselves Heroes. A Hero isn't supposed to be a collective title—it's a mantle carried by an individual who stands alone, defying the odds. A whole damn clan parading around as 'Heroes' just reeks of self-importance.
(Sure, they protect humans from demons, but do they really need to flaunt the title like that? It only highlights how conceited they can be.)
(Yeah, they sure do have their heads stuck up their own asses when you put it like that.)
I could hear Yuki still wanting to say something.
"but still, I need to-"
"*Sigh* look, I told you, Nonaka-san, no. I don't want to be your friend. You pointed your blade at me, two times by the way, and now I consider you hostile. So, no."
I gave her my ultimatum, and Yuki, sensing that I wasn't about to entertain any more of her words, simply sighed in resignation.
"Alright... I'll leave you alone," she muttered.
With that, she turned and left the classroom, leaving everyone in stunned silence. They watched, processing the coldness with which I had dealt with Yuki Nonaka. What I said was simple but true: if anyone pointed a blade—or anything else—at me, I would show no mercy. Even if they were still alive and tried to make amends, it wouldn't matter. Yuki Nonaka was the perfect example.
She had already crossed that line, not once, but twice. And now she dared to think I would forgive her? Not a chance. It didn't matter if they were men, women, children, or the elderly—once they crossed me, they were all the same in my eyes.
Takeshi and Hikaru, having just returned from the cafeteria, approached me with curious expressions plastered on their faces. Takeshi was the first to break the silence.
"Damn, man. You just dismissed Nonaka-san like that? Why are you being so cold toward her?"
Hikaru chimed in, his brow furrowed with curiosity.
"Yeah, what's up with that? It's like you two have some kind of bad blood, but I've never even seen you interact before."
I paused for a moment, weighing how to best describe my relationship with Yuki. If I were being honest—and not hiding the truth about the Hero Clan—it would probably be safest to call her a nemesis. But even that didn't feel quite right. So, for now, I decided to settle on that term.
If she and the Hero Clan ever crossed a line I couldn't tolerate, though, I'd go beyond calling her a nemesis and move straight to outright hostility. At that point, I'd have no choice but to erase the Hero Clan from the face of existence.
"It's… complicated," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.
Sensing the tension between us, Takeshi and Hikaru wisely decided not to press further. With perfect timing, the bell rang out, signaling the end of lunch break and the start of the next class.
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Afterschool, I then immedieately go to the the storage room and knocked on the door to announce my presence.
knock knock
"Oi, I'm here," I called out.
"Ah, Masachika-kun. You're here," came Yuki's voice from the other side.
"So, what do you need me for?" I asked, getting straight to the point.
"my why are you so cold. Can't you just say did i make you wait long? And other stuff?"
As soon as I heard her voice, I knew exactly what she was up to. I could sense Alisa was here too. And no, I wasn't about to let her play me like some fool. Not in a million years, Yuki. Not in a million years.
"No. Just tell me what you want from me," I replied, cutting through the tension in the air.
"My, you're so cold, Masachika-kun," she teased, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "You're never going to get a girl if you keep acting like that, you know."
I clenched my jaw, not sure if I was more frustrated with her words or the fact that I was already feeling the familiar heat of annoyance rising. "Why you…" I muttered, trying to keep my composure.
Yuki, noticing my frustrated expression, couldn't help but smirk. It was as if she was feeding off my irritation. Honestly, I didn't know why, but something about the way she was looking at me made me think—yeah, she's definitely an S.
Her gaze was playful, her lips curling in a teasing smile. "You know, I like it when you get all worked up, Masachika-kun," she said, her voice dripping with amusement.
I couldn't help but glare at her. "You really enjoy this, don't you?"
She shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe."
"I see that you two are close," a voice chimed in. I turned to see Alya standing there, carrying a box.
"Alya, you're here too?" I asked, tried to be a little surprised.
"Yes, I've been here the whole time," she replied with a small nod.
"I see…" I trailed off, unsure what else to say.
"Since you're here, Masachika-kun," she continued, shifting the box slightly in her arms, "can you help us with inventory control?"
"Inventory control?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. We're organizing the supplies in the storage room, and we could use an extra set of hands. Here's the storage log."
She handed me a clipboard with a list of items and their corresponding categories.
I glanced over the storage log, scanning the list of items.
"I see. Confirming the stock of each item and reporting the total, excluding the damaged ones, huh? Sounds straightforward. But the fact that you need my help shows the Student Council is seriously understaffed."
"We are short on manpower, which is why I asked you to lend us a hand," Yuki replied, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration. However, her tone quickly shifted to something more playful as she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around my left arm.
"And besides," she added with a teasing smile, "don't we already have plenty of experience doing this from middle school?"
Alisa, who had been watching the scene unfold, immediately frowned. Her expression darkened, and her annoyance was evident in the sharp tone of her response.
"You know, it sounds really wrong when you say it like that,"
I said, my voice laced with annoyance. It really was one of those things that could be misinterpreted, and I wasn't about to let people with dirty minds start assuming things about us back in middle school.
"But enough about that. Let's just get to work,"
I added, pulling my arm free from her grip. Yuki, seeing my reaction, pouted for a second before she sighed and relented.
"Alright, alright. Let's get moving."
The three of us then started sorting through the items in the storage. Some of them were heavy, but honestly, it felt like nothing compared to the weight of that I have carried around.
I couldn't help but comment, "Isn't this a bit much for two girls to be handling on their own?"
"The Student Council President was supposed to stop by later and help, but he's so busy with everything else…" Yuki trailed off with a shrug.
"I see…" I replied, glancing around the room.
"Right, is there a stool around here?" Yuki suddenly asked, turning to Alya.
Alya pointed toward the corner. "There's one over there."
"Thank you very much."
Yuki walked over, grabbed the stool, and positioned it beside the cabinet. She carefully stepped onto it, placing one foot after the other. But just as she shifted her weight onto the second step, the stool gave way with a loud crack.
"Kyaa!"
Yuki let out a startled cry as she fell backward. Instinctively, I stepped forward, catching her with one hand, even as my other hand still held a box.
"Careful now," I said calmly, lowering her gently to her feet.
Yuki blinked up at me, her face a mix of surprise and embarrassment.
"Th-thank you, Masachika-kun…"
Alya, hearing the commotion, quickly rushed over to where we were. Seeing that Yuki almost fell, she immediately apologized.
"Sorry! I didn't realize it was worn out…"
"It's fine, Alya-san," Yuki said quickly, brushing it off. "I didn't notice either, so there's no need to apologize."
I couldn't help but let out a small sigh. "If you need something high up, just call me next time, alright?"
Yuki raised an eyebrow, her expression teasing. "Oh my, how very manly of you."
"Please, take this seriously," I said, giving her a pointed look. "You almost injured yourself. So, what is it that you need to grab?"
I placed the box into the cabinet and looked over at her.
"It's a board game," Yuki said, explaining with a smile.
"A board game?" I raised an eyebrow.
I looked up and saw that, indeed, it was a board game. Reaching up, I grabbed it and handed it to Yuki.
"Here."
Then, I noticed a card game on top of the board game as well.
"A card game too, huh?"
Yuki nodded. "We're planning to use these for the school festival. I played them at the new student council party the other day."
"I see," I said, intrigued. "But let me ask—did you win?"
She said with a trouble smiled. "You could say that."
"Should've known," I muttered, realizing that with her skill set, it made sense she would be good at games like that.
Alya, noticing us standing around, called out from across the room. "You two, get back to work!"
"Ah, right. Sorry about that," I said, quickly getting back on task.
out of nowhere, I heard Alya mutter something in Russian.
[hey, pay attention to me. talk to me too.]
I froze for a moment, startled by her words. When I glanced over at her, I noticed her cheeks were flushed.
(Seems like she's still shy about opening up, huh? That part where she asked if it was okay to call you by your first name—that was her trying to brace herself. But when it comes to confirming her feelings... yeah, she's still struggling a bit.)
Musashi's voice echoed in my mind.
(yeah, probably.)
I replied to her, and decide to ignore her. But to my dismay. Alya keep on saying things in Russian.
[talk to me. talk to me.]
I tried my best to stay composed while sorting through the items, but just as I was nearing some semblance of inner tranquility, a certain mischievous fox decided to join in on the fun.
(talk to me. talk to me.)
(don't join her Musashi!)
(hahaha.)
Her laughter echoed through the Stigmata Space, and I could feel her amusement. There was no escaping this—Alya and Musashi continued to tease me in unison.
([talk to me. talk to me.])
Yuki, who was watching the exchange, seemed utterly confused. She had no idea what was going on, especially since she couldn't understand the meaning behind it.
After what felt like an eternity of teasing, the hours passed and we finally finished sorting out the Storage Room. I made it out in one piece, barely.
"Thanks for helping us out, Masachika-kun," Yuki said gratefully.
"Un, thanks... M-Ma—" Alya stammered, clearly nervous about something.
She hesitated for a moment before finally managing to say, "Thanks, Kuze-kun!"
Her voice was shy, but she still said it. It seemed like yesterday's moment had been more of a fleeting impulse rather than something she'd fully committed to.
(Sigh This Alisa... Does she really need me to teach her how to be bold enough to grab your attention?)
(Don't. You. Dare.)
I growled, my voice laced with enough bloodlust that Musashi could probably feel it in the Stigmata Space.
(Geez, relax. Like hell I can actually make people see me, you know.)
(Why do I feel like you're lying to me?) I asked, suspicion creeping into my tone.
(It's just your imagination.)
She responded in a deadpan tone, trying to mimic the Great Sage's voice.
(Really? Great Sage?)
(It's just your imagination.)
She repeated herself, her tone so deadpan that I couldn't help but sigh internally.
"What? your done already?"
A voice rang out, drawing our attention. We turned to see a tall man with jet-black hair and equally dark eyes standing in the doorway. I recognized him immediately—Touya Kenzaki, the current student council president.
"Yes, because Kuze came to help us," Yuki said, offering a polite smile.
"Ah, I see. So, you're Kuze?" he said, his eyes shifting to me.
I gave him a brief nod. "That's right."
"I'm Touya Kenzaki. Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise," I replied, keeping it short.
"I've heard from Yuki that you're quite talented," he said, his tone warm.
"Ah, thank you," I replied, my tone dry. Talented? Hardly. I'm just a hard worker. That's all there is to it.
As our conversation came to a close, I decided it was time to head home. There was a lot to do—testing my Heart Tool, analyzing the True Dragon Essence I had obtained, and studying the Authority of Water and Life I had recently acquired.
Sure, I understood the basics of the Heart Tool after awakening it. It gave me an overview of its abilities, the chants, and the fundamental functions. But that was just the surface. I needed to conduct thorough experiments and tests to fully grasp how it worked and ensure I could use it to its full potential.
(There's so much to handle right now...)
(Well, you can't really blame anyone but yourself for that,) Musashi chimed in from the Stigmata Space.
She wasn't wrong. I'd been stacking task after task without giving any of them the attention they deserved. What I really needed was a Parallel Thought ability. With that, I could juggle everything at once without breaking a sweat. But, of course, I didn't have that luxury.
(Sigh I should start training myself to multitask better.)
Bringing my attention back to the present, I spoke up. "Well, I'll be heading out now."
I turned to leave, but Touya stopped me just before I reached the door.
"Ah, wait a moment," he said. "You came all this way to help out. I can't let you leave without showing some gratitude. If you don't mind, at least let me treat you to a meal."
"No, it's alright," I said, shaking my head.
"Well, isn't this great? Even if you go back home, there won't be any dinner waiting for you," Yuki chimed in with a teasing grin.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
I asked, narrowing my eyes. Yuki should know that Belfast is always at home preparing dinner for me. Unless…
(Oh, come on, Yuki.)
I muttered internally, piecing things together a bit too late. Was this the reason Ayano wasn't here?
(Wait, what's she hinting at?) Musashi asked, clearly not catching on.
(I think I know, but I need to confirm it. So Let me ask Belfast directly right now.)
Reaching out with telepathy, I contacted Belfast.
(Masachika-sama, is there something wrong?) Belfast ask if there something wrong with me.
(ah, Belfast, are you at home?)
(No, I'm not currently at home, Masachika-sama,) came her polite reply.
(Knew it. So, where are you right now?)
(I'm at Totsuki Academy, Masachika-sama. Learning advanced culinary techniques from the best chefs here. And right now I'm in a middle of a Shokugeki against the all of Ten Elite.)
When I heard that, I froze in my tracks and asked her,
(Why?)
(It's so I can seek further guidance from the talented chef here,) Belfast replied.
As soon as I processed Belfast's response, a sinking feeling settled in my chest—a premonition of chaos brewing at Totsuki Academy. Knowing her, she was probably stirring up a storm over there, and that could only mean more trouble for me down the line.
Out of nowhere, I felt a headache and stomachache hit me simultaneously, as if my body had decided to join in on my mental anguish.
"Hmm? Is something wrong, Kuze-kun?" Touya asked, noticing my discomfort.
"No, it's fine," I replied, forcing my voice to remain even as I battled both the headache and stomachache that had suddenly hit me.
I turned my gaze to Yuki, glaring at her with deadly intent. She was the root of this situation, after all. But instead of showing any remorse, Yuki simply smiled back at me, unfazed, as if my frustration was nothing more than an amusing spectacle to her.
"Alright... I'll go with you, Kenzaki-senpai," I said, still feeling a bit off from the lingering headache and stomachache, the aftermath of Yuki and Belfast's mischievous actions.
Touya nodded approvingly. "Good. Why don't you two join us as well, Suou, Kujou's sister?" he added, turning toward the other two.
"Thanks in advance,"
Yuki said with a smile, and Alya gave a polite nod in agreement.
"Sure."
And just like that, the four of us made our way to the nearest family restaurant. I was still recovering, wincing occasionally from the lingering aches. Yuki had clearly planned this whole situation, and Belfast's absence at home added to the chaos.
As we entered the restaurant, we were led to an empty booth, and after a few moments of scanning the menu, we all placed our orders. I sat back, trying to shake off the discomfort and avoid thinking too much about the tension from earlier.
The air was filled with idle chatter as we waited for the food to arrive. Touya, however, was still keen on keeping the conversation going and turned to me with a casual smile. "By the way, Kuze, you've been pretty quiet since we arrived. Is something on your mind?"
I looked up at him, knowing that he was only asking out of genuine curiosity, but I could feel my thoughts circling back to the headache and the mess Yuki had gotten me into. But I kept it together, trying not to show too much of my discomfort.
"No, just thinking about something, thanks to someone."
I said, shifting my gaze toward Yuki. She noticed and quickly covered her mouth, putting on a playful smile.
"My, whatever do you mean by that, Masachika-kun?"
"Sigh Whatever."
I let out a heavy sigh, rolling my eyes.
Touya, sensing the tension in the air, clapped his hands together to break the mood.
"By the way, well done on finishing the sorting so quickly. I was prepared to handle it tomorrow."
"Masachika is amazing. He can do both manual and paperwork with ease. He's also good at negotiating,"
Yuki added, her tone smooth, likely trying to flatter me so that Touya might convince me to join the Student Council.
"Say that to yourselves."
I replied flatly, though I couldn't help but feel a little bit of awkwardness building up.
"It's rare for Suou to evaluate someone so highly, you know."
Touya nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging the truth in what Yuki had said. She wasn't one to give praise easily. He then turned to me, asking,
"Well, Kuze. Will you join the Student Council?"
"No."
I answered flatly, the response coming without hesitation. I had zero interest in that. Joining the Student Council would only take time away from polishing my skills. Sure, for normal students, being part of the Seirei Academy Student Council was a big boost to your credentials after graduation. Especially if you held the positions of President or Vice President. Those titles represented the elite, carrying significant weight in society.
In fact, former Presidents and Vice Presidents often attended exclusive social gatherings, their names known in the political and business circles. And if one manage to properly manage the student council for a year and gains the right to join the social gathering. It's the same as having a guaranteed success life.
(Yeah, all of that sounds great, but so what? I've got three titles that would easily eclipse all of that—Herrscher of Finality, Doom Slayer, and God Slayer.)
(yeah… Compared to that, their titles just seem... well, kind of ridiculous.) Musashi chimed in.
"I see," Touya said calmly. "Just like Suou predicted, you flatly rejected it. So, may I know the reason why you don't want to join the Student Council?"
He was surprisingly composed, but his question made me pause. I considered how best to answer before settling on a simple explanation.
"I just don't have time, that's all," I replied.
"I see. You don't have time, huh," Touya echoed thoughtfully.
"And besides," I added, "I'm not particularly ambitious or motivated by that sort of thing."
(LIES! Touya, Yuki, Alisa—this man is a liar!) Musashi shouted gleefully in my mind.
(Shut up!) I snapped, immediately cutting off the Stigmata's connection to the outside world.
"Come on, don't be like that," Yuki interjected, leaning forward with a teasing smile. "Join the Student Council with me. We could even run for president together!"
"That's still a no," I said flatly. "Besides, you don't need me. You could become Student Council President easily on your own."
"But I want to work with you in the Student Council, Masachika," Yuki insisted, her tone a mix of playful and serious.
"It's still a no," I said again, unwavering.
Yuki frowned slightly, clearly troubled by my refusal. Touya stepped in, addressing me with a calm but persuasive tone.
"Kuze, just so you know, if you think Suou will win the election without you, you're wrong. There are other strong candidates. More importantly, Kujou's sister is running too."
Hearing that, I turned my attention to Alya. I already knew she was planning to run—I'd read the novel, after all—but hearing it out loud was still something else.
"You too, Alya?" I asked.
"Yes," Alya said, her voice steady. "I'll be running as well."
"I knew it. I may not be able to win this without your help, Masachika-kun," Yuki said, wrapping her arms around mine as if to solidify her plea.
"Get off of me," I grumbled, trying to shake her off.
Before things could escalate further, the waiter arrived with perfect timing.
"Thanks for waiting!" she said cheerfully, placing the food in front of us.
With that distraction, we all began eating at our own pace, the tension dissipating slightly. As we ate, Touya turned his attention to Alya, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Speaking of Kujou's sister, you're in the same class as Kuze, right?" he asked. "What do you think of his everyday behavior?"
I didn't particularly care what Alya might say about me—good or bad—but if her answer helped keep me out of the Student Council, I'd consider it a blessing. In fact, I'd be so grateful I might even thank her profusely.
"He is extremely irresponsible!" Alya declared, her voice sharp.
'Thank you,'
I silently thought, appreciating her disapproving comment about me. She wasn't finished, though.
"He forgets to bring his books to school, doesn't do his homework, and is always sleeping in class. As for his grades, you'd find him faster if you started searching from the bottom."
"Those are… some pretty harsh words," Touya remarked, a bit taken aback by her bluntness.
"Well, it's the truth," I said casually, not bothering to argue.
"That's why he might not be fit to be Suou's part—ah, sorry, I mean, to form part of the Student Council!"
Alya quickly corrected herself, but her brief slip was enough to reveal her feelings. She really was the jealous type.
Before I could enjoy her unintentional honesty, a familiar voice suddenly echoed in my head, yelling.
(Masachika! how dare you cut off the connection between the Stigmata Space and the Outsdie World!)
(oh, Musashi your back. What happen to you? I suddenly can't hear you?)
I replied, feigning ignorance.
(don't play dumb here you bastard. You obviously cut off the connection!)
she shouted.
(whatever do you mean? I didn't do that you know.)
(Lies! That's a Fucking Lie!)
(yeah, yeah, now will you keep it down.)
I brushed her off and refocused on reality, but for some reason, I could still hear her hmph echoing in my mind.
When I looked to the side, I noticed Yuki setting down her chopsticks with a determined expression.
"My, that's something I cannot ignore as a childhood friend," she said, her tone heavy with implication.
"Yuki, no," I warned, knowing full well what was about to unfold.
She ignored me, of course. "Do you maybe lack a bit of understanding of Masachika-kun?" she asked, her words practically dripping with smugness.
Caught off guard, Alya's face flushed as she quickly retorted, "Wha?! As if! After all, I'm the one who is closest to him!" Her voice shook slightly, betraying her embarrassment.
Chaos was clearly brewing. Deciding I wanted no part in it, I calmly picked up my coffee and took a long sip, pretending the drama beside me didn't exist.
"I-I've… I've been next to Kuze-kun for over a year now," Alya stammered, her voice trembling slightly as she addressed Yuki.
Ah, there it was—my last name again. I couldn't help but sigh internally. So yesterday really was just a heat-of-the-moment thing, huh?
"Well," Yuki began, placing her hands on the table and leaning forward slightly, "I am his childhood friend. Not to mention, I was his partner during our time in the middle school student council, remember? I understand Masachika best out of the two of us."
The way she said my first name so casually felt deliberate, as if she was using it to assert dominance over Alya.
As the two of them locked eyes, the tension in the air grew thick. It felt like I was sitting between two rival factions preparing for an all-out war.
And just as I thought things couldn't get any worse, a certain mischievous fox decided to chime in from the Stigmata Space.
(Ohhh, this is getting good!) Musashi said, her voice dripping with amusement. (Ladies and gentlemen, we're witnessing the ultimate showdown: 'Childhood Friend vs. Current Classmate.' Place your bets now!)
(Musashi, can you not?) I groaned internally, trying to focus on my coffee and ignore the brewing chaos beside me.
(What? This is prime entertainment! I'm here for it!) she giggled.
The situation was getting out of hand, and I knew that if I didn't step in soon, it could escalate into a full-blown argument. Still, a part of me wondered if it would be better to just let them sort it out on their own.
For now, I quietly sipped my coffee, pretending not to hear anything as the two girls continued to argue over who knew me better. Musashi's laughter echoed in the back of my mind like a mischievous commentator enjoying the chaos far too much.
Yuki started with her usual confident tone, leaning slightly forward as she spoke.
"Our usual Masachika-kun may seem like he lacks motivation, but he always manages to avoid failing grades, doesn't he? And lately, he's been a lot more driven than he used to be."
"Urgh… y-you're right…" Alya admitted begrudgingly, her voice trailing off.
(That's a hit! Alisa has taken a direct hit!) Musashi's voice rang out gleefully in my mind like an overly enthusiastic sports commentator.
Ignoring her, I continued to focus on the view outside the window, quietly sipping my coffee as if the chaos next to me wasn't my problem.
"But," Alya countered, not willing to back down, "as the one who always grades his quizzes, I can confidently say he's just barely passing them!"
(Ooooh! Alisa has used Sitting Next to Him—a classic move! What will Yuki do next?!)
Musashi's commentary wasn't helping my growing headache.
Yuki smiled, unfazed, and fired back.
"And that's only because he's putting in the bare minimum effort to avoid taking makeup tests. To begin with, he got into this academy without even trying. Masachika-kun's actually really smart, you know? I can tell because I've been with him since we were little."
(And there it is—the Childhood Friend Bragging! It's a critical hit for Alya!)
Glancing over, I noticed Alya gritting her teeth, clearly stung by Yuki's words.
"Kuze-kun might be smart and decent academically," Alya said, regaining her composure, "but when it comes to ball games, he's beyond hopeless, isn't he?"
Yuki nodded, giggling softly.
"Yes, Masachika-kun's always been terrible at ball games, ever since we were kids. Still, aside from those, he's pretty good at any other sport. Oh, that's right…"
She paused for dramatic effect, her expression turning mischievous.
"Oh, that's right. I have a buuuunch of photos of Masachika-kun from his infancy!"
(It's a super effective strike! Yuki brings out the Childhood Memory Bomb!) Musashi announced dramatically in my mind. (What will Alisa do now?! Let's use the Authority of Consciousness to find out!)
Before I could stop her, Musashi activated her ability, and I suddenly heard Alya's thoughts loud and clear.
[ISN'T THAT CHEATING?!] she screamed internally.
Her internal conflict continued, frantic and desperate.
[But it'd be a loss if I said that out loud! I have to fight back! Let's see… we held hands? No, that's not enough. We danced together? No, that's too weak. I call him by his first name now? No!! None of this is enough! How do I prove I'm closer to him than she is?! Errm, uhhh, ermmm—]
(Alisa is floundering! Her mental processing is overheating! Can she recover?!) Musashi narrated in delight.
[Should I… no… no… aaaaahhhhh!!]
Then, in a burst of frustration, Alya suddenly shouted aloud in Russian, "[THERE IS NO WAY I COULD SAY THAT!!]"
Her outburst startled everyone at the table. Touya, clearly intrigued, perked up and asked, "Oh? Was that Russian just now?"
Before Alya could stammer a reply, I decided I'd had enough. "Alright, that's enough, you two," I said, raising my hand to cut them off. "Let's just finish our food before it gets cold."
Alya slumped in her seat, looking defeated but not entirely out of the fight. Yuki, on the other hand, wore a smug grin, clearly satisfied with how the exchange had gone.
(And that's a wrap, folks! It's a draw! No clear winner this round!)
Before Musashi could continue her commentary, I immediately severed the connection between the Stigmata Space and the outside world. Silence returned to my mind, much to my relief.
The only sounds left were the clinking of utensils and the hum of the restaurant as we resumed eating in peace—or at least as close to peace as one could get when sitting between a childhood friend and a fiercely competitive classmate.
Yuki, noticing the tension her excitement had caused, softened her expression and apologized with a small bow.
"I'm sorry. I got a little carried away there for a moment."
"N-no, I should be the one apologizing," Alya stammered, her voice quieter than usual. "I also got a little too excited…"
Touya, sensing the atmosphere needed a lighter note, clapped his hands together and smiled. "Oh, right! Should we order some dessert?"
"Oh, that sounds wonderful!" Yuki agreed eagerly, her previous energy returning as if nothing had happened.
I glanced at Alya, wondering if she was alright. She sat there quietly, her eyes distant. Then, faintly, I heard her mutter in Russian:
[But… maybe… I really don't know anything about Kuze-kun.]
Hearing those words, I felt a momentary pang of guilt. She wasn't wrong. Alya truly didn't know much about me—what I trully am, what I've been through, or what I've been doing with my life. But then again, how could she?
I almost nodded in agreement with her self-reflection but caught myself before giving anything away. Instead, I decided to address her concern with a more neutral approach.
"Did you say something, Alya?"
Her face turned bright red as she quickly scrambled to respond. "E-eh?! I-I said maybe I should eat some dessert!"
"Then eat as much as you like,"
I said with a shrug, sipping my coffee as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
Touya signaled the waiter, who came over to take our dessert orders. Yuki started browsing the dessert menu enthusiastically, listing options that sounded appealing, while Alya seemed lost in thought.
As the conversation around the table moved to lighter topics, I couldn't help but glance at Alya again. Her earlier words lingered in my mind. Despite her fiery personality and confidence, it seemed there was a vulnerability there she rarely let show.
After a few minutes of dining and chatting, we finally settled up. Well, to be precise, Touya paid for everything. Not that I minded—he seemed to enjoy taking care of things like that. Afterward, we parted ways: Yuki got into a car that came to pick her up, and Touya headed for the train station. That left only me and Alya walking together since we lived in the same general direction.
"You really didn't have to walk me back, you know," Alya said, glancing at me with a faint frown.
"Need I remind you it's not safe for girls like you to walk home alone at night?" I replied casually.
She sighed but gave a small nod. "Fair point."
We continued down the quiet streets, our footsteps echoing faintly in the cool night air. Neither of us said a word, letting the stillness stretch between us. It wasn't awkward—just a rare, peaceful moment.
That peace was abruptly shattered by a loud, drunken yell from up ahead.
"I SWEAR, THOSE GUYS ARE JUST THE WORST!"
Both Alya and I turned to see the source of the commotion. Three older men stumbled into view. Two of them were struggling to steady a drunk, grumpy-looking middle-aged man who was waving his arms angrily.
"JUST WHO DO THEY THINK WE, THE SALES DEPARTMENT, ARE?!" he bellowed, swaying unsteadily.
"Please, Isoyama-san... You've had too much to drink!" one of his companions pleaded.
The scene was something out of a cliché office drama, but I wasn't about to take any chances. I glanced at Alya and said quietly, "Alya, come next to me."
"Y-yeah," she said, stepping closer as a faint unease crossed her expression.
We walked past them, careful not to make eye contact. Well, I avoided looking their way. Alya, on the other hand, kept glancing at the loud man with a curious gaze.
Unfortunately, it didn't go unnoticed.
"WHAT IS THIS?!" the drunk man suddenly yelled, pointing an unsteady finger in our direction. "A DATE THIS LATE?! YOU'RE QUITE IMPERTINENT FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS!"
The other two men scrambled to restrain him. "Wait, Chief! This is a bad idea!"
"AND WHAT'S WITH YOU TWO?!" he continued, completely ignoring his companions' attempts to hold him back. "YOU HAVE SUCH INSOLENT HAIR COLORS!"
"Let's leave it at that!" one of the sober men said, desperately trying to pacify him.
"ACTING ALL COOL WHEN YOU'RE JUST BRATS!" the drunk man roared again, his voice echoing through the quiet street.
I sighed and glanced at Alya, who looked more irritated than intimidated.
"Alya... let's just leave. Ignore him," I said firmly, hoping to keep her from reacting.
We continued walking down the street, but then the drunk man, seemingly without thinking, spat out something he definitely shouldn't have.
"I BET YOUR PARENTS ARE HOOLIGANS, AREN'T THEY?! IDIOTS GIVING BIRTH TO MORE IDIOTS! I'D LIKE TO SEE WHO YOUR PARENTS ARE!" he yelled, slurring his words and staggering toward us.
Alya stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes narrowed, and for the first time since I'd known her, her usually playful demeanor was gone, replaced by a chilling coldness.
"What a shameful adult," she muttered, her voice icy and full of disdain.
The words hit like a sharp gust of wind, freezing the air around us. Even the two men holding him back seemed to falter, momentarily stunned by the sharpness of her response. I let out a sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. Typical Alya—always ready to stand up for what she thought was right, but this time, I wasn't sure if it would help the situation.
The drunk man, clearly not appreciating being talked down to, took it poorly.
"H-HUUUUUUUHHHH?!" he barked in disbelief, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Ah! Chief!" one of his companions tried to intervene, reaching out to stop him, but it was too late. With a violent shove, the drunk man knocked his supporter aside, his unsteady steps heavy with intent as he lurched toward us.
Alya, seeing him move closer, immediately dropped into a defensive stance. She was ready to do something about this—whether that something was to fight back or to get ready to defend herself from whatever he might throw at her.
But before things could escalate any further, I stepped in, raising a hand to hold them both at bay.
"Enough," I said firmly, my tone not leaving much room for argument.
The drunk man froze, his drunken aggression now slightly subdued by the sudden force of my presence. The two men behind him also hesitated, glancing back and forth between me and their inebriated friend.
"I said, enough," I repeated, stepping between Alya and the man. I wasn't about to let this turn into a bigger mess than it already was.
The drunk man huffed and puffed, but after a moment of glaring at me, he staggered back. "You—this isn't over, you brat!" he shouted, though there was little conviction in his voice now.
"Let's just go," I muttered under my breath, turning my attention back to Alya. I gave her a quick glance to make sure she was okay, then began walking away, keeping a careful eye on the situation. The two men quickly apologized and began pulling the drunk man back in the opposite direction, likely relieved to avoid further confrontation.
Alya, however, didn't move right away. She was still staring at the retreating figures, her expression unreadable.
"You okay?" I asked, watching her carefully.
She blinked, as if snapping out of a trance. Then, with a small sigh, she nodded. "I'm fine. Just… I hate seeing adults act like that. It's pathetic."
"Yeah. But some people are just like that," I said quietly, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before continuing down the street.
Alya hesitated for a moment, then walked beside me again, her pace slower now, the weight of what just happened still lingering in the air between us.
"Still," she said, her voice softer now. "Thanks for stepping in. I… I don't know if I could've handled it if you hadn't."
I glanced at her with a small smirk. "No problem. Let's just get you home."
And with that, we walked in silence for the rest of the way, the night's tension slowly fading as the distance grew between us and the scene that almost became a bigger mess than it had to be.
After a few minutes of walking, we arrived at her home. Alya hesitated for a moment before turning to face me.
"Thanks for seeing me here, M-Ma—" she started but cut herself off, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"If you're still too shy to call me by my first name, don't force yourself," I interrupted, giving her a small smile. "Just call me that when you're ready."
"A-alright. Kuze-kun," she said quietly, her gaze shifting away from mine.
I let out a small sigh. "Well, I'll leave now—"
"Wait," she suddenly said, stopping me in my tracks just as I was about to turn away.
"Hmm?" I looked back at her curiously.
"Kuze-kun, do you really have no intention of joining the student council?" she asked, her tone softer but still carrying an air of seriousness.
I sighed again, knowing this topic would keep coming up. "Yes, I don't have any intention of joining it in the first place," I replied honestly.
Alya's expression shifted, her head lowering slightly. Her hands fidgeted nervously as she looked at me with a desperate gaze.
"What if… what if I…" she started but stopped herself mid-sentence, her voice faltering.
I could tell what she wanted to say, but she didn't seem ready to voice it. Instead, she straightened herself, her expression returning to its usual composed state.
"Never mind… Good night, Kuze-kun," she said softly before turning and entering the building.
I stood there for a moment, watching her disappear inside, her earlier words still lingering in my mind. With a shake of my head, I turned and started walking home.
"Keep it together, Masachika"
I muttered under my breath, a reminder to myself not to let things spiral out of control.
Once I was far enough away from her house, I activated the Authority of Void, using it to return home faster. In an instant, the world around me blurred into a surreal vortex of emptiness before snapping back into focus. I stepped out of the void and into the quiet darkness of my room, the chaos of the day finally settling behind me.
When I arrived home, I was greeted by a familiar voice.
"Welcome home, brother. Did you send Alya off?"
I turned to see Yuki standing there, a sly smile on her face as she had just arrived home herself.
"Yeah, I'm home," I replied, slipping off my shoes. "Is Belfast still not home?"
Yuki's grin widened, as if she had been caught red-handed.
"Oh, it seems that you know what I did, huh."
"Yeah," I said with a sigh, crossing my arms. "Seriously. You made Ayano skip school today and sent her to escort Belfast, who's been trying to perfect her cooking, to Totsuki Culinary Academy, right?"
"Yup, that is correct, brother," Yuki said cheerfully, as if proud of her actions.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed again. "Do you really think it's okay to send Ayano out like that just because you wanted to meddle in Belfast's cooking?"
"Well, I mean, Belfast did ask for my help," Yuki said, tilting her head with an innocent expression. "Besides, Ayano could use the day off, don't you think?"
"Don't try to make it sound noble," I shot back. "Do you even realize the kind of trouble you've gotten me into?"
Yuki tilted her head, clearly oblivious. "What do you mean? I didn't do anything that bad."
I stared at her, exasperated. "Just to let you know, when I reached out to Belfast using telepathy, do you know what she was doing?"
Yuki blinked, looking genuinely curious. "What? What was she doing?"
"She was in the middle of a Shokugeki."
"That's not so bad," Yuki said with a shrug. "A little culinary duel should be good for her, right?"
I shot her a look and added, "Against all of the Ten Elite at once."
Yuki froze, her eyes widening. "Eh? Seriously?"
"Yes," I said, rubbing my temples. "Do you even understand the kind of drama that could cause? Belfast is new there, and now she's challenging the best chefs in the academy all at once. People are definitely going to notice, and when they find out she's connected to us..."
Yuki's expression shifted from surprise to mild guilt. "Oh… well, I didn't think it would escalate that much. But hey, Belfast is talented! She can handle it, right?"
"That's not the point!" I groaned, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "It's the unnecessary attention. Sure, I could confidently say that Belfast will win against the Ten Elite, but the problem comes after that!"
"Ah, right…" Yuki murmured, her face finally showing a hint of understanding. "The reporters, the media, and all that stuff, huh?"
"Exactly," I said, pointing at her. "People will swarm her—asking for exclusive recipes, endorsements, or even begging her to cook for them. And you know how Belfast is. She's loyal to me and her duties, so she'll reject them all outright. But the bigger problem is what happens after she rejects them. What do you think they'll do?"
Yuki paused, tilting her head thoughtfully. Then, as the implications dawned on her, her eyes widened. "Oh… They'll dig into every bit of information they can find—where Belfast lives, who she serves…"
"Bingo." I crossed my arms, exhaling sharply. "If word gets out that she works directly for me, I'll become a target for people trying to use her influence. Some might come with business deals, others with ulterior motives, and I really don't need that kind of headache."
Yuki winced. "Okay, yeah, that does sound like a pain. But still, if she does well, it'll reflect positively on you too, right? I mean, having such a capable person working for you isn't exactly a bad thing."
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Yuki, I don't care about my reputation or whatever, but dealing with those people is a headache. What you just did? That gave me a pounding headache and a stomachache."
Yuki raised her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it. It was a bad call, okay? I'll think things through next time before pulling something like that."
"Good," I replied, though the irritation still gnawed at me. "Because if something big happens, I'll be holding you responsible."
Her smile wavered, just for a moment. "Noted. I'll be ready to assist if it comes to that."
I let out a slow sigh, trying to tamp down my frustration. "Just… don't let it happen again, alright?"
"Understood, brother," she said, her voice dripping with exaggerated sincerity. But the faint smirk tugging at her lips told me she wasn't taking this as seriously as she should.
I shook my head. Sometimes, dealing with Yuki felt like an even bigger challenge than everything else life threw at me.
While we were talking, a knock sounded at the door.
"Excuse me. Are you home, Masachika-kun?"
"Hm? Mei-san?" I called out, recognizing her voice. "What is it?"
"Can you come for a second?" she asked.
"Wait… Shiina-san?" I said, catching Mahiru's voice faintly behind the door.
I glanced at Yuki, who gave me a small nod. Taking that as her go-ahead, I got up and opened the door to find Mei and Mahiru standing there.
===========================
I don't know what to say after this right now but if there is something wrong in the chapter then please comment it and I will read and try to improve the mistake that I made.
That's pretty much it, and as always thanks for reading my Fanfic.