"So... so strong!"
Already pulled back in from outside the balcony, Takanashi Rikka stared at Sato in astonishment. Her cherry blossom-colored lips parted slightly, and her gem-like eyes shimmered with dazed wonder.
"Yah!"
Suddenly, Sato gave her a sharp karate chop to the head, making her yelp softly in pain.
His face full of frustration, he scolded, "You...! Don't say stuff that's gonna get you misunderstood!"
"Uuu…"
Rikka crouched down, holding her head, lips pouting as she looked up at him, clearly aggrieved.
Sato took a deep breath and stared at her seriously. "Why on earth would you come down like that?"
"Hmph hmph!"
Rikka stood up, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and beamed proudly. "This is how the wielder of the Tyrant's Eye descends into the mortal realm! Cool, right?"
Cool your damn head…
Sato rolled his eyes hard enough to sprain them. He glanced up at the still-swaying rope and couldn't help twitching at the corner of his mouth.
Her sister must be really chill, huh? This is the third floor! She really let her do this? If it hadn't been for him, Rikka would've probably taken a serious fall.
On the other side, finally recovered from her near-death stunt, Rikka peeked curiously into his room, full of chuunibyou energy.
"Hoohoo, so this is the bounded field where my Servant resides?"
"Bounded field?"
Sato froze for a second, then shook his head, grabbed her by the arm, and started dragging her into the room.
"Alright, enough. Time for you to leave. Don't you have class tomorrow?"
"Eh? But I still wanted to explore my Servant's dwelling!"
Rikka squirmed, but Sato continued to drag her along.
When she realized her scrawny limbs were no match for him, her eyes darted around the room instead.
"Don't go snooping around!"
Sato started getting a headache.
"Why not? Are you afraid I'll find your stash of 18+ magazines, Servant?" she teased, still being pulled by her collar. "Don't worry, as your Master, I'll understand!"
Even while being dragged by the back of her shirt, Rikka wouldn't stop talking.
"As a once-renowned hero whose true name has been lost to time, as a solitary warrior with no friends, I can totally understand—"
You're the one with no friends!
Sato twitched violently.
Click!
The door to Apartment 2 on the third floor of Aoyama Apartments swung open.
A dark, indistinct lump was tossed out unceremoniously by the room's owner. Without a shred of mercy, she slammed the door shut after giving the yelping mass on the ground a cold look.
BANG!
Right after the door shut, the door next to it opened.
"Eh? Rikka, what are you doing?" asked Doma Umaru from Apartment 3, peeking out curiously.
"Hmph, nothing much. I was simply cast out of my Servant's bounded field because he was in a foul mood," Rikka replied dramatically.
"Eh?!"
Umaru could only respond with complete confusion.
…
The Next Morning
After finishing breakfast at a leisurely pace, Sato set off on time.
Doma Umaru and Gabriel also left around the same time. They regrouped at yesterday's meeting spot and, after waiting for Nishimiya Shouko, the group headed to school together.
"Tenma-san, you don't look so great. Didn't sleep well?" Umaru asked, seeing Gabriel yawn repeatedly.
"Ah, that... yeah, didn't get much sleep," Gabriel replied with a strained smile that made them both a little suspicious.
Still, neither Umaru nor Sato pressed further. Even after just a few days, they'd gotten a decent read on Gabriel.
She was... well, pretty angelic, to say the least.
That's what Umaru thought.
And Sato, he just found it fitting. She was literally an angel, after all.
At the intersection where they split off, the group waved goodbye and headed to their respective schools.
The sky was clear and vividly blue.
Being an island nation, Japan had a constant ocean breeze year-round. Compared to landlocked countries, it had a natural environmental advantage.
But with that came drawbacks.
For example, Japanese streets were often narrow and crowded, especially during weekday mornings and evenings. Cars clogged the roads, while clusters of energetic high school and middle school students bustled by in groups, laughing and chatting.
Nishimiya Shouko walked closely beside Sato. He used a few hand signs he had practiced the night before to communicate with her.
Her eyes lit up in surprise and delight.
After she asked him something, Sato chuckled, "Yeah, I looked it up online last night before bed. Still don't know much though."
She quickly waved her hands in a flurry of signs, clearly flustered.
"You mean... that's amazing?" he guessed.
Nishimiya nodded rapidly like a pecking bird, her bright eyes sparkling.
"Well, I guess it's alright…"
Sato rubbed his nose with his thumb, looking a little sheepish. He wasn't thin-skinned, but even he wasn't used to being admired so sincerely by a girl.
If it had been sarcasm, he would've fired back without hesitation.
But she genuinely meant it, no doubt about that.
They walked along a quiet residential path, lined with students glowing with youthful energy, all heading toward their schools.
As they strolled, Sato suddenly halted and turned to look behind them, sensing something.
Nishimiya, puzzled, followed his gaze and looked at him in confusion.
"It's nothing," he said calmly. "Let's keep going."
They had barely walked a few more steps when Sato abruptly turned around again.
This time, a figure emerging from a nearby alley froze mid-step. She stiffly turned to face them, standing there like a human statue.
People passing by began murmuring, making the moment painfully awkward.
"Takanashi Rikka?!"
Sato raised an eyebrow. When did she start following us?
Then he noticed her uniform, and his expression changed.
"You go to Private Mixed High too?"
"Hmph hmph, I can't believe my Servant noticed… Ow!"
As Nishimiya looked on in shock, Sato's hand came down sharply on Rikka's head again. His face darkened.
"Look around you, don't you feel even a little embarrassed?"
Rikka glanced around and saw people pointing and whispering. Her cheeks flushed red, and she stammered in silence.
"Come on, just walk with us."
Seeing her reaction, Sato couldn't help a wry smile.
So she does know how to be embarrassed… who knew?