Chapter 12

The previous misunderstanding was successfully resolved after quite a lot of stupid drama between me and the three stupid girls in the club.

It honestly boggles the mind how Nibutani who tried to always take revenge in silence when I tried to explain Rikka's previous misunderstanding, actually made the problem quite bigger.

This girl is really vindictive.

At least out of everything that happened, I should thank Yuuta for helping me solve this problem, as a normal human being amongst the bunch of weirdos in the club, of course he was the only normal person here since I never identified myself as a normal human being in the first place.

However, even so, I still feel that all this stupid drama will be something I will go through every day, not that I'm complaining about this, especially since today's problem is the result of my own actions.

Even Rikka who seemed to have calmed down sat beside me like an obedient little puppy, as if she was waiting for the order I was going to give her. Although I probably won't do that again because I could see how Rissa kept playing with the knife as she kept stabbing the table.

Wait a minute! Where did that girl get a knife? Does the Disciplinary Committee have no problem with a bunch of troubled kids like us having knives in the club room?

I want to question how their logic works, or even if this girl smuggled the knife in without the Disciplinary committee knowing.

Aside from all that today's club activities went on quite normally, even Nibutani didn't seem to want to give up on her training plan for the sports week that was about to begin, but it wasn't like before where it was just that stupid girl drawing up the training plan.

At least this time she was being supervised by others, so I'll feel that the next training will seem more normal.

"Lux-sama" Rikka tugged on my sleeve as she spoke, I could see that she lowered her head and spoke in a low voice.

While it won't be heard by the other club members, I turn my head and look at Rikka, for some reason I feel that if Rikka's interest in me is not because of her admiration for the figure of Lux that I created in the past, but rather directed towards myself, Tonomachi Hiroto.

Then I think that would be great, but even if I don't do anything to approach other girls, there is still Origami who will stick to me like glue, and also Mei I think.

"What's wrong, Rikka?" I asked her gently, after all if this girl started to interpret my words carelessly again, I thought another stupid drama would start soon.

"That... A-Are what you said earlier true, Lux-sama? You're not going to throw me away are you?" Rikka held my hand as she looked at me with eyes that looked like a small dog before its master.

I think it's best that this girl doesn't do things like this in front of others, after all I don't want to be suspected of having a strange hobby and forcing Rikka to play a role in it.

It's not that I'm averse to having rumours with a pretty girl like Rikka, on the contrary I think it's pretty good if I can brag about those rumours in front of Shido.

It's just that I feel a little worried about this girl's survival if Origami sees me getting close enough to Rikka. After all, I could see the flash of Obsession in Origami's eyes before.

I can only pray that the girl doesn't see Rikka getting too close to me.

After all, Origami's eyes that were shrouded in complex emotions before could even give me goosebumps when looking at her.

But honestly that girl is quite cute, especially when the light in her eyes disappears, I somehow feel happiness in my heart, Wait! Am I crazy for thinking that origami obsession is cute?

What was I thinking all that time?

I took a deep breath and tried to think of how to answer Rikka's question without causing new drama.

"Relax, I'm not going to throw you away, Rikka," I answered calmly while patting her gently on the head.

"But, you need to be more confident. I don't like it when you keep worrying about things like this." I told her.

Rikka nodded slowly, but her expression was not entirely calm. She pulled my hand a little tighter, like a child afraid of losing something very precious.

Meanwhile, Nibutani who was busy writing the plan for tomorrow's training on the blackboard suddenly interrupted us with her loud voice.

"Kouhai-kun! Focus on the discussion and stop throwing that dog food in front of all of us!" Nibutani said irritably.

I looked at Nibutani, rolling my eyes as if bored.

"Who said I was spoiling her? I'm just making sure she doesn't make a mess like before" I said casually while supporting my chin with my left hand, my gaze lazily looking at Nibutani who was standing in front of the blackboard.

Hearing my words, Nibutani snorted.

"Hm! You're just taking advantage of the situation for fun aren't you?" she said looking suspicious.

What was with that look?

It's only been a few days since I joined the club and I'm already under suspicion? I think my plan to join normal society is not going to go well.

"It's just your feelings" I said lazily, denying Nibutani's accusation.

Meanwhile Rikka who seemed to have heard Nibutani's words earlier looked displeased, I could even see that easily from the gaze she directed at Nibutani.

Rikka got up from her seat, picked up the umbrella she usually carried and pointed it towards Nibutani, as if imitating the movements of a warrior ready for a duel on the battlefield.

"Great Witch Mori, I warn you to mind your manner of speaking to Lux-sama!" As Rikka said that, she opened her umbrella while turning it backwards as if ready to attack.

I think I forgot that this girl is a Chuunibyou sufferer.

When Rikka said that, she stood in front of me, as if trying to protect me from Nibutani's danger.

I thought I would just enjoy the current situation before going to my workplace, after all I wouldn't mind Rikka's current behaviour too much since she seems to have returned to normal.

As Rikka opened her black umbrella and spun it around quickly, while Nibutani snorted as if seeming to scoff at Rikka, she folded her arms before flashing a sardonic smile that seemed full of confidence.

I think I'm about to witness a battle between the two great witches of this century.

"Tsk~ tsk~ Rikka-chan, don't think I'll be afraid of second-rate witch nonsense like you? If you want to fight, I'm ready anytime!" Nibutani accepted Rikka's duel challenge without even thinking twice.

I could even hear her voice that was filled with arrogance, for some reason I thought of the protagonist of a Chinese cultivation novel when I heard Nibutani's tone.

Meanwhile, I who was sitting behind Rikka shifted my seat a little bit away from the two, after all I didn't want to get hit by Rikka's umbrella.

Nibutani, or rather the Great Sorceress Mori pulled out her sacred artefact from behind the blackboard, a 3 metre long staff was visible.

I wonder how these girls were able to smuggle strange and dangerous objects like knives and long sticks into the club room.

"You have no idea what you're up against! The power of the Eternal Light of the Great Witch Mori Summer will annihilate you!" Nibutani shouted loudly as she twirled the staff in her hand, even I could see Yuuta who was already sitting further away from his previous seat, even he was wearing... A protective helmet?

What's with all the strange things in this place?

As the intense situation between the two began to take shape, I somehow felt that the club room suddenly began to seem to change.

I wondered if I was starting to experience the same hallucinations as the two of them, but the clubroom atmosphere that seemed cramped and shabby before had completely disappeared.

The air around me suddenly felt humid, the smell of wet soil and leaves filling my nostrils.

The sunlight that should have been streaming through the club's windows was now replaced with faint rays that appeared faintly from behind the dense foliage of the giant trees around us. The shadows of the dense foliage of the giant trees moved to create dark shadows around me, although the sunlight was still visible it was still difficult to completely illuminate the forest surroundings.

Rikka stood on a large tree branch, her eyes shining with confidence, her open umbrella seemed to glitter like a cursed weapon, honestly it was a pretty cool visual effect, after all I could even see that Rikka's umbrella seemed to emit a deep purple aura.

On the other hand, Nibutani was hovering above the roots of a giant tree, her wooden staff glowing with golden light, looking like a holy girl in many fantasy anime.

"Your crimes will end here, Rikka!" Nibutani spoke in a calm tone as she began to swing her staff forwards.

As Nibutani swung her staff, it emitted a golden light that instantly shot fast like an arrow towards where Rikka was.

Rikka did not remain silent. She swung her parasol in front of her, creating five dark red magic circles that appeared in layers, as if they formed a protective shield.

"If you think you can defeat me with just this kind of weak power, then it will only happen in your dreams!"

A small explosion occurred as the two forces collided, shaking the forest they had created. Tree branches seemed to sway, leaves over 30cm in size fell around us like rain, I could even see some caterpillars falling on the sleeping Kumin.

Gosh it disgusted me!

Meanwhile, Nibutani jumped from the roots of the tree, landed on a higher branch, then swung her staff downwards.

"Heavenly chain of light!" she shouted, and from the tip of her staff, a chain of light appeared, darting like a snake towards Rikka.

However, Rikka was already prepared. With an acrobatic leap, she dodged the chain, flying as if gravity no longer bound her.

"Dark Vortex Barrage!" she whispered, and from the tip of her umbrella appeared dozens of pitch-black spheres that hurtled towards Nibutani.

Nibutani spun her staff gracefully, forming a shield of light that reflected off the black balls, shattering several tree branches around them.

"Your attacks are meaningless, Rikka!" Nibutani spoke arrogantly.

"I wonder if I'll go crazy if I stay here? Also why do they have to do this almost every day" Yuuta grumbled as he slammed his face onto the table.

Poor Yuuta, I hope he keeps his mentality as a normal human being in the midst of a bunch of weird humans like us.

I think I should leave here soon, besides reasons for my own health I also have a part-time job waiting for me.

"Togashi-kun, I think I'll be back soon, I still have work to finish" I spoke politely

"Eh? What?" Yuuta exclaimed looking confused.

But when I noticed Yuuta's eyes looking at me, his eyes looked like a puppy asking his master to accompany him in this mess.

Sorry Yuuta, I think even if you give me 10,000 yen this time I will still go, of course if you want to raise the price a little higher I will consider it.

"Lux-sama, wait a minute!" Rikka spoke as she parried a stick blow from Nibutani.

Rikka jumped down from the large branch of the giant tree beside me, no, it was the table where she was standing before.

"Lux-sama, let me escort you" Rikka said that by turning round and closing her umbrella.

Meanwhile, Nibutani who seemed not to want to be left behind also jumped down from the table.

"Do you think I'll let you go just like that?! Kouhai-kun you have to watch how I destroy this second-rate witch" she said while swinging her wand which somehow didn't damage the lights or other objects inside the club room.

I think Nibutani's hatred has diminished somewhat.

As Nibutani said that, I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Look, I have a part-time job. If I'm late on my first day of work, my manager will probably-"

"Don't worry, I can seal up the place so you don't have to work anymore!" she said as she snorted proudly, as if it was an easy thing for her.

While I could only stare at Nibutani with a flat stare.

"If you shut down my workplace how will I survive without money?" Although I thought that the convenience store would soon be shut down or go bankrupt, but at least let me receive a salary from there.

Nibutani who heard my words looked confused for a moment, while Rikka laughed sarcastically.

"Haha... Look at that famous Great Mori witch, apparently stupid enough not to understand such a simple thing"

"Shut your mouth, Rikka!" Nibutani retorted, brandishing her staff at Rikka, as if ready for a second round of fighting.

"Do you want to fight again?!" Rikka opened her umbrella again, ready to fight.

"Lux-sama, I'm sorry for not being able to escort you away" Rikka glanced at me as she apologised.

"hm... Well, no problem, see you tomorrow" Without even saying much more I rushed out, as if ignoring the pleading look I received from Yuuta.

Sorry Yuuta, I have to leave right now, I hope your mentality stays healthy, you're a hero in the middle of this mess, Yuuta.

When I left the club room, I immediately headed to the convenience store where Aoyama was waiting for me, after all he was going to lead me to work on my first day.

.....

As the cherry blossoms fell, I could clearly see that the people walking on the pavement didn't seem uninterested in coming in here.

It's been an hour since I was given the task of cleaning by Aoyama-san, even after all this time I haven't seen a single person coming in here.

I thought working in such a quiet and cosy place wouldn't be so bad, especially when my co-worker is a beautiful and energetic-looking girl like Aoyama.

Honestly thinking of Aoyama who always seems to have love for Sorata but even Sorata doesn't see that at all, this girl is quite pathetic in her romantic relationships.

But I'm also quite curious how the female lead of the story she's in is, after all even Rikka already has quite a high beauty as the female lead of her own story.

So Shiina shouldn't be much worse right?

"Tonomachi-kun, have you finished cleaning the door glass?" Aoyama asked from behind the cash register.

"Hm, I've finished cleaning it" I replied.

"Good, then you can start arranging the items in the boxes near the shelf on the right" Aoyama said as she pointed towards the large shelf standing in the corner of the room.

I stared at the shelf for a moment. Items such as instant noodle wrappers, milk boxes, and snacks were scattered together inside the large box, as if someone didn't care about any of this and made all kinds of items into one.

"Sure" I replied briefly, grabbing a rag to dust off the shelf before starting to arrange the items back into place. As I moved, the sound of light footsteps could be heard approaching.

"Sorry" Aoyama-san said in an awkward tone.

"I was too tired last night, so I didn't have time to clean up. It was my last task before going home, but... yeah, that's it." said Aoyama before helping me.

I turned my head and found her face slightly flushed. A small smile appeared on my face.

"No problem, I'll get it done." I said.

She looked relieved, though the look in her eyes still radiated guilt. "In that case, thank you, Tonomachi-kun."

To be honest, when I consider the layout of this convenience store which is on the main road even though it is on the outskirts of Tenggu City, having very few customers, it honestly seems quite strange.

Especially since many people often pass by on the street.

The shelves I arranged were full of colourful snacks, but somehow everything seemed to lose its appeal under the dim neon lighting.

I wondered, could a place like this really survive?

"Don't you get bored working here?" I asked Aoyama as she busied herself beside me.

He turned his head, slightly surprised by my question. "Bored? Not really. This place is quiet, and I like the atmosphere. Besides, it's a pretty simple job."

I was stunned for a moment when she said that, honestly this job was indeed quite simple and seemed monotonous.

"What are you thinking, Tonomachi-kun?" Aoyama's voice suddenly broke my reverie.

I gasped slightly, almost dropping the coffee can in my hand.

"Ah, nothing. I was just thinking about how messy this shelf is. Who's usually responsible for this part?" I asked while trying to change the topic.

"It's usually my responsibility or the manager's, after all there were only two of us here before, sorry if you feel uncomfortable" Aoyama chuckled as if embarrassed before she placed a packet of snacks in her hand onto the shelf.

I shook my head gently. "It's fine. Besides, this place is pretty quiet. It feels like time stopped here."

That's not a lie, after all this place is indeed very cosy and quiet.

A few minutes passed in silence filled only by the sound of plastic rustling as I reorganised the items.

But just as I was rearranging the upper shelves, the door of the convenience store suddenly opened, the small bell above it rang, while Aoyama had returned to the cashier.

I turned my head to look at the person who had just come in.

When I saw her, a girl with long golden blonde hair walked in, her eyes scanning the room quietly.

Her face was pretty, but her expression was cold, like a winter wind blowing through.

She seemed like a stranger in this place, not just because of her appearance, but also the aura she carried.

"Welcome!" exclaimed Aoyama in a friendly voice.

The girl just nodded slightly, stepping inside without saying a word, she stopped at the cold drink shelf, opened the door, then took a bottle of mineral water. Her movements were measured, unhurried, as if she had all the time in the world.

Isn't that Shiina?!!!

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