19 Chapter 19: Confrontation With A Blonde A*shole

[ Rika's POV ]

I'm really frustrated right now.

I know I wanted to talk to Mama about how weird I feel when I'm around Haruki, but something about it felt so.... embarassing(?)

Later when I was thinking if I should ask her about this or not, I was calmed down enough to finally make connections between the way I'm feeling and the movies I've watched.

It seems that I have got a crush on him. It feels weird. Now that I know what it is, I feel even more embarassed about talking about it with Mama.

I don't have slightest idea about how to tell her about this or should I even tell her about this? How am I going to stay the same way around Haruki when I feel like this?!

What's worse is that he even called out how I was acting weird?! Seriously? How can he be so dense about this?! Now I can't even be around him without losing my composure! Especially when he's praising me.

But I want it too. As much as I don't like losing or breaking out of my image in front of him, It is certainly not more than how much I like being praised or being appreciated by him.

All this just makes it even more frustrating!

That idiot doesn't even understand how I feel about him! How can he be that idiot!!!

I bet that idiot must have noticed me acting weird and shrugged it off by giving some god-knows-what logical explanation! Idiot! Dolt!

I can't even get angry with him when I look at him! It just fades away!

*Knocking on the door sounds*

[ Asuna Shiranui's (Rika's Mother's) POV ]

Time just flew by so fast that I didn't even realise my daughter has grown up so much.

Ofcourse she's still just a kid, but not as little of a kid as I see her to be.

This Suppression devices may surely be able suppress my quirk but it can't suppress the intuition of a mother. I don't need to use my quirk to understand what's going on with my own child.

Her first crush! I can't believe she's already at that age! Ofcourse I saw this coming, but it just feels so fast!

If I were to guess, there aren't many people for me to guess who this crush could possibly be, but it could also be someone from her school. If it really is the latter, then it'd be a little trouble. I'm not letting my daughter's heart be broken by anyone, especially not for the reason being that I wasn't careful enough to make sure who she's dating.

Though considering how much she loves to put up tough act, I know she's still confused as hell, cursing the guy in her head for practically nothing. This girl! She didn't even come to me. I know this is a little embarassing topic but still, can't she put a little trust in me?

'Ahh... I'm just being a little too sentimental. I'm sure it's just a little bit too embarassing for her, nothing else.' I thought and stopped myself from falling into the rabbit hole of self-pitying. That's always the worst place you can mentally be.

I'll just make sure if it's really Haruki or someone else she's crushing on.

With that intention, I took my special weapon and went to my daughter's room.

*Knocking on the door sounds*

"Hey Rika, can I come in?" I knocked on the door and asked for permission to enter.

That's seriously important, even more when you have a kid that old. God knows what she could be doing and I just barge in. That may end up being the worst day for both of us.

"Yes, it's open, come in Mama." She replied from the other side of the door.

"Well, I wanted to talk to you." I said after I entered her room.

She seems to suspect that I know something, I can tell from her reactions.

'Oh my sweet naïve pumpkin, I am glad I can be purely a mother in your eyes that you forget what my job used to be.'

"About what?" She asked.

"Well, just random things. Like how's school going and all that and also I am using my wishing card for a wish that we could have girls talk. An honest one. No backing out."

I said while taking out my special weapon, my birthday gift 'Wishing card'. She gave it to me last year. This one was the last wish I had left. I'd say it was worth using it. Nothing is more important than helping my daughter with something that's bothering her. That and also this is just so exciting!

[ Rika's POV ]

She's loving this. I know damn sure that she's excited about this.

*sigh* Whatever it is, let's get this over with. I need her help no matter how much uncomfortable I feel.

"You know, right now, I feel like I made a huge mistake when I gave it to you, but fine. I'll be granting that wish for you." I replied to her with a wry smile.

"So tell me, is it you having crush on someone that's gotten you act so different?" She instantly jumped to that question without even hesitating.

"What are you talking about?! It's not as you think at all!" That response was muttered out without even thinking. I could feel my face becoming warm. If I were to guess, I'm darn sure that I'm blushing.

"Oh comeon! You agreed that this one will be an 'honest' girls talk. You can't lie about this. I may be able to help you point out a thing or two." She replied.

That was really a tempting offer. I was serious when I said I'm frustrated. This all feels so confusing. Feelings are so confusing.

Even so, I can't just admit to my MOTHER that I have a crush! There's a limit to how much embarrassment I can handle.

"And what if it were true in a hypothetical scenario?" I asked her.

"Then I'd ask who the other person is. If I'm not sure whether they are good or bad for you, how am I supposed to advise you right?" She replied.

"What if it's someone you know?" I asked her again.

To this question she just looked at me and her smile widened. I guess she must have figured out who I'm talking about.

"I'd still need a name, no? There are many people I know." She was smiling as if trying to annoy me into spilling the details.

I seriously don't care anymore. This is just too much of a trouble. Maybe Haruki rubbed off on me..... Figuratively. But I don't want to deal with this when I'm at a disadvantage.

"Fine, I'll just tell you! I.... I... I.. I like Haruki! There! I said it. Now please leave. This is beyond the point of embarrassment that I can handle!"

I said while nudging her to go out. I can't really push her. With the increase of strength I have right now, she'd be seriously hurt if I do that.

She complied with my request and went out.... not before telling me about her opinion though.

"Aww... You're so cute acting like that. I'm pretty sure Haruki would love seeing you like that. But in any case, I think he's a good boy. I approve. What do you use these days? Right! Let the ship sail!"

She was trying ber best to make this even more embarassing for me.

'What's there to approve?! This is not a marriage proposal or anything!' I thought with my head buried in my pillow.

'Just kill me right now!' That wasn't a serious thought ofcourse.

[ Haruki POV ]

Rika's behaviour wasn't because of puberty. That much, I'm sure of. I asked Aunty about this but she refused to tel me about it. She said that I need to learn how to not be a dense idiot and that this is one of those ways to learn. I need to figure this out myself.

Yeah, right. Like I have time to waste when this MLA came out of nowhere knocking at my door.

So this all is going to have to wait.

'Sorry Rika, but I have priorities. Protecting people I care about. That includes you.' I apologized to Rika in my mind for not giving her problems priority.

Right now I was training with Ell. She's trying to learn how to fight hand to hand also how to create self sustaining clones. She can make self sustaining clones but they're very weak compared to her original body. She's trying to bring them up to 80% of her own strength. My Shadow clones are already at that level.

I just hope my network is prepared. I need to enter the next phase once it's done.

A few days later.

Mom asked me to bring the new sweets she made recipe of to Rika's house.

She's always doing something when she's not working. Not that I'm complaining. Besides, those sweets are really delicious.

*Doorbell Rings*

The door was opened by Aunty Asuna. Rika must be at school at this time.

"Oh, what a sweet surprise! Come in Haruki!" She said before I could even greet her. Rika definitely got her cheerful personality from her.

"Mom has been trying her hands in making a new recipe for sweets. She sent them for you. You were going somewhere?" I asked as I saw she was dressed up as if she was about to go somewhere.

" Oh! Right! I forgot about it for a moment! Rika forgot her lunch box at home. Knowing her, she will definitely spend the rest of her day hungry if I don't bring it to...." She paused for a moment and looked at me. Though I couldn't see that as I was focused in thinking about something random at the moment.

(He was imagining Rika being hungry. Heh!That Tsundere)

I felt like someone was scheming something for me.

'Did MLA got my information? That's impossible! It must be me being on my nerves.' I thought.

"Ne, Haru~Chan... Would you be a dear and do Aunty a favour, please?" She said with her sweet voice and also used the basic Chakra-less Genjutsu: Koinu No Me.

"You want me to bring it to her? I can do that. But why ask me when you're already prepared to go?" I asked.

"If I can avoid going out of the house on my off day, then why wouldn't I?" She replied with her cheerful signature smile with some hint of smugness in it.

"Fair enough. Hand me the Box" I said while stretching out my hands for the lunch box.

"By the way, what was the name of her school again?" I asked before leaving.

"You don't know even after being friends for more than 2 years?.... Well, now that I think about it, it doesn't surprise me. It's Aldera School" She said with a wry smile on her face.

"Okay. Thank you." I ignored that rhetoric question. I mean that's what they're supposed to be, right?

I typed in the name of her school in maps search bar. Followed the map.

With the speed I could reach I could easily reach there in an instant, but I had to walk there since I couldn't use my quirk openly in public and also, I have a lunch box in my hand right now. I don't want it to be all mixed up.

So it took me 15 minutes to reach there. It was about time for lunch. But her school seemed to have different schedules for lunch than at home.

Ofcourse I don't know about it at all. I never went to school in both of my lives. Even if I did in my forgotten previous life, I don't remember anything about it. That's what forgotten actually means after all.

I don't have any idea of what I should do here. I don't want to go in there. There are so many people in there. I'd stick out like a sore thumb in there.

'Deal with it Haruki! It's only gonna get worse in the future!' I tried to hype myself up a little.

Next, I'll just ignore everyone and follow her energy signatures using [ Kagura Heart Eye ].

[ Rika's POV ]

I was sitting in the class where teacher was going on about something on the board I didn't bother to look at. It was really boring day. Worse of it all. I even forgot about bringing my lunch. Guess I am going to skip lunch today.

'School is getting really boring. I'm glad it will be over soon. Hope U.A. won't be as boring as this.'

I am not a bad student at all. If that's what it seems like from my thoughts, it's not the case. In fact I have top grades in my class. Haruki has a knack for making these things simpler.

'I miss him. But I can't even be around him without blushing like some little girl. What a dilemma!' I thought.

Suddenly, I got perked up. I could sense a familiar life energy around me just for a moment there.

'Am I really missing him that much?' I thought to myself.

I was woken up from my thoughts by sudden knock on the door.

If my hunch was correct, that must be Haruki.

And guess what, I was right.

"Uhhh... May I know if Rika Shiranui is in this class?" He said with a serious face, which I knew was a fake one. He must be sweating buckets right now.

This is a little amusing.

But then I realised that everyone was looking at me with shock in their eyes. Some were jealous but those were very few. Those girls get jealous about even the air others breath so I never cared about their gazes, but with other gazes, it was different. It was really uncomfortable.

"May I ask who's asking?" Teacher asked him.

"I am her friend. Her mom asked me to deliver her lunch box to her. She forgot to bring it this morning." He was keeping the facade quite well. I guess I should help him out a little.

"Sensei... He's telling truth. If you don't mind..." I gestured for permission to take my lunch box.

"Young man, you shouldn't interrupt an ongoing class like this. You could've waited for lunch break. It was just about in 10 minutes." Teacher said with a smile. Out of all the a*sholes that call themselves teacher here, he's only one who's worthy of the title of teacher.

That just reminds me of that blonde a*shole! He has the nerve to think he's the strongest in front of me. If I hadn't regarded my spars sacred and only dedicated to Haruki, I'd have beaten him up real bad!

Even worse, I recently found out, that piece of sh*t enjoys bullying that green haired quirkless guy! If Haruki were to know he'd be fuming. Not that I'm any less angry about it.

"Ano, Sensei, he's been homeschooled from the start. He doesn't know about general schedules of schools." I quickly replied to the teacher.

I can't let his image have any stain in the eyes of one of the few people I regard worthy of their place and respect. I just don't want that. At all.

"I see. Anyways Miss Shiranui, please take your lunch box. Time is already about to end. I have to give out homeworks too." Teacher urged.

"Okay" I replied and went to take the box from Haruki.

"You're holding up surprising well." I whispered to him.

He didn't reply. He definitely used his Clone!!! Damn it! Idiot! Idiot!

During lunch,

I was really angry. I don't even know why. I mean he has no responsibility to bring my lunch at all. But something just didn't feel right.

He uses his real body for things that hold more importance to him. It bothers me that he'd use his clone for this. Makes me think that I'm not important enough in his eyes.

It hurts. Really hurts.

'*sigh* Whatever! Let's just eat this. I'll deal with that idiot later!' I thought while shaking my head, distracting myself from thinking about him.

I untied and unwrapped the cloth on my lunch box.

There was a piece of paper inside of it.

It was a message from him.

"Hey. I'm really really sorry about that. I know I shouldn't have used clone for something like this. I know you've already figured it out by now.

It's not that I don't consider you important to me. It's actually opposite. You're one of those few people I really consider important to me.

If it means anything, then I can tell you, right now, I'm feeling the same embarrassment I'd feel if I were to be gone there myself.

I promise, this won't stay the same. And also I won't use clones with you unless absolutely necessary." It was written in the letter.

'Idiot... Atleast I am someone important to him.' I said while blushing about the part where he wrote I'm important to him.

[ Narrator POV ]

Haruki had an extremely serious expression on his face when he was looking at Rika's school.

'I think I may need to return here.' He said with anger apparent in his eyes.

'If only Rika wasn't attending here...'

Haruki had heard something that was trigger of his Cat mode.

That mode craves inhuman level of violence.

Haruki was the same. He had overheard someone talk about a quirkless guy. About how worthless he is.

This reminds him of what his Mom must have been through. Also makes him angry that it still hasn't change.

As for what he'll do about this. I guess only future will show.

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That's it folks. End for chapter.

Stay safe out there. See you in the next chapter.