Pretty Girl and a Rocket

Peace has longed for centuries in the demon realm.

It's a dream we thought impossible to attain. The aroma of fresh leaves replaces the rotten smell of blood. All red became green.

But after the Great Depression, everything suddenly changed. The longed dream became reality. And its cost is the truth behind the word 'real'.

The dream has been achieved, but no one knows why.

Speaking of peace, Humaea park was filled with students like us as they enjoy their break time. There's no spot that can beat this place when it comes to the fresh breeze.

Some of them eat their lunch, talk to friends, play in the grass, and more. But what caught the public attention was a man who got caught cheating by his girlfriend.

The man got the slap he deserved. It's the right price for two-timing. I only wish Miss Chiho wasn't around.

We're far away from the commotion. We don't want our food to be infected with gossip. At our table, just after Majiro finishes eating, he rests his head on his palm.

By the way, I'm sitting in front of him.

"So, are we about to rob the central bank?"

"Are you crazy, Majiro? You should have asked it while we were eating."

"I'm somewhat bothered by your concern. Are we really intending to rob the bank?" Majiro asked with gleaming eyes.

"Not on every second that I'm living."

"And? If not that, what is this crucial thing you're about to say?"

"Listen here," I said as I leaned toward Majiro. "Yruiburg is currently facing a city-wide crisis. I also need your help. That's where a rotten apple can become gold."

"And you're telling me I'm rotten in the core?"

"Wait. Aren't you?"

Majiro flinches like a dying character. "Argh! Is that how your eyes look at me? How can your words pass through my defenses? I'm ash in a jar right now."

"A down-turned face doesn't fit you."

He coughed after a few seconds of dead air. "You know this is of importance, but is it okay for her to hear our conversation?" he asked as he pointed towards his left.

Beside him was a girl with short white hair sitting as she eats her lunch. Her face was pretty clear and clean as she displayed it, but with a stooped posture.

Majiro can't move properly because he saw a beautiful figure beside him. But this isn't enough to get him out of his instructor-complex zone.

"Her? What about her? I invited her here."

Majiro flies away from his sit directly beside me to whisper as he sweats visibly.

"Who is that gorgeous woman!? I've never seen that face since I came here! I can't accept you having a more expansive harem than I do!"

"What happened to you? You look dead. Don't you remember her? She's our classmate, sitting in front of Nazuno. You might have been classmates since… oh… he's frozen."

Majiro's eyes pop out together with his palate as he looks at her. After escaping the freeze spell in himself, he flew towards space like a rocket while screaming "WOAH!!"

With a bowing Dogeza, he fell down in front of Rimi. Rimi trembles as her spoon fall down her hand. Her reaction is not because of Majiro but because of public attention.

"I… I'm sorry! I didn't notice that it was you, Rimi Hashimoto!"

"I… It's… alright… Please, stand up…" Rimi stuttered as her eyes couldn't find a comfortable spot to look at.

The jury is now open to the public. Thus, I became a photo bomber at the gossip session.

"What is he doing? Is he confessing?"

"Whatever. I bet he is cheating too."

"The girl looks pretty, but the man… I can't say more…"

"Yeah, right! The girl looks pretty! I thought she was from ChENA."

I'm sorry, Rimi, Majiro. I think I can only wait for the situation to cool down. But I can't deny it. I experienced the same reaction as Majiro when I saw Rimi yesterday.

It was only my suggestion to cut her bangs, but I didn't expect her face to stand out more. The moment I entered the classroom yesterday, I flinched and bounced at the board.

She's sparkling and stunning. She's also shy, making her the cutest innocent person in the room. She's also hardworking in her chores and job. That's a dream woman any man wants!

But public attention scares her. Miss Hirari asked her for recitation yesterday, but she struggled because most of the eyes were on her.

That is why she decided to accompany me to lunch. In that way, I can take her away from public attention. The only problem I had was this bastard…

"So, are you going to spill the matter or the water in your hand?" Majiro asked with a smirk. I didn't expect the cooldown to be longer than my deep thinking.

I drank the water first before speaking. "Please lend your ears to me. We can't afford to cause panic here."

I told them about the strange artifact, the crisis, and how it relates to the incident on my first day. Their reaction was what I expected but…

"Then… I can conceal Miss Hirari's magic!?" Majiro exclaimed.

"M… Mind reading exists!?" Rimi exclaimed.

"I believe we're on the wrong track here. Why would you even want to conceal her magic?" I asked.

"Well, if she can't use her magic, I can peek at the faculty at any time."

"I don't get your point."

Rimi inserts. "Maybe it's because… Miss Hirari's perception is wide... as long as she's connected to the ground. S… She can put out Majiro-kun in an instant. I… I'm sorry Majiro-kun."

Now I get it. For someone who controls gravity, ground perception can also be tamed.

Majiro nods and boasts. "Hmm… Not bad for an explanation, Rimi. That's right! I can watch over for hours and… wait, how did you know I was watching her!?"

"I… It's common knowledge… I guess," Rimi replied as she averts her eyes.

"And I thought I, your best friend, was the only one who knew," I added as I lowered my head and pressed my lips together.

And just like that, I can see his soul floating out of his body. "T… That's not it, Ritake! I didn't know too!"

I thought I could tease Majiro more. Rimi reaches the serious zone. "So, Ritake-kun… what's your plan?"

"You see, we don't have any leads yet. The only thing we can do now is keep an eye on the upcoming target. We can't rush. It might make us the targets instead."

"W… why can't we ask another person… to help?"

"They didn't tell me the particular reason. The obvious reason is what you should have known by now."

"Then," Majiro spoke, "you don't see the two of us as suspects, criminals, convicts, jailbirds, perpetrators, masterminds, sexual offenders, melons, and idiots?"

"I think the last exclusively applies to you. And why did you involve the delicious melons? For now, we should limit the search party. Your hunch might be right. It might be an insider attack.

"That is why you two would hide under the spotlight later. I'll try to hold out Nazuno as long as I can. You are wise not to act blatantly," I said.

"Will Miss Chiho be able to help us too?" Rimi asked.

I've heard that Miss Chiho has a hard time watching a match without her daughter in it. Therefore, our duel might be the first step to collaborating with her in real-time.

Miss Chiho can create a network of telepathy using her magic. She asked me to find other trustworthy people for searching. Everything is purely her plan, not mine.

"Of course. She is going to be your medium of communication, excluding me. With Miss Hirari beside her, they can create complete surveillance of the stadium," I replied.

"Miss Hirari is watching!?" Majiro exclaimed.

"Honestly, I'm quite stunned by what Miss Hirari is capable of. With just her feet on the ground, she can detect a magical imbalance covering the whole stadium.

"She will become your go-to signal if something strange might happen. Miss Chiho will forward you the set of instructions she will prepare," I said.

Majiro tilts his head and narrows his eyes. "Won't Miss Chiho become absorbed by the fight?"

Rimi adds. "T… That's… my concern too…"

She loves her daughter that much? "I… I think Miss Hirari has measures for that."

"How about you… Ritake-kun? Did… you prepare for Nazuno? T… There's barely anyone w… who can last long fighting her."

I patted Rimi's head in response. "Don't worry, I can handle this!"

"Pat me too!" Majiro exclaimed.

Rather than patting his head, I hit his head as if my hand was being pulled down.

I've shown them that I can handle the dangerous and monster-like foe that I will face, well in fact…

I didn't prepare at all…

The class ended by 3 PM but the fight starts at 5 PM. I was walking along the hallway ending in a window of light when I heard the crowd's cheers.

As I reached the end of the hallway, I became surrounded by blinding lights and a crowd that looks like ants to me.

And far in front of me is the dragon whose breath is supposed to burn me to ashes.

She glares at me with a hunger for victory.