THESE DAYS FEEL LIKE A CHORE TO ME

THESE DAYS FEEL LIKE A CHORE TO ME

I had another weird dream…

But I forgot. So let's move on.

This is my third day after meeting that airhead magical girl.

The morning started the very same way how the other day was. I'm late again, but luckily our teacher Macho Steel is currently attending a meeting about the quarrel incident yesterday. That bouncer got it all rough. There's no substitute either, so the universe spared me a sermon just for this day.

During our idle hour, I was busy copying the homework of my other seatmate, when there was a soft pinch on my shoulder. It was the magical school girl, Tiara Hikari.

"H-Hey, Mister Alaric... " This Japanese beauty keeps twirling her shiny black hair with her cute fingers while maintaining an embarrassed face. "...W-What anime should I watch?"

"...Why are you asking me that? Do I look like an otaku magazine to you?" I said coldly.

"...U-Um… Well… Y-You seem to like those things, b-based on your phone gallery… A-And I want to have more topics when talking with you, b-because I think I'm a boring person...so…" Tiara is shyly bumping her index fingers again. "I-I'm not really that familiar with animes, so… I want you to recommend some...f-for starters…"

"Boku no Pico." I immediately answered. Then I hid my devilish smirk with my hand.

"T-Thanks for the suggestion!" Tiara made a bright smile. "I'll be watching it later after our class!"

I finally finished the assignment. Now, it's time to have a serious talk to this annoying girl. She's still playing her hair as if she wants to put a sign on me. According to some internet sites, those playing-her-hair thingy is an indication that the girl likes you.

"Hey, are you hitting on me?" I made with an uninterested face to this Japanese school girl.

"I-I-I-I'm not!" Tiara shrieked with her blushing face. Then she bowed to hide her expression. "I-I don't have time for those things. I-I do have a lot of responsibilities as a shrine maiden and a Gate Guardian, so having a romantic relationship is not on my mind right now…"

"That's good," I said. "I just want to make it clear because you've been playing with your hair like an idiot."

Tiara panicky answered once again. "I-I-I'm just testing the new shampoo I bought last night! Look!" Then she pushed the tip of her silky hair on my nose.

The smell of her hair is quite addicting. It's like having different delicious meals cooked by the very same chef. Yesterday, it smells like cherry blossoms. But now it smells like herbal essence.

"Hey, Alaric!" It was a shout from the entrance of the classroom.

"Eeeek!" Tiara cried. Suddenly, she withdrew her hair, tucked her hands between her thighs and bowed to hide her reddish cheeks when she noticed that a certain girl is trying hard to grab my attention.

<>

The one shouting my name is a girl from our class. She's a petite girl with long curly blonde hair that makes her look like an aristocrat from 1600s. Her looks are quite promising, but you can tell from first look that this girl is a spoiled brat that wants boyfriends as her collection.

Why do stupid girls keep flocking on me? Am I a sundial for pests?

"Ohohoho!" There she goes with her duchess laugh as she went in front of my face. "I know you know me, but-."

"Who are you?" I replied coldly as I lazily rested my face on my arm.

"I-I'm Luciela! We've been classmates for over a year!" The dumb blonde brat cried.

"Oh."

"A-Anyway…" She cleared her throat. "I'm looking for a new handsome boyfriend because I and my ex broke up yesterday. I have high standards, and you quite fit for the qualifications. Consider this humble offer, Alaric Eisenhower… You're too handsome to be single."

"You're too darn ugly to be flirting on me."

"Wha-!" This blonde brat's ashamed face was unprintable. She sniffed two times, and tears leaked from her itchy eyes. Because of embarrassment, she ran outside the classroom with full speed as she cries out loud. "U-Uwah! Alaric rejected me!"

I was about to turn my head to the magical girl, but then a swift jab has once again collided on my nose! I fell down on my seat as I roll on the ground and cried for the excruciating pain.

"I-I told you to stop being so arrogant!" Tiara shouted. But when she noticed that we're being the center of attention again, she shyly bowed and made an apology to our classmates. "I-I'm so sorry about that!"

Tiara became worried and asked "I-I'm so sorry, Mister Alaric! A-Are you okay?" with her compassionate voice. Of course, I'm not okay! She touched my nose with her healing hands once again. She wrapped her fingers with a handkerchief so that nobody would see the glowing effects.

Suddenly, a weird image flashed on my brain. It was a creature that looks like a crocodile, but it was twenty times longer and bigger. Its scales are bluish with glowing green veins. It has razor sharp claws and saber teeth.

It was a fragment of my dream I had last night that I just remembered, thanks to that punch on my nose. Since my dream yesterday seemed to happen, I had a theory that this thing will happen too. Just to be safe, I have to tell Tiara about it.

"...Hey, Miss Gate Guardian… I think an Eidolon will visit today, at four in the afternoon."

"H-How do you say so?" Tiara tilted her head like a curious pug.

"...I saw it in my dream."

There was a deep silence between us. I don't have any solid basis, but I still believe that I should alert her. She won't believe me because it sounds stupid...I think.

"I understand!" Tiara pumped her fists energetically and adorably.

She believed me because she's stupid.

<>

Skip the boring school scene.

Our classes just ended, and my watch says it's 3:45 PM. Still fifteen minutes away before the Eidolon appears, according to my dream.

I explained how this Eidolon looked like, and she was surprised that she felt the same presence yesterday when we were pacifying the student quarrels. Well, she attempted to chase the Eidolon but it escaped due to her clumsiness. Right now might be her second chance.

We're already in a vacant corridor of the school building where yesterday's fight happened. I described the place where the monster would appear; wide plains of crimson grass. Since there's no such place in this city, we suspected that it only exists in the other dimension; Yami.

Tiara swiped her fingers, and a dimensional rift opened. The Gate made a dazzling light, and the next thing we know is that we're on the red grassland. Another bingo for my weird superpowers.

I'm quite worried that my dreams are giving me warnings about my incoming future. It was more like a presage than a vision.

"I know I could believe in you, Mister Alaric," Tiara said.

"It's not confirmed yet if that monster will be here."

Suddenly, there is a deafening roar that echoed around the plains. It has the same sound as those tyrannosauruses from Jurassic movies.

"Watch out!" Tiara grabbed me on the nape of my neck and dashed away! There was this giant frog-like tongue that's supposed to hit me, but thanks to her, I was spared from being an afternoon meal!

When we turned around, it was there. Speak of the devil. A gigantic crocodile of blue scales with glowing green veins, shiny sharp teeth, and claws. My dream perfectly described the monster.

"Stay here," Tiara said as she removed her blazer and revealed her white shrine maiden outfit. "It's just a Level 1 Eidolon, so it will be over quick."

The crocodile scratched the ground using its feet from behind, like an enraged bull. Meanwhile, Tiara is preparing her boxing stance.

Suddenly, the Eidolon charged with the speed of a freaking winning horse! Its feet are so fast that it left a dusty cloud from its back! But the Gate Guardian is prepared for it!

"Haaaaaa!" With the right timing, her right fist made a straight to the crocodile's snout! There was a shockwave that made the red grasses sway and stay down! But she didn't end there!

Tiara hugged the Eidolon's jaw and lifted it, making all the monster's feet stay on the air! Then she made a wrestling slam; a German suplex! Once again, the earth trembled as a strong wind pulse engulf the area! Just how can that feminine body lift a monster twenty times her size?!

While the Eidolon is upside down and incapacitated, Tiara charged her right fist with gray aura. When the energy is enough, she jumped upward and the aura covering her first turned to be a gigantic dragon claw!

"<Fafnir Smash>!!!" She dropped like a nuclear missile on the helpless monster. There were a powerful explosion and thick smoke.

As the smoke slowly faded, the existence of a shallow crater was seen. In the center of it, is the Gate Guardian with tremendous strength and alluring beauty. Her right fist is buried on the ground, like a regular superhero landing.

When she saw me running to her, she made an innocent smile. "We're done here. Thanks for your help, Mister Alaric!"

"You're so cool!" I exclaimed.

"Y-Y-You're the first guy who said that I-I'm cool…" Tiara's shy cheeks are red all the way again.

Sure, she might be a weirdo, but I mean it when I said she's awesome. FYI, It's almost impossible for me to praise girls. I just can't help but feel amazed that my newest friend is actually a girl with superpowers.

But my weird dreams and visions… I think I have superpowers too.