"Shuuta...Shuuta! SHUUTA!"
The cute ghost was screaming from the top of her lungs, she pouted cheeks fumed up for the fact that she spent 4 hours yelling, but the soulless idiot was still out of it…somehow.
"It's been 4 hours! And you're still sitting there just staring blankly at the wall. What happened?" Hanako's face exploded with curiosity; what made him react like that?
"D...a...t...e..." Shuuta's vague voice startled Hanako, she shook her head, did she hear date?
"D-date?" Her curiosity nukes! Why did he say date like that?!
"If you don't tell me what happened, I'll burn all your manga!" Hanako didn't give Shuuta a choice anymore.
She was over it, 4 hours of yelling at a wall were sufficient for her to snap.
Tremble*
"What did you say?!" Shuuta instantly retorted; his eyes glowed red like a demon, and the pressure around the house became heavy; it felt as if the floor was a black hole pulling her down.
Her eyes shook and felt her hands quiver.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Hanako's head bobbed up and down apologizing; she then sat next to him reflexively.
Shuuta could see the curiosity in her eyes; taking a deep breath, he explained the situation to Hanako.
...
"I see." Hanako blankly says.
Her words alone were enough to convey her emotions…yet.
"Huh? That's all? Are you not going to be angry? I mean, I'm trying to help you by becoming your boyfriend and...well...I have a date...with a teacher..." Shuuta laughs wryly.
Actually, what the hell?!
'Now I realize that my situation is absurd; why is that nurse trying to get me to date Mikazuki?! I mean yes…as a virgin, I would agree but still!' Shuuta started arguing with his head.
'And what are the chances that Mikazuki would oblige?' He contemplated his situation thoroughly. And after a single second passed he shrugs it out.
Let's not think too much of it.
"It can't be helped! Just do what you have to do." Hanako stands up and drifts into the ceiling rather hastily.
'...so it did bother her.' Shuuta mentally sighs staring at the ceiling where she drifted to, and tried to remember what the nurse said.
…
"I know that you guys have a free weekend, it's the perfect chance to go out and enjoy yourselves, don't worry, I'll make sure to keep it a secret. So both of you can go all out!" The nurse exclaimed briskly.
On the other side, both Shuuta and Mikazuki were beyond shock, and their faces kept dropping as they heard the nurse talk about their "date."
'I NEVER AGREED!!' Shuuta's mind almost exploded after that inner scream. It was inconceivable! Why did that nurse have the brilliant idea to force a date upon them? Shuuta was betting if Mikazuki was against it.
Shuuta gazed back at the sexy teacher only to find her, well…
"Unbelievable...I've never seen my little sister like that...oh? So you're looking up to it, huh?" The nurse chuckles after her confirmation.
"No! I am not! Why would I ever want to go out with one of my students." Her body started to tingle; her face looked like it was melting down like ice cream.
"Huh? What's wrong? Why are you that red? Do you have a fever? Or something..." The nurse then started checking if she was sick or not; obviously, it was an excuse to get close to her; she then whispered something in her ear.
Even for Shuuta, that seemed very suspicious. What is she telling her?
Mikazuki reacted in a way too outlandish for the red-haired boy to comprehend, her bashful expression, shaky legs, and hard breathing...
'Wait a minute...I feel like I've seen these types of reactions on manga...they react like that when they get excited over something.' Shuuta feels like he's onto something, but he can't quite catch what he seeks.
After a second of deep thinking, only one hypothesis roamed Shuuta's mind.
'It's a fetish.'
Glancing back at Mikazuki, her bashful expression didn't help at all, it basically confirmed his theory.
He then nods to himself in agreement with his hypothesis.
'But really! She looks so cute when she acts like that, Aww man! Little buddy, ignore her! Don't give in to her beauty!' Shuuta is having a slight mental breakdown.
"Mmm...I guess nobody disagreed. It's set then. I'll be sending you guys a text when you'll be meeting."
…
"Well, now I just have to wait for the message! I can't wait! Who wouldn't want to go on a date with a hot teacher!" His words reverberated aloud across the room.
Silence.
It was too quiet out of nowhere. Shuuta became uneasy from such a muted atmosphere…the room turned rather chilly.
The lad felt a shiver up his spine after saying that. One of those; is "The murderer is inside the house scenario."
'I should quit watching horror movies at nig-'
*ZOOM!
*BOOM!
A basketball darted his way and walloped him on his head.
"Gah! What the-?" Shuuta stumbled a bit but was disoriented by the force.
*ZOOOM! ZOOOM! ZOOOM! ZOOOM!
Various objects, including manga books, came drifting his way incredibly fast. Shuuta barely saw them coming and evaded them by god's luck.
"Wait!!"
*ZOOOM! ZOOOM! ZOOOM! ZOOOM!
"Gaaah!! I can explain!"
*BOOM!
A thick manga book sniped his bean bag and dropped him to the ground; the pain took over him, and he started rolling like an idiot.
His voice even went an octave up sounding like a squeaky toy.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! It was a prank! So you do care for me; that's all I wanted to know."
Suddenly a box started levitating; it had a tape that reads 'Kitchen stuff,'
When Shuuta saw it, his face dropped, and his eyes began to shake uncontrollably.
The box opened, and various things came out, including knives and forks. Shuuta instantly ran for the door but got stopped midway by a strange force, his body wasn't moving at all, but he was running in place.
"Huh?! Hanako, please! I'm sorry!" The lad cried out.
The force then tossed Shuuta towards a wall, and the forks and knives darted his way, outlining his body.
"Eeeek!" He felt the air of the attack, completely horrified he cried out. "I thought I was dead…"
"Shuuta, you meanie!"
"Is that all you're gonna say?!"
"You hurt my feelings!"
"Well, you gave me PTSD!"
Hanako pouted in anger after hearing Shuuta's response.
More boxes started levitating again.
"Okay! Okay! I retract what I say! I'll go out to buy you something...how bout' pudding?" Shuuta gulped a huge load of saliva, still uneasy but stern of something.
'In every manga that I've read, the ghosts always like pudding for some reason.' Shuuta had thought, he even thought of re-reading some supernatural mangas for more information, maybe it'll help him later?
"Sure! Please get me some! I really love pudding!" Hanako instantly dropped the boxes. Changing her expression.
'Good grief.' Shuuta laughed inwardly, such mangas were true, and now he saw mangas in a new light.
From supernatural mangas, he'd learned that ghosts love pudding, but the reason is still unknown, maybe ghosts love sweets? How strange.
"Okay, I'll go out. Just stay here and wait for me." Shuuta said, whilst making his way out.
"Wait! What if I go too? It's too late at night! What if monsters come out for you? I just want to accompany you, Shuuta-Kun." Hanako reflexively retorted. She did not want to be left alone anymore, so she stared directly into Shuuta's silver eyes.
"S-sure I don't mind." Shuuta couldn't deny her request because if he did, everything could go downhill again. 'But monsters? Did she mean thugs or thieves?'
"Yay! Okay, let me change clothes first!" Hanako drifted away into the ceiling.
'Huh?! You can change clothes?' Shuuta was rendered speechless; how can a ghost change clothes?! And where the hell did she get clothes from?!
After she changed into a cute sweater and a black skirt, they both went out to the convenience store.
"Pudding! Pudding! Pudding!" Hanako was singing in harmony like a small kid and frolicking along the way.
Shuuta just smiled brightly at such a scene; he felt like he was part of an anime, he almost got killed by a ghost, and now he's buying the ghost pudding. It almost made Shuuta laugh how ludicrous his situation was.
"Hey, so how can you get out of the house and go to other places? And if you can go to other places...why are you staying at my house?" Shuuta was curious; he had wondered many times before but never had the chance to ask.
"Well, the thing is...that is my house, well I used to live there when...you know..."
'Oh crap! I stepped into a land mine again!'
"If you want me to leave, I'll leave...but you're the first guy that can talk to me and see me."
"No! It's alright! Having someone to talk to is quite nice! You don't have to leave! Actually, I won't let you leave!"
"Ehh…why?"
"Because you're going to be my girlfriend! And I won't let you get away from me!" Shuuta couldn't think of what to say to her; he even didn't mean to say all that; he realized what he said and blushed hard.
Oh god, did I mutter that nonchalantly?! What else could I have said? I'm not good at saying lovey-dovey stuff! Please someone kill me!
Hanako's eyes glistened after hearing that; she reflexively pressed against Shuuta, wrapping her slim arms around the shy boy.
"Thanks..." She whispered in a tender voice.
Shuuta felt her warm feelings oozing out of her, her face smiled brightly; well at least he didn't cringe her out!
Bystanders walked by and saw a teenager hugging the air. The lad felt a chill up his back as he realized how embarrassing he looked, his blush deepened.
"Mommy, what is he doing?"
"Don't look at him, sweetie, come on, let's go."
A kid and his mom passed them hastily and awkwardly.
Shuuta started crying out of cringe.
"Hanako, please let's go!" He sniffled.
"Okay."
Both reached into a neatly kept convenience store.
Inside, the boy with crimson hair got himself some candy and juice, he always loved chocolate mint as a kid. It was brought by his mother every time she came back from work. All he could see was her radiating smile.
"…!"
That same smile was precisely the same one as Hanako! That inner image made the flustered boy shoot a glance at Hanako, looking for her; she was humming and bobbing childishly, making a great impression of her gentleness.
That gentleness suddenly popped like a balloon. Hanako was carrying a big package of pudding.
"Hey! Don't you think that's a lot?!" Shuuta's brow twitched.
"No, this is for you." She smiled.
"Oh. Okay, thanks."
After that, Hanako got another package for herself.
Shuuta instantly saw through her, she was going to keep both packages to herself!
"Hold it! I see what you're doing!" Shuuta retorted, snatching the pudding from her small hands.
Hanako pouted at the lad's retort, she used her hidden trump card, sad puppy face! It made Shuuta almost immediately flushed out, it was like a cheat in real life.
"Tch...Fine, I'll buy them." Shuuta's will gave up completely. Other than foolishly accepting defeat, what else could Shuuta do in his situation? Make her cry?
...
On the way back, a boy was sulking as he walked, his allowance wasn't great to be precise and his degenerate aunty wasn't as reliable either, he could only endure and grit his heart out.
Cut me some of that money you abusive aunt of mine! I cross-dressed and posed in lewd manners, I will never forgive you!
Shuuta glanced down; his wallet was anorexic to the point dust flew away from it.
'Her beauty is too dangerous.' Shuuta remarked. 'It's almost as if I fell for a trap….'
The red-haired boy was suddenly brought back to reality by someone's hand, a stranger halted Shuuta out of the blue.
As he turned to see who it was, a blur flashed to his stomach, making Shuuta spit and groan, then a rough leather glove gripped Shuuta's face and smirked. "For our lord, it must be done."
Shuuta felt an electrifying wind being filtered into him, completely losing sense of his body and mind; Hanako was beyond shocked; her quivering hands couldn't stretch to help out the red-haired boy. "T-they already found him...? How can that be?" "Shuuta!" Her acute voice snapped the boy back into his sense; he gripped the man's wrist and somehow managed to do the same to him. The stranger felt his whole arm screaming with ardor, dandling his wrist away from Shuuta's grip; the man then retreated and huffed, shaking his hand. "D-Devour? Interesting magic, I thought you were at least a human, kid. Nonetheless, I shall slay you for that is my lord's will." "W-what the hell are you talking about? Magic? Are you delusional?" Shuuta perked up his eyes, weakened yet revolted with anger. The man suddenly laughed maniacally. "An ignorant fool with powerful Magic!" He grips his
"What was that about?!" Shuuta asks Hanako; his curiosity exploded after encountering a cultist maniac, and a blonde dude with powers. "What's a Mystic exactly?" "Where to begin with..." In the old times, Mystics are super-humans tasked to abolish all evil in the form of spirits, demons, and angels. Such powers were granted by the gods and devils to stop one another. "I guess that's a very compacted summary." Shuuta laughs at how short her explanation was. "And you're one of them!" Hanako exclaims while keeping her smile "WHAT?!?! FOR REAL?!" Blood almost oozed out of his mouth from Shuuta's shock; he can't believe that he was a motherfucking badass "wizard." "Why are you surprised…you were going toe to toe with that man." Hanako's brow began to burrow. "With great power comes gr
Shuuta almost tore his lungs from squealing the word 'What,' even some students were able to hear such a scream...wondering who the idiot who yelled was. "I respectfully decline!" Shuuta stood up from the bed and bowed at Noara. Noara, on the other hand, placed her right hand on her tiny mouth and started chuckling uncontrollably. "Dummy! That's if you want to! But no, that isn't the condition." Noara was still laughing at his reaction; in all his years of taking care of students who were hurt or sick, all had been very lustful or rather reserved, but this boy here lightens her mood by a lot. A slight grin paints her face. 'I will never stop teasing you...' Shuuta sounded off a loud sigh of relief. "My, my...you hate Mikazuki that much? That makes me sad because we're sisters, are we ugly?" Noara kept a coyly smile; she makes her way to Shuuta and pointed at his chest,
At lunchtime, Shuuta and Kazuma both went to the cafeteria; Hanako followed behind Shuuta, poking his sides and messing around with him. Kazuma glared confused, those little jumps that Shuuta did were creepy. While eating, they both were reticent; it was disturbing for them; Hanako was sitting next to Shuuta and was just shifting her gaze at Shuuta and Kazuma. 'Should I just go for it..? Ugh this silence is very loud!' "Do you believe in ghosts?" Shuuta finally killed the silence. "Uhh...I guess so, why do you ask?" "I'm sorry for lying, I'll tell you the truth." ... "So you were talking to a ghost?!" Kazuma responded with an excited voice. "Yeah, her name is Hanako." "Her? It's a girl?! Lucky you!" "Hey! She's listening!" &nb
Everyone was shocked; the president just declared a duel against a first year. The room remained silent, tension had built up, pressure and nervousness also began to rose, and the cafeteria itself was in a glued state. The white-haired loli then disrupted the silence, tugging Shuuta's shirt from his well-shaped back. "I'm sorry for getting you into all this...and I wanted to kill you myself..." the loli bows as an apology. Shuuta pops a vein on his forehead. "What if I refuse then?" "I'll just kill you right here Shuuta." "If I agree I'll die anyway!" The blonde boy had a grin on his face, nodding haughtily. "You b*tch." Shuuta glared at Hikaru; he can't believe him. Wasn't he a phoenix feather or a lottery ticket? "I'll show you that
Shuuta couldn't believe what Hikaru forced him to do... He was wandering around school looking for prez's office, currently, he was being ogled by every student that came across him. Some whispered others snapped a pic, most cackled under their breath, deepening Shuuta's mood into an abyss hole of embarrassment. "~Kukuku~" A sweet giggle made Shuuta lose his head, and with a sudden turn, he scolded her. Only to embarrass himself more than he needed to. "Who was he screaming at?" "I don't know…he's probably missing some screws." "I agree sis, let's not mingle with him." Shuuta had a mortified face after hearing their banter. He had to deal with Noara's sexual harassment and verbal abuse; she beat Shuuta's butt in training. He finally f
Void, Shuuta's body hovered in the abyss; nothing was apparent, nothing was audible, and not a slight of anything was there. A smog lurked in the shadows, and a red-blackish mist drifted imperceptibly towards Shuuta, taking over his body and possessing him. "Huh? Did he stop breathing already? Boring." The pervy-looking girl wined. The demon girl then gazed at the shuddering Kurumi; her hands were shaking. Her eyes had lost all hope. She tried to run, but her slim legs gave up, making her petite body punch to the ground. "It seems you're the weakest of the bunch, why are you even here little girl..." Her eyes pierced through her heart, leaving a deep impression on Kurumi. "Hikaru...Shuuta...." Kurumi couldn't even talk anymore; fear completely took her over. "Then perish little morsel!" The erotic demon lurched aggressively, pointing her sharp cla
Hikaru felt weak on his feet; his heart started to pump faster, his body trembled in sadness, and he bathed in sorrow. He gnashed his teeth, only to darken his face. "Lies..." He paused, only to repeat but louder, "LIES!" "You better start saying your farewell to that girl, there's no way in hell she'll survive." The demon started to laugh frantically. "I'll kill you!" Hikaru choked the demon to death, casting holy light on his hands, her body pulverized, disappearing into nothing. "Asmodeus...? That name...I studied religion, my mother forced me to...I recognized that name, it's one of the seven princes of hell...so he's real?" Shuuta was shuddering in his shoes. He understood that Mystics were an out-of-world entity, but he never thought hell existed; he mulled it over and realized heaven also existed. If that's the case, then God exists, and da
"So, how did it go?" Kakoyo's voice held a tinge of irritation, her impatience evident. "It went really well! We had a lovely date," Yuri responded, her words carrying a hint of wistfulness. "At least, it felt romantic to me..." Evidently, Hikaru, Kakoyo, and Yuri had conspired to create a storm of plans aimed at easing Shuuta's stress and bringing a smile to his face. Their scheme involved taking Shuuta out on a date. Of course, Hikaru wasn't tagging along; the date was to be shared between Kakoyo and Yuri. The two engaged in a fierce game of paper-rock-scissors to decide, and the outcome was Yuri's victory. "He does seem happier," Hikaru noted, casting a glance back at Shuuta, who was in the midst of performing his thousandth katana swing. Each swing was a testament to his dedication, honing his technique under Kento's guidance and infusing his attacks with newfound power.
The night enveloped the city, casting a shroud of darkness upon the bustling street. Pedestrians hurried along, undeterred by the cold. The corners of the avenue echoed with animated chatter. Illumination flowed from ornate lamps, painting the entire street in a warm glow. Stalls were scattered across the area, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Amidst this scene, a young man with crimson hair found himself captivated by the ambiance, transported to feudal Japan. Guards adorned in Yukatas and armed with ancient katanas patrolled the area. The women, all dressed in a variety of Kimonos, added a touch of elegance with their diverse colors and shapes. Shuuta was keenly aware of the exquisite craftsmanship in their clothing, hinting at its luxurious quality and perhaps hefty price. Shuuta shook his head, reminding himself of his purpose. He wasn't here for leisure or shopping; he had a mission to accomplish.
Shuuta couldn't bear to hear Hanako's agonized screams without taking action. He felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness washing over him as he sat on a cliff beneath the sheltering branches of an ancient birch tree. His back pressed against the gnarled trunk, he released a sigh laden with concern. Moonlight bathed the scene, casting reflections of his own sorrowful state. The haunting echoes of Hanako's cries seemed to reverberate within him, etching pain deep into his tumultuous soul. "His heart is faltering..." Kakoyo's gaze fell upon Shuuta from a distance, a silent observer of his turmoil. Unbidden tears welled up in her eyes. Hikaru, resting behind a tree, broke the silence with a somber tone. "What should we do? It pains me to see him like this... it's a stark reminder of my mother." Yuri's resolve shone through as she clenched her small fists against her chest. "We must be his pil
Shuuta readied himself, his eyes fixed on his father as he prepared to unleash his mana. "My son, I'll teach you a passive skill that can transform you into a formidable Mystic. As I mentioned, it makes you unpredictable and dangerous. [Sense Danger]. This skill can shift the balance of a battle significantly. And the best part? It's costless." Shuuta's ears perked up at this, his eyes sparkling as he exclaimed with a joyful tone, "Wait, it's free?! That's awesome!" Abaddon raised an eyebrow, his gaze focused on his son. "Why is he so thrilled?" He shrugged off the thought and continued inwardly. "Doesn't he realize the true price of a passive skill?" "Get ready, Shuuta. I'm about to flood you with Mana... just try not to pass out!" Abaddon ascended a few yards into the air, his intent sharp as he looked down at Shuuta. Shuuta paused, sensing the same overwhelming mana
"Hey… are you finished talking, or do you plan to keep entertaining me?" The armored Fallen wielded a massive dark sword and abruptly materialized before Shuuta, his teleportation skill at play."Tch." Shuuta exerted all his strength, deflecting the blow; the clash ignited sparks that illuminated their determined faces."Hey there, kid. It's been a while since I had a chance to greet someone. I was beginning to crave the taste of blood," the Fallen jeered in a sinister tone."Are you a Mystic? What brings you here? This is supposed to be Master Iho's domain," Shuuta inquired while sizing up his opponent."Huh? What nonsense are you spouting? This is Hiroyama's forgotten maximum-security prison, technically a dungeon that time left behind," the Fallen's eyes briefly clouded with sorrow before rage engulfed him, and he unleashed a powerful roar, his colossal sword shattering Shuuta's stance.
Hikaru's energy abruptly shifted, sending shivers down Shuuta's spine. A massive surge of mana congregated around Hikaru, catching Shuuta off guard. 'Didn't he mention having less mana than me?' While Shuura was technically right, there was more to it. "I'm about to unveil the results of my training, Shuuta." Hikaru's grin widened as he formed an 'X' with his crossed arms. Opening his palms, he released a wave of mana that pushed the tar monsters several meters back. Shuuta was prepared for impact, but the wave didn't harm him. "Huh? It didn't affect me." "It's not over yet! [Light Magic: Kingusunēku no su!]" Hikaru's command was followed by the formation of various luminous snakes that emerged from his back. One large serpent, imbued with a more ominous presence, stared menacingly at its surroundings from atop Hikaru's head. "Wow…incredible." Shuuta was left speechless
Granny Iho's eyes opened after a prolonged closure, the weight of her closed memories left a sorrowful ache in her chest, and as she gazed at Shuuta, a few tears traced down her cheeks. Ceasing the release of her potent aura, she approached the stunned lad, her diminutive frame seeking a warm embrace from Shuuta. Slowly, his eyes widened, feeling an overwhelming surge of pure love. It was an unfamiliar, ethereal kind of affection, a love transcending time, passed down from one student to another. "Granny? Wh-what are you doing?" Shuuta's voice quivered, perplexed by her unexpected actions. "Quiet, boy. I comprehend your emotions well, perhaps more than you realize. I understand the hatred that festers within your heart, for I too have harbored such feelings for decades. But do not worry, I shall take that burden upon myself so that you can find liberation." Shuuta was taken aback by her offer, wondering why she would go to such lengths for him. "Granny..." Shuuta gazed intently i
"Have you heard what Shigeo did? Oi, Konseki! Are you even listening? You bastard!""Hahh? Shigeo this, Shigeo that, can you stop putting Shigeo's willy on your damn mouth, it's annoying."Inside an Izakaya, there was always a commotion, voices of all ranges clashed, many villagers drank to ease their sorrow, and others ate and enjoyed the atmosphere."What did you say asshole? I was trying to relay important information...gulp*" A middle-aged yukata-wearing villager chugged on his sake, slamming the cup as he finished drinking."Honestly, there is always something going on with Shigeo." The other man sighed and dropped his sake. He silenced himself and waited for his comrade to speak this "important" info."Shigeo murdered the 8th Shogun, all by himself."A deep silence fell upon both, the man wearing a kasa on his head glared at his friend in confusion, the
'Mm? What's up Shuuta? Is it important?' Abbadon responded swiftly, even though Shuuta irritated him a bit, he would never turn his back on his son...never again. 'Is Anima a [Domain]?' This question left Abbadon speechless, it was a very advanced question! Even though he was unknowledgeable about stuff like that, thanks to Kohana, an Anima specialist, he was able to learn quite a lot. He groaned in remembrance. 'According to your mother, Anima is related to a Domain, but no. It's not the same skill, they are separate skills from different learnable Magic. I've heard your new Master tell you that the Domain skills are unique to her, she is wrong. Sure, you can't learn the skill at conventional ends, but you can definitely acquire it.' Shuuta's concerns were true. 'So what you meant was that Mystics...no, anyone with the capability can obtain that skill.' <