Chapter 2
Chapter 2 The imperial wrath of Urushibara Shizuno
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For the penurious student Moroha, there weren’t many ways to spend a holiday.
However, depending on how humans felt about it, it didn’t mean it was equal to unhappiness.
Moroha loved baths despite being a man, and fortunately, there was a large public bath in the men’s dormitory of Akane Academy, so he could take a bath peacefully.
He could spend his time luxuriously in morning baths, double baths and triple baths.
Just comfort. A relaxation for his mind to forget the daily fatigue.
(I’m so glad I came to this school!)
Even though several months had passed since he enrolled, his excitement hadn’t faded.
It was Sunday, so Moroha, who enjoyed the morning bath to its fullest today, returned to his room in a cheerful mood.
He smilingly opened the door──and his smiling face froze.
– Kyah.
He heard an unnatural scream.
From inside.
Moroha stared at the situation and at his own room and no other’s room while ceasing to think for a moment.
Shizuno was changing clothes.
She had just taken off her skirt, she was in her underwear now.
As if it weren’t enough, her pure-white bare-naked body jumped into the eyes of Moroha.
The rich bust she boasted was wrapped up in a bra woven with delicate lace, it was absurdly seductive. Conversely, her panties had an elegant and simple design, making the nice lines of the shape of her perfectly rounded hips stand out distinctly.
It was poison.
Kodoku that ruined the sense of sight.*
*TN: Kodoku is a type of poisonous magic found in Japanese folklore. It is the Japanese derivative of the Chinese Gu magic (Wikipedia).
– Sorry.
Moroha apologized with a single word and closed the door.
After that, he took a good look many times and confirmed that this was his room and that this was the men’s dormitory….
Five minutes later──
Moroha put out a small folding table in the room, laid out two zabuton and faced Shizuno.*
*TN: Zabuton are flat floor cushions used when sitting or kneeling, usually rectangular.
Shizuno was dressed in her uniform despite being a day off.
Moreover, that incomprehensible act she was doing, the act in which she changed clothes to the ones she had taken off just now.
Yes, it was incomprehensible, but since he ended up taking a quick look at her changing clothes (?), there was no difference.
– I’m really sorry.
Moroha apologized to Shizuno. With a dejected face.
– Ara? It’s not like you need to apologize though?
Shizuno replied indifferently. With a Noh mask-like face.
She was a girl with a doll-like plastic beautiful face, but her facial expression didn’t move that much just like a man-made product.
Moroha have never seen Shizuno change her expression or violently reveal a face that said──whether she was happy, angry sad or had fun.
(She’s a precious woman; what a waste…)
He always thought so.
If this beautiful girl were all smiles with joy, even Moroha would surely be happy, if she were to be happy from the bottom of her heart, she would have a smiling face so beautiful he would be fascinated by it.
Well──that wasn’t the reason Moroha was dejected just now.
– That’s right. This is my room. Even if it was an accident, I wasn’t the careless one.
He advocated his logic while scratching his head. Without expression,
– Why are you changing clothes in this room!?
And,
– In the first place, why did you intrude of your own accord!?
He criticized.
A blade hidden between those lines was thrust at her, but Shizuno said calmly with that same Noh mask-like face of hers.
– Yes, Moroha isn’t at fault, and it’s not an accident. I just wanted to show you.
– Are you a female molester?
Moroha retorted at the speed of light.
– If you wish, I’m ready to be even a female molester?
– You wish for that, right?
– Even Moroha really wants to see, right?
Shizuno pulled up her jacket.
Her beautifully-shaped abdomen and navel said good day.
– It’s not necessary.
Moroha extended his arms and brought down the hem of Shizuno’s jacket.
Seen from the outside, this was an exchange that felt as if wanting to retort “what are you doing!”
– Why are you doing that? Are you an ero girl-chan from Ero Mountain district…?
– Because Moroha makes me horny?
– You’re shifting the responsibility onto me…?
– Because Moroha makes me angry?
– Can you go back now?
– Because Moroha makes me feel mechanical?
– You have no trace of being a prototype already…
Shizuno’s expression didn’t move like an artificial product, even while just joking.
As a matter of fact, if she had confessed “I am an android”, he would have believed her.
– Will you say it honestly? My underwear excited you, right?
– Why are you asking my thoughts…?
– My boobs excited you, right?
– A girl doesn’t say “boobs” out loud in front of a man.
Moroha sighed powerfully at the girl who asked terrifying things with that same serious look on her face.
When he closed his eyes, being mentally fatigued, the pure-white skin of Shizuno scorched into the back of his eyelids was──no no no.
Moroha, who hurriedly opened his eyes and whose cheeks were getting hotter although it was too late, couldn’t bear it.
He couldn’t look Shizuno in the face.
– What is it? You’re suddenly not looking me in the eyes.
– W-Well. Isn’t it your imagination?
– Like I thought, you were excited by my fresh and youthful body, weren’t you?
– I’m telling you, it’s your imagination.
Moroha strongly feigned ignorance, but his persuasiveness was zero because he couldn’t make his eyes meet hers.
(Let’s calm down…. If I’m waved about by her pace, I’ll lose)
He persuaded himself at least.
And then──Moroha suddenly noticed.
Without being able to see Shizuno’s face normally, and when his eyes faced the top of her head, he saw it.
The black hair of Shizuno that prettily ran down and that it was so long that a sigh would come out──
There was one tuft of hair, an unruly hair that stood up and popped up in a sudden manner there.
It was a bit different from the so-called「idiot hair」used as a trademark for manga and anime characters. The unruly hair of Shizuno was really small and inconspicuous.
(Feeling that it’s only popping up there is so amusing)
Despite being worried, Moroha, whose excitement finally cooled down, corrected his seated posture and looked straight at Shizuno’s eyes.
Rather than that just now, there were words he had to say to Shizuno.
– I’ve told you to not do actions that deteriorate the value of a girl, haven’t I?
Underwear and the like shouldn’t be easily shown to men.
That was a loss for girls.
She would certainly regret it in the future.
Why didn’t she understand that?
– You do lack shame.
Despite thinking that he looked like she was being lectured by himself, he hardened his heart for the sake of Shizuno and scolded her insistently.
Then peeked at her reaction, wondering if Shizuno understood this time.
– Gu──…
– Don’t sleep with your eyes open.
– It’s my special skill.
– That’s not something to be proud about.
This had no effect on her? Moroha pressed his forehead down.
– I’ve had enough. So? Why did you come this very early in the morning?
– I’ve brought a wonderful story to Moroha.
Shizuno detoured around the table in a clockwise rotation while walking on her knees and snuggled up to him closely.
Moroha walked on his knees and escaped in a clockwise rotation, changing to a sitting position.
Shizuno followed him in a clockwise direction.
Moroha escaped in a clockwise direction again.
Seen from the outside, a scene that felt as if wanting to retort “what are you doing!” unfolded.
– Why are you avoiding me?
– I’m taking into consideration the fact that a man and a woman are alone in a small room like this, you know?
Don’t make me say it, it’s embarrassing, Moroha shrugged his shoulders.
– Moroha is an oddball.
– Why do I have to be verbally abused in this course of events…?
– Since there is a man and a woman alone in a small room like this, you can rub my boobs thoroughly as a substitute for a proper greeting, you know? Normally that is.
– It’s normal in the world of ero manga…
You’re the oddball, Moroha endured a headache.
However, and without a moment’s delay, Shizuno,
– Ara? Does Moroha have an interest in lewd manga?
– ……… That is the common opinion.
For some reason, Moroha ended up replying, sitting straight.
It was difficult to try to not panic.
(Dammit, I’m losing miserably…)
Moroha scratched his head.
If there was a chance, Shizuno would do nothing but lewd stuff.
She certainly would misunderstand that she was enticed.
But, it’s a joke. I’m being teased.
Moroha thought so.
(This is bad, really bad…)
Thinking that this wasn’t really a misunderstanding, he had no choice but to let it be a waste.
– Hey, can I ask you something?
Shizuno whispered into his ear as if having a secret talk.
– In the men’s dormitory, do you lend and borrow lewd books?
– If I disclose that, I’ll be beaten up, so I use my right to remain silent.
– It’s similar to how they nicely do it at the women’s dormitory?
– … Nobody asked that.
– Don’t you get excited when you imagine it? It can be used as a food for thought, no?
– What are you talking about?
– Like I thought, you use my underwear?
– I told you already, don’t pull up your jacket.
Got it.
Moroha finally understood.
Shizuno surely had spare time, so she came to tease Moroha.
– Even if it’s a joke, you should be blushing a bit or something or anything… you’re a girl, no…?
– Ara? Moroha is the one who said that I lack shame, no?
– So you heard me? You pretended to be asleep.
Moroha dropped his dejected shoulders.
He was willing to have fun with her, but he wished to avoid the「Let’s make fun of Morohkun: The game」.
– Not that you brought me a wonderful story…?
He reproachfully looked at Shizuno.
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– Yes. Won’t you be a part-timer, Moroha?
The dropped shoulders of Moroha rose with a twitch.
It wasn’t like he didn’t think──how many detours did she make just to announce that?, but she threw such a trivial thing in a corner of the room,
– I would, but our school prohibits work, no?
He asked nervously.
Moroha was a poor student.
So he wanted to do it very much, but he had no intention of breaking the school regulations.
-It’s a daily-employed job prepared by the school, so it’s fine.
– Really?
His interest suddenly welled up and became a bit more interested in it.
He heard the details of the job and the amount of salary, his facial expression gradually became brighter and in the end, he was all smiles with joy and accepted with two replies.
– Thanks. I was already in a pinch this month.
Moroha took Shizuno’s hands and waved them euphorically.
The unmanageable Shizuno, who teased Moroha as if it were a hobby, was also a girl who frequently helped him in one way or another.
– It would be great if you could get excited seeing me change clothes as you do with that much cash.
Shizuno said as if being disgusted,
– Even if you put it like that, I’m happy that you’re delighted.
The strength that grasped Moroha’s hand back was strong.
It was tight.
– Let’s go at once. I’ll change to my uniform too.
Moroha stood up.
– Yes, I’ll wait.
Shizuno remained sat on the zabuton.
The gazes of the two entwined.
They fixedly stared at each other.
And Moroha applied pressure, being silent, and Shizuno dodged it with a blank look on her face.
(This is a waste of effort…)
In the end, Moroha gave up first together with a sigh of grief.
He reluctantly pointed to the door.
– Get out.
– Why?
– I told you I’m going to change clothes.
– You won’t let me see?
– I don’t have to.
– But you saw me changing clothes. It’s unfair.
Moroha dragged Shizuno, who said so nonchalantly, out of the room.
Shizuno waited outside the main gate of the men’s dormitory.
At a distance, no matter how she looked at her, she was an absolute perfect young lady.
A graceful aura.
A nice posture and a straight back. Despite all that, there was no oppressiveness, nothing that spoiled her cuteness.
When she wore her usual uniform, she was like the finest item there was. She dressed herself stylishly and flawlessly.
Still, there was something.
Shizuno was restlessly playing──with her own hair──with the unruly hair that Moroha had discovered a short while ago.
That was the only bad point she had.
When he recalled it again, Shizuno felt like she played with that unruly hair when she was bored or when she was thinking about something. She had forgotten to not show she had a habitual movement of their hands when Moroha was right next to her.
– I kept you waiting.
Now, as soon as she sensed the presence of Moroha, Shizuno stopped playing with it.
She conducted herself as if that unruly hair didn’t exist.
She was a flawless young lady again.
– Well then, let’s go, shall we?
Humans had one or two habitual movement of their hands. Moroha, without particularly caring about it, started walking as if he had been asked to do so.
The two of them headed to the library of Akane Academy.
Although it was cozy, it was detached from the school building as a separate building and had a sufficient collection of books for general high school students.
– The part-time job is about organizing books, right?
– Yes. Did you know that the library has a book storage in the basement?
Moroha shook his head to the left and right at the question of Shizuno.
– In that physically and magically multi-shielded place, there are separated books that can’t be placed above.
– Hee, scary. What kind of books do they have? Is it absolutely necessary to go that far?
– Dark Arts books written by our senpais, of course.
Moroha was completely satisfied with Shizuno’s reply.
In order for Kuromas to use Dark Arts, they enhanced the mana sleeping inside them and followed the required steps to put characters into written form in the empty sky with that mana.
Naturally, it was no good to write nonsense.
Those were ancient magic characters, and a Dark Art had an established phrase.
For that reason, there were「Dark Arts books」that compiled those phrases as models for inexperienced students.
The Dark Arts books could be difficult if handled carelessly.
As it had been in the past, a book that had Flame Dark Arts written in it and their ancient magic characters reacted of their own accord to the mana that a not-so-serious man didn’t intend to thoughtlessly emit near them, becoming an unexpected fire.
They were strictly stored to prevent accidents like that, so they couldn’t be lent, but on the other hand, the school tradition respected the autonomy of the students so there were no restrictions established in particular to read them.
If someone wanted to read them, they could inspect them in the building at any time.
– Those Dark Arts books frequently disappear into ordinary bookshelves rather than in the underground book storage. There have been many occurrences in this semester in particular, and 10 books have disappeared this year.
– Why does that happen?
– The ones who want an example are freshmen. The freshmen don’t know the fear of handling Dark Arts books roughly.
– Carelessly, huh. Fooling around, huh. Those things are…
As Moroha shrugged his shoulders, Shizuno bowed her head in assent.
– In short, this is a part-time job to look for those 10 missing books?
It was a tiring task because they had to look for them among a collection of more than 10,000 books. However, Moroha had a hard-working character, and because the part-time job had a generous pay, his motivation suffered no changes.
– I don’t think it’s limited to Moroha, but if for some reason or other we got excited and had to release mana, a clumsy thing like that is strictly prohibited while looking for them, alright?
– I don’t think there’s anything exciting in the library….
– There are no lewd books though.
– Don’t bring that up…
Why──
They continued having a friendly chat after that and arrived at the library with lively steps.
Akane Academy was, in the first place, a new school established five years ago. Naturally, its library was brand new. Even when getting inside, the smell of the fresh wood of the new bookshelves was stronger than the smell of old mold of the books.
It was a day off, so it was originally closed, but Shizuno was entrusted with the key and entered from the entrance.
Actually, this was the first time Moroha came, so he curiously patrolled the inside of the building for a while.
Combined with the fact it was unpopulated, the peaceful atmosphere was a space that felt all the more dignified.
As they walked between the bookshelves standing in a row,
– I always think every time I come to the library──
Shizuno, who was next to him, came to a stop and looked up at Moroha’s face.
For some reason, Moroha also stopped walking and prompted the continuation of the story.
– Shouldn’t one do something like forcibly steal the other person’s lips by making sure to drive them to the bookshelves in this way?
– There’s no need for that, ever.
Moroha almost became disappointed.
– Look, like this.
Shizuno spread her hands, stretched them and put them against the bookshelf, trying to make sure to lock up Moroha.
– Come on, you don’t have to try doing it.
– Did you lose control? Aren’t you excited?
– It will be dangerous if we get excited and release mana, so be careful.
– I’m the one firing the immorality up?
– I already knew you were a pervert…
Even if the thing about the Dark Arts books was set aside, he thought that it was no good to do lewd stuff in the library.
– Do we split and search? If I stay with you, I’ll keep being teased and we’ll make no progress.
– A sound argument.
– If you’re aware of it, then reflect on that.
Moroha retorted with half-opened eyes, but Shizuno was so amused she couldn’t help but make fun of him, so the improvement request never ripened.
Anyhow, they decided to search for the Dark Arts books in two groups.
Searching all the bookshelves from beginning to end was a simple work.
It was troublesome but there was no other effective way.
The Dark Arts books had the title written down with magic characters on the spine, so they could find them with just a glance. As long as they had patience, the part-time job could be done. Without enthusiasm, it was easy-peasy for someone like Moroha.
(I wonder if it will be done in one day)
While viewing dozens of giant bookshelves standing in a row, Moroha started in a relaxed manner.
Two hours later──
– Surprisingly, I can’t find them.
Moroha complained after he finished searching several bookshelves.
He had already patrolled around 1/6 of the entire library, but he hadn’t found any books yet. Probabilistically speaking, it would have sounded good if one or two books had been found.
Some books might have been unexpectedly collected somewhere and stored in the bookshelves.
– I’m hungry…
It was almost lunch time. He looked for Shizuno to try taking a break.
Maybe Shizuno found some books, as he walked, making his heart jump with expectation──
– Gu──…
In the reading corner, he found her sleeping, prostrated on a table.
– Give me back my expectations…
Moroha felt a headache.
Most likely, Shizuno slept like a log while he worked seriously.
This is the same as an appearance fee! He wondered. That thing called society was unfair.
– Wake up, Shizuno. Shall we have lunch somewhere?
Moroha called out to Shizuno while sitting opposite her.
However, she absolutely didn’t arouse from sleep.
She slept seemingly comfortable with her arms as pillows.
Certainly, there was a bright mood with large windows used for lightning around this reader’s corner.
Summer was coming, but today’s sunlight was tender and more powerful than any sleeping magic.
Even if he wasn’t Shizuno, this was a place he couldn’t help but unconsciously yawn.
– You’re a hopeless person, you know?
Being somewhat charmed, Moroha silently watched over her.
If he opened his mouth, then Shizuno could harass Moroha saying nothing but lewd things, but if he was quiet, then she was really a flawless beautiful girl again.
This was a beautiful face he could forgive and appreciate.
He felt like gazing at her forever.
This time was by no means a waste.
– What do I do?
While smiling wryly, Moroha suddenly noticed.
He caught a glimpse of a point that felt out of place in the perfect beautiful face of Shizuno who became a beautiful girl in a secluded room.
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A small unruly hair that stood, popping up.
With a bit of kindness, Moroha combed it, using his fingers as a comb.
*Pyokon*.
*TN: This is the effect for “popping up”.
The unruly hair stood up bravely as if claiming its own reason for being.
– You’re an obstinate one, huh.
He smiled wryly and combed it down, using his fingers as a comb again.
*Pyokon*
He combed it down.
*Pyokon*
He combed it d──
*Pyokon*
– Is it my imagination, or I feel like its resistance is getting stronger…?
He combed it down, *Pyokon*, he combed it down, *Pyokon*, he combed it down, *Pyokon*, he combed it down, *Pyokon*, he combed it down, *Pyokon*, hey, cut it out! *Pyokon*, *Pyokon*, *Pyokon*──
Moroha, becoming obstinate, tried to comb it down, but the unruly hair kept resisting like a tough creature that had that much of a will.
– W-what’s going on here…?
In the end, feeling even the idea of respecting it already, Moroha gazed at the unruly hair of Shizuno with an astonished look.
Then──
– What are you doing?
He heard an extremely frightening voice, yes, even more frightening than the unruly hair….
He was so absorbed in it he didn’t notice.
Shizuno, who was still prostrated, had woken up a long time ago.
She scowled at Moroha with the eyes of a monster that peeped back at him from the abyss.
– Shi, Shizuno… san?
Moroha addressed her, sitting straight.
– Did you see it?
Shizuno stood up, swaying once.
The blazingly-shining and eerie eyes looked his way.
Moroha, who remained sat, was glared at.
W-was this…?
Was this the face of Shizuno..!?
The Noh mask-like blank look on her face had disappeared somewhere else. With an ominous look that let him easily understand the silent rage welling up inside her, she let out a hair-rising voice from the torn mouth similar to a crescent moon.
This isn’t it.
She’s a very beautiful girl but it’s a waste, I kind of wanted to see Shizuno’s facial expression but I didn’t want to see the look of a man-eating fiend like this.
– It’s not like you’re hiding it, so the thing I saw is irresistible.
The overwhelmed Moroha pointed to Shizuno’s unruly hair while drawing back with chair and all.
– Do you want me to say that I’m a cool woman that walks, fully exposing her private parts?
– That’s beyond masochism and misinterpretation on top of misunderstanding.
– … Misunderstanding? When you wanted to disgrace me again and again and again and again and again and again?
He just played with her hair, but it seemed he was told a cruel thing.
– O-o-o-o-okay! I give up. I’m the one to blame. Yeah, it’s my fault. So, will you? Will you forgive me? Like this, please.
– I will blow your memory away right now.
– Your face became even scarier!
Moroha let out an unbecoming shriek, kicked down the chair he was sitting on and ran away from Shizuno who raised a crescent-moon mouth.
Moroha, who was a warrior that wasn’t afraid of facing any grotesque monster, who was praised as a mighty hero in his previous life and admired by the school and even by the world, had lost all face.
Shizuno was that scary now.
Or more precisely, it was an excessive surprise attack. Without time for his heart to beat.
Moroha ran away, falling and stumbling.
He should have gone to the entrance, but he panicked and escaped to the inside.
He ran as if weaving his way through the bookshelves lined in a row.
(Today is my unlucky day, huh)
Moroha took a look behind him.
Shizuno came slowly as if chasing after him with a darker-than-darkness facial expression of hell.
(What kind of nightmare is this…?)
Moroha knew.
Shizuno was an oddball and not a scary woman.
She didn’t happen to have a yandere nature like characters of a manga or anime.
And yet, that unruly hair seemed to be critical for Shizuno──to the extent of going through a sudden change like this. It seemed that he shouldn’t have poked it carelessly.
He certainly thought it was the subspecies of idiot hair, but it seemed to be the reverse scale of the Dragon God. Moroha, who thought “Why did I end up doing a rash thing like that?”, was regretting it like crazy.
It’s so absurd!
– I can’t forgive you…. Something like this can never be forgiven…
The surroundings of Shizuno began to gloom abruptly.
It wasn’t the weather.
Her mana was running wildly.
Moroha, who was also a Kuroma, grasped so.
Mana had the property of consuming the light, wind, heat and all kinds of energies of the natural world in its surroundings, increasing its own power even more.
For that reason, when mana ran wildly, only Shizuno’s surroundings froze and became dark like a midwinter night, dying down even the wind.
Moreover──
Her current location was the worst.
An explosion suddenly occurred in the direction Moroha was moving.
– Wapuh.
Taking a gust of wind, Moroha reflexively guarded his face with his arms, then stopped walking and protected himself.
When he noticed──a part of the bookshelf in front of him was burning with black flames.
Flames with a color that didn’t exist in nature.
Moroha got it.
The Dark Arts book that disappeared in that bookshelf and that he was looking for, might have triggered an ignition phenomenon in response to the rampaging mana of Shizuno.
– ──Then that means, no way…
The worst imagination crossed his mind.
That materialized.
Black flame pillars rose up together with roaring sounds from the back of the library.
It wasn’t one place but nine places.
Moreover, the flame pillars that appeared everywhere converged, forming a lump, and rushed, aiming at Moroha.
10 books with blunt binding came flying unsteadily while blazing like black hitodama.*
*TN: Hitodama are balls of fire that mainly float in the middle of night. They are said to be “souls of the dead. (Wikipedia)
He was sure those were the rest of the Dark Arts books he was looking for.
There was no doubt they reacted to Shizuno’s mana mixed with anger and aimed at Moroha.
At this rate, the headline of tomorrow’s newspaper would be「Fire spreads in a school library: Two students died by fire」!
– Despite Shizuno being the one who said “Don’t get excited and don’t mess up”.
Moroha was at his wit’s end.
At that moment, the ten black hitodamish flames were already surrounding him, revolving around him as if dancing in circles in an atmosphere that had the appearance of a heretical ritual.
Moroha felt as if he had become a powerless sacrifice.
He turned his head while shaking and swaying and supplicated with minimal expectation.
– Calm down. Calm down, Shizuno!
– I’m extremely calm.*
*TN: She “said” this in katakana.
– Come to your senseeeeeeees.
Moroha screamed.
In the end, the black hitodamlike flames began to combine like amoebas, expanding endlessly.
A monster similar to a black sun and that grew fat by fully absorbing the rampaging mana of Shizuno was born.
A big eyeball was born in the center of whatever that demonic combination was, and began to let out even an uncanny laughter: 「Gikekeke」.
An unnatural phenomenon like this couldn’t be recorded in a Kuroma’s dictionary!
– Cut it out alreadyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
Moroha went for the last resort as if being aroused by fear.
– Come, Saratiga…!
He took out his ID Tag and poured all his prana into it.
Like the Dark Arts books reacting to mana and transforming into will-o’-wisps, his ID Tag reacted to prana, transforming into a sword──
A steel long sword manifested in the hand of Moroha.
– I asked you! I asked you to stop! But you don’t stop so you’re the one at fault!
Violence like drawing a sword in a library was violence still. Shizuno snapped, but Moroha snapped too.
The sword blade wore Moroha’s prana and shone pure white like the sun on earth.
– Shara.*
*TN: I don’t know if this was intended or if it should be Shura (carnage as I translate it) so I’ll just leave it as that.
Moroha jumped.
He headed to the black sun glaring at him as if getting cocky in the air and swung the sword without hesitation.
The white prana of Moroha and the strange-looking black mana clashed head-on, fought each other and made the inside of the building flicker with flashes of light and darkness.
– Gikekekekekekeke!
– Drop dead, you monsteeeeeer!
Moroha performed a slashing attack, putting all his might into it.
*Zon*, he cut the black sun in two, making a shuddering-feeling sound.
Together with a *Baoon* and flashy effects, the mysterious strange form vanished completely.
– I… won…
Moroha landed splendidly, but he had no choice but to monologue dumbfounded.
However, this wasn’t the place to be instantly stupefied; he encouraged,
– Snap out of it, Shizuno!
He flung his sword and drew near Shizuno whose mana still rampaged.
And drove her to the side of a turned bookshelf.
He put a palm on the bookshelf and enclosed her with both arms to prevent her from escaping.
– You’re calm, cold and collected that is almost annoying! This is not how you are!
Finally, he told her off with shrieking vigor.
Like a bubble bursting open, Shizuno was taken aback.
Focus returned to her eyes.
Her Noh mask-like blank look on her face returned.
With that face, Shizuno slowly turned her neck and surveyed the situation around her.
Although the will-o’-wisps uproar and the demonic combination uproar were settled by Moroha’s efforts, some bookshelves and books stored in them were still smoldering.
– I’m sorry… now… I came to my senses…
Her blank look was hard to understand, but based on her verbal expression and voice, he could infer she was seriously reflecting on it.
– Because of Moroha… I almost… ended up becoming a pyromaniac…
But still, it would be decided that she would get severely scolded by the school, so that was already inevitable.
– Why did you get angry like that?
However, it was bad that a chaos like this were to occur again just by having her unruly hair played with.
It wasn’t good for the sake of Shizuno either.
That was why Moroha hardened his heart and asked. Investigating the root of the cause would be the point to start from.
– ……
Shizuno awkwardly turned her face away.
– Trying to feign ignorance is no good, you know? You made a mess this big. You made me feel fear.
Moroha pressed the matter again.
– ……
Shizuno awkwardly turned her face downward.
Moroha put pressure without saying anything and Shizuno tried to let it go past with a blank look on her face.
But this time, Moroha wasn’t going to give up at all.
Wondering if his determination was transmitted──
– … ssed.
Shizuno replied, muttering just a few characters as if she had been beaten down.
– Sorry. I couldn’t hear you. One more time please.
A burning scarlet color was visible on Shizuno’s face.
That Shizuno was.
This was the first time Moroha saw that.
And Shizuno replied with a voice that seemed it would disappear.
– … I was embarrassed.
– Embarrassed? The unruly hair?
– Because it’s disgraceful, isn’t it?
Shizuno put a fist on her mouth and nodded.
Even the nape of her neck was bright red.
She closed her eyes tightly. She shivered tremblingly.
She writhed in shame. It was clearly written all over her face, she was embarrassed.
That facial expression was so cute he was startled.
It was usually like a Noh mask, so a blushing, bashful and troubled Shizuno was even cuter.
– I want Moroha to think I’m beautiful. For that, I fix and carefully and thoroughly comb my hair every morning. But only this unruly hair has never been fixed since always. Only this thing pops out, it’s ridiculous. And disgraceful.
Despite writhing in even more shame, Shizuno talked haltingly.
Moroha was flabbergasted.
– You… despite being a girl, you usually say boobs this, boobs that… and also you have a cool face when it comes to erotic things… aren’t those things embarrassing?
– That’s not what I mean.
– Ouch.
Having his shin kicked like a spoiled child, Moroha jumped up.
(That is, well…)
When he opened the lid, there was a surprisingly trivial cause.
Every adolescent boy and girl had one or two complexes.
I want to grow taller. I’d love to lose weight. Bean sprouts-like body shapes are ugly. Why are my legs so thick──
While it wasn’t to the level of caring if seen by others, this was like a big deal for the person in question.
It appeared as if Shizuno was also an adolescent girl.
Something like lacking shame was a terrible misunderstanding.
There was no doubt she was an oddball and that he pretty much didn’t know what she thought about, but now, he could really understand her feelings well.
Moroha tenderly smiled at her and advised.
– If you had short hair and perm it to make it feel disheveled, then it won’t stand out, right?
– That’s a nope…
– Why?
– Because you praised it, saying that hair that has grown long suits me…
Pouting, and with upturned eyes, Shizuno said.
You don’t remember anyway, do you?──
Although those eyes reproached him and her lips pouted, she was unreasonably cute.
He thought “she surely would be cuter if she smiled”, but that look also touched him emotionally.
– Sorry. I really don’t remember saying so.
– Typical of Moroha, no?
Shizuno turned away while pouting.
He said it, he didn’t say it; that was set aside.
(I see… She let her hair grow long for me…?)
The words of Shizuno just now, even honeyed phrases had a limit.
There seemed to be no story about feeling blessed to have been born male in this way.*
*TN: I’m not so sure about this one, so here’s the raw: こんなに男冥利に尽きる話はないだろう。
– Certainly, a longer one suits Shizuno. Moreover──
Moroha brought his face as if driving Shizuno to the wall with a hand put against the bookshelf.
And then,
– I think this unruly hair is charming, you know?
He gently kissed the top of Shizuno’s head──the unruly hair that stood up with a *Pyokon*.
– Wha…
Shizuno was lost for words.
Her back straightened as if it had been stiffened and her whole body was already boiling to the tip of her fingers.
Shizuno was always the one approaching him and teasing him, making him be troubled.
For the first time, Moroha thought I got you!
The next morning. Before going to school.
Shizuno was dressing herself in her room.
Moroha kept the damages of the library’s small fire incident to the minimum, so they were reprimanded by the principal, the part-time job client.
However, because she was told to rewrite the 10 Dark Arts books that were lost as punishment and divide the work with Moroha, she had to work hard early in the morning and after school from today.
Because of that, she prepared from an early hour than usual.
She sat in front of the dresser and carefully combed her hair messed up in sleep with a comb.
The perfection of the breathtakingly beautiful hairstyle that flew down while she spent time on that without rushing.
But the usual unruly hair still stood as expected.
She combed it out with the comb a little harder.
*Pyokon*.
She combed it out with the comb, getting obstinate.
*Pyokon*.
She combed it out boisterously.
*Pyokon*. *Pyokon*. *Pyokon*.
– I lost today as well.
She talked to herself while sighing from the bottom of her lungs.
But──oh well, fine, she thought.
Her state of mind had changed.
Because of what Moroha said yesterday.
──I think this unruly hair is charming, you know?
Those were important words as much as Shu Saura’s words who praised in her previous life, saying that a long hair suited her.
Shizuno laughed while reminiscing and grasping the comb with both hands.
Then,
A beautiful girl with a big smile on her face and who looked very happy was reflected in the mirror.
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– I would like to hear what you think of Shizuno-onee-chan as a girl desu.
Moroha, who indulged in meditation, came to his senses with Maya’s question.
– As a girl…? I have nothing to say though. I think she’s a person I knew well in my previous life.
– Your previous life as a Kuroma desu? You haven’t checked it with Onee-san desu?
– She always gives me the slip.
Moroha scratched his head.
– Oh well, I don’t have the intention of forcibly pressing questions on her. Shizuno is Shizuno and my feelings towards Shizuno will never change, no matter the previous life we had.
– W-what are those feelings desu!?
Maya snapped.
She quickly readied her memo and pen.
– W-well, having that kind of expectations troubles me, but──I rely on Shizuno completely from the bottom of my heart. I mean, Shizuno is the only one I subconsciously end up depending on.*
*TN: Depending on comes from甘える which also means behaving like a spoiled child and fawning on and a few other choices, so it’s hard to tell what the right usage here is. This also applies to the next “depend on”.
– Whoa. It’s the exact opposite of Satsuki-onee-san nanodesu.
– Now that you say it, yeah, it is.
He wasn’t self-aware.
– Well, adult men are curt. I’ll also be──
Moroha suddenly felt embarrassed and tried to laugh it off.
– No. Even Moroha is just a person, having a person you can rely on is fine desu.
She tried to admonish him with a farsighted tone of voice as if she were a senior.
– I-is that so?
Moroha, amazed, ended up consenting unconsciously.
– It is.
And approval came back right away. Not from Maya’s voice.
His hand was suddenly caught and pulled to the bed in the infirmary.
– Shi-Shizuno! Were you listening?
Moroha, who lost his posture due to the surprise attack, vigorously fell from his face…
*Boing*
He was caught by the world’s two finest cushions which were in the chest of Shizuno.
– An ❤
– S-sorry. It wasn’t on purpose.
– Ara? If it’s Moroha, he can do it as much as he likes, but you can subconsciously depend on me, you know?
Moroha got his head embraced by Shizuno.
The finest cushions were pressed against his whole face more plumply, becoming a serious situation.
– Mogagaah (Let go of me)
– Do you want to sleep in Shizuno’s breast pillows like this until morning? Moroha is really a pampered child.
– Mogagagagagagagagagaagagagah (The number of mouths to feed don’t match, don’t you agree?)
– I’m joking.
Shizuno released his head.
But it seemed that the feeling of Shizuno’s breasts full of elasticity still remained on his whole face.
Moroha looked up in a meaningless way and tried to blow off the carnal feeling.
Shizuno, who showed a small dimple on her face and remained sprawled in the bed, was bitter.
– Amazing desu. Shizuno-onee-san’s breasts are also pillows desu.
– Don’t take notes about that!
Moroha retorted to Maya with all his energy.
He breathed heavily and,
– So? Can I help you with something? For example, that’s right… shall we look around together?
– No, your break time ended already. I came to tell you that.
– Moroha is mean.
Shizuno tossed and turned in the bed, seemingly bothered.
– Won’t Satsuki-onee-san be annoyed if you don’t return fast desu?
– That’s troublesome…. So, while I return, Maysan will shrewdly have a date with Moroha, no?
– It’s not like Maya minds taking turns with three people desu (happy face).
– Ara? You don’t say. Ufufu.
Maya, who showed an adorable smile on her face and Shizuno, whose face wasn’t smiling, glared at each other.
– Stop fooling around, and Shizuno, return already. I’ll see Kammie-senpai’s play then I’ll be back.
– Fine, fine. If that is your order.
Shizuno got up seemingly bothered and saluted in a silly manner.
After that, she slowly went back to the home economics room.
Moroha felt relieved.
– So, can we do the rest as planned?
– Yes nanodesu.
He joined hands with Maya and left the school infirmary.
There was still time until Kamekichi’s play.
Until then, they discussed about intruding in the coffee shop that Leshya’s class was running.
There were many classes and clubs that applied for food-and-drink related activities.
However, there was only one home economics room. Satsuki drew the winning ticket in the impartial lottery.
The rest of the classes and clubs spread tents outside, prepared gas stoves made for food stalls and cooked.
The asphalt road that led from the school building to the back gate, while small, became something like the street of a fair.
Okonomiyaki and French toasts.
It was cold in October, so oden looked delicious.
It seemed that the guys of the clubs took the opportunity to plan making money for club expenses, so they were doing it very seriously.
– In the end, I can’t make a choice desu.
– Do we buy and eat then return?
While they talked about things like that, the tent they were after came in sight.
There was a reasonable line in front of Leshya’s coffee shop.
– I give up. With this, we won’t be in time for the performance…
– I just have to give my name and say “inspection” desu.
– That’s not good. What if we just greet her from outside?
He wanted to see if Leshya was doing well and her working style.
He hoped the shop flourishing this much wasn’t hectic for her.
When he arrived in front of the tent, a placard instead of a signboard was hanging from the roof.
Queen Coffee Shop
Strange characters were written there.
– So it’s not a maid café…?
What kind of substitute was this?
Uneasiness began to float at the bottom of his heart, and he immediately drowned it out, saying「No, it’s thriving」
Several tables for two people were lined up inside the large tent.
Leshya was the only one serving customers.
The appearance she was dressed up was terrifying.
An extravagant and extremely black dress he wanted to call her「Queen of the Night」.
Since Leshya’s hair color was silver, the contrast looked really nice.
– Ah, can you show me the menu?
Seeing a customer say that to Leshya, Moroha refrained from greeting her.
He just watched her attentively from outside the tent.
Having the menu requested, Leshya turned a blade-like sharp glint in the eye at the male student.
With a hard tone of voice that didn’t show her emotions as usual, she replied as if attacking.
– So you bastard need first-class items like a menu?
Moroha didn’t believe his ears.
The customer began to tremble with a look as if suffering the attack of a lightning.
– T-then, what should I…
– You bastard can order the Russian tea and pudding combo. This is my recommendation.
– Eh, but I don’t like sweets…
– I said it’s my recommendation, didn’t I?
– Ah, then, that…
When the completely shrunk customer gave in and nodded, Leshya coldly retreated to the back and returned, carrying a tray.
– The price of the combo is exactly 1,000 yen.
Without an ounce of politeness, she arranged a canned tea and a packed strawberry jam that seemed to appear in the lunch service on the table with mechanical movements.
The cheap price tag came with a「Free pudding (MSRP 100 yen)」.
「「That’s awful」」
Moroha reflexively felt the same as the customer, he was at his wit’s end.
– What’s awful?
– Oh, nothing.
Being intensely glared by Leshya, the customer became smaller.
– Eat them gratefully.
– Then, a spoon…
– So you bastard need a first-class item like that?
– Eeh!? Then, then, how am I…
– Eat them by shoving your nose and mouth into the cup like a pig. That will suit you, you bastard. No, rather, you bastard wish for that. Am I wrong?
Leshya folded her arms with an arrogant attitude and said straight out in a cold voice, without showing a particle of emotion.
(Wait a minute)
Moroha tried to intervene.
Such thing wasn’t customer service. Leshya surely misunderstood. There was no doubt she was indoctrinated by「5ch」 again.
However, faster than Moroha rushing into the tent──
That customer──
– Yes! This is a reward in our woooorld.
He suddenly tore off the lid of the pudding, shoved his mouth into it and began to eat like a dog (like a pig?).
Moroha froze in place with hand extended.
Leshya’s customer service continued.
– This I will watch the way you bastard shamefully indulge in it.
– Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
– What a nice way of eating. This I praises you.
– Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
– Strange. Can pigs speak human language?
– Buu〜❤ Buu〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜❤
Moroha trembled with fear, seeing the customer as if he sobbed tears of gratitude.
(Tell me! What is this, Maya!?)
(There is more than one form of customer service desu)
He asked in a low voice and Maya stealthily pointed at the line.
Moroha lent an ear to their voices which seemed strangely excited.
– Yeah, goddammit. That’s so cool. How come it’s not my turn yet?
– Having completely transcended from contempt and conventional feelings, that cold gaze is shivering!
– I want to be verbally abused by the beautiful silver-haired girl fast!
– Stupid. Call her our Queen.
Inside Moroha, the meaning of「customer service」almost caused a Gestalt collapse.
– Queen Coffee Shop. I see, it’s new desu.
– We shouldn’t let Leshya do such a disreputable business.
Without being able to stand or be there anymore, Moroha stepped into the tent.
– So you came, Moroha.
Leshya lighted her eyes up in an instant.
What she hadn’t noticed until now was the evidence that she was engaged in serving customers very seriously.
In a stupid and nonsensical customer service!
Leshya took a view of Moroha’s appearance from top to bottom, and as she showed a defenseless smile on her face,
– I was so worried that I couldn’t get to see you. Being able to see Moroha dressed in waiter clothes makes me happy. That look suits Moroha very much.
– Thank you. That dress also suits Leshya──no, wait.
Moroha complained to her who stared in puzzlement.
– Stop doing this kind of sinful business right now.
– I can’t understand the nuances of the Japanese language, but our business is very pleased with our customers. Our prior research was perfect.
– I’m amazed that you have a demand like this.
– All of this is the idea of my classmates I’m ought to be proud of.
– Manager, come out this very moment.
Moroha shouted towards the back of the tent, which while simple, was a kitchen.
Criticism immediately came back from the girls who were gathered there.
– So Haimurkun from the class next-door is complaining about our business. You’re barking up the wrong tree!
– That’s right! Don’t come blowing strange things into Leshya who meets our patrons.
– Leshya is a member of our class, of class 2! Haimurkun should feel free to flirt with that idiot girl and the oppai girl!
Furthermore, the girls pulled Leshya to the back and blocked the way as if guarding her.
Receiving those words, Leshya was moved to tears, and covered her mouth as if she were deeply moved
No sooner she was taken aback than averted her eyes from Moroha, unable to endure being there a second longer.
– No, it’s not like I think you’re a traitor. Don’t worry.
Moroha was happy at least that Leshya was treasured by class 2.
– But this business is too unsightly…
– Where’s the unsightly!?
– The customers are very delighted!
– They’re waiting for us, so don’t get in the way, Haimura!
The girls from class 2 insisted on the legitimacy and approval came from the line too.
Feeling completely uncomfortable, Moroha tried to come up with something──
Maya, with an angelic smile, entered the tent briskly with small steps.
Everyone’s eyes gathered on the small angel-chan.
Maya, without feeling timid, unwrapped and showed the one-day principal certificate.
– This is outrageous so the business is suspended nanodesu.
Screams and shrieks were raised from everywhere.
– Uu…. That power is absurd…
The girls from class 2 broke down crying on the spot.
– Let’s make a fresh start. The school festival isn’t over yet. There should be enough time to search for a form of business that comes with a proper business authorization.
Leshya comforted the girls.
– That’s right, it’s as Leshya says.
– Let’s do it.
– Thank you for saying that nicely!
As a glimmer of hope was lighted in their eyes, they embraced each other with Leshya at the center while encouraging each other.
Appearing to have changed their attitude, Moroha felt relieved too.
And because Leshya seemed to surprisingly be able to adapt to the class, that was welcomed too.
(She had it difficult until quite recently…)
Yes.
It had really been less than a month.
That was a story right after Moroha returned from Russia──