Vol 2 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Chapter 3 - Arrival of a Devil King

Part 1

The night of the strange hallucinations had pa.s.sed, and the next morning

had arrived.

Going to school at the usual time, Mariya Yuri packed with her a cellphone

with an aluminum sh.e.l.l.

It was given to her last night from Amakasu for the purpose of emergency

contact. When the phone began to vibrate in silent mode, it happened to

be during the noon break.

The call display did not reveal the name of the caller.

Since the phone handed over was brand new, Yuri had not entered any

information into it. Though she knew it was Amakasu's phone number, she

was not familiar with how to operate it.

”Eh? What should I do?”

Yuri hesitated for an instant as the display showed Amakasu's number.

Perhaps it was some kind of urgent incident. Yuri happened to be outside

the school building and was walking in the central courtyard. She picked

up the call in a place where she could not be seen.

Since it was her first time using a flip open phone, it took a bit of effort.

”Hey, hey... I am Mariya!”

Finally ending her struggle with the phone, Yuri picked up with a tone of

panic.

This is Amakasu. How are you feeling over there? Did you make a

lunchbox for him as suggested yesterday?'

”Of, of course not! Please don't joke around!”

'It's not a joke. Today's request for Yuri-san is to use all sorts of methods to

get close to him. Let's a have a real strategy meeting later.'

”Ah? Amakasu-san!?”

The call ended.

What should one do to get closer to Kusanagi G.o.dou? Yuri felt it was a

tough decision. Last night, she felt quite depressed due to accepting this

difficult mission.

” — Excuse me, Mariya-senpai, could that possibly be... a cellphone?”

Yuri turned to see the one greeting her, and found Kusanagi s.h.i.+zuka

standing there.

The younger sister of the current subject of interest, in addition to being the

middle school third year student who was Yuri's junior in the tea ceremony

club. This chance encounter gave Yuri quite a surprise.

”What, what happened? Everyone had been saying that senpai didn't have

a cellphone until now? Didn't you say you had no interest?”

s.h.i.+zuka was very surprised.

During club activities, whenever anyone asked about her cellphone

number or email address, Yuri's negative reply was always ”because I

don't think I have any special need...”

”A necessary reason came up recently. It's also a lot more convenient for

staying in contact with each other...”

Feeling that an excuse of convenience was rather sad, Yuri felt depressed

as she answered.

In such a place she did not have an obvious reason for using such a full

featured phone. In fact she was totally technologically illiterate and did not

understand networks very well. Yuri regretted her answer as she spoke.

”Eh? Contact each other? With whom do you need to stay in contact?”

”Sorry, please don't ask any further because it is something I cannot

answer in detail. My apologies.”

Though she was talking to someone younger than her, Yuri was bowing

her head down with full seriousness throughout.

Her ident.i.ty as the Hime-Miko as well as the existence of the History

Compilation Committee were absolute secrets. It would be best if she

could muddle through this without issue.

”Could it be that... the other person wanted to keep it a secret?”

”No, not at all. However, cellphones are quite hard to use, right? But

everyone seems to use them so easily, I really cannot understand — ”

In response to her honest and frank answer, s.h.i.+zuka suddenly felt

apologetic and bowed her head.

”Sorry, Mariya-senpai. For you to be so troubled due to my Onii-chan — ”

”Eh? This matter and Kusanagi-san — your brother — are totally

unrelated — But then again, what is the commotion about?”

Brother — Unable to understand why s.h.i.+zuka was apologizing on G.o.dou's

behalf, Yuri blinked.

”However, could there be any other reason? Wouldn't the most likely

reason for a sudden need for a cellphone be for staying in touch with a

boyfriend at all times... As for Mariya-senpai, the most probable candidate

is... my stupid Onii-chan, isn't that right?”

Yuri thought that s.h.i.+zuka was a rather clever child.

She was a girl with quick wits and had picked up all the club knowledge

rapidly.

Yuri frantically tried to deny.

”No, that is not the reason. It is due to work, I need the cellphone for my

work!”

”But Mariya-senpai's part-time job is being a miko. I've never heard of

shrine miko having a need to be on call for emergencies. Even if you deny

it, I know you are lying, but I understand! It's all my stupid Onii-chan's

fault!”

s.h.i.+zuka furiously scolded her brother with intensity.

Sigh, as the Hime-Miko, all sorts of emergencies have come up ever since

the supernatural Campione appeared by her side... Yuri felt very gloomy

that she could not reveal such things honestly.

”Starting from the last spring break, it was already very suspicious.

Frequently staying out overnight! And then suddenly becoming so close

with Erica-san and Yuri-senpai all of a sudden!”

”It's not due to Kusanagi-san, please don't get so upset...”

”Mariya-senpai just said previously that it has nothing to do with

Onii-chan — but isn't it related to Onii-chan now?”

Truly, s.h.i.+zuka was very smart and picked up what was carelessly

revealed.

Her cute face might suggest otherwise, but she was very compet.i.tive in

spirit. Furthermore, she was also much better with words, and Yuri felt an

absolute disadvantage in trying to argue with this opponent.

”I get it, Onii-chan also seems to be carrying a cellphone lately, and was

talking to someone last night. Since he had to hide in his room to take the

call secretly, I'm guessing the other person was Erica-san.”

”Eh? Is that so?”

Yuri innocently believed s.h.i.+zuka's speculation.

G.o.dou's actual caller was the Italian young man, completely unrelated to

love and l.u.s.t, but there was no way for these two to know that.

”Apparently, school is not enough, and they still have to talk so intimately

by phone at home — if Mariya-senpai didn't have a cellphone, it would be

very difficult to compete...”

”Eh, eh? Has things progressed to this stage already — !”

This news gave Yuri quite a serious shock.

She felt very concerned at the thought that Erica and G.o.dou were doing

things together outside of school.

However, what really needed vigilance were the impure relations between

opposite genders outside of school, right?

Yuri felt ashamed of her shallow experience with the ways of the world.

(No, it is not too late to start now. To correct my own deficiencies... to

achieve a closer relations.h.i.+p with Kusanagi-san than what E-Erica-san

has!)

Yuri whispered to herself, and vowed to her own heart to improve herself.

Even though it was at someone else's request, if she agreed to it she will

give it her best!

”s.h.i.+zuka-san, I have a request.”

”Yes, yes.”

Yuri suddenly lifted her head, and said seriously.

Feeling her spirit, the angry s.h.i.+zuka began to calm down.

”Could you teach me how to use my cellphone? Though I already know

how to pick up and dial calls, but I know nothing other than that.”

”Oh, oh that, I don't mind.”

As if crushed in spirit, s.h.i.+zuka answered in a state of panic.

Unaware of her dominating power whenever she faced others with her

stern and serious demeanor, Yuri felt it was a little strange but nodded.

”Actually your brother — Kusanagi-san — once told me his telephone

number, but I am not sure how to use the contact list in the phone.”

”Mariya-senpai, you don't mind giving your number to Onii-chan, right...”

”Also, I have another request. Could you tell me how to get closer to a

boy?”

”Eh!?”

To s.h.i.+zuka's shock, Yuri got more excited as she spoke.

”I have a need to establish a much closer relations.h.i.+p with your brother.

This is not just for me, but for others around me as well, and for your

brother's future. However, why this is necessary, I don't understand it at

all.”

”But, but, Mariya-senpai, I also don't have any clue...”

”Though I can't explain it very well, but time cannot be wasted any more. I

really need someone who can be my teacher... I think if it's the smart

s.h.i.+zuka-san, you can definitely be a good role model for me. Please, lend

me your strength.”

Worrying was pointless, it is best to take action first — Yuri deeply bowed

her head.

”Oooh? You are really asking for my help? But definitely, Mariya-senpai is

much better than Erica... Ah ah, to think that you would be attracted to

someone like my Onii-chan...”

Yuri kept her head bowed sincerely as s.h.i.+zuka chattered on.

Soon after, s.h.i.+zuka sighed deeply.

”...Mariya-senpai, about my stupid Onii-chan, is it really true?”

”Yes, it's true.”

Yuri had misunderstood s.h.i.+zuka's 'is it really love' question as 'do you

really have to improve relations,' but neither of them noticed.

”An, an immediate answer... Well, if it's come to this, I guess a suggestion

or two can be given... Just a little bit...”

s.h.i.+zuka spoke extremely softly.

Hearing such a response, Yuri's eyes were like flas.h.i.+ng lights, and she

smiled naturally.

”Much appreciated! This feels like a bright light appearing out of total

darkness!”

”Please, please don't show such a bright smile... It's just minor support.”

”Yes? What is it? s.h.i.+zuka-san?”

”Nothing. Ah, right, Mariya-senpai, do you have my Onii-chan's email

address?”

Yuri showed a mystified expression at s.h.i.+zuka's mentioning of a term she

did not recognize.

”Email... address? What is that?”

”You really don't know what it is eh. Well then, I have a good idea, just go

ask him directly in the cla.s.sroom — let that idiot Onii-chan suffer the

consequence.”

s.h.i.+zuka laughed ”hoho” malevolently and suggested.

Unable to understand the intentions, Yuri felt troubled. However, it was not

easy to find someone to give advice, so Yuri decided to go along with it.

Part 2

In the cla.s.sroom of the First Year Fifth Cla.s.s, Erica and G.o.dou were

preparing to have lunch.

It was the lunch prepared by Erica — no, Arianna who played the role of the

maid. Today, G.o.dou brought his own lunchbox.

If he didn't make preparations, he felt like he was making trouble for

others.

Arianna generously accommodated G.o.dou's suggestion. By the way, Erica

who had no intention of cooking anyway, kept a neutral stance and was

fine either way.

At this time, unexpected visitors arrived.

”Hey, Onii-chan, can you lend this to me?”

Hearing his sister's usual voice from home, G.o.dou turned his head around.

It was s.h.i.+zuka in her middle school uniform, and behind her was Mariya

Yuri.

”Ara. Isn't it s.h.i.+zuka and Yuri? How rare for you both to be here...”

Erica spoke with all smiles.

Yuri simply nodded in response, while s.h.i.+zuka greeted her with something

like ”h.e.l.lo, Erica-san.”

”s.h.i.+zuka, is it really ok for you to come to a high school cla.s.sroom?”

”I'm not certain, but there's no school rule forbidding it right? By the way,

Mariya-senpai has a cellphone now.”

A middle school girl who seemed close to G.o.dou, plus the appearance of

Yuri. The boys of the Fifth Cla.s.s were busy listening in with an expression

of ”what!”

— Mariya, has a cellphone now?

— Idiot. Don't you know the last virtual girl's IT revolution blog?

— d.a.m.n it, the creature known as man truly has the ability to change

women?

Subtly sensing their fury, G.o.dou felt an ominous premonition.

By the way, s.h.i.+zuka was smiling proudly. Yuri was surveying the changes

in the surroundings. Erica was quietly watching everything with interest

while saying ”eh.”

”Onii-chan, give your cellphone number and email address to

Mariya-senpai. She wants to enter it right now.”

”Ah? Didn't I tell her my number before?”

Yuri shyly lowered her head and answered G.o.dou.

”My apologies, Kusanagi-san... I am actually bad with technology. Since I

don't know how to operate it I decided to come here to exchange our

information after discussing it with s.h.i.+zuka-san.”

”Well, it's actually quite simple, not difficult at all.”

So, she is surprisingly unfamiliar with these things. G.o.dou took out his

cellphone.

Yuri also frantically extracts the silver phone.

”So, let's do it quickly with the infra-red then.”

”Sure. So, does making calls have anything to do with infra-red?”

Did she even know how to send information using the infra-red? To

G.o.dou's suggestion, Yuri's hesitant face was full of questions.

...First, it's probably best to teach her the basic way to use the phone.

After reconsidering, G.o.dou told his phone number and email address to

Yuri and showed her how to send mail. He explained to her all she need to

do was register the incoming mail and showed her how.

The two of them operated Yuri's cellphone together.

Without paying attention, the distance between them gradually shrank.

— Their exhaled breaths were almost reaching each other's faces. Though

it was a delicate and beautiful face, it was also a nervous one as Yuri

operated her phone clumsily.

Finally aware that she was a beautiful girl, G.o.dou began to feel shy.

In the instant G.o.dou turned his face away, his gaze met with s.h.i.+zuka's

smiling eyes full of challenging intent.

This fellow, what was she planning this time? By the time he discovered it,

the boys' riot was about to begin.

”Ah ohohoh, Mariya-san, could you tell me what is your phone number!”

Nanami suddenly yells from his seat on the left near the front.

The boys in the cla.s.s were making comments like 'secretly confessing with

a serious expression that I actually find miko moe', or 'Mariya who seems

to be working as a miko, please bury Kusanagi in darkness for the safety of

all bathing miko.' It was impossible to pretend not to have heard such

words of jest.

”Same here! I also want Mariya-san's phone number!”

”We will never let you keep such important information all to yourself.”

”This is for the love of all the boys in the cla.s.s! The opportunity is here.”

”Go die, Kusanagi! We are the poor proletariat, and we swear we will

oppose to the utter end the capitalist cla.s.s who acquired their wealth

through illicit means.”

As Nanami's roars echoed across the cla.s.sroom, the room was filled with

the yelling of the boys.

Yuri felt surprised by the forcefulness of their desperation, and surveyed

the surroundings with a look that approached extreme fear.

”Ah ah, this isn't looking good, Onii-chan. It's tough to be a popular boy.”

The sister who came over with Yuri, the focus of attention, was speaking in

a rather unfriendly manner.

”s.h.i.+... s.h.i.+zuka, what are you trying to say...”

”Hmph. What a great important character to be so welcomed by the girls,

but you need your medicine once in a while.”

Dear sister, please don't create situations for me with these kinds of

motives.

G.o.dou prayed towards the sky in response to s.h.i.+zuka's merciless words.

” — Sorry everyone.”

It was Yuri who spoke.

She seemed to have recovered from her shock, and spoke with a

determined voice.

”I have no intention of exchanging phone numbers with anyone other than

Kusanagi-san. None whatsoever. So please calm down and don't make a

scene. Thank you.”

Though her words were serious and polite, but there was a certain

irresistible force to them.

The boys quieted down in an instant and the cla.s.sroom became peaceful

again. However, the entire cla.s.s of boys angrily watched G.o.dou with eyes

of murderous intent.

— You again with all these fortunate happenings.

— This is truly another trial, go to the roof.

— Shot in the back on a battlefield, sigh.

Caught in a silent eddy current, G.o.dou began to have cold sweat from the

feeling of danger. s.h.i.+zuka adds fuel to the fire by making comments like

”Wow, such a bold declaration in front of so many people, it really must be

true...”

In addition, Erica who was observing everything from the side was

laughing to herself.

”Hey Yuri, though it's true that my G.o.dou is quite attractive, but the other

boys are really pitiful. They have already been watching G.o.dou and my

love life every single day, and so acc.u.mulated a lot of stress.”

The gazes of the cla.s.s immediately gathered upon the blonde Italian girl.

Maintaining an elegant motion, Erica began to project her voice as if she

was the female lead in a performance.

”Since there's no rain today, let's have lunch on the roof then. Is that fine,

G.o.dou? We welcome Yuri and s.h.i.+zuka to join us. Isn't it true for meals, the

more the merrier, right?”

Erica hurried G.o.dou and addressed the two visitors, then took lead by

leaving the cla.s.sroom.

Completely confident that her orders will be followed, she exited the

cla.s.sroom without turning back.

Truly, Erica's experience in this area was no joking matter. Whether as the

speaker or as the listener, she had ample insight. G.o.dou took his lunch

bag out of his school bag.

Gesturing for his sister and Yuri to follow him, G.o.dou ran after Erica.

”Feels like things have become more interesting, G.o.dou?”

Erica's mood was great as she spoke after G.o.dou caught up to her.

”...You're just having fun without concern for others. It's probably just you

who thinks it's funny. Meanwhile I am being burdened by these strange

troubles... s.h.i.+zuka has also started to notice something is abnormal.”

”Don't worry, no matter what that child thinks, she will soon understand the

difference in power.”

”Difference in power? What is that?”

Erica made a glamorous smile at G.o.dou's question.

”No matter what troubles the sister-in-law or the secondary wife cause, the

one with the most power is still me — G.o.dou's first wife Erica Blandelli.

Anyway, don't concern yourself with such trivial matters, for them to seek

support is fine with me!”

”Don't say something like sister-in-law, where did you learn that kind of

j.a.panese anyway!”

This day, what G.o.dou brought was an ordinary lunch with rice b.a.l.l.s and all

sorts of pickles.

The salmon and the fish roe in the rice b.a.l.l.s should be fine.

...Originally, Erica's situation was that she would comment with a subtle

expression that eating dried plums and the like was a challenge to

everyone except the j.a.panese. However, starting from some point, she

started describing the extremely sour Kishu plum as ”a fruit with an

amazing taste,” and even ate it along with the seed by shattering it with her

teeth.

A girl with a well-developed body, who turned out to be someone who

would eat anything.