The Raven Dark Hero 33
Added 2021-04-27 00:33:13 +0000 UTCChapter 33 : The Reunion Afterschool
TL:SummerPeanut
Author’s note:
Thanks to you all, I was able to get 1st place in all of the low-fantasy rankings from the days, weeks, and months category! Thank you very much!
It's been five days since the attack on the Nerima branch of the National Defense Force by the Kuroyume’s filths. However, this information has not been passed on to the public. If the public were to hear that 149 NDF soldiers, including two lieutenants, were killed and wounded in the attack by the filths, it would lead to a loss of trust in the NDF.
However, the NDF took the situation very seriously and prompt action was taken.
First of all, the police conducted a thorough crackdown on the filths. As a result, many stray filths were either detained or disposed of.
Then, the NDF meticulously swept filth organizations. This led to the arrest or destruction of many small and medium-sized of the said organizations.
Naturally, this information was widely reported in the mass media, and as a result, the NDF and the police succeeded in increasing their credibility.
And at the school that Kouki attended, Hiro and Fuuka were still absent as usual.
Initially, no one had cared, but they both had been absent for five days. There were even rumours circulating in the shadows that the two were dating.
Kouki didn't believe in such rumours, but he was still worried about Fuuka. Unfortunately, he didn't have her phone number or email address, so there was no way to contact her.
And Bright(Kouki) was flooded with invitations for joint missions in his Kuroyume-use terminal.
The big rookie who defeated that Saejima. Bright's name is definitely growing in the organization.
However, there were so many e-mails for joint missions that most of them were ignored by him and the only one he kept in touch with was Teaser.
Kouki also received emails from Teaser’s other identity, Rumi. Thus, sometimes he doesn’t know which one is from who, but so far she hasn't figured out that Kouki equals Bright.
-After school.
"Hey, Kouki, do you have a girlfriend?"
"Whoaad?! W-what did you say?"
At the sudden question Kouki, who was having tea with Rumi at a café, spurted out the ice cocoa he had been drinking with over the top reaction.
"Ghoho, khoho... well, I don’t have girlfriend..."
In fact, Kouki is not dating Fuuka yet. He doesn't even know her contact information.
"Is that so~. Kinda surprising because Kouki seems like the popular type."
(What is she talking about all of a sudden? Don’t tell me... Rumi, she likes me?)
Kouki sees Rumi as a comrade. He has no romantic feelings for her at the moment.
However, Rumi is beautiful, to say the least. She is only one year older than him, but she looks like an attractive older woman from his perspective.
If Rumi were to confess her love to him... The fact that he hasn't seen Fuuka in a while might make even make Kouki waver.
"It's a shame because it seems that Mai already has a new boyfriend. You've got a good face, so why don't you get a girlfriend or two soon?"
...or so he was told. He felt like he was rejected even though he didn't like her yet.
"...what about you yourself, do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, I don't. Apparently, I’m seen as someone independent so I don’t get that many guys hitting on me. Well, that's fine since it's annoying to be courted by kids my age."
"Well, you are very mature after all... So you don't want a boyfriend?"
"Nobody said that, okay? Even like this, there is someone I’m interested in."
Kouki was surprised and at the same time, he felt a little frustrated. The mind of an adolescent high school student is complicated.
"W-what kind of person is him?"
"Huh? Well... he's cool, helpful, cares about his friends, and is very mature."
"Hmmm. So Rumi likes older people. That's not surprising at all."
"Right~? Well, maybe after another five years, you will be on the same track. For now, you’re just a cute little brother though."
"Sure, sure. Then, sis, please pay the bill for the cafe (here)."
"Hey, you're a little too stingy for a guy."
"Because I'm your little brother."
Kouki enjoyed the time he spent with Rumi. After all, the best way to get to know each other is by sharing pain and joy.
"Hey, Kouki. Tomorrow is a day off, so why don't we go to karaoke now?"
"Hmm? Sure. The day before yesterday we were only down to the old-style ninja, so today let's go through the modern-style ninja songs!"
As they went to karaoke as if they are a couple, he felt real, not an illusion of his, a cold air from behind him.
"Mn? Something’s wrong?"
Kouki thought to himself whether it’s a new gifted opponent. As he turned around, he saw a girl standing behind him.
"......Kouki-kun."
A heavy, and cold voice. However, the owner of that voice is someone Kouki had been wanting to meet over these five days.
"Fuuka? Are you real?!"
"Long time no see... Kouki-kun."
Kouki approached Fuuka with much joy...but he was stopped from some unknown intimidation.
"..w-what’s wrong? You've been missing for a while. Are you still feeling unwell?"
"Unwell? ...hmm...I'm feeling really bad right now..."
Fuuka replied so as she stood still without bothering to look at Kouki in the face.
“Kouki-kun, by the way...may I know who is that girl. Is she your friend?”
"Eh? Yeah, we met the other day. We get along well, so we've been hanging out a lot lately."
".....heh~ So you hang out often with her... Hmm...that sounds like a lot of fun. Even though, I've had a tough time these five days..."
While Kouki was puzzled by Fuuka's strange behaviour, Rumi understood everything.
"...hey Kouki. Is she the cute girlfriend you were always talking about?"
Kouki stared at Rumi with a ‘what are you talking about?’ face while Fuuka turned her head to Rumi vigorously.
"Always talked about? ...cute girlfriend?"
The colour of Fuuka’s face immediately became much better in all seriousness.
"Isn't that right? You are quite the smooth operator, aren’t ya~. I can't believe you have such a cute idol-like girl as your girlfriend."
"Oi oi, what are you talking about? We're not..."
"..g-girlfriend!?"
Fuuka's face had turned so red that steam was coming out of it.
"I haven’t introduced myself, have I? I'm Amami Rumi, a 3rd year at Matsumoto Girls High School. Nice to meet you!"
"Ah, hello! It's nice to meet you! I'm Mizutani Fuuka! Um, you're a third-year student? Oh, I envy you for being so mature!"
Thanks to Rumi's quick thinking, Fuuka seemed to have completely recovered from her bad mood.
Rumi whispered to Kouki’s ear.
"You owe me one."
"You......are really amazing..."
Just like that, Kouki realized that Rumi's quick thinking had gotten her through the biggest crisis of his life, and as a token of gratitude, he bought the three of them drinks for karaoke afterwards.
Author’s note:
※Since I received your reviews, I thought of resuming this column to reply to your reviews! Please look forward to the story from now on too (о´∀`о)