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Chapter 154 - Chapter 154: The Complete Dropkick!

Chapter 154: The Complete Dropkick!

'How cute.'

Ryohei Tanaka couldn't help but chuckle at the Second's clumsy denial.

"Eh? It wasn't you?" Jashin-chan placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head in mock confusion, her gaze pointedly drifting towards Persephone II's stomach. "I'm pretty sure I heard a 'grumble, grumble' sound coming from you."

"Are you hungry?" Minos, unlike Jashin-chan, didn't tease her. She gave the Second a concerned look and then shot Ryohei a pleading glance.

"Alright, alright... I'll see what's in the kitchen and make her a little something to eat." Ryohei was happy to oblige. He gave Minos a reassuring smile, then turned, slipped on his indoor slippers, and headed for the kitchen.

"Second-chan, you're in for a treat! Tanaka-kun's cooking is super delicious!" Minos immediately turned to the Second with a delighted expression.

"Mmm..." Persephone II had heard rumors of Ryohei's culinary skills. Hearing that he was going to cook for her, she felt a little shy, but a flicker of anticipation welled up inside her.

...

The group moved into the living room. Ryohei opened the refrigerator and took a look. He pulled out the leftover Peerless Noodles from the previous night, along with an egg, some green vegetables, and a sausage. The original Peerless Noodles from the anime didn't come with toppings or a soup base, but Ryohei had the means to add them, and they tasted better that way. Last night, they had eaten them with pork chops, marinated eggs, dried tofu, and greens, and it had been amazing. He was in a hurry now and only making a single serving, so he just grabbed a few simple things to make a "lite version."

...

After Ryohei, Yurine went to the fridge and pulled out half a watermelon, intending to serve it to their guest—and also because she wanted some herself. Nothing beat a slice of chilled watermelon after coming in from the summer heat.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Jashin-chan plopped down on the sofa, glanced at the Second next to her, and said casually, "We're inside now, you can take off your mask." She then tilted her head in confusion. "Come to think of it, why are you wearing a gas mask?"

Minos was also puzzled and looked at Persephone II with a curious expression.

"Because my mother told me the air in the human world is very poor..." Persephone II explained as she took off her hood and began to unfasten her gas mask.

"It's not that bad. See? We're all fine," Minos said with a wave of her hand, smiling reassuringly.

"Mmm..." Persephone II undid the strap on top of her head, then the one behind her neck. She removed the gas mask, revealing a cute, delicate face. She took a tentative breath of the human world's air and smiled brightly. "You're right, it's fi—"

"Cough—hack!"

Before she could finish, the Second suddenly doubled over, covering her small mouth with a pale hand as she coughed up a large mouthful of blood.

"Whoa—!" Σヽ(゚Д ゚; )ノ

Minos and Jashin-chan shot up from the sofa in shock, staring at the Second in utter disbelief. 'She's coughing up blood! Is the air in the human world really that bad?'

Yurine, who was bringing over the sliced watermelon, was also startled. She quickly set the plate down and asked with concern, "What happened? Should I call an ambulance?" She was already pulling out her phone to dial the emergency number.

"No need..." As if all her energy had been drained away, Persephone II became frail and sickly. A helpless smile touched her lips. "My body has always been weak. I cough up blood often..."

"Your constitution is that bad?" ( ̄  ̄|| ) Minos looked on, dumbfounded, as she handed her a tissue. "Thanks."

Jashin-chan was also speechless. "You're not like a demon at all..." she grumbled. "By the way," she continued, crossing her arms and looking at Persephone II, "you said before that you were an emissary for the teacher... what did you mean by that?"

"Mother was crying." Persephone II wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with the tissue, glanced at Jashin-chan, then closed and reopened her eyes. "She said it was tragic that her student was unable to return from the human world to the Demon World and was being enslaved by humans."

"...!" Jashin-chan's composure shattered. It felt like an arrow had pierced her chest, and her face burned with shame. 'My disgrace has reached the teacher!'

"Shut up! Who's being enslaved? I'm not!" Jashin-chan, enraged and humiliated, glared at the Second through gritted teeth and gave her a hard shove.

With a soft "pfft—," the Second spat out another mouthful of blood and collapsed onto the sofa.

"Hahaha—! This girl is so pathetic! She's coughing up blood again!" The scummy snake felt a long-lost thrill of victory. She turned and pointed at the Second, laughing triumphantly.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Minos, in a rare display of anger, grabbed Jashin-chan's shoulder.

"You're the pathetic one," Yurine said, taking a bite of watermelon and looking at Jashin-chan with the disgust one might reserve for kitchen scraps.

"What's with you guys? Why are you all acting like saints?" (´ε`;) Jashin-chan pouted guiltily and turned to look at the Second, who was coughing as she sat up, glaring at her unhappily.

"Anyway," Jashin-chan said, trying to change the subject as if nothing had happened, "what are you really here for?"

"Mother said your dropkick is lacking..." Persephone II was internally debating whether to give Jashin-chan a taste of a real dropkick. Then, her nose twitched as she caught a scent from the kitchen. 'That smells so good! I'll let it slide... for now.' She was starving and didn't have the strength. Besides, she was in someone else's house; it wasn't the place to cause a scene. She couldn't very well demolish the home of the person who was cooking for her. That would be rude.

"Mother sent me to teach you the complete dropkick." Persephone II's gaze returned to Jashin-chan, and she shrugged. She decided to get her revenge during the next training session.

"...My dropkick is lacking?" Jashin-chan stared at the Second in astonishment. She thought for a moment, and then, for some reason, she threw her head back, placed her hands on her hips, and burst out laughing. "Hahaha—! Yurine! Did you hear that?"

The scummy snake spun around and pointed at Yurine with an arrogant and boastful expression. "Once I've mastered the complete dropkick, you're finished! I'll pay you back for everything you've done to me!"

"Hm? Are you pointing at me?" Yurine's face darkened, and she narrowed her eyes, glaring at Jashin-chan.

"Gack—!" (◯Δ◯∥)

Jashin-chan froze as if a hand had clamped around her throat, a strangled sound escaping her. Her body went rigid, her arrogant demeanor vanished in an instant, and she broke out in a cold sweat. "N-no! Of course not!"

The finger pointing at Yurine suddenly went limp and drooped towards the floor, like an arrow in a cartoon.

~~~

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