Chapter 9: Should I Call You "Little Crazy" or "Nightmare"?
"My name is Tokisaki Kurumi. Pleased to meet you~"
"Oooooooh!!!!" xN
For the energetic male high school students, today might be a wonderful day.
They had heard there would be a transfer student, but hadn't paid much attention to it.
After all, it was already the second semester of their second year, and everyone was busy with studies and such. Who had time to care about some sudden transfer student?
...But if that transfer student happened to be an absolutely stunning beauty, that was an entirely different matter!
Her long black hair was tied into two braids that rested gracefully on her shoulders. Her skin was as smooth and white as pearls, and her slender limbs gave the impression they might break with the slightest pressure.
A waterfall of bangs covered the left half of her astonishingly beautiful face, while the other side revealed a wine-red right eye and lips as delicate as cherry blossom petals. She exuded a devilish charm capable of captivating any man with just one glance.
It could be said that every young man present couldn't help but get excited the moment they saw this girl, becoming far more animated than usual.
This, naturally, made the surrounding girls roll their eyes.
Men really are all the same!
"Well then, would anyone like to help the new student and make some space?"
Of course, the teacher remained professional, speaking up to assist the black-haired beauty standing by the podium.
"Me! Me!"
"I volunteer!"
Almost every boy in the class immediately stood up, raising their hands and shouting the moment the teacher finished speaking.
This eagerness to please was truly a testament to the power of a beautiful girl's charm.
"No need~ I'll just sit in the back~"
But the black-haired girl paid no mind to their offers. With a cheerful smile, she declined and walked straight to the seat by the window at the very back of the classroom.
Honestly, this was such a "waste." Having someone so pretty sit at the front for everyone to admire would have been much more pleasant.
Of course, she had no intention of accommodating anyone—she had come with a specific target in mind!
"Miss Nia, pleased to meet you~"
"..." xN
Hearing these words, the entire class—including Nia herself—fell into stunned silence.
Wait...
Did she know Honjo???
No wonder she went straight there.
The class couldn't help but wonder, though in truth, even Nia herself was just as confused.
"...Ohhh~ So that's how it is. Kurumi, huh... How about I call you Kurumin~?"
But she quickly recovered, responding with her usual casual tone and a relaxed smile.
This didn't mean she was actually that familiar with Kurumi, nor did it mean she accepted her.
On the contrary—she hadn't seen Kurumi's past yet, so she wasn't about to trust her just because of her appearance.
Besides...
This woman practically had "suspicious" written all over her face!
But as a mature adult, she wouldn't openly show her distrust. Adults had their own way of handling things.
"That's wonderful~ I've been looking for Miss Nia for a long time. If possible, could you come chat with me after school?"
"Not through the Service Club?"
"Since we've already confirmed, there's no need for that~"
"Sure, let's keep it direct then~"
"..." xN
What are they talking about?
The two of them were smiling cheerfully while exchanging these cryptic words, leaving everyone around utterly baffled. No one could make sense of their conversation.
Mei seemed to grasp a little of it, but she was still mostly confused.
Aside from them, the only one who might understand was probably Satoru.
Although, he wasn't exactly eager to get involved in this kind of situation...
Sigh. Even though she wasn't here for him, it might as well be the same.
She already knows Nia's true identity!
What should I do?
Nia's combat ability is nowhere near Kurumi's, and she's still unaware of the situation. This is way too dangerous.
"Nia, maybe we should wait for the Service Club—"
"No need, Satoru~ This is a matter between women. No need for men to interfere~"
"But can you handle this alone?"
"Don't worry, I'll be fine~ It's not like she's going to 'eat' me or anything~"
"..."
Looking at Nia's cheerful, confident expression and Kurumi's equally amused smile beside her, Satoru fell silent.
So, she already knows!
——————
"Having a boyfriend who worries about you like that is really nice~ I thought Spirits were supposed to be isolated from humans."
"I'd like that too, but he's just a special case~ By the way, though I'm not entirely sure yet, my deduction is probably spot on. Should I call you Kurumi-chan, or should I go with 'Nightmare'?"
Nia quietly asked the black-haired twin-tailed girl standing before her, dressed in a red-and-black gothic lolita outfit and wielding two long rifles.
Then she sighed inwardly.
Ugh, trouble really does come when you least expect it!