The Almighty Chuunibyou Expert

Chika was now left with only one playing card that wasn't a Joker.

"I lost...!"

Takanashi Rikka was devastated, her head drooping.

"You're still far from good enough."

Fujiwara Chika placed her hands on her hips, puffing out her chest proudly, and even repeated a line from a game.

Turning her head, she met a pair of disgusted eyes.

"Chika, you're such a dirty player!"

26 Thunder Hammer User, reporting for duty!

"Why? Why are you saying that about me, Izumi-chan!"

Fujiwara Chika pretended to be indignant, but her gaze began to waver.

"Sage, did you find something?"

Takanashi Rikka recovered from her shock, her eyes filled with suspicion.

"Take a closer look at the top-left corner of the Joker, and you'll know."

Hasegawa Izumi pointed to that spot.

"Hm?"

Takanashi Rikka followed his instruction and picked up the Joker. As her fingers brushed the corner, she felt something amiss.

It had clearly been rubbed, unlike the other cards!

This way, she could avoid drawing a Joker when picking cards.

"In other words... Fujiwara-san, you actually tricked me! You insignificant mortal, you've gotten too carried away!"

Her expression changed drastically, and she stood up, pointing at the Girl with cherry-blossom pink hair and a black bow.

Fujiwara Chika immediately lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong, pursed her lips, her cheeks flushed red, and remained silent.

Being caught cheating was just too embarrassing!

"Chika, it seems you just can't shake this bad habit of yours."

Hasegawa Izumi's tone wasn't particularly harsh.

He was used to it.

Back then, Chika had used countless methods to try and beat him in games, but he had managed to counter all of them.

He had thought Chika would learn her lesson, but he hadn't expected her to still be holding onto hope.

"Because... because I just wanted to beat you this once, Izumi-chan!"

Fujiwara Chika covered her burning red face and rushed out of the room.

When her exploit was discovered and she didn't have a membership, all she could do was temporarily log out of the game.

"What's wrong? What happened? Did Hasegawa bully Fujiwara-san, so she's crying?"

"That can't be right. Maybe Fujiwara-san confessed and got rejected!"

"Don't be ridiculous. How could Fujiwara-san be in a relationship? And Hasegawa either!"

At this moment, the attention of others in the classroom was drawn over, and they exchanged their own opinions.

Just as the first class of the afternoon ended.

"Hasegawa-kun."

Suddenly, a voice called out from the door at the back of the classroom.

He turned his head and saw a girl with glasses, the head of the News Department, Asahi Shizuku, a girl who looked very gentle.

She brought them an unexpected piece of news.

"Rejected?"

Near the corner leading to the rooftop, Hasegawa Izumi heard her words and seemed somewhat surprised.

"That's right. I've confirmed it. The Soccer Club has rejected your challenge."

Asahi Shizuku nodded.

"They chose to evade a destined battle? This is completely the act of a weakling! We might as well disband. This world is incredibly cruel; there's no place for the weak."

Takanashi Rikka commented with a tone of disdain.

"Their reason was – they don't have enough players."

The Girl adjusted the bridge of her glasses and relayed their reason.

"Players?"

Hasegawa Izumi let out a soft sound of surprise.

"That's right. I almost forgot such an important point. It was a bit much for me to go challenge them alone. It's only natural they wouldn't agree."

You're not planning to take on the whole team by yourself, are you?

Asahi Shizuku's lips twitched almost imperceptibly as she suppressed the urge to retort.

"Actually, no. It's because quite a few people graduated from the Soccer Club last year, and this year, for various reasons, the team had to be reformed. We haven't managed to form a full team yet," she replied.

"Very well, then we'll skip the Soccer Club and challenge the Basketball Club instead."

After a moment of thought, Hasegawa Izumi decided to change his target.

The momentum was already built up, and it wouldn't make much difference if he lacked a Soccer Club to challenge.

"Is the agreed-upon time still tomorrow?"

Asahi Shizuku asked, considering that school was starting soon and the other party needed time to prepare.

"No, this time let's set it for Friday after school."

He refused.

After all this time, isn't this guy always in a hurry?

Asahi Shizuku was surprised but didn't pry further, turning to leave.

"Sage, are you going to make a new plan?"

Takanashi Rikka stepped closer and asked.

"Rikka, what do you think?"

He asked back with a slight smile.

Is this another test?

The girl closed her eyes, searching for clues in their previous conversation.

She trusted that Izumi wouldn't act without reason.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes and said, "Sage focused on the numbers just now, then deliberately chose a mission that involved multiple opponents, and also left enough time. This indicates that Sage doesn't intend to challenge them alone, but rather... to assemble a strong team to complete this task."

"That's right, that's exactly what I was thinking."

As he spoke, Hasegawa Izumi walked downstairs, with Rikka following closely, listening intently.

"The purpose of us establishing the Far East Magic Society wasn't just for my own advancement. We've always sought more Fellow Daoists, so I intend to use this opportunity to support potential candidates."

"Is that what Sage is thinking?"

A glimmer of hope shone in the girl's eyes.

"Yes."

He confirmed.

The girl didn't say anything further, taking it all to heart.

I, Izumi, am great and need no further explanation!

So, how should we choose the candidates?

This question became a difficult problem that troubled the two of them.

A normal basketball team usually requires 5 starting players and 7 substitutes.

Clearly, even without substitutes, forming a team capable of challenging the Basketball Club would require five people.

Besides the two of them, three more were needed.

So, where would they come from?

After school in the afternoon, the classroom gradually became sparsely populated.

Hasegawa Izumi and Takanashi Rikka exchanged glances, feeling a bit awkward.

The plan could be changed on a whim, but they had forgotten about the crucial issue of connections.

Asking Eriri for help? That's impossible!

If their frail Childhood Friend were to get injured, he wouldn't be able to face Aunt Sayuri's kindness.

This was the first thing to be ruled out.

"Chika, Daitoku, and... could Shinozaki also be counted?"

He almost laughed at the thought.

What kind of candidates are these!

Just then, Rikka, from the next seat, suddenly broke the deadlock.

"The time is right, it's time to let her make her appearance!"

"Rikka, do you have a suitable candidate?"

He asked in surprise.

Based on our previous acquaintance, Rikka always seemed more like a lone wolf.

"Of course! My loyal Servant, and it's thanks to her recommendation that I was able to meet the Sage here."

She affirmed.

"It's me, the Cardinal has made his move. Following orders from the Vatican Magic Society, the situation is thus and so..."

Without a word, the girl picked up her phone and dialed a long-uncontacted number.

"They're even using encrypted language? Good job on the secrecy."

He praised.

After a while, the two arrived at a park outside the school and waited quietly.

Suddenly, a gust of wind rustled the nearby trees and grass.

Where their eyes fell, a figure leaped from a flowerbed nearby, landing in a semi-crouch before them.

She propped herself up with one hand on the ground and slowly raised her head, her sky-blue eyes remarkably clear.

"The Wicked Eye of the Tyrant King Wielder Takanashi Rikka's First Servant, Controller of the Thunder Hammer, Dekomori Sanae, reporting for duty!"

27 Explode, reality! Shatter, nerves!

Dekomori Sanae struck a peace sign with one hand, while the other extended, her graceful posture striking a rather dignified pose.

It was then that Hasegawa Izumi took a closer look at her.

The girl before him was petite, with blonde hair styled in twin tails, wearing the uniform of Shuchiin Junior High. In some aspects, she resembled his Childhood Friend, but in reality, this girl's twin tails were excessively prominent, extending past her knees and nearing the ground, with what looked like sandbags tied to their tips.

This style was a bit unusual, but as Rikka's Servant, a newcomer who had only recently debuted, such a flamboyant appearance was somewhat understandable.

"Are you Dekomori? I'm Rikka's Ally, Hasegawa Izumi, and currently the leader of the Far East Magic Society. It's a pleasure to meet you."