The Almighty Chuunibyou Expert

"In that case, it's understandable."

Hasegawa Izumi quickly agreed.

This was proven by the nickname "The Virgin of Shimamura Middle School" that had spread back then.

The human heart was the darkest of all!

He was the first to finish the special parfait, then started scrolling through his phone.

He was observing the development of this world from the minute details.

Suddenly, he saw a thread title on a forum—

"Can humans really defeat tigers? Without using firearms."

For an ordinary person, it would be hopeless to fight one barehanded; the difference in size was too great.

However, if one possessed exceptional skill, it wasn't impossible.

Then, he saw a reply below.

"When the tiger lunges, I'll slide right under it and cut its belly open with a knife, spilling its innards everywhere. Or, I'll lean back and plant the tip of my staff into the ground, so when the tiger pounces, it lands directly on it and dies."

He did a quick mental calculation.

Yeah, that would give the tiger a nice meal.

Next.

"I fought for 75 minutes in middle school and could still run thirty kilometers afterward. People's physiques differ; you can't generalize."

And the next one.

"It's perfectly normal. Just predict where he'll shoot. Once, in a fit of extreme rage, I dodged all 30 bullets from a rifleman and then knocked the weapon out of his hand with one punch after he ran out of ammo."

"So many people have awakened? It seems the tide of the era is arriving faster than I imagined."

His weekly observation complete, he nodded thoughtfully, finally reaching a conclusion.

44God of the Wind

As Hasegawa Izumi was completely lost in observing the world through the electronic sea, a pair of cold eyes had quietly fixed on him.

He's actually looking at his phone while on a date with me! He clearly doesn't care about me! How infuriating!

Eriri thought unhappily.

"What are you looking at, Izumi? Tell me."

She spoke coldly.

"Ah, it's nothing. I was just looking at what kind of strange people and events have appeared in the world. Maybe there will be a chance to encounter them in the future, and I can gain an advantage. You know, intelligence is crucial in combat."

He looked up and replied.

"Then what did you see just now?"

Eriri narrowed her eyes, offering a polite yet awkward smile.

"Hmm? There was a tiger-slaying expert, a martial artist who has walked the path of utmost sincerity, and so on."

He went on to explain.

"You believe that? It sounds like a lie."

Eriri spread her hands and said dismissively.

"It's not impossible, but what if it's true?"

"Only an idiot would consider the 'what ifs'."

The two shopped until past five in the afternoon, then parted ways at the intersection of Detective Slope.

"Kōko, look what I brought you!"

With the cushion placed behind him, Hasegawa Izumi quietly approached the sofa and suddenly spoke.

"Ah? When did my other half arrive..."

Kōko was very surprised by his appearance, but her attention was quickly drawn to the cushion, about her own size, placed in front of her.

"B-Brother, is this for me?"

Her voice instantly became soft and cute, her eyes shining.

"Your sister Eriri gave it to you. Thank her."

Hasegawa Izumi handed over the cushion and then took out his phone from his pocket.

"Ah, I see... Thank you, Sister Eriri."

Kōko said joyfully.

Hasegawa Izumi clicked send to Eriri, having recorded this message.

The latter replied to him:

"So cute~! I like Kōko like this. Remind her not to pick up any bad habits from you."

"Heh."

He let out a soft snort.

Does my little sister find me strange?

Eriri, you really don't understand, you must be jealous of the bond between us siblings to say that!

The next morning.

"Mmm."

Kōko emerged from her covers, her pajamas still askew, revealing her snow-white collarbone.

Did big brother go out for training again today?

As she thought this, she walked out of her room, only to be surprised to find breakfast already laid out on the dining table.

Why? It's already ready? But why didn't my other half remind me?

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Kōko approached the table and saw a note left by her brother.

"Ah, sorry Kōko, Onii-chan needs to forge a Noble Phantasm to prepare for the upcoming battle. But I still need to pick the raw materials myself to be sure, so I went to the origin of these precious materials early this morning. It's a bit far, but Onii-chan will try to be back before dinner... Oh, and the bento for lunch is in the fridge. Heat it up in the microwave before eating. Bye~"

As she read the note, Kōko pictured her brother's expression as he spoke. Her lips pouted, and she grumbled discontentedly.

My other half, is he just placating me again?

Meanwhile, Hasegawa Izumi was already on his mount—a bicycle—speeding towards his destination.

He had chosen oak wood, and he wanted to select it in person. Since there were no suitable locations near Tokyo, he had to travel further afield.

On a tree-lined path.

I should hurry a bit, otherwise it won't be good if I keep Madoka waiting too long.

A beautifully dressed young girl was about to go to the movies with her friend. As she walked forward excitedly, Suddenly, a strong gust of wind hit her.

"Ah!!"

The fierce airflow lifted her skirt and messed up her hair, causing her to let out a startled cry.

Why is there a sudden strong wind? Is there a typhoon today? Damn it, my date with Madoka... Huh?

As she complained inwardly, the wind quickly stopped.

"Phew...!"

Hearing the sound fading into the distance behind her, the girl turned her head. She saw a figure on a bicycle blurring into the distance until they disappeared.

Was that someone on a bicycle just now? Even a motorcycle isn't that fast! I must have been mistaken... Ah, I'm going to be late, I need to speed up.

A luxurious Honda car was driving down the road.

The driver's seat was occupied by a middle-aged man with a receding hairline, and in the passenger seat was a woman he kept, whom he doted on.

The woman reminded him, "Uncle, you should slow down, it's dangerous."

Not far ahead was a famous mountain road known for many accidents. Even professional drivers needed to proceed with caution.

"Don't worry, Uncle's driving skills are no joke. I considered becoming a professional race car driver many years ago."

The middle-aged man spoke of his past with a touch of pride.

"Oh, that's good then."

The woman had heard this before, so she relaxed and didn't try to dissuade him further.

"Natsuki, buckle up. Uncle's going to accelerate now!"

The middle-aged man felt a desire to show off. Amidst the woman's startled cries, he stepped on the accelerator, speeding past other vehicles.

Of course, he wasn't foolish. He knew his peak was behind him, so he didn't push the speed to the maximum, keeping it within his control.

"Uncle, you're amazing!"

Halfway through, the woman, seeing that the car was still stable, relaxed and cooed.

The middle-aged man's vanity was instantly satisfied.

"Whoa, what was that that flew past!"

"Was that guy on a motorcycle?"

"No, it was a bicycle!"

"Heh, it must be a modified robot. How could a person be that fast!"

Just then, exclamations came from below.

"What the heck, why is it so noisy all of a sudden?"

As the middle-aged man was about to check the rearview mirror, he saw a scene that left him dumbfounded.

Abruptly, a masked figure appeared on a bicycle and vanished in the blink of an eye like a gust of wind.

"Was that…?"

The woman's mouth fell open.

After this, a legend called the 'God of the Wind' would circulate on the mountain road here.

Several hours later.

Ring ring…

Ringing the bell on his bicycle, Hasegawa Izumi stopped his battle-damaged bike by the roadside and tied it to a post.

"This should be it."

Standing on high ground and looking down, he gazed at the dense, verdant mountain forest not far away and nodded with satisfaction.

He believed he would be able to find the materials he needed there.

45 King of the Forest

Hasegawa Izumi took off the mask that concealed his identity.

Along the way, he had worn this 2D-style Kitsune Mask, mainly because he was in a hurry. He had gone a little too fast and ended up in places he shouldn't have, naturally attracting attention.

There was no need to draw the attention of the authorities for such a minor matter, so he had made this extra preparation.

There was another consideration: the mask was also a means to boost his image and hide his identity, and it did indeed make his actions more convenient.

To take a shortcut, Hasegawa Izumi got back on his bicycle and plunged into the mountain forest path.

Soon, the scene opened up before him.

A train track and a very rudimentary train station platform appeared before him.

Because of its remote location, there was very little mobile signal here. The only train heading to the city departed once every six hours, and various insects buzzed around, which was very annoying.