At the start of the first round, the character controlled by Eriri launched a fierce assault, and the fight looked almost completely one-sided. (Continued)

"So, when you put it that way, I suppose it's understandable."

Hasegawa Izumi quickly agreed.

After all, the fact that the nickname "Shimamura Middle School's Madonna" had spread around back then had already proved that.

The human heart was the darkest thing of all!

He was the first to finish off the special sundae, then started browsing his phone.

He was observing the world's development through the little details.

Suddenly, he saw this title on a forum—

"Can a person really beat a tiger? Without using firearms."

For an ordinary person, there was basically no hope of winning bare-handed. The difference in size was simply too great.

Still, if they had exceptional skills, it wasn't entirely impossible.

Then he saw someone's answer below.

"When the tiger pounces, I slide right under it with a baseball slide and slash its belly open with a knife, spilling its guts everywhere. Or I just lean straight back where I am, point the end of the long stick in my hand upward, brace it against the ground, and let the tiger impale itself when it pounces."

He ran through the scenario in his mind.

Yeah, he'd make a lovely meal for the tiger.

Next.

"I was so good at fighting in middle school that I fought for 75 minutes and could still run thirty kilometers afterward. People's physiques differ, so you can't lump everyone together."

Next.

"Totally normal. Just predict where he'll shoot. Once, when I was extremely angry, I dodged all 30 rounds while facing someone with a rifle, then knocked the gun out of his hands with one punch after he ran out of bullets."

"Have so many people awakened? Looks like the tide of the times is coming faster than I expected."

His weekly observation was over. He nodded thoughtfully and came to a conclusion.

God of the Wind

Just as Hasegawa Izumi was completely absorbed in observing the world through the Sea of Electrons, a pair of cold eyes had quietly fixed on him.

He's actually looking at his phone while on a date and shopping with me? He clearly doesn't care about me at all! I'm so mad!

Eriri thought, displeased.

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

She spoke in a chilly tone.

"Ah, it's nothing. I'm just checking what strange and unusual people have appeared in the world. I might run into them someday, and if I do, I'll have the upper hand. Information is very important in a fight, you know."

He looked up and replied.

"What did you see just now?"

Eriri narrowed her eyes, wearing a polite but awkward smile.

"Hmm? An expert at fighting tigers, and a martial artist who's embarked on the path of sincerity and things like that."

He went on to explain.

"You believe that? It's obviously fake."

Eriri spread her hands and scoffed.

"It's not impossible. But what if it's true?"

"Only an idiot would bother thinking about 'what if.'"

They continued shopping until a little after five in the afternoon, then said goodbye at the entrance to Detective Slope.

"Kōko, look what I brought you."

After placing the body pillow behind him, Hasegawa Izumi tiptoed over to the sofa and suddenly spoke up.

"Huh? When did My other half—"

Kōko was startled to see him, but soon her attention was drawn to the body pillow, nearly as tall as she was, held out in front of her.

"B-Big Bro, is this for me?"

His little sister's voice instantly turned soft and sweet, and her eyes lit up.

"This is from your big sister Eriri. You should thank her."

Hasegawa Izumi handed her the body pillow, then pulled out his phone.

"Oh, I see... Thank you, Big Sister Eriri."

Kōko said, overjoyed.

Hasegawa Izumi sent Eriri the voice recording he'd just made.

She replied:

"So cute~! I like Kōko better like this. Remind her not to become a bad influence like you."

"Heh."

He gave a soft snort.

Was it weird for his little sister to be like him?

Eriri really didn't get it. She had to be jealous of the bond between the two siblings to say something like that!

Early the next morning.

"Mmm."

Kōko climbed out of bed, her pajamas still hanging loosely on her, leaving her pale collarbone exposed.

"Did Big Bro go out to train again today?"

As she wondered this and left her room, she suddenly noticed that breakfast had already been laid out on the dining table.

"Why? It's already made? But why didn't My other half wake me?"

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Kōko approached the table and spotted a note written in her brother's unmistakable handwriting.

"Ah, sorry, Kōko. Your big brother has to forge a Noble Phantasm to prepare for the upcoming battle. But it's more reassuring to pick out the raw materials myself, so I left early this morning for the place where these rare materials come from. It's a bit far, so I'll try to get back before dinner... Oh, and I put your lunch in the fridge. Heat it up in the microwave before you eat it at noon. Bye~"

As she read the note, Kōko pictured the look on her big brother's face as he spoke. Then she pouted and muttered unhappily,

"My other half is brushing me off again, isn't he?"

At that very moment, Hasegawa Izumi was already riding his trusty steed—his bicycle—and speeding toward his destination.

He'd chosen oak for the material and wanted to pick it out in person. Since there was nowhere near Tokyo that suited his needs, he had to travel farther afield.

On a tree-lined path.

"I'd better hurry a little, or I'll keep Madoka waiting too long."

A beautifully dressed girl was about to go see a movie with her friend. Just as she hurried along, full of excitement,

a sudden gust of wind blew toward her.

"Ah!!"

The powerful gust whipped up her skirt and thoroughly messed up her hair. She couldn't help letting out a shriek.

"Why did the wind suddenly get so strong? Is there a typhoon today? Damn it, my date with Madoka... Huh?"

As she complained to herself, the wind soon died down.

"Phew...!"

Hearing the sound fade behind her, the girl turned around. She saw the blurry figure of someone riding a bicycle, which soon disappeared from view.

"Was that someone riding a bicycle just now? Even a motorcycle isn't that fast! I must've seen it wrong... Ah, no, I'm going to be late! I need to hurry."

A luxurious Honda was driving down the road.

A balding middle-aged man sat in the driver's seat. In the passenger seat was the woman he kept, who was very dear to him.

"Uncle, you should slow down. It's dangerous," she reminded him.

Not far ahead was a winding mountain road, famous in the area for its many accidents. Even professional drivers had to proceed with caution.

"Don't worry. Your uncle here is an exceptionally good driver. Many years ago, I even considered becoming a professional racer."

The middle-aged man sounded rather proud as he reminisced.

"W-Well, that's good."

The woman had heard about it too, so she relaxed and didn't try to stop him.

"Natsuki, buckle up. Your uncle's about to speed up!"

The middle-aged man felt like showing off a little. As the woman cried out in alarm, he stepped on the gas and charged up the road much faster than the other vehicles.

Of course, he wasn't stupid. He knew he wasn't at his peak anymore, so he didn't push the car to its maximum speed. He was still in control.

"Uncle, you're amazing!"

Halfway up the road, when the woman saw that they'd made it through without incident, she let out a sigh of relief and spoke coquettishly.

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

"Holy crap, what just flew past?!"

"Was that guy on a motorcycle?"

"No, it was a bicycle!"

"Heh, it's obviously a modified robot. There's no way a person could go that fast!"

Just then, a series of shouts came from below.

"What the heck? Why's it suddenly so noisy?"

The middle-aged man was about to look in the rearview mirror when he saw something that left him dumbfounded.

Out of nowhere, a guy wearing a mask appeared on a bicycle, then vanished in the blink of an eye, speeding away like the wind.

"Was that just now...?"

The woman's mouth fell open.

After that, a legend called "God of the Wind" spread along the winding mountain road.

Several hours later.

"Ring, ring..."

Hasegawa Izumi rang his bicycle bell, pulled his battered bike over to the roadside, and tied it to a post.

"This should be the place."

Standing on high ground, he looked down at the dense, lush green forest in the distance and nodded with satisfaction.

He was sure he could find the materials he needed there.

Forest King

Hasegawa Izumi took off the mask he'd worn to conceal his identity.

Along the way, he'd worn this 2D world-style Kitsune Mask mainly because he was in a hurry and had gone a little too fast. Since he'd traveled somewhere he shouldn't have, he was bound to attract attention.

He didn't need to draw the authorities' attention over something so trivial, so he'd taken an extra precaution.

There was another reason, too. A mask helped him look cooler and conceal his identity, and it really did make things more convenient.

To take a shortcut, Hasegawa Izumi got back on his bicycle and rode into the forest along a narrow path.

Soon, the view opened up.

Before him was a railway line and a very rudimentary train platform.

Because it was so remote, there were few places around here with cell service. The only train to the city ran once every six hours, and bugs of all kinds buzzed around, making it extremely annoying.