The All-Powerful Chūnibyō Champion

"Stop nagging! It was just an accident. I wasn't feeling well today, that's why I fell."

Upon hearing this, Eriri's expression turned slightly resentful.

"A weak excuse... I don't care, but Eriri, you'll definitely suffer because of it in the future."

"Tch! I already said, bad luck, and the track was too slippery."

The girl never took these words to heart.

However, many things that happened afterward proved her character flaws time and again.

However, no one is perfect, and it's normal to have flaws.

After walking halfway, we came to a small garden.

The boy put the girl down and rested her on a bench.

Why did you stop?

"Take a break, huh? Do you really think I'm some kind of beast of burden?"

"Ha, why don't you just unleash your 'Primordial Power'!"

The girl clicked her tongue.

Although the origin of the 'Primordial Power' is unknown, similar stories always exist; in short, it's some kind of hidden power.

That's what chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) is like; people think it's cool.

As a result, she almost went astray for a while.

"I've tried many times. This world is special; most supernatural powers are unusable. Right now, all I can rely on are powers like 'adrenaline'."

The boy replied as he bought two canned drinks from a vending machine by the roadside.

"Give."

"Ah... thank you."

The girl usually finds it difficult to say such things, but she occasionally shows some cuteness in front of her Childhood Friend.

"How's the new comic coming along?"

"It's alright, almost finished."

"You don't need my input anymore?"

"... Hmm, I'm fine on my own."

After puberty arrives, misunderstandings begin to arise between boys and girls.

To be precise, after Eriri began to understand the differences between men and women, she was no longer as carefree as she used to be in private.

After all, at this time, the girl had not yet become the seasoned Doujin manga) master she would later become.

"Gurgle, gurgle..."

The boy looked up, downed the drink in one gulp, and then casually tossed the can into a trash can some distance away.

He rested his hands behind his head, watching the beautiful sunset, and suddenly felt a surge of emotion:

"If I'm not around one day, what will you do?"

"Hmph, even without you, I can take care of myself!"

The girl said haughtily.

That's not what I meant...

"Are you saying something ominous? Izumi... do you have a terminal illness!?"

"You read too many novels."

The boy waved his hand dismissively.

At the time, Eriri never imagined that one day the boy would suddenly disappear from her life.

The darkest moment of the girl's life had arrived.

Bonus Chapter 4: You're a Magician

"Izumi... transferred schools?"

When Eriri heard the news, her eyes were completely blank.

Since elementary school, the two had always been in the same class, and the other's presence had become as natural as breathing.

So she never expected this day to come.

What's more, they left without saying goodbye!

She couldn't wait to ask the other person why, but at this time the girl was also going through her 'rebellious phase', and her sensitive nature made her resentment even deeper.

Why do I have to be the one to ask?

He clearly didn't care about me!

So the girl gritted her teeth and decided to wait for the boy to apologize.

But this wait lasted for several semesters.

During this time, Eriri did consider going to find him, but her pride made her give up every time she thought of it.

Even so, not long afterward, she experienced the pain that comes with the disappearance of her Childhood Friend.

First of all, every day when I go to school, someone is no longer there, and I no longer hear their witty remarks or their occasional quirky stories. It's like my life is missing a certain kind of spice.

Secondly, after school, she was alone and no longer had the 'luck' of going home by chance.

Also, those occasional moments of discussing new novels and comics together are gone forever.

That feeling of loneliness made the girl slowly realize how important, even indispensable, the boy's presence was to her.

"Damn it, Izumi! He just left without saying goodbye!"

"Does that guy really think I can't live without him?"

"Hmph, why haven't you contacted me yet?"

Is he still holding a grudge about things from the past?

"If you come back and apologize now, I'll forgive you!"

Her attitude changed as time went on and she endured more and more torment, becoming increasingly hesitant to do what she believed was right.

And so, the two didn't meet again until a year later.

Nibuya Morika, a girl who grew up in an ordinary family.

Although she is a beautiful girl, she is not popular in her class because she doesn't interact with others much and seems to isolate herself.

This is actually because she liked children's Magical Girl anime since she was a child, and she still did so when she entered junior high school.

This seemingly childish hobby made her unable to connect with others.

So she usually likes to be alone and watch her favorite Magical Girl anime.

Then one day in second grade, a transfer student suddenly joined the class.

"Good morning, everyone. My name is Hasegawa Izumi, and I am a Seeker of Truth..."

"I'm here to search for traces of extraordinary beings in this world. If any of you know of any, please tell me."

The boy's self-introduction stunned everyone.

Nibuya Morika's gaze was irresistibly drawn to it.

At that moment, she seemed to feel the active 'thump, thump' of her heart.

This wasn't love at first sight, but rather an excitement and exhilaration that seemed to come from an instinctive life force.

The thing the Girlish Heart had always longed for arrived in such a thrilling way.

"Hey, Hasegawa, were you serious about what you just said?"

Nibuya Morika turned around and asked the boy behind her a question.

You never know how proactive a girl who seems aloof to others can be with certain people.

At that moment, the boy saw a blazing golden fire in her eyes.

"I see. You're from 'this side' too?"

"Over here?"

Nibuya Morika heard this term, she was momentarily stunned.

Does it mean you like 2D world?

If that's the case, then that's indeed the case.

"It seems you haven't successfully awakened yet... Well, in this era, the extraordinary are rarely seen; even the consciousness of a reincarnated person can be blocked by the world."

The young man sighed again.

"???"

Nibuya Morika looked puzzled. Just as she was about to ask more questions, the teacher was already preparing to start the class, so she had to suppress her thoughts.

Regardless, she had become interested in this man.

So after class, the two started talking again.

According to the boy, he is a transmigrator from another world, seeking enlightenment in this world to return to his former glory.

In an instant, Nibuya Morika conjured up a story in his mind: an unparalleled powerhouse, like a demon king, came to the real world, worked hard to regain his power, and then ruled the world.

This would undoubtedly sound like a fantasy to other normal people, but she innocently chose to believe it.

Rather, it's more of a hope—a hope that a special power exists in this world, and that I am that special person.

What she didn't realize was that the moment she had this thought, she had already fallen into the Asura realm and embarked on a completely different path.

"Hey, Seeker of Truth, do you say that 'magic' exists in this world?"

One day, Nibuya Morika asked.

"Of course it exists."

The boy remained noncommittal.

"But I've never seen it before?"

She then asked.

This problem is actually quite fatal.

Things that haven't been witnessed firsthand are naturally difficult to gain acceptance.

"Just because we don't know something doesn't mean it doesn't exist; it's just that people's perspectives are limited."

The boy replied with a disdainful expression.

Nibuya Morika didn't say anything like, "Let me see."

It was a tacit understanding, or perhaps she had become completely immersed in the experience.

"You'll understand later. When you awaken, you'll see the truth of the world."

The boy looked at her earnestly.

"I... awakened?"

Nibuya Morika pointed to herself.

"Actually, you are an ancient sorcerer in slumber. Haven't you noticed that you are different from others?"

The boy nodded, speaking meaningfully.

"The differences?"

Nibuya Morika seemed to be deep in thought.

When you hypnotize yourself and try to believe something, you automatically find many reasons to do so.