The Almighty Chuunibyou Expert

"My alliance with Izumi is unbreakable. Don't even think about separating us."

Takanashi Rikka answered with a straight face.

What did an alliance have to do with changing seats?

Whatever.

She chose a mix of threats and temptation. "How about this? If you're willing to give up your seat, I'll... I'll treat you to a bowl of ramen. That's generous of me, right?!"

It had absolutely no appeal.

Hasegawa Izumi's mouth twitched.

"Still no. Give it up. Such despicable tactics will never shake my resolve."

Takanashi Rikka still shook her head with a resolute expression.

"Then there's nothing I can do."

Seeing that the other party still refused to budge, Fujiwara Chika felt a little regretful, but she did not press the matter any further. She merely spread her hands.

Whatever. They were in the same class anyway.

She could still play with Izumi-chan during breaks!

"Ahem. Everyone, return to your seats and get ready for the entrance ceremony."

At that moment, the Homeroom Teacher arrived in uniform. After glancing over the classroom, he spoke up to remind them.

"Then... we'll talk later, Izumi-chan."

Fujiwara Chika gave him a playful wink, waved goodbye, and casually chose an empty seat.

"Izumi, who was that?"

After she left, Takanashi Rikka asked him about Chika.

"She's a pretty good friend, I guess. I occasionally play games with her."

Hasegawa Izumi replied.

"I see."

With her right hand posed beneath her chin, Takanashi Rikka nodded thoughtfully.

Associating with humans of higher status would make it easier to act and integrate into the Human World. Truly worthy of a Sage's wisdom!

Under the Homeroom Teacher's guidance, the students went to the auditorium for the entrance ceremony.

The school leaders gave speeches, and well-known upperclassmen took the stage to offer congratulations. Before long, the entrance ceremony was over.

The students then returned to the classroom.

There were no classes that day. The main purpose was to let everyone get acquainted, so the Homeroom Teacher arranged the indispensable self-introduction session.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Ishida Taisuke. I advanced here from the Junior High Department. My family runs a small business, and I like playing basketball..."

The introductions proceeded according to seating order. Once the students at the front had established a template, those afterward simply followed it.

"He deliberately emphasized that he advanced from the Junior High Department."

Hasegawa Izumi's lips curled slightly.

It was completely meaningless, nothing more than a deliberate attempt to disgust people. The target was obvious: the Mixed Academy Students who had come in from outside.

Sure enough, when one student introduced himself as coming from an obscure middle school, he stumbled over his words under some kind of pressure and was laughed at.

"Um, I'm an External Student. My grades are very good... The things I like are, are..."

Overwhelmed by nerves, the student lost control of his speech and slipped into the Kansai Dialect.

"Hahaha..."

If he had spoken in the Kansai Dialect from the beginning and finished without being servile or overbearing, things might not have turned out this way. It was the shift midway through that drew out everyone else's condescension.

Still, even if it was partly because the student himself lacked mental fortitude, the atmosphere was quite unpleasant.

All he could say was that the school spirit was wonderfully simple.

"I'm Takanashi Rikka..."

The girl he had deemed a kindred spirit remained extremely calm. She felt no pressure at all and handled herself with ease.

As expected of one known as the Wicked Eye of the Tyrant King User. Even if she could not wield her powers for the moment, she had not lost the mental strength of a powerful being.

"Next student."

The Homeroom Teacher gestured from the podium.

How should he introduce himself here?

Hasegawa Izumi carefully considered that question as he stood up.

He did not particularly care what others thought of him, because the world as he saw it was beyond the imagination of these mediocrities.

Then, an idea came to him.

Since his ordinary days had ended, a brand-new future was beckoning to him.

Then let's make it a little more exciting.

A brilliant light appeared in his eyes.

"I'm from Shimamura Middle School. My name is Hasegawa Izumi."

After an ordinary introduction, his expression shifted slightly. The corners of his lips rose as he loudly continued.

"I have no interest in ordinary humans. If any of you are aliens, Future People, Otherworlders, or Ability Users, then come with me!"

"Before us, there are no enemies!"

The room fell silent.

No one had expected someone to say something like that during a self-introduction.

Even someone with eighth-grader syndrome wouldn't be this bold, would they?!

That was seriously social suicide.

Forget rich kids or commoners—this was beyond human imagination!

"Clap clap clap..."

Suddenly, applause rang out from somewhere.

Everyone who had been stunned unconsciously began clapping along as well.

"You're even cooler than before, Izumi-chan."

Turning around, Fujiwara Chika clapped with a beaming smile.

"Thank you, everyone."

He gave a slight bow, then calmly sat down.

As if nothing had happened.

"S-Since the introductions are over, let's dismiss for today! Be sure to carefully read the schedule and other notices when you get home."

The Homeroom Teacher hastily wrapped up the meeting.

They went downstairs.

One boy and two girls walked together, one in front and two behind.

"Hahaha, that was so entertaining! I never expected you to say something like that. Izumi-chan, you always know how to steal the spotlight."

With her hands behind her back, Fujiwara Chika turned around with a smile.

"I wasn't trying to steal the spotlight. I was serious."

Hasegawa Izumi had returned to his usual calm demeanor, forming a stark contrast with his earlier fervor.

"Honestly, there you go again, Izumi-chan!"

Fujiwara Chika wanted to say that those fantasy-like things simply didn't exist, but bluntly exposing the cruelty of reality did not seem like a good idea either. It might damage their relationship.

Besides, it would be like revealing the truth about Santa Claus to a child—it would leave her with an overwhelming sense of guilt!

Unable to help it, she swallowed the words she wanted to say and changed the subject.

"That over there is our Activity Building. Some club activity rooms and the Student Council are over there."

"This area is for clubs like the Kendo Club, Judo Club, and Kyudo Club."

"And over here is..."

After that, Fujiwara Chika took the two of them around the entirety of Shuuchuin Academy High School Department.

Invisible Boundary

"See you tomorrow, Izumi-chan, and Takanashi-san~"

After leaving school, Fujiwara Chika quickly said goodbye to them since they lived in different directions.

"What do you think?"

As they headed toward the train station, Hasegawa Izumi asked.

"As someone in a supporting role, Fujiwara-san is not bad. She is very diligent. Are you planning to recruit her as a candidate for our organization, Izumi?"

Takanashi Rikka thought for a moment before answering.

"That's not what I was asking."

He glanced at the girl.

Chika's behavior clearly did not feel like it belonged in the same world as theirs, and she had not yet shown that kind of aptitude.

Explaining such things to her would only cause needless irritation.

"I was asking what you think of Shuuchuin."

"It seems to have a long history, but it has a strange atmosphere. It feels as though it has been affected by the Dark Power—like it has been mixed with impurities."

At that, she thought for a moment before answering.

"Looks like you did notice something after all. Then when you're acting alone, you still need to be careful. Don't let other forces influence you."

He reminded her.

In his view, Rikka was no different from an ordinary person in her current state. If she faced danger, she might not be able to endure it.

"Don't underestimate me. As the Wicked Eye of the Tyrant King User, even in hand-to-hand combat, my fighting ability is beyond imagination. Besides, I have my Noble Phantasm."

The girl muttered a retort and lifted her leg to show off her Heelys.

What she had actually wanted to say was, "My power hasn't been sealed," but for some reason, she subconsciously went along with what he had said.

For no reason at all, she felt a little guilty.

When they arrived at the platform, the train pulled in not long after.

Takanashi Rikka got off one stop before him.

The moment she stepped out the doors, the girl glanced back, then looked straight ahead and raised a hand.

"History will record this great day: a chance encounter between the Wicked Eye of the Tyrant King User and the Sage, ushering in a brand-new era."

A deep female voice, like that of a narrator, rang out.

Hasegawa Izumi: "..."

Did she really have to make it sound this cool?

He had learned another trick.

After getting home.

"Beep."

He received a message from his Childhood Friend.