Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! Novel 1

by Torako

  So I started working on getting her used to seeing A, and then I. If I didn’t include factorization in our studying, there’d be no chance she’d pass the re-test. We only had a few days left and I began pondering what to do as she laid on my desk.

  Since she hates math so much, I couldn’t see her trying to study and do well during extra lessons in the middle of summer. I’m confident that she wouldn’t be able to do well in summer lessons.

  She had taken out a pencil for writing. For some reason I walked over and looked outside the open window. I could swear I saw a smile, but that might just be my imagination.

  …....It looked like an elf to me.

  While I was thinking about stupid things like that, a summer breeze came in and spread around the classroom. It began to blow Rikka’s short hair. “You know Yuuta, I’m able to control wind like this.”

  “How the hell do you start a conversation like that?!”

  You know, I remember being able to control the wind as well with my dark flame powers. I was under the impression that I could blow and the wind would start to blow as well. Seriously, is being able to control the wind something like a mandatory chuunibyou power?

  Wind powers are frightening.

  “It’s too hot. I demand air conditioning.”

  “Well, I’d like it too... Wait, if you can control the wind, can’t you make it cold in here...?”

  “......”

  Without saying a word, Rikka turned on the ceiling fan above us by flipping the switch beside the blackboard. As soon as she flipped it, the two blades began turning around and blowing air. Can’t say it’s that cold though.

  After confirming it was on, Rikka looked at me triumphantly. I have to admit, she does have quite the range of expressions. Waitwaitwait. Yes you look proud of yourself, but you can’t simply turn a switch and say you’re manipulating the wind! While I feel a bit hesitant inside, I’m not sure how to reply in this situation.

  “This is the limit of my cold powers. Originally I had none. Only higher level users can use colder techniques. I changed to have powers of darkness. Due to that, I have only reached a lower level thus far. Manipulating the fan is the extent of what I can do.”

  “...That’s a bit cool, isn’t it....”

  I like that kind of backstory. Godly powers, black magic tools, and such. Oh yeah they’re cool.

  While I was thinking about those stupid things, Rikka moved back to her usual studying position and sat down. Was she really willing to study today?

  “It’s hot.” And then she laid down on the desk.

  It’s at least five times warmer than yesterday. It’s just a normal hot summer day. Ask anyone and they’d say that it’s hot.

  “That it is. Unfortunately, our fan doesn’t make it much cooler. Well, we don’t have the ability to install an air conditioner.”

  At one time, all classrooms were to have air conditioning. They were to only be used during class. But then the teachers complained and so they were forbidden from being used during classes. Then we students were to be forbidden from using them at all. Some type of regulations or such. Of course, this is all hear-say anyways.

  So her godly powers were sealed huh?

  Maybe the heat was getting to me today. I was starting to get affected by Rikka’s evilness and felt a bit chuunibyouish. I was succumbing to some awful embarrassing feelings.

  “I grant Yuuta the right to install an air conditioner.”

  “So I get the punishment while you enjoy yourself?!”

  “That is a rash statement. My Devilish Truth Squadron Stare informed me that you have the ability to control cool feelings.”

  “... Isn’t that different from your Devilish Truth Stare Squadron that you said yesterday?”

  I saw Rikka’s face change from her usual expression to one of puzzlement. Looks like she flubbed the creation of it. She tried to summon all the calmness she had and replied,

  “True. I detailed the ability of the Truth Stare Squadron’s ability for memory storage previously. The similar group, the Devilish Truth Squadron, uses the power of darkness to accumulate information together. It’s quite handy that the Devilish Truth Squadron allows for deallocation.”

  She was quite elegant in making it seem like it wasn’t something she just thought of. Great taste in designing back stories, huh? Those powers are quite useful indeed, but if you’re in a hurry, you’re out of luck. Thus I had to make up something myself.

  “Well, I used something similar with the flames of darkness.”

  Damn it, I was too late. I revealed something from my hidden past. This time it was Rikka who got to see me taken aback. She began looking at me with great interest.

  “Flames of darkness? Yuuta is the devil king who...controls the flames of darkness? My...rival?!”

  “I’m not the devil king! I’m probably your only ally in the world! How does that make me a rival! That was in the past... I’m just an ordinary high school student now.”

  But of course Rikka wasn’t going to give up on the story I let slip through. I’m not sure it’ll have a negative influence on our relationship. Still, I can’t keep coming up with new things for her. It’s not good for me. Now I apparently have the power to control cold though I don’t know how.

  “You were the devil king in the past?” She’s such a persistent person. Granted, is it a bad thing that she’s elevating me to the status of devil king? In that case, why not show her that?

  Let’s do that. I’ll introduce myself in my old chuunibyou manner and we’ll have a delusion battle. I’ll come up with a script, say my lines, and battle against a fictional rival. It’ll be fun. While you can maintain your powers by yourself, it’s fun to let them out against someone now and then.

  The old me was alone and somewhat missed. I have a hunch the me from the Golden Age is ready day-or-night.

  The question of whether this was good or bad for me crossed my mind for a moment. Until a moment ago, it was tough to believe I was actually a chuunibyou patient once. But, just for a moment, wouldn’t it be fun to battle with her?

  Yeah, it’d be fun. Even though I’ve moved on, one round wouldn’t hurt. Granted, my talents have become half-rusted. Well, more like fully rusted.

  The heat must be getting to me. There’s usually no way I’d do this. It must be due to the sun. Yeah, that’s why I’m saying these things.

  So for a moment, I let the old me regain control over my body.

  “Yes! You’re such a blockhead! I’ll use my cold powers indeed! FREEZE! ETERNAL FORCE!”

  “Aria isolation! Use of Devilish Truth Stare- Dull contractee’s foolish move. RETURN...END!”

  I could see that familiar golden eye shine radiantly again today. This time, her left hand moved into a pose as well. That hand movement must be that “end” power she’s invoking.

  …....I suppose you could say she really got into this role-playing. She even halted my aria prior to announcing its termination. Well done Rikka-san!

  Well, this little chuunibyou battle put a heavy strain on my soul even before her moves. So with this, she wins.

  “Yuuta’s power is inexperienced. There is no ability to control cold inside you. Use of flames of darkness is recommended.”

  She re-applied her eyepatch as she was saying that. You have to admit, her re-applying it right after taking it off was pretty cute.

  “Is that so....”

  Our made-up story ended suitably. Now I don’t feel the urge to do that again in either body or soul.

  “Incidentally, Yuuta, weren’t you the Dark Flame Master?”

  “How do you know my old name?!”

  I was even more vigilant than usual this time, so it might be her bewildering power. My body was already reaching critical. Unintentionally, I wanted to stretch my arms out Ultraman-style before a battle began.

  Nononono. I couldn’t bear the thought that anyone could see me. I wouldn’t even yell that from a rooftop!

  “Hmm? It’s com
mon for users of the flames of darkness to name themselves ‘Dark Flame Master.’”

  It’s that common, huh? So there must be others like “Darkness Flame Master”? Give me a moment.

  “There are no problems with you being named that. The issue at hand is the time of Yuuta’s awakening.”

  “That doesn’t mean I’ve awakened....or should I not even say that? I don’t want to say the rest of it.”

  “As a contractee, I must know your past. If you please...”

  If it’s an obligation, why add “If you please?” It’s a bit contradictory when it sounds like you’re compelling me to do something and then add that on at the end.

  I’m still no match for that gleeful look though. I prepared myself to begin my little story about my past. Since I’ve entered high school, no one, not even Isshiki, has heard this story about my second year in middle school.

  “...It’s true. I once housed a black flame dragon inside me that gave me power. It was there where I became known as the Dark Flame Master. Since the darkness flame dragon had the ability to destroy the world, it was previously sealed away. I was very childish and re-sealed it inside me.”

  And there’s the mostly plagiarized back story. Very little originality in there. I think some manga influenced me by having a dragon inside someone. At the time, I thought dragons were the absolute coolest thing ever created. Well, even now, I still think they’re cool. I really like them.

  “Black flame dragon.”

  As Rikka muttered that, her eye was sparkling incessantly. Her body was leaning towards me, wanting to hear more and more. Here doggy doggy... or should it be a black cat instead? Yeah, she’s more like a black cat that wants to cuddle with someone.

  I was a bit uneasy whether I should continue my story or not. Well, the past is the past. As long as I make that clear, I can move on. So... let’s cut away my past!

  “So, it was around my second year in middle school when I sealed the black flame dragon inside me. I wore bandages to keep the seal intact and went after the Dark Organization. That dragon resonated inside me and so I became the Dark Flame Master. Incidentally, my catchphrase during that time was ‘Vanish! Disappear in the Flames of Darkness!’ But of course that too was plagiarized. My god was it plagiarized. It’s okay, you can laugh.”

  “Yuuta also had a spectacular past.” I thought Rikka would laugh, but her eye just kept sparkling.

  Well, I suppose this is enough about my history. Wait... “Yuuta also”... Does that mean Rikka had something big happen to her in the past?

  Out of curiosity I asked, “Rikka, did you also have a spectacular past? ”but that sparkling eye of hers grew dim.

  “It’s a secret.”

  She answered in that voice that felt like it would disappear. And then with a smile,

  “Let’s study.” Such a scary demand.

  “Ah, Ah. Yes! Let’s do that!”

  Looks like we were done with story time. Everyone has one or two things they want to keep secret, so while I was a little interested in hearing what hers were, I didn’t feel the need to delve into it. Sorry. Just as we had begun studying again, we heard the door to the classroom open.

  “Oh, lookie here. It’s just like they said.”

  The evil presence who intruded on this two person session was none other than our class rep, Nibutani.

  She had a smile like a detective who just nailed a criminal to the wall. She had finally found the two of us studying.

  Oh crap... maybe she had heard our conversation just a little while ago...

  Shouldn’t she be in the auditorium with the dance club now? (Information provided by Isshiki) I wanted to ask her why she would come here, but I couldn’t think of anything good to break the ice with, so we just glared at each other. Rikka was also looking at Nibutani.

  “Are you ignoring me?” Nibutani sounded disappointed. As usual, she donned that sadistic aura of hers. Let’s start by saying something inoffensive.

  “No, we weren’t ignoring you... Wait, why are you here?”

  “Yesterday, you said you were studying in the library. I searched in the library and you weren’t there. Where else would I have searched?”

  “Yeah, I did say that… well there were some things that I had to do…”

  “Ah, sorry. You didn’t say that you had to do something prior to going there. But speaking of things that you have to do, Togashi-kun, I would really like to be tutored by you.”

  I felt afraid. My body hardened. It felt like time had stopped, but just for me. Strangely, Rikka interjected a comment.

  “Not allowed.” Denied.

  “Why was I denied by you, Takanashi-san? I wasn’t speaking to you; it was Togashi-kun whom I was addressing.”

  And she pointed right towards me. How should I reply….?

  Well, Rikka denied her. I have to support her decision.

  “Sorry Nibutani. Though I don’t know the details, it looks like I have to say no. I’ve got my hands full with Rikka. I wouldn’t be that helpful for you.”

  “Oh.”

  Rikka added a nod. This is strange. She doesn’t usually involve herself like this. I appreciate the help.

  “Ah, how will I improve my studying now? I guess you won’t help me after all, will you… such a shame.”

  Though she said “such a shame,” I didn’t understand what she meant by it. Surely I could’ve replied with someone else that would be good. Unfortunately, nothing like that came to mind, so I continued reluctantly.

  “Oh, well… what do you mean?”

  “I thought your case was closed; you had seemed to recover, and so I didn’t say anything to you about it. But now I’ve seen you relapse and it wouldn’t be alright if I didn’t punish you for that.”

  I wanted to comment how I didn’t understand where she was going, but before I could say anything, she continued. She paused, closed her eyes, and began talking like she was casting a spell.

  “Dark Flame God Second Form: Daizana Geruzoniansasu.”

  “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

  I let out a loud shrill as I felt the most bitter sensation ever. Nibutani continued reciting the phrase that led me ever closer to death.

  “For now, I, Yuuta Togashi, will use the flames of darkness to drown everyone and the world itself into darkness: BURST OF DARK FLAME!”

  “!”

  I have no voice, but I must scream!

  Nibutani looked at me with that usual sadistic smile on her face.

  “Yu-YUUTA?!” Rikka was also looking like she would faint in surprise.

  Ah…I’ve…still…not yet separated…from my past…have I?

  But why does she know this……? This was my second form that I would take when I met an opponent whom I couldn’t defeat as the Dark Flame Master…Of course I wouldn’t be able to transform for a while after I entered that form. That term, Daizana Geruzoniansasu, a representative of my dark past and which has no meaning, had finally come.

  I want to die. But I don’t want to die. This is three times as worse as the feeling I had when Rikka told me about my past. Or have I already died and this is my just rewards? Have I lost my memory? Perhaps I’ll die by suffocation after lying down on my desk.

  “Yu, Yu, Yuuta?! Will you let your partner attack for you?!”

  Rikka began shaking my corpse in concern, but whether it was concern or not, I lifted my face from the desk and extended my hand to say “I’m alright. Thank you.” My body and soul were crumbling. Yet I had to ask.

  “How….how do you know these things….?

  “Because I saw them.”

  Nibutani came over to my desk, reached in, and pulled out a violet notebook that had “Dark Notebook (Ultimate)” written on it.

  This… This is…?! Why is… it here?

  No, seriously, why did I put such a dangerous thing in my desk?

  “Let’s add another comment. I’ll dedicate this to you: Agapeniku Ooga BURST!”


  “Ugh. Gi-GIVE ME THAT!”

  I closed the gap between us and pulled as hard as I could to get that notebook from her. While I was hoping to stop her from reading out loud any more, as soon as I returned it backfired on me! She replied with a smirk like a demon’s glared directly at me, continuing to send me into a cycle of life-and-death!

  “Well, that one is just a fake!”

  “A…fake?!”

  It was. I was so overwhelmed with emotions that I didn’t notice that I was being tricked. Amazing….

  Yes, if I had actually put that notebook in my desk, then anyone who sat here would have the chance to read it. But I never sealed it away here.

  “That’s right! The real thing is in my room. How did you know about it, Nibutani?!”

  As I said that, Nibutani returned to her serious tone.

  “I heard all about it from your classmate in middle school. That fake notebook you’re playing with was something I made from those stories I heard about. Don’t you remember Satone Shichimiya?”

  “Satone Shichimiya? You mean that Shichimiya?!”

  Was that Shichimiya, the only one who understood me when I was infected with chunibyou, the one Nibutani talked with? If it’s true, then it all falls into place.

  When I was creating my world, I would talk with her about all of it. Of course, that means everything: why I transformed, the conditions to meet for the second form, transformation requirements, etc. So of course she saw my Dark Notebook; she was my only friend after all. Shichimiya transferred schools without giving me a new address. Without having a way to contact me, she probably joined Nibutani’s school and began telling stories about me to her. I wonder if she’s alright. I don’t know what happened, but it makes me happy to reminisce about those times. My soul was starting to restore a bit from the crumbling.

  “I memorized those stories Shichimiya told me. If that’s the case, then you were really something, eh. Wasn’t it something like the most extreme strongest form?”

  “Ah, Ah” Resume crumbling.

  “Why…Why did she talk to you…Nibutani…!”

  “Shichimiya had the highest...”

  Nibutani briefly paused to reflect. She closed her eyes and sighed. But instantly, she lightly continued.