Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! Novel 1

by Torako

  I’ll begin moving forward like I was just a casual player. Then, as Rikka begins to doubt my abilities, I’ll move before it’s too late. That time will decide if I’ll win or if I’ll lose this game.

  Electricity above, traps below, and then there’s the meteors that my opponent is throwing down. Perfect to turn the tide. Use up all your ammo.

  “Hehehe, I’ve not even shown my real power. Devilish Truth Stare power released! LIMTER RESCEND! Hahaha!”

  During her invincibility time, Rikka removed her eyepatch and began viewing the screen with both eyes. The shackles are off I see. I guess I haven’t shown my real power yet either.

  The game went back and forth with each of us playing offense and defense. Somehow I was able to pull out a victory. It was a dangerous match.

  “I.. I did it, didn’t I?! This was the first time I was driven into a corner.”

  “This.. I was just going easy on you! I’m the strongest…. One more match Yuuta!”

  After losing, she still wants to make up for her loss. You already know how these hands treated you last time.

  “Is that the strongest excuse? I’ve heard that from ordinary people.”

  “Uuuu, I give up. This is the first time I’ve lost. Good game. I’ll train to become the strongest. Handshake.”

  “Hehe, good call. Challenge me again anytime!”

  And so we firmly shook hands. It was like a fiery friendship being formed on one of those adolescent dramas.

  Incidentally, this was the first time I’ve played with anyone other than my sister, so it’s no wonder I was pinned down. My sister is a henchman compared to Rikka. This bout was likely the same for Rikka.

  While the WiO can connect to the net, the version on there can’t use multiplayer. That’s another benefit of the original game.

  “So, we’ll have to battle again in Sumabura.”

  “Next time I’ll get you to call it Great Uprising! Besides, I want to have another bout with you!”

  She wants to continue? That rascal!

  In the end, I had fun playing Sumabura again in today’s white-hot battle. I imagine that, like I would if mine worked, Rikka would be playing it again and again. She had the best smile while playing today. It’s the one she has when she’s making things up; the cutest smile to bloom on her face.

  For example, think about the second contract that she amused herself with today. Though we were supposed to be studying, it’s nice to see her regular life and playing like this. I really didn’t see this was coming.

  I didn’t know anything about Rikka. She has chuunibyou, hates studying, likes games, and today’s her birthday. While I feel I know her more now, I still don’t know much. I don’t know why she picked me to make a contract with, for example. Or even more fundamental, why did she contract chuunibyou? Up until now, she’s acted how I did, so I thought of her illness like the kind I once had. But when things like today come around, I don’t know what to do. Sorry for going off on a tangent. It’s a bad habit of mine.

  Studying is an important thing, but times like these are also important. She’s given me the title of contractee, and though I’ve not accepted it, and don’t want to know more about it, maybe it’s not too bad. I’ll look forward to times like this and the made-up stories. Perhaps that’s why she replied like that.

  Thus today, even though it was short, I learned a bit about Rikka. It was an awfully important day.

  ◆◆◆

  “Alright. Things are alright here, so I guess I’ll be heading home……”

  Right after our game ended, I checked my watch and it was 18:00. I handed the controller over to Rikka and looked to her with a disappointed expression.

  “Already…….?”

  “Sorry. I’m in charge of cooking dinner tonight. If I don’t go shopping, we won’t have anything for me to fix.”

  “……I see. I guess you do have to go shopping. Then I’ll escort you.”

  “Nonono, I’m alright. I can get there by myself. Besides, it’s a bit far from here. I’d hate for you to walk that much for me.”

  “Oh…. Oh yeah! I need to go shopping too. I need to get a snack for tomorrow, so I’ll go with you.”

  “Oh yeah, our principal did say to bring a snack. If you don’t bring a snack on a trip, you won’t be able to eat.”

  After yesterday’s surprise announcement, our principal got on the speaker at noon and began speaking again. “I forgot something this morning! Bring a snack worth at least 300 yen! Anything less will be taken away! It’s a requirement for the trip! This is your tasty principal!” That’s our principal. Anytime is free time with him around.

  “There’s a good shop nearby. Let’s go there.”

  “Ooh, a recommended shop huh? Let’s go now!”

  “Confirmed. Standby outside. Invoking weaved restrained unions.”

  “How can you say those difficult words so quickly!?”

  Probably influenced by something. There’s many influences that a chuunibyou patient would take their lines from. If they think it’s cool, they’ll use it. But I can’t say I don’t know where they’re coming from. I too had my fair share of rip-offs when I was infected with this copycat disease. I don’t want to talk to anyone about it though.

  “Oh yeah, you were going to change clothes, didn’t you?”

  “Invoking weaved restrained unions!”

  ……There it is again. I thought I had gotten used to her earlier outfit, but I somehow forgot about it due to Rikka’s Santa outfit. Guess she had some reservations about going out with that one. It’s almost summer, so that’s natural.

  And so I waited about five minutes, give or take.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

  And after Rikka changed clothes, she had on an outfit that was different than she had earlier, but it was still dark girl fashion. I don’t know the first thing about gothic fashion, so I can’t say if this is good or not, but all the frills are awfully cute. Must be a pain to wash though.

  “What you have on is so amazing.” As I said that, Rikka’s face burst into her usual smile.

  “Yuuta, I made this myself.”

  “You made it yourself?! Really!?”

  “Serious. On the final day I made the barrier jacket on top.”

  “Are you trying to become a magical girl?!”

  Evil Eyes would really subvert the magical girl genre.

  But that’s another thing I didn’t know about her. I would have never guessed she had this talent with how clumsy she is. She’s able to make clothes that rival what you could purchase in stores, but she can’t cook. ….Alright! I’ll give her a private cooking lesson one day.

  While Rikka was telling me about how she made her clothes, we walked for about ten minutes. We had reached the shop that Rikka had recommended. The outside looked like a normal fashion shop, but the name was…

  “Persistent Beings Indefinite Melodies Fashion Shop”

  Just the name tells you why Rikka likes this place. I too was charmed by how everything looked…But the debate over if I should retort or not retort went on in my head.

  After walking in, I felt somewhat betrayed by the outside. It was definitely a place that would delight us. There were plenty of goods targeted towards boys, but only a portion. In short, those were goods were for anyone suffering with chuunibyou. There were also other accessories like gloves that hid the tips of your fingers in silver, goggles, and various items to pull at your soul. Every single one was an impulse buy.

  “Yuuta, Yuuta! Come here, come here!” As I was looking over the inside of the shop, Rikka had found something that tickled her fancy and gleefully called out to me.

  “Huh? Did you find something?”

  “Look here! It’s an Aggressive Aliens☆ Secret Manual!”

  What Rikka was showing me was a newer publication of the book I read at her apartment. So it’s a continuing series huh….

  “Ah, while that book looks interesting, did you find a snack? Isn’t th
at why we came here?”

  “Snacks are over there.”

  I looked where she was pointing and saw a cheap snacks corner set up. This place is like a general store!

  “That’s quite the lineup they have there….!”

  I see why she recommended this store. First let’s look at SugaO-san’s taro.

  “Yuuta, I recommend this as well.”

  What Rikka handed over was a KinaO stick. Though it might be strange, I liked to wear these.

  I get the feeling we came here for a 300 yen snack. Taking this opportunity, Rikka went to read the magazines while I looked at that silver finger glove. At only 500 yen, it felt cheap. Though I want to buy it, I can’t think of a single way I’d use it. That’s the danger of impulse buying. But this is really an interesting shop. I had no idea there was somewhere like this nearby. After we leave today, I’ll definitely have to come back some other time.

  “Now then, shouldn’t I be heading home?”

  “Yuuta, I see a huge enemy from this side.”

  “Huh?”

  I looked and saw a huge dog pulling a small owner. They were coming this way. Looking more, that small owner is…my little sister. She’s holding that small weird plushie I bought. Yep, it’s her.

  As soon as my sister noticed me, she yelled out,

  “Ah, PAPA!!”

  Rikka turned around and met her eyes. When she saw Rikka’s eye protruding out at her, my sister was really surprised. Grinning at me and the somewhat mamaish Rikka, she dashed towards us.

  I know. Rikka, wait, no the whole world, would be thinking about the previous event. Why would a little girl yell “PAPA” at me? That smells like a crime! Our protagonist has a Lolita fetish! That’s libel or slander depending on the form! Stay quiet and I’ll tell you what happened!

  As soon as she came near, I clasped my hand over her mouth. Of course that too seems like a cover-up. It was the fastest way I could think so she couldn’t say anything out loud. Pepapi (our cute dog) barked at me. Ungrateful mutt.

  “Ugh, I won’t talk loudly. Papa, what are you doing here?”

  “Call me Onii-chan! Were you and Pepapi on a stoll, Yumeha? It doesn’t matter. Yumeha, I’m Onii-chan. When we’re outside, you call me Onii-chan, okay?”

  “Ahaha! You’ve grown! But we didn’t finish playing house yesterday!”

  “I know that. We’ll finish after dinner tonight. But for now, call me Onii-chan.”

  “Aye!”

  She’s energetic. Well, all of the other kids at her nursery are like that. It’s common among 5 year olds. But disregarding that, how can I explain this to Rikka….

  After watching the state of events, Rikka began heading towards Yumeha and myself. As she came closer, she stopped and went back a bit.

  Oh, I gotta do that… I began to smooth things over with Rikka and my sister.

  “Ah, well, this is my sister, Yumeha. As for why she called me Papa a while ago… well.. ah… she was just in the mood I guess.”

  I couldn’t say anything about playing house. I was too embarrassed. But this unmindful five year old wasn’t feeling the embarrassment I was.

  “He’s Papa. It’s from when we played house yesterday, right?!”

  “Damn it!”

  I shut her mouth and whispered in her ear again.

  “Call me Onii-chan and I’ll buy you a snack. You’ll get it after you’re a good girl.”

  It felt like I was reciting some lines from a kidnapping, but oh well. I’ll do anything to get over this incident.

  “OOOH!”

  With that yell, Yumeha began jumping around like a rabbit. She leapt out in front of us and began to talk to Rikka again.

  “Umm. This is my Onii-chan, who always helps me out! Um… My Name Is Yumeha! I’m Fine Thank You Please Shhh! Umm, I play house alone! My oni-chan helps when he’s at home! It’s Neat!”

  And that’s my little sister. Scary at times. She even used some of those English words I taught her while introducing herself! I’m not so sure about the last part though….

  Rikka was staring at my sister without saying anything. I don’t know what she was thinking. As a compromise, she began playing with Yumeha’s frilly skirt and, for some reason, began brushing her face. Also for some reason, Yumeha was behaving for once.

  “That’s a good girl. I am the user of the Devilish Truth Stare. My code name is Rikka, so you can call me that. Or you can address me as the Rikka the Strongest.”

  “The whole concept of a code name is meaningless if you use your real name! How can you introduce yourself to my sister like that! In addition, your “Or you can address me” isn’t logical!”

  And my outburst went unnoticed by the two of them. Rikka and Yumeha began creating a bond the two of them.

  “Oh, Rikka! Rikka! That’s such a cool name!”

  Going immediately without honorifics, aren’t you? Oh well, as long as she doesn’t mind.

  “Incidentally, Yumeha, would you mind transferring that Kerberos to Yuuta? I’m from the demon world, so I do not have the best affinity with those creatures. If you would, I’d be grateful.”

  She grabbed the hands of the five year old. I’m sure this is definitely interesting for Yumeha. So she’ll hand him over to me? Oh yeah, didn’t she call him an enemy when we came out of the store. That’s cute.

  “It’s not a Kerberos, it’s Pepapi! But only for Rikka. Here you go Onii-chan!”

  And she gave me Pepapi’s lead. As soon as she handed it over, she moved next to him and began brushing him gently like a doting parent.

  “Hey hey, Rikka. Why do you have one of your eyes covered?”

  “To notice such power?! I should have expected this from Yuuta’s sister!”

  Rare praise from her. But then I began to fear.

  “I guess I’ll show you the activation of the Devilish Truth Stare.”

  With an excited voice, Rikka began taking of her eyepatch. That golden eye shined for the second time today.

  “OOOH! It’s gold! It’s gold!”

  After being startled initially, Yumeha began pointing at Rikka’s eye. Hey, you’re not supposed to point at people like that!

  “This is my inherited power: the Devilish Truth Stare.”

  “Is it real?”

  “Yes. It has contracted Yuuta to myself.”

  Hey, don’t tell my sister that. When she was 3, my sister was heavily influenced by me. I’m beginning to worry about her….

  “Oh! That’s amazing! Onii-chan’s your contractee! Amazing! A-MAZE-IN!”

  Yumeha’s eyes were shining like Rikka’s. She has promise as a vice commander. She didn’t think anything was wrong with her story. This story is starting to get a bit too chuunibyouish. I need to stop it.

  “Alright Yumeha. It’s time for you to go home or else you won’t get to eat….”

  “EH? I want to play with Rikka!”

  Yumeha began moving her arms around in the air in protest. She’s already become attached to Rikka. That’s fast. Quite fast, my sister. I admire you….

  “Yumeha, I want to present you with a gift. It’s a secret manual about aliens. Go home and study it. Afterwards, you can defeat aliens.”

  Rikka pulled out the book she bought earlier and handed it to Yumeha.

  “What….? Is this alright? Have you read it already?”

  “It’s alright. You’re Yuuta’s sister, so here you go.”

  She said that in a sweet tone while looking at me.

  “YAY! Thank you! A-ri-en-s! Have you defeated any aliens with your powers Rikka? Have you? Like going ‘pow-pow’?”

  “The Devilish Truth Stare is the strongest.”

  Yumeha’s face was already ecstatic, but when Rikka said “strongest”, she went into a trance-like state. Good job Rikka!

  “Oh! I want to be Rikka too!”

  And you weren’t moved earlier huh, sis? Now you’re a believer in Rikka.

  Well, to be honest, I’m glad you two are on good terms.
<
br />   “I understand. If you go to your home and undergo special training, then perhaps you too can awaken.”

  “YAY! It’ll awaken!”

  That’s my house too you know. If you ever come over, I’ll have to clean my room first. It’s an ordinary room, but I need to seal away that dark history… Oh, what should I do?

  While I was thinking about that, Rikka stood up and began saying her goodbyes to Yumeha.

  “Byebye Rikka. See you when you get home Onii-chan.”

  “Oh, I see. I’ll try not to keep you waiting.”

  I handed over the lead to Yumeha and re-joined Rikka.

  “Sorry about that. You kinda served as a rented sibling. Thanks. You got along well with my little sister.”

  Today I felt grateful for Rikka to take over and play like siblings with my sister.

  “No problem. I also enjoyed it.”

  As she said that, she smiled, but then she murmured something in a low voice,

  “….Playing house with Yuuta?”

  “Huh?! Ah, ah, umm, look, umm, it’s not like I enjoy playing house. It’s just that..oh, my father power is just too much sometimes. Or something like that?”

  There was a lot of chaos in that sentence. I’m starting to wonder if I think talking like a tsundere is cool after all. Father power? I can’t think of anything in this world that requires it, but looks like I’ll have to watch it from here on. Or else I’ll be embarrassed to death…. Playing house at how old….

  “It’s alright. I’ll keep your secret. Would you like to do it together? Hmm, I’ll be the dark fallen angel.”

  “Sorry, but I don’t think there’s a role like that in playing house! Besides, have some restraint!”

  Wait, isn’t playing house another make-believe concept?

  “Oh, that’s disappointing. But it looks like Yuuta is really affectionate towards his sister.”

  Rikka’s face was disappointed. She wasn’t serious, was she? Maybe there is a spot for a dark fallen angel.

  “Well, no matter how old she is, she’s always trouble when I watch over her. Tha-that doesn’t mean I’m affectionate towards her! It’s difficult these days when people say something like that. It’s quite a handful.”