44 Little Prank
If you're struggling to picture Yuki's appearance under the mask after his vibranium slime makeover, just imagine him looking like Kiyoka Kudou.
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"Haha! I almost let that slip my mind – guess I've been out of touch with society for a while. Hm~ Anyway, how's your head kid?"
Yuki's masked face stretched into a mischievous grin, his forgetfulness evident as he noticed Ayako slumbering in the Life Cradle. He turned to Fumiya and chuckled.
"I'm alright, Yuki-sama. I apologize... I should have waited and been more attentive..."
"No worries, my logic's just a bit rusty."
Yuki chortled as he ruffled Fumiya's hair, then shifted his gaze to Maya, who was practically gazing at him in admiration.
"Hmm, Maya, you're not taking this too seriously, right?" Yuki questioned, playfully.
Maya let out an elegant chuckle, her hand gracefully covering her amused smile. "Oh my, just a little mix-up. I must admit, your big heart surprised me. Yuki-nii, could you introduce your companions before you go?"
"Sure thing. On my left is Alpha." As Yuki spoke, Alpha placed her hand over her heart and gave a small bow. "On my right, we have Beta." Mimicking Alpha, Beta performed the same gesture. "And on my back is Delta." With that, the large wolf let out a proud howl.
Impressed, Maya couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine from the intense aura these beings emanated. However, her curiosity was only piqued further, making her long for more. She was breathing hard, her excitement practically radiating off her, even with all the other Yotsuba members around.
'Hmm, what's up with that odd expression again? What's gotten into her?' Haku wondered, observing Maya.
Now, to solidify his persona's strength, Haku needed to reveal a hint of his magic – a way to gain their trust.
"Maya, come here," Haku gestured, and Maya bounded over, brimming with enthusiasm. He leaned in and whispered, "Truth be told, I managed to salvage a little souvenir from that lab wreckage. Interested?"
Maya's eyes lit up, and she enthusiastically exclaimed, "Yes! I want to see it!"
Haku couldn't help but chuckle at the blend of her cuteness, although she still remains a scary woman.
"Alright then, here it is." He opened his palm, pointing it towards the open field.
And then, it happened.
-Grow
From the ground, a tank emerged, akin to a weed breaking through the surface.
"Whoa!?" Maya's excitement soared as she approached the tank.
"It's a tank I picked up right outside the lab. Those folks were firing at me, and it was getting on my nerves," Haku said, nonchalantly crossing his arms.
"Magic can do that?" Maya's voice held awe as she tapped the tank.
-Clank! -Clank!
The metallic sound confirmed its solid, real presence.
-Clap! -Clap! -Clap!
"Unbelievable! This magic is incredible..."
A Yotsuba member murmured, applause breaking out among them.
On the sidelines, Tatsuya meticulously observed the magic, using his Elemental Sight.
'That magic... it's a superpower similar to mine –Decomposition. As he doesn't need a CAD to activate it. The tank expanded, and he simultaneously adjusted its scale and density, reverting it to its original state.'
Decomposition and this newfound magic seemed like opposites.
Tatsuya deduced that this man held the ability to manipulate matter down to its molecular level, a power that could yield astonishing results.
'His body composition resembles that of a knight and a wolf. Insane... Has he somehow modified his own body? And if he has...'
Tatsuya shifted his gaze to Maya and Yuki engrossed in conversation, an isolated world of their own.
'What an extraordinary pair they make...'
As the man's eyes fell upon him, Tatsuya's body involuntarily twitched.
Even behind the enigmatic mask that concealed his features, Tatsuya felt a penetrating gaze from Yuki – as if the man knew he had been "studying" him through his abilities.
"Hey, Kuroba twins! You, and the boy who's battling Alpha, come over here," Yuki gestured towards them, catching both Tatsuya and Miyuki by surprise.
Tatsuya hadn't anticipated being called out. 'I'm just a [Guardian] though...' he thought.
The younger twins, Miyuki and Tatsuya, approached Yuki as he beckoned them.
With a wave of his hand, Yuki summoned four tanks using his magical abilities. "This is my gift for the four of you. What do you think?" Yuki asked, a hint of playful extravagance in his tone, as he handed each of them a tank.
Both Kuroba twins exchanged awkward smiles, overwhelmed by the extravagant gesture.
"Still holding onto them, huh? Just how many did you take from that place?" Maya inquired, curious about what Yuki had acquired.
"Well, I've even got their helicopter... Oh! Don't worry, I doubt there's a human body inside that thing, HAHAHA~" Yuki and Maya shared a laugh, an oddly unsettling moment as they joked about a deceased human.
From another angle, it appeared like a scene between a demon king and his queen, reminiscing about their past conquest.
"Is it too big, huh? Can you even drive this thing on the road legally? Hey, J! Did the country approve this?"
[No, sir] Jarvis responded using Mark III.
"Alright, what if..." Yuki snapped his fingers, and the tanks transformed into small toy-sized versions, suitable for toddler-like riding.
"How's this!? Now you can ride them comfortably." Yuki grinned as if he had performed a feat of magic for their amusement.
Unbeknownst to Fumiya, Ayako, and Miyuki, more surprises were in store.
Yuki mounted one of the tanks, gripping the tank gun as if it were a steering wheel, and used his magic to make the tank move forward.
'I'll imbue Yuki's persona with an eccentric trait. I've glimpsed a bit of what I can do, so I'll use [Sukunahikona] on Yuki while the [Ninjutsu] for Yuki Haku,' Haku strategized his role-play.
This approach also aimed to build trust with the Yotsuba clan, as Haku recognized that he had underestimated their respect for him when he saved Maya in the past.
'Yotsuba might be formidable, but they won't forget the favor they owe. Especially Maya, who has stuck with me ever since that day,' Haku's gaze settled on Maya, who bore an unusual intensity in her gaze as she observed him.
'This gift also serves as my small apology for making Miyuki nearly cry, for Ayako's faux death, and as a token for Tatsuya for his valiant fight against Alpha,' Haku reflected.
"Hahahaha! How about it? Ready to give it a shot?"
Fumiya's excitement was palpable as he clenched his fist.
Miyuki regarded Yuki with newfound appreciation, musing, 'He certainly has a twisted side.' She had never encountered someone who could conjure tanks for leisure.
Ayako found herself lost in thought. 'I woke up here, and the company owner is the one who saved Maya-sama?' The situation was beyond her expectations, and time seemed to be slipping away, though she remained oblivious to the timeless dimension.
Tatsuya's mind was engaged with the magic Yuki had just showcased. It held a pure fascination for him.
Maya's smile broke the momentary silence. Her expression seemed to urge them on, as if saying, 'Hurry up and hop on that tank!'
Except for Tatsuya, the others were caught off guard by Maya's smile, causing a shiver to run down their shoulders.
Having donned helmets and changed into fresh clothes, they were all set. It was quite a comical sight to Haku.
"Alright! I'll count to 3. To make it more interesting, your speed is limited to 11 mph, and I'll give you all a little 'excitement' to cross the finish line," Yuki announced, brandishing a flag.
"1, 2, 3!"
Using their magic to propel the tanks, the small vehicles sped forward effortlessly.
"My liege... here's the item you requested," Alpha reported.
"Hm~ and now, let's add a touch of excitement," Yuki declared, producing a frog from Alpha's hand.
Yuki seized the hapless frog and playfully tossed it toward the quartet.
The frog landed safely but then...
[Sukunahikona]
The frog's outline expanded dramatically, casting a looming shadow. The amphibian had grown substantially and was hopping recklessly toward them.
The trio exclaimed in surprise, stealing glances over their shoulders as their faces paled.
"UWAAA! GROSS!" Fumiya cried out, accelerating the tank without a care for the race's rules.
"KYAAAA!" Miyuki and Ayako followed Fumiya's lead, pushing their tanks to greater speeds.
"...?" Tatsuya observed the frog as it hopped past him, seemingly unaffected by the chaos. In the end, he emerged as the inadvertent victor, having adhered to the original speed limit.
Maya struggled to contain her laughter as she witnessed their plight. Yet, her excitement over Yuki's magic was undeniable, and her eyes sparkled as she gazed at him.
"Yuki-nii! I want that...! Can you please give me that!?" Maya pointed at the full moon, her smile radiant.
"..."
---
(Haku pov)
What a wild night.
I'm soaring through the air, my body seemingly translucent like a ghost, all thanks to using [Sukunahikona] to alter my body's scale, mass, and density.
The three of them, with Jarvis piloting the [Mark III], are flying back to HQ in formation.
After a quick stop at the 7-11, I picked up a few essentials like potato chips. I realized my kitchen supplies were running low. As I returned home, the clock showed it was already one in the morning.
I tiptoed inside, aiming not to disturb her sleep.
Yet, there she was, peacefully asleep at the family room table. 'Wow, she's been waiting for me all this time,' I thought, noticing my oversized shirt draped over her. It struck me – she's waiting for me like a girlfriend would. This whole experience of someone waiting at my home is a bit embarrassing, to be honest.
Without making a sound, I lifted her gently. She didn't stir, deeply lost in sleep. She must have been exhausted. I remember mentioning that I'd be back late, urging her to get some rest. Was she irritated about her family's insistence that she join them in Kyoto? Seems like I made a misstep.
---
Two weeks have passed since Golden Week.
"Haku! Hey, hey, I heard you're trying out for the Monolith Code selection. Ugh, it's not fair! I wish girls could participate too. Equality, anyone?"
"Yeah," I replied, my fingers dancing across the keyboard of my terminal. Erika and Leo had abandoned their seats and were now crowding around me. Either they'd forgotten about class or, more likely, they were hoping to mooch off my notes under the guise of studying.
"By the way, I'm joining too. It sounds like fun. Heard there's a bunch of freshmen signing up," chimed in Leo.
"Yeah, they are. It's a historic event for the school," I chuckled.
"Speaking of school history, did you have a hand in getting our uniforms to look more like Course 1's? Hmm..." Detective mode engaged, as Erika teased, sporting a sly grin.
"Seriously, what do you take me for? It's got nothing to do with me," I quipped, pausing my typing to shoot her a look.
"Kekek~ You're intense. How about you join my dojo? Maybe I can turn that attitude of yours into that of a noble warrior?" Erika draped her arm over my shoulder like we were old pals.
"What? Have you forgotten the rumor? I'm just a street fighter. A beggar like me wouldn't fit in with your family's dojo."
"Oh, come on. It's open for talents like you. Besides, I mainly want to kick your butt because you didn't invite me along to the terrorist base. I'm getting bored of just schoolyard brawls."
"Cut it out! Or you won't be getting my notes."
"W-Wait! I'm sorry! My brain is useless when it comes to studying!" Erika pleaded, playfully shaking me. Leo seemed to be enjoying her little predicament.
"Hey, Tatsuya. You in on this too?" Leo quizzed.
"No, but I'll be catching the action on screen."
"Seriously? You've got that magic up your sleeve, and you're passing up on this?" Leo's likely referring to Gram Demolition, the spell Tatsuya used to counter my [Purple Lightning].
As for me, I've got my reasons for joining Monolith Code.
First, it'll serve my 'new plan.'
Plus, it'll make Hana proud if I become a player in this event.
The class eventually wraps up. I wander around the school.
After all, I'm still part of the Disciplinary Committee. It's a bit uncomfortable, being stared at like I'm some kind of freak.
Not because of my uniform – Course 2 also has the same emblem as Course 1 now.
The change has led to an eerie calmness in the school, since no one knows who's a Weed or a Bloom anymore, except for those who've revealed themselves.
Right, my situation is a tad different...
"It's him."
"Shhh! Do you want to get in trouble? Don't say that so loudly."
"What a n-nice weather, huh? How about we hit the karaoke joint?"
Whenever I walk by, students instinctively make way for me. Some do it without a second thought, while others turn pale.
Perhaps these are the same students who used to mock me for being a Weed, or maybe they've started mocking me after hearing rumors about my past.
Either way, one incident has completely flipped the script.
But honestly, I couldn't care less. I'm not here to make friends with them, so I just narrow my eyes at them, making their awkwardness even more apparent.
"H-Haku-san..."
In front of me stands Mizuki.
She seems like she has something she wants to say.
---
Apologies to those who left comments on certain chapters or paragraphs that I haven't responded to.
I've been a bit cautious lately, avoiding opening them up because I'm worried some freaks might type 'It's a geh trap mc', '...g*y', or something like that.
These folks really don't get the 'anime logic', you know? I believe it's actually great for the MC's growth as he's putting in the effort to shape up his dependable looks.
His appearance will undergo changes as the story progresses. Ugh! I truly didn't intend to spoil anything, but those people always bitching.
Thanks.
