Heroes, Heroines, and Ordinary Folks
"Is your right hand alright?"
"No major issues for now."
"Have you checked it with your own eyes, by any chance?"
"No. I think I overdid it a bit during the last evil spirit exorcism, so I haven't yet..."
"If it's infected with a grudge spirit, problems could arise, so it's necessary to check it yourself."
"Got it."
Hearing that from an expert made me unnecessarily anxious. It was lunchtime anyway, and even if it was a bit of a stretch, I could just head to the nurse's office and nap. Might as well test it now.
As I headed to the sports field to shake off the sluggishness from skipping my morning workout, Inuyama trailed right behind me. When I sat in the corner of the field, she hesitated for a moment before coming over and sitting beside me. Her fidgety expression made it clear she was still hung up on what happened that morning.
Last time, I'd forcibly amplified the fatigue effect, but this time there was no need, so I focused my power while leaving my right hand relaxed. Having glimpsed a higher realm once before, the process went more smoothly than expected, and a purple aura clinging to my right hand came into view.
This must be the corrosion that touches the soul. It gave me chills just looking at it, so I slowly pushed it out using my spiritual energy. It should have been a power without physical form, yet for some reason, a drop of inky black liquid plopped from my fingertip.
It hit the sandy ground but didn't absorb into it—clearly not an ordinary substance—so I scooped it up with my hand and placed it on my handkerchief. Confirming it didn't absorb there either, I tied the handkerchief shut and pocketed it.
I should ask Hanasaki about this.
"Something weird in there?"
"Weird is right. Found something suspicious."
"Like what?"
I unfolded the tied handkerchief to show her the black liquid rolling around like mercury. Inuyama sniffed once, then turned her face away with a look of horror, as if she'd caught a terrible stench. You wouldn't notice if you weren't paying attention, but a werewolf's sniffing carried a scent that hit you. It might be less a real-world smell and more some spiritual effect at work.
In the original story, evil spirit exorcisms were the trigger for various incidents but weren't delved into deeply, so I had no info on them. At best, it could be connected to the ghost heroine who hadn't appeared before my eyes yet—or more precisely, whose location I hadn't visited.
"You gonna keep that?"
"Gotta ask Hanasaki."
She seemed convinced by my words and just sat there swinging her legs. Spending lunchtime in the corner of the sports field with a female classmate—definitely more than my previous life's high school days.
My old high school was a STEM magnet school with dorms, and girls made up less than 15% of the student body, so moments like this never happened. I went to Tokyo University, but my major and otaku hobbies meant no girlfriend—just eroge and such. Sighing as I recalled the club senior who'd started it all.
Mistaking my sigh for dissatisfaction, Inuyama shrank back again and asked in an anxious voice.
"Does the injury hurt...?"
"Nah, not exactly."
"You usually like exercise, but you don't run at lunch much."
"Honestly, I'm not that into sports."
"I heard the sports clubs are interested in you."
"Huh? Why?"
"'Cause you're fit."
True enough. I wasn't bulking up or anything, but running like mad every day built some muscle at least. So why no direct contact? The story wrapped up in one semester by original canon, but thinking ahead, wholesome club activities sounded good.
"Saw you at that kempo dojo in the early morning, with that girl?"
"And?"
"Word is you skip club in the afternoon for the dojo."
"What."
"Not true?"
"Nope."
But I got how others might see it that way, so I needed to talk it over with Manatsu. From her or the dojo's perspective, an outsider like me getting involved wasn't ideal. Better if I handled it properly.
"Inuyama."
"Yeah?"
"Any clubs or activities you wanna join?"
"Nah. Well, if I had to pick..."
"What? We're battle buddies now, even if it's minor. Spill."
"I wanna exercise with you in the mornings too."
Her words made me blink for a second. Did that need special permission? But from others' views, it might look like Manatsu and I had an arrangement. Third-wheeling our duo could be an issue. Though considering Manatsu preferred training just us two, deciding solo might not fly either.
"I'll ask Manatsu."
"That's her name?"
"Her family name, yeah."
"Manatsu Dojo! I know it. That's the one."
"Never been there myself. Might have reason to someday."
"Then... can I visit your house sometime?"
"No big deal."
"Really?"
I nodded. I got along with everyone, but rarely brought friends home. She was a girl, but my family wouldn't mind.
Inuyama beamed, thrilled her simple wish came true. Ahem. '98-style art had its charm, but a real-life beauty girl smiling purely at my words was kinda embarrassing.
As we chatted idly, nearing the end of lunch, an uninvited guest showed up.
"Finally found you. Could you please use spiritual energy more discreetly on campus?"
The foreign blonde heroine who never missed a visual novel flag. In this world's lore, a descendant of European vampires. Ichinose Aris. For some reason, she had a Western name Japanese folks adored, and she was the daughter of Kaio Academy's chairman and granddaughter of the Ichinose Group president—a massive conglomerate.
Burdened with corporate power struggles, kidnappings, school assaults, and more large-scale headaches, yet her haughty speech hid solid mentality and conduct, making her popular. Also the title screen heroine.
True to her words, sweat beaded on her forehead—she'd sensed me repelling the curse with spiritual energy.
"Care to answer?"
"Yes, senpai."
"Good. The power wasn't excessive, and no harm to others, so I'll let it slide this time."
"Thank you."
"I know from Hanasaki's list—you're Tsukino Takuya, and she's Inuyama Shino, right?"
We nodded. Officially, Ichinose Aris was human. Few knew she was a vampire; the protagonist stumbled on her near-kidnapping and shared the secret. A princely start, but her conglomerate heir status plus vampire strength drew factions eyeing her robot maid heroine's tech, even involving PMCs with espers.
Ugh, sounds nightmarish to get dragged in.
"Good. Might commission you under the Ichinose name later—count on you then."
"Sure. Still a half-baked esper though."
"The world doesn't run on top-tier talent alone. Sometimes you need sheer numbers, or jobs too cheap for pros."
Sensible talk, unlike her appearance. Modern otaku eyes might peg her as tsundere or gal-type, but tsundere debuted post-2001 in Kimi nozo, Your Wish for Eternity. In this '91 game world, similar behaviors existed, but no heroines defined by the trope.
"You have a weird look—like you're thinking something odd."
"Pardon? No way."
Now that characters were real to me, labels meant little; personalities could shift via relationships. Reference the original, but don't obsess.
"I'm not idiot enough to get mad over unspoken thoughts. But know that face in public is rude."
"Got it."
"And Inuyama. Fine if you're close, but no campus behavior against morals, got it?"
Says the one who banged the protag in a classroom. Quick on the uptake, she glared once more, got our assurances, and left.
"She's kinda scary."
"Yeah... she can be."
High-handed attitude plus vampire. Maybe the werewolf's instincts picked up her aura.
"Time to head back."
"Yeah."
Thanks to Ichinose-senpai, I forgot to ask Hanasaki about the liquid by day's end.
