Looking Back and Ahead [Arc 1 END]

Chapter 15 - Looking Back and Ahead [Arc 1 END]

Noa started her morning routine before school just like usual. She threw a singular blueberry into her mouth to eat it, brushed her teeth, chiseled her crimson horns and prepared a sandwich for school. Getting a ‘good morning’ text from Cho motivated her to get going quickly as she replied. On her way, she met up with Cho to walk together.

“Morning, Cho-chan!”

“Good morning, Noa-chan!”

I’m still a bit shy to hold her hand in public, but we’ll get there soon.

They talked about their trip and about everyday things, such as their upcoming exams, recent music and anime. Just before approaching the school gates, they ran into Keisuke and Sakura.

“Good morning, you two!” Sakura greeted them.

“Yo! Morning!” Keisuke nodded.

“Morning, morning!” Noa waved at them.

“Good morning! I’m already nervous just thinking of the exams.”

“Don’t tell me,” Sakura sighed. “I did not miss these.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be smart?” Noa asked teasingly.

“Maybe, but I still hate these kinds of tests.”

“We can study together anytime,” Keisuke said.

“True.” Cho agreed with him.

Looking back on things, it feels like it’s been ages, but not that much time has actually passed. We’re barely nearing the one-month mark since I’ve changed timelines.

Noa, Cho, Keisuke and Sakura all went to class together, each of them sitting at their usual tables. Noa leaned closer to Keisuke’s table to whisper:

“I’ve encountered the first Irregularity.”

Keisuke’s back straightened, and his expression became serious.

“It has begun, huh?”

“Yeah, so be extra careful!”

“Thanks… I’ll show you what Sakura and I have been making after school.”

“Got it.”

Their first period began, and with it, their day at school.

We may still have many challenges ahead of us, but I’m confident we can overcome them. I’m also curious what Kei-kun and Sakura-chan have been working on.

The rest of the day went by normally, like any other. By the end of school, Cho also ended up being invited, turning the visit into a study session somehow.

Reaching Keisuke’s place, everyone sat in the living room to drink tea and prepare for studying. Noa thought of a way to let Keisuke show her the supposed weapon or equipment in a way so Cho wouldn’t worry.

“Kei-kun, can I see that video game you were talking about today for a second?”

“Yeah, sure. It will be real quick, so we’ll be back in a few minutes. Feel free to drink the tea in the meantime, so it doesn’t get cold.”

“Okay,” Cho nodded while Sakura went to prepare more tea in the kitchen.

Noa and Keisuke hurried upstairs into the laboratory that was more like a workshop. On the main table lay a classic and authentic katana with a green glow to its blade.

“Did you make this?”

“A green-niji friend of mine helped me learn a method, way back in the previous timeline. The blade part is made out of nijistone, by the way, while the hilt is made out of leather mainly.”

“That’s really cool, just like a video game actually.”

“Yeah, your cover wasn’t that off the mark.

“Sick! So this can cut Irregularities too, right?”

“It was able to in the previous timeline, so I suppose it should in this one as well.”

“It should be fine then. Alright, let’s go back down.”

“Wait! Shouldn’t we tell Cho-chan about this?” Keisuke was careful not to raise his voice.

“Good question. I’ve been thinking about that a lot too, but I think that ignorance is sometimes better. Or more like, I don’t want her to worry, so I don’t want her to know for now. I’ll tell her one day for sure, sooner or later.”

“What about what she wants?”

“I’m sure she would want to know and share the burden, but that’s all the more reason not to. I wish she could just innocently pursue her dream, instead of trying to change the destiny of the world. And when she finds out, all I can do is hope she’ll forgive me.”

Keisuke smiled and patted Noa’s shoulder.

“Good luck! I have to agree, unfortunately.”

Noa lightly hit Keisuke on his back as she giggled.

“Let’s get back.”

“Yeah.”

Their study session went by in a flash. It ended up being more chatting than studying, but they still managed to get work done and had fun doing it. As it was starting to get late, Noa and Cho decided to go home, and along with Sakura and Keisuke, they agreed to take it more seriously next time.

Noa and Cho said their goodbyes for the day and headed home together for a while until they reached the point where they usually go different ways.

“See you tomorrow, Noa-chan!” Cho started. “We should go on a date soon. Just the two of us.”

I want to kiss her already… Aaah, she’s so cute!

“We definitely should!” Noa hugged Cho. “See ya! Love you!”

Cho returned the hug naturally. “Love you!”

After they stopped their cuddle, Cho lightly gave a quick peck to Noa’s cheek, flashed a smile as bright as the sun and jogged off to not miss the pedestrian crossing’s green light. Reaching the other side of the road safely, Cho stopped and turned once again to wave at Noa. 

Noa waved and smiled back happily.

Soon, I know I’ll have to protect that innocent and cute smile of hers. However, until then, I’ll bask in the light of her radiance~