Chapter 6 : A World That Continues To Turn

It really wasn't a dream…

Haru’s eyes fluttered open, his cat, Az sleeping softly on his chest as he gave Az a soft stroke for good luck.

“At least I still got you Az.” Haru’s eyes were even duller today. He still couldn't quite come to terms with what had taken place last night.

The only saving grace being the platinum haired girl that had come to his aid, but that could not fill the bottomless pit in his stomach.

Akaji…

The tears still swelled up in his eyes, his mind plagued by both the happy memories of their past together and the foreboding moments of his sudden death.

Akaji…

Moments where they trained together, joked together, he was his beloved uncle; a second father to him.

Akaji…

And now he was dead.

Left to bleed out and rot on the floor of a dimly lit alleyway in the middle of nowhere.

And that was all… my faul—

Knock. Knock.

“Huh, Celia?”

“May I come in?”

“Uh, yeah sure.”

She walked in, mesmerizing him at first sight. Her amber eyes reflected in his, her finger tapping in a sense of worry...?

“Is everything okay Celia?”

“Hmmm.” She seemed nervous.

“Did you—”

“I broke the shower!” She blurted out, cutely.

“Uhhhh…”

“.....” Her fingers continued tapping nervously.

“How…?”

“I made the water go cold, and it was too cold so I…”

“I…?”

“I may have twisted it with too much force.”

He went to investigate, Az annoyed by his sudden movement as the cat followed along their trail.

His tail swaying prideful in disdain at whatever commotion the half-elf had caused to mess up his sleep.

“Meow.”

“Yes, yes, I'm sorry Az.”

You better be!

Haru investigated the shower, she had taken the handle clean off.

Damn, how superhumanely strong is she!!!

He turned, face deadpanned. Her cheeks only reddening in embarrassment.

“I'm sorry…”

She put her head down in shame.

“It’s alright, mistakes happen, just… try to manage your strength, alright?”

She nodded gracefully in response.

I really couldn't get mad at her if I tried…

Food came swiftly after, Haru setting up the table and preparing a simple breakfast of leftover rice and miso soup. And a little bit of bacon for the fun of it.

Her eyes watched curiously at how he used the microwave, and then even more when he used the stove. He tried to give the simplest explanations of how it worked but her mind was still lost on the semantics.

Words like radiation, electric circuits, gas and more required even deeper explanations and he wasn't a scientist. So in her mind she just chalked it up to high level magic.

Simple but effective.

That was how she mentally described the food, nothing obscene but it had enough taste for her to enjoy it.

“Thank you for the food, Haru.”

“How did you find it?”

“It was quite nice, this thing you call ‘rice’ is not known in my homeland, nor this ‘miso’ soup.”

“Welp, this is one of our simple meals around here so I thought that would be the best bet for your first meal round’ here, y'know.”

“Thank you for accommodating to my tastes.”

“No problemo.”

“But I wouldn't mind trying out more unique cultural meals as well, I am rather curious and am not a picky eater.”

“Noted. Will do.”

She smiled warmly at him before continuing with her meal, his stomach filling with butterflies as he wondered how much money he had spare, to take her to some restaurants. Maybe it could be…

A date!?

The simple thought of courting such a beautiful otherworldly girl, filled him with joy. But…

“How is it that people can't recognize your…” What was the best way to say this?

“Out of the ordinary appearance?”

“Indeed. I wondered that as soon as you told me this world was only filled with humans. It must be some kind of magic, blinding people's sights to the truth.”

Haru thought back to Ozu’s reaction when he saw her. “Yeah, I guess so. Either way that's good news; means it won't be causing us any more complications.”

“I hope so as well.” She responded.

“Hmmm, well onto more pressing matters, I got school today. So after that, let's go get you some new clothes.”

She agreed but had one grievance. “While I understand your priorities, I cannot allow you as my pri—benefactor to go out of this house alone. You are under threat after all.”

“Yeah but I can't cancel school.”

“Why not?”

“Cause I have a friend who needs me right now.” Haru’s sincere tone showed there was no room for conversation on the matter.

“I see… Well then, let me come alongside you. I do wish to learn more about this strange land after all, and there is no better place to learn than an institution of education.”

Haru thought about it for a moment. Was it smart to let her come with him to a school? But his life was on the line? But how would she fit in?

To be fair when Ozu saw her in armor, he just assumed she was a normal school girl. Awww man I wish I got to see what he's seeing—focus Haru focus, no time for stray perverted thoughts! I suppose she could come with me. Would have to make up something about her being a foreign exchange student, which country though?

He looked at her closely, her face puzzled by his unexpected focus. Her mind wondering if there was something wrong with her face, until he clicked his fingers and declared:

“Your British!”

She had no clue what he was talking about.

— — — — —

As they walked to his school, murmuring could be heard in all directions. The death of Akaji had been released onto the news, many unsure whether it was a suicide, or a murder.

But with a mysterious trail of recent ‘suicide’ deaths alongside his over the last couple months. Things were starting to come together suspiciously.

Haru had never paid much attention to the news so when he heard about the recent string of suicides, he just assumed it was a rough season. The economy was a mess after all, but now…

This seems way too strange to be a coincidence.

The death of Akaji confirmed it. There was a magical serial killer going around, but one question still remained in his mind as they got off the train.

How is it that I can see her true self?

That very fact plagued his mind.

Alongside Cobalt's statement of him being like his master, only adding further confusion to this whole mess.

They continued their walk to school in silence. Celia looked around like a hawk on the watch for potential prey while Haru stayed grounded in his own mind.

…Until he didn’t.

The stares of every teenage boy and girl wearing uniform hung heavy on him. No, they weren't just looking at him but the beautiful girl next to him.

Eyes wide in disbelief. Oh no! Maybe they can see her armor as well!?

He did not want his place as the only one who could see her threatened. That's what made their relationship special after all, right…?

His thoughts of confusion and worry only further fermented thanks to the whispers of his peers. Until—

“No way, Haru! How did you pull a hottie like her to come to school with you!?”

It was none other than Ozu Inoue, gob smacked by Celia’s apparent relation to Haru. Celia looked at Haru in concern, unsure whether the word ‘hottie’ was a compliment or not as Haru scratched the back of his head anxiously. Somewhat relieved that the most pressing question on people's minds was that.

This is gonna be a long day…

And he was going to milk every last drop of his newfound popularity as dry as the sahara desert.