New baseline

A few days had passed and Takumi hadn’t had any fights with Yuriko or Amano, they were starting to get used to each other

Takumi: alright, i’ll be back later, i left the laptop charger plugged in case you need it

Yuriko: wait, i need you to bring me something from the store

Takumi: the ice cream bars?

Yuriko: not just that, i need uh, vegetables, and meat, and rice

Takumi: doesn’t convenience store bentos have all that already?

Yuriko: I'm tired of convenience store bentos! I'll cook something myself. You have the utensils anyway, why not use them?

Amano: bring soy sauce as well

Takumi: i hope this is not going over the budget, you guys better prepare something good

Amano: do not worry, as the deity of devouring, i know a thing or two about food

Takumi jogged the usual route to his university, feeling more relaxed compared to some days ago

Takumi: (i’ve still been feeling more tired than before, i guess due to the stress of caring for them. Sato would go wild if he found out im living with 2 girls, let alone one of them being a former league champion and the other one being a spirit. if only he knew how unglamorous it actually is)

he arrived, went to take a shower, did his stretches, enjoyed the morning sky, and went to his classroom

Sato: yo, Takumi, you heard the news about the University’s Kiseki Code league, right?

Takumi: what news?, man you know i dont check social media, also, good morning

Sato: registrations are now open, since im such a good friend, i thought you’d want to know

Takumi: where?! where do i go?!

Sato: hehe, you fool, do you think information is free?, to obtain, you must give in equal measure, its the law of equivalent exchange

Takumi: man you know i can barely make ends meet

Sato: It is not money that I want. What I want from you is… to come with me to the amusement park

Takumi: Why do you want to go with me?, did you give up on trying to charm girls?

Sato: That's not what I meant you fool!

he got close to Takumi’s whispering range, looking in all directions before speaking

Sato: If you come with me, more girls will be down to go with us to the amusement park, you get what I'm saying?

Takumi: I see. as long as it's on the weekend, otherwise I won't have time. Now give me your part of the deal, where do I go to register?

Sato: supposedly there would be various stands around the campus, it shouldn’t be hard to find, if you see people standing in line, it's probably there

Takumi: So you tricked me

Sato: the world belongs not to the strong, but to the smart. you also gave your word, you wouldn’t go back on your word of honor, would you, karateka?

Takumi: tch, you got me there

Sato: Don't you think it's time to learn some kiseki code for yourself?, i heard the fighters this year are pretty good, and you, well, you know, you’re just a dude that does a lot of exercise

Takumi: depending too much on technology makes you weaker, without their tricks, they are weak

Sato: I don't think they’ll just agree to fight you without their kiseki codes active, do you even know how it works?

Takumi: yeah, they… shoot fireballs

Sato: And? that's all?

Takumi: And I heard some can levitate?, yeah, pretty much that

Sato: which means you don't know what kiseki code is capable of! dude, it's the literal equivalent of magic in our world. im just warning you, you’re underestimating kiseki code, you should really take it seriously if you wanna enter the KC league, there’s literal wizards there

Takumi: yeah yeah, and annoying priestesses and weak deities, don't worry, I got this. Besides, It's not like I didn't try before, but… I'd rather strengthen my body, mind, and spirit rather than waste my time learning magic tricks

After class, Takumi went to find the registration stands, which were not hard to find. After signing up, he was given the dates for the first matches. He was so excited that he almost forgot to stop by a grocery store and buy what the girls asked for.

before arriving to his house, he stopped by the laundromat to pick up his laundry

Cerk: here you go, your clothes, and your girlfriend’s

Takumi: girlfriend?!

Clerk: who else would it be?, dont tell me these clothes are yours, besides, the girl you were seen with didn’t look like family, so that's most definitely your girlfriend

Takumi: …just give me my things already

Clerk: hehe, come back soon

Takumi: (so the neighbors did see us walking together that night. I doubt they know who she is, so i dont think it's something to worry about, but the rumors are spreading… if they only knew that crazy priestess, they wouldn’t be thinking stupid things)

Takumi arrived to his house to find Yuriko playing an FPS game and Amano wearing Takumi’s clothes while doing a handstand

Takumi: im back, here’s the stuff you guys asked for

Amano: hmm?, not complaining as soon as you walked in? you seem to be in a good mood

Takumi: i got some good news

Amano: such are the blessings of a deity such as myself, pay your respects

Takumi: dont act like you had part in it, you cant even manifest your own clothes

Amano: about that… hmm, i’ll tell you after we cook. Yuriko, let's go

Yuriko: alright, let me find the tutorial

Yuriko and Amano looked awfully clueless in the kitchen, the fact that they were searching for how to do everything was revealing their complete lack of competence, but since Takumi didn’t know much either, he just watched

Yuriko: So the oil goes on the flame right?

Amano: yes, oil is like food for fire, pass me the skillet, i need to cut the vegetables

Takumi: hold it right there!, the oil goes IN the skillet, and you use a cutting board to cut the vegetables. I thought you guys knew how to cook!

Amano: oh? i didn't know you knew how to cook, pass me the cutting board then

Yuriko: Here, I think it's this one, but it looks so dull, will it really be able to cut?

Takumi: you put the vegetables ON the cutting board and then you cut them with the knife. no, don't hold it like that

Yuriko: So you were just hiding your knowledge because you’re a lazy cook?, not just cruel but also a liar. enough of this cutting board knife nonsense, i’ll cut this my way

she struck a pose worthy of a priestess and lines of light started glowing on her hands, from her fingers, threads of light manifested, and with a swift motion, they cut through the vegetables and meat in an instant

Takumi: What was that?

Yuriko: isn’t it evident?, the same threads that can restrain or cut my foes can also cut things such as vegetables

Takumi: i mean, was that kiseki code?

Yuriko: Duh, yeah, just a basic code execution, What kind of question is that?

Amano: ok mister cook, whats the next step?

Takumi: I'm telling you I'm no cook, didn’t you watch a tutorial?

after fumbling in the kitchen, the 3 beginner cooks managed to complete a slightly burnt meal

Yuriko: this is… not good

Amano: this is but a minor setback, i give you my word as a deity, we will master the technique

Takumi: i sure hope so

Amano: oh, speaking of improvements. There's something important we need to discuss. I have been recovering my power, now i think im strong enough to pass as a normal human, i feel the need to test my newly recovered power

Takumi: normal human? with those horns?, and what do you mean by testing your power?

Amano: i want to have a friendly sparring match with you

Yuriko: oh? then i also want my rematch with him, that time in the alleyway doesn't count

the information took a hot second to sink in, he was not ready to fight while eating

Takumi: Wait a minute, right now?! we can't fight here, my home will be destroyed

Amano: Of course I know that, we can just fight outside, and it doesn't have to be right now. I think having some fresh air would be good for us, we’ve been hiding for a while

Takumi: hmm, it would have to be a place private enough to not draw too much attention… i know a place