03-Hey! That's not an assistant's job!

SLUUURP!
Toma hoisted his eighth bowl of ramen and chugged the broth down to the very last drop. The sound echoed through the tiny stall, which was thick with steam hissing off the copper stove pipes. Antique gas lamps cast a warm, yellowish glow over the cramped space.
"Bwaaaah!" Toma slammed the empty bowl down onto the counter, panting heavily. "Finally full!"
His stomach was visibly poking out now, forming a distinct food baby right beneath his white Ame-chan t-shirt. The other patrons stared at him in absolute awe—it wasn't every day you watched a guy demolish eight bowls in a single sitting.
"Thanks for the food!" Toma bowed to the stall owner, a middle-aged guy with a thick mustache rocking a leather apron.
"Haha, what an appetite, kid!" the owner laughed, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Been a hot minute since anyone cleared out that much ramen!"
Toma fished a few silver coins out of his cloth pouch and slapped them on the counter. Bill paid, he waddled out of the stall, his steps a little wobbly since his stomach felt like it was about to detonate.
Outside, the transparent, ghostly figure of Ame-chan floated right beside him, looking thoroughly amused. The blonde girl shimmered with a soft, ethereal light, completely invisible to everyone except Toma.
"You eat like an absolute monster, Toma-kun," Ame-chan teased, giggling softly. "I had no idea Earthlings could pack away that much grub."
"Hehehe, after being chronically unemployed and starving for so long, getting stuffed like this feels like a literal fever dream," Toma patted his bloated gut with absolute pride. "Alright, now that my HP is maxed out, I can actually focus on the job!"
His eyes sparkled as he looked at Ame-chan. "Speaking of which, what exactly is my job description as your assistant? And what kind of magic system are we working with in this world? Because I gotta say, screaming 'Enkai' back there made me feel like a straight-up wizard!"
"Very well! Listen closely, Toma-kun! I shall explain everything..." Ame-chan floated a bit closer. She was smiling, but a dead-serious glint flashed in her eyes.
"First, your primary duty as my assistant is... to overthrow the Shogun of Oru no Kuni."
Thump.
"HUH?!" Toma stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes bulging out of his skull. A few people on the street turned to look at him. "OVERTHROW THE SHOGUN?!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Ame-chan waved her hands in a frantic panic.
"Hold up!" Toma aggressively ran his hands through his hair in pure frustration. "That is absolutely NOT a normal assistant job description! I've never held down a real job, but I'm pretty sure assistants are supposed to, like, manage calendars, fetch coffee, or organize spreadsheets, right?!"
Toma pointed at himself dramatically. "Besides, it makes zero sense for a clueless, unemployed dude from another world to suddenly commit radical treason and overthrow a government! That's just a speedrun to my own funeral!"
"Chill, chill, chill! You are not going to die!" Ame-chan frantically shook her head.
"Then why do I have to do something so insanely suicidal?!"
"Because..." Ame-chan’s expression shifted, turning solemn. "The humans of this world have entirely lost their way..."
Whoosh.
A gentle breeze swept past, rustling Toma's hair.
"Oru no Kuni, the very nation we currently stand in, enforces laws that are supposedly based on my teachings. Yet, those laws have been grotesquely perverted from what I actually imparted to them."
"Your teachings?" Toma looked at her, his brow furrowing.
"I shall delve into the specifics later." Ame-chan closed her eyes for a brief moment before locking her gaze back onto him.
"For now, regarding the magic system you inquired about—which also happens to be the root of this world's suffering."
Ame-chan pointed directly at the t-shirt Toma was wearing.
"The magic in this world takes the form of Suppafuku—garments imbued with specific super abilities."
Toma looked down at his shirt. "Wait, so this graphic tee...?"
"Indeed! That t-shirt is also a Suppafuku, and its true name is The Will of Ame!" Ame-chan beamed proudly, resting her hands on her hips.
"That Suppafuku grants you access to several of my Heavenly powers, including the ability to summon me into physical form."
"He-Heavenly powers?!" Toma’s eyes instantly lit up. "Wait, so I basically got a holy armor drop like in an RPG?!"
"RPG?" Ame-chan looked a bit confused by the analogy, but she nodded anyway. "Yes, something akin to that!"
"That is sick!" Toma flashed a massive grin.
"Shishishi, it seems you are beginning to grasp the magnitude of this, Toma-kun! And now—" Ame-chan pointed toward the far edge of the Hiho-mura district.
"Do you see that?" Toma followed her finger. Looming in the distance was a colossal stone wall that stretched so high it nearly kissed the clouds. It was an imposing, majestic fortress wall, completely covered in thick steam pipes venting into the sky.
"Yeah, what about it?" Toma asked.
"Beyond that wall lies Itokyo, the capital city of Oru no Kuni."
"Itokyo..." Toma muttered. "Sounds like Tokyo, but the literal translation is 'Capital of Threads'."
"I want you to walk closer to that wall," Ame-chan looked at him with dead-serious intensity. "There, you will bear witness to a certain truth. Once you see it, I am certain you will understand the necessity of your mission."
"Hold on a sec, Ame-chan." Toma stepped back, crouching down and clutching his head.
Overthrow a ruler? Back in my old world, I couldn't even score a part-time gig at a convenience store! Even if she is a literal Goddess, this is way above my paygrade! Toma agonized internally, his mind racing with sheer panic.
He peeked up at Ame-chan, who was floating there, waiting for him with an entirely innocent expression.
But... I'm the one who applied for the job, and I'm already stuck in this world...
Toma stood up, letting out a heavy, defeated sigh. "Damn it, I don't really have a choice here, do I?"
They began walking toward the massive wall. Along the way, Toma started noticing the gritty underbelly of Hiho-mura that he’d totally missed earlier. Beneath the vibrant, bustling fusion of hip-hop culture and feudal Japanese aesthetics, the district was actually a decaying slum.
"T-There are so many homeless people here," Toma muttered, his chest tightening.
In the alleyways and street corners, vagrants were huddled on the ground, sleeping on filthy rags. Their clothes were in absolute tatters—a heartbreaking patchwork of torn hakamas and faded hip-hop jackets, topped with crushed, misshapen traditional straw hats.
"And no matter what world you're in, the violence is always the same." Toma clenched his fists.
Down a narrow side street, Toma spotted a group of hulking thugs violently shaking down a scrawny vendor selling steamed buns. The poor vendor was trembling in pure terror, desperately handing over whatever meager coins he had left in his apron.
"Do you wish to see something even more tragic? Look near that pile of refuse," Ame-chan said softly, pointing to a dark corner of the alley.
A group of little kids were digging through the trash, scavenging for leftover scraps. The ragged yukatas they wore were stained beyond recognition, awkwardly paired with rusted, fake bling-bling accessories.
Toma looked away, unable to stomach it. "Okay... this is getting way too real. My childhood wasn't great, but it was nowhere near as bad as what these kids are going through."
"This is the undeniable truth of this world, Toma-kun," Ame-chan nodded solemnly. "Beneath the dazzling veneer of an exciting life, there exists a dark underbelly that society has deliberately chosen to ignore."
When they finally reached the gates of the colossal wall, the contrast hit Toma like a freight train. The streets leading into the capital were immaculately clean and paved with impossibly smooth asphalt, lined with gleaming metallic ornaments.
Traditional lantern-shaped steam lamps bathed the area in a luxurious golden glow. Towering, pagoda-roofed buildings were decorated with artistically arranged copper piping, their windows fitted with gorgeous stained glass and intricate metal frames.
Even the pedestrian walkways were laid with beautifully patterned traditional ceramic tiles, complete with miniature rails where tiny steam-powered trams glided by.
"This towering wall was not constructed to protect the citizens from outside danger, but rather to conceal the grotesque inequality between humans."
Toma shuddered at the sheer gravity in Ame-chan's voice.
"Y-Yeah, you're right. The contrast is literally night and day," Toma agreed quietly.
"And this... is but one of the countless mistakes humanity has made on Hexa." Ame-chan smiled, though her eyes were filled with profound sorrow.
"The power of Suppafuku was meant to be utilized for the prosperity of all mankind, not hoarded by a privileged few as it is today."
Toma nodded slowly, his eyes still glued to the pristine capital just beyond the gates. "So your endgame is to completely overhaul the civilization's system, right?"
"More accurately, my goal is to restore humanity's true understanding of what clothing represents." Ame-chan snapped her fingers, and instantly, a fluffy cloud materialized right above her head.
Woah! She can literally spawn a cloud projector?! Toma thought, amazed as video clips began playing across the vapor.
"In ancient times, I taught humanity the art of weaving so they might possess dignity. I am also the one who created the Suppafuku." Ame-chan narrated over the video. "But humans grew increasingly greedy in my absence, especially here in Oru no Kuni."
"Oru means 'weave', so the country's name is a direct homage to your teachings, huh?"
"Indeed. And tragically, they are the very ones who twisted my doctrines the most," Ame-chan said, her jaw tightening.
Toma kept his eyes glued to the cloud projector.
"They decreed that anyone who is naked, anyone who lacks elegant garments, and anyone who does not possess a Suppafuku is a person devoid of dignity according to my teachings—branding them as heretical criminals..." Ame-chan paused, floating so her back was to Hiho-mura as she spread her arms wide.
"They constructed artificial walls between humans based solely on what they wear. And recently, the Shogun established Hadaka no Hanzai—the Crime of Nudity—punishable by death."
"Ex-Executed just for being naked?" Toma swallowed hard. "Even the poor people who obviously can't afford clothes?"
"Yes." Ame-chan nodded sadly, dismissing the cloud projector with a flick of her wrist. "That is precisely why I employed you."
"Still... how the hell am I supposed to topple a system that literally worships you?" Toma clutched his head again, completely overwhelmed by the absurd scale of his job. "Even if I tell the truth and say I'm your divine messenger, they're just gonna brand me as a false prophet or a total nutjob!"
THWACK!
Ame-chan mercilessly knuckled the top of Toma's head. "You are no prophet, and I myself am not the Main Goddess!"
"Ow! Crap, that hurt!" Toma rubbed his head, wincing. "Then who the heck are you, huh?"
"I am the daughter of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess who illuminates your world and the true creator of the realm you currently stand in!" Ame-chan declared with absolute pride.
"EHHHH?!" Toma's eyes practically popped out of his sockets. "Amaterasu is real?!"
He grabbed his head, a look of pure shock washing over his face. That means Grandma was actually right when she prayed at the shrine every day... Forgive your lazy grandson for skipping prayers, Grandma...
"Well, if that's the case, your mom must be super wise and loving, right?" Toma asked, catching a second wind. "Why not just ask her for help?"
"NO!" Ame-chan violently shook her head, pure panic seizing her features. "My mother... is a terrifyingly strict perfectionist!"
Suddenly, a thought bubble materialized above Ame-chan's head—and unfortunately for her, Toma could see it clear as day. Inside the bubble was the silhouette of a grown woman in an apron, her eyes burning like demonic hellfire, gripping a rolling pin with a murderous aura.
"AME NO NUNO! WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO SNEAK A TASTE OF THOSE FRESH-BAKED COOKIES WITHOUT ASKING, YOUNG LADY?!" the terrifying voice boomed from the silhouette.
"E-Eep! I'm sorry, Mom!" the memory-version of Ame-chan whimpered, desperately trying to hide cookie crumbs on her face.
The thought cloud instantly vanished as Ame-chan shook her head rapidly, physically shaking off the trauma.
Toma squinted at her, highly suspicious. "Don't tell me... the only reason you drafted me to this world is to clean up a giant mess you made, just so you don't get grounded by your mom?"
"N-No!" Ame-chan shook her head vigorously, but her erratic body language made it painfully obvious she was lying. "I genuinely wish to save this world!"
Toma just stared at her, deadpan. She was so full of it.
"Fine, fine," Ame-chan finally relented. "The point is, you are no prophet or anything of the sort; you are my assistant. However, you may introduce yourself to the masses as..." Ame-chan paused for dramatic effect, pointing grandly at Toma.
"Hekisa wo Kiyomuru Unmei no Kare — Tenchi Shonin no Bouya — Ame no Kareshi."
"Hekisa wo Kiyomuru Unmei no Kare — Woah, that sounds badass! Like a legit God tier title!" Toma's eyes sparkled.
Ame-chan smiled brightly, pleased by his reaction.
But a split second later, the gears in Toma's brain clicked. All the color drained from his face. "Wait... Tenchi blah-blah-blah no Kareshi? Kareshi literally means boyfriend, right?!"
"Indeed!" Ame-chan nodded innocently. "And because of that, I wouldn't hesitate to give you a little smooch, you know! Mwah!" Ame-chan puckered her lips playfully.
"GYAAAAA!" Toma dramatically crossed his arms over his chest in an 'X' and scrambled backward. "I DO NOT CONSENT TO THAT TITLE! Even if you're gorgeous and stacked, you are absolutely not my type!"
Toma's ridiculous, one-sided shouting match looked completely unhinged to the pedestrians walking by. Since they couldn't see Ame-chan, to them, Toma was just a lunatic screaming at thin air.
"Freaking weirdo," a merchant muttered, giving Toma a wide berth.
"Look, honey, you need to eat your vegetables if you don't want to end up like that man," a mother whispered, shielding her child.
BONK!
Ame-chan directly decked Toma in the head. She was furious, her eyes turning into blank white slashes and her teeth sharpening into shark-like points. "You ungrateful brat! All of humanity in this world utterly adores and worships me! You should be counting your lucky stars that I chose you as my assistant!"
"Even so, a working relationship isn't gonna change my taste in women! I have principles!" Toma clutched his throbbing head, standing his ground.
"Fine. Are you finally ready to accept your duties?" Ame-chan let out a massive sigh, planting her hands on her hips.
"No, or more accurately, not yet. But since I'm already stuck here, and since you are a Goddess—even if you're not my type—I'm gonna be a professional and do my job." Toma stared down at his clenched fists. Then, he offered Ame-chan a respectful bow.
"So please, lend me your power so I can actually do this."
"Glad to hear it!" But a second later, Ame-chan's expression shifted back into a wicked, playful smirk. "Alright, I acknowledge your sheer, idiotic stubbornness regarding women."
She looked at Toma with a devious glint in her eye, then cupped her massive chest and gave it a slow, deliberate jiggle.
"But even if I'm not your type, one of the powers I'll be granting you is..." Ame-chan cooed in a dangerously seductive voice. "...cheering you up with these!"
SMOOCH!
Toma's eyes instantly rolled into the back of his head, and he toppled backward, practically passing out from the sheer critical hit of her teasing.
"Gyahaha! It worked!" Ame-chan cackled evilly, clapping her hands together. "It really is too easy to fluster a virgin!"
"Damn it..." Toma grumbled from the dirt. "Why does a Heavenly Goddess have to be such a massive tease..."
Just as Toma was trying to scrape himself off the ground, a figure stood watching him from a distance. It was a girl rocking a black snapback cap featuring a graphic of lips sticking out a tongue. Her blue eyes were droopy but razor-sharp, and her blonde twin-tails swayed gently in the night breeze.
The girl flashed a wicked, calculating smirk, then began casually sauntering over.
SWISH!
Right when Toma's guard was completely down, the mysterious girl blitzed past him at blinding speed.
"Huh?" Toma patted the pocket of his boxers. "MY MONEY POUCH IS GONE!"
He whipped his head around. The girl was already sprinting away, clutching his heavy bag of silver coins. Instantly, Grandma Bota's warning echoed perfectly in his mind.
"Keep your head on a swivel. Plenty of pickpockets runnin' these Hiho-mura streets!"
"HEEEEEY!" Toma screamed in absolute fury, pointing at the fleeing girl. "GIMME BACK MY HARD-EARNED CASH, YOU LITTLE PUNK!"
The girl completely ignored his screaming and kept running, starting to vanish into the dense crowd.
"Toma-kun!" Ame-chan yelled. "Chase her down by activating your Suppafuku!"
Without a second thought, Toma took a massive breath and screamed at the top of his lungs:
"ENKAI!"