Quick Q&A:
Why did Goku get flustered last chapter?
You got to remember that this is Goku raised as Shido, which makes him a mix of both personalities.
------------------------------------------------------
Still sprawled on the floor of the physics prep room, Goku let out a tired sigh, his ears catching the sound of the school bell ringing.
It had been ten grueling days since the training with Kotori and Reine had kicked off. From dawn till dusk, he had poured all his energy into "training."
Finally, Goku had reached the game's happy ending screen. The number of times he had failed and been called names like "Rapist," "Sex Offender," or "Pervert" was countless, but he shrugged it off.
Those words didn't mean much to him, and he didn't care to dwell on them either.
"...Nn, quite a bit of time has passed, but I reckon we've cleared the first hurdle."
"And it looks like he went through all the CGs, so I suppose that counts as a passing grade for now........... But in the end, it's just dealing with virtual girls."
Goku let out another sigh. So they were telling him it was all for naught?
"Well then, onto the next phase of training..."
Goku's eyes widened, a spark of anticipation flickering within. Maybe this meant he could learn to defend himself against spirits, allowing him to train the way he really wanted to-
"Let's move on to real females. Time's running out, you know."
"Hm, think he'll be okay?"
"Don't you worry. Even if he fails, the only thing that'll be lost is society's trust in my hopeless brother."
Goku had been quietly listening to their conversation, but his sister's lack of faith gnawed at him, and he couldn't help but chime in.
"I can tell you don't have much faith in your brother..."
"Oh? Were you eavesdropping? You still got those weird hobbies, huh? You voyeuristic peeping Tom." Kotori frowned, her hand covering her mouth, and said.
"Uh, sure..."
Goku stood up before the two girls and said, "So you want me to talk to real girls now?"
"Yeah. Let's see... I wonder who'd be a good fit?"
"Ah?"
Goku tilted his head to the side, watching as Reine operated the console in front of her. Images of different parts of the school appeared on the displays.
"...Right, let's start with someone safe. How about her?" Reine pointed to the image on the right, showing the teacher, Ms. Tamae.
Kotori raised an eyebrow for a moment. "Ahh, I see. That works. Let's go with it." A mischievous grin formed on her face.
"...Goku, the next phase of training has been decided."
"What kind of training are we talking about here?"
Goku asked. Acknowledging his question, Reine replied, "...For now, you gotta charm Teacher Okamine Tamae."
"Okamine Tamae? Alright... Wait a second. WHAT?"
"Got a problem with that?"
Kotori couldn't help but chuckle at Goku's reaction. "Of course there's a problem! Isn't it wrong for teachers and students to... you know... get all lovey-dovey?"
Smirking at Goku's bewildered response, Kotori said, "Oh, you're so innocent. Don't forget, you'll face much tougher opponents out there in the real world."
"That's true, but-"
"...I reckon she's a good choice for your first opponent. Even if you confess, she probably won't accept, and it doesn't seem like she'd go around spreading the news either. ...But if you're dead set against it, we can switch to a female student..."
"Uuuu..."
It'd be better if he just asked out Ms. Tamae instead of another student. After all, she was an adult and would likely brush it off as a student joke. Teenage girls can be quite unpredictable, after all.
"So, what will you do? In the real world, failure is like facing death, so no matter who you choose, we were planning on giving you only one chance."
"...I'll go with the teacher."
Kotori asked, and with a cold sweat dripping down Goku's back, he answered.
With a small nod, Reine turned her chair to face Goku and asked, "...You brought the earpiece, right?"
"Uh, yeah."
Goku responded, taking it out of his pocket.
"...Keep it in your ear at all times."
Following her instructions, he placed it in his right ear.
Once he did so, Reine grabbed the microphone and moved her lips as if whispering. "...How's this? Can you hear me?"
Suddenly, Reine's voice echoed in his ear. "Woah... that's awesome!"
"...Great, it's connected properly. Is the volume okay?"
"Yeah, it's fine."
Goku replied, and Reine immediately put on the headphones that were on the desk.
"...Nn, okay. There's no problem on our end either."
"It can hear me? But it doesn't seem like there's a microphone on this earpiece."
"...It comes with a highly sensitive microphone built-in. Background noise is automatically filtered, and it only transmits important sounds to us."
"Really? That's amazing." Goku said in awe, as Kotori pulled out what seemed like another small gadget from the desk.
With a flick of her finger, it expanded its wings and fluttered in the air like an insect.
"Eh? What's that?"
"...Take a look."
Saying that, Reine operated the computer in front of her and displayed an image.
On the screen was the physics prep room where Kotori, Reine, and Goku were situated.
"Woah... So it's a flying camera?"
"...Pretty much. We'll be following you with this. Just make sure you don't mistake it for a mosquito and swat it."
"That's pretty cool..."
Boom, he got kicked in the butt.
"Whatever, hurry up and go, you dumb turtle. The target is in the corridor on the 3rd floor of the east school building. It's nearby."
"...Fine."
With a nod, Goku left the physics prep room. He glanced left and right at the bottom of the stairs, spotting Tamae's back in the hallway, and he jogged lightly to catch up with her.
After a few meters, it seemed that she noticed Goku's footsteps as Tamae stopped and turned around. "Oh, Itsuka? What's up?"
"Um..."
Even though he saw her face almost every day, treating it as a target to seduce just felt plain wrong.
"-Don't forget, this is training. Even if you fail, you won't die." Kotori's voice echoed in his right ear.
"I don't know... It just doesn't feel right."
"Eh? What did you say?"
Reacting to Goku's muttering, Tamae tilted her head. "Ah, it's nothing."
Perhaps irritated that Goku hadn't made any progress in the conversation, another voice came through the intercom. "How useless. -For now, let's play it safe and try giving her a compliment."
Goku remembered from the game that he had the option to compliment Ririko. The one that allowed him to progress was complimenting her looks, so it should work for Tamae too, right?
Deciding to take a leap, Goku spoke up. "Uh, your clothes look pretty... cute!"
"Eh...? R-Really? Ahaha, you're making me blush."
Tamae's face lit up with delight as she smiled and scratched the back of her head.
-Ohh? That's a pretty nice response!
Goku lightly clenched his hand. "Y-Yeah, they really suit you."
"Hehe, thanks. They're actually one of my favorites."
"That hairstyle looks really nice too!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, and, uh, those glasses too!"
"Ah, ahahaha..."
"And that book in your hand! And that-"
"Um... Itsuka?"
As she became more and more bewildered, her expression gradually turned wry.
"You really went overboard, you baldy."
In his right ear, he could hear an amazed Kotori. But even with that comment, Goku had no idea what he should say next. He just stood there in silence.
"Um... Is there something else you wanted to talk to me about?" Tamae tilted her head.
They probably thought time was running out, as a sleepy voice could be heard in Goku's right ear.
"...Oh well. Then, just repeat after me, okay?"
Goku let out a sigh of relief. Talking to girls was much harder than he expected. Chi-Chi was one thing, but Tamae was basically a stranger to him. He slightly nodded, indicating that he understood.
And without thinking, he repeated the information he heard. "Um, teacher."
"What is it?"
"Lately, coming to school has been really fun."
"Is that so? That's great."
"Yeah... And it's all because you became our homeroom teacher."
"Eh?" Surprised, Tamae's eyes widened.
"W-What are you trying to say? Jeez. What's with this all of a sudden?"
Goku continued, repeating Reine's words. "Actually, since a long time ago, I've-"
"Ahaha... that's no good. I appreciate your feelings, but, you know, I'm a teacher."
While patting the attendance book, Tamae gave a wry smile.
As expected of a teacher, an adult. It seemed like she was planning to reject him without hesitation.
"Uhh..."
"...Goku, try saying this."
Reine gave instructions for the next line. Goku was momentarily confused. Wasn't that a kind of food? But without thinking, his mouth started moving.
"I'm serious. I seriously want to-"
"Um... This is troubling for me."
"I seriously want to marry you!"
-Twitch.
The moment the word "marriage" came out of Goku's mouth, Tamae's expression seemed to change slightly. And then, after a brief silence, a small voice spoke. "...Are you really serious?"
"Eh... ah, haa... Yeah."
Stumbling due to the sudden change in atmosphere, Goku replied, and Tamae suddenly took a step forward and grabbed Goku's sleeve.
"Really? By the time Itsuka reaches a marriageable age, I'll already be over 30, you know? Even then, is it okay? Should we go meet our parents now? After you graduate high school, will you come live together with me?"
As if a different person, her eyes sparkled and she drew closer to Goku with ragged breaths.
"Uh... teacher...?"
"...Nn, it seems it was too effective."
As Goku staggered backward, Reine spoke with a sigh. "Wh-What's going on?"
In a voice that wouldn't reach Tamae, he asked Reine.
"...Well, a single, 29-year-old woman, someone like her hears the magic word 'marriage' as if it's a deadly spell. As her old classmates start building their own families one by one and her parents start pressuring her, with the walls of turning thirty closing in, she's in a very insecure position... But even then, she seems a bit too... desperate." In a slightly perplexed voice, rare for her, Reine said.
"That's nice and all, but what do I do about this?"
"Hey, Itsuka, do you have a little time now? You're still not old enough to sign the marriage registration, so for now, let's make a blood pact. We can probably borrow a chisel from the art room. Don't worry, I'll make sure it doesn't hurt."
Drawing closer to Goku, words gushed from Tamae's mouth. Goku let out a sound like a scream. "Eh?!"
"Ah, getting caught up in this any further could be annoying to deal with. You've accomplished your mission, so give a suitable apology and escape."
Goku gulped, and after making up his mind, he opened his mouth.
"So-Sorry! I don't think I'm ready to go that far yet! Let's just pretend this never happened!!"
Shouting, Goku ran away. "Ah, I-Itsuka?!"
Hearing Tamae's voice calling from behind him, Goku continued running. "Phew, that teacher sure has quite the personality!"
Kotori's carefree laughter could be heard. With his legs still in motion, Goku raised his voice.
"You said it..." Just as he started to talk.
Since he was focused on the intercom, Goku crashed into a student who had just appeared from around a corner, causing the student to fall to the ground while he just stood there.
"...Sorry, are you alright?"
He said, looking down... "Eh...?!"
Goku's eyes widened. After all, it was Miss Tobiichi Origami.
But that wasn't all. When she fell, it seemed like she landed on her behind, and as a result, her legs were spread in the shape of an M... And it was white.
He involuntarily averted his eyes while fake whistling. However, Origami didn't seem panicked at all. "I'm fine," she said and stood up. "What's wrong?"
Then, Origami asked Goku.
But it didn't seem like she was asking why Goku was running down the hallway. If anything, it was probably about why Goku had his head turned downwards with his hand on his forehead.
"Er, nothing, don't worry about it."
<Ratatoskr>'s simulation abilities are something to be reckoned with. For some reason, it almost felt like that game was actually pretty well done. He didn't expect to experience a romantic comedy cliche right after finishing it.
"I see."
Origami simply said that and started walking down the hallway. At that moment, Kotori's voice rang in Goku's right ear.
"-This is a perfect opportunity, Goku. Let's continue our training with her."
"H-Huh?!"
"It's probably best if we gather some data on someone from the same generation, rather than a teacher. And even though she's not a Spirit, she's an important member of the AST. Don't you think she'll be a good reference? From what I can tell, she doesn't seem like the type to spread rumors either."
"Well, yeah, but-"
"Don't you want to talk to the Spirits?"
"..."
Goku held his breath and sighed.
Bracing himself, he threw his voice towards Origami's back. "T-Tobiichi."
"What?"
Origami turned around as if she had been waiting for him to call.
As long as he didn't overdo it, he should be fine, as long as he didn't overdo it.
"Those clothes... they're cute. Where did you get them?"
"They're the school uniform."
"...That's right."
"Why did you choose her clothes, you ant lion."
Even though it was just the name of a bug, he felt like he was enduring a tremendous amount of abuse. Mysterious!
-It's because it worked with the teacher...! With that meaning, he shook his head slightly.
"...Should we help?"
They were probably getting impatient, as Reine offered to help once again.
He didn't have the confidence to continue the conversation on his own. Goku gave a small nod.
Following the words he heard in his right ear, he let out his voice. "Hey, Tobiichi."
"What?"
"I actually... I've known about you for a while now."
"I see."
Still speaking in short sentences, Tobiichi continued with unbelievable words. "I knew about you too."
"-"
While he was extremely surprised inside, he couldn't make any sound. It seemed that if he said anything other than what Reine instructed, the pace would be immediately broken.
"Is that so. I'm happy. ... Also, being in the same class for the second year made me super happy as well. This whole week, I've been constantly looking at you during classes."
Uwaah, even Goku thought that was creepy.
"I see."
However, Origami said, looking straight at Goku. "..."
He gulped. In reality, Goku hadn't looked towards Origami during class at all.
"Really? Ah, but really, that's not all. After school, I would stay in the classroom and sniff your gym clothes."
"I see."
However, Origami's expression remained unchanged.
Rather, she said, "I do too."
"Ahaha, really...? Wait... What?"
"Eh?!"
-Do so, with whose?! And with her own right?? Man she was weird...
Also, weren't the lines Kotori and Reine were giving a little strange too?
With all the confusion swirling in Goku's head, he couldn't continue the conversation on his own.
"Is that so? Somehow, it feels like we're a good match."
"Yes."
"Then, if you're okay with it, will you go out with me?"
Origami remained as emotionless as ever... But maybe it was just his imagination, but for a moment, her eyes widened ever so slightly.
"I don't mind."
"Ah yeah, I thought so... Wait. WHAT??"
"I said I don't mind."
"Huh?"
"I don't mind going out with you."
Did that mean he succeeded...? No way. That was too easy. Maybe she just misunderstood him.
"Ah, ha, you meant going somewhere together, right?"
Origami tilted her head slightly. "Is that what you meant?"
"Er, what did you think I meant?"
"I thought you meant dating."
For some reason, hearing the word "dating" coming from Origami felt very strange.
"Well... you're not wrong. But-"
"I see."
Goku sighed. Kotori and Reine weren't speaking, which meant he was on his own.
-I guess I'll just go with the flow...
"So, what does that make us now?"
"That means we're dating-"
Suddenly, the screech of the Spacequake siren echoed throughout the school. Almost simultaneously, Origami lifted her face slightly.
"I have to go."
Origami said, handing him a photo of herself in her school uniform. "You said you like school uniforms."
With that, Origami turned the corner, leaving Goku behind.
Before long, he heard a voice over the intercom.
"Goku's it's a Spacequake. For now we'll have you return to <Fraxinus>. Come back at once."
"So it's a Spirit, right?"
Goku asked, and a beat later, Kotori continued.
"Yes. The predicted location where it will appear is-Raizen High School. (Goku's school)
------------------------------------------------------
The three of them had relocated to the airship <Fraxinus>, floating above the city while keeping themselves hidden from the evacuating students. In the bridge, they observed the various information displayed on the screen.
Kotori and Reine had changed into their military uniforms and exchanged meaningful nods and words from time to time, but Goku couldn't grasp the meaning behind the numbers on the screen. The only thing he could understand was a map centered on his high school displayed on the right side of the screen.
"Goku, you're pretty lucky, you know?"
"I am?"
Amidst the numbers with unknown meanings dancing on the screen, Goku noticed his school on the map. Inside, there was a single red icon surrounded by many yellow icons.
"The red one represents the Spirit, and the yellow ones represent the AST. See how the AST hasn't moved at all?"
"Why? Are they talking to the Spirit?"
Goku tilted his head, and Kotori let out a heavy sigh.
"Please try to think before you speak. It's embarrassing, even your excuse for a hairstyle is smarter than you."
"How dare you!"
"CR-Units weren't designed for fighting in confined spaces. When you're in an enclosed area, like a building, your mobility decreases significantly due to the narrow corridors and obstacles. Not to mention, your visibility is also obstructed."
Saying this, Kotori snapped her fingers, and the screen changed to real-time footage of the school.
A shallow bowl-shaped hole appeared in the schoolyard, surrounded by cleanly cut roads and even a portion of the school building. It was exactly like what Goku had witnessed that other day.
"After emerging in the schoolyard, it seems the Spirit entered the partially destroyed school building. You're quite fortunate because now you can make contact with the Spirit without interference from the AST."
"Ohhh, I see."
He understood the reasoning behind it.
"So, should I just walk in there or..."
"Yes. They're currently at a stalemate, but if you want, you can enter after the AST has been completely defeated or during their battle."
Kotori answered, and then Reine added,
"...Nn. Let's move quickly. Goku, you haven't removed the intercom, right?"
"Nope."
"Okay, then the camera will follow you. If you find yourself in trouble, make a signal and tap the earpiece twice."
Goku squinted his eyes and looked towards Kotori and Reine, who were stationed at their respective posts in the lower part of the bridge.
Based on their training suggestions, they seemed like rather unreliable support members.
Perhaps understanding his thoughts from his expression, Kotori formed a confident smile.
"Don't worry, Goku. There are plenty of reliable people among the crew of <Fraxinus>."
"Is that so?"
Goku replied skeptically, and Kotori dramatically flicked her coat and stood up.
"Such as..."
With great enthusiasm, she pointed towards one of the crew members in the lower part of the bridge.
"Bad Marriage, the Romance Master <Tired Too Early>, Kawagoe!"
"The <President> who boasts great popularity with Filipinas in the stores at night, Mikimoto!"
"Nail Knocker, the 2AM Woman <Straw Doll> who brings misfortune to her love rivals, Shiizaki!"
"Dimension Breaker, the Man With One Hundred Brides <Person Who Surpasses The Dimensions>, Nakatsugawa!"
"And Minowa, <On Probation>, who loves so deeply that the law prohibits her from being within 500 meters of her loved one!"
"Don't you think these people sound less qualified than I do?"
"Whatever, just hurry up and leave. If the Spirit shows up, the AST will come swarming."
Goku was about to ask more questions, but Kotori forcefully kicked his butt with a loud thud.
"...Ow. Fine."
"Don't worry too much. With you, Goku, even if you die once or twice, you can start a new game right away."
"What do you mean by that? Are you saying I'll die?"
"Ara, a brother who doesn't believe in his sister will only bring unhappiness upon himself."
"Yeah, yeah."
Mixed with a sigh, Goku said and obediently walked towards the door of the bridge. After all, this was his "duty" as the Earth's guardian. He wasn't only doing this to protect the planet; he also wanted to have another conversation with the girl.
The transporter located in the lower area of <Fraxinus> utilized a realizer, allowing for instant transportation as long as there were no obstacles blocking the straight-line path to the destination. It was essentially a diluted version of Goku's instant transmission.
After confirming that he had instantly arrived behind the dimly lit high school, Goku shook his head lightly. As he looked up, he was met with an eerie sight. The walls of the building in front of him had been sliced open, offering a view from the inside.
"Perfect. Enter the building from there."
Goku muttered, scratching the back of his head, and proceeded to enter the school building. Following a powerful ki signature, he dashed up the stairs, eventually reaching the part of the school building that he hoped would be destroyed.
Without even opening the door, he could sense that the Spirit was inside. Her energy was practically screaming at him.
"Eh- Isn't this... Class 2-4? Isn't this my classroom?"
"Ara, is that so? How convenient. It may not give you a significant advantage in terms of location, but it's better than being in an unfamiliar place," Kotori remarked. However, it hadn't been long since he entered this grade, so he wasn't particularly familiar with it.
Regardless, he needed to make contact with the Spirit before her whims got the best of her. Determined, Goku opened the door to the classroom.
The sight of the classroom, bathed in the red hues of the setting sun, greeted his eyes.
"--"
A moment passed.
"Ah-"
In the fourth row from the front, second column from the window-right at Goku's desk-a black-haired girl in a peculiar dress sat with one knee raised. Her eyes emitted an ethereal gleam, halfway open as she stared at the blackboard in a daze.
With half of her body illuminated by the sunset, the girl possessed an enigmatic aura that momentarily captivated anyone who laid eyes on her.
Before Goku could say anything, she sensed his presence and opened her eyes fully, gazing towards him.
"...! H-Hey-"
Goku raised his hand-or rather, he was about to. He thought the girl casually waved her hand, and a streak of black light brushed past Goku's cheek.
Moments later, the classroom door he was holding onto, as well as the corridor windows beyond it, shattered with a resounding noise.
"...?!"
Confronted with this sudden turn of events, Goku stood frozen in place. Touching his cheek, he felt a trickle of blood flowing down his face.
However, he couldn't afford to remain stunned. He wasn't allowed to be stunned. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself. He was a fighter. He wasn't supposed to be afraid of something like this.
Just as she raised her hand once again, seemingly ready to wave it, Goku interjected, "Wait! I'm not your enemy!"
The girl's eyes widened, recognizing the person standing before her. "You..." she muttered. "You're the human who was dodging my Sandalphon."
"No, no, maybe it's just your imagination!" Goku quickly responded, attempting to downplay his involvement.
"Then are you perhaps... here to kill me?" the girl asked, her expression turning gloomy. However, Goku quickly interjected, determined to diffuse the situation.
"Wait. Didn't I tell you before? I'm not here to kill you. Just calm down for now," Goku reassured her, taking a cautious step forward.
But the girl's response was far from welcoming. "Don't get any closer. Who are you?" she warned, waving her hand once more. Another streak of black light brushed past Goku, the force of the wind sending him crashing into a nearby wall.
Goku groaned as he tried to gather himself. "Kotori... What do I say...?" he muttered, hoping for guidance. However, all he received was a disheartening static sound-no response from his communication device.
------------------------------------------------------
"What the hell? What's going on?"
Kotori exclaimed as the camera which they were watching Goku off went static.
"T-The connection is being disturbed!" One of the crewmen anxiously stuttered.
"By who?"
"We don't know, a-all we do know is that it's not the AST."
------------------------------------------------------
Goku's attention snapped back to the girl, only to find her standing right in front of him, her palm glowing with a dark black and purple orb pulsating with immense energy, aimed directly at him.
"W-Wait! I'm Itsuka Goku! The guy you met back then!"
"You... So you are that boy who dodged my Sandalphon."
The girl's hand lowered, and the orb she held vanished into thin air. Goku released a sigh of relief, but his respite was short-lived as the girl suddenly grabbed a lock of his hair, tilting his face upward.
She studied Goku's eyes intently, her gaze intense and piercing.
"You said you had no intention of killing me."
Her grip on his hair tightened.
"Hmph-I've seen through that. Tell me what you're after. Are you planning to attack me from behind when I let my guard down?"
Goku remained silent, absorbing her gloomy gaze. His words about not coming to kill her were met with disbelief.
It was because she was exposed to an environment where she could not believe them.
It made him feel a sense of unease and led him to reflect on his own upbringing. "What if I hadn't ended up with Grandpa Gohan?" If circumstances had been different, he might have turned out just like her. "Humans are..."
Goku voiced his thoughts. "...not all humans want to kill you."
The girl's eyes widened, and she released her grip on his hair. With a questioning gaze, she stared at Goku's face for a moment before parting her lips slightly.
"...Is that so?"
"It is."
Without saying a word, the girl withdrew her hand, her eyes half-closed as she pursed her lips. Her expression revealed her disbelief in Goku's words.
"...Then I'll ask. If you have no intention of killing me, then why are you here right now?"
"It was to help you."
Confusion filled the girl's face. "To help me? Why?"
Goku stood up. "Because... I don't think you're a bad person. There are a ton of bad people out there, but... I just don't think you're one of them. For some reason, I can tell."
"...What?"
"You can stop fighting. No one is going to hurt you. No one is going to reject you."
"Or at least, I won't reject you."
The girl raised her eyebrows and averted her gaze from Goku. After a brief moment of silence, she cracked her lips open and spoke hesitantly. "...Goku. You said your name was Goku, right?"
"-Yeah."
"You really won't reject me?"
"Yeah."
She furrowed her brows and formed a sneer, crossing her arms. "Who are you trying to fool with those words, baaka baaka!"
"Like I said, I'm-"
"...But you know, that."
With a complicated expression on her face, the girl continued.
"I don't know what's going on inside of you, but you're the first human I've been able to have a proper conversation with. ...To gather more information about this world, you might be of some use." She let out another snort.
"Huh?"
"I mean, I wouldn't mind just talking to you. But it's solely for the purpose of gaining information. Mm, that's really important. Information is incredibly valuable."
As she spoke, there was a slight softening in the girl's expression. "I-Is that so..."
Scratching the back of his head, Goku replied in agreement.
Goku assumed that this first contact would be considered a success, but there was no Kotori to confirm it.
Then, the girl started to slowly circle the classroom in large strides.
"But just try to take any suspicious action, and I'll create an air tunnel in your body."
"Ahaha... I understand..."
Hearing his reply, the girl slowly let her footsteps sound in the classroom. "Goku."
"Yeah?"
"-Then I'll ask. What exactly is this place? It's the first time I've seen somewhere like this."
Saying this, she walked around while poking the toppled desks.
"Ehh... ahh, it's a school-a classroom. It's a place where students like me go to learn about stuff. We all sit at those desks."
"What?!"
The girl's eyes widened in surprise.
"Do all of these get filled with humans? Don't joke with me. There must be close to forty."
"Nah, it's the truth. But let me tell you, it's reeeaaally boring!"
While saying this, Goku scratched the back of his head once more.
By the time the girl appeared, the evacuation alert would have already sounded in the streets. The humans she had seen were probably only the AST. And they probably didn't bring an entire army just for her.
"Hey-"
About to call the girl's name, Goku's words were stuck in his throat. "Nu?"
Probably noticing Goku's state, the girl scrunched up her brows. And then, after placing her hand on her chin for a while, as if thinking...
"...I see, in order to converse with someone, that's needed, huh."
Like that, she nodded.
"Goku.-What would you like to call me?" Sitting in one of the seats nearby, she said.
"Huh?"
Not understanding her question, he asked.
Crossing her arms with a "Hmph," she continued in an arrogant tone. "Give me a name."
"..."
After a brief silence. "A name?"
Goku repeated before placing his hand on his chin, as if thinking as well.
-What to call her... Chi-Chi? No. Er, Tome? No way. That's too weird.
Goku continued to think, eventually finding his answer.
"--How about Tohka?"
From the mouth of Goku came such a name.
Looking at that, Goku made a hard bitter smile and scratched the back of his head. He felt a little bad because he named her after the date they met.
After a moment of silence- "...How do you write that?"
"Ahh, that's-"
Goku walked to what remained of the blackboard, grabbing a piece of chalk, and wrote "十香" in barely readable handwriting.
"Hmm."
With a small nod, the girl imitated Goku and traced the blackboard with her finger. "Oh uh, you need chalk to-"
He started to say, but stopped his words. The places where the girl's finger touched were cleanly shaved away, and crudely the two words 十香 remained.
"What is it?"
"...Nothing."
"I see."
Saying this, the girl stared at the words she wrote for a while and gave a small nod. "Goku."
"Yeah?"
"Tohka?"
"Eh?"
"Tohka. It's my name. Isn't it wonderful?"
"Ah, yeah..."
Goku felt a slight embarrassment, scratching the back of his head. However, Tohka, the girl before him, moved her lips once again. "Goku."
"T-Tohka."
Goku called her name, and seeing her satisfied expression, the corners of Tohka's lips curled upward.
"..."
Witnessing her smile for the first time, Goku couldn't help but smile himself. But then-
"-...?"
Suddenly, the school building was rocked by a tremendous explosion. Goku instinctively supported himself with his hand against the blackboard.
"W-What the...!?"
In the next moment, a loud noise echoed through the air, shattering all the glass in the classroom and creating numerous bullet holes in the wall behind them. Goku frowned, realizing it was the AST.
He lifted his gaze.
Tohka wore an expression reminiscent of the one she had when confronting him. And, needless to say, the bullets had no effect on her; even the shattered glass couldn't touch her.
However, her face contorted with intense pain. "-Tohka!"
Unconsciously, Goku exclaimed. "..."
Startled, Tohka's gaze shifted from the outside to the Saiyan.
Though the deafening sound of gunfire continued, the attack on Classroom 2-4 had momentarily ceased.
Then, Tohka lowered her eyes sorrowfully.
"Hurry and escape, Goku. If you stay with me, your fellow humans will shoot at you."
Goku furrowed his brow and instead sat down in front of Tohka's feet. "Huh-?"
Tohka's eyes widened.
"I don't care. Right now, it's our time to talk. You wanted information about this world? I'll give you that information. Don't worry about those guys."
"..."
Tohka briefly displayed a surprised expression, then she sat down, facing Goku.
------------------------------------------------------
Her body encased in a wiring suit, Origami held a giant gatling gun in her hands.
Preparing herself and pulling the trigger, an unbelievable number of bullets rained down on the school building.
With her expanded territory, she barely felt the recoil, but the gatling gun itself was originally meant for battleships.
Under the relentless bombardment from all directions, the school building gradually became riddled with holes.
However, this was not an anti-Spirit weapon using the realizer. It was simply equipment designed to destroy the building and force the Spirit out.
"-How is it? Has the Spirit appeared yet?"
Ryouko's, voice came through the headset's intercom.
Ryouko was right beside Origami, but amidst the gunfire, her voice was drowned out.
"I still can't confirm it."
Origami replied without ceasing her attack.
As she fired her own gun, Origami widened her eyes and scanned the crumbling school building.
Despite being at a distance where normal eyes couldn't see clearly, the expanded Origami could even read the words on a bulletin board attached to the side of the building.
Then, Origami narrowed her eyes slightly. It was Class 2-4, her own classroom.
Due to their assault, the outer wall had completely collapsed, and she caught sight of the target-the Spirit.
However, "...Hmm? That's-"
Ryouko spoke in a skeptical voice.
After all, inside the classroom, in addition to the Spirit, there was a human figure-a young man with gravity-defying hair, probably a student who hadn't managed to escape in time.
"W-Who is that? Is he being attacked-?"
Ryouko furrowed her eyebrows and voiced her concern.
But Origami, as if she hadn't heard, continued to gaze at the classroom. She felt a sense of familiarity towards the figure of the young man beside the Spirit. "--!"
Origami's eyes widened.
That young man was none other than Origami's classmate, Itsuka Goku. "-Origami?"
Ryouko called out to her with a puzzled voice.
But Origami didn't respond. She simply issued a command in her mind-to the realizer enveloping her body-for maximum speed. "What are you doing, Origami!?"
"-It's dangerous. Please refrain from acting recklessly on your own."
As expected, they noticed the anomaly. Transmissions from Ryouko and headquarters arrived almost simultaneously.
However, Origami couldn't be stopped. She swiftly let go of the gatling gun, drew the close-range anti-Spirit laser blade called <No Pain> from her waist, and charged towards the school.
------------------------------------------------------
"So, Tohka, what exactly are you?"
At Goku's question, Tohka frowned. "I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"It's the truth. There's nothing I can do about it. -I don't know how long ago it was, but I was suddenly born there. That's that. My memories are distorted and vague. I have no idea about things such as what kind of being I am."
"I-Is that so...?"
Goku said while scratching the back of his head, and Tohka hmpfed and crossed her arms.
"That's how it is. I was suddenly born in this world, and at that moment the mecha mecha group was already dancing in the sky!"
"Mecha mecha group?"
"Those annoying people that zoom around."
It seemed like she was talking about the AST. Involuntarily Goku gave a wry smile.
"They sure are..."
Tohka then raised her head as if she remembered something.
"Goku... tell me, how did you block my Sandalphon?"
"Ahh... well, I uh, just caught it?"
Goku tried to dodge the question, but then remembered what Kotori had told him.-Once the time was right, he was to ask the Spirit on a date.
However, he didn't know if it was the right time or not with Tohka. He'd have to just take a leap.
"Hey, Tohka."
"Nn, what is it?"
"Er... The next time we uh... see each other... do you want to go on a date...?"
Tohka made a blank face.
"What is a 'date'?"
Goku had only recently learned the word from Kotori and Reine too, so he wasn't completely sure if it was the right definition.
"Well, it's when-"
Suddenly, Goku's eyes widened as he sensed one of the AST soldiers on the move-Origami. And within a moment, -outside the classroom that had given such an open-air feeling, Origami appeared.
"O-Origami...?!"
In an instant, Tohka's emotions grew dark, and she extended her hand towards there.
Then, without missing a beat, from the unrefined machinery in her hand a blade of light appeared, as Origami charged at Tohka.
Sparks like at a welding shop scattered around the area.
"Ku-"
"-How crude!"
Tohka let out a roar, shaking off Origami with the hand that stopped the blade of light.
"..."
Slightly clenching her teeth, Origami was blown backwards. -But, she immediately corrected her posture, and landed beautifully on the bullet-hole filled floor.
"Tch- It's you again."
Lightly shaking the hand that stopped the blade of light, Tohka said, as if filled with hatred.
Origami glanced at Goku, then gave off a sigh as if she was relieved.
However she immediately readied the unfamiliar weapon and shot a cold gaze towards Tohka.
Seeing her state, Tohka stole a glance at Goku, then thrust her heel into the floor below her foot.
"Sandalphon!"
Instantly, the classroom's floor bulged up, and from there the throne appeared. "What the..."
Tohka pulled the sword from the back of the throne, and thrust it towards Origami. The shockwave from that one swing, very easily picked up Goku's body, and blew it outside the school.
He was about to gracefully land on the ground, but suddenly his body became surrounded by a weightless feeling.
While feeling that floating sensation, Goku was retrieved by the <Fraxinus>.
------------------------------------------------------
Goku dusted himself off, realizing he was teleported back to the <Fraxinus>, probably by Kotori.
As he walked back into the bridge, he noticed how quiet everyone was. It was quite awkward.
He turned his gaze to his sister, slowly walking up to him. "Hey Kotori, what happened to you guys while I was talking to Tohka?"
Kotori turned her chair to Goku, with a confused expression on her face. "Tohka? Who's that?"
"Oh, she's the Spirit! She asked me to name her, so I did."
Kotori chuckled. "You named her?"
Goku was a little surprised by how little it seemed like Kotori cared about his well-being, but at the end of the day, it's not like he'd die that easily. Shrugging it off, he continued to ask about the communication.
"So... What happened to you guys?"
"We ran into some technical difficulties. There's nothing for you to worry about. But anyway, what were you doing while we were away? You two seem pretty close if Princess asked you to name her."
Kotori said in a mocking tone.
"Well, I just did what you told me to do and talked to her, and then asked her out on that date thing you told me about."
Kotori's eyes slightly widened. "Oh? You did? I thought for sure you'd be dead by now."
"How dare you!"
"But anyway, good job. Did she say yes or no?"
"Er, I wasn't able to get that far. The AST got in the way."
Kotori sighed.
"We're just going to have to try again next time... Which should be in another 10-12 days."
"You're kidding me!"
------------------------------------------------------
Goku, being Goku, completely forgot that the school had been destroyed and made his daily commute, only to be met by the ruins of his school. He couldn't help but feel relieved, knowing he didn't have to waste 7 hours of his life sitting at a desk.
He was there when the school had been destroyed, so normally one would assume that it would be closed... but it was possible that his mind had unconsciously become detached from reality.
Plus, he had spent all night in a meeting with the others, answering questions about his conversation with Tohka and reflecting on it, so his limited mental capacity might have decreased even more due to lack of sleep.
"Oh well!" Goku said with a cocky tone. "I guess I gotta go home instead! Or maybe, since Kotori isn't here, I can finally sneak an actual meal in..."
Slowly turning around, he thought about what he was going to eat. Oh, he could eat anything!
"...o, ku..."
Goku wondered if next time he saw Tohka, they could eat together. After all, someone as strong as her probably eats a lot too!
"Hey, Goku..."
The only way he'd be able to ask her is in person, so he'd have to wait another 10 days. What a drag...
"Stop ignoring me!"
"-Huh?"
A voice rang out from the other side of the closed-off area. Goku tilted his head in confusion. It was a beautiful voice that seemed familiar.
It was like a voice he had heard before... specifically, at school the previous day.
It was a voice he did not expect to hear at a time and place like this.
Goku focused his gaze in that direction as he compared the voice he'd just heard with his own memories.
And then, his entire body froze. There, right in front of his eyes, was Tohka.
"Tohka!?"
Indeed, unless Goku's mind or eyes were playing tricks on him, the girl was without a doubt the Spirit he had encountered at school the previous day.
"So you finally noticed, bakaa, bakaa."
The girl's face, beautiful enough to send chills down one's spine, was dyed with discontent. She kicked the pile of debris with a thump and approached Goku along the barely intact asphalt of the school.
Probably because it was in her way, Tohka kicked down the 'Do not enter' sign with a grunt and arrived in front of Goku.
"What are you doing here, Tohka?"
"...Nu? What do you mean?"
"Why are you in a place like this? Why isn't there a Spacequake?"
Goku glanced behind him and noticed various people, such as a group of women talking and a neighborhood resident walking their dog.
No one was taking refuge in a shelter. That meant the Spacequake alarm hadn't sounded.
Basically, this meant that neither Ratatoskr nor the AST had sensed any foreshock before the Spirit appeared.
"Even if you ask me why..."
However, the person herself didn't seem to care about the strange situation at all. She folded her arms together, as if she didn't know why Goku was making such a fuss about it.
"Aren't you the one who invited me, Goku? That... on a date!"
"Wha- You remembered?"
"Hm? What, do you think I'm an idiot or something?"
"No, that's not what I meant..."
"-Hmph, whatever. More importantly, Goku, let's go on that date already. Date, date, date, date!"
"Okay, okay! B-But you can't wear that. They look too weird."
Tohka's eyes widened in surprise when Goku said that.
"Goku, are you telling me to get undressed here?"
"No, no! I mean, uh..."
Placing his hand on his chin, he thought for a moment before getting an idea. Taking out a slip of paper from his breast pocket, he presented it to Tohka.
"These clothes would be acceptable?"
Tohka asked, examining the photo. It was one of the annoying mecha mecha group members.
"But why do you have this?"
"Don't worry about it. Just change."
Tohka sighed and said, "Fine," ripping the photo in half before raising her right hand in the air.
Just as she did that, the dress she wore started to dissolve into the air... or so it seemed. But then, as if it was being replaced, particles of light gathered around her, coiling around her body and forming a new silhouette.
After a few seconds, Tohka stood there, wearing the same Raizen High School uniform that the schoolgirl had been wearing.
"Is this okay?"
Tohka said with a smile.
"Yeah, it's perfect," Goku replied.
"Well, let's go on that date!"
END OF CHAPTER