After the last bell of the day rang, all of us in class stood up and bid farewell to Yumi-sensei. I began packing my things after she left the room when suddenly, Ayane tapped my shoulder and grinned.
"Want to grab some taiyaki on the way? Everyone's in already—my treat so no worries"
"I mean, sure?"
What got into her? It's pretty unusual for her to invite us anywhere that isn't Maji Burger, let alone treat us. But hey, I'm not complaining. It's not every day you see her offering free food.
"What's with that face bro? I'm always kind and generous Ayane-sama, the pure hearted goddess! So don't give me that look."
"Right, right."
I'm not even going to bother with a comeback. After a short chat with my sister, we both headed toward the school gate to regroup with the rest of the gang.
"You're both late—double time, double time, slugs!" Daiki joked, pointing at his wrist.
"I'm your pocket money for the day, so you've got no right to complain, Dai-chan."
Ayane smirked and raised her right palm, giving Daiki a loud high five. Seeing that we were all there, we started walking toward the nearby shopping district.
"Let's try that new limited-time matcha flavor, it looked tasty" Daiki suggested, while Ayane glanced back at him.
"Matcha? Haven't tried that flavor for anything besides ice cream. Well, red bean is fire, but I might try that for a change" Ayane whistled as we all came to a stop at a pedestrian lane.
"Oh, that's right, it's your birthday tomorrow, Masachika" Rintaro suddenly brought up an important matter. Now that he mentioned it, we always celebrated Masachika's birthday moments after the first day of class starts.
"Yeah, Dad's going to have a small feast for it, so we can head straight to our place tomorrow after class for dinner" Masachika met Rintaro's gaze and gave him a energizing smile.
"Is Yuki going to be there tomorrow? That brat still hasn't returned my Zero no Tsukaima novels and it has been a month already" Tomoya furrowed his brow, ominously adjusting his glasses with three fingers.
"She's already at our place right now actually, and will be staying until tomorrow after getting permission from Gramps and Mom" Masachika replied nonchalantly, though I didn't miss the venom in his tone when he mentioned his mom.
'It is still that bad, huh?' Except for Masachika. Everyone, even the usually oblivious Takeo, simultaneously thought to themselves, but no one commented on anything to avoid making things go awkward.
When the signal light turned go, we crossed the road and entered the shopping district. As we passed through, a middle-aged man sitting at a fish stall took notice of the twins and called out.
"Oh, isn't it the young miss and young master?" The middle-aged man greeted them warmly, catching the twins' attention.
"Oh, it's Boss Kenji!" I exclaimed, recognizing a familiar face among the line of shops in our view.
"You're right, it really is Boss Kenji!" Ayane beamed, approaching the stall. Daiki, Rintaro, and the others glanced at each other before following behind us.
The middle-aged man named Kenji got up from his seat and gently patted the smiling twins on the head with a warm smile.
"Both of you are this big already! Time sure flies when I least expect it" Kenji sighed, lowering his hand from our heads.
"And you still look the same as always despite all these years Kenji-san" I grinned at Kenji while looking him up and down.
"But it's quite unusual, what are you doing back here in Tokyo? Did something happen?" Akane asked curiously. However, Kenji simply wagged his index finger and shook his head at her.
"I can't share the details, but let's just say I got bored staying in Okinawa."
"Alright, I believe you," Akane replied dryly, seeing through Kenji's obvious lie.
"I understand coming to Tokyo to heed that fossil's call, but why are you selling fish right now?"
"Don't ask me, Lady Eleanor assigned me to this out of nowhere. A request from a friend, she says" Kenji raised his hands in surrender, swiftly arranging the flag that almost fell in the wind.
"I understand," Ayane and I replied simultaneously, seeing through the situation after hearing Grandma's name.
"Excuse me, Mister~~ how much is the mackerel?" a mature brown-haired woman suddenly asked while pointing on the display at the stand.
"Oh, it's a customer!" Kenji exclaimed and started walking towards the lady.
'I'll catch up with you two later, young master and miss. Can't keep your friends waiting, can we?" Kenji said his final words before excusing himself to tend the customer.
Continuing on our way after greeting an old friend, Satsuki curiously asked Ayane while we lined up at the taiyaki shop.
"Who was that handsome guy earlier, Ayane?"
"Handsome guy? Oh, you mean Kenji-san. Yeah, he's one of Gramps clan members."
"One of the Kuboshi-kai?"
"Not just any member, but one of the 9"
"So he's like Big Sis Omylia and Laura?"
"Yup"
"Is being a member of the 9 required to be good looking? Because so far, everyone I've seen has impeccable features" Satsuki jested while the store owner of the shop gave each of them their respective taiyaki.
"They are good looking that is a fact but no one can beat both my grandma in that department though" Ayane commented while taking a bite of her taiyaki.
"Despite being multiple centuries old, both of them still look super beautiful and young that they can still be mistaken as our aunties" I added while also taking a bite of the matcha. It's actually pretty good, not gonna lie.
"You know, I still can't believe that magic, demons, and even literal gods actually exist" Rintaro commented while taking a bite of his taiyaki.
"I'm still jealous that both of you can use ki to pull off a hadouken or even a kamehameha!" Tomoya grumbled.
"Jealous? Buddy, I suggest you change your mind. Gramps is a literal merciless abomination in training just for us to increase our ki, not even stopping until all our bones crack" I visibly shuddered, recalling all those Spartan shenanigans we pulled in the past.
"Worst of all? He can just say the word to Big Sis Laura, and we'll be in full health again, only to get beaten up once more" Ayane trembled while explaining the hell we've been through.
All of their faces twitched as Ayane finished recounting what we went through. Tomoya's earlier jealousy quickly turned into pity after hearing about our training experience.
"I take it back, being a martial artist doesn't sound tempting right now" Tomoya muttered, his glasses gleaming as he retracted his earlier statement.
"But you can't deny that having ki and arcana is still awesome. I can turn into a ninja like kakashi nin nin!" Daiki quipped, making a tora hand sign with a playful grin.
After finishing our food, we planned to go home immediately, but the paper that was shown in front of us felt like we were made in heaven. Is this reality or just fantasy?!!!!
"Being a magic user is really great, huh? Being strong and even having the benefit of being forever young—Aree? Why did you stop?"
Being flabbergasted by the sudden shift in mood from Masachika, Yukio, Ayane, and especially Tomoya, Satsuki gazed at them oddly.
"I think it's because of that" Daiki pointed at the sign of a bookstore.
"Oh, you're right, that's why" Takeo stared at the sign while the four remained frozen in place.
Limited Time Offer!
Hurry in before closing time today!
Get 7 second-hand light novels or manga of your choice for just ¥1,000!!!!
"Bravo 1, are you seeing this madness?" Ayane eyed the sign in the bookstore that was just plastered by the staff.
"This is Bravo 1 responding to Bravo 2. Yes, I am seeing this craziness you are witnessing right now over" Tomoya replied to my sister while slowly pulling out his Hitman Reborn purse.
"What about you, Bravo 3 and 4?"
"I hear you, Bravo 2. This is Bravo 3, thanking the miracle deity up there for giving me an advance birthday gift" Masachika said, joining both of his hands in respect to the bookstore in front of him.
"This is Bravo 4. Let us now move out before the hostile enemies make a move before us!" I shamelessly shouted without any regard for my surroundings.
"We will be right back for a moment!!!!" The weaboo quattro instantly bursted through the door of the store and immediately grabbed the books they fancied without any hesitation, not even checking the legitimacy of the content but basing their choices on the covers they recognized.
"You know I like anime and manga too, but these guys are on a whole other level" Takeo commented.
"You said it pal. These guys are literally fully blooded otakus. I don't know how the hell Tomoya balances his money as an elementary student, though but I'm impressed" Daiki added while scratching his head.
Not even giving them a chance to wait long, the automatic door opened to reveal four smirking morons bringing bags filled with books while wearing satisfied smirks.
"Thanks for the purchase~~"
Smiling professionally to the kids. The cashier respectfully bid her farewells to Yukio and the rest before the door slowly closed.
"That was quick" Satsuki wryly smiled before following it up with a giggle.
"No rational thoughts were used"
"Full-on instinct"
"I see a beautiful woman on the cover"
"I pull it out"
Ayane, Yukio, Masachika, and Tomoya chained their reactions while striking a Joseff Joesun pose.
While we continued moving through the shopping district, we didn't even realize that we had stepped out of it before bidding our goodbyes and going our separate ways.
After greeting Kamina at the gate, we removed our shoes at the entrance and slipped on our slippers.
"We're home!"
Ayane and I shouted but were met with pure silence. Mom and Dad must be busy again, which means no parents equals cup ramen or chicken nuggets for dinner tonight.
Ascending at the stairs, I entered my room and placed my bag on my desk. I stretched for a moment before opening my closet and slipping into my home clothes before jumping right into it.
"It's gaming time!"
Booting up my lovely baby, the delightful sound of the Windows 7 logo popped up on my screen. It's still early for a ranked match, but hey, it won't hurt to check if some of my squadmates are online.
I clicked the League of Ancient Warcraft app and signed into my account. I should have allowed auto-sign-in, but anyway, it's better to type my 21-character password every day so I don't forget a single digit or letter in it.
Speak of the devil, someone is actually online, and it's none other than my lovely sister.
—
MaskedDeity6@9 (Sniper): Quite early for this, don't you think brother? Go touch some grass
Jack Ituf∅ (Wanderer): Instead of annoying me in chat, why don't you help me find something for dinner? Nuggets and cup ramen are starting to disgust me
MaskedDeity6@9 (Sniper): I've already got that covered, brother~~~ I used the all-meat pizza coupon we got last time
Jack Ituf∅ (Wanderer): Hooray for Ayane-sama~~~
MaskedDeity6@9 (Sniper): Wanna que duo while we wait?
Jack Ituf∅ (Wanderer): No shitty thanks and fuck you bitch, I am not witnessing my rank plummet again into oblivion due to your motherfucking troll ban and items when we duo
MaskedDeity6@9 (Sniper): Come on~~ the Anti-heal passive and Q of Mikiya is not that OP like you thought it is
Jack Ituf∅ (Wanderer): Say that to the Morka that wiped us out in a freaking 1v4 due to your retardness kicking in mid-game
RasputinLoveLatinas (Mage): Yo~~~
MaskedDeity6@9 (Sniper): Help me Masachika!! My brother is bullying this poor me!!
Jack Ituf∅ (Wanderer): Who is bullying who?!!
RasputinLoveLatinas (Mage): Well, playing with a piece of shit like you is a literal coin flip when it is not a five-man. Sometimes you can roast the enemies in the late game and shred towers like paper, or become a literal sniper without any form of damage becau(chat limit)
RasputinLoveLatinas (Mage): -se you build a jungler's Raptor mace without any punisher or a Niggiral Breastplate as a motherfucker.
MaskedDeity6@9 (Sniper): Is no one gonna defend me?!!! 凸ಠ益ಠ)凸
RatYork (Jungler): Language, kids!
MaskedDeity6@9 (Sniper): Oh, its Christmas cake.
RasputinLoveLatinas (Mage): Good evening Christmas cake. How you doing tonight?
Jack Ituf∅ (Wanderer): Sup, Yumi-sensei. Still waiting for your destined one? We've got plenty of cats in the neighborhood if you're interested.
RatYork (Jungler): Want me to kick your shitty ass kid? Gotta respect your elders!!!!
MaskedDeity6@9 (Sniper): So your admitting that your old?
RatYork (Jungler): GIHAAAAAAAAA
—
"For Pete's sake, kids these days really have no mercy"
Only wearing her shirt and paired with shorts and a headband, Yumi sat in front of her monitor, the sound of the keyboard filling her apartment. However, out of nowhere, her stomach began to growl.
'Waa, I'm starting to get hungry'
Getting up from her chair, Yumi entered her kitchen and took some eggs from the fridge, along with the leftover rice she had cooked yesterday and the beef she had eaten for breakfast.
"Yosh! Time to mix this up!"
Nodding to herself, Yumi turned on her stove and started heating up her wok. She poured some peanut oil into the wok before mixing in the ingredients. Of course, she wouldn't forget the special touch.
"Tada!! The magical umami!!" Yumi added some MSG before tossing the rice again.Once she finished, she served her dinner in a bowl.
"Then, thanks for the food!!!!" Yumi folded her hand in front of her before devouring the fried rice she had prepared, she let out a groan of delight as it touched her tongue. Without pausing for even a second, she emptied the bowl immediately.
Standing up from the table, Yumi cleaned the dishes in the sink before grabbing several cans of beer from the fridge and heading straight to her couch.
"Who needs a boyfriend anyway?!! I can cook, do chores myself, and I have a job! Those brats won't understand my situation until they grow up!"
Opening a can of beer in her living room, Yumi grabbed the remote. Mindlessly changing the channel without any signs of stopping.
"Yeah, I don't need a boyfriend. Yeah, I'm not coping with the fact that I suck at conversing with men alright?!!!!" Yumi sobbed to herself while emptying the contents of the can.
Afterword:
Serious Senpai: [Ah yes, the sensei-chan character. One of the oldest tropes in fiction—never a slice of life without one.]
Author-san: [.......]
Serious Senpai: [What's with the silent treatment?]
Author-san: [.......]
Serious Senpai: [Oi, say something! This is creeping me out.]
Author-san: [.......]
Serious Senpai: [*Waving her hand in his face* Heyyy is someone there?]
Author-san: [YOLOLOLOPOLOOLOLOLOL SKIBI ALPHA SIGMA MALE IF THE GYATT 9000 MET THE OHIO BOSS OF THE—]
Serious Senpai: [Did you sniff something bad?!!! What happened to you?!!!]
Author-san: [THE GYATT IS THE SMEGMA 699NNNNNN!]