Chapter 15: If It's Good for the Dojo, Then It's Fine.
.....
A high school girl stepping out of your own bathroom wearing nothing but a bathrobe.
The sheer dreamlike absurdity of the scene made Kihara question reality itself.
Had he… missed some crucial event while he was unconscious?
Something like a reverse situation… or one of those very questionable CG scenarios.
Rikka Takarada noticed his unblinking stare and pressed her lips together shyly.
Her toes curled inside her slippers as she fidgeted, her towel slowing against her damp hair.
"Could you… not stare at me like that?"
"…Sorry. You just look really beautiful, so I got distracted."
"T-Thank you…?"
"You're welcome."
"…That's not how this works!"
Rikka knew perfectly well how dangerous her situation looked.
Bathing in a boy's house, then walking around in a bathrobe…
But Kihara's hopelessly straightforward personality and near-zero emotional awareness gave her a strange sense of safety.
Like he simply wouldn't cross that line.
And true to that impression, Kihara soon looked away, his gaze shifting to the coffee table.
There lay scattered alcohol wipes… and bloodstained bandages.
"…Rikka, you're not hurt, are you?"
"I'm fine. But you…"
Her voice softened, worry creeping in.
"Your back was bleeding so badly. I was terrified."
"Well… that monster was targeting you. I couldn't just stand there and watch."
Rikka bit her lip, clutching her towel tighter.
After a long pause, resolve flashed in her eyes.
"…Kihara. Once you've recovered… let me act as bait."
"…What?"
"That monster needs to be eliminated as soon as possible. And I don't want to be a burden anymore."
Her voice trembled slightly, but her gaze didn't waver.
"I'll lure it out."
"That's way too dangerous!"
Kihara frowned immediately, clearly rejecting the idea.
But Rikka stepped closer.
"I trust you."
Her voice was quiet, yet firm.
"You protected me today. I believe you can do it again."
"…."
Kihara fell silent.
She didn't push further.
Instead, she returned to the bathroom, picking up the hairdryer.
…If only Rikka were the heroine.
The thought slipped into Kihara's mind.
And made him freeze.
He suddenly realized something.
He had been obsessing over the idea of a "heroine."
Sure, in many stories, the heroine was everything.
But not all heroines were worth saving.
Some were unbearable. Some were outright awful.
Was he really supposed to ignore his own feelings… just because someone had the title of "heroine"?
"…No. That's ridiculous."
He clenched his fists.
"There's no way I'd lie to myself just for that. And there's no way I'd ignore a girl who entrusted her life to me."
He took a deep breath.
"To hell with 'heroine' logic."
A fierce grin spread across his face.
"I'm a pure love warrior, Kihara. Next time, I'll blast that mantis-wolf freak into dust."
Having reached his conclusion.
He suddenly bolted toward the bathroom.
"K-Kihara!?"
Before she could react, he grabbed her hand and pressed it against his chest.
"Rikka!"
"W-What is it!?"
His voice was unwavering.
"I won't let any monster hurt you. Ever."
For a moment, she just stared at him.
"…Yeah."
A soft smile bloomed.
"I believe you."
"Good."
He nodded firmly, then just… walked out.
The bathroom door closed.
Rikka stood there, stunned.
Then suddenly burst into quiet laughter.
"…That was so childish."
She looked down at her hand.
The warmth of his heartbeat still lingered in her palm.
"…But also… really cool."
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
"…And… kind of irresistible."
Despite being labeled "impossible to date" by her friends.
Rikka wasn't heartless.
And after being saved by Kihara twice…
Between the classic "hero saves the girl" moment and the bridge effect of shared danger.
Her feelings had quietly begun to change.
"I wonder when this blockhead will realize how I feel…"
She sighed softly.
Confessing now would be too embarrassing.
Especially after insisting to her friends that nothing was going on between them.
For now… she would keep it to herself.
The Next Day
"…Wait, your injuries are already gone?"
"Yep. So after school—let's go with your bait plan.
Rikka stared at him suspiciously.
Then suddenly lifted his shirt to check.
"…No way."
His back was completely uninjured.
Not even a scar remained.
"…Kihara, are you secretly an alien?"
"I'm just as surprised. Maybe the belt enhances recovery too."
She lightly punched his chest, smiling playfully.
"Then make sure you protect me properly today, okay~?"
"Leave it to me."
Her phone buzzed repeatedly.
"…Ugh. Namiko and Ren are calling me."
"Go on."
After she left, the rooftop fell silent.
Kihara leaned back against the bench, staring up at the clear blue sky.
Even though he'd stopped blindly chasing the "heroine."
He still needed to find her to return to Gensokyo.
"…Yakumo Yukari is definitely watching me."
He clicked his tongue.
"I practically shouted my stance yesterday and she didn't react at all. Probably testing me."
A pause.
"…And these weird memory gaps? Definitely her doing."
He scoffed.
"What a twisted old hag."
…No punishment came.
No reality distortion. No sudden backlash.
Just silence.
"…Figures."
He shrugged and stood up as lunch break ended.
.....
Meanwhile—
In another location.
Akane Shinjo lowered her phone, the drone feed shutting off.
"…'Heroine,' huh?"
Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"So Kihara is searching for a heroine…"
She tapped her chin.
"I couldn't hear everything, but… that sounds like a perfect main plot thread."
She had noticed something.
Her current "tokusatsu script" lacked a proper core.
It was just—
Monsters attacking Rikka → Kihara saves her.
Over and over.
Eventually, that would get boring.
"But if I use the 'heroine' concept…"
Her lips curled slightly.
"…then maybe the monsters could…"
"Good afternoon, Shinjo."
Her thoughts were interrupted.
She turned—smiling brightly.
"Good afternoon, Kihara-kun."
Her eyes sparkled with playful curiosity.
"I hear you've been getting pretty close to Rikka lately~ How's that going?"
Kihara scratched his cheek.
"I've told you already, there's nothing going on."
"…At least for now."
Akane giggled.
"I think things will progress quickly."
Kihara smirked.
"Let's hope you're right."
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Thank you for reading.
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(T/N: From Tommorow onwards back to 2 chapters daily.
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Once again thank you for reading.)