The rest of the day went by in a surprisingly normal way. The Perverted Trio got busted and beaten again trying to peep on the kendo team and I slept through every class except the last one where we had to take a test. I think I made a fairly good grade. I think I got a B+ at the very least.
Anyway, I tried finding Haru after school was over so we could hang out, but I think he already went home. I can't really imagine anyone in the mood to hang out after being beaten by an army of shinai… but I already told Mito that I was going to be home late. Ruruko had a Student Council meeting and Karlamine had something with her parents she had to do.
Everyone had something to do but me… how sad.
So I did what any normal teenager would do when their friends were busy, had too much time, and nothing to do.
I went for a long walk with no clear destination.
I walked past the park, the shopping district, the river, just about anywhere where there was a path to walk.
It was on this walk that I met the woman who would forever change my life.
I was still wandering aimlessly when an unfamiliar person passed by the corner of my eye, giving me just a small glance. I only looked back because the person herself was dressed strangely for anywhere but in front of a store that sold some kind of magical girl manga or anime CDs.
She was clearly some kind of cosplayer. She had black hair tied in twin ponytails and oddly familiar violet eyes and a child-like body despite her large breasts. It was hard to tell whether or not she was too old to be cosplaying as a magical girl… either way, she was hot.
She seemed somewhat surprised to see me looking at her, but then she waved.
I looked all around me, but then I realized nobody was around that she could be gesturing to. I double-checked just to make sure.
Putting on a confused expression, I looked at the magical girl and pointed at myself, mouthing "Me?"
The magical girl smiled, nodding happily.
Well… it's something interesting to pass the time I guess.
So I walked over to the magical girl cosplayer, still feeling confused.
She lunged forward and, for a second, I thought she was going to attack me, but then her arms wrapped around me and pulled me into a super tight hug.
Do… Do I know this girl?
I ran her cute face through my memory, but nothing came up. I'm sure I would remember a girl as cute as this one. She wasn't threatening me, so I let her continue hugging me, the perverted side of my mind savoring the feel of her boobs pressed against my chest.
"Erm… not to be rude, but… who are you exactly?" I asked after the hug started to feel awkward.
The girl released me and winked. Before I could react, she shoved a strange paper with strange occult symbols into my hands… Mito-nee would seriously have interest in this. She always had some strange obsession with the occult. I don't know why. Just, whenever there was some kind of occult-related subject or object brought up, she always had differing expressions. Sometimes she was extremely excited, other times angry, sometimes surprised. It always varied.
"When you are in your hour of greatest need, I'll appear by your side. Keep that with you. Just make your wish for me… and I will be there!" She gave a peace sign and—WAS THAT A HEART THAT JUST APPEARED?!
Before I could even figure out where to start questioning her, the magical girl ran away… leaving me confused as hell.
"Well… that was… certainly new."
And now I've had my fill of "weird" for the day. I'm gonna get groceries for dinner and then I am getting the fuck home. No more aimless walks for me.
And I thought the weirdness would end there.
A second later, my cell phone rang. I checked the caller ID:
Haru
I picked up the phone—
"—OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU! Ruto Ruto! You'll never guess what just happened!"
I rolled my eyes. Knowing this idiot, it was probably something perverted.
"You got a girlfriend?"
"Yea—Wait! How'd you guess?!"
I shrugged. "I just said the most unbelievable thing that came to mind—… you got a girlfriend?" I couldn't hide the shock in my voice. I mean, I figured Haru would get a girlfriend at some point… but I figured it would be far into the future with a girl who realized she had no options left and had to settle (No offense to Haru of course).
"Hell yeah! And you won't believe either! She asked ME out! Isn't that awesome?! I got a date on Sunday!"
I smirked. Time to screw with him.
"Oh yeah? I got a date on Sunday, too… with Yuuki Kiba." Yeeeeeaaah. I just had to one-up him like that. A date with one of the most popular girls in school was a big thing.
I waited for an angry tongue-lashing or some kind of threat to beat me up, but instead I got—
"Congrats… I don't care cos—like I said—I GOT A GIRLFRIIIEEND!"
My eyes widened. "Oh shit! You were serious?! Way to go, bud!" I found myself grinning. I was still half-certain Haru was lying, but there would be no way he could stay so calm unless he had something else to be happy about.
"Yeah. I'm still half-sure I'm dreaming right now! I really think that things are looking up for us, bro!"
"Yep."
"You gonna try asking Yuuki-san to join your harem?"
I pondered that question… I still wasn't sure if she was interested in me or not.
"Don't know. I'll try measuring her feelings for me first and then go from there."
"Bitchin. I still hate you for being actually able to start building a harem, but I'm too happy to care right now!"
I chuckled. "Just be sure to NOT be yourself. Try to make yourself out to be something OTHER than a pervert, bud."
"Alright alright! I get it. I'll be a gentleman… and maybe get a reward afterward… hehehe…"
I sighed, perfectly imagining my perverted friend drooling with that goofy perverted grin of his.
"... Right." I said, not even wanting to correct my friend's behavior. With any luck, his new girlfriend was a girl who liked perverts. "Anyway, I gotta go grocery shopping, so we're gonna have to talk later."
"Right. Later, buddy."
"Later, buddy."
We both hung up and I was left on my own.
Make that TWO of the strangest occurrences in my entire life.
Not wanting to make three, I went about on my errands and went home earlier than planned to make dinner for me and Mito-nee. God knows I'm not gonna give her the chance to cook again…
When I got home, I felt I should've shown the piece of paper that I got from the magical girl to Mito, but her words rang through my head again:
"When you are in your hour of greatest need, I'll appear by your side. Keep that with you. Just make your wish for me… and I will be there!"
I don't know why… but I found myself believing her words… so I kept the paper hidden…