Chapter 112: Only One in This World

…

What spell circle?

You just didn’t have the key!

“How long have you been sitting here?”

Himekoji frowned as he asked.

“Half an hour? An hour? Or maybe one and a half hours?”

Rikka rolled her eyes upward, seeming like she was truly thinking hard. But right after, her expression crumpled.

“I lost track! Because the Holy Mediator’s here, time and space nearby have started twisting. Can’t measure time normally anymore!”

“Are you… stupid?! Still hungry after this long?”

Himekoji snapped. He reached out a hand, trying to pull up the crouching Takanashi Rikka.

After straining twice though, Himekoji suddenly realized: because they’d swapped bodies, he couldn’t budge her at all.

His tone turned even nastier.

“What’re you still kneeling for? Going downstairs. Making you food.”

Himekoji stalked ahead with a scowl.

“Akito… you mad?”

Timidly following behind, Rikka peeked at Himekoji a couple times, then carefully asked.

Himekoji didn’t bother answering.

“Di… Did the Holy Mediator attack you?”

“Why would she attack me? And that’s your sister?”

Himekoji spun around, glaring straight at Rikka.

Inside, he sighed, utterly speechless.

Even being chuunibyou had limits, didn’t it?

He felt downright sorry for Rikka’s sister.

Luckily, his own Imouto wasn’t like this.

…

Because their family roles were similar, Himekoji naturally saw things from the Holy Mediator’s point of view.

Which meant right now, he stood opposed to Rikka.

…

“S…So Akito, you’ve already been hit by the Holy Mediator’s mind attack?”

Holy Mediator this, Holy Mediator that… She’s your sister!

“Enough! How much longer you gonna stay in this chuunibyou act!?”

Suddenly utterly fed up, Himekoji whirled back, shouting loud.

Probably Rikka had zero clue what her sister had sacrificed for her. What she’d given up.

Himekoji recalled: neighbors in the apartment building had talked, gossiped too, about how the sisters only had each other.

The elder sister quit school early. Worked to put food on the table, to pay for her little sister’s schooling. That must be the Takanashi sisters.

So if that’s true, shouldn’t Rikka, the younger one, be more grown-up? More understanding?

“A… Akito… For sure… you’ve been contaminated by the Realm Management Bureau now…”

Himekoji’s shout instantly made Rikka’s eyes redden.

Her drooping hand timidly clutched Himekoji’s sleeve, refusing to let go.

“But… but… aren’t you my Contractor?”

Pitiful. Wounded innocence.

This Rikka – what’d she look like?

Like a rabbit being cautious yet forcing itself to be brave.

If Himekoji just showed a flicker of impatience, she’d instantly release his sleeve. Run back into the woods, eyes puffy and red.

“Groooooowl—”

Right then, of all times, her starving stomach grumbled loud.

Himekoji wanted to keep raging. But looking at this Rikka, every shred of anger just vanished.

“Tch.”

He sighed wearily.

“What d’you wanna eat?”

Himekoji’s voice softened a little.

“In… instant noodles?”

Maybe still scared by how Himekoji snapped earlier, Rikka stole a couple glances at his expression first. Finally mustered up courage to whisper it out.

Because of that body swap, the scene felt almost comical: this timid, meek “guy” acted like some henpecked husband.

While Himekoji? Came off like some scary “mother tiger”.

“Instant noodles?”

Himekoji sounded confused.

“Mm. Because… Holy Mediator forbade me this stuff… so… just wanna try!”

“Oh.”

What a reason…

Himekoji shook his head wryly.

Hah. Trying to scrape by alone all his days, he’d eaten instant noodles until he felt like puking.

…

Down from upstairs was quick. Rikka sat at the table now, drumming her chopsticks while waiting for food.

“Five minutes.”

Himekoji fixed Rikka’s noodles, handing her the cup while talking.

His temper came quick, went quicker actually.

Once he cooled down and thought, Himekoji realized: that earlier burst, he’d just stuck his nose where it didn’t belong.

Family feelings… little sisters… stuff like that just made him jumpy. Made him step in without thinking.

But what had actually happened between those sisters? What was their relationship truly? He knew nothing. Had simply assumed.

“S…Sorry.”

Himekoji’s voice sounded awkward.

“Huh?”

Rikka tilted her head in confusion.

“Huh?”

Himekoji suddenly felt his face growing warm.

That’s why, having swapped bodies before, he knew girls’ cheeks flushed far too easily!

“Why is Akito apologizing?”

Rikka blinked puzzledly.

“Why does everything need a reason? I’m apologizing, so accept it!”

Himekoji pursed his lips.

“Anyway, feel proud! Hardly anybody in this world gets an apology from me!”

“Hardly anybody?”

Rikka’s eyes suddenly sparkled.

“Then… am I someone special to Akito? Special like ‘hardly anybody’ special?”

Her gaze locked onto him, filled with expectation.

“Th-think whatever you want!”

Somehow, under that intense stare, Himekoji flustered, turning his face away as he pretended to sip tea from the teacup.

“Akito is very special to me too!”

Rikka declared this seriously and solemnly.

“Pfft!”

The water Himekoji just drank sprayed out instantly.

Luckily, he sprayed it sideways.

Seriously—

“Don’t suddenly say things like that so casually!”

It’s a critical hit! Too unfair!

“The one and only Contractor in this world.”

Then he heard the little chuunibyou add the rest word by word.

Well, that killed the mood completely…

Just a chuunibyou thing, only a chuunibyou thing after all.

……

“Akito, as fellow Contractors, we should change our email addresses to the Contractor format.”

No clue what inspired her this time, Rikka produced another ridiculous, nonsensical term out of nowhere.

“Contractor format?”

“Mm. For example, mine’s EvileyeRikka0612@XX.xxx, and Akito’s will be EvileyeAkito0612@XX.xxx.”

Wait, isn’t this clearly a couple’s email address?

Also—

“Why does my number have to match yours?”

“Because June 12th is my birthday.”

“No, I mean why should I add your birthday?”

“Because Akito is my Contractor.”

Rikka said it like it was obvious, already grabbing Himekoji Akito’s phone to make changes. Moments later—

“Done. Akito’s email address is updated!”

“Hold on! That was way too fast! I never agreed!”

“But I approved it already.”

Hey, you changed my email! Your opinion doesn’t count!

“It’ll be a hassle afterward—I’d have to notify everyone one by one.”

This was just an excuse. Truth was, Himekoji barely had anyone to inform.

His editor Sonoko-nee was one. His illustrator partner Eriri was another. Kasumigaoka, who pushed her new book plans onto him, made three.

And Saika, who he hoped to tell first.

Exactly four people. No fifth existed.

As for his Imouto, he’d promised not to contact her secretly since their adoption.

……

“No need.”

Rikka replied decisively.

“Huh?”

“No need. In this realm, only the Holy Mediator, the Mjolnir Wielder, and my Contractor Akito can perceive my existence.”

She nodded confidently.

Wait—Himekoji suddenly understood something, staring at her in disbelief—

This girl… this girl…

Probably…

Might be quite lonely too.