Chapter 15
Haru sat at his desk and stared at the blank book in front of him.
He didn't know why he had it.
He didn't know where it came from.
He just knew that looking at it made his chest ache in a way he couldn't explain.
He opened it. Closed it. Opened it again.
Every page was empty.
Why do I have this?
He tried to remember. He had a vague sense that someone had given it to him. Someone important. Someone who—
Nothing.
The thought dissolved before he could grasp it.
His gaze drifted toward the empty desk beside the window.
It should have belonged to someone.
He knew it.
He just couldn't remember who.
"...What's happening to me?"
The words came out quieter than he intended.
No one answered.
---
The classroom door slid open.
Ms. Georgia entered carrying a stack of books, and she looked strangely amused.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Ms. Georgia!"
She smiled. "I suppose today is just full of surprises."
The class exchanged puzzled glances.
"This is already the second transfer student I've had to introduce today."
The room immediately exploded into whispers.
"Another one?"
"Seriously?"
"Didn't Class 1-B get one this morning too?"
"I wonder if this one's cute."
Ms. Georgia sighed dramatically. "You people really have your priorities in order."
She stepped aside.
"You may come in."
A girl calmly walked into the classroom.
Long silver hair. Crimson eyes. An elegant posture that somehow made the classroom feel smaller.
She looked around with quiet confidence before giving a graceful bow.
"My name is Yukiko."
"I look forward to our time together."
Silence.
Then—
"Dude... she's gorgeous..."
"Another school goddess candidate?"
"No way..."
"The transfer students this year are terrifying..."
Even Haru looked up.
"..."
For a brief moment...
He felt like he'd seen those crimson eyes somewhere before.
But the feeling disappeared just as quickly.
Ms. Georgia looked around the room before noticing the empty desk.
"Perfect. That seat has been vacant since this morning. You'll sit there."
Yukiko followed her finger.
Her crimson eyes landed on Haru.
So.
That was him.
The human who had commanded the Scarlet Knight.
The one who had defeated her.
Interesting.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
She walked over before elegantly taking her seat.
Haru, however...
Didn't even notice.
He was still staring blankly at the blank book in his hands.
Yukiko blinked.
"..."
Ignored?
Her eyebrow twitched.
She slowly reached into her school bag before pulling out a thick, ancient-looking book bound in black leather.
Its cover read:
101 Ways To Make Friends
She opened it.
"...Chapter One."
"...Introductions."
She nodded seriously. "I see."
She closed the book.
Then turned toward Haru.
"Human."
No response.
"Human."
Still nothing.
"Human!"
Nothing.
Her eye twitched again.
"HEY, HUMAN!"
Haru nearly jumped out of his seat.
"Huh?!"
He looked around in confusion before realizing she was talking to him.
"Oh... sorry. Were you calling me?"
Yukiko folded her arms.
"You dare ignore me? Are your ears nothing more than decorative accessories? I have addressed you four times. Most who ignored me never walked away with their lives."
She paused.
"...However. I shall overlook your disrespect. This once."
Haru stared for a second.
Then...
He laughed.
"..."
She even talks like Elara.
Why does that feel... comforting?
"I'm really sorry. I was thinking about something."
Yukiko gave a proud nod. "Very well. I have decided I wish to know your name."
Haru blinked. "...Shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
Silence.
Yukiko froze.
"..."
"..."
"You... dare make demands of me?"
She quickly reopened her book.
The pages began turning by themselves.
After a few seconds they stopped.
She read silently.
Then cleared her throat.
"...I have been informed that introductions are indeed conducted by introducing oneself first."
"My mistake."
She closed the book.
"I am Yukiko. You have my permission to address me by that name."
Haru smiled. "Hmm... Yukiko's kind of long. I'll just call you Yuki."
"..."
A vein on the side of her head bulged.
"...You—"
She stopped herself.
Slowly reopened the book.
Several pages flipped.
Her eyes widened.
"...Nicknames signify closeness between friends..."
"I see..."
She shut the book.
"...Very well. I shall permit this as well."
Haru couldn't help laughing. "Thanks. I appreciate it."
He extended his hand.
"I'm Haru. I hope we get along."
Yukiko stared at his hand.
"..."
"..."
Confused, she once again opened the mysterious tome.
It answered almost instantly.
"Oh. A handshake. A greeting ritual among humans. How fascinating."
She carefully reached out before awkwardly shaking his hand.
"..."
Warm.
Why... was something as simple as this... so strangely pleasant?
"Haru..."
She quietly repeated his name.
"What does it mean?"
"I think it means spring."
"...Spring."
She nodded thoughtfully.
"A season where life begins anew."
"...An excellent name."
Haru smiled. "Thanks."
The corner of Yukiko's lips lifted ever so slightly.
Maybe... making friends wasn't impossible after all.
---
The rest of the lesson passed surprisingly peacefully.
Yukiko spent almost the entire class secretly consulting her mysterious book whenever Haru did something she didn't understand.
When he laughed, she checked the book.
When another student borrowed a pen, she checked the book.
When someone thanked another classmate, she checked the book.
At one point Haru glanced sideways.
"...Are you studying?"
Without looking up she answered proudly. "I am studying humans."
"..."
"...Should I be worried?"
"No. You are all surprisingly harmless."
"...Mostly."
Haru decided not to ask what she meant by "mostly."
---
When the lunch bell finally rang...
The classroom immediately erupted into noise.
Chairs scraped across the floor. Conversations filled the room.
Yukiko stood with all the dignity of a queen addressing her court.
"Haru."
"I have deemed you worthy of dining with me."
"You may consider yourself honored."
Nearby students immediately turned toward them.
"...Whoa."
"Did she just invite him?"
"On the first day?"
Haru scratched the back of his head.
"Sorry. I usually eat lunch with my friends. I'll have to pass."
Silence.
Yukiko simply stood there.
Her proud expression didn't change.
Not outwardly.
Inside...
"...Rejected?"
Her shoulders suddenly felt heavy.
So... all that effort... for nothing?
She had spent hours researching friendship.
Hours cooking.
Hours preparing.
For the first time in two lifetimes...
She had wanted to share something she made herself.
"..."
Perhaps... she had misunderstood.
Perhaps she simply wasn't suited for this.
She quietly lowered her lunchbox.
"...Very well. I understand."
She turned to leave.
"H-Hey..."
Haru watched her walk away.
Something about that lonely back...
Made his chest tighten.
He looked toward his friends waiting by the doorway.
Then back at Yukiko.
"..."
"...Guys!"
Everyone looked over.
"I'll catch up with you later! I promised someone I'd eat with them today."
Before anyone could respond...
He hurried after her.
"Yuki!"
She stopped.
Slowly turned around.
"I changed my mind. If your invitation still stands..."
"I'd like to join you."
For the briefest moment...
Her crimson eyes sparkled.
"..."
She immediately composed herself.
"You are perhaps the luckiest human I shall ever meet. I have allowed you to refuse me... and then accept afterwards."
"Do not expect such generosity twice."
Haru laughed. "I'll treasure the privilege."
"...You should."
But despite her proud tone...
The tiny smile she failed to hide said everything.
---
The rooftop was quiet.
A gentle breeze drifted across the school buildings, carrying with it the distant chatter of students enjoying their lunch break.
It was peaceful—almost too peaceful.
Haru followed Yukiko up the final flight of stairs before stepping onto the rooftop.
"I never knew we were allowed up here."
"We aren't," Yukiko answered matter-of-factly.
Haru stopped walking. "...What?"
She looked back at him. "I simply ignored the sign."
Sure enough, hanging on the rooftop door was a large notice.
ROOFTOP ACCESS PROHIBITED
"...You know what, somehow that doesn't even surprise me."
"It shouldn't."
She walked toward the fence overlooking the academy grounds and gracefully sat down.
"This place is acceptable."
"That's... one way of putting it."
Haru sat beside her, setting his lunchbox between them.
For a few seconds neither of them spoke.
Yukiko quietly reached into her bag before carefully placing an old leather-bound book on the ground.
Its cover shimmered faintly under the sunlight.
Across the front were four elegant words.
The Tome of Knowledge
She gently patted it.
"I have succeeded."
The pages flipped by themselves.
"Correction."
Yukiko blinked. "What?"
"You have reached Chapter Two."
She frowned. "...That is not what I meant."
"Then phrase your questions better."
Haru stared. "...Did your book just talk?"
"It always talks."
"..."
"It is very knowledgeable."
The tome puffed itself up proudly. "Naturally."
"...I'm not even going to question that."
Yukiko nodded approvingly. "A wise decision."
She then carefully placed an elaborate lunchbox between them.
"I prepared today's meal personally."
Haru smiled. "Oh? You cooked?"
"I did."
"You know... that's actually impressive."
A tiny smile appeared on Yukiko's face. "I spent the entire night researching."
"I'm looking forward to—"
She then lifted the lid of her lunchbox.
The moment it opened...
Haru felt something.
It wasn't a smell.
It was...
An aura.
The air itself seemed to recoil.
The clouds overhead looked slightly darker.
Even the nearby pigeons abruptly changed direction mid-flight.
"..."
Silence.
The food...
...looked alive.
Something purple bubbled ominously in one corner.
A suspicious green smoke lazily escaped another.
One sausage appeared to be... vibrating.
Haru slowly leaned closer.
"...Yukiko."
"Yes?"
"...Why does it look like you imprisoned an eldritch horror inside your lunchbox?"
She tilted her head. "I think it looks beautiful."
The Tome immediately chimed in. "An exquisite culinary masterpiece."
Yukiko folded her arms smugly. "You see? Even the Tome agrees."
Haru pointed at the lunchbox. "I'm less worried about beauty and more worried about whether it's edible."
The Tome went silent.
"..."
"...Well?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"You literally know everything."
"Correct."
"So... is it edible?"
Another pause.
"Truthfully..."
The pages trembled.
"...answering that question may endanger my own existence."
"..."
"The good news is..."
Haru leaned forward.
"It probably won't kill you."
Haru slowly looked up.
"...That word 'probably' is doing an unbelievable amount of work."
Yukiko confidently picked up her spoon.
"There is nothing to fear."
She looked inside the lunchbox.
"..."
"..."
"...I seem to have misplaced my spoon."
Haru looked around before noticing something metallic half-submerged inside the food.
"Oh."
He reached in carefully before pulling it out.
"...I think I found it."
Yukiko smiled. "Wonderful."
"..."
"...It's melted."
"...What?"
He held up what remained.
The handle was intact.
Everything else had dissolved into an abstract piece of modern art.
"...Somehow... your lunch melted the spoon."
Even the Tome remained silent.
"..."
"..."
"I advise against further investigation."
Yukiko stared at the remains of the spoon.
"...Curious."
She shrugged. "It changes nothing."
Using what remained of the spoon, she scooped up a tiny bite.
She confidently placed it into her mouth.
One second passed.
Two.
Three.
The color completely drained from her face.
She froze.
Her eyes became empty.
A translucent crimson window suddenly appeared before her.
[WARNING!]
[Toxic substance detected.]
[Immediate detoxification strongly advised.]
Yukiko remained perfectly still.
Haru waved a hand in front of her face.
"...Yukiko?"
No response.
"...Yuki?"
Still nothing.
"...Hello?"
Nothing.
"...I think I broke her."
He quickly opened his own lunchbox.
"Uh..."
"I don't know if this works..."
He picked up one of the grilled sausages he'd made that morning.
Carefully...
He held it in front of her lips.
"...Here."
Almost mechanically...
Yukiko took a bite.
Crunch.
She stopped.
Her eyes slowly widened.
She chewed once. Twice. Three times.
Her expression changed.
"..."
"..."
"...Delicious."
Before Haru could react—
She suddenly leaned so close their noses were nearly touching.
"I desire another."
Haru nearly dropped his chopsticks. "W-Whoa!"
Without seeming embarrassed in the slightest, Yukiko simply opened her mouth.
"...Ah."
"..."
"...You're serious?"
She nodded. "I am waiting."
Haru scratched his cheek. "...This feels strangely familiar."
For some reason...
...he was reminded of Elara.
Trying not to overthink it, he picked up another sausage.
The moment he brought it close—
Chomp.
Gone.
"..."
"...Another."
"You don't even hesitate, do you?"
"I fail to see the issue."
"...Fair enough."
He laughed before cutting a piece of omelette. "This one's my favorite."
She accepted it just as readily.
Her crimson eyes sparkled. "...Magnificent."
"Really?"
She nodded several times.
"This texture... this flavor..."
"...Human cuisine is terrifying."
"...I think that's a compliment."
"It is."
Piece after piece...
She happily accepted everything Haru offered.
Rice. Egg. Vegetables. Even the pickled side dishes.
Each new bite somehow made her happier than the last.
By the time the lunchbox was empty...
Small stains covered the corners of her lips.
Haru couldn't help chuckling. "...Hold still."
"Hm?"
He pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket before gently wiping the sauce from the corner of her mouth.
"There."
"..."
Yukiko blinked.
"...Thank you."
She quietly accepted the cloth before finishing the rest herself.
For a while...
Neither of them spoke.
The wind gently rustled through the rooftop.
Haru packed away his empty lunchbox.
"...Thanks for lunch."
"...Although I think only one of us actually ate."
"..."
"...Yukiko?"
She hadn't moved.
When he looked closer...
He saw tiny tears gathering in the corners of her crimson eyes.
His smile disappeared.
"...Hey. What's wrong?"
She lowered her head.
"...It isn't fair."
"Huh?"
"No matter how many times..."
"...you always defeat me."
Haru blinked. "...Defeat you?"
She slowly nodded.
"I devoted myself to making today's meal. I consulted the Tome. I followed every instruction."
"I wished..."
"...to impress you."
She laughed bitterly.
"And yet... your food surpassed mine completely."
She looked down at her ruined lunch.
"...Just like before."
"...Just like in our previous world."
Haru quietly watched her.
Although he had no memory of what she was talking about...
...the sadness in her voice felt painfully genuine.
He slowly reached toward her lunchbox.
"...Well..."
"I guess one bite won't hurt."
Yukiko's eyes shot open. "Wait—"
Too late.
Haru scooped up a generous spoonful.
"...Here goes nothing."
He took the bite.
"See, it's not so ba—"
His pupils rolled upward.
"...I..."
With the grace of a fallen tree, he collapsed backwards onto the rooftop.
One trembling hand reached dramatically toward the heavens.
"...I see it..."
"...The light..."
"...Mom..."
"...Dad..."
"...Looks like..."
"...I'm joining you in the afterlife..."
His arm dropped lifelessly onto the floor.
Complete silence.
Yukiko stared.
"..."
"..."
"...HARUUUU!!"
She practically tackled him.
"Haru! Stay with me! Do not go toward the light!"
The Tome flew open by itself.
[Warning. Toxic substance detected. Immediate detoxification recommended.]
"I KNOW THAT!"
Golden and crimson magic circles burst into existence around her.
Healing magic. Purification magic. Recovery magic.
She cast every spell she knew one after another.
"Haru! You fool! Wake up!"
The Tome turned another page.
[Recommendation: Next time, do not feed guests experimental cuisine.]
"...NOW YOU TELL ME!"
---
"...Mmm..."
Haru slowly opened his eyes.
A white ceiling greeted him.
"...Where am I..."
"The academy infirmary."
He turned his head.
Yukiko sat beside his bed.
Her usual regal posture was gone.
She looked exhausted.
The moment she noticed his eyes were open—
She shot to her feet.
"Haru! You idiot! What were you thinking?!"
"You knew it looked dangerous! You still ate it!"
"Do you enjoy poisoning yourself?! You almost died!"
Haru blinked a few times before scratching his cheek.
"...Yeah."
"But..."
"...you looked so disappointed."
Yukiko stopped. "...What?"
"You worked really hard making that lunch. I could tell."
"So..."
"I couldn't just let all that effort go to waste."
"I figured..."
"...the least I could do was try it."
Silence filled the infirmary.
Yukiko simply stared at him.
"...You... ate it... because of that?"
Haru smiled sheepishly.
"It would've felt wrong not to."
"I know what it's like to put your heart into something... and have nobody appreciate it."
"So... even if it nearly killed me..."
"...I'm glad I tried it."
Yukiko's lips parted.
No words came out.
Her face slowly turned crimson.
A strange warmth spread through her chest.
The Tome quietly opened by itself.
[Diagnosis: Affection level increased significantly.]
She slammed it shut so hard it let out a squeak.
"T-That tome... keeps malfunctioning."
Before Haru could ask what she meant—
BANG!
The infirmary door flew open.
"HARU!"
Mika charged in first and immediately launched herself at him.
"H-Hey—"
"Oof!"
She wrapped him in a tight hug.
"You idiot! You scared us half to death!"
A second later Kia walked in, relief washing over her face the moment she saw him awake.
Without hesitation she hugged him as well.
"You really had us worried."
Finally...
Elara entered.
She walked straight over to the bed.
Without saying a word, she gently placed the back of her hand against Haru's forehead.
"...No fever. Excellent."
Then...
She suddenly wrapped both arms around him.
"I feared I would arrive too late."
Haru laughed awkwardly. "I only ate bad food..."
"Apparently very bad food."
"You still frightened me."
"...Permit me this much."
Watching the scene...
Yukiko quietly stood.
No one noticed.
She glanced at Haru one last time.
"...How troublesome."
She slipped out of the infirmary unnoticed.
---
"Haru."
Kia suddenly folded her arms.
"I believe you owe me something."
"Hm?"
"The make-me-do-anything card."
Haru blinked. "...Oh. I completely forgot."
She pushed a pair of glasses up triumphantly.
Haru rubbed his eyes. "Where did those glasses come from?"
"That's not important. All you should know is the card is mine now. Mika, you might as well give up—there is no way you surpassed me."
"Oh really? I was about to say the same thing."
"There was never any doubt. I have won this challenge."
Kia smiled proudly before producing her marked paper.
"A perfect score."
Mika chuckled. "...That's funny."
"What is?"
"I also got a perfect score."
She proudly held up her own paper.
Kia's confident smile froze. "...Excuse me?"
"We tied."
Both girls slowly turned toward Haru.
He immediately sensed danger.
"...Right."
He coughed into his fist.
"In that case... the competition continues."
"What?!"
"The next homework decides the winner."
"You moved the goalpost!"
"I object!"
"My card. My rules."
Both girls groaned in perfect synchronization.
---
Elara suddenly raised a hand.
"Haru. Lend me your ear."
"Oh?"
"I have acquired rivals."
"You what?"
She began counting on her fingers.
"First, a silver-haired maiden with crimson eyes. Second, a diligent scholar named Trisha. And finally..."
"...a rather loud noblewoman."
Haru blinked. "...Noblewoman?"
Mika burst into laughter. "She's talking about Amanda! The self-proclaimed princess."
Realization dawned on Haru. "...Princess Perfect?"
"The very one."
He couldn't help laughing. "So Amanda challenged you?"
Elara nodded proudly. "She seeks to defend her title as one of the school goddesses. I accepted."
Haru sighed while rubbing his forehead.
"...Somehow... that sounds exactly like something you'd do."
The room erupted into laughter.
---
Outside the infirmary...
Yukiko stood quietly beside the closed door.
The laughter inside drifted into the hallway.
She smiled to herself.
"...Haru."
"You truly are unlike any human I have ever met."
Her expression became thoughtful.
"...No."
"...Unlike anyone I have ever known."
She turned and began walking away.
"I was already considering it..."
"...but now I am certain."
"I shall ensure your ascension comes sooner rather than later."
With those quiet words...
The Demon Lord disappeared around the corner.
— END OF CHAPTER —