Yuta walked ahead, steps calm, body relaxed… or at least that's how it looked on the outside.
Inside, his stomach was still in knots.
Yuta POV
'What the hell was that, man…? Seriously, I almost got arrested. Arrested! Imagine the scene: the reincarnated guy with a supernatural system… locked up for harassment!'
I sighed deeply, trying to shake off the mental weight.
'This has to be a meme in some multiverse, no way it's not…'
At every corner, I glanced discreetly at the reflections in shop windows or street poles. And there she was.
Megumi Katō, walking a few meters behind, her steps short but steady.
She didn't look like someone who'd gotten over what happened… or someone who'd give up on figuring out what the hell just went down.
'Great. On top of almost getting arrested, now I've got a confused stalker tailing me. What a fantastic day, congrats to me.'
I adjusted my backpack on my shoulder and kept my pace, trying to look as casual as possible.
'Never again… NEVER again do I try to handle a mission on the fly. Next time, I plan, I analyze… and if it goes wrong, at least I don't come off as the school's mystic pervert.'
I looked up at the sky, forcing a dramatic sigh just to keep myself sane.
'Alright, Yuta. Breathe, act normal, and for the love of everything holy, stop screwing up on the next mission.'
Megumi Katō POV
'This makes no sense…'
My gaze fixed on the back of the boy ahead. The same boy who, until minutes ago, seemed like a complete lunatic… and now walked like nothing had happened.
'This morning, I could barely get out of bed, like the whole world was suffocating me… and now… now I feel… light?'
My hand tightened on the strap of my backpack, fingers trembling slightly.
'It's not just curiosity… it's fear. What did he do? How did he know so much about what I was feeling? And that talk about how I could… die?'
I swallowed hard.
'This is serious. If it's true… I should go to a church. Or find a temple. Maybe… one of those paranormal detectives from weird online forums?'
My heart raced.
'But what if it's just a prank? Or worse… what if it's real and I just ignore it?'
I looked ahead again.
'He didn't even say his name… who does something like that and just walks away?!'
My steps quickened instinctively.
'I'm not waiting for answers to fall from the sky. And I… definitely won't shout the name of someone I don't even know!'
My legs started running, the air rushing into my lungs.
'Enough following. I'm finding out what's going on!'
*****
"Look at that, again… he didn't even stop, and she's already chasing him. This guy's a monster!"
On the side of the plaza, the same two boys from earlier watched the scene unfold, their eyes wide with awe.
"You saw, right? He barely said a word… and now the girl's running after him. That's the real Kuoh conqueror!"
The other crossed his arms, a jealous smirk on his face.
"That's master-level. Bet he teaches a course on this somewhere online."
Further ahead, two first-year girls drew closer, whispering excitedly.
"Hey, isn't that Yuta Okkotsu? From the second-year second class?"
"It is! I always thought he kept to himself, but… up close, he's kinda cute, huh?"
The other giggled softly.
"Cute and mysterious. No wonder Megumi's chasing him."
"Does he give advice? 'Cause I could use some!"
Their voices faded amid discreet laughter and curious glances, while Yuta's figure moved down the street, completely unaware of the new fame he'd accidentally earned.
*****
Megumi quickened her pace, the soft sound of her shoes nearly inaudible against the ground.
In moments, she was beside Yuta, breathless, her face serious and eyes locked on him.
"I need answers. Now."
Yuta didn't slow down. His eyes stayed forward, his expression calm, but his voice was low enough for only her to hear.
"Not here. Not in front of everyone."
Megumi frowned, her breathing still rapid.
"Then when?"
Yuta let out a faint sigh and finally glanced at her sideways, his gaze direct.
"Lunchtime. Behind the gym. I'll explain what I can."
She hesitated for a second but nodded, adjusting her backpack on her shoulder.
"Can I at least know your name first? Since you seem to know everything about me…"
Yuta paused briefly, as if only now realizing his oversight.
"Yuta. Yuta Okkotsu. And… sorry for not introducing myself earlier."
Megumi brushed back the fringe the wind kept messing with and faced him head-on.
"Megumi Katō. Now officially."
For a moment, neither said anything more.
The distant sound of the school gates closing echoed, but it felt too far away to matter.
Her eyes, usually dull and distant, were more alive now. There was something unsettling and curious in them… as if they were trying to decipher Yuta right there on the sidewalk.
For Yuta, it was the first time he really looked at her, free from the worry of curses or missions.
And in that longer glance, it hit him.
'Beautiful… that's the only way to describe her now that I'm seeing her clearly.'
It wasn't a flashy or obvious beauty… but it was impossible to ignore.
Their eyes locked for a few seconds too long, until Megumi looked away, a faint sigh escaping.
No more words. No steps forward.
And for now, it stayed at that.
"Hey, they can head straight to a motel at this rate!"
The voice came too loud from one of the older boys across the street, followed by barely contained laughter.
"That's what I call efficiency… shows up and already conquers the toughest girl in school!"
Other comments rose amid chuckles.
"Congrats, Yuta! Master of seduction!"
Two nearby girls hid their faces in their hands, blushing and stifling giggles.
Yuta raised an eyebrow, utterly lost in the situation.
'What the…?'
Megumi just glanced sideways, her expression serious but her cheeks faintly flushed.
Trying to break the awkward vibe, Yuta forced a short cough.
"Khf…!"
He took a step forward, resuming his walk as if nothing had happened.
Megumi followed beside him, silent, their steps synchronized in quiet.
Neither had any idea how that simple encounter had spiraled into something utterly absurd.
Their steps carried them to the school gate. The sound of students already in classrooms echoed in the background, mixed with the final bell.
Megumi stopped right at the entrance, her gaze fixed on some vague point ahead. For a brief moment, she seemed to hesitate again.
But that phrase still pounded in her mind: 'If that had stayed in your body much longer… it could've killed you.'
She swallowed hard. Fear spoke louder.
"Lunchtime… behind the gym. Don't forget."
Her voice came out louder than she intended. And, without realizing, it caught the attention of a few students rushing by.
Yuta glanced sideways, surprised by the public confirmation, but only nodded.
"I'll be there."
His words were calm, unaware of the weight they'd just gained in others' ears.
Without further exchange, they each took a different path, their steps quick to avoid being late.
Nearby, a group of girls exchanged looks, whispering almost instantly.
"Did you hear that? Behind the gym… at lunch!"
"That's practically a confession!"
"Oh my God… are they really meeting?!"
In minutes, that simple statement began to snowball. And, like all good high school gossip… it was only going to get worse.
Bonus Chapter Available!
If you're enjoying the story and want access to an exclusive bonus chapter, consider supporting me on Patreon!
Your support helps me keep creating more content like this.
Check it out here: p atreon.com/22Mirko22
Thank you so much for your support!