The evening bell rang as classes ended. Haru and Keiko walked out of their classroom.
“This is pretty stressful,” she sighed.
Haru asked, “What is it, Keiko-chan?”
“I promised to help someone from the Journalism Club with something, and now a bunch of other clubs dragged me into helping them.”
He said, “I have to help an idiot from that club too, so we’ve both been roped into stuff we don’t want to be.”
“We should get going,” she stated. “Let’s help out those people as soon as possible, Haru-kun. Then we can spend more time together.”
“Alright. I’ll see you later, Keiko-chan.”
Haru went to the journalism club room. Watanabe was there. She pulled him aside and smiled as she handed him a school newspaper.
“See, Baba-san? This was just published,” she said.
He replied, “It has the story with Keiko-chan in it. Alright, I’ll help you.”
“Great!” Watanabe stated. “And after this, you’ll be making out with Keiko in a hot springs resort.”
Haru asked, “Isn’t that jumping into things a bit fast?”
“What are you talking about?” she wondered. “You two have kissed, right?”
“We can’t do that until we’re married.”
“H-huh?” Watanabe shook her head. “Let’s just get to my problem. How can I stop Jirogame from publishing those comics in the newspaper without forcing him?”
“You could convince him that they’re not good,” Haru suggested.
She stated, “That’s not an option. The whole journalism club praised them, and Jirogame knows them well enough that I can’t say they’re just humoring him.”
“Why don’t you put him in a Boston Crab and make him not publish them?”
Watanabe said, “What the hell are you suggesting?”
“You like wrestling,” Haru stated. “So, you should know the moves.”
“Baba-san, y…”
He interrupted her, “I’m joking. You can’t get rid of the comics either; because, he’d just draw more. Maybe you could have someone else be put in them instead?”
“I don’t think that they’d accept you for the comics,” Watanabe replied.
Haru glared, “I didn’t mean me. There have got to be other people in the school who like pro wrestling and would love to have that art made about them.”
“That could work.”
“You’re here, Haru,” Erik walked over. “I didn’t expect you to interact with anyone.”
“Perfect timing. Eri…Kenji-kun, do you like professional wrestling?” Haru asked.
The vampire answered, “Why would I like a bunch of fat people blobbing into each other?”
“That’s sumo wrestling, not professional wrestling.”
Watanabe barked, “Hang on! Did you just insult sumo? It’s our national sport!”
“Look, I have nothing against Sumo. It’s a sport fat people can actually compete in. I just don’t like it personally,” Erik clarified.
“You’re talking about it like it’s the Special Olympics!” she said.
“And it isn’t?”
Watanabe walked behind Erik, grabbed his back, and suplexed him into the floor.
“Excellently done!” He gave a thumbs up.
“Oh no!” She let him go and jumped back. “I’m so sorry! I got mad!”
Erik waved it off, “I wanted you to get mad.”
“What? Why?”
“I heard your conversation with Haru, and I had to see how good you actually were. And before you ask, I don’t hate sumo wrestling or think it’s like the Special Olympics. I just said that to piss you off.”
“Don’t tell anyone about this,” Watanabe demanded.
Erik shrugged, “That’s fine with me, but I think I can help you.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered. “I’ve been binge-watching spy movies recently. What we need to do is go on a secret mission to take the comics just before the school festival’s day comes. You can prepare a backup, and we’ll take the comics so it can be used instead.”
Haru sighed, “That’s a terrible idea, Kenji-kun.”
“Don’t worry. She can just say the other plan’s in case something happens.”
“Then it’ll work!” Watanabe smiled. “Haru, you find people who like pro wrestling. We’ll go with that if you can find those people. I have to get back to the Journalism Club, so I’ll see you later!”
She left, and Haru turned to Erik.
“Looks like I’m fucked.”
“I presume she doesn’t know about your curse,” the vampire wondered.
Haru said, “Watanabe’s a normal person, and she’s completely unaware of magic as far as I know.”
“Well, I would help you with this, you’re just going to fail with your curse,” Erik stated.
“And you want to pretend to be a secret agent. Can’t you just play a video game?”
“I would, but Lenora tried to put my console in a dishwasher. When she’s done being punished, I’m getting a new console. Besides, I have an even greater plan in mind.”
“What’s that?” Haru asked.
Erik answered, “Watanabe’s problem isn’t that people are going to find out she’s into wrestling, it’s that she thinks guys wouldn’t ever be in a relationship with a girl who likes that. It’s Tuesday, so we have six days to convince her otherwise. Going with the plan I told her is giving her a fish, but this will be teaching her how to fish.”
“That’s a good point. Any idea how to do it?”
“None at all,” the vampire said. “I came up with this plan five minutes ago. It’s not like I had much time to think.”
Haru sighed, “And one more question. Why are you helping with this? I can understand helping me, but you don’t know Watanabe.”
“Give me some credit. I do completely altruistic things sometimes. Well, this isn’t at that level, but it’s close,” Erik replied.
“Then let’s come up with a plan. We have just six days.”
Keiko stood in the kendo club, grabbing onto a new member’s arms and adjusting them.
“Hold the shinai like this. It’s the proper grip,” she said.
The new member swung the blade.
He stated, “It’s much stronger. I can feel the difference.”
“Despite quitting the club long ago and dating that coward,” a taller student walked over. “Your skills are just as good as ever. In fact, it seems to me that you’re stronger than before as well.”
“I’ve…had a lot of practice recently, Tsurugi,” Keiko told him.
“Oh? Then maybe we could have a match?”
“I just agreed to help the new members,” she shook her head. “Nothing more. Will you let the Journalism Club interview you now?’
Tsurugi said, “Of course. I’ll keep my end of the bargain, but you’re pretty different now. You lost a lot of your drive when you quit earlier this semester. Despite that, you’re both more approachable and stronger than you were at the height of your effort. What’s your secret?”
Keiko replied, “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret.”
“There’s no way I’m telling him I’m part oni,” she thought. “Even if I didn’t have to hide it, he wouldn’t believe me. There’s no way I’m having a match with him either. I don’t have much control over it yet, and I might end up hurting him.”
“Then let’s make a bet. We have a match. If I win, you have to tell me your secret,” Tsurugi stated.
“Were you listening to anything I said?” Keiko sighed.
“You don’t remember, do you? Despite us both being in the kendo club, we’ve never had a match. I intend to face you before the school festival is…”
Jirogame burst into the room, “I need an interview. Now.”
“Oh, look at that,” Keiko ran outside. “I have to get to another club, and you have to keep your deal. See you later or never, don’t know at the moment.”
She gritted her teeth and thought, “Who does Tsurugi think he is, an anime character? I’ll just move on to the next club.”
Ved'ma Story 