The World Only the Girls Know: Azalea Side
Chapter 10: Normal Things in Reality
Author's Note: Characters from the Light Novels and Manga will be included as well
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Original Title: The World Only God Knows / 神のみぞ知るセカイ
Original Concept by Tamiki Wakaki
Written by: wrathie
Author's Notes: Be generous with your reviews people, that's how I improve!
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"No problem, I'll do what you wish for me."
The boy called Katsuragi Keima answered almost immediately with no hesitation to her words and Kosaka Chihiro blinked in confusion. This was really not what she had expected, she wanted this to happen but was skeptical of him.
He couldn't be the person that she had dreamed about, had fantasized about and had suddenly recalled about.
It had bothered her, it must be a dream as she could recall no instance on when or what had happened between them besides that nagging feeling that they were actually quite close together.
But from that paper thin evidence, she was not sure… she wasn't sure that Katsuragi Keima could so something touching and impossible as what she had dreamt him doing for her sake.
"I said I'll help you, didn't I?"
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T-there! He repeated the words that she remembered him speaking to him and despite herself, Chihiro flushed so red that she swore steam were coming out of her ears and she coughed after several seconds to regain her composure.
It must be a fluke, he didn't even look embarrassed at repeating that line… well, not that it is really an embarrassing line in the first place!
It is just a promise between me and him… … sort of…
"W-well…"
She was unable to carry on, Ayumi was behaving a little odd today as she voiced out in his defense before anyone else. Was she…? Nah, she couldn't really like that person could she?
But if one think about it, Ayumi has been remarkably close to that Otamegane before I noticed it…
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"Chihiro-chan! Kami-Onii-sama has agreed to what you asked, so that means he can be our manager?"
Bringing me back to reality, Elsi shook my hands eagerly while Ayumi just tried hard not to look too pleased. Tareda just seemed a little apprehensive but she greeted him formally after Katsuragi just nodded in acceptance.
"Then from today onwards, I'll be your manager… I'll go and book a room for today's practice."
He was strangely professional and I can imagine him dressed in a business suit with a tuxedo, it would look strangely fitting.
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"Neh neh, Elsi-chan! Don't you think Katsuragi would actually look like a manager if he wear sunglasses and carried a briefcase?"
Ayumi teased Elsi who nodded her head eagerly while sharing stories about how the both of them had went to the nearby amusement park and had enjoyed themselves tremendously while dressing up and going on the rides before Summer.
"Ehhh~ That sounds like fun~ perhaps we should go there someday~
Tareda and Ayumi chimed in, apparently the park had just underwent some renovations and were open again only recently.
Sighing, Chihiro decided not to think so much about the matter of Katsuragi and get on to the real reason for this meeting during lunch.
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"Anyways, we have to get better… do you remember the challenge we made to Kanon-chan? We have to perform at Mai-High Fest too! We have to get better, I don't want to lose to her…"
Chihiro clenched her fist tighter as she slammed both her hands onto the table causing a loud sound to resonate in the empty classroom.
In reality she was afraid, afraid that she will be alone in this endeavor… she had been trying hard every day, practicing and practicing all Summer to try and get ready just to showcase to Kanon… and perhaps… Katsuragi that she too can sparkle.
"Like you said, we must play with the 'Heart' too desho?"
She opened her eyes a crack to see Ayumi resting her hands on hers and she winked and grinned in reply. Good old Ayumi, I knew I can count on her too.
"Of course, Chihiro-chan! I've been practicing hard too! We have to perform beside Kanon-chan in equal grounds!"
Pumping a hand in the air as she placed one hand on top of theirs, Elsi smiled brightly and lastly Tareda just nodded and placed her hands on top of the gathered hands.
"There is a saying in English. [All for one and one for all], it sounds fitting for all of us, right?"
She smiled and the four friends raised their fists in the air in celebration of their renewed promise.
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Yes that's right, I have nothing to fear… I even has his support, I… I can really do this!
And after the Fest… after the fest I can… …
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Honestly, why did he sign up for this madness? The boy in question was not really a boy but the a God, the Capturing God to be exact and although he has prided himself in being able to ignore reality and treat it as a separate plane while living in his own little world of Galgames that he ruled over, he has made the first step in reconciling himself with the cursed plane that was reality.
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But he has a reason to do so, if it was not for that reason he would not even go near those girls. Why should he be concerned about the Girls who he had successfully 'captured' after all? He could remember how their 'routes' panned out and there is no reason for them to interact with him after that if their memories were all wiped.
But that same reason is why he had approached them… they must have remembered something as Chihiro had indeed reacted when he repeated the promise he had made to her after 'capturing' her.
'I will help you and push you from behind if ever you feel discouraged."
He had definitely said that to her and she had reacted when she ought not to if all her memories were erased…
That is why he had to press on.
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"… booking a room, cleaning after them, setting up their equipment, carrying their stuff and buying refreshments for them? What am I, their servant?"
He cursed to himself silently as he marched straight towards the Student Council room to secure a booking when all of a sudden he saw Haqua waiting for him at the end of the corridor.
"Oh, Haqua."
"Keima, did you find out anything?"
"Give me time… but I was right, they do possess memories from the time I 'captured' them. That alone is bad news…"
The demon in front of him sighed and shook her head while resting against the ceremonial scythe in her hands and yawning.
"You really got me into a pretty mess, Katsuragi…"
Calling him formally, Haqua blushed when Keima apologized by bowing to her formally.
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"I apologize, Haqua… but this time, I really need your assistance… would you please bear with it a while longer? I'll make it up to you."
Getting to his knees and bowing to the girl, Keima hoped that she would accede to his request. There was so much to find out, so much information that could be useful from the other girls. If it is Haqua, she would probably be able to fish out something just by using her magical raiment.
Perhaps she could detect some foul play while modifying and erasing their memories again?
Looking up, he was surprised to see Haqua pressing her skirt down and hugging her scythe close to her as she just replied in broken sentences.
"A-ah, no… really… Ahaha, If you put it that way I'll have to help you out, wouldn't I? I do owe you a favor after all… ahaha…"
That's right, Haqua did owe him a favor… Keima felt a little better when she agreed but that feeling disappeared when Haqua winked and commented that she would want that favor returned to her one day.
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"But putting this aside, I did what you asked me for…the memories of Yoshino Asami, Kasuga Kusonoki, Kujyo Tsukiyo, Aoyama Mio, Shiomiya Shiori and Ikoma Minami and all actions they have taken over the last week of summer till now have been modified and went through."
She rubbed her eyes and Keima noticed the black shadows under those eyes, she had been working all night for this? A pang of guilt rose in his chest on seeing how hard she was working for him and Keima adverted his eyes for a moment.
"Mm? Aren't you going to tell me what you have been doing?"
"Ah…"
Looking at him curiously, he was aware that he was blushing and he adverted his eyes a second time before coughing and filling her in on how he had gotten into their circle of friends and has verified that yes, there are indeed hints that both Takahara Ayumi and Kosaka Chihiro had regained some of their memories.
For now it is sufficient, he will continue to try and draw clues about how they remembered as well as to keep tabs on their statuses… Keima did not wish to see them possessed by spirits again.
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"I see, so you have not been just fooling around with the girls."
Crossing her legs, Haqua winked at Keima and waved goodbye to him as she took her leave. She did want to talk more with Keima but unfortunately she did not know what to talk to her about… holding conversations were never her strong point and so she decided to just give up right now before she disgraced herself again.
"Haqua."
Unexpectedly, he spoke up instead and before Haqua could turn around, he spoke.
"Thank you… and I'm sorry for making you do all this."
It sounded like a rejection to her and although Haqua knew she shouldn't cry, she still sniffed a little as she spoke back gruffly, hiding her sadness. She guessed that Keima just wanted to make things clear between them after all. They were only colleagues, never… close enough to end up in 'that' relationship.
Even if she might have a small wish that it might turn out this way…
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"Ah… it's not like I didn't expect it to turn out this way or anything…"
"…"
The two of them remained silent but then it was broken when Haqua giggled and turned around, hitting him on the shoulder roughly and then grinning back at Keima who was rubbing his shoulder in pain.
"Even so, you can count on me! I'll get the job done!"
Turning, she left for real while holding back the tears in her eyes as Keima sat on the ground and contemplated.
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It is not like him to give up on someone like that, but to say the truth… that decision was harder than he had imagined. Somehow the culprit wanted the girls to distract him so he could not find him… He did not know their motive but he was certain that was their objective.
As the Capturing God, he would 'capture' all the girls regardless of who they were… and as he was the partner of Elsi, if all the girls were to regain their memories and were possessed by the evil spirits again as a result, he would have to capture all of them all over again.
Right now if they could just modify their memories, they can allow him to find the truth without being harassed by the girls.
And… one of those girls is Haqua herself, Haqua herself might be one of those who have encountered the culprit without her knowing so.
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She too had been possessed by a Spirit in his presence and although he was not the one who had captured her, there was the likelihood… no, there was the definite chance that, Haqua herself might have developed feelings for him due to their constant interaction with one another.
Her character 'type' did suggest that to Keima… and that was why he had 'rejected' her.
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It was odd… he had not have the experience of rejecting a heroine but he figured that would be the best choice so far.
He would rather cut off the infected limb before it starts to give him trouble… even if he does feel bad about rejecting Haqua in that fashion.
"… I really am changing…"
That is the God's own words as he stepped into the classroom to make the booking.
Change is forever around us and for the God it is his own belief that is changing, the belief that the 'real' girls in the world is not worth a second look.
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"S-sugoi…"
That was the only word that Ayumi and the rest could say as after school, Keima had led them to a storeroom which he has booked. But that was not the only difference. With Elsi's assistance, he had managed to turn it into a small studio as well.
Gone was the small, damp and depressing storeroom that was used to hold the Festivals old props, it was now their stage, the 2B Pencil's stage and the girls spent several minutes touring and marveling at the equipment that Keima brought in.
Scrounging in a couple of microphones, speakers, amplifiers and even a fully functional sound and playback system with a matching carpet, it was good enough for them to practice without booking a small studio from external parties.
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"You're amazing, Katsuragi-kun…"
Even Tareda had to swallow her words as the only sole skeptic of the band. That was to be expected as she had no prior dealings with Katsuragi at all. Ayumi and Chihiro knew instinctively that Keima can be trusted due to the past memories they 'shared' and well Elsi was her little sister and she knew Keima could do something like that, especially with her assistance after all.
However without his help, Elsi wouldn't be able to produce such items in the first place.
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Thus it is a joint effort that Keima had praised her earlier on when he tested the system. He was skeptical that Elsi could pull it off but it would certainly earn him recognition for his efforts and allow him to endear himself to those girls.
Strictly to search for more information of course and it seems to be working, all of them seemed pleased and well, very excited at the prospects of being able to practice in school that each of them went around and shook his hands.
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"Ano… I'm sorry for doubting you, Katsuragi-kun."
Tareda was the first to do so and by doing so called him formally and yet, informally at the same time, a sign of warming ties and he nodded to her in reply.
"I am simply doing my part as the Band's Manager, I hope that together we can achieve your dream."
A clique line that he has produced out of the many lines in the different games he had played and he watched the affect on Tareda as she seemed taken aback and then giggled a little as she nodded too.
"Yes, we will work hard to not make your effort go to waste, Manager-san."
It seems that even Tareda is beginning to have a better opinion of him; that is definitely a good thing as well. The same goes for the other two girls who were sliding up behind Tareda, trying to speak too.
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"Katsuragi, I know you can do it! He showed you right, Chihiro~"
"Hmph, alright… I admit you can be our Band Manager, on probation for now."
She seemed unwilling to admit defeat but from the way she was fidgeting, she really wanted him to stay and he played his cards correctly by saying…
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1. I guess my best isn't enough, perhaps I should leave…
2. Ahaha, Chihiro-san is really funny~ Let's do our best from now on!
3. I'll try my best to improve my skills as a Manager than, go easy on me!
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If Chihiro is a tsundere girl, he would naturally pick choice one, but unfortunately he was not targeting to capture Chihiro or Ayumi, that choice would trigger flags from both of them.
Thus, the only choice that is available for him is logically, choice 3!
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"I'll try my best to improve my skills as a Manager than, go easy on me, alright?"
Flashing a small smile, Keima hoped that he was right and did not trigger any flags.
Would he be proven correct?
Author's Notes: I guess enough clues have been given on who is involved in this Arc =)