Dekomori clenched her fists. She knew something had been wrong. Over the past few weeks, Nibutani had been a lot more stressed than usual. Though some might not believe it, Dekomori paid close attention to the second year, so the stress didn't go unnoticed.
Dekomori stood outside the club room. She had failed in her attempt to locate Nibutani, so she had decided that it would probably be best if she waited back at the club room. Dekomori had been about to go in when she heard yelling coming from inside. She overheard the raised voice of Nibutani and what sounded like Mitsuki.
It seemed like they were fighting, something which concerned Dekomori greatly. Mitsuki had told her that they had disagreements before, but she had yet to see them actually fight, so she never really believed that it had ever escalated to an actual fight. Dekomori instantly thought of her relationship with Nibutani. She had rejected Mitsuki in favor of the older girl, and that seemed like the only thing they could possibly fight about.
Knowing that that was the most likely topic of their quarrel confused Dekomori immensely. Mitsuki had voiced her mistrust of Nibutani before, but Dekomori thought that it was in the past. When she rejected Mitsuki's confession, the purple haired girl had taken it surprisingly well. She had wished her good luck and even offered advice if Dekomori ever found herself needing some.
Dekomori grimaced. She felt foolish for thinking it would be that easy. The continued animosity between the two other girls had completely gone over her head. Either she was just oblivious, or they were incredibly good at hiding it. Dekomori sighed. She wondered why Nibutani kept it hidden from her.
"I'm not overreacting!" Dekomori heard Nibutani shout. She pressed her ear against the wall, hoping to catch more of their conversation. It might help her down the road if she was explicitly aware of what the problem was. Unfortunately, both girls had lowered their voices substantially, practically to a whisper, and Dekomori was unable to register what was being said.
Dekomori held her breath and listened closely. The whispering died down, and she heard nothing but silence. She exhaled slowly and took a step back from the wall. Now seemed like a good time to disrupt the tension. Dekomori grabbed the door handle and slid the door open.
Upon entering the room, she noticed Mitsuki sitting over by the window and Nibutani standing in the middle of the room. Dekomori looked over at her girlfriend. Nibutani stood there, confusion and disbelief evident in her expression. It looked as though she was attempting to sort through a difficult problem but just couldn't figure out the solution.
Out of the corner of her eye, Dekomori saw Mitsuki jump up from her place at the window. Before she could completely register it, the other girl was clinging to her arm and smiling widely. It was a strange sight, considering the fight that had happened just moments before.
"Master, you returned! It's a shame that you ran around the school for nothing, but at least you've finally found your girlfriend!" Mitsuki looked at Dekomori excitedly. She removed her arm from Mitsuki's grasp and clasped her hands together behind her back.
Dekomori eyed Nibutani as she gave Mitsuki an excuse to get her girlfriend out of the room. The second year no longer looked confused but instead looked extremely uncomfortable.
"I'll come with you!" Mitsuki said. Dekomori momentarily panicked. That was not a desired outcome. Dekomori quickly came up with another excuse to make sure she could get Nibutani out without causing her too much stress. Luckily for her, Mitsuki complied.
Dekomori walked over to Nibutani, grabbed her hand, and led her out of the classroom. She walked quickly, her eyes fixed on the way before her. She didn't pay her girlfriend much attention until they were finally off the school grounds. She heard her Nibutani speak up, and she squeezed the other girl's hand in response.
Dekomori, having been lost in her determination to leave the school as quickly as possible, had missed most of what Nibutani had said. She only managed to hear Nibutani say something about needing to speak to her about things that had been happening in the past few weeks. Dekomori was almost positive that Nibutani would be bringing up fights she may have had with Mitsuki.
"I have a feeling that I know what's happening," Dekomori said. She noticed Nibutani's eyes cloud in confusion. Dekomori decided to keep quiet about overhearing their fight in the club room. If Nibutani wanted to keep the hostility between her and Mitsuki to herself, there must have been a good reason.
Talking to Mitsuki directly would probably be better. Dekomori had seen how stressed Nibutani had been lately, and the last thing she wanted was to make it worse by forcing her to talk about the fights she's had with Mitsuki. Plus, she was still friends with her classmate, despite what happened a couple weeks ago, and Dekomori was almost 100% positive that Mitsuki would willingly discuss these things with her if she asked.
"I'll talk to Mitsuki, so you don't need to worry about anything anymore. I'll clear everything up." Dekomori smiled at Nibutani. She was confident that she would be able to help settle things between the two girls. If she just sat down with Mitsuki and really talked to her about everything, she was sure to understand. There was no need for them to be at each other's throat.
Judging by the look in Nibutani's eyes, it didn't seem like she was feeling as optimistic. Dekomori tried to reassure her by explaining her friendship with Mitsuki, and that seem to calm the other girl down. Dekomori sighed in relief. She was glad she could do something to alleviate the second year's stress.
Mitsuki wasn't a bad person, Dekomori was sure of that, but if she was truly at odds with Nibutani, then there was something really wrong. Mitsuki didn't seem the type to get really worked up and angry about anything, so Dekomori felt curious as to what could possible have set her off.
The only solution was talking to her. Dekomori was confident that if she listened and learned about Mitsuki's side, that she would be able to bring the two girls together and help them solve this. Once everything was settled, everything would go back to normal. The stress would be gone, and everyone would be happy.
"...Mjolnir Hammer." Dekomori brought her attention to her girlfriend again as she heard the other girl say something. Once again, she had been too absorbed in her own thoughts and hadn't heard what the other girl said. Dekomori's cheeks heated up in embarrassment.
Dekomori fumbled to come up with something that would make it seem like she had been listening, "The Mjolnir Hammer is capable of many feats. I will not fail." Dekomori kept her voice hushed in case she said something that didn't make sense. Nibutani nodded in response.
They walked in the direction of Nibutani's house, chatting aimlessly with one another. It was nice. Dekomori always enjoyed the other girl's company, and it made her happy to she some of Nibutani's stress melt away. When they reached the gate of Nibutani's house, they lingered in the front.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow," Nibutani said, smiling. Dekomori looked down and shuffled her feet.
"...tani." Dekomori mumbled her words, too embarrassed to say them any louder. She'd been wanting to say it to her girlfriend for a while, and now seemed like a good time, but getting the words out was proving to be a lot more difficult than she expected.
"I didn't quite catch that," Nibutani replied. The second year tilted her head slightly and stared at Dekomori, waiting for her to repeat herself.
Dekomori felt her face turn red. She walked up to Nibutani and wrapped her arms around the other girl's torso. She pressed her face against Nibutani's shoulder and said in a much clearer voice, "I love Nibutani."
Dekomori tightened her grip and turned her head away so Nibutani couldn't see her blushing face. She felt Nibutani move her body slightly and wrap her arms around her. Nibutani rested her head on top of Dekomori's. They stood there in silence, using this opportunity to appreciate each other's presence.
After a few moments, Nibutani released her hold. Dekomori took a step back and looked up at the other girl. The second year was grinning.
Dekomori crossed her arms and mumbled, "What's with that dumb look on your face?"
"It's rare that you call me by my actual name," Nibutani replied. "This was the first time I heard it in a while. It makes me kind of happy." Dekomori blushed profusely.
"Don't read too much into it. You're still fake Mori Summer." Dekomori said, her arms still crossed. She heard Nibutani laugh. Dekomori smiled. It was nice to hear her laugh, especially after what had happened earlier.
Dekomori felt Nibutani cup her right cheek with her hand. The older girl leaned down and placed a light kiss on Dekomori's lips. Dekomori felt her heart race and her lips tingled when Nibutani pulled away.
"I love you too, Mjolnir Hammer," Nibutani smiled. She winked, said a quick goodnight, and walked into her house.
Dekomori grinned. Hearing Nibutani acknowledge her as the Mjolnir Hammer felt great. Mitsuki had told her that Nibutani might not like her because of her chuunibyou, but Dekomori felt that this was proof otherwise. It was incredibly reassuring, and it was just one less thing for her to think about.
In the future, Dekomori would be sure to continue her never ending battle with the fake Mori Summer, but for now, she needed to put that aside and focus on solving the current issue. Despite what people might say, Dekomori knew how to prioritize. There would be time to resume her role as the vanquisher of fakes later, once everything was settled.
Dekomori wanted to continue her chuunibyou adventures with the rest of the group as soon as possible. She decided that tomorrow would be the day that she sat Mitsuki down and really figured out what was going on.
"What did you need to speak to me about?"
Dekomori had kept true to her plan and had asked Mitsuki to talk with her at lunch. The purple haired girl had been surprisingly eager about their lunch plans, and Dekomori felt that her classmate had the wrong impression. She was sure that Mitsuki would be surprised once she brought up the topic.
Dekomori had brought Mitsuki up to the roof. Not many people frequented the area during lunch time, so it was a perfect place to chat.
"You've been fighting with Nibutani," Dekomori stated bluntly. She saw Mitsuki's smile falter. The earlier eagerness vanished instantly, and Mitsuki turned her head to gaze at the view. She was silent, and it seemed like she was contemplating on what she should say.
"I'm not mad or anything," Dekomori continued. "I can just tell that it's stressing everyone out, so I want to help fix it. I don't like seeing my friends fight." Mitsuki looked back at her and smiled.
"You really are the kindest person I've ever met," Mitsuki said. Dekomori blinked. The compliment was appreciated, but Dekomori always felt confused when it came to Mitsuki's admiration towards her. She never felt like she was doing anything extraordinary. She always treated people in a way she felt was right. It didn't feel like something worthy of praise.
"We've been having our fair share of disagreements recently," Mitsuki went on. "I know how much you care for your friends, but I don't think it's anything you need to worry about. Nibutani and I can handle it ourselves." Mitsuki gave Dekomori a reassuring smile.
"I heard you two fighting in the club room," Dekomori said quietly. "Nibutani has been very stressed lately, so I want to help her." Mitsuki's expression turned frantic. She leaned over and grabbed Dekomori by the shoulders.
"How much did you hear?!" Mitsuki asked, her eyes wild. Dekomori stared at her in shock. That reaction was definitely unexpected.
"N-Not much," Dekomori stammered. "I couldn't hear very well, but I did hear Nibutani yell a few times." Mitsuki took a deep breath and released Dekomori's shoulders. She moved back to her place and closed her eyes.
Dekomori was unsure of what she should do. Mitsuki was visibly shaken up. Something had been said in that room that Mitsuki didn't want revealed to her. Dekomori couldn't possibly fathom what that might be, but in order for her to make any progress, she needed to know. She needed to approach this in a way she knew Mitsuki would respond positively to.
"My servant," Dekomori began. "I understand that sometimes we find ourselves bound under curses that prevent us from relaying information. These curses are difficult to break, but it can be done. As your master, it is my duty to protect you, so I need you to try your hardest to break through this curse that binds you."
Mitsuki looked Dekomori in the eye. Her expression changed rapidly. Within a few seconds, Dekomori saw her go from fearful, to angry, to sad, until she appeared to finally have reached a state of calmness.
"I just have trouble trusting people sometimes," Mitsuki murmured. "Describing it as a curse is...surprisingly accurate. I am forever cursed to fear the unpredictability of human beings." Mitsuki leaned back, her arms holding her up behind her, and stared at the sky.
"You can never really tell what people are going to do," Mitsuki continued. "They say one thing and then do the other. There's no order, no control. It's spontaneous chaos. People scare me. I hate them. I hate them all. I don't know how you put up with them."
Dekomori opened her mouth and closed it again. She wasn't sure how to respond. She could tell that Mitsuki was being completely sincere, and despite going there with the intention to sort through the conflict, Dekomori found herself unable to fully understand where Mitsuki was coming from.
She didn't think the same way at all. She loved being around people. The spontaneous chaos that Mitsuki spoke about always excited her. She never feared unpredictability. Dekomori believed that that's what made life fun. Chuunibyou was anything but predictable.
"I don't know if I understand what you're feeling, but I think you should try to think of it in a different way," Dekomori started. "People do crazy things sometimes, but that doesn't make them all bad."
"How do you know? You're the only one I've met so far that actually cares about the people around her." Mitsuki grumbled. Dekomori chuckled nervously. That wasn't always 100% true.
"I too have done things that people consider stupid an annoying. One time, Fake Summer was running for student council president, and I hid in the podium while she gave her introduction speech to my class. I drew on her legs and tickled her so she would mess up." Dekomori chuckled at the memory. Nibutani had been furious, but the whole thing had been so amusing that she hadn't cared a single bit.
"That's only one of the many things I've done to mess with Fake Summer," Dekomori continued. "We've spent countless hours tormenting each other, yet the lover's contract that we're bound to is stronger than ever. Our contract is built on unpredictability, but we still care for each other. We're not bad, just human."
Dekomori couldn't tell if her words got through to Mitsuki. The other girl looked troubled. It seemed like she was attempting to grasp this other perspective, but Dekomori was unsure if she was understanding it.
Mitsuki turned to face Dekomori. "You say that people aren't bad, but what about the people who don't care? What about the people who just want to hurt you? What about the people who were supposed to be on your side, but turn against you anyway?." Mitsuki sighed heavily. Those questions reminded Dekomori of an unpleasant experience she had not too long ago.
"There was this girl," Dekomori began, "She tried to take role of Mori Summer. She contacted me through a webpage that she made. I wasn't sure, but I thought that there really could have been a slim chance that she was who she said she was. I reached out to her, and tried to befriend her."
Mitsuki stared at Dekomori intently. "How did that work out for you?"
"Well," Dekomori continued, "She definitely was not Mori Summer. She tried to get me to pull away from Nibutani. The imposter called her impure and corrupted. I think it really upset Nibutani. One day, the imposter held me against a tree, and wouldn't let me go. She did things like bite my ears. It was unpleasant." Dekomori mumbled the last part. She shuddered. The experience had actually scared her. She was lucky that Nibutani had come to her rescue.
"In then end, Nibutani came and helped me, and she challenged the imposter to a battle. We worked together and drove the imposter away." Dekomori knew that that was the moment when she realized how great Nibutani really was. It had been a horrible experience overall, but it did succeed in helping them tighten their bond.
"That's an awful thing to do..." Mitsuki murmured. Dekomori nodded.
"Even though I had that bad experience, I didn't let it hurt me. Even though the imposter tried to trick me for her own personal gain, I didn't allow myself to hate her. I grew even stronger than I was before! I don't think she was a bad person. She just made bad choices, but I refuse to let those things weaken me." Dekomori smiled at Mitsuki.
It felt like she was understanding her classmate a little better. What the purple haired girl lacked was sincere friendship. According to what Mitsuki had said, it seemed like she distanced herself from people and antagonized them because she had gone through a bad experience as well. Dekomori wasn't sure what could have happened to her, but it was clear that Mitsuki hadn't been strong enough at the time to handle it.
If that was true, Dekomori wasn't surprised that she had some negative views on people. If she could just show her classmate that there are people who would want to be her friend, then she wouldn't have to worry as much anymore.
Dekomori heard Mitsuki laugh. She looked over at the other girl and saw her practically doubling over in laughter. Mitsuki reached up and wiped a tear from her face. Dekomori pouted, thinking that the other girl was laughing at her story.
"Why are you the only one who doesn't make me feel like I need to be on the defensive all the time?" Mitsuki asked. "I think you're the first person I've actually felt comfortable talking to. It's crazy." Mitsuki leaned all the way back until she was lying down against the tiles of the roof.
Dekomori replied in the only way she knew how to, "I am your master. The bond between master and servant allows for these things to come out. When I was still serving under the Wicked Eye, we shared many secrets that were heard by our ears only." Mitsuki let out a chuckle.
"Let me ask you something," Mitsuki requested. "If someone does something bad because they think they're defending themselves, does that make them a bad person?" That was a good question. It was one that Dekomori never really thought about before. She thought it over for a couple of minutes before answering.
"I think that if someone believed there was no other way, then they aren't a bad person. Just misguided. Sometimes people allow evilness to swallow their heart, even if they don't fully realize what it is capable of doing to them. That's why I chose Mori Summer as my mentor. She cleanses the world of evilness and brings love into the hearts of humanity." Dekomori answered.
Dekomori had always admired and been fascinated by the teachings of Mori Summer. Those ideals were captivating, and they gave her a reason to fight. She always took it upon herself as the Mjolnir Hammer to live by those words and work to cleanse corruption. It was the type of mission that she held close to her heart.
"That certainly sounds like you," Mitsuki murmured. "Do you truly not believe that there are people out there who just deserve whatever bad fate is brought down upon them?" It was possible that there were those who were cruel enough to deserve misfortune, but Dekomori liked to believe that anyone was worthy of forgiveness.
"People do bad things, and some things deserve justice, but they are not exempt from forgiveness," Dekomori replied. :Everyone's hearts have the potential to be good, but sometimes people are misguided by an evil far too great for them to understand. This is why I fight under the teachings of Mori Summer."
"Misguided..." Mitsuki echoed. Dekomori nodded. Mitsuki clasped her hands behind her head and gazed at the sky. Her eyes followed the clouds as they floated by. Dekomori leaned back and laid down beside her.
"I'm not a very good person, you know," Mitsuki began. "That's why Nibutani hates me. I don't care about people or their feelings, apart from you. I think most people are wastes of space. Everyone annoys me and gets in my way. I'm not unwilling to control and manipulate to make sure I get what's in my best interest. I'm not opposed to revenge." Dekomori looked over at Mitsuki, surprised.
Mitsuki never struck Dekomori as the type of person who would willingly hurt people. That confession came as a huge shock. Admitting to feelings like those probably wasn't easy, and Dekomori was surprised that the other girl was willing to speak about it.
Mitsuki continued, "And when people finally catch on, I turn it against them and make things seem like their fault. I've come across so many bad people that I taught myself these things because I believe that they're the only way for me to stay safe in the world. It's become such a strong habit that sometimes I don't even realize that I'm doing it."
Dekomori's pulse quickened. She had no real experience with people who thought the way her classmate did. She was used to spouting words she learned from the Mabinogion, but this was the first time she really came across someone who challenged those ideals. Dekomori felt slightly intimidated.
"I was talking about this to Nibutani, albeit in a different fashion, but that's the fight you heard yesterday," Mitsuki explained. "I didn't want you to know. You're the only one who's opinion actually matters, so I wanted to keep this image of me in your mind of someone who doesn't do those things. You're the only one who actually manages to make me doubt the way I tackle the world."
Everything that Mitsuki was revealing was incredibly personal, and Dekomori was surprised that she chose to reveal it to her in the first place. She found it strange that she was the only person who Mitsuki believed was good. If Dekomori hadn't offered to show the purple haired girl around on her first day, who knows what Mitsuki's opinion of her would have been.
"I'm surprised, but I don't look down on you for it. I think you might be more similar to people then you think you are," Dekomori said. "Bad things clearly have happened to you, and you let the love disappear from your heart. You aren't the first. You just need assistance in finding a better path." Dekomori held her breath as she waited for Mitsuki's response. She wasn't sure how Mitsuki would take her words.
"You may be right, but I don't know..." Mitsuki mumbled. She didn't take her eyes off the sky for one second. She looked troubled and deep in thought. Suddenly, an idea struck Dekomori. She sprung up to a sitting position.
"I think I know what might help you!" Dekomori exclaimed. "You just need to come to terms with everything that's happened to you and everything you've done. Once that happens, your heart will start to feel forgiveness and acceptance and you can start anew. The best way to get that out is through battle!" Mitsuki looked at her in confusion.
"You want to help me even though you know I've done bad things?" Mitsuki asked in disbelief. Dekomori nodded.
"You're my friend, and I always protect my friends." Dekomori explained. "Tomorrow after class, meet me back here. Make sure to arm yourself. I will bring Fake Summer as well. She is an important part of the process."
"I don't know how well Nibutani is going to take this development. We don't exactly see eye to eye on, well, anything." Mitsuki pointed out. Dekomori was confident that Nibutani would go along. The older girl had placed her trust in her, and Dekomori was sure that her girlfriend would understand how she was trying to resolve this.
"It'll be okay," Dekomori reassured. Mitsuki didn't look convinced.
"I'm not entirely confident that you'll get me to change my views, but I'll humor you, I suppose. I think I owe you that much. Though don't expect me to cooperate with Nibutani. She pisses me off." Mitsuki grumbled. Dekomori sighed. This would be hard, but she need to try for the sake of her friends.
The bell signaling the end of the lunch period rang, it's sound echoing across the campus.
"Well I guess that wraps this up. Let's head back to class." Mitsuki got up from her position. She gathered her things and packed them up.
Dekomori followed suit. She needed to inform Nibutani of her plans before the day ended. She decided to look for Nibutani immediately after class ended. The second year didn't have theater club today, so it was likely that Dekomori would be able to find her in the club room.
With her plan set, she followed Mitsuki back to class.
Dekomori burst into the club room and was pleased to see that the second year was present in the room along with the rest of the group.
"I have figured everything out!" Dekomori shouted excitedly. Her voice boomed, and it startled the rest of the rooms occupants. Nibutani looked up at her.
"What exactly have you figured out?" Nibutani asked. Dekomori grinned.
"I have figured out how to help Mitsuki! It'll put an end to everything that has been happening lately!" Dekomori beamed. She was excited to put her plan into motion. She would simultaneously be able to help both her girlfriend and her classmate, and it was very possible that this all could be resolved without too much hostility and drama.
"What do you mean help her?" Nibutani asked, her eyes betraying her suspicion. "I thought you were supposed to be talking to her about backing down." Nibutani's eyes narrowed and an unpleasant feeling settled in the pit of Dekomori's stomach.
"I did talk to her," Dekomori explained. "I learned about what has corrupted her heart, and I think I can help her, but I need you to help me do it." Dekomori could see irritation in Nibutani's expression.
"I don't think you really understand what you're dealing with," Nibutani said. "Mitsuki isn't who you think she is. I thought that maybe you had some kind of understanding of that, but I guess I was mistaken. I should have just told you myself." The air quickly grew tense, and the others sitting in the room were visibly uncomfortable.
"Mitsuki never told you about her past," Nibutani continued. "She never told you what happened to her and what horrible things she did to people to get her revenge. You wouldn't want to help her if you knew." Dekomori sighed. She failed to remember Nibutani's stubbornness, and it was clear that she had her own perception of who Mitsuki was as a person.
Despite knowing that, it didn't change how Dekomori felt about the situation. Mitsuki had explicitly listed off things she had done in the past, so the details on the exact situations were no longer as important.
"I know that she has done some bad things in the past, but I believe that she can change and allow love back into her heart. We can help her get rid of the corruption within her, and she will be able to become a much better being! Just let me explain what I have planned," Dekomori said, full of confidence.
Nibutani groaned, "This isn't some chuunibyou fantasy! This is real life and she has done actual bad things! She has lied and maliciously manipulated people! She's even tried to pull the same stunts with you and me! Why would you even consider taking her side?" Nibutani's exasperation was clear, and Dekomori could feel her own frustration rise.
"I'm not taking her side!" Dekomori argued. "I'm trying to help you too!" Dekomori gritted her teeth. It was frustrating that the other girl wasn't taking the time to hear her out.
"How exactly does this help either of us?" Nibutani asked. "I've been trying to protect our relationship from her because I know what she's capable of doing! Now you're just setting yourself up to be vulnerable! I don't care how close you think you are. She'll take advantage of you. It's in her nature!" Dekomori shook her head. She didn't think something like that would happen.
"You weren't there!" Dekomori countered. "Everything she said to me was sincere!"
Nibutani bristled, "How can you possibly know that?"
"I just do!" Dekomori growled. The two girls glared at each other. Neither one wanted to budge.
"Mitsuki listened to me, and she's willing to see if I can help her. You're the only one opposing it," Dekomori pointed out. "Just let me show you what I have planned!" Dekomori didn't understand why Nibutani was acting so stubborn about it. She thought that her girlfriend would trust her to come up with a way to make things better.
"I'm not so quick to trust everything she says," Nibutani said. "I've experienced her behavior first hand. You can't possibly understand because you're the only one she's actually decent to!" Dekomori felt tears of frustration well up in the corner of her eyes. She clenched her fists.
"You're so stupid, Fake Summer," Dekomori whispered. "You won't listen to me. You're fake and stupid, and if you won't help me, I'll do it myself!" Dekomori turned on her heel and rushed out of the room, leaving her stunned friends behind.