Thank you for reading and reviewing the Intro! Now we're going to the first part of verse! ~ It's a bit humorous.

Note: Everything in italic are their inner thoughts.


...

From here on, things are getting serious for the boy

He finally had to face his biggest nemesis in his life

Without having any idea of what he should do

...


Verse 1: "We Need to Talk About Your Future"


High school is people's best moments in their life or something to look forward to before they finished their junior high. It's time to put one's passion into practice. It's also the easiest time to collect as many friends as one can. It's the hours of awesomeness, the springtime of youth. Kids will grow up to adults and learn new things. However, they should be careful and serious. Time goes really fast when you enjoy it. Before you know it, you're already a senior. Whatever you decide or do on this moment would affect your future. So it's best to have your future planned before you are a senior. Otherwise, it would all be too late.

This particular guy called Keima didn't seem to care about such things though, until one morning at the dining table. The Katsuragis are having breakfast together as usual. But this time, with serious expressions on their face.

"So, Keima. What are you going to do after graduating?" Mari asked.

"I don't kno—"

Crack! The teacup in her hand suddenly cracked. Keima realized he had just made wrong move. He could see a devilish aura around his mother, making him wet his shirt. "You're telling me you seriously do not know?"

"… Yes?" Keima broke coldsweat. He had enjoyed his years as junior too much and never given his thought on other things such as his future. Which is reckless, very reckless for normal people.

Mari let out a sigh. She understood she should take this matter cold-headed. This time, she somehow managed to surpress her rage yet the atmosphere still heavy that even silenced the hiperactive Elsie. When it comes to a family member's future, it's normal to have everyone sit down and discuss it. After all, family would always be there for each other. The mother broke the ice, "Keima… What would you do for a living later when you become a member of society? You can't stay as you are now. Stop playing!"

He startled. If there's anything he feared about, it's her mother's wrath. He knew that he must think about his future sooner or later, but never done yet. He didn't have a concrete plan to his future. As he is now, his only desire is to have a life where he could play games everyday without any elements from the real bother him. Now, his mother was waiting for his answer. He had to face her anger if he stayed quiet, "I… will stay as I am now and make money from my blog as usual."

"But that only enough to live your own life! What about your wife? Your children?"

"Easy. I won't get married."

Mari could easily expect that answer. She imagined that Keima would marry one of the characters in his PFP game. She's afraid he'd be just like what she read in the news about a 27-years old dude who married a heroine in a game and live miserably. It's sad for her. She doesn't want her son to face the same fate. But he didn't leave her much choice. Personality-wise, her son didn't change at all in front of her. She had to do something harsh this time if she wants him to have a better life. She had to drop a threat.

She furrowed her brows, "Listen Keima. I will give you 1 week to decide your future. If you fail to decide upon one…"

Keima gulped. Elsie trembled.

"I will be the one who decide your future. I will force you to work on something you may not like, kick you out of the house, and arrange your marriage."

"T—that's! That's cruel, Mother! Onii-sama has something he wants to do too!" Elsie yelled.

"A man has to be strong, Elsie! He should've understood that he can't forever living with games!" Mari responded. "If your brother stays as he is now, he won't lead a good life!"

"But…!"

Mari ignored her daughter, "How is it Keima?"

He closed his eyes, hung his head, "Fine. I will come up with something."

The mother nodded. Thus, the intense morning ended. Keima and Elsie went to the school. Unlike usual, Keima had a wedge in his heart. He actually understood that whatever he does, no matter how big his hatred to reality, he wouldn't be able to escape from it. Ironic. He despises reality, yet the reality itself won't let him free from its grip.

Meanwhile on the other side of the world, there's a girl who lives on reality and enjoy every seconds in it. Even she had to work all-day long everyday, she still embrace it. Thirsty and tired as she may, she won't stop singing. Enlightening the world with her beautiful voice was the very meaning of her existence. Unlike a certain guy from the other side, she knows very well what she'd do after graduation. In fact, she had already been walking down the road to her future.

Her morning was great. She had beautiful sleep, nice breakfast, and a good chat with her parents over the phone. She's ready to face the day. She can't wait to get out of the house and walked under the sun. There's also another thing she can't wait to do today.

To: Keima-kun
Keima-kun, I will come to school during lunch break! Let's meet on the rooftop!
Afternoon, come quickly!~

"Sent! Yay~"

She clapped cheerfully. The last time they met was someday after her winter concert when she had to give his PFP back. She only sending messages to him since then. The numbers of his replies were not much at all though. Nonetheless, it was still refreshing for her to send him email and she would be overjoyed when he replied. For her, happiness could be found over such small thing.


It's afternoon. It's lunch break. Students would scatter around the school to have lunch with their friends or just stay in the class. Keima was one of those students who didn't stay in the class. As usual, he would visit the rooftop, his favorite spot. The game hadn't finished yet. And after all those fuss in the morning, he wanted to ease his mind by playing it. He needed to go to the oasis.

Soon as he opened the door that led him to the rooftop, he walked to the usual bench far from the pathway. As he expected, a pink-haired girl welcomed him.

"Keima-kun! It's been so long!" she waved.

"Oh, you're here."

"What do you mean by 'oh, you are here'? I've sent you an email, right?"

"Oh, you're right," he replied nonchalantly, again.

"Well, that's not important anymore because we still can meet! It's a destiny!" she grabbed his arm and pulled him sit with her. She only giggled to see Keima's red face, "Keima-kun is cute~"

"Sh—shut up."

"So, how's school? We got different class. How's your new classmate? I haven't gone to my class yet, so I don't know my classmates~"

Keima didn't answer to her self talking, only to make her grumbled. She then leaned her shoulder against Keima's. She was curious about the PFP on Keima's hand, which had stolen his concentration completely from her. This way, she could see the screen better, "Is that the game I gave you back?"

He nodded, eyes stuck to the screen.

"You still haven't completed it yet, huh? Is it that hard?"

He replied, "It is supposed to be a normal galge. It's just the developer sucks. It's full of bugs."

"Hmm…" she stared at Keima's serious face from the side, "Can I be of a help?"

"It would be helpful if you leave me alone."

"Come on~ I'm sure there's something even I can do for you~ hehehe!"

He turned his head at her, only to see a cheerful expression from the idol. He knew she wouldn't back down when she had that kind of expression, "Fine. I will make you useful to me."

"Ooh! What do I do?" she inquired.

He handed her a small notebook and a pen, "Just make notes for every route I took."

"Alright~! I'm all fired-up!" She exclaimed as she fixed her glasses position.

Just after the partnership worked together for 5 minutes, they stopped. The door suddenly opened, letting a figure with violet hair entered the scene. It's the vice-president, Haqua Herminium.

"There you are, Katsuragi."

He quickly saved the game data before he glanced his sight away from the screen, "Herminium-san. Why do you come here? You crossed my path again!"

Ignoring his reply, Haqua made her way to the bench where Keima and Kanon were sitting. She couldn't believe her eyes that he wasn't alone. She got even more shocked to see he's alone with a rising star. "Nakagawa-san, huh. How surprising."

"Yes! Good afternoon~"

"Oh. Good afternoon," Haqua responded calmly. "What is an idol doing here with this guy? You know each other?"

"We were classmates," answered Kanon, smiling.

"I see," the vice-president muttered. Seems like she didn't really care about their relationship or whatsoever. She won't even consider thinking the possibility of the otamegane having lunch together with the idol. "Well, without further ado. Katsuragi. I need you to come with me."

"Eh? What for?"

Haqua stared at Keima, "We need to talk about your future."

"My future!?" Keima shouted, followed by Kanon.

"His future? How's his future got anything to do with you?" Kanon jumped, pointing at the girl. She's surprisingly mad, startling the violet-haired girl. She quickly got her calm back before she answered.

"We—well, for your information. That bum over there hasn't filled his future plan form. It's one of my job as vice-president to make sure the seniors discuss their future with their homeroom teacher," she explained. "It's my job to take care of his future."

Haqua's reply didn't make Kanon content at all. She's mocking her in her mind behind the smile. "You, some random girl suddenly taking care of Keima-kun's future? Who do you think you are?" Kanon was irritated. She was about to throw another question, but Keima halted her.

"Alright. Let's go," he stood up.

Kanon averted her glance at the boy, "Keima-kun?"

"Hmph. I knew you'd choose me over this short-haired girl, Keima dear. I mean, really. Pink? It's so lame, isn't it?" Haqua said with a smug face as she clung her arm around Keima's as they walked away from Kanon.

"Indeed. Violet is sexier," Keima swivelled Haqua's beautiful long hair and sniffed it as they stopped walking. "Good bye, Kanon. Turns out I hate pink and your annoying emails and your stupid cat-shaped tasers."

She tugged her own winter uniform's red jacket, "Keima...kun…?"

He turned around. "Oh, and your songs? They suck. They belong at the bottom of the charts! Ha hahaha!"

That's what has been running in Kanon's messed up head. Rage and jealousy had possesed her brain real good. What actually happened was far away from her imagination. The girl did cling into the boy, in different manner that is.

"Ah, my PFP! Stop dragging me, dammit! And why's your arm so ridiculously strong?!"

"Hmph. You should do this on your own. You should be thankful I'm willing to help you," Haqua said as she pulled Keima with her. They didn't seem to have any intention of stopping, much to Kanon's disappointment. Her eyes felt heavy, her heart was painful. Kanon started to think that she was too naïve and stupid about this stuff with Keima. She's beginning to wonder if her imagination before would happen.

Until…

"Kanon," he called.

She instantly jumped on her feet and turned at them, "Y—yes, Keima-kun?"

"See you."

"Y-yes..."

"And take a good care of my PFP! Absolutely do not let anything bad happen to her!"

She looked at the PFP on the bench, "'Her'? This thing is a girl?"

Her heart felt at ease. It's like flowers blossoming in spring. Her face got reddened, her heartbeat increased. That's one of the time she realized how much she loved him. The guy who rescued her from the darkness.

Keima and Haqua were walking down the stairs and school corridor together. It was quite an awkward scene for other students. The otamegane who always walk alone suddenly was walking with the beautiful vice-president of student council. None of them enjoys the view. They were unexpectedly calm about it. Ignoring all those stares and kept walking.

There was something Keima itching to ask about though.

"It was Elsie, right?"

Haqua knew he'd find out somehow. So she didn't deny it, "Yes. This morning she came to me and asked to take care of her dearest little brother~"

"I'm older brother," he growled.

"I know. I'm just messing up with you."

"What unecessary conversation," he murmured. "By the way, why do I have to do that again?"

"Geez, you're really dumb and insensitive. It's impolite to leave your friend without saying good-bye!" Haqua replied.

"How inconvenient."

"Hey that's how the society works," Haqua retorted. "Talking about society, what's your plan after graduating?"

"I don't know."

"Huwaaah. You're really messed up," she mocked. "Wait. So what are you going to say to Nikaido-sensei? If you just come at her empty-headed, she'll behead you! I mean us!"

"What? You should be the only one who got beheaded! It's your fault!" he whined.

"Uuuuugh! You're such troublesome guy! How come Elsie looks up to you so much?" she moaned.

Keima patted his own forehead. "Okay, for now I will just come up with something normal. She'll let me out of hook."


"So. University student?"

"Yes."

They were now sitting in the guidance counsellor office room with a jet black-haired woman sitting across them. She's Keima's homeroom teacher, Nikaido Yuri. Eccentric, sexy, but cold-blooded. Some students called her the god of death or the shinigami. The otakus have their own nickname for her; Mikasa [1].

"OK, your grades are great except for P.E. At this rate, you can enter any university across the country."

Everything seems going great. Haqua and Keima could felt relief. However, yes. Only 'seems' like it.

"I won't buy it," she glared at Keima. "I know your reputation, Katsuragi Keima. There's no way you would want to go out there and become a university student! All you do everyday is playing games!"

"Tch," he clicked his tongue.

Nikaido stood up from the sofa, "Haqua Herminium."

"Yes, Sensei!"

"Truth be told, I can promote you to be the president this year…" she glanced at her, "I can leave this guy in your care, right?"

"Eeeh?!" Haqua screamed in her mind, "Aaaaah! Yes! Yes, you can!"

"NOOOO You have got to be kidding me!" Keima screamed his heart out in his mind.


tbc


a/n: sorry for the yet another short chapter. It's exam weeeeeeek!

[1] Mikasa, as in Attack on Titan. Dude she resembles her a lot.

Thanks for reading! I had this feeling that this is the worst chapter so far… I am sorry.

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