I started dating a cute girlfriend I met during my eighth grade days when we reunited in high school. - Chapter 12

TL: Mowaso

ED: Anima

Chapter 12-Prologue <True Reunion of the Witch of Hades and the Knight of the Black Dragon>.

The sky over the riverbank was covered in a fantastic crimson color created by the transition between day and night. This familiar scenery reminded me of the old days.

“The witching hour is upon us again, Black Dragon Knight, Kisaragi Shinya.”

“Ah, just like that day… Witch of Hades, Yomizaka Beni.”

I responded to the voice that came from behind me and turned around.

A witch with silver hair and red eyes stood there. She was dressed in a cute, frilly outfit, a red leather choker around her neck, and jet-black wings on her back. Her ornaments were gorgeous, probably because her budget had increased since she became a high school student.

Whoa, this was way more awesome than I had imagined. It seemed like her Chuunibyou had gotten worse, or rather, it evolved. But this was the Beni I knew. Ah, this isn’t bad, if anything, it was better than before.

“Right now, I’m not the normal Witch of Hades—  This form is called Witch of Hades: Fallen Angel Mode… What about the Black dragon knight…?”

“Ah, the same goes for me, I’m also in the state where all of the Black Dragon Knight’s power has been unleashed”

She then gave me a fearless smile. It reminded me of the girl whom I met at the riverbank back in my junior high school days. My image was reflected on the surface of the river water. In my reflection, I had black hair, silver chains on my neck and left arm, a jet-black cloak, and a black and red sword in each hand. This was the real me.

Our story… The Black Dragon Knight and the Witch of Hades began at this riverbank, when we exposed everything to each other.

“I’ve been trying to suppress my power… all this time, but how could I if you say something like this?”

“It’s okay, Beni. I just wanted to meet the real you, so I’m really glad that you came…”

She looked at me sulkily and showed me her smartphone. Displayed on the screen was the message I sent her.

I want to meet with the real Yomizaka Beni. Tomorrow, at the witching hour, I will wait at the promised land. From The Black Dragon Knight.

I was worried that she might not show up, but my fears were unfounded. Finally, I was able to see the Witch of Hades, Yomizaka Beni. I had never been so happy in my life. Thus, I, as the Black Dragon Knight, and Beni, as the Witch of Hades, had our true reunion.

“Of course, I don’t want to regret the same thing twice. I won’t keep you waiting anymore.”

Beni, who said this with a determined look, had her most brilliant smile since we reunited. She was trying to suppress it half-heartedly, but in the end, her Chuunibyou was a part of her identity. She was more attractive than ever now that she had completely shown her true self.

“To be honest, I’d already given up. We can’t dream forever. I can’t be the Witch of Hades for all eternity… A lot of people told me this, including my sister. So I decided to do my best when I transferred school. I thought something was off… the witch inside me asked, are you really fine with this? Are you sure you’re having fun? But I pretended not to hear her.”

She continued her monologue while staring at my face. There was a hint of anxiety in her eyes. I nodded without averting my gaze from her.

“Maybe if we hadn’t met again, although it may be a bit sad, I would no longer be the Witch of Hades. Well, I thought that was fine. I thought Yomizaka Beni would completely disappear and I would just be Sachiko Tanaka. But if you say something like this to me, I won’t be able to fool myself anymore… Then, how will you take responsibility for this?”

“That’s easy, let me walk beside you, the Black Dragon Knight hereby vows to walk beside the Witch of Hades from now on.”

“Are you really sure? I’m this kind of woman, I can’t bear it anymore. Let alone in high school, maybe I’ll remain like this even in college. It’ll never get cured. Isn’t it embarrassing to be with me like that?”

“Why would I be embarrassed? You know that my Chuunibyou is pretty strong as well. I know the angel Beni and the small devil Beni, as well as the Witch of Hades, and I chose to walk with you knowing all of that… And you weren’t the only one who regretted it. I’ve been waiting every day here on the riverbank since that day, and now, I’ve finally met you again… I want to walk beside you as a companion, so that I won’t have any more regrets.”

“It seems that… I can’t disappoint the only person who acknowledges the Witch of Hades. Black Dragon Knight, Kisaragi Shinya, let us walk together as companions.”

Thus, our reunion, in the true sense, had ended. The vows between the Black Dragon Knight and the Witch of Hades were finally concluded. While eating an all-black bento that Beni had prepared as we chatted and laughed together, Beni muttered as if she remembered something.

“By the way, you said you were gonna spend most of your time with me, but won’t that make it harder for you to play with other girls? You’re pretty used to it, aren’t you playing around with girls too much? I thought it was your first date.”

What the hell was she talking about? …I’ve never been on a date with a girl before… Well, I’ve been hanging out with Eriko a lot. While I struggled to explain this, Beni’s eyes began to get tighter and tighter. Whoa, it was like Medusa was staring at me. I’ve never been stared at like this before.

“Fuuーn, you used to play with the girl you liked in junior high school… I heard you can’t see her anymore, but if you meet her again, she would probably not want me around, right?”

“How did you even know about that? …I mean, we’re reunited now, aren’t we?”

“Eh?”

“Eh?”

What the hell did I say? Beni, who was glaring at me, suddenly turned red and averted her eyes. UOOOOOOOOH, I wanna die right now and get reincarnated in another world…

She fidgeted for a while, but when she saw what state I was in, she gave a nasty smile.

“Hmm, so I’m the one that you liked. Well, I’m extremely beautiful, so it’s no wonder that you fell in love with me.”

“Shut up, that was a long time ago! Don’t get carried away with your self-praise!”

We made a lot of noise screaming and yelling at each other next to the riverbank. Yeah, I guess we were fine like this.

This is the true beginning of our story, “My cute girlfriend from my eighth grade days started dating me when we reunited in high school.”

After my true reunion with Beni, I started to head back home. I guess from now on, we’ll be able to get along better, although we’ll have to hide our chuuni habits from the public. As expected, we’re high schoolers now, so we’ve learned to distinguish fantasy and reality. I don’t like to admit it… but when I’m with Beni, I don’t care about these things. Looking back on it now, I think I had said some pretty embarrassing things…

“But… I confessed, didn’t I? No, I said let me walk with you… I mean, that was intended to be a roundabout confession, but I’m pretty sure it didn’t go through… In that atmosphere, I’m sure a normal confession wouldn’t work…”

I remembered all the things I said and realized the fatal mistake I made. Now I’ve done it! Why didn’t you confess properly at that moment, stupid me! I’m such an idiot! I confessed to her in chuuni style, but from Beni’s perspective, I’m just trying to establish a chuuni partnership with her. She said that she would accept me as a companion but not as a lover. What kind of relationship do companions have exactly?

She also had a subtle reaction when I told her that I used to like her in the past… Oh, at times like this, I need to consult with Okita. He might be able to come up with something.

I’ve been trying desperately to contact him, but he’s not answering at all! Oh, I got a reply.

『Sorry, I’m busy.』

Ah, social games… Well, he said something about an event in the evening. What should I do? I had no idea what kind of face to make when I meet Beni tomorrow.

——————————————————–

Tanaka/Beni POV

“Today was really great, wasn’t it, Cocytus?”

When I got home, I talked to my stuffed penguin. I bumped into my sister when I arrived and she looked at me suspiciously… I’m sure she’ll preach to me later, but for now I’m just really happy. However, when I thought about my boyfriend… I realized… How should I treat him from now on?

Ah, that was a confession, wasn’t it? He told me that he wanted to walk with me and that he used to like me, but he didn’t tell me how he felt about me right now. I mean, where were we going to walk together, the promised land? I didn’t ask him what kind of relationship it was but… Normally, if he liked me, he’d confess his love and ask me out, right…? I wonder if he’d ask someone he didn’t like to walk with him, maybe Shinya just said that… out of kindness…

“Fuhaaaaaa… What kind of face should I make when I see him tomorrow!”

I hugged Cocytus, taking my frustration out on him and Cocytus squealed in response to my cries.


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