AGMCFP 17

Chapter 17

In front of the station nearest to school, there’s a café called Moonbucks.

For me, it ranks third on the list of “places that have nothing to do with me.”
And yet, here I am, wondering where the old me went—the one who used to sneer at these dens of normies every time I passed by.

Still, wigs are stuffy.
Am I really going to have to wear this for the rest of my life?
What if my scalp overheats and I go bald early?
I need to think of some countermeasure.

Inside the café, I found Kashimura-san sitting alone at a table in the back, reading a book.
On the table sat a large paper cup with a straw.
After greeting her, I went to order a drink of my own.

…But wow, everything’s expensive.

In my wallet, I’ve got the 10,000 yen I have to return to Kiriya-sensei, plus 572 yen in coins.
That bill is untouchable, so I have to buy something within 572 yen.
I hunted for the cheapest option and settled on a short-sized drip coffee for 320 yen.

When I sat down across from Kashimura-san, she spoke up.

“Sorry I couldn’t give this to you in class. And for dragging you all the way out here.”

There was no need for her to apologize.
If anything, I should be the one apologizing—she’s lending me books, after all.

“No, it’s my fault. I should’ve noticed you in class. Our eyes met a bunch of times.”
“Ehh—don’t say that, it’s embarrassing!”

…What is this?
It feels like a conversation between a couple.

“Master, should we capture her alive?”
(Of course not!)

“Oh, right. Here—this is the light novel I promised.”

She handed me a paper bag stuffed full of light novels.
That’s… a lot. Must’ve been heavy to carry.

“Wow, that’s a ton. Must’ve been hard to lug around.”
“Actually, I put them in a coin locker at the station this morning so I could hand them over here.”

Makes sense. Bringing that many to school would draw way too much attention.

I peeked inside the bag, and to my surprise, there was a book by Donguri Mock, a web novelist I really liked.

“Oh hey, this is by Donguri Mock, right? I’ve been reading their stuff online. I wanted to check this one out!”

“W-wha—oh no, that must’ve gotten mixed in by mistake! I didn’t mean to bring that one. Really, I didn’t!”

For some reason she looked flustered.
Maybe it’s a story that’s embarrassing to admit she reads?

“Well, lucky me then. Thanks, I’m looking forward to it.”

“You’re that happy…?”

She muttered softly to herself.
She probably thought I couldn’t hear, but thanks to my ridiculously enhanced hearing, I caught it.

“If it’s not too much trouble, would you tell me what you think after you read it?”
“Sure. But I don’t think my opinions are anything special.”
“No, I just want to share thoughts with another light novel fan. Sorry, that probably sounds weird.”

“Master, shall we have naked body sushi for dinner tonight?”
(No! And stop turning everything erotic!)

“You’re not weird at all. I’ll tell you what I think.”
“Really? Then—let’s exchange LINE IDs. I’m not confident I could talk naturally at school.”
“Of course.”

We exchanged IDs.
Outside of family and relatives, this was my first.
It felt awkward, but not in a bad way. Maybe my mental score rising from minus to eleven had something to do with it.

“Hmm? Mikado-kun, did your bangs get longer?”

Crap!
Did the wig slip?!

“Ah, yeah—I just grow hair fast, haha.”

I couldn’t fix it here.
But if I could just create a small distraction…

“Kashimura-san, you dropped something by your feet.”
“Eh? Where?”

As she looked down, I quickly adjusted the wig.

“Ah—my mistake. Sorry.”
“It’s fine, but… huh? Mikado-kun, doesn’t your hair look shorter now? And I see some gray strands too.”

Damn! Must’ve adjusted it wrong. The grays are showing… Should I run to the bathroom? Or bluff it out?

I chose… bluff.

“Sometimes gray hairs just pop up. See—‘pluck!’ Like that.”

I pulled out a couple of my own gray hairs.
Kashimura-san recoiled a little.

“…R-right.”
“And I’ve got bangs that grow slower too, so it all kinda mixes. You get it, right?”
“…Y-yeah, totally.”

Alright, crisis averted.

“So it’s true that people who make excuses talk too much.”
(Shut up! If she finds out, I’m doomed!)

“Anyway, what’s your personal recommendation?”

“And now you’re changing the subject to regain control. Classic guilty tactic.”
(Aegis-sama, please, not now!)

“U-uh, I like these ones best. This story is about—well, without spoilers…”

She explained her favorites enthusiastically.
Good thing she’s into light novels.

Later, the bulky paper bag of novels she’d lent me was stowed safely away in my Storage while I was in a restroom stall.
That skill is seriously convenient.

On the way home from the station, I bought three bags of bean sprouts from the supermarket. Ten yen each—very budget friendly. That would be this week’s meals.
I also stopped at a home improvement store to buy vegetable seedlings and lily bulbs.

My grandparents loved lilies. Since I was borrowing their house, I thought I’d grow some and offer them at their grave once they bloomed.

After tucking everything into Storage, I checked my wallet.
…This is rough.

I thought about using Appraisal on a lottery ticket, but unlike in Tokyo, there wasn’t a booth nearby. If I can’t buy one, I can’t rely on that plan. I’ll just have to scrape by.

“You’re poor.”
“…Not my fault. Can’t spend what I don’t have.”

Potions probably needed ingredients anyway, so I couldn’t sink money into that.

“I’ll look for a day job when I get home.”

“Poor.”
“Stop saying it like a broken robot, please.”

Even with Aegis’s harsh commentary weighing me down, I still dreamed of a future where I’d be rich.

“Master, that’s just an illusion.”
“Let me dream!!”
“It’s just escapism.”
“Ugh—can’t argue with that…”

“Anyway, try channeling mana into your legs while pedaling the bike.”
“Even while riding? …Fine.”

By now, I could at least control mana while multitasking.
Still, concentrating it in a body part was unstable—I couldn’t hold it for long.

I followed Aegis’s instructions, pushing mana into my legs.
It worked… but quickly dispersed.

“Keep practicing until you get home.”
“Yeah, yeah.”

Manipulating something invisible and unknown is hard.
People talk about “auras”—like celebrities or athletes having a presence. But that’s something others perceive, not something the person themselves controls.
Mana is the same. You can’t use what you don’t even recognize exists.

“Less philosophy, more practice.”
“…Sometimes I’m just in that mood.”
“Puberty.”
“…Not quite.”
“Chuunibyou.”
“…Maybe closer.”

And so, as I argued with Aegis, the mana in my legs kept scattering and recharging. By the time I got home, I was starting to grasp the knack—though I still couldn’t hold it for more than ten seconds.

Ding! Mana Manipulation has reached Lv. 2.

“Yes! Leveled up!”

“Good. Now, try jumping while channeling mana to your legs.”

Jumping, huh? Alright.

I focused mana into my legs, took a short run-up, and leapt.

“Wooooooaaaahhh!!”

I kicked off the ground and soared into the sky.
Was I dreaming?
My perspective was so high—too high.
I looked down on the roof tiles of single-story houses, even past the second floor of Aunt Akane’s home.
It felt like I could see the horizon.

Ding! Skill [Physical Enhancement] acquired.

Nice—I got a new skill.
But I had a more pressing issue.

“…Aegis, I’m gonna fall, right?”

“Yes. Gravity is a thing.”
“…So what do I do?!”
“Handle it with spirit.”
“WHAT?!”

I traced a parabola straight toward the ground.
If I hit, I’d be seriously injured.

“Spread mana through your whole body! And if possible, create a membrane over your skin.”
“Don’t spring that on me now!!”

Thud!

I landed in the garden plot, feet first, then toppled over.

“Owww…”

Dammit, Aegis. If you knew, why didn’t you warn me sooner?

“If I had, would you have tried it?”
“…No. I’d have been too scared.”
“Exactly. Besides, I adjusted your internal mana during the fall. You shouldn’t even have a scratch.”

Come to think of it, I didn’t.
I stood up and checked—no pain at all.

“Wow, really. Not even bruised. …Though my uniform’s filthy.”