The Crisis World XX

Chap. 141: Birthday Surprise

We managed to save the city of Nagoya from the attacks of the remaining Assassins under Astaroth, even I heard that Mei-senpai managed to kill two Assassins thanks to the help of Nimis and Ardenter. That's really something worth appreciating.

Then besides that for Arisu, well .. he became a hero for the people of Nagoya. Another Exception view of him also became more mengiling than the first who only considered him 'Good idol'.

Moreover, he did other excessive things to us. Is correct. He helped our Haiiro Cafe business which was initially almost bankrupt to become a hard sell as it is now.

It was thanks to Arisu who promoted it directly through his social media. I don't even know if it's legal or not, but thanks to that we have to work hard every day.

Talk about the advantages of being popular. But in this way I think one problem has been solved. If only that fool Iraya had not accepted the offer of sparing with Oukami Yuu who was just as stupid, surely the payment we got would have been even more.

Sometimes I can't predict the extent to which his stupid nature can harm us, even though it's been almost a year we've been together. I can't believe he could be any more stupid.

A lot of good things happen to us, but of course good news does not come alone, there must be bad news that follows from behind. More precisely this is bad news for me, anyway.

Oita-san is back.

Not wrong anymore. He is indeed alive again. But returning to life as an enemy is not a pleasant thing, especially for a person like Oita-san. I'm sure the last words about his 'dream accomplished' were his desire to die at the hands of both of us.

Because he didn't want to be an enemy piece. Although his body was different, but the aura he had was unable to deceive me who had been with him for many years.

Hence when Iraya's attack hollowed out her stomach, she instead smiled happily. She is indeed the Oita-san I know. The one who did that to him will not forgive me! I never heard of anyone who could bring the dead back to life from the Assassins under Astaroth.

So that means ...one of them.

"Go home to where your father and mother are, Herlinia."

Those words have never left my head since then. Then when I saw his appearance .... Hair and iris of the eyes. It's so similar that it gives me goosebumps.

There is no one who looks like me here. My eyeballs are even wider than Japanese in general— just like that woman. It indicates that I am not from here. I come from a faraway place and I've been aware of it for a long time, but in my heart, I keep denying it.

Because I want to stay here. The place I grew up in is this country and I'm happy to be here. But her words as well as Oita-san's words made my head feel like it wanted to explode from the constant thought.

Daddyh.

Mother.

Then the woman in my dream.

I'm sure the dream wasn't my imagination, it was my childhood memory that I vaguely remember. But I can't meet both my parents even in my dreams— let alone meet, see it never.

God fucking. Is my destiny this cruel? Can't I even meet my parents in my own dreams? Do I really have to leave my past behind without knowing the truth? Is that the right answer?

"... San?"

I clenched my hand tightly and closed my eyes in annoyance. I remembered that Cecilia said I could control my emotions well. Huh! Fuck that! Even one of me could lose his temper if I faced this cruel.

"... Lin-san?"

If we ignore the power of Exception and Banshee that I have, I am just an ordinary little girl. Should I not be spoiled and praised? I also want to be like another little girl who gets a normal life! I'm sick of all this!

"Herlin-san!"

"Huh?"

"Is something wrong?"

"Ti-no .. I'm fine."

"really? But your face is pale, you know. Do we need a break?"

"I'm fine, Anna-san, really. Thank you for worrying about me."

I almost got out of control. I can't suddenly scream and surprise everyone. Damn, the girl's words made my mind so messed up like this. I need to calm down. Focus and concentration.

"Filus ...."

By the way, the three of us are in the mall right now for shopping. What I mean by three is me, Anna-san, and Hanasaki-san. The two of them suddenly invited me and I had no other choice but to agree to it.

But it's weird enough to take me shopping when I don't know anything about the style and fashion of young girls today. I sound like an old granny when in fact I'm busy with my mission.

"Can't you two shop alone? I don't understand anything about this" I said.

"Can't! Herlin-san should come! It wouldn't be exciting if there wasn't Herlin-san, you know!" Anna-san. I don't know why I think I should apologize. "Sorry."

"It's my first time shopping with you two, so I'm really happy!" Anna-san hugged my hands and Hanasaki-san simultaneously and brought the two of us closer to her cheerfully. "The food we have to do now is shop and have fun! Do you understand?!"

"Ba-good ...." We both answered slowly.

"Let's go to the dress shop!" Then Anna-san ran first to leave us.

I'm glad that Anna-san has started to open up and be comfortable with the people around her. This is a good development compared to the first time we met.

"She's a good girl, huh?"

I looked at Hanasaki-san. This fellow previously hated me and Anna-san so much, then blamed his helplessness on me. Although I do not like bullying, but still blaming us is the wrong thing in my opinion.

"Are you okay?" my many.

"Hmm ...?"

"The girls."

"Gr ...." He thought for a moment. "They've never bothered me again." And after that smile at me. It seems like there's nothing I need to worry about anymore. He looked cold to people, but it seemed like the shadow had faded by now.

"Since then, he fought hard to become familiar with me. From taking me out to eat at recess, helping me with PR, to buying me a drink. At first I refused all his help and kicked him out. But ... he used cheating."

"How to cheat?"

"Yes, he cried loudly in front of many people and made their attention all set on me. So inevitably I accepted it and the crying stopped."

You're creepy, Anna-san.

But he really fought hard. I don't think I can do all that just to make people like me. I always told Iraya that I would make it easy to make friends, but I just seemed to have a big mouth.

"Although initially forced, but I felt that what was given to him was sincere to me and there was nothing he hid. He just wants to be friends with me. That's all it is."

It sounds like Anna-san. She is indeed a girl who is sometimes shy but can also sometimes do embarrassing things. Even so, his heart I admit is as clean as an angel.

"What are you guys doing?! Don't just shut up! Come quickly follow me!"

Me and Hanasaki-san were shocked when Anna-san came back and shouted at us. But after that he immediately ran again to the clothing store which was our goal.

"Ouch!"

When he wanted to catch up with Anna-san, suddenly there was someone who fell right in front of me and the items he was carrying were also scattered on the floor.

"You okay— Hn?" When I wanted to help her, it turned out that the person who fell was the person I knew. "Iraya? What are you doing here?"

"ah! So-so about that ...! I-I ... I ...!"

Bizarrely. He seemed to be flirting when he explained it. Then I saw his groceries scattered on the ground at this moment. I can see at a glance that there is some kind of confetti and other birthday decorations.

"Let me help."

"ah! No need! No need! I can clean it up myself!" But he refused my help raw and didn't even let me take a close look at his groceries.

"Your behavior is weird. What exactly is going on? You know that lying to me is like dying?"

"Hlh ...! I-it .... Not that I want to lie ..., ta-but— Uhoogkh!"

Just as Iraya wanted to explain, suddenly a fist slid into Iraya's cheek and made her bounce far away. And it turns out that the one who hit him was his two friends who were always with him— Takushi-san and Tooru-san.

"I'm sorry for the disturbance, Ririsaka-san. I'll get rid of these pests soon."

She then dragged Iraya who was already half conscious due to her punch. While Takushi-san collects Iraya's groceries and catches up with the two of them.

What the fuck is that ugly drama?

"Sometimes I don't understand the way boys think, do I, Herlin-san?"

"Ah ..., hnm, maybe?"

We then headed to the clothing store. I saw the two of them secretly feeling relieved at something I didn't know. Are they planning something?

But I didn't think too much about it. After arriving at the clothing store, we immediately pick and choose clothes. Anna-san and Hanasaki-san looked very interested in things like this while I was just waiting for them to finish.

The two of them also tried on some clothes that they would buy.

"How do I look?!"

The first one out was Anna-san. He chose a yellow channel shirt that was up to calf length. Coupled with a lady-only sling bag and a small straw hat, Anna-san looks like she wants to go on a picnic.

"Yes, good," I said.

"Hehe ...! Thank you!"

The next one to come out was Hanasaki-san. She wears a grey woman's shirt which she puts into a light green pattern skirt with large buttons arranged down.

"I don't think I'm fit for a skirt, huh." Hanasaki-san looks blushed because her clothes make her look feminine.

But Anna-san shook her head in disapproval. "That's not true! Clothes make you funny! Isn't that right, Herlin-san?!"

"Nn, I think so too."

"If you think like that .., I think I like it a little bit." Hanasaki-san was happy with her own choice.

And the last one is my turn. I told them I didn't have to and just came with them. But Anna-san scolded me instead.

"That's not fair! We're here to try new clothes! And now it's your turn, Herlin-san!"

Hah .. He does sometimes like to be pushy. I finished changing my clothes and I came out of the dressing room. They told me that I had to choose my own clothes, but I didn't know anything, so I chose just the origin.

"Uwahhhhhhhh!"

They look happy. Is my choice that good? I chose a navy blue oversized sweater with a model that I put in a pale cream-sized thigh-sized short jeans.

"Good! Nice work! It's not like Herlin-san!"

"Is that a compliment to me?"

"You really don't know fashion? Is it just pretending?" ask Hanasaki-san.

"I only choose what seems easy to move when worn."

I looked again at the clothes I was wearing. If it's good for them, I think I'll buy this one. The price is not too expensive either.

But it seems like Hanasaki-san had another thought when I was looking at my clothes, she smiled ignorantly and explained what she was thinking.

"Hmm .. lest you're thinking whether Iraya-san will like it or—"

"No." I cut it right away. Because I know what he's gonna say next.

"Your answer is fast!" He just shook his head weakly. "Hah .. before I knew you were 'Exception' or something, I thought you were dating, you know."

"Mrs! I think so too."

I tilted my head. "Is that right?" I didn't know they had such thoughts about me and Iraya, even though I never cared about people talking, anyway.

"Finally you two look mute. Starting from leaving school, sometimes during break hours, even going home from school. Especially if it's not a date." Hanasaki-san counted with her finger.

"We're not together that often. When I left I accidentally met on the way to school, during breaks I sometimes give him provisions, then go home to school we walk together because we want to go to the training ground."

"So there's a goal, huh?"

"Yes." Yeah."

I gave the most understandable explanation and moreover it was the reality.

"Some of the class boys seem to be happy when you're together, but some are jealous. If I'm happy with you myself, because you guys look pretty good."

"I'm happy too." Anna-san also follows.

I reflected on those words. "Match ...?" Usually I would dodge and say that there was no way I could fit in with him. But I'm not in the mood to joke like that, and then I imagine when I'm with Iraya.

"Let's pay for our clothes" Hanasaki-san asked.

"Come on!" Anna-san replied with excitement.

We also paid for the clothes we bought. In addition to shopping, we also had lunch first and played in the arcade game before finally going home. But strangely they went to the orphanage instead of going home.

"Why are you coming here? Your house doesn't go through here, does it?"

They looked at each other and smiled. "There's something we want to show you, Herlin-san."

"Really! And it's right here!"

"Eh? In an orphanage?"

They nodded and then closed my eyes with a cloth and led my way. They wanted to surprise me with something. Actually I could have activated the aura in my eyes and looked through this cloth, but I appreciated their efforts so I didn't.

I was led to walk quite a distance and then stopped. "W-what's up?" many doubt.

"Please open the lid, Herlin-san!"

I opened my eyes and saw something surprising.

Poofs... Poofs...

"Happy birthday!"

The sound of confetti welcomed my arrival and I saw a great crowd gathered here. All the members of Black Rain gathered, even the trio of former Assassins were also here, then all the orphanage children, and of course Yuuki-san and Iraya were holding cakes with the number seventeen candles.

"Eh? What's the matter?"

"Mu ... Herlin-san, did you forget that this is your birthday?"

"My birthday ...?" I tried to remember it again and it turned out to be my birthday. I completely forgot my own birthday.

Iraya then approached me. "Do you remember now? I know that you're the kind of person who doesn't care about things like this, so I'm the one who's putting together the plan."

"Although it almost failed because you fell in front of Ririsaka-san," Tooru-san said.

"Gkhus!" Iraya was surprised and regretted it. But it turns out that birthday decoration was for me, yes. "Your surprise was a huge success, you know?" And everyone smiled happily when I said so.

"Now! Since the surprise worked, let's eat all these dishes!" mei-senpai.

"You only know about eating, right?" Everyone laughed because of Mei-senpai's ridiculous nature.

They're all having fun. I forgot about my own birthday. My head was too busy being filled with the words of that woman. Even because of that, something is making me angry at myself right now.

I forgot how to be happy on my own birthday. Everyone has been having a hard time and is having fun on my birthday. But I don't feel that happiness at all. His words had gone too deep and had messed with my mind.

It was all his fault. The woman's fault. But he's not here right now, so I can't reply or just talk to him. It's really stifling. Frustrating me.

What am I supposed to do?

But again, there's nothing I can do— more precisely, I don't know how. Can no one help me now? But I can't say that right now, it's gonna turn off everyone's fun. For now I just have to shut up, and pretend that I'm having fun too.

Is correct. That's all I can do right now.

Without me noticing, Iraya looked at me and looked at me with a confused look.

Seriate