Chapter 24: Twice
Fortunately, the day unfolded with an unexpected stroke of magic. It was as if the universe itself conspired to favor my every endeavor that day. The sun shone brilliantly in a cloudless, azure sky, seemingly celebrating my good fortune. The crisp, cool morning air caressed my face, instilling a sense of invigoration and a firm belief that this day was destined for remarkable luck.
My initial destination was a verdant city park, where I hoped to encounter Toga Himiko. My heart fluttered with anticipation, not from nervousness, but rather from a keen sense of excitement and curiosity.
As if guided by destiny, my steps led me perfectly. Amidst the park's lively ambiance, gradually filling with visitors, my eyes caught sight of her figure. Toga Himiko, with her straight, blonde hair cascading freely and bright yellow eyes that radiated both warmth and a hint of watchfulness.
With a composed stride, yet striving for a casual demeanor, I approached her. "Hello everyone, good morning! My name is Yūsha Himaru, and I've just arrived in town for a bit of sightseeing. Might I have the pleasure of getting to know you all?" I inquired with a warm smile, extending my hand towards Toga Himiko, my gaze friendly and hopeful that she would accept my gesture.
Toga-chan looked up, her eyes meeting mine. A delicate smile graced her thin lips, a smile that sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. "Yes, it's nice to meet you, Yūsha-kun. I'm Toga Himiko," she responded, offering her hand for a handshake.
I nodded, a mix of relief at completing my mission and elation at meeting a character who should only exist within the pages of a comic book welled up within me. "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Toga-chan." Toga-chan reciprocated my handshake, her hand feeling soft and warm.
Following this, our conversation flowed effortlessly, as if we were long-acquainted friends. We conversed about a variety of topics, from the book Toga-chan was engrossed in, to favorite films, and culinary preferences. I found myself increasingly at ease and familiar with Toga-chan, and she, in turn, appeared to be thoroughly enjoying our exchange.
The entire process was seamless, almost as if orchestrated meticulously in a beautiful, destined scenario.
Emilia and Ryuko-nee then joined our conversation, their arrival amplifying the warmth and intimacy of the atmosphere. Ryuko-nee, with her cheerful and sociable nature, immediately hit it off with Toga-chan and her companions. Emilia, though more reserved, also seemed to relish in the flowing conversation and laughter that filled the air.
We whiled away a considerable amount of time in the park, conversing, laughing, and exchanging stories and experiences. The atmosphere grew increasingly convivial and affectionate, as if we were old friends reunited after a long separation. I felt an immense sense of happiness and gratitude to be in their company.
In the midst of this delightful atmosphere, I mustered the courage to ask Toga-chan, "Toga-chan, do you happen to have a Spontagram account?" I inquired with a smile, aiming to cultivate a closer bond.
Toga-chan looked at me, her eyes sparkling, a radiant smile illuminating her face. "I do, Yusha-kun. Of course, I do. Would you like to follow each other?" she replied in a cheerful tone, expressing her openness and considerable curiosity.
"Absolutely!" I responded enthusiastically. "That way, if I were to visit this city again, I could get in touch with you. Perhaps by then, we'll be more mature, and you could be our tour guide," I exclaimed with zeal, hoping this connection could extend into the future.
Toga-chan laughed again, her laughter sounding even more joyous this time. "Great idea, Yusha-kun! I would be delighted to be your tour guide if you visit here again."
Without delay, all of us in the park exchanged Spontagram follows. Our phone screens lit up in turns, new friend notifications appearing. This nascent connection forged through social media imbued us with a heightened sense of camaraderie, as if we had become part of a small, warm, and pleasant community.
After bidding farewell to Toga-chan and her friends, we continued our quest to locate the next Quirk target. Our subsequent destination led us through various parts of the city, from narrow alleys to bustling main streets, in search of individuals with vampire-like Quirks.
This leg of the target search felt more arduous and tiring. The sun climbed higher, its rays becoming increasingly scorching on our skin. However, our spirits remained undimmed. We pressed on, our eyes keenly observing everyone we encountered, seeking clues or signs that would lead us to our targets.
As we neared the completion of our search, the sky began to transform into hues of golden orange. The sun gradually descended towards the western horizon, its gentle light casting a beautiful golden color across the sky, signaling the close of a lengthy and productive day. Twilight began to creep in, bringing with it coolness and tranquility.
Fortunately, our journey home also proceeded smoothly, without any hitches. There were no unforeseen incidents, such as villain attacks or other mishaps. The streets appeared quieter than before, streetlights flickered on one by one, illuminating our path home. This peaceful homeward journey filled us with relief and satisfaction, after a day brimming with activity.
Upon arriving home, our bodies felt weary and achy. Without much conversation, the three of us immediately collapsed onto the plush living room sofa. Physical exhaustion seemed to dissipate the moment our bodies sank into the comfortable cushions. Despite the fatigue, our minds were filled with fond memories of the day.
We began to chat, reminiscing about the various interesting things and places we had visited. Our conversation flowed seamlessly, punctuated by laughter and smiles. The delightful moments from throughout the day replayed in our minds, warming our hearts and thoughts.
After resting and conversing for a while, Ryuko-nee decided to head home. The day had been quite warm, and she likely wished to shower and change into fresher clothes. Emilia and I also soon stirred from the sofa, making our way to the bathroom to freshen up. The coolness of the water washing over our bodies seemed to replenish our drained energy and spirits.
Once we had finished showering and changing, we reconvened in the living room. Shortly after, Ryuko-nee returned to our house. It turned out she had come back to await news from my parents as to whether they had succeeded in inviting Bubaigawara Jin to work at our restaurant.
We sat together in the living room, waiting with bated breath. Anxiety and anticipation mingled within us. While waiting, I proposed playing console games. Emilia and Ryuko-nee readily welcomed this suggestion. Gaming provided pleasant entertainment, diverting our attention from our curiosity and making the waiting time feel shorter.
This time, we devised a small wager to amplify the fun of the game. Whoever lost the most rounds would have to relinquish their special karage to the one who won the most. This minor challenge made the game more thrilling and competitive, laughter and cheers echoing throughout the living room.
The karage we were wagering was no ordinary karage. It was a new, top-selling menu item from our restaurant, crafted from a secret recipe provided by the system some time ago. Its deliciousness was beyond doubt—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a tantalizing blend of spices. Everyone, ourselves included, was eager to taste this special karage.
As we were engrossed in our game, the front door opened. My parents were home! The fragrant aroma of delicious food immediately filled the room, wafting from the food containers my father carried from the restaurant. As was their custom, my parents always brought home cooked meals from the restaurant for family dinner after work.
We promptly paused our game and approached my parents. Hunger suddenly gnawed at our stomachs; the delicious food aroma was truly mouthwatering.
While helping my mother arrange the food on the dining table, she asked me in a soft yet concerned tone, "But, Himaru, is doing all of this really going to help develop your Quirk?" A hint of worry laced her voice, which did not escape my notice.
I met my mother's gaze, attempting to reassure her with a confident answer. "According to my predictions, engaging in all of this will indeed make my Quirk Training Specialist even stronger," I replied with conviction, striving to convince both my mother and myself.
Father, who had been listening quietly, joined in with a curious tone, "How exactly does this work? I still don't quite understand." His eyes reflected a desire to comprehend more deeply what I was doing.
I took a deep breath, trying to formulate the right words to explain this rather complex concept to my parents. "How should I explain it... My Quirk Training Specialist is unique. It can make me better at anything I practice, but the condition is that I must genuinely believe in my mind that I am indeed practicing," I explained cautiously, attempting to convey this abstract concept in a way that was easily understandable.
I continued my explanation in more detail, "So, I'm conducting a sort of experiment. If I truly desire to train to become a vampire, and even go as far as seeking out everything related to vampires to begin training, then I earnestly hope my Quirk will respond and provide me with ways to practice. Just like when I want to train my body, my Quirk signals me to start running and exercising. Hopefully, this idea of mine will work, Father, Mother," I concluded earnestly, looking at them with the hope that they could grasp what I was attempting to do.
Up to this point, I still hadn't dared to reveal my true Quirk to my family. I felt it wasn't yet time to unveil this greatest secret to them. It wasn't due to a lack of trust in them; quite the contrary. I deeply loved and trusted my family.
However, a feeling within me suggested that it wasn't the right moment. I needed to delve deeper, to comprehend the limits and potential of my Dungeon Master Quirk before sharing it with others, even with my own family.
For additional information, my father's Quirk is Space Box. This Quirk enables him to store inanimate objects within a different dimensional space. Regrettably, Father's Quirk lacks advanced features such as time-stopping within its space, and the space's volume is also quite limited, only about one cubic meter.
Despite these limitations, this Quirk is immensely helpful in daily life, especially when Father brings home food from the restaurant. The food he carries can be placed directly into his Space Box without the hassle of carrying it by hand.
Meanwhile, my mother's Quirk is named Water Bender. You could envision Mom's abilities as akin to Katara from Avatar, but a weaker version—specifically, Katara before meeting Aang. Mom can only control water movement on a small scale. Though limited, this ability is quite useful, particularly in specific situations requiring water control, such as cooking or cleaning the house.
Suddenly, Father broke the silence with a wide smile. "Oh, I see... by the way, today I managed to meet that Bubaigawara Jin and successfully invite him to work at our restaurant. You can come to the restaurant after school tomorrow if you'd like to meet him," my father announced, delivering the good news with a broad smile.
"Excellent, Father!" I replied enthusiastically, a sense of relief and joy surging within me upon hearing this welcome news. Finally, Father had managed to invite Twice to join our restaurant.
This positive news from Father further improved my spirits during dinner. My appetite increased, and every bite tasted more delightful than usual. That night, we dined with great joy and familial warmth.
With this good news, I felt even more invigorated for the morrow. Tomorrow, after school, I could go straight to our restaurant to make physical contact with Twice. I had already tried various Quirk combinations I had obtained today with my dungeon gate key, but regrettably, none had been compatible. I earnestly hoped Twice's Quirk would be the right answer to unlock my dungeon gate.
The next day, after school, Emilia and I hastened to visit our family restaurant. That day, we were both exceptionally enthusiastic. Besides the anticipation of meeting Twice, we also wanted to observe the latest developments at our family's restaurant. It had been several days since our last visit, and we were curious about any changes that might have occurred.
And indeed, upon arriving at the restaurant, my eyes immediately fixed upon the figure of Bubaigawara Jin. He was visible working as a waiter, efficiently serving the patrons. Seeing him firsthand in a work setting was truly intriguing and somewhat comical. A villain moonlighting as a part-time worker—a combination of words that sounded both funny and ironic.
Though his expression appeared somewhat stiff and strained, Twice worked quite diligently. Each movement he made seemed full of effort, despite a slight awkwardness in his manner of interacting with customers. Perhaps he was still adjusting to his new role as a waiter.
When one of the veteran waiters noticed Emilia and me visiting, they promptly approached us with welcoming smiles and endeavored to present themselves in the best possible light before us. The senior waiter wanted to ensure we felt welcome and comfortable in the restaurant environment, demonstrating their professionalism as servers at our family's establishment.
Observing his senior's suddenly solicitous behavior, Twice couldn't suppress his curiosity. He ventured to ask his senior in a low voice, "Who are these two little kids, senpai?" His voice was hushed yet still audible amidst the restaurant's hustle and bustle.
The senior waiter turned to Twice, then replied softly, "They are the children of the boss and his wife!" His voice was almost a whisper, yet clearly heard by Twice.
Upon hearing his senior's response, Twice appeared startled and fell silent. His eyes widened slightly, indicating clear shock. Perhaps he hadn't anticipated that the restaurant owner's children would be so young.
I approached him with a friendly smile, then gently patted his thigh, attempting to make the atmosphere more relaxed and less awkward.
"You must be a new waiter, right? Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Yūsha Himaru, and this is my younger sister, Emilia," I said, introducing myself and Emilia while making physical contact with Twice. I extended my hand for a handshake, my friendly smile widening, hoping to break the slight tension in the air.
"Welcome, Young Master!!!" Twice exclaimed, slightly flustered, his voice sounding a bit strained but full of respect. He bowed deeply, showing his deference to us as the restaurant owner's children.
I chuckled softly at Twice's flustered demeanor. "No need to be so nervous, just treat me like any other guest. Today, I simply want to buy two special karage," I told him, feeling pleased and relieved.
My smile broadened further, content that I had successfully added Twice's Quirk to my Quirk Dungeon Master database. This step forward was a crucial part of the plan I had carefully crafted before visiting the restaurant.