Because of Misaki, by the time Sorata brought the freshly tidied Shiina downstairs for breakfast, both Chihiro Sengoku and Mitaka Jin already knew that he had slept in Shiina’s room the previous night.
“Although I am very open minded, let me remind you that you are still high school students. Be restrained. Do not end up with a life changing accident.” Chihiro said bluntly, drinking beer first thing in the morning.
Several empty bottles were already lined up in front of her.
As Jin passed by on his way out, he patted Sorata on the shoulder.
“Not bad, Kanda. Quietly winning over Shiina. I used to think you were not interested in women.”
“Hey, hey. We were just discussing manga too late and fell asleep. What are those looks supposed to mean?” Sorata replied, speechless.
“And Senpai Jin, when did I ever say I was not interested in women?”
This daily teasing was the usual morning routine at Sakurasou.
It was Sunday, so there was no school.
Jin had a date with Nurse Noriko, and Chihiro was heading to a matchmaking party even on a weekend.
Whether she was actually searching for a partner or just going for the food and drinks was another matter.
Misaki seemed fired up for some reason.
After breakfast, she dashed back upstairs to continue working on her new animation project.
Akasaka Ryuunosuke remained in his room as always.
Shiina, having finalized the character designs with Sorata the night before, went upstairs as well to begin drawing the official cover for Toradora!.
Unlike manga drafts, this was a fully colored illustration.
According to their discussion, the male and female leads would stand back to back on the cover.
Sakurasou soon fell quiet.
Sorata, now finished with his bloodline conversion and no longer in need of focused cultivation, fed the cats, changed into casual clothes, and went out for a walk.
As for writing the novel, there was no rush.
He would deal with it when inspiration came.
Since waking up in this world, he had not properly explored the surroundings.
With his hands behind his head, he strolled lazily along the street without any clear destination.
People came and went.
Cars moved back and forth.
Horns sounded.
Conversations overlapped.
Countless fragments of noise formed the lively texture of the world.
Above, the sun shone without restraint.
Endless energy poured down from the sky.
The warm sunlight carried immense power, continuously absorbed by Sorata’s body.
Kryptonian cells evolved at high speed.
The steady increase in physical strength put him in a good mood.
By the time it was nearly noon, Sorata had wandered far enough that he no longer knew the exact route.
Judging by the buildings, he seemed to be near the edge of a commercial district.
He bought a pineapple bun from a bakery by a small river and sat on a roadside bench, planning to make it lunch.
At that moment, he sensed a gaze fixed on the bread in his hand.
He immediately turned.
The source came from a narrow alley between two low buildings. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
The moment he reacted, a small figure flashed away.
Even so, with his vision, he had already seen clearly.
A little girl about six or seven years old.
Pink and white pleated skirt.
Slightly round face.
Silver pink long hair.
Most noticeable were the two pairs of white horns beside her ears.
One pair pointed upward, the other curved downward.
They were not decorations.
They were real.
“A dragon?”
In the dim alley, Sorata looked at the little girl before him with interest.
“Wicked and cunning human, how did you see through me?” The girl glared at him, trying to appear fierce.
Her small tail flicked behind her.
The faint magic remaining in her body began to gather.
“You have horns, a tail, and a thick dragon aura. It is not exactly subtle.” Sorata found the dramatic tone amusing.
Originally, he had little interest in the supernatural beings of this world.
But since one appeared in front of him, he did not mind taking a closer look.
He had already recognized her.
Kanna Kamui from Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid.
What a chaotic world.
Kanna puffed up her cheeks.
“You are not human. What are you? How can a human sense dragon aura?”
A faint smile formed at the corner of Sorata’s lips.
His temperament shifted.
A subtle, oppressive aura spread outward.
“Very well. I will tell you. I am the supreme Lord of Chaos and Void.”
His eyes grew cold.
A faint golden light flickered within them.
“This is merely a wisp of my clone. Since you have discovered me, I can only send you into the deepest darkness.”
The moment that aura emerged, Kanna’s hair stood on end.
A sense of overwhelming danger pressed down on her.
Crackle.
Blue lightning burst from her body.
Clap.
Her head was stopped by Sorata’s palm.
“Ah… such evil aura.”
“Lady Tohru, save me.”
“You evil creature, I will not yield.”
She flailed her fists, but her arms were too short to reach him.
“So weak. Are you really a dragon?”
Sorata felt the few tons of force transmitted through his hand and found it underwhelming.
Aside from faint lightning, she was hardly different from an ordinary child.
He withdrew the oppressive aura and looked at her with mild suspicion.
Kanna stepped back two paces, still pretending to be fierce.
“Do not underestimate dragons. If I were not hungry, and if the mana here were not so thin, I could defeat you.”
“I see.” Sorata nodded and turned toward the alley exit.
“You are not going to kill me?” Kanna blinked.
“Why would I kill you?” Sorata glanced back with a small smile.
She posed no threat.
Nor was she vicious.
And he was no longer in the Nightmare Space.
Unless necessary, he had no intention of indulging darker impulses.
“Why are you following me?”
Sitting back on the bench, Sorata looked at the little dragon who had trailed him out.
“I am not following you. I am going the same way.” Her eyes, however, kept drifting toward the pineapple bun.
“Do you want some?” Sorata raised it slightly.
Kanna turned her head away with a small huff, but her gaze moved with the bread.
“Not eating? Then forget it.”
He tore open the package and began eating without hurry.
Kanna froze.
Ask again.
Why do you not ask again?
If you ask one more time, I will reluctantly accept.
I am cute.
Why do you not ask again?
Doubt crept into her expression.
Had she misunderstood humans?
Did they not use tactics like pretending indifference to lure children?
While she was questioning her dragon life, Sorata finished the bun.
He stood, walked to the shade of a tree, tossed the wrapper into a trash bin, and left.