Tokyo: My Superpower Refreshes Every Week-Chapter 430 - 428: Mount Fuji is a Bit Too Urbanized_1
July 30th, Sunday.
At 7:10 in the morning, outside Shinjuku station, the crowd was dense.
The noisy, shoulder-to-shoulder scene made Arakawa Reina look somewhat anxious.
Perhaps I’ve watched too many news reports and short videos about the Different World recently. I’m always worrying that a portal from another dimension might suddenly appear in the sky, and then a colossal Monster would burst forth, going on a killing spree amidst the crowd. Blood and flesh would fly everywhere. Standing there, I’d be too scared to move. Because of my looks and figure, a tentacled Monster would immediately target me, its corrosive acid dissolving my clothes. After a futile struggle, all three exits would be blocked...
Arakawa Reina recalled the Demon Manual her father had opportunistically created, capitalizing on the recent Different World craze. Just thinking about those scenarios gives me chills. She quickly shook her head, trying to banish them from her mind.
That kind of thing wouldn’t actually happen in reality, right?
"Hi, young lady, are you interested in learning about our Sun and Moon Cult?"
A flyer was swiftly extended towards the girl. The middle-aged man wore a gentle smile, saying, "Do you desire power? By joining our Sun and Moon Cult, you will be able to learn the Advanced Qigong of the Sunflower Treasure. Even if you encounter Monsters from the Different World in the future, you’ll have the strength to fight."
"Sorry, I’m not interested." Arakawa Reina quickly waved her hand.
Instead of her usual school braids, her attire today was similar to her part-time job look: contact lenses, black curly hair draped over her shoulders, and an orange dress adorned with small flowers. However, the small flowers near her chest seemed rather strained.
Clutching a light yellow purse and wearing light-yellow sandals, her ten toes were unpainted, appearing clean and white, like carved pieces of jade.
"You could learn more about us."
The man attempted to continue, but a hand clapped onto his shoulder. "Hey, the class president said she doesn’t need it."
He turned to see a young man with a buzz cut. The man offered him a flyer, saying, "Would you like to learn about the Sun and Moon Cult?"
"I’m not Dongfang Bubai." Aozawa brushed the flyer away. The man, taken aback to encounter a youth versed in martial arts culture, turned and left.
The Sun and Moon Cult only preyed on those unfamiliar with martial arts culture. After all, religions had become more competitive than before; some favored eccentric names, while others preferred simple yet imposing ones. The Sun and Moon Cult belonged to the latter, even co-opting the Sunflower Treasure into their Qigong Techniques.
"Mr. Aozawa, thank you for helping me out." Arakawa Reina bowed, and as she did, the movement created a tumultuous wave, making each little flower on her dress seem to come alive.
Aozawa smiled. "Class president, it’s rare for you to ask me out. Could it be you’re actually wanting to date me?"
"No," Arakawa Reina replied, her face flushing as she lowered her voice. "Actually, my father’s birthday is coming up soon, and I want to buy him a gift. I was hoping you could help me decide what would be a good present, Mr. Aozawa."
"Oh." Aozawa nodded. So it’s not a date. Not that I really thought it was. He couldn’t help but sigh. "Class president, you’re so good to your parents, remembering their birthdays and giving them presents."
"I don’t give presents to both of them every year. I gave one to my mother last year, and this year it’s just my father." As Arakawa Reina said this, her pretty face darkened like a cloud-covered sky. "Every year, around this time, my parents start arguing about who I love more. Heh." Her lips curled into a grim smile.
If this were an anime, the background would definitely go dark, with Black Qi practically oozing from her from head to toe. But Aozawa could understand her feelings. With such unreliable parents, it’s hard for a child not to harbor some resentment. "Have your parents never given you a birthday present?"
"They give me birthday gifts every year, but always at different times." As she mentioned this, Arakawa Reina’s resentment deepened. I’d rather they didn’t give me any presents at all than receive them at different times each year, having to watch them celebrate with those smiles on their faces. What’s the use of an eight-layer cake if it’s given at the wrong time?
"Haha, do you have any specific ideas for gifts?" Oops, bad topic, Aozawa thought, quickly changing the subject.
Arakawa Reina shook her head; she couldn’t think of a good present, which was why she wanted to consult Aozawa. "Mr. Aozawa, if it were you, what gift would you want for your birthday?"
"Hanfu, I guess," Aozawa answered truthfully. He had already ordered some Hanfu online with very short fabric—disposable ones—hoping Chitose would try them on. Of course, he hadn’t forgotten to order a set of formal Hanfu as well. That’s the most attractive kind of outfit. Just imagining Chitose with a hairpin, dressed in Hanfu, squatting before me with her robe spread out on the floor... The image is overwhelming. Or lifting her Hanfu to reveal nothing underneath—a perfect blend of dignity and allure that makes my blood boil. I can hardly wait to see Chitose in Hanfu.
Arakawa Reina blinked. "Mr. Aozawa, you like Hanfu?"
"Yeah, I like it when girls wear Hanfu."
She understood immediately, her face turning slightly red. "Mr. Aozawa! I’m trying to be serious here."
"As expected of the class rep, such sharp comprehension skills," Aozawa replied with a chuckle, then added, "However, from a father’s perspective, a proper suit would be sufficient. To a father, the mere fact that his dear daughter remembers his birthday is something to be happy about."
At this point, Aozawa scratched his head. Speaking of which, I haven’t even given Chitose a birthday gift yet. Come to think of it, when *is* Chitose’s birthday? Crap, I actually don’t remember... though I’ve forgotten my own birthday too... Aozawa was the type of guy who didn’t care much about birthdays.
Arakawa Reina contemplated for a moment. "Then let’s buy a suit."
「...」
The actual time they spent shopping far exceeded what Arakawa Reina had anticipated, based on her usual quick routine for buying a suit: go to a department store, enter a clothing shop, pick a suit that roughly fit, and be done.
Arakawa Reina had thought she didn’t possess the typical girly inclination for shopping. It turned out she was mistaken about herself; her previous shopping trips had been quick only because she had no one with her. The circle she belonged to was full of bookworms who discussed nothing but studies all day and naturally disdained shopping as a waste of time. During holidays, her friends’ group chat would remain silent; everyone was engrossed in their own academic lives.
This was her first time shopping with a friend. Somehow, clothes that had seemed ordinary before took on a different appeal when Aozawa tried them on, making her want to choose an even better one.
As they browsed, despite the mall’s strong air conditioning, beads of sweat couldn’t help but form on their foreheads.
She wiped her forehead and, looking at Aozawa beside her, said apologetically, "Sorry, Mr. Aozawa, for keeping you so long. Would you like some bubble tea?"
Aozawa stopped and smiled. "Then I’ll have a pearl milk tea, full sugar."
"Okay." Arakawa Reina nodded, ran to the bubble tea shop ahead, and queued to buy two drinks. She handed one to Aozawa, smiling. "Suits are really hard to choose. They all look the same, but when you wear them, there’s a noticeable difference."
"Really? I feel like all those suits are no different."
"That’s because you’re a guy, Mr. Aozawa," Arakawa Reina said quite naturally, then paused slightly. I can’t believe I just said something so typically girly! It must be because having someone shop with me is making me overly excited.
If we keep this up, it’ll be noon soon, and I’ll have to treat him to lunch. My little emergency fund... No, wait. I’m the one who asked him for help, so I can’t be stingy. Since we’ll be having lunch anyway, maybe we could go somewhere else afterward and have some fun? That would be a good way to repay Aozawa for his help.
She took a sip of her bubble tea and turned her head. "Mr. Aozawa, is there any place you’d like to go for fun? I always ask for your help, and I feel bad about it. Let me treat you this time as a thank you."
I’m used to girls treating me, so it’s no big deal. If they want to, I should just go along with it. Can’t defy a girl’s wishes, after all, Aozawa thought.
"Since that’s the case, how about the South Observation Deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building? The weather is great today; we might even see Mount Fuji."
"Alright, once we’ve bought the suit, we’ll go check it out." Arakawa Reina decided to let her little emergency fund bleed a bit.
「...」
As noon approached, Arakawa Reina finally chose a satisfactory suit and bought it, albeit with a pang of reluctance. To give her ’ever-so-loving’ parents a reason to argue for once, she, as their daughter, had really racked her brains.
She and Aozawa then picked a diner outside the mall.
After they placed their orders and were waiting for the food, Aozawa stood up. "Class rep, I’m going to use the restroom."
Arakawa Reina blinked, unexpectedly feeling a sudden urge to go as well. "Then hurry back," she said in a low voice. "I’ll wait for you here."
"Okay." Aozawa turned and left, entering a public bathroom in the department store and choosing an unoccupied stall.
He lifted his hand, using his Fate Weaving Ability. Strands only he could see gathered before him from the air, first forming the shape of the Book of Destiny, then morphing into a pen.
Aozawa took the pen, and the Book of Destiny automatically turned to a blank page.
Today is the Book of Destiny’s last day of peak power. I’m going to make this count.
He began to write: "Haruhiko Tsuchiya heads to the South Observation Deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Lucky for him, there aren’t many people today, and he can get to the South Observation Deck without queuing."
He paused, then continued, "At twelve-thirty in the afternoon, Haruhiko Tsuchiya saw a huge meteorite in the sky. Its surface was ablaze, inscribed with various complex, meaningful runes and symbols. It directly flattened Mount Fuji, which had no one on it..."
