Chapter ¹⁹ A Study in Stalking and Why Blobby Should Never Be Trusted
Chapter 19: A Study in Stalking and Why Blobby Should Never Be Trusted
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Narration Mode Activated
"Let's recap: I was minding my own business, got ambushed by a girl who thinks I'm going to destroy the world, and then she poofed away after leaving me with more questions than answers. Oh, and there's apparently a shadow council plotting my demise. Classic Wednesday."
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The next morning, I stumble into the kitchen, hair sticking up in every direction.
My aunt, Yasuko, is sipping her coffee, giving me her usual look of motherly concern.
"You look like you got into a fight with a blender," she says.
"That's surprisingly accurate," I mutter, grabbing a piece of toast.
Blobby peeks out of my bag, whispering, "Boss, don't forget our plan!"
I glare at it. "We don't have a plan."
Blobby puffs up. "Yes, we do! It's called 'Operation Charm the Stalker!'"
Yasuko raises an eyebrow. "What was that, Akira?"
"Uh, nothing! Just practicing for drama club!" I lie, shoving Blobby back into my bag.
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Narration Mode Activated
"Note to self: never let a sentient blob give you life advice. Also, how did my life become a weird mix of high school shenanigans and world-ending conspiracies? Oh, right. I'm the reincarnated dragon god of destruction. Carry on."
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At school, the day starts like any other. Reina is already at my desk when I walk into class, her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed.
"You're late," she says.
"It's called dramatic timing," I reply, flopping into my seat.
She sighs. "Did you at least study for the mana theory quiz?"
"Of course," I lie.
"Akira…" Reina's voice is filled with suspicion.
Blobby whispers from my bag, "Say something vague again! It worked last time!"
I clear my throat. "Well, you know, mana theory is all about…uh…energy and…control."
Reina groans, facepalming. "You're hopeless."
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Narration Mode Activated
"Fun fact: Reina's been my best friend since childhood. She's also the queen of lectures. If nagging was an Olympic sport, she'd have more gold medals than Michael Phelps."
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The day drags on until lunch, when I decide to escape to the rooftop for some peace and quiet.
Naturally, that doesn't happen.
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"Fancy meeting you here," comes a voice behind me.
I turn to see Kira, casually leaning against the doorframe like she owns the place.
"Are you stalking me, or is this a coincidence?" I ask, taking a bite of my sandwich.
She smirks. "You're the one who chose the most obvious hiding spot. That's on you."
"Fair point," I admit.
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Blobby pops out of my bag, clearly excited. "Boss! It's her! Time for Operation Charm!"
"What did I say about naming plans?" I hiss, trying to shove it back in.
Kira raises an eyebrow. "Does that…thing always talk?"
"Unfortunately, yes," I sigh.
Blobby puffs up indignantly. "Hey! I'm your adorable, indispensable sidekick!"
"More like 'disposable,'" I mutter.
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Kira crosses her arms, watching our banter with an amused expression.
"You're awfully calm for someone who was attacked last night," she says.
"Well, when you've been reincarnated as many times as I have, you get used to weird stuff," I reply.
She narrows her eyes. "You're not taking this seriously."
"That's because you're the one taking it too seriously," I counter. "I'm just a guy trying to survive high school, not some world-ending threat."
Kira snorts. "Tell that to the shadow council."
"Shadow council?" I echo, leaning forward. "So they're real, huh? Do they have matching robes and secret handshakes?"
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Narration Mode Activated
"Pro tip: if you ever meet someone who's part of a secret organization, make fun of them. It's a great way to diffuse tension. Or get stabbed. One of the two."
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Kira rolls her eyes. "Mock all you want, but they're serious. They believe your power is awakening, and they're preparing to stop you."
"By 'stop,' you mean 'kill,' right?"
She hesitates. "Only if necessary."
"Comforting," I say dryly.
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Blobby, apparently tired of being ignored, flutters over to Kira.
"Hey, do you like compliments?" it asks.
Kira looks at it, baffled. "What?"
"You've got amazing hair!" Blobby chirps. "Very villain-chic!"
I bury my face in my hands. "Blobby, I'm begging you to stop."
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To my surprise, Kira laughs—a short, dry chuckle that catches me off guard.
"Well, at least one of you has decent social skills," she says.
Blobby beams. "See, Boss? I'm a natural!"
"Great," I mutter. "Now my stalker likes my blob more than me."
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Kira's expression turns serious again. "Listen, Akira. I don't care how harmless you pretend to be. If your dragon power resurfaces, it won't just destroy you—it'll destroy everyone around you."
"Cool, thanks for the pep talk," I say, taking another bite of my sandwich. "Super motivational."
"I'm not joking," she snaps. "You need to control it. Or I will."
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Narration Mode Activated
"Nothing like a death threat to spice up your lunch break. And here I thought my biggest problem would be finishing my history homework."
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Without another word, Kira turns and walks away, leaving me and Blobby alone on the rooftop.
"Boss," Blobby says, its voice unusually quiet. "What if she's right? What if your dragon power does come back?"
I sigh, staring at the city skyline. "Then I'll deal with it. But for now, I've got more important things to worry about."
"Like what?"
"Like surviving math class," I say, standing up.
Blobby groans. "Ugh, you're hopeless!"
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Meanwhile, back in the shadow council's lair, the members are gathered around a glowing orb.
"His power is still dormant," one figure says.
"For now," another replies. "But it won't stay that way for long."
"And when it awakens?"
The leader steps forward, their face hidden in shadow. "We'll be ready."
The camera zooms in on the orb, showing Akira laughing with Blobby on the rooftop.
End of Chapter 19