Chapter 23: The Chuunibyo Rises Again!
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"Ah!! Za era of Kaoru Kagami has begun!"
Kaoru kicked open the door to the studio, his coat billowing dramatically behind him as if an unseen force had commanded it. His eyes gleamed with an unnatural intensity, his arms crossed over his chest as he surveyed his so-called 'allies' like a king descending from his throne.
Aya, who had just taken a sip of her tea, closed her eyes in exhaustion.
"…Here we go again."
Kaede giggled, already used to Kaoru's antics, while Naoki adjusted his glasses in confusion.
Kaoru slammed his hands onto the desk. "Rejoice, mortals! For I, Kaoru Kagami, have ascended to the divine realm of FOUR ANIME ADAPTATIONS!"
Aya barely glanced up from her laptop. "Your final episodes for Blades of Eternity, Shadow Empress Ragnarok, and Azure Nightfall Chronicles aired last night. And Petals Beneath the Moonlight just got announced."
Kaoru smirked, flipping his imaginary cape. "Indeed! The dark gods have smiled upon my creations once more!"
"More like the production committee found your work profitable.." Aya muttered.
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Scene 1 Action!: Kaoru vs. Reality
"And of course.. Failing Miserably.." (Narrator)
Kaoru dramatically pointed at the whiteboard. "It is only a matter of time before I.. no, we become legends. This is but the prologue to my eternal freezer saga!"
Naoki blinked. "Wait, you actually have four anime adaptations?"
Kaede excitedly held up her phone. "Yup! Petals Beneath the Moonlight is trending right now! Fans are calling it 'A Romance That Transcends Time!'"
Aya sighed. "If only they knew the main character was based on Kaoru himself."
Kaoru smirked. "Ah, but of course! Who better to embody the very essence of tragic romance than I, the wielder of the Forbidden Truth?"
Aya pinched the bridge of her nose. "The only tragedy here is your existence."
Kaoru gasped, clutching his chest like he'd been shot. "Hah… such cruel words, my old foe… do you intend to silence me like the council of Blades of Eternity?"
Kaede raised a hand. "I thought you said Blades of Eternity was about a fallen knight seeking redemption?"
Kaoru dramatically turned to her. "And who is more fallen than I?! Cast into this mundane world, shackled by the chains of reality-"
Aya tossed a crumpled piece of paper at his face.
"Shut up."
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Scene 2 Action!: Anime References for the Win!!
Kaede scrolled through fan reactions on her phone. "Oh! There's already a fan theory that Azure Nightfall Chronicles is secretly connected to Shadow Empress Ragnarok!"
Kaoru smirked. "They are perceptive. The hints were always there."
Aya looked up. "Wait… are they actually connected?"
Kaoru chuckled ominously. "Only those who have truly grasped the essence of darkness will understand."
Naoki, still catching up, hesitantly asked, "Uh… so what are these anime even about?"
Kaoru's eyes gleamed. "Ah… Blades of Eternity follows a warrior cursed to wander between realms, forever seeking a way to undo his tragic past. Shadow Empress Ragnarok tells the story of an exiled princess wielding forbidden magic, hunted by the empire she once ruled. Azure Nightfall Chronicles is about a lone swordsman who-"
"jeez.. yapper." (Narrator)
Aya interrupted, deadpan. "It's literally Fate/stay moonlight but with more chuunibyo terminology."
Kaoru gasped. "You wound me, foul cleric!"
Aya ignored him and continued scrolling through reviews. "And Petals Beneath the Moonlight… huh. Fans are saying it gives off strong Clan*ad and Purple Evergarden vibes."
Kaoru crossed his arms, nodding. "Indeed. A tale of love and fleeting memories, intertwined like cherry blossoms in the wind."
Naoki hesitated. "So… what's it actually about?"
Kaoru grinned. "A swordsman and a blind girl who travel across the land, searching for the meaning of a long-forgotten promise. She doesn't remember him, but he swore to protect her in their past life."
Kaede's eyes sparkled. "That sounds amazing!"
Aya, already unimpressed, just sighed. "And let me guess… the blind girl is a tsundere?"
Kaoru's smirk widened. "Not just a tsundere. A noble tsundere!!"
Aya groaned. "Of course."
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Scene 3 Action!: Takeshi Joins the Chaos!!
As if on cue, Takeshi casually entered the room, hands in his pockets. "Yo. what's going on?"
Kaoru immediately pointed at him. "Aha! Takeshi! bearer of misfortune! Witness my rise to legendary status!"
Takeshi blinked. "…What?"
Kaede beamed. "Kaoru's got another anime adaptation!"
Takeshi smirked. "Damn, at this rate, you'll be bigger than the guy who made Sword *** Online."
Kaoru dramatically flipped his nonexistent cape. "Hah! Kawahara-sensei, prepare to be surpassed, even though I wont.."
Aya rolled her eyes. "You say that like you didn't cry watching Ordina* Scale."
Kaoru coughed. "I was merely appreciating the narrative depth!"
Takeshi chuckled, then noticed something on Aya's laptop screen. "Wait… is that a Steins;**** reference in Azure Nightfall Chronicles?"
Kaoru grinned. "Ah, you are perceptive, my friend! The line El Psy Congroo was whispered as the hero crossed into the Twilight Rift!"
Aya looked at Takeshi. "I tried to stop him."
Takeshi laughed. "Nah.. let the guy have his fun."
Kaoru dramatically held out his hand. "Yes.. let me cook!"
(Reminder Kaoru never knew how to cook, but Aya helped him cook food.)
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Final Scene Action!: The Watch Party!
As the day wound down, the group gathered in the clubroom to watch the season finales of Blades of Eternity and Shadow Empress Ragnarok.
Kaede was practically bouncing in excitement. "Ooh! The fight scene is coming up!"
Naoki nodded. "The animation quality is insane. It's like Demon Slayyy levels of good."
Aya sipped her tea. "Let's just see if Kaoru actually wrote a good ending."
Kaoru smirked. "Prepare to be astonished."
The screen flashed, the climactic battle beginning. The hero of Blades of Eternity clashed with the antagonist, his sword glowing with forbidden energy.
Kaede gasped. "This OST… it sounds like Attack ** Titan music!"
Kaoru grinned. "I may have insisted the composer take inspiration from Hiroyuki Sawano."
Aya squinted at the screen. "Wait… did you sneak a J*J0 reference into the fight choreography!?"
Kaoru smirked. "ZA WARUDO!"
Takeshi burst out laughing. "Oh my god.. you actually did it!"
As the episode ended, the words Season 2 – Coming Soon appeared on screen.
Kaoru stood up, arms raised like a victorious warlord.
"BEHOLD! MY LEGACY CONTINUES!!"
Aya sighed. "I can't believe I have to deal with this for another season."
Takeshi patted her on the back. "It's okay. At least he's not running around with an eyepatch this time."
Kaoru gasped. "An EGGcellent idea!"
Aya groaned. "I hate you all."
"Emi couldn't come over due to her still thinking over her date with takeshi.. til to this day, She's still blushing inside her room, Don't ask how I know." (Narrator)
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End of Chapter twenty three.