Chapter 4: A Certain Freeloading Forbidden Index. Arrow_Made_of_AZUSA.[Part 5]

August 31, 6:00 PM.

"...I have a bad feeling about this."

Kamijou Touma muttered to himself in the air-conditioned fast food chain restaurant. What was with this chill? Kamijou was extremely puzzled by it. He had locked the door, so there shouldn't have been thieves about...

Even though it was the 31st of August today, a lot of people were still coming out to the streets to eat. The fighters were in convenience stores, fast food restaurants and yakiniku restaurants, resting and preparing for war. They intended to finish their food before returning back to their study tables and continuing their long fights with their summer vacation homework. There was less than 6 hours before summer vacation ended.

"Touma, Touma! Can I choose anything? Can I choose anything from here?"

Index was sitting opposite Kamijou, looking at the extremely large menu. Her eyes were glowing like a child waiting for Santa Claus. On a side note, this restaurant chain had a shocking rule in that it allowed customers to bring their pets in, so the stupid cat was cuddled up on Index's lap.

Kamijou sighed.

Kamijou had merely come to this restaurant with the intention of improving his mood (and save time on cooking). In other words, he intended to sit there and finish the summer vacation homework he hadn't completed—but it seemed like the girl in front of him didn't understand his feelings.

Kamijou stared at the writing pad he had bought from the convenience store, and shook his head. He had originally intended to settle his Literature homework in one go, but it seemed like things weren't looking so good.

"Touma! Touma, Touma! Can I choose anything?"

"What do you want?"

"Then I'm ordering! The most expensive one!"

"..."

Kamijou smiled and said,

"I understand. 2,000 yen worth of raw eggs?"

"TOUMA—!"

The girl cried out in protest.

In the end, Kamijou ordered coffee, Index ordered Set Meal A, and the stupid Cat ordered 'Cat Special Meal C'. The most terrifying thing about this shop that allowed pets in was that they actually provided food for pets. There were also Dog Special Meals and Tortoise Special Meals.

It would take some time for the food to be served. Kamijou took out his writing pad and mechanical pencil and started to write his Book Review.

However...

"Touma, Touma, what Book Review are you writing?"

"I'm writing about 'Momotarou' this year."

"...Eh..."

"Hold on you foreign girl, you don't understand anything about Momotarou, right? Momotarou's a famous worldwide fairy tale that Japan is so proud of! It's most suited for writing a Book Review during a summer vacation!"

"Really, Touma, it seems like you really hate to read books."

"It's even more normal than having to memorize every single word of 103,000 books."

Index's temple trembled.

Then, she revealed a sweet smile that seemed like cheese just melted and said,

"Touma, Touma."

"What?"

"Have you heard of the truth behind the Japanese fairy tales?"

"Please don't start on it! I'm just writing about a Momotarou book review! If I write some messed-up report, the Momotarou book review won't be a Momotarou book review! And how did you know about the dark truth behind Momotarou?"

"Sigh, you're too naïve, Touma. 'Momotarou' is a real magic grimoire. The original is kept among the 103,000 magical grimoires."

"What?"

"In Japanese culture, many ordinary lullabies or fairy tales are magic grimoires that are camouflaged. For example, in the story Momotarou, there's actually no such person as 'Momotarou who was born from a peach'."

"Eh..."

Kamijou's mind went blank. This was bad, Index was in explanation mode, but he couldn't waste any time if he wanted to complete his homework.

"Ever since long ago, the river has been treated as the boundary between Life and Death. Floating on the river or crossing it indicates that one controls the power of Life and Death. Touma, If you can think of the boat that sends the dead through the River Styx, you can understand this."

"Sorry, sorry! Time out, time out!"

"The correct interpretation of the story is that the peach that flowed down the River is a forbidden fruit that lets people surpasses Life and Death. In Eastern culture, there is mention of a fruit of Immortality. Of course, it's the peach that the Queen Mother is protecting. The original Momotarou wasn't 'born out of the peach', but the grandpa and granny ate the fruit and became young. One can tell from this that this story is about the creation of an elixir of Immortality..."

"Stop! Stop! End of the out-of-point magic theatre! Please look forward to Index-sensei's lesson next time! Please let me finish my homework, will you?"

Index gave an unhappy 'humph', but Kamijou didn't care as he picked up the mechanical pencil and started to write. The writing of the essay was a lot slower than what he had expected. It seemed like writing this sort of thing wasn't any different from writing a letter of reflection. Kamijou thought as he had barely managed to write three pieces of paper.

"Ho..."

After working so hard, Kamijou relaxed and exhaled.

At this moment, as if it was pre-meditated, the waitress walked over and served the food.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Here's the coffee, Set Meal A and Cat Special meal C."

"Oh, it's finally here."

Kamijou moved to clear up the writing paper off the table.

Suddenly, the waitress tripped without warning.

"Ah..."

Shocked, Kamijou could only watch as the tray of food landed on the table. The pile of food formed a hill on it.

The hamburger steak that was the recommendation of the day was separated from the mini hot metal plate, and the metal plate landed directly on Kamijou's thigh. Kamijou jumped up to let the metal plate drop, looking half-serious as he stared at the culprit, looking like he was about to cry.

The waitress collapsed onto the floor, letting out a pitiful 'uu...' sound.

"Everyone, if it were you, will you forgive this clumsy huge-breasted waitress?"

"HOW CAN I FORGIVE HER! YOU DAMNED COW, I'M GOING TO LET YOU TAKE MY HELLISH ATTACK!"

"Calm down, Touma! Calm...eh? Touma, where's your assignment?"

"..."

It wasn't there.

Kamijou could only pray that the assignment wasn't in that pile of hot food.