"Hah?!"
Diego pinched Takanashi Rikka's cheeks and pulled them apart.
"What are you even saying? I can't understand a word… Also, why do both of you talk so weirdly?"
Mmm~ The texture really is pretty nice!
"On the fated night of our destined encounter, the sealed memories of our past lives have been broken. The 『Evil King's True Eye』 finally returns to this world, my contractor~"
This isn't working…
She's completely lost in her chuuni delusions… There's no way to have a normal conversation anymore…
Hm, wait—a bold idea suddenly formed in Diego's mind.
"Ho ho, my dear friend! So impatient to bring your little subordinate to pledge allegiance the moment your memories were unsealed? Then allow me to praise you just a little."
Determined not to be a buzzkill, Diego immediately began imitating Takanashi Rikka's speech pattern.
"Masaka?! My dear friend—you've remembered everything?!"
"I've remembered. I've remembered it all!" Diego squeezed out two tears, somehow produced a tissue from nowhere, and wiped his eyes. "It's so wonderful to meet you again."
Passersby who walked by looked utterly confused: What the hell are these two on?
Under Diego's deliberate guidance, he learned everything.
In simple terms: two years ago, Takanashi Rikka—who suffered from severe social anxiety—met Dekomori Sanae online. Recently, after encountering Diego, Takanashi Rikka's anxiety was resolved. Dekomori Sanae was delighted and came to meet her in person.
While talking about how her anxiety was cured, she described the strange abilities Diego had shown her—using a ton of chuuni terminology in the process.
This sparked a miraculous chemical reaction between them, fully awakening their chuunibyou.
"My dear friend, when our foremost servant traversed parallel worlds to come see me, she was sealed by the Time-Space Administration Bureau. I require your assistance."
(Use Scary Monsters' ability to show Dekomori Sanae an unknown world.)
Thwack!
"Oww—!"
"Hey, why are you blabbing everything to the world?" Diego sighed with his hands on his hips, grabbed Takanashi Rikka, and started walking.
"Dekomori! You have to find me—!"
"Master—!"
"What is this, some dramatic farewell scene?! It's not like I'm not letting her come. We're going to my place—talking about this stuff in the middle of the street isn't good."
…
—Dio's residence, affectionately nicknamed the Otaku House—
Thwack!
"Why did you hit me again?" Takanashi Rikka clutched her head and looked pitifully at Diego.
"Cut the act. You smooth-talking woman—how could you spill everything? Good thing I can erase memories."
Diego crossed his arms over his chest, chin raised high, looking every bit like a proud eagle guarding its territory.
"Be honest. How many people have you told? I don't want to have to read your memories."
"J-Just Dekomori… but she's different!"
Diego glanced at Dekomori Sanae, who was swinging her twin tails and staring intently. His expression instantly turned cold.
"Just because she's chuuni too?"
"No! Dekomori is my only friend."
Diego sighed, beckoned Dekomori Sanae over, then placed his hand on her neck. In an instant, it transformed into a claw and pierced inside.
Pshh…
Dekomori Sanae winced in pain and instinctively reached for the wound, but the next moment her vision changed.
Distant blurry buildings suddenly became razor-sharp. She could even see the patterns on a fly hundreds of meters away as it slowly flew by.
In plain terms: her vision had jumped from black-and-white 360p straight to ultra 4K.
"No way… superpowers… actually exist…! Death!" Dekomori Sanae touched her eyes in disbelief.
"Hmph hmph~ What's so surprising about that?" Takanashi Rikka crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and nodded with great satisfaction at Dekomori Sanae's reaction.
"W-Wow! What else? What else?!" Dekomori Sanae blinked rapidly and stared at Diego, completely forgetting her usual verbal tic.
"Hey hey hey, don't look at me like that. I don't have a habit of revealing all my abilities."
Even so, Dekomori Sanae remained extremely excited.
"Kukuku~ O 『Master of the Thunder Warhammer』, join me in glorious evolution!" Takanashi Rikka extended her hand.
"As you command, death." Dekomori Sanae seized the opportunity, knelt on one knee, and placed Takanashi Rikka's hand on her forehead to show loyalty.
Diego, sitting off to the side, glanced at the two chuuni girls going full ham. A mischievous idea formed. He slowly spoke:
"Fight each other to the death. I will grant the winner 『ability』."
"What do you mean… Are you doubting the bond between us?" Takanashi Rikka looked at Diego in disbelief.
"Impossible! We would never kill each other over your so-called 『ability』, death!" Dekomori Sanae chimed in perfectly.
"You and I, sisters united—there is no opponent we cannot defeat in one strike."
"Sister speaks wisely!"
Hm hm~ Let's see if you can stay that confident later.
The corners of Diego's mouth curled up into a sleazy grin. He looked at the two of them with playful mockery.
"It means exactly what it sounds like. A 『ability』 unique to the winner—one that will not degrade even if I remove it." Diego added calmly, extending an olive branch.
"Come and become this Dio's loyal subordinate…"
Takanashi Rikka's body trembled slightly. Her voice lost its earlier confidence. "What are you saying… This is too cruel…"
"Master… I will give up this chance. Kill me instead…" Dekomori Sanae lifted her head, eyes brimming with tears, looking ready to face death.
"Dekomori…" Takanashi Rikka covered her mouth, voice breaking. "There has to be another way…"
"Opening!" ×2
Both moved at once. Takanashi Rikka and Dekomori Sanae simultaneously grabbed nearby brooms. The two brooms clashed with a clacking sound.
"Are you really fit to be my master? Let's settle it here and now, death. Takanashi Rikka—no—『Evil King's True Eye』." Dekomori Sanae let out a sinister laugh.
"As expected of you, 『Master of the Thunder Warhammer』. I understand. If it weren't like this, you couldn't be my foremost servant."
Takanashi Rikka raised her broom and faced her opponent squarely.
"Come!"
At that moment, an intense BGM began to play.
Clang clang clang clang, clang clang clang clang…
"Shut up! Stop making your own background music!" Diego casually grabbed a piece of candy and threw it at Dekomori Sanae's head, interrupting the BGM.
But it didn't dampen their enthusiasm for the duel. The two continued probing each other, footsteps growing faster as they circled, seeking openings.
Finally, Takanashi Rikka launched the first attack.
"Burst forth, reality!" Takanashi Rikka spun her broom and smashed it toward Dekomori Sanae.
"Blossom forth, neuron!" Dekomori Sanae raised her broom and blocked Takanashi Rikka's strike.
"Exile the world!" ×2
"Muda da muda!" The World suddenly burst out from behind Diego, staring at the two in disbelief.
"They're not talking about you…" Diego soothed The World.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The two launched attacks at the slightest opening.
During the fight, Takanashi Rikka removed her eyepatch. Her covered right eye emitted a golden glow.
She then discarded the broom, pulled a black umbrella from her skirt, and assumed a combat stance.
On the other side, Dekomori Sanae mirrored her. She also threw away her broom and took out a toy warhammer.
"Here I come—『Thunder God's Hammer Strike』!" Dekomori Sanae leaped high and smashed the hammer toward Takanashi Rikka.
Takanashi Rikka caught it single-handedly. Both smiled at the same time.
Dekomori Sanae increased her force, pushing Takanashi Rikka back several steps until she was sitting against the wall.
So that means?!
Dekomori Sanae wins!!
But the next instant, Takanashi Rikka sprang forward and flung her umbrella ahead.
"Heh, 『Evil King's True Eye』—did rage cloud your judgment? At this distance, your range can't possibly reach me."
But was that really the case?
"Wait—no—『Eternal Fire Salamander Shield』…"
During the forward swing, the umbrella handle detached—perfectly compensating for the insufficient range—and struck Dekomori Sanae dead-center.
"This is 『Lucifer's Judgment』… It's only natural you couldn't open your shield in time when seeing this technique for the first time."
"Damn it—I won't give up! 『Emperor's Spiral』!" Dekomori Sanae spun her hammer and closed in on Takanashi Rikka.
"『Laplace Rotation』!" Takanashi Rikka spun her body, swinging the umbrella toward Dekomori Sanae.
This was the final move to decide the victor!
Both crouched low. In the end, Takanashi Rikka fell first, supporting herself with her hands.
"I win…" Dekomori Sanae declared victory—but the next instant, she collapsed powerlessly to the ground.
"No… the winner is me." Takanashi Rikka rose from the ground and raised her left hand high to proclaim her triumph.
So passionate… though it's unclear what exactly they're passionate about.
Diego covered his face, utterly speechless.
Hm?!
Through the gaps between his fingers, Diego saw tears streaming from Takanashi Rikka's eyes.
"Why are you crying? According to the agreement, the one who gets the 『ability』 is you. Isn't that great?"
"I killed her…" Takanashi Rikka murmured in pain. "She… she didn't resist at all. She was only pretending to attack me…"
"She's been my servant for so long… and I killed her with my own hands… If only… if only it had been me who died."
"I've completely burned out… Nothing left but white ashes…"
Diego smacked his own forehead and sighed. "Alright, enough acting. I'll give both of you 『ability』."
"Yay!" ×2
Dekomori Sanae climbed up from the ground and happily high-fived Takanashi Rikka.
"It's our victory!" ×2
Diego beckoned them over and had them sit beside him.
"Relax your minds. Close your eyes…"
After learning about Stands, Diego had sent small dinosaurs to investigate Stand-related information and discovered the existence of Stand Arrows.
Just a little longer… The small dinosaurs are almost back…
The arrow that creates Stands…
It's here!
Diego's eyes snapped open. He took the Stand Arrow from the small dinosaur's mouth.
This arrow, forged from an extraterrestrial meteorite, has the power to awaken Stands in those with potential.
Only an extremely small number of people can withstand the power contained within the Stand Arrow. If the pierced person's spirit is not strong enough, death is the only outcome.
But Dio can make the awakening probability 100%…
Pshh!
The Stand Arrow pierced through both their skin.