I'm Just A Chuunibyou: Why Are Maidens Falling For Me? [Volume 1]

Chapter 16: Training Partners

At the Photo Studio.

"Oh, Saito-kun your finally here. Where's Ayaka?"(Owner)

I put my hand on my face and replied.

"The path that I chosen was my own. However, Ayaka strayed to another. She turned to her path parting our ways to get the task swiftly for the little time we had left. I, who walked a straight path brought me here and Ayaka who strayed to another to retrieve the sacred armor was-"

"So she's picking up your uniform, Ayaka told me before hand"

The shop owner decoded what I said?, is he part of operation perfect side characterification to blend in with the crowds too?...

What Ayaka told him before hand. "I will get my brother's uniform made, don't mind what he says. It will make things complicated".

If it wasn't for Ayaka telling the owner that she will pick up my uniform beforehand the shop owner would probably not understand a thing that I'm saying.

The owner handed me a piece of paper.

"Sign here, this is proof that you worked for us and to compensate you legally"

"Oh, I see, alright then"

What's up with the formality?... I see so this is an act as well... this paper is a prop to set a serious tone as I make my transformation... It's like the leader offering a deal as sign of agreement... I see, I see, I totally get it. [nope]

The paper that the owner handed was a contract but I was too lazy to read it all even if it was just a single piece of paper. I sign it right away with only reading the title "Modeling for Hatsu Co.".

It's not like I didn't read it because I was careless, it was because I trust Ayaka and her connections, this couldn't have been anything big or even real and all is just play pretend to set the atmosphere for my resolve of being a real shadow hero.

As I look around, there are quite a lot of people here than I had expected. The shop owner, me, and a bunch of staffs were inside the Photo studio. I thought people here would only be the shop owner and a handful of people. However, I did not expect to see this many staffs working here.

And there is another thing I didn't expect. It's...

"Haruka-san, come over here"

The owner called for a girl named Haruka-san who was already standing in front of the camera.

She walked over here where we are standing which is near the entrance.

She looks familiar...

I stared at her for a moment verifying if I could recognize her or not.

Now that I think about it, I over heard one of the guys mentioning her name before and said she'll have a photo shoot today but I can't remember what they were talking about or is Haruka-san is really that person in question though...

But it couldn't be. It could be just a complete coincidence that she shares the same name and was also taking pictures right now.

"Um... excuse me... can you stop staring... its, a little embarrassing..."

She turned slightly red and was slightly embarrassed making her to turn her gaze away from that embarrassment.

It was because the way I stared at her, I stared at her deeply and directly at her face without realizing it.

"Oh, ah, sorry about that, I just thought you looked familiar"

I stepped back as soon as I noticed.

Oh yeah, I forgot. People dislike staring at them or taking over their personal space. [The guy who everyone avoids]

Usually I say sorry in a confusing elaborate way with the words like "Pardon my rudeness" or "I have mistaken, for that I have sinned" However, with her around, I can't say too much because me being Phantom is now a secret that shouldn't be spread around. Plus, this is good practice. By conversing with her I could adapt to the normie language faster.

"Her name is Haruka Fujisato, you will be her partner in the photo shoot"

The manager introduced the girl he called Haruka-san just now.

She's a girl who seems to be around the same age as me. She has orange hair and has a beautiful face that no one would doubt that she's a model. But, of course I didn't really get the standard of beauty so I didn't pay much attention to that. The only thing I care about is what I think off as cool like shadow heroes.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Haruka Fujisato, glad to be working with you"

"S-Same here, m-my name is Saito Okuzaki... wait, partners...?"

"Nice to meet you Saito-san"

I stuttered my wordings trying to hold back my chuunibyou dialogues.

Wait, working together?... could this be!?... my first partner(ally)?!..

My eyes widen and the expression on my face brightens.

This is what I've been waiting for, a partner/ally. However, the partner they meant was for the photo shooting only and not an ally.

"Haruka-san is one of our trainees so we thought that you would be a perfect match for her in the photos. You two seems to be around the same age and your heights fit together perfectly" The owner said.

Trainee?

So she would be my training partner on becoming the perfect side character huh... So the owner and her are in on it. Did Ayaka told them? if so, they are people who also holds the secret of Phantom... I see now... Don't worry Ayaka I will use this opportunity to learn.

In the back of my mind I was fully determined of this operation to blend in with the crowds with the help of this people as my training partners.

"Saito-kun, Haruka-san, the photo shoot will begin soon"

"Saito-san, let's go"

"Ah, yes. Lets..."