Cliche Chapter 516: New Disciple

Fubuki opened her eyes to darkness. She was sitting in someone’s arms, their warmth cozy and comfortable. Pushing back, she saw Asahi’s soft smile and a pair of eyes filled with mischief. The man who drained her chalice of patience and forced her to make the most significant decision of her life. He also bravely stopped her sister from interfering in her life.

She loathed his character but admired his strength. Holding back Tatsumaki for more than two minutes — she doubted any hero could achieve what he did. It also showed her that her sister wasn’t invincible. Tatsumaki also struggled against opponents with crazy barriers.

“My bad for playing that prank on you,” Asahi apologized without batting an eye. “Look at this.”

While she stared at him in confusion, he flashed a mirror in her face. Her own face raised a gasp out of her. She cupped her cheeks. Her skin was smooth and soft, just like she had before.

“It was all a dream?” she whispered with wide eyes. “It can’t be. You were there and…. the dagger.”

The Dagger of Time rested in her lap. She felt a connection to the beautiful dagger and the swirling sand within its pretty transparent handle. The intimacy only increased her confusion about the dream and reality. The death of City-A wasn’t just her twisted nightmare.

“Allow me to explain.” Asahi chuckled, his carefree aura aggravating Fubuki. “The city’s destruction, Tatsumaki’s arrival, and your link with the Dagger of Time — all those events happened. We're in a new timeline you created..”

The detail he left out just so happened to be her most dreaded part — her aging. The prospect of descending into her sixties still terrified her.

“Then—”

“Yeah. I lied about the price for using the dagger.”

Her struggle and her sacrifice — they were nothing but a lie. Asahi fabricated the circumstances where she chose between her life and the lives of thousands. She had to bear the guilt of never seeing her sister and everyone because of his twisted plan. A prank, as he called it.

Her eyes narrowed with a murderous glint as the realization dawned on her. “You… you sadistic piece of garbage.” She rarely cursed, but he enraged her. “You planned everything from the start. For what reason you tortured me emotionally?”

“Because I like you?”

Four words turned her bubbling rage into confusion. Then she recalled how much Asahi deceived her in one day and refused to believe any word coming out of his tricky mouth.

“I’m being honest.” Asahi shrugged. “Anyways, that was your character test to be my disciple. You passed with splendid marks! What a prodigy you are.”

Anyone could see how happy he looked after annoying the hell out of Fubuki.

“You destroyed the city to test my character. How can you be so cheerful after that? What the hell is wrong with you?”

She couldn’t get a grasp on his character. He destroyed a city like it was nothing, then let her reverse time to save everyone. What did he get out of torturing her? Maybe his statement about liking her was true, and this was his twisted way of showing affection like her sister.

“I destroyed a city, what? What are you talking about, Fubuki? When did it happen?” Asahi looked over to the city. “I mean, an S-Class hero like me will defend the city. Not destroy it.”

His innocent expression changed her mind instantly and spurred a desire to smack him a dozen times. She controlled her urge to the best of her abilities, which might have been impossible before the whole sacrifice ordeal. It was simply impossible to fight him on her own.

“You said something about making me an S-Class Hero, right? Then train me.”

She’d beat the shit out of him after improving her skills under his tutelage. She concocted a long-term plan that'd bear fruit in a few years at the very least.

'Definitely.'

Her confidence stunned Asahi. She was willing to trust him despite the stunt he pulled on her.

‘Or she is trying to use me. That’s the Fubuki I love.’

Asahi stretched his hand. “You deserve a medal for scheming against the devil.”

Fubuki snorted but still shook his hand. “You deserve a lashing for your manipulative methods.”

Asahi grinned. He didn’t plan to destroy the entire city, but it raised the stakes for Fubuki. In the end, he made the right choice. “From a small-time bully to the savior of a city — I made a better person out of you.”

Fubuki didn’t deny his words. She never thought she’d willingly choose a miserable life to save thousands.

As if fed up with him, she simply picked up the dagger and flew away. The cold blade vanished from her hand before she made it far.

“You haven’t earned the right to own the Dagger of Time.”

Asahi had no reluctance in handing over the dagger to Fubuki. But pissing her off brought out a better reaction. She also wasn’t suitable to use the dagger’s powers in her current chaotic mindset. Perhaps he should reserve this as a reward for her ascension to S-Class.

Fubuki turned around and glared at Asahi as if she was ready to bite him. “I’ll have my revenge one day.”

With a cliched revenge promise, the busty Esper descended into City-A.

‘She didn't say a word about mana. Did she manipulate mana without feeling its existence?’

(Most likely, my love. You have sown the seeds for future trouble with Tatsumaki and Psykos.)

‘Fubuki, Tatsumaki, and Psykos. It’ll be fun to disrupt their relationship and bring them back together.’

(An arduous task indeed.)

‘A worthy challenge to get the threesome with them.’

(Umu.)

‘How is my dragon pet doing in the wild?’

(Ddraig.) Klyscha sighed. (The masochist dragon is splattering mosquitos with the party.)

‘I’ll leave them be then and go to my headpat slut. She will pout at me if I don’t start her training soon.’

***

Thoughts so far on this arc?