The Anime Trope System: Stone vs. Viper, #8 a LitRPG (ATS) Read online

  She wanted to remain as close as possible to him, no matter what hoop she’d have to jump through. Being head maid allowed her to bypass any barrier without the other girls getting in her way.

  Her kisses held so much passion in them. And she seemed to want to say something, tell Clyde something, but was afraid of his answer.

  He spent a ton of time with Yuki, getting to know her and vice-versa, even while having finance meetings. Or just chatting at every moment he saw the demoness—as she was always available while committing to her maid duties and tasking subordinates.

  His thoughts of not being able to imagine a household without Yuki weren’t random, but a tribute to his own growing feelings.

  He pulled the demoness into an embrace which seemed to have caught her off guard.

  “Will you be at the festival today? I’d like to show you around, hang out.”

  When Yuki gazed at him, blushing slightly, he kissed her. His super-erection made things a bit awkward, but the young man committed to the moment, ignoring his beasty side.

  “I will indeed be at the festival today,” Yuki said. She teased his erection by sliding herself over it a few times, let Clyde enter, and then whispered, “we won’t be able to keep the others waiting longer than ten minutes.”

  Then she let him all the way in anyway. Somehow, they finished within her time limit through a rhythm that could put even hammers to shame.

  After a quick shower, Clyde rushed into his clothing. Yuki adjusted his shirt and kissed him, right in front of Melody. Normally her kisses were hidden from the others, so this upfront display definitely surprised the redhead. She sighed.

  “They’re waiting,” Melody said softly. “And I’m not ready to face Mother without you there.”

  Clyde sighed.

  “You’re not facing her in combat or anything,” he said with a laugh. “Lighten up.” He kissed her. “You’ll be fine.”

  “I will contact Tear,” Yuki said. “We shall be at the festival within an hour of it starting.”

  Clyde pulled her to his side.

  “You see, I can’t do this parent meeting without you,” he said, grinning. “No maid duties or maid duty excuses for the entire day. No questions asked. Please?”

  Now it was Yuki’s turn to sigh.

  “Fine. It will be quite entertaining to see how my adorable brides-in-training react around their mothers.” She pinched Melody’s cheek.

  “So mean,” Melody said playfully.

  Episode 42 (Part 3)

  Lot City Hotel…

  “I am Dark, the silent shadow of the night, the ultimate life form!” He thrust his right hand to the side while gazing into the mirror. “He who breathes the moon, he who—”

  “What are you doing?”

  Blushing furiously, Dark turned toward his now-open door at lightning speed, where Myriad stood, smirking.

  “So, the great and mighty Leaf is the shadow of the night, the ultimate life form,” she said sarcastically, then chuckled. She made an exaggerated motion, placing her hand on her heart. “He who breathes the moon!” She burst into laughter as Dark slammed the door in her face. “Ow! I was just kidding.”

  “Go away, you bird brain,” he snapped.

  “Don’t be like that,” Myriad said. “I’ll even call you Dark-kun like in the manga you keep reading.”

  Dark said nothing as he laid back on his bed, annoyed. Selkie opened the locked door, letting the thunderbird in, marching toward the chuuni.

  “Are you really going to the culture festival dressed like that?” Selkie said. “A Pokémon t-shirt and jeans? Really Dark?”

  Myriad dove on top of Dark, knocking the wind from his lungs.

  “What’s a Pokémon?” she asked.

  Selkie sighed, plucking the monster girl off him with a single hand.

  “That’s not the point.”

  “The lord of the dark wears what he wants,” Dark said.

  “Even a shirt from Earth? Did you not want to forget—”

  “Let’s just go before I fall asleep from your nagging,” Dark interrupted, gaining a comical snarl from the entity.

  “And this is why you’ll be single forever,” Selkie said, then held up a hand to interrupt Myriad. “Don’t you even dare remind me, rapist.”

  Dark hopped off the bed, dialing up a cab company.

  “And text Clyde,” Selkie said.

  “No, I want to surprise him,” Dark said.

  “No duels please,” Selkie said. “You’re already embarrassing enough. We don’t need public declarations.”

  “I’ll do whatever I want, woman,” Dark said then stormed out of the hotel room, muttering to himself.

  **

  Lot City Hotel...

  Tessa finished brushing long green hair. She was dressed in a designer skirt with a cute shirt to offset her hair. She decided to hide her elf ears as to not draw unnecessary attention at the cultural fair. She couldn’t believe after seeing them in anime, she’d actually get to attend. Sure, it wasn’t one hundred percent what she had in mind—but not all of the students were snobby rich kids. There should be enough normal people to make the event fun. Plus it was open to the public, so they’d be in big trouble for embarrassing the most powerful college of Yaponiya. And the highlight in which she looked forward to the most: the food. For some reason, this nation served Japanese cuisine, straight from the human world, which was awesome. No…it wasn’t just Japanese or Asian cuisine—but anime food in general. Sure, the entire dimension technically had it, but this nation was famous for theirs.

  “This is going to be sweeeet.”

  **

  Lot City Grand Hotel…

  Chizuru took a sip of delicious hot tea then let out a sigh of bliss. She just happened to be in the area where a cultural festival was being advertised and got permission to attend. Sure, most of the crusaders in her group were going, but with mandatory casual clothing. She’d get to blend in and be normal. No dresses with crosses, that for some reason highlighted her breasts.

  Unfortunately, the researcher woman with them, demanded that the group still took their swords, especially Chizuru, wielder of the holy sword, Apollo.

  The young woman really didn’t want to lug around the weapon. She wanted to fit in, which is why she bribed one of the men to carry it in return for a date. He wouldn’t take money, so she had no choice. She’d get out of that somehow or if he demanded to walk with her at the cultural festival, unleash a million excuses.

  Chizuru was also…a little socially inapt. Sure, she could put on an act, be the crusader champion role model that everyone wanted her to be. That meant no personal friends or girl talk—not that she found anything wrong with that. She sometimes didn’t like people. Ugh! Not today! She was going to force herself to have fun and eat enough to pop. No caretaker to force her to eat healthy or….She froze as she heard heavy breathing outside of her door.

  “Onee-sama, hang out with me today.”

  “You…you dishonor the great ones, you pervert!” Chizuru snapped. The attempt to remind that perverted girl that she was a crusader grew more difficult each day. Fortunately, the young woman had an escape route planned. That’s why she chose to be on the very first floor. And just like that, she got away through the window.

  Food and fun, here she comes!

  **

  Clyde’s house…

  As Clyde walked down the hall, he failed to come up with a way to break the harem news. Well, there were no other men present—maybe that served as a hint. Sure, the others had their own rooms, but Alice and Chika were his bedmates. If any of the parents demanded a tour, they’d be busted.

  In the end, the young man decided that it wasn’t worth instant death. He stopped at Harumi’s room. Melody did too, a hint of panic in her eyes. She had no intention of going out there without him. Too bad the fox girl wasn’t in her room, most likely called by her friend, Sazuki for an early meetup. Clyde longed for her warm and soft embrace, accompanied by kindness
.

  [Talent Main character stuff. Hidden Skill. Tier 1 skill: Foresight.]

  Natalia walked through the door as Melody’s mother took another swig of Yuki’s brandy. A drink that the demoness didn’t give her permission to touch. Laughing hard, she said,

  “Hold my drink. I’m going to send her to the Loli saga world.”

  But what she did to Natalia looked like murder—one hand on her forehead and the witch’s eyes rolled to the back of her head, blood pouring from her mouth. Chika’s mother screamed.

  Alena pulled out a glowing sword from nothingness and plunged it through the heart of Melody’s mother, causing blood and silver goo to splatter everywhere. Yet, it was an instant-death to She Who Dawned Time. Chika’s mother burned, being in contact with the silver goo. While the angel looked as if she could revive anyone, she simply bowed and left in tears.

  [Warning: this is but a possible future, among many futures.]

  Natalia. He sure as shit had no intention of letting anything happen to her. The image of her dying that way made him tremble. As much as he hated seeing these futures, getting them shoved into his memory, they always saved his friends. And woke him up.

  Clyde teleported to the kitchen, right as Melody’s mother reached for Yuki’s brandy out of what appeared to be curiosity. He quickly snatched it away and silently dared her to object.

  “It’s a pleasure to see you again,” he said to no one in particular. “Let’s not have any alcohol when we’re headed to the school grounds.”

  Clyde passed the bottle to a relieved Yuki, who quickly took it out of sight, presumably to lock it away somewhere. Natalia walked in.

  “Good morning everyone!” She hopped on Clyde’s shoulders. “Who’s ready for some food, games, and watching Team Stone interact with the mundane.”

  Clyde sighed. The mothers blinked. He took the time to observe them. Impossibly beautiful—of course they would be and…Oh god, they’re my mother-in-laws , he thought then gulped. At least Alice’s mother was confirmed to be kind and the easiest to talk to, so he started with her.

  “I—”

  Alice, Chika, and Melody took that time to emerge from the hall. The three mothers stood. Alice dove into Alena’s embrace.

  Chika couldn’t shy away as Madrian let out a stream of questions. Her glasses turned anime-white and Clyde was sure that he wasn’t the only one who felt the perverted vibe in the air.

  “Are you two sleeping together? Are you pregnant? Do you want the pill?”

  Melody’s mother snatched her daughter up in a hug, although his fiancée clearly wanted to be at least one hundred miles away.

  “Well, at least you have me, pervy-nii,” Natalia said, kissing his cheek.

  “You’re not wrong,” Clyde said.

  “Is it because I’m your Right Hand?”

  “It’s because you’re You,” Clyde corrected, his voice quiet to keep the conversation private. “Look, sometimes it’s fun to make FBI jokes, but I know you’re not really a kid. Your real form and all. And I love you just as much as I do Alice—even if you’re a pain in the ass sometimes.”

  Natalia didn’t respond, motionless on his shoulders. After seemingly deciding something, she whispered,

  “Do you really mean it, onii-chan?”

  “Damn right and don’t you forget it,” Clyde said.

  “Son-in-law,” Madrian said, breaking the moment.

  “He’s my son-in-law,” Alena said.

  “No, mine,” Melody’s mother said.

  “Mother,” Melody said, desperately trying to change the subject. “Let’s start with the introductions, before we go to the festival.”

  “The other parents are waiting at the festival to discuss Team Stone,” Yuki said to Clyde. He nodded, giving her hand a squeeze.

  And so the introductions came and went and at last, Melody’s mother name was revealed as Amaterasu, instead of the dawning time title.

  [Your relationship with Natalia has evolved to cherished, friend closer level—]

  Clyde switched off the prompt as Natalia said,

  “I’ll never forget it. I love you way, way more, onii.”

  “FBI!”

  The group turned to see a smiling Tetra, let in by Yuki.

  “I’m kidding,” she said. “I’m just dropping by to visit but I can see that I may have come at a bad time?”

  Alena was in a human guise, her wings hidden. Amaterasu’s eyes didn’t glow and give off an unsettling vibe. The supernatural women had plenty of experience exploring the human world without being caught.

  “So…I didn’t want to believe it, but I can sense two soul-oath vibes,” Amaterasu said softly, causing Alena to look at her daughter. “It is a—”

  “We’ve got to get going now,” Yuki interrupted. “Sazuki and Harumi are gathering everyone.”

  “We’ll talk about this later,” Alena said.

  Clyde gulped then Jumped them all to the academy. This was going to be a long, clusterfuck day. And he was going to personally keep an eye on Melody’s mother.

  Episode 42 (Part 4)

  The Cultural festival had at last, started. Clyde knew there were going to be a lot of people, but holy shit did it feel like more than half the city poured in. He sighed. Sazuki assigned her own leader to patrol the area until the events started. And as much as he considered telling her where she could shove those orders, the new dean was there and the young man didn’t want to damage Team Stone’s reputation. They were law-abiding citizens like the rest of the world.

  Ruri and Natalia were with him. The loli-witch ooh and aah’d the massive display, impressed by the tremendous effort, even though most of it was simply due to money—the reason why the teachers would even allow just a one-day setup. The hellhound sniffed the air a lot, her tail wagging in excitement, ears perked high.

  “Takoyaki—ooh, it smells so good,” Ruri said, practically bouncy. “I’m trying everything, but especially takoyaki.”

  Clyde gave the hellhound a head pat.

  “You go have fun, don’t let this boring ass patrol keep you—”

  Ruri grabbed his arm.

  “Wherever you go, I go.”

  Clyde shrugged. He wasn’t complaining. Then from afar, Noona spotted him.

  Her face brightened, waving as she ran toward him, huge boobs bouncing.

  “Clyde!”

  Men around seemed mystified, jealous, or both—some with nosebleeds.

  Clyde really looked at her and took notice of her current persona. A magical girl. An ecchi one. Red and white with strawberry decorations and even a wand.

  “Why are you grinning like an idiot?” Ruri said, pouting. Clyde blinked. Before another thought could manifest, the demoness hugged him. The sweet aroma of expensive princess-grade perfume tickled his nose, almost enhancing the feeling of large breasts.

  “It’s good to see you,” Clyde said.

  “Likewise,” she said then held her wand up. “I’m here in the name of truth, love, and justice. My mission is to recruit Kitome and Ming into my group.”

  Clyde laughed.

  “What about Yusuke?”

  “Who? And this will be a girl’s only group,” Noona said. “That’s how it is in the Loli Saga—I mean, that’s how things are done.”

  “Ah, well Kitome’s in Room thirty,” he said.

  “You really are evil,” Natalia said to Clyde softly.

  “Thanks. Oh, and I will be watching your events,” Noona said. “If you come in first…hmm, I’ll invite you to a private dinner at my home. My cook makes this amazing pie that makes you tingle with joy the moment you caress it with your tongue. And I’ll let you try some of my melon—”

  “We want in too!” the surrounding male students said as their eyes seemingly blazed with fire. Clyde could feel strength like never before, thirst that could never be quenched.

  “Oh fuck off, this is a—”

  “You can’t have a challenge without a competitor,” some class B young man i
nterrupted. “It’s only fair that you share this opportunity.” The fucking perverted idiot turned to Noona, who was more than likely too dense to sense the thirst. “Please let us join too. The winner gets a private dinner with you.”

  “I…don’t—”

  “We’d like to prove ourselves to you,” another man said, interrupting the demoness. “We’ll outwit this guy in any contest.”

  Noona sighed.

  “I…guess. Whoever gets first overall will win the private dinner with me.”

  They cheered.

  “I’d like to participate too,” Ruri said, tail wagging. “Food as a prize…”

  Clyde let out a breath, annoyed with the other men.

  “Sorry Ruri, only students can take place in the events,” he told the hellhound. “But—”

  “That’s not fair,” she said, folding her arms, longing in her eyes.

  The male students hurried off to prepare, auras surrounding them.

  “Well, what was supposed to be a fun dinner between friends,” Noona said then sighed. “I guess there’s nothing wrong with making more…but try to win, okay?” She winked and waved her wand over the young man’s head. “I give you Magi-Magi Noona’s magical blessing of fortune!” She walked off, her trailing words being, “now to find Kitome.”

  [Challenge: Place first in the cultural festival events. Reward: private dinner with Noona. Think carefully about what it would feel like to lose this. This challenge is mandatory and cannot be refused.]

  [You have somehow received Noona’s blessing. Unknown benefits.]

  [Your relationship with Noona has increased to friend level 4. Losing this challenge will make increasing this much slower.]

  “Let’s finish up this little hall patrol and switch out with someone,” Clyde told Natalia and Ruri. “Then we can eat.”