The Stand User Of The Daily World

Chapter 100: Ladies and Gentlemen, I Want to See Clothes Bursting

"Bang, bang, bang."

Two hours later, Shunsuke knocked on the door of Room 403, holding the reluctant hand of Rikka.

If Rikka had her way, she would have climbed back in using the rope from the balcony.

However, Shunsuke had firmly vetoed that idea.

With Rikka's skinny arms and legs, how could she have the strength to pull off rappelling?

Sure, this time he was there to ensure her safety, but what about the next time?

One misstep, and it wouldn't just be a matter of paying for medical bills—she could end up in the morgue and then straight to the crematorium.

Shunsuke couldn't possibly let her continue with such reckless behavior.

This direct visit was intended to give Rikka's sister, Takanashi Touka, a wake-up call.

She needed to keep a closer eye on this mischievous child and stop her from risking her life like this.

After a moment, the door opened to reveal a tall, slender woman wearing a loose T-shirt and tight jeans, with a ladle hanging from her waist.

On her head, just like Rikka, was a prominent ahoge.

This beautiful older sister was none other than Takanashi Touka.

"Who are you... Rikka!?" Touka's tone rose as she spotted Rikka hiding behind Shunsuke. "When did you sneak out? Did you cause trouble for someone again?"

"Wait a second, my door was locked from the inside! How did you even get out?"

In her urgency, Touka grabbed the ladle from her waist. Instinctively, Rikka ducked behind Shunsuke and shoved him toward her sister.

"Touka... Miss Takanashi, I'm Fujii Shunsuke, your new neighbor from downstairs."

"Ah, Mr. Fujii, nice to meet you. I'm so sorry for the trouble this child has caused. Could you tell me what happened?"

"Rikka tied a rope to your balcony and climbed down to my balcony."

"...???"

Without a word, Touka briskly walked to her own balcony, pulled open the door, and glanced outside.

As she returned, ladle already in hand, her expression was unreadable.

Completely ignoring the presence of a guest, Touka raised the ladle and brought it down hard on Rikka's head. "Rikka!"

"Ow, ow, ow! Traitor... The Stellar Hunter is a traitor!" Rikka whimpered, clutching her head, visibly heartbroken.

Shunsuke quickly intervened, stopping Touka from landing another strike with the ladle. "Wait, Miss Takanashi, you shouldn't use violence so easily to educate children. Rikka is still young, and this could easily lead to rebellious behavior."

Touka gave Shunsuke a strange look. "Mr. Fujii, if I may ask, how old are you?"

"I'm 16, almost 17."

"This child..." Touka pointed to Rikka, who was still trying to act cute. "She's almost 16."

...Oh, right!

It suddenly dawned on Shunsuke.

Despite her adorable and childlike appearance, Rikka wasn't actually that young.

After all, "chuunibyou" usually manifests in the second year of middle school, and Rikka had been "afflicted" for at least two years now.

She was a high school student at Sobu High!

The fact that she was still this mischievous could only mean one thing—Touka hadn't disciplined her enough when she was younger!

Shunsuke silently pushed Rikka back toward Touka. "Miss Takanashi, she's all yours."

Rikka's eyes widened in shock. "Traitor! A traitor bowing down to the Holy Regulator!"

"Apologize properly to Mr. Fujii!" Touka twisted Rikka's ear while glancing at Shunsuke. "Mr. Fujii, thank you so much for your help this time. Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

Shunsuke, of course, recognized the polite facade.

Touka likely wasn't keen on inviting a man she'd only just met into her home this late, but given the trouble Rikka had caused, she was being courteous out of obligation.

Understanding this, Shunsuke declined politely. "No need to trouble yourself. I was just glad to help."

"In that case, to express my gratitude and to celebrate your move, may I invite you over for lunch tomorrow?" Touka bowed slightly. "Believe it or not, I'm a head chef at an Italian restaurant and a former student of Totsuki Culinary Academy. If you don't mind, I'll prepare lunch for you tomorrow."

"A graduate of Totsuki? Of course, I'd be honored!"

Shunsuke's eyes lit up.

Good food, good company, and... a beautiful chef?

While he wasn't particularly interested in fine wine, his passion for delicious food and charming company was undeniable—after all, that's why he loved cooking himself.

And if Touka was a Totsuki graduate, how could he pass up the chance to experience the infamous "Totsuki cooking"?

Who knows—maybe there'd even be a hint of that legendary competitive flair in her dishes.

It suddenly struck him that he had forgotten something important.

What year was it now? Had Yukihira Soma already enrolled in Totsuki?

Was Yukihira Diner, run by Soma and his father Yukihira Joichiro, still open?

As a food enthusiast, forgetting about such iconic establishments felt like a sin!

However, as the head of the Momobami Clan, Kirari Momobami's personal chef was likely one of the Elite Ten back in the day.

Someday, Shunsuke thought, he'd have to find a way to crash her dinner table.

Maybe he'd get to witness a dramatic "clothes-tearing" moment.

He couldn't help but wonder—would Kirari Momobami ever show a surprised expression as if she'd been drugged?

Just imagining it made him look forward to the possibility.

Shunsuke's anticipation grew. "Miss Takanashi, there's one more person at my place, so please prepare lunch for two. I'll be relying on you tomorrow."

Touka seemed momentarily stunned, perhaps unaccustomed to such an unabashed neighbor. After a brief pause, she replied, "Alright."

When Shunsuke returned home, he noticed he had a call from his editor, Hattori.

"Congratulations, Fujii-sensei, your work has been approved for serialization."

Shunsuke didn't react with much enthusiasm—it was what he had expected.

Hattori continued, "Also, we'd like to arrange an interview with you, Fujii-sensei. When would you be available?"

Shunsuke chuckled. "Not me—you're looking to interview Mashiro, right?"

Hattori coughed awkwardly. "That's part of it, yes."

"Let's do it this weekend then. Where will the interview take place?"

"The location will be our editorial office, and we'll arrange transportation for you," Hattori replied eagerly.

"Alright, see you then." Shunsuke ended the call, a slight smile on his face, ready for whatever came next.

After hanging up the phone, Shunsuke turned to Mashiro, who had somehow silently appeared beside him. "Good news, Nisekoi has been approved. Mashiro, you're about to become a mangaka."

Mashiro nodded, then shook her head lightly. "It's all thanks to you, Shunsuke."

Shunsuke flicked her delicate nose playfully. "No need to be so formal between us."

"Nisekoi is Shunsuke's manga," Mashiro replied matter-of-factly.

"Alright, alright. So, Miss Shiina, before you start creating your own manga, have you thought of a pen name? The next issue of Jump is heading to print soon. It wouldn't do to not have a pen name ready."

Mashiro fell silent.

She hadn't thought of one.

Tilting her head slightly, she said, "I'm Shunsuke's pet, so Shunsuke can decide."

Well, that was quite the curveball.

She's really leaving this decision to me?

What a challenge for someone like me who uses my surname as my pen name!

After some intense brainstorming, Shunsuke looked at Mashiro and offered a few options. "Tsubasa Hanekawa, Barrier Cat, or Pet Cat. Which one do you like?"

In the end, Mashiro chose "Pet Cat" as her pen name.

Shunsuke couldn't help but think that this pen name alone would be enough to spark a wave of buzz.

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