Chapter 233: Returning to the Neighboring World
At the mention of barbecue, the Princess's eyes instantly lit up. The Halvanhelev she had drawn was immediately stabbed back into its base.
"Thank you so much for yesterday. After I went back, I thought about it, and you really were helping me. Those people always come out to attack me whenever I appear.
Last time, thanks to you, I was able to have some peace. And before you left, you even gave me such delicious food. I'm really grateful."
In the next instant, the Princess jumped down the stairs and landed beside Franklin, her eyes full of longing as she stared straight at him.
"Big brother, don't just stand there. Since food works, use it to win her over. Her favorability toward you is already at sixty.
If you tempt her a bit more, it should be able to rise to an even higher level."
Listening to Kotori's voice through the earpiece, Franklin felt speechless. The barbecue had only been meant to bring the two of them closer, not as a method to trick Tohka into bed—though it really was effective.
"There's nothing to thank me for. Helping you is also helping myself. After all, I want to become your friend—friends who trust each other and help each other."
The Princess looked at Franklin, somewhat confused.
"Friends who help each other?"
Franklin smiled and nodded.
"That's right. Just like how I helped you solve your problem last time. In the future, you help me the same way I helped you, and then we'll be friends."
Walking toward the second-year classrooms, Franklin noticed Tohka still standing there in a daze. He waved at her, and the Princess silently followed behind him.
"Do you know that you're called a Spirit?"
Seeing the confusion on Tohka's face, Franklin continued, "It doesn't matter if you don't. I just want to ask you one thing.
In the future, do you want to stop being attacked altogether, stay safely in this world, eat all kinds of different food, and make more friends like me?"
"Can I eat lots of barbecue like last time if I stay here?"
Seeing Tohka's eyes shining brightly, Franklin nodded helplessly. She clearly hadn't listened to anything else—only the food.
"Yes. If you stay here, you can eat it every day."
"Really?"
"That's right. Whatever you want to eat, you can have."
With Franklin's confirmation, Tohka's eyes shone even brighter.
"Really… really? Really… really… really?"
Seeing Tohka's expression, completely immersed in fantasies of future food surrounding her, Franklin smiled and nodded.
"That's right. No matter what you want to eat, I can satisfy it. Oh, right—my name is Franklin. You can call me Lin from now on."
"Franklin? Lin? Is that your name? Then what's my name?"
"That, I don't know. Don't you have a name of your own?"
As soon as he said that, the Princess fell silent. After a long while, she looked at Franklin.
"Can I ask you for a favor? Can you give me a name? I feel like a name chosen by Lin would definitely suit me."
After a long silence, Kotori's voice came through the earpiece again.
"Big brother, please leave this to my arrangements. Don't just give her a name casually. I have big data analysis on my side—it'll definitely be more thorough than your guess.
If you choose badly, her favorability could plummet straight down—"
"From now on, your name is Tohka. This was always meant to be your name."
"Tohka? It sounds really tasty. And Lin chose it. Then from today on, my name is Tohka."
As she spoke, Tohka suddenly started smiling foolishly.
"Tohka… Lin… Tohka… It feels really nice."
A violent explosion rang out. Under Franklin's guidance, the second-year Class 4 classroom they were in was blasted open with a huge hole, followed by countless shells raining down after it.
The sudden attack instantly snapped Tohka out of her beautiful fantasies about the future.
"Halvanhelev."
As she drew the greatsword, Tohka stepped directly in front of Franklin.
"Let me handle it this time, Lin. I can fight too."
Franklin smiled and shook his head, lightly patting Tohka on the shoulder.
"No need. Leave it to me."
"But—"
Before Franklin could finish speaking, most of the teaching building collapsed in an instant. The two of them were exposed directly in front of the AST members, with Origami Tobiichi clearly among them.
Franklin smiled and waved at the figures floating in the air.
"Long time no see, everyone. Did you like the uniforms last time? If not, I have other ideas. Want to give them a try?"
"What exactly are you? You're clearly human, so why are you standing on the Spirit's side?
If AST had you, the threat of spacequakes might've disappeared long ago."
Looking at the person who spoke, Franklin smiled and shook his head.
"There's a huge information gap between us. You know too little, and what you know is too superficial.
Right now, you only have two choices.
Withdraw immediately, or come at me with your lives on the line and be easily defeated by me.
This time, if you lose, I'll change you all into Raizen High School uniforms."
Seeing Franklin smiling calmly at them, Ryouko Kusakabe directly led the squad backward.
"All units, temporary retreat. I need to report to higher command.
Honestly… this spacequake didn't damage the school at all. Our shells are the ones that blew it up."
As soon as she finished speaking, Origami Tobiichi had already drawn her light sword and charged toward the school below.
"Tobiichi, come back! What are you doing?! You're not a match for the two of them!
All units, provide cover for Tobiichi!"
Seeing this, Franklin stepped forward to face the remaining AST members.
"The one flying over—leave her to you, Tohka. As for the rest, they won't interfere.
Just defeat her alone. Once it's over, I'll take you to eat a big feast."
At the words "big feast," Tohka's eyes immediately lit up. She stepped forward, Halvanhelev pointing straight at Origami.
In an instant, the two clashed. The already unstable building shook even more violently.
Those AST members who tried to step in were silently marked in Franklin's mind.
"I won't kill her. I'm just giving her a lesson.
Facing two enemies of unknown strength alone takes courage, but it's also recklessness."
The roar of combat continued. At a certain moment, Franklin sensed a disturbance in space.
In the next instant, he appeared beside Tohka, grabbing both blades with his hands. With a casual wave, Origami Tobiichi's injuries were completely healed.
"I'm going to the Neighboring World to take a look. I might be late getting back tonight.
If your teammates ask, just tell them the truth. I won't be affected in any way."
Hearing Franklin's words, Origami's pupils shrank sharply. But before she could say anything, Franklin and Tohka vanished from in front of her.
"The Spirit has disappeared! All units, stay alert!
I'm going down to check on Tobiichi. You report everything that happened here and call in emergency rescue teams."
In a completely empty, abandoned city, Franklin and Tohka suddenly appeared out of thin air on the streets.