Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine

"Don't look at me like that! There's nothing going on between senpai and me!" Iroha protested, noticing their suspicious gazes.

She waved her hands frantically, desperate to deny any hint of a relationship.

Ayase and Kirino, not ones for gossip, exchanged understanding looks and changed the subject.

"That gas tank explosion at the academy was terrifying! If it had happened during first year, the casualties would have been devastating."

Ayase smoothly steered the conversation, and Kirino followed her lead.

"Yeah, things have been eerie lately. This morning, I had hallucinations — I even saw what looked like an Evil Spirit floating in mid-air." Her delicate face twisted with fear, though mercifully the vision hadn't lasted long.

"Really? Just last night, when I went to the bathroom, I saw a shadowy figure through my window in the moonlight." Ayase touched her chin thoughtfully, while Iroha's eyes widened in shock.

One person's experience could be dismissed as coincidence, but two friends having strange encounters made it harder to ignore.

'That impossible senpai! Why can't he just stay home? Always out all night—what was even the point of me moving here? I'll make him a bento later and demand some answers.' Iroha's thoughts spiraled as she brooded.

"Iroha? Iroha?"

"Hm?" She snapped back to reality.

Blinking in confusion, she found Ayase and Kirino watching her with concern.

"What's wrong?"

"Should we go out to eat later?"

"Let's not — it's dangerous outside right now." Iroha said, wary of the uncertain situation, "Why don't you eat at my place? You can try my cooking!"

Ayase and Kirino, already hesitant about going out, happily accepted.

They had only suggested going out to help cheer Iroha up. It was rather cruel to see her beloved senpai paired up with someone else.

"I can help too!" Home economics was one of Ayase's strong subjects.

At first, she had only wanted to cook for her best friend Kirino, but family circumstances and other factors gradually led her to develop a genuine passion for it.

"I bought lots of ingredients we can use." Iroha said with a smile, pointing at her fully stocked fridge. The quantity was far more than a normal girl living alone could consume.

The truth was, she had planned to move next door to the Daiki house, hoping that flirtatious senpai might cook elaborate meals for her. That's why she had spent so much on expensive ingredients.

But that flirtatious senpai had been staying out all night. For two straight days, she hadn't caught even a glimpse of him — let alone had the chance to ask about those meals.

Ayase and Kirino, unaware of her true intentions, felt their hearts sink at the sight of the packed fridge.

"Kirino, don't you think this is concerning?" Ayase whispered, "This is far too much food for one person. Could she have bought all this for that senior?"

Kirino stood there, stunned into silence.

They approached the fridge and casually retrieved a steak.

"My goodness, this steak is incredibly expensive — I wouldn't even splurge on this." Kirino said, her face registering shock at the price.

Even Ayase, who came from a wealthy family and understood the value of money, was taken aback by the cost. It wasn't just the steak — nothing in the fridge could be considered budget-friendly.

"Could she really afford all this?" Ayase wondered, covering her mouth in disbelief, "Was it all meant for him?"

"She must be in really deep." Kirino said, swallowing hard as she surveyed the fridge's contents again, "Though maybe we shouldn't jump to conclusions — perhaps Iroha comes from a wealthy family. Maybe this is just her normal lifestyle."

She spoke firmly, shaking her head. She refused to believe that someone as shrewd as Iroha could become so love-struck. She preferred to think these expensive ingredients were simply part of Iroha's regular shopping habits.

But soon, this fantasy was shattered by Iroha herself.

"Ayase, help! How do I cook this thing?!"

She burst out of the kitchen coughing, enveloped in smoke.

Despite living alone for some time, cooking wasn't her strong suit. She usually dined out with classmates. When she did cook at home, it was just instant meals and natto.

Ayase and Kirino exchanged shocked glances, their hearts sinking.

Ayase especially could picture the heartbreaking scenario: Iroha, spending all her money on expensive ingredients to impress her senpai, waiting patiently for his return while he was out with someone else.

How tragic! Simply tragic!

She couldn't bear to think how much pain Iroha must be hiding behind her brave face.

"..." Ayase squeezed her hand sympathetically.

"Iroha, you're being foolish." Kirino scolded, her expression pained.

Iroha, who had just walked out, looked utterly bewildered.

What's going on?

While they'd correctly guessed about the expensive ingredients, they'd misunderstood her plan. Iroha hadn't intended to make the food last a month.

Her strategy was simple: once the ingredients ran out, she'd turn to Daiki. She'd spent everything except basic living expenses. Though he was a bit of a flirt, he was kindhearted. She'd happily become his freeloader.

"Don't worry, Iroha! We'll teach that flirtatious senpai a lesson!"

Ayase's declaration sent Iroha into a panic.

All three of them together wouldn't stand a chance against even one of his hands.

"Please don't do anything rash! There's nothing between Daiki-senpai and me!"

"So his name is Daiki? Don't worry, we won't do anything rash." Ayase said, mentally noting his name.

Iroha's concerns were unnecessary. Their upbringing and values would never allow for reckless behavior.

Their actual plan was far more subtle — to torment that flirtatious senpai with their delicious cooking aromas!

"Just leave it to us."

With such premium ingredients at their disposal, success was inevitable.

Ayase opened the window, letting the enticing aromas drift outside while Kirino arranged ingredients in the kitchen, meticulously planning each dish.

They would show that flirtatious senpai the true power of determined girlfriends!

Little did they know they were mere challengers, and their neighbor was the final boss.

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"Shouldn't I do the cooking?" Daiki asked while in the kitchen, holding Mei's waist as he watched her cook.

The beautiful woman in front of him turned to face him, giving him an enchanting smile.

"Why not savor my cooking while also savoring me?" Mei purred, her fingertip trailing along his back.

Being a young Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer was remarkable enough. With his unique ability Hundred Teaching — allowing him to pass on experience to others — she doubted he'd had time to master cooking.

Besides, she needed to demonstrate her own capabilities to earn the Black Flash technique.

After all, she deeply envied Nino's mastery of the constant Black Flash.

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T/N: If you want more chapters like this, check out my Patreon! Take a look at my other translations too, you might like them!

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