Chapter 16: The Whereabouts of the Silver Bullet That Clears the Path to Tomorrow
“So you possess… a demonic eye capable of unveiling the hidden truths of this world, born from humanity’s destined affliction as decreed by the Norns, goddesses of fate?”
“Meiko.”
“For now, just nod and say ‘yes.’”
So I obediently nodded and answered, “Yes.”
Yet Kuwajima continued staring at me with deep suspicion clouding her expression.
After Meiko took over the explanation on my behalf, Kuwajima learned that I had unwillingly awakened to the “ability” to see hallucinations.
Meiko had also properly explained that these hallucinations appeared randomly and were not some convenient power that allowed me to constantly hear Kuwajima’s thoughts whenever I pleased.
And furthermore—
That through those hallucinations, I had accidentally discovered the existence of the “Curse of Chuunibyou,” along with glimpses of the grim future that might await Kuwajima if nothing changed.
Still, it was hardly something a person could accept with a simple “Oh, I see.”
“I find this impossible to believe. And yet… it remains true that you perceived the hidden voice within my heart. If you truly can see even the fate engraved upon the Akashic Records themselves… then perhaps the tragic end awaiting this mortal shell is merely the final destination of a voyage already charted by destiny’s compass…”
“In Kumamoto dialect, that means: ‘I can’t really believe this appraisal-skill stuff, but he did hear my inner thoughts, so maybe I should trust him after all…’”
What a coincidence.
I also refused to acknowledge these hallucinations as some sort of appraisal skill.
They were merely hallucinations.
Nothing more than mirage-like nonsense that a completely ordinary college student like myself happened to see from time to time.
Even so—
It was probably true that they had saved Taketsuru’s life.
And equally true that they had revealed Kuwajima’s curse.
“Kuwajima. You do not need to force yourself to believe us. But we learned that you are suffering. And we know that somewhere inside, you want someone to save you. That alone is enough. Those facts are more than sufficient reason for us to act.”
“——!”
Kuwajima’s breath caught sharply.
I continued before she could speak.
“Understand this. Completely ordinary college students extend a hand to the people they wish to save, no matter what others say. That is simply normal behavior. So please… do not reject us for trying to help you of our own accord. That alone is enough.”
“…………”
Kuwajima stared at me with widened eyes, as though something inside her had cracked open ever so slightly.
Honestly, it made no difference to me whether she believed in my hallucinations or not.
I was merely acting the way an ordinary college student should.
No matter how I learned about it—
If Kuwajima was suffering now, then naturally I wanted to help her.
That was normal.
“Those are some really impressive lines, but the fact that you still prioritized attending class over helping her kinda makes the whole speech feel super shallow.”
“? There is no contradiction between helping someone within reasonable limits and prioritizing lectures.”
“The fact that you’re being rational about this is itself the contradiction…”
Sometimes Meiko said genuinely difficult things.
If Kuwajima had been standing on the edge of a rooftop threatening to jump during class, then naturally I would have prioritized her.
But if not, then attending lectures on time was simply the normal thing to do.
After all—
Kuwajima would not die merely because I attended class.
“…Fufu. Perhaps the time has finally come for this solitary soul to cease struggling alone.”
“She says, ‘Maybe there’s no point worrying about it by myself anymore.’”
“Very well! If it is your desire, then I shall permit you to attempt saving me! You yourselves forged this pact with your own lips — therefore you may not abandon the path halfway through! Struggle with all your might until your bodies are spent!”
“She says, ‘If you’re willing… then please help me.’”
As Meiko translated, Kuwajima nodded solemnly beside her.
Dangerous.
Without Meiko around, our communication would genuinely collapse into chaos.
Thinking about how Kuwajima had somehow managed to survive like this for years made me feel strangely sympathetic.
And imagining her continuing to live this way forever…
I could finally understand why she had begun despairing about the future.
“Kuwajima. If this curse remains unresolved… what do you plan to do when job hunting starts?”
“…………Valhalla calls for me.”
Well.
That sounded about right.
At the very least, I could not imagine her successfully getting employed by a normal company.
I doubted she could even explain her motivation for applying without sounding like she was challenging the interviewer to mortal combat.
Honestly, the fact she managed to get into university at all was impressive.
Her parents must have been extraordinarily understanding people.
And then I could easily imagine the rest.
She graduates, fails to find employment, struggles even with part-time work, eventually returns home.
Yet despite her parents’ attempts to encourage her, she remains unable to stop speaking and acting this way.
Little by little, even her place within her own home disappears…
It was an easy future to picture.
“For now, Kuwajima, I want to know where this curse began. Do you have any idea at all?”
“Who can say? By the time I became aware of myself, this form had already been forged. Kukuku… to lack even control over one’s own power — truly, this body is shameful.”
“She means: ‘I was already like this when I noticed it, so I don’t really know when it started.’”
Hm.
So even Kuwajima herself had no clear clue.
At the very least, we needed to know whether this curse had been deliberately placed on her by someone, or if it originated differently altogether.
Otherwise we could not move forward.
Hallucination.
Do something already.
At this rate, you are genuinely less useful than Meiko’s information network.
As though responding to my irritation, the hallucination abruptly spat out information with explosive force.
──────
“Taeko Kuwajima”
Status: “Curse of Chuunibyou”
The “Curse of Chuunibyou” fully took shape during the transition between Taeko’s graduation from middle school and entrance into high school.
Taeko matured mentally somewhat faster than those around her.
Thus, during the upper elementary school years, she awakened to “chuunibyou” ahead of her peers and continued embracing it as she grew.
However, a turning point came around her second year of middle school.
The people around her began awakening to “chuunibyou” as well.
Because Taeko matured earlier than others, the moment those around her began entering the same phase, she became painfully aware that the passion within herself had already started cooling.
She began wondering what exactly awaited at the end of this behavior.
Yet no matter how much she thought about it, she found herself unable to stop.
Because by then—
Within the school, she had already become the “charismatic icon of chuunibyou.”
The gazes of those around her.
Their expectations.
And above all, her own overwhelming sense of pride and embarrassment—
None of them allowed her to stop being chuuni.
She feared disappointing those around her.
She feared what others would say if she suddenly abandoned the persona.
And so Taeko continued performing the role of “Goetheschwarz Sanzen Sanbyaku Sanjuuin” exactly as everyone expected.
Thus she deceived both herself and those around her, carrying countless emotions and expectations upon her shoulders as she raced through middle school as the unrivaled queen of chuunibyou.
But when high school entrance finally gave her the chance to cast it all away—
Those accumulated feelings reversed themselves.
The wishes of others that she “remain this way” transformed into a curse declaring she “must remain this way.”
The persona she once merely performed—“Goetheschwarz Sanzen Sanbyaku Sanjuuin”—gradually became a second self entirely.
Meanwhile, “Taeko Kuwajima” shrank into a tiny fragment buried deep within her own heart.
And even now, the curse continues forcing Taeko to remain “Goetheschwarz Sanzen Sanbyaku Sanjuuin.”
This is the full story behind Taeko Kuwajima’s “Curse of Chuunibyou.”
──────
“…Apparently that is the situation.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to think this isn’t actually appraisal magic. It might be some completely different thing that just has appraisal-like functions…”
After I repeated the information aloud, Meiko looked exasperated while Kuwajima stared at me in utter shock.
At the very least, the details I described clearly resonated with her.
According to the hallucination, the “Curse of Chuunibyou” had not been created by some outside sorcerer—
It was a curse born from Kuwajima herself and the feelings of those around her.
“I understand the story now. Yet the crucial point remains absent.”
After taking a moment to regain her composure, Kuwajima suddenly stepped closer to me again, still speaking in the same ridiculous manner as always.
“The essential matter is the ritual required to oppose this curse! Cease withholding the answer and reveal it at once! Show me the path forward!”
“She says: ‘The important thing is how to break the curse, so please hurry and tell me.’”
“Hm.”
That was fair enough.
We now understood why she became cursed, but it was not as though we could somehow travel back in time and fix her middle school classmates.
And judging by Meiko’s earlier explanation, the others had probably long since “graduated” from chuunibyou and become their own original selves.
At this point, none of them likely wished for Kuwajima to remain trapped in it forever.
So then, hallucination—
How exactly do we break Kuwajima’s curse?
──────
“Taeko Kuwajima”
Measurements:
B: 91
W: 61
H: 88
──────
“……Kuwajima’s measurements are 91, 61, 88.”
“!?”
“Ghk—”
I obediently read aloud the information that appeared before me.
Kuwajima instantly flushed bright red with humiliation while Meiko groaned in agony.
Apparently this was not some hidden keyword required to dispel the curse.
Kuwajima herself showed no change whatsoever.
“Y-you mock me?!”
Though she recoiled for a moment, Kuwajima quickly recovered and marched even closer, grabbing me by the collar with trembling hands and tear-filled eyes.
“Do not think such foolishness shall distract me! Speak already! Reveal the location of the silver bullet that shall carve open tomorrow! Reveal the guiding light toward my future!”
──────
“Taeko Kuwajima”
Guidance toward the future:
Tomorrow, eggs at her nearest supermarket will be 140 yen per pack (before tax). Limit one per customer.
──────
“Kuwajima. Eggs at your local supermarket are going on sale tomorrow for 140 yen.”
“ARE YOU MOCKING MEEEEEEE?!”
Apparently supermarket bargain information did not qualify as the silver bullet capable of saving her future.
Honestly, what was this hallucination?
It was probably mocking me.
But I could not be entirely certain.
Hallucinations were full of mysteries.