"Hello, Chisato."
"What do you want, Hanako?"
"What's wrong, got better places to be?"
"I sure don't like hanging around with you. Why is it just us two?"
"How cruel Chisato. Didn't your parents teach you any manners?"
"Tch."
"Sorry, sorry. I have a job for you. I've located Patrick and two of his remaining fangs. I want you to take them out."
"It took you over a month to find them, aren't they being protected?"
"Yes, Patrick has the protection of a Special-Rank Hunter in fact. But that shouldn't be an issue for you, should it?"
"No."
"Good. Get it done 2 days from now."
"Is something else going down?"
"Yes, an attack on the Hunter Academy. Now, go on. You're dismissed."
As Chisato waves him off with the bird, Hanako opens his eyes to reveal a terrifying scowl.
***
Golden Festival Day 2
"Chifuyu, we have a client specifically asking for you."
"Really? Tell em to come in."
"After you," Kagura says politely.
Walking into the living room is a male who looks to be the same age as him.
'A high schooler?' "Hey man, what can I do for you?"
The boy looks around nervously holding one arm with the other before whispering into Chifuyu's ear, "I need relationship advice."
This is a very serious matter. Chifuyu's eyes black out and he locks in.
"Everyone clear the area! I need to be alone with our client here."
"The hell," Shinatsu mumbles as she was making breakfast.
"I wonder what it is."
"Must be important."
"Maybe a childhood friend he forgot about."
'What's going on, Master?' Ariel asks having just woken up in his shadow.
'This guy came to me asking for advice that could mean life or death. I can't let him down.'
'I see. I'll be here if you need me.'
"What's up, Chifuyu. Who's this?"
'Diego, huh? Maybe I can let him in on this.'
***
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! He came to you for relationship advice?! That's a hoot! You're asking the wrong guy."
'I shouldn't have told him.'
"Listen brother, I'm your guy when it comes to that. You could say I'm a pro even."
"Get real, you're just a womanizer."
"Haters gonna hate."
"If you guys are fine with it, I'll take advice from both of you. I can pay too of course. I just really need it. I came here because you're the most popular man I know who's my age and close by.
I want to ask out the girl I love."
"This is no time to argue, Diego."
"Alright. Let's do this."
"What's your name?"
"Brady!"
Chifuyu daps him up, "Have a seat, Brady."
"Start by telling us all about this girl."
"Also, this is on the house."
"Thank you so much!"
'After all, this is either going to work extremely well or result in soul crushing rejection.'
The boy in love gave a lengthy speech about the girl he's fallen in love with. They came to the conclusion that he might be too in love.
"So you're childhood friends huh?"
"Yes!"
Diego whispers to Chifuyu, "This could be a lost cause. The girl he's in love with either has romantic feelings for him but has also been too afraid to ask him out or she thinks of him as a brother. There's no in-between."
"You're right."
Brady looks on with a blank face as the two whisper to each other. He is also one of the dense archetypes, so he has no idea what they could be talking about even though their worried glance turns to him every couple of seconds.
"Also guys, I might have competition. She's recently been hanging out with the student council president."
Chifuyu and Diego's faces drop into absolute despair. Those were the last words they wanted to hear.
Chifuyu walks right up to him and holds his shoulder. "Then your only option is to kill him."
"Ehhhh?!"
"Childhood friends are destined to always lose."
"No. This can't be. I've never killed someone before."
"I would hope not."
"This guy is an exception. It's the only way."
"I can't. There has to be another way."
"Ahh… I can't take any more of this." Shinatsu on the other side of the door kicks it open and walks in."
"Don't listen to these idiots, they have no idea what they're talking about."
"You wouldn't understand, Shinatsu. If the childhood friend doesn't confess their feelings before high school, their feelings will never be reciprocated!"
"That's a load of bull. And you! This is mostly your fault for waiting so long!"
"I'm sorry. I'm so pathetic." Brady covers his face as tears start coming down.
"Don't cry…"
"Worry no more fledglings."
"Kagura!"
"I am here."
Kagura and Shinatsu who were dropping eaves enter the scene. Is there hope for Brady?
"You just have to go for it. It's all or nothing. Why? Because Love is War!"