After leaving the classroom, I put on my [Background Character Mode: "Eyeless Mob".]
I let down my hair enough for my bangs to cover my eyes, hunched my back slightly, walking faced down giving the illusion that I was shorter than I actually was. With this, my presence got lowered and no one was even batting an eye on me.
I'd say this mode is working quite smoothly. Like those low-budget no-name background characters with no eyes in anime, no attention was drawn to me as I walked through the crowded hallways with students also having their breaks.
Continuing this low presence façade, I continued to walk towards the abandoned school building that was more now a storage room.
I became fond of that place ever since I discovered it. Remember what I stated? before I revealed to Mocha-san my identity as Phantom?
My original goal was to find a new place I could disappear to whenever, because Student Council President Shiori Senpai evicted me, preventing my access to the rooftop.
I know it was her duty to keep students safe, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't annoyed by the fact I had to relocate. I can no longer call people "trash" as I look down on them from the rooftop.
Such a shame. Sigh…
And now we are here, at the abandoned classroom a.k.a my new secret base.
Looking at the throne that I built, an intricate-looking couch stacked on a pile of desks, I felt proud of myself as I stared at my creation. So of course, I sat on it, sitting so naturally as though a king has returned to his throne.
Now, shifting my focus and thoughts on the current matter at hand. The transfer student Aria Tamami-san.
I put my hand on my chin, lost in deep thought, thinking of ways on how I should deal with her. I don't know how but she probably knows my secret identity as the mysterious shadow hero Phantom.
"I need to silence her before the information leaks out," I told myself. "But how should I deal with her without getting closer?"
As I said, I should minimize my interaction with her to avoid standing out. But how?
As I got lost in deep thought, thinking of what strategy I should follow best to achieve to protect my role as a mysterious character staying in the shadows, I heard the door slide open, and the sound of footsteps proceeded to the room.
I shifted my attention to the sound of the opening sliding door, finding out the person who walked in just now was Mocha-san.
Finding out who it was, I couldn't help but grin, thinking that 'I could use her.'
I grinned like I was some kind of mysterious mastermind who just found a new tool to achieve his purpose.
Noticing the smirk on my face, which was ever so ominous from Mocha-san's perspective, Mocha-san couldn't help but worry about what was the meaning behind the smile I had just now until I opened my mouth.
"Kneel,"
I said to Mocha-san, ordering her with intimidation in my voice.
This is just part of the master-disciple roleplay. Like a master who's leagues above Mocha-san, the disciple I have taken under my wing, my orders should have been absolute.
"Y-yes!"
Intimidated, Mocha-san impulsively complied, with slight panic shown on her movements as she kneeled on one knee.
As I stared down at her from my throne, her happily(?) complying with my command, I grinned even more. Think long to myself,
'She sure likes doing this master-disciple roleplay.'
Not that I'm complaining, rather, I really like her dedication to the role. While Mocha-san is kneeling there, thinking.
'I actually kneeled out of impulse.'
She was disturbed by the fact how she easily complied with my kneeling order.
"I have a mission for you,"
I revealed to Mocha-san my plans.
"I want you to keep a close watch of the new transfer student, Aria Tamami-san."
Mocha-san is still a new student that arrived just a few days ago, if she were to interact with Aria Tamami-san, it wouldn't be strange in everyone's eyes if two transfer students were to interact with each other, right?
"Eh? W, why?" inquired Mocha-san, warry of the reason.
"She knows too much,"
I told Mocha-san.
"W, what do you mean?" Mocha-san inquired, thinking. 'This was the exact same line he used to me. Does that mean Aria-san also knows about his twisted personality?'
I explained to her that, "I believe she knows my secret identity."
'Secret Identity?' she wondered what could I be talking about? Then it clicked to her that, 'Ah, Phantom!'
Mocha-san placed her hand on her chin, in deep thought. In her perspective,
'In the public's eyes, Phantom's real identity is a total mystery. It is speculated by the public to be a ruse of the entertainment industry to draw in viewers, debuting his character intended to build a mystery around him. With Master's looks, it would have believe him if he were to out right said he is a famous model. Maybe the industry, they're trying to pull a Marshmello? Who knows? However, the fact that Master's real name, Yukiya Saito's is still yet to be revealed to the public. Does that mean he has yet to have plans to reveal his true name to the entire world, intending to live a normal highschool life.' [Yukiya has no such plans or knowledge about these facts.]
"I have really grown fond of this normal lifestyle, you see. Don't you think so too, Mocha?" is said to Mocha-san, with a convincing tone.
What I meant by this dialogue was living in the shadows while pretending to be a normal person in the light. A double life, as if, a shame to let go of the sense of normality after sacrificing our life fighting in the shadows.
However, Mocha-san misinterpreted what I said.
'Does that mean …he's enjoying his normal life with me in it too?'
Mocha-san can't help but be moved by my words. Having the though of just how much I treasured our time together. But then remembered,
'Don't be so easily swayed, Mocha. Do not forget, he's a Harem protagonist!'
I then made another revelation about why I ordered for her to do the task.
"This is also to test your observation skills." I told Mocha-san, "You must first know your enemies in order to conquer them."
The reason I want to train Mocha-san's observation skills was, like in our character setting, we are a secret organization watching from the shadows, we are the ones who oversee everything that is happening while staying in the shadows.
However, Mocha-san…
'Is he telling me that, in order to communicate, I must know how to read social cues… is that what he's saying?'
I then made a third revelation as to why I chose her to do this task.
"You're both transfer students. I want you to observe everything she does and gain intel from her."
I told Mocha-san, wanting to know if Aria Tamami-san was a danger to revealing my secret or not.
'He's telling me that, since we're both transfer students, I should learn a thing or two on how to deal with people, using Aria Tamami-san as a first-hand reference. Is that what he's saying? Was this all actually for my sake? Even in the middle of his identity possibly being exposed, he's still thinking about nurturing me to grow closer to the class?'
Mocha-san assumed all of this was for the sake of raising her communication skills, however, all I was asking for her was to observe if Aria Tamami-san was aware that I was a chuunibyou or not.
She looked at me, staring in admiration thinking I was actually more selfless than she initially thought.
Even though it looked like I was merely using her for my own gain, could it be that I was actually helping her? Pushing her so she can achieve her goal to truly get along with everyone.
I just stared back at her with this all-knowing smile, and said.
"So, are you willing to take this difficult task?" I inquired.
"Y-Yes!" she replied with a now more determined feel around her.
'If this master of mine turns out to be a harem protagonist, then so be it. I'll let you use me, so let me use you too. Just like you promised me in the infirmary, allow me to become a real protagonist and get along with everyone!'
With Mocha-san's consent, we agreed to become the eyes who oversee everything while staying within the shadows, at least it was like that in my own chuunibyou delusions, but Mocha-san thought of it as training.