*Bocchi's POV*
What's happening?!
I crawled under the futon when I heard the alarms. I don't know what's going on, but even a small child knows it's not something good.
I checked my phone for information on the internet, and everything was filled with news of the end of the world.
The news was the same; there was a sci-fi situation with spaceships in the sky while Earth was being invaded.
As I despaired, I realized how implausible an alien invasion was.
"Ah... I see... I'm dreaming..."
I got out of my futon and went to the kitchen. Normally, I'm hesitant to grab things without asking because it's not my home, no matter how much Allen insists I can treat this place like it, but since it's a dream, it doesn't matter.
I walked out without feeling afraid and on my way to the kitchen, I met Gwen-san and Mary-san dressed in a different version of Spider-Man's costume, hee hee.
This reinforces my belief that this is a dream.
"Bocchi?" The beautiful redhead girl was surprised to see me. Well, it's normal; I don't like to go out of my room much. In fact, I don't unless I have a sudden panic attack and end inside Allen's clothing.
It's really embarrassing!
Foolish powers!
"Mary-san, are you going out?"
Both girls' jaws dropped to the floor. I suppose seeing me speak normally was a big shock. I wonder how they would react in real life if I did that. It's probably impossible to know.
"Hitori, are you okay?"
"Yes, I find it hard to get used to the fact that in this part of the world, it's common to call people by their first name even if you've just met them."
"Gwen, have some consideration," she said seriously. "In Japan, it's usual to use suffixes after a name with their last name; it would be normal to call her Goto-chan or Goto-san."
"Even if you tell me that..."
I didn't feel good seeing Mary-san scold Gwen-san because of me, even if it was a dream.
"Don't worry Mary-san, it doesn't bother me. In fact, it makes me a little happy to be called Hitori or Bocchi." I smiled "It makes me feel like I have friends."
Mary-san stood paralyzed as she put her hands on her hips. She has an enviable figure. I guess unlike me, who spends my time in my room, she goes out to exercise.
Gwen is also very pretty. I didn't know this part of the world was so full of cute girls. I feel intimidated. Is this the legendary feeling of going on a group date with prettier girls and feeling like they stand out more? Wait, in my case, would that be a good thing?
I looked at both of their chests. "I guess at least I don't lose in bust size..."
After saying my words, both girls seemed frozen in time, not moving with looks of disbelief. I suppose this is normal in dreams. Since they're part of my dreams, made from my knowledge and perception, I can't think of any other reaction in this situation.
I leaned over to say goodbye. Even if it's a dream, I don't want to be rude to someone who welcomed me into their home.
I felt both of their gazes on my back as I left. If this were reality, I would have crawled into a box at feeling everyone's eyes on me.
"If only I could act like this, my life would be easier."
"Bocchi-chan!"
In the kitchen, I found Noko-san with a stack of shika senbei. Incredibly, Allen-san could get so many deer cookies even in this part of the world.
I guess for him something like this is easy.
"Noko-san, good morning."
Nokotan stopped eating and looked at me with a half-eaten cookie and a look as if she had seen Nobunaga resurrected.
Noko-san's face turned masculine, and her stature grew like a wrestler's. "Who are you?!" She pointed at me.
"I'm Hitori Goto. You can call me Bocchi," I smiled jokingly.
"Ahhh!! Bocchi-chan made a boke (joke)!!"
Noko-san climbed up onto a cupboard and hid, but I could still see her protruding horns.
This is fun. I don't mind Nokotan; it's just that my mind is fragile and can't handle her presence for too long without being crushed.
No... she's like an incandescent sun, and being next to her, I melt.
Ah!
I looked at my hand, and I was melting, but I returned to normal as I became aware.
Supposedly, I have some kind of power that allows me to manifest my thoughts. It's not as amazing as it sounds; I can't control it and end up manifesting my insecurities and mental images.
Yesterday morning, I woke up as a slug... literally, but Allen came and calmed me down. I was able to get back to normal thanks to him.
I can't mistake his kindness for anything else!
Bocchi, think about it. He's probably the most amazing guy there is, and I wake up in the mornings like a slug. Ugh, what kind of nonsense would it be to even fantasize about something more than just kindness from him? I should be grateful if he doesn't find me disgusting.
*Sigh*
I want to make pancakes for breakfast.
I would normally be afraid of making a mess or ruining something, but since it's a dream, I could cheer myself up.
I took an apron; there were several, and one of them was black with embroidered sakura flowers. It's Allen-san's favorite apron.
My face heated up. Is this okay? It's a dream after all...
I took the apron with my sweaty hands while panting. I could smell Allen-san. No! Right now, I just seem like a pervert!
I looked around, and no one was looking at me, so I brought the apron closer and sniffed it. It doesn't make sense for a man to smell like this! I've been close to Allen-san enough to say that this scent isn't perfume or the smell of soap or some deodorant; it's Allen's natural scent...
*Sigh*
Wait!
Suddenly, I remembered Nokotan!
I looked up to see the short-haired brown-haired girl with green eyes, she was watching me with a smirk on her face. "Hee, Bocchi-chan's a pervert~"
"It's not like that!"
"No, no~ Don't worry, I understand. My owner smells good and is very handsome, kind, strong, protective, and good at brushing hair, I could go on talking for a while just about the good things about Allen-kun, but we're already halfway through the chapter, it's better to move on with the story."
I felt embarrassed by Noko-san's words. If this weren't a dream, I would have already escaped the country somehow, although I don't know how, but I would have done it!
"You're so right..." I answered without being too embarrassed because this was a dream.
Everything Noko-san said is true. Allen-san is an incredible person. I don't even know why he cares about someone like me, but he does. If he hadn't, I would have given up from the start. I'm not brave and don't dare to withstand such a traumatic experience as leaving my world.
Incredible powers, a journey through a world of superheroes? Maybe someone else would be amazed at this opportunity, but not me...
"Right now, the only thing holding my heart is that promise." I hugged Allen-san's apron to my chest and couldn't help but smile.
"Bocchi-chan?! Are you really Bocchi-chan?!"
Seeing Noko-san, no, Nokotan, so amazed, I couldn't help but joke.
"You're right! I'm not Bocchi! I'm an alien who eats deer and has replaced Hitori Goto! Muahahaha!"
"NOOOOO!!"
Nokotan ran out of the kitchen. It gives me great satisfaction to achieve this.
Well, I should cook. I tied my hair with a ribbon into a ponytail and started cooking. It wasn't that difficult when my insecurities and fears didn't make me destroy half the kitchen.
...
I finished after fifteen minutes. Damn, since it's a dream, couldn't the hotcakes just appear already?
I served several dishes on the counter and looked at the entrance where several heads of different colors peeked in.
"Now that you're here, why don't we eat together?"
The girls were startled, but soon Gwen-san entered followed by Mary-san and lastly Nokotan.
We sat together and ate until Natasha-san entered, and Gwen-san and Mary-san got up to leave.
"Do you have to go?" I asked worriedly, as they talked about things like how Shield agents were having trouble with the invasion.
From what I could understand, the alien invasion started less than half an hour ago, but the situation in New York seems the most serious compared to other cities because the largest number of aliens is concentrated here.
Rebecca-san left from the beginning, but it seems they need more help.
Mary-san looked at me. "Bocchi, we're leaving you in charge here. Don't worry, even if the city flies into a million pieces, this place will be completely fine."
I looked at the group of women without a hint of doubt or fear. Why? We're talking about an alien invasion!
In movies, whether it's their weapons or technology, it's superior to this world's, yet, humans always win, whether by enemy error or some miracle but this is not a movie!
Is it because it's this kind of world?
Is it because they were born in an abnormal world that they can be so brave?
How embarrassing that my problems are not knowing how to talk to others... I am...
"Hitori, can I entrust you to watch over Nokotan? I don't trust her not to do something... irresponsible!"
"Hey!" Noko-san was annoyed to hear that. "What do you think I am? I'm a hybrid between human and deer, the ultimate possible perfection."
Nokotan opened her own head and took out a fan, then used it to cover half of her face. She looked at all of us with a penetrating and assertive gaze.
"It seems you're underestimating me, but you don't know what I'm capable of."
For a moment, Noko-san's attitude seemed mature and ominous.
"Here you go." Gwen-san tossed a bag of deer cookies, and Nokotan jumped to grab them like a dog, then completely forgot about the conversation and went to the couch to eat them.
"..."
"Hitori..." Natasha-san called me.
Natasha Romanoff, as I understand it, is Allen's legal guardian. I'm not good with authority figures; if she asks me something, I don't dare to refuse.
"Don't feel pressured. You're surrounded by people who seem to live on the moon, maybe our world is absurd but our problems are the same." She said in a soft voice "We just want to protect our home, that's all."
I opened my eyes to the woman's smile. Ah... that's true, it's completely logical and valid... still, Onee-san, you're amazing...
I nodded at her words as they all went out the door. How cool... I wonder if I'll be able to be like that someday.
"Bocchi-chan!" Noko-san called out cheerfully.
I turned around and saw Nokotan breaking out one of her horns and taking out a pet brush from inside. How do those horns' logic work? It seems they can turn into anything.
I sat down and took the brush from Nono-san's hand; she smiled, and I sighed.
Wait, now that I think about it, this dream has already lasted too long. When will I wake up?
*End of POV*
Bocchi was unaware that all this time it was never a dream. Unfortunately for her, reality would hit her like a Mike Tyson punch.
...
Loki could feel how they had anticipated their every move and had countered them almost immediately.
Loki clenched his teeth but soon relaxed. It was within his plans for something like this to happen; after all, Allen Walker was able to defeat him even when wearing the destroyer's armor.
Loki smiled "No matter, in the end, this guy can't win, not while I'm here."
"That's what I thought..."
The cold words of a young man entered Loki's ears at the same time he glimpsed a fist an inch from his face.
Thanks to the Mind Stone, Loki was able to accelerate his thinking capacity to a level even a god couldn't follow.
Loki teleported instantly, dodging the blow. Loki appeared a hundred meters away, his body sweating with an unpleasant cold sweat.
"Allen Wal-!"
Loki's words didn't finish when a boot was about to hit his chest. Loki teleported again at the last moment.
The eyes of the god of lies looked in astonishment and fear at his enemy; there was no doubt.
"If that had hit me, I would have died!"
Loki's thoughts moved at the speed of light, but he couldn't understand; his assessment of Allen was that of a young man with a strong will and a noble heart, not one to kill his opponents outright.
"You..."
Loki choked on his words when he met Allen's gaze, coldness and annoyance, as well as clear disappointment.
"What's with that look, god of lies?" Allen's tone was grave and cold. "Did you think you could invade my world and I'd greet you with a smile?"
Loki paled, his assessment of the young man in front of him had been wrong. No, he hadn't been wrong, but time had passed, and people tend to forge themselves with experiences.
The young man in front of him had seen the outcomes of worlds without salvation, lost worlds where everything and everyone died, where hope was for a quick and painless death.
Worlds where he understood that it wasn't a fairy tale and that the bad guys could win, and they did.
"...!"
Allen activated the core of destruction from the beginning. A great wave of energy shook the earth, but he immediately controlled it.
He glanced at the portal, his eyes now violet, glowing. The spatial portal in New York shattered like collapsing glass, and then it closed.
"Impossible!"
"Huh?!" Allen's gaze filled with disdain. "Don't make that face! Did you think trying to destroy my home would end well?!!"
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A/N: Bocchi still doesn't understand that she is Bocchi The Rock! people who love her are not missing anywhere :3