Is it Wrong to Love A Chuunibyou Tomboy? Chapter 4

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Chapter 4
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Living with IF wasn’t perfect. There was little squabbles over space and how things should be done, but they were minor. The apartment was small, a single bedroom and bath with a living room attached to a kitchen. Your first anniversary was a month away. IF had told you that “until you put a ring on her finger, you weren’t sharing a bed”. That was fine. In the end, what mattered was little moments like now.

IF wore an old t-shirt of yours like a dress with an apron over that. Her hair was lazily tied behind her head as she tried her best to cook you breakfast.

Your mind wandered… when would be a good time to ask her. You two had been together for almost a year now.

IF’s expression is strained as she presents a plate of…

Something?

The most recognizable thing on the plate is the eggs. The hash brown potatoes are blackened and the meat is in a similar condition.
Maybe you had been too sentimental earlier. IF hadn’t cooked for herself since she was a little girl, since then she had been in the Guild with dedicated cooks. Anyways… while suppressing a gag reflex and a grimace you take a bite.

It’s somehow both over and under seasoned, burnt and dry. Your criticism is honestly going easy on the dish, yet you keep it to yourself. As hard as you try, you can’t even fake liking it.

“Maybe try again tomorrow?” You proposition to IF who flops onto the couch immediately.

“Go ahead, fire your girlfriend.” She whines with a sorrow filled voice. IF bears a pouting face.

You take her head into your lap. Her eyes blankly stare up into yours.

“Come on, it’s just practice. I’m not mad or anything. You don’t complain in training, why is this a big deal?”

IF slinks over your lap, hanging her head over the arm of the couch.

“I thought girls were just naturally good at this stuff. I’m like the worst girlfriend ever at this rate.”


“Obviously not Aiefu, that’s why I’m here to cheer you on. I know a little about cooking, maybe we could do it together?”

She gives a pouting expression with the corner of her mouth bunching up before folding her arms.

“Just for one time, I’ll teach you some stuff.” You promise.

IF spins off the couch and stands up, intentionally making each step heard. She reappears with her usual black tube top and shorts on, pulling her coat over her arms in a hurry. IF raises an eyebrow at your inactivity.

“Come on, are you gonna wait around all day? Get packed!”

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Everything seems to bear a grey hue due to the overcast skies. IF is readjusting her hair as you hike together along the road. She regains her usual single side tail among her lower back length of milk chocolate hair. She reaches into her satchel for a sip of water, re affixing the cap as she speaks with you.

“I’m good at this, I’ll make something so much better out here.”

“You’re sure it just didn’t taste good because you were starved?”

“Shut it- Plus…”
“It has been a while since we went on a date, hasn’t it.” You comment.

IF shrugs, but she turns her face away in a poor attempt to hide her pleasure. You munch on a stray piece of hardtack in an attempt to calm your rumbling stomach.

“Yeah sure. You know your edible plants right?”

“Good enough.”

You stand with IF before the forest. A thick intermediate layer of grasses and shrubbery makes up the 30 meters or so between civilization and the great wilderness. IF doesn’t hesitate but gives your coat sleeve a tug before marching through the barrier.

In that short space, the environment goes from a city to a dense old growth temperate rainforest. Vast evergreens dim the ground level, leaving small plants to contend for the thin strands of light that peek through the nearly complete coverage. IF gives you a little more space than usual, intently focused on the ingredients for her dish. She shoves a few fistfuls of early spring fiddlehead ferns into her satchel, continuing to comb for delicious rarities like wild onion or the wide variety of leafy herbs that spring bears. The quiet of the deep forest is punctuated by the chirps of various fluffy small animals and birds. IF has no qualms with taking one of those same animals down and gutting it.

IF wraps her hands around a dead tree, pulling mossy boughs from it and snapping them into smaller pieces. She dusts lichen and dry bark off her hands before kneeling under the wide natural umbrella of a spruce. IF pulls a pile of dead needles off the gnarled roots of the tree and takes a knee at a safe distance from the nearby trees. The girl carefully makes a cone of fuel to start a fire soon after with ease. Initially, you sit on the opposite side of the fire, continuing to give IF her space.

IF’s eyes sulk, you quickly find yourself on her side. Your capable Aiefu’s serious exterior is almost completely false around you. Your sweetheart stirs the small tin of stew slowly, adding ingredients by cooking time. The stew looks like any other, populated with bits of meat and greenery, but something else has your attention.

IF sits in a criss-cross, teasing your hand in her own much more delicate grip. She doesn’t smile like other girls, but you can tell she’s as happy as could be. It might take all of her power, but IF somehow bottles her soaring heart into a satisfied thin line across her lips. If anything, IF’s eyes give away her feelings in this moment. The way each thin band of color that makes up Aiefu’s radiant emerald eyes catches the dim of the forest, reflecting back as the master handiwork of a jeweler would. Every faucet and cut of her eyes bears a message to you, beckoning you closer.

Your nose pokes hers, nearly rousing the two of you from this overwhelming trance like ambiance.

IF nervously blushes, cupping a hand over your cheek.

“Why do I worry about you~” she asks rhetorically.

Your arms firmly wrap around her body, pulling that same old blue coat snug to her thin frame.

“You don’t have to be perfect, just Aiefu.”

She kisses you, waking you from the trance.

“That’s for being mushy.” She says stiffly.

Her trembling lips approach yours again, her tongue ties yours up, leaving both of you panting as she parts.

“T-that’s for b-being mine…”

“I love you, you blockheaded tomboy.” You teasingly mock.

IF doesn’t respond or come up with one of her usual dry retorts, she just tucks into your chest, pulling her arms tight around you.

“Thanks. Let’s eat.” She chimes while looking up from the creases of your windbreaker.

IF is smiling, fully and naturally. She isn’t forcing it or anything, her feelings have just finally overpowered her defences. You hesitate, taking a spoonful of the steaming soup from your mess tin. IF’s smile slips into a pout and her tone becomes more severe.

“What, are you scared or something?”

The taste is…

Delicious. What IF couldn’t do with a fully equipped kitchen, she did with a spare beef seasoning packet from some ramen, a handful of foraged vegetables and a squirrel that had been minding it’s own business. She expectantly waits with soft eyes, expecting and wanting to hear your voice (almost regardless of what you have to say). As you look into her pleasant expression, she smiles, seeing your pleasure.

“It’s delicious sweetie~”

“Great!” IF leans into a cautious hug, taking care to not spill your stew. She sits back, filling her own tin. Something demands your attention in her, and you can’t initially place it.

Your heart almost freezes as IF peacefully brushes one of the tendrils of hair that usually frames her face over an ear and blows a cloud of steam off the dish. She rapidly notices your attention and is taken aback, folding her arms. A glimmer seems to radiate from IF’s eyes, maybe even from her very soul. While part of this golden sensation is that of being around another happy individual and your mutual attraction, something else is present.

“W-What?!” She almost barks.

Ah. The different feature dawns on you.

“You used some makeup today, didn’t you? It loo-”

“Took you long enough! Jeez, I didn’t think you were ever going to notice!” She gripes.

“It- It’s because you look so good usually! We’ve still got some time, wanna go for a hike?”

The answer doesn’t seem to be exactly good enough for IF, but she takes your hand, still pouting.

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The wilds of this world are supposedly unmatched in size according to contacts in another dimension. This fact is highly visible as you and IF venture through the trees, occasionally getting glimpses of the sky through the nearly complete tree cover. The weather is worsening.

Hiking is a quiet affair, yet you feel content to just be doing something that you both enjoy. The soft patter of rain on both of your coats is soothing, without stopping, you’re at the treeline, looking up at the hardy grasses and shrubs that cover the upper mountains.

IF leads, you get an occasional glimpse of her lower body through her coat vent. She notices, turning and facing you.

“S-Stop staring!”

IF angrily buttons her coat, folding her arms over her belly.

“Do you not want your boyfriend’s attention or something?” You tease. IF turns red in an instant.

Right as your lips slip open, IF freezes, staring with tired eyes at the sky. Her bashful smile fades into a slight frown.

CRACK!

Lighting strikes not even a mile away. Low rumbles follow, continuing to snap and crackle through the sky. The occasional sprinkles and light rain that have persisted throughout the day soon increase to a downpour. Iffy sighs.

“I figured this would happen.”

“Nothing we can do about the weather.”

IF smiles, quite contrary to what either of you had previously implied.

“I-- I was ready for this.” Iffy sheepishly confesses.

She retrieves a pair of half shelters from her satchel, starting towards buttoning them together. IF stabs a pair of sticks into the ground as a support. She throws the waterproof shelter halves over a line between the two sticks, staking the ends to the ground as well. You kneel, taking a step into the shelter. After removing your boots, Iffy offers you a seat next to her on a blanket. You both shed your coats, splaying them out to dry on the opposite side of the tent. There isn’t much room left inside, but being close to IF is fine in your book. IF hugs her knees, giving you a glance that says “hug me you idiot”. You wrap an arm around Aiefu’s thin shoulders, kissing the top of her head, immediately lighting her face up with a smile.

The rain is your percussion, thumping, flicking and slapping the tent, setting time for your interactions with IF.

“Did you think we would ever be this close when you confessed to me?” You ask.

IF gazes off through the downpour, wrapping a soldier’s blanket around you two after a long pause. Her eyes are wracked with sorrow.

“No.”

“What!?”

IF hugs her legs, releasing you. You can tell that she’s tearing up but can’t see after she buries her face in her knees.

“I expected yo-you to shoot me down, r-right then and there!” She manages through teary eyes.

“Aiefu… I didn’t mean to-”

IF tackles you, pressing your head into your own waterlogged coat and stabbing her chin into your shoulder. IF’s tears loudly fall onto the garment over your shoulder. She pulls back, smiling like an idiot.

“I love you!” IF fumbles happily.

There’s only one proper response.

“I love you too~” You tousle her lengthy soft hair and take her into your arms.

IF hasn’t lost her smile. She rewraps the blanket around you two, leaning into your shoulder.

“I mean it… I love you. I don’t...”

You sit up, taking a seat with IF under your arm you look down into her nervous eyes. IF is desperately searching for a way to put her feelings into words.

“I-”

“You don’t have to say a word Aiefu-” You pull her into your arms, kissing her as this was the only kiss you would ever get out of her again. As you release her, the same feeling of contentedness returns, the sensation that just tells you to hold IF like she would get caught by a breeze and fly away if you weren’t with her.

You realize that you’ve been staring out the tent flaps at the storm outside with IF. The crackling lightning and downpour is impressive. There is a peace in observing, the only things you hear besides the storm is IF’s very existence. What would you do without her soft breaths, her quick little heartbeat and dry quips.

“Man, this lightning is like when you took out that dragon.”

IF’s eyes gain a gleam, her smile becomes a nearly smug slight one sided grin.

“You want to learn from the raw and undomesticated powers of nature like a true wizard~?!”

In a simple sweep, IF is back outside, coat flapping in the breeze as water rolls off her shoulders. You’ve followed her, she commands you to call upon the lightning, she makes a pose and does it herself, igniting a tree a few hundred meters away.

You mimic her, shouting with all your capacity.

“LIGHTNING!!!”

Everything seems to turn a blinding white for a moment. The accompanying thunderclap nearly flattens the greenery surrounding your target tree, the tree itself explodes. Wood chips and partial branches probably shredded a few sheltering creatures. Everything in your body just feels heavy. Your eyes roll back in their sockets as you fall to the ground, face planting into wet grass.

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Your eyes creep open in the tent again, IF still huffing and puffing from having moved you.

“Damn you’re heavy! Lose some weight or something!” She complains.

“I’m not the one using her chuunibyou ideas on others to make them cast spells beyond their SP limit!”

IF stutters a few bits of gibberish out. As she regains her functions, she starts yelling.

“I AM NOT A CHUUNIBYOU! W-WHAT KINDA GIRL DO YOU THINK I AM!?!”

“Posing and using elaborate ways to say things about magic?!? Sounds like a chuuni to me!”

IF is steaming mad, you’ve really found a way to press her buttons with this one.

“At this rate you’ll be- wait, the day we met you were trying to summon demons!”

“D-DID YOU F-FRY YOUR OWN BRAIN WITH THAT LIGHTNING BOLT!? STOP STOP STOP!”

IF’s lips, nay, her whole body is trembling, her expression screams how uncomfortable she is. It’s not mean when you think it, but IF is just adorable when she’s flustered. You pull your girl deep into your arms again, massaging her head with a free hand.

“Just because I’m teasing you about it doesn’t mean I don’t like it. It’s just another part of Aiefu, my own chuunibyou, huffy, flat chested, short tomboy.”

“I- I am NOT huffy! What’s with you today!?”

IF pauses, considering what she just did. She buries her face in her hands.

“You got me, good job jerk.”

IF looks out at the storm and sighs.

“I guess this is the first time we share a bed, right?”

IF looks too heated to even say anything. She pulls close to you, using her pack as a pillow after putting a spare shirt over it. Here you are, holding IF close, and sleeping together for the first time. Her lips tremble, her cheeks are flushed red and it doesn’t feel like either of you could get to sleep while so close.

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You wake to IF on your chest, her black tube top imprinting lines in your skin. You want to get up, but with IF so peacefully asleep, it seems cruel to wake her up. The weather has cleared enough to see the sun peek through the clouds. IF rolls over, flicking her phone open.

“A missed call from Compa huh?”

“We’re on a date still, isn’t it rude to check your phone?” You tease.

IF practically throws her phone back into her belt.

“We need breakfast, there’s a creek just down the valley on the way back. We could catch some fish. Together.”

“Something up?” You ask.

IF stares off into the sky for a moment.

“I could swear that I promised I would do something with Compa. I hope she isn’t mad or anything.”

“Should we get back into town today?”

“Probably… Anyways, let’s go.”

The wet foliage does its best to impede your progress, making every minor incline into a slip and slide that you and IF have to cautiously traverse. Despite nature’s best attempt, you get to the creek in one piece and only have to change your socks. IF drags a few small fish out of the water before you can even get your boots laced. She starts another fire and impales the dressed fish on sticks to cook. She puts the empty salt and pepper packets back into the plastic bag they came in, leaving no trace that either of you were there.

As expected of the survivalist herself and your aching stomach, the fish is delicious. The hike down always feels a dozen times quicker than the way up. IF stops under the start of the treeline for a gulp of water.

“I’m sorry if you had less fun than I did because of the wea-”

“It was great IF!” Despite your efforts, it appears that IF is just running on a sort of autopilot, nervously continuing regardless of what you say.

“Re-Really, it was my choice to-” You stop her.

The best way to stop a nervous girl.

The taste of Aiefu’s sweet lips lingers in your mouth as you pull away.

“It was wonderful. Don’t overthink it.”

IF looks aside.

“L-Let’s keep going t-then.” You can tell by the flushed shy expression that IF tries to keep hidden: You’ve made her day perfect already. While entering the vaulted great room-like atmosphere of the ancient forest, you feel a tickle in your hand. IF is giving a nervous grin as she pulls your hand into hers. The entire way home, IF is smiling, beaming even just because of you.

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IF flops into the couch almost immediately after walking through the door, having hung her coat and satchel in the entry-side closet. Both of you whip your attention to the door as it rings.

IF tenaciously checks the peep hole. She lets herself off her tip toes and sighs. Her hand hovers over the handle, slowly undoing the dead bolt.

A girl with almost obnoxiously purple hair falls through the door and the homely sight of Compa follows in, smiling and bowing.

The purple haired girl wears a hoodie dress, two Plus shaped clips in her hair and thigh high striped socks.

“Hehehe, I’ve heard things about you! Iffy’s boyfriend!” She points a finger at you, setting a hand on her hip.

“I have a name you know.”

She gestures with one finger into the air that what she is about to say is quite important.

“My name is Neptune! If YOU want to marry MY IFFY, you’ll need to pass the NEP test FIRST!”

“W-Where is this coming from? Why do so many of your friends feel like they need to screen me IF?”

IF sighs.

“You’ve got a whole bag of snacks from the convenience store and a heavy backpack. I assume you and Compa want to have a sleepover?”

“Awww, don’t be Ms. No Fun, Iffy! It’s fun-”

“And very unexpected. We just got back from a date, we didn’t expect to see you…”

“Trying to do lewd things already? Want your time alone together? Hehehe~~~” Neptune wears the most smug face you’ve ever seen, prodding your girlfriend with all of her might it seems. Blanc was right to not send pictures of your previous date with IF.

Rather than act bashfully as she usually would, IF seems to just accept the situation.

“Up for a few games Compa? It’s already 5, you don’t stay up very late.”

Compa takes a while to respond, she nearly lifts IF off the ground in a hug before accepting the offer.

“Sleep is very important to being healthy you know! So I always give plenty of time for rest!” Compa explains to you while Neptune unpacks a shining new console and accompanying cords.

Compa stands, an unusually assertive aura radiates from the fluffy girl. She sets her hands on both hips before making her declaration.

“This is a sleepover! So ladies need pajamas!” Compa takes her own backpack off, retrieving a mass of cloth. IF retreats against the couch as soon as she recognizes the shape.

“Animal pajamas?! Are we little kids again or something!?”

Despite Compa’s beaming smile, you sense an overwhelming feeling; like she may have something hidden up those wooly sleeves.

“Well I thought they were super duper cute! Nep Nep agrees! We chose our favorite animals and got one just for you too!” Neptune and Compa look at home and happy in their respective bear and sheep outfits while IF just holds a fuzzy black fabric slack in her grasp. There’s a dejected emptiness in your lover’s eyes. You get close to her and squeeze her knee. IF shakes her head and stands.

“I’m not wearing this.”

Compa looks seriously distraught while Nep is as smug as ever.

“We thought super super hard! I thought you would like it for sure!”

You finally get a good glimpse of what animal IF is supposed to wear. The white belly, the slight felt beak… they got IF a penguin outfit. The sleeves even terminate in flippers that one could fold over their hands to work as mittens of a sort. IF’s fists quiver at her sides, she puffs out her chest before speaking.

“FINE. I’LL GIVE YOU ONE LOOK.”

Nep stifles a giggle as IF locks the bedroom door. After what feels like an eternity, the door softly clicks again, a black flipper slips out of the crack. IF’s face is bright red as she reveals her whole body. The suit adds a significant amount of volume to her hips and thighs, almost giving the silhouette of a real penguin. Before a word can even slide out of your dropped jaw, IF retreats into the room with a slam.

Nep stops giggling. She prods you forwards with a smile.

“Go get’er Boyfriend~”

Compa’s hands ball up at her collar.

“Yeah! Iffy’s gotta come play games with us!”

Your hand hovers over the doorknob. You enter the darkened room, turning on the light.

IF sulks under her covers.

“Come on out sweetie, you looked great~”

You hear a shuffle.

“You can’t trick me. You were laughing…”

“That was Nep! Come on, I’m the only person in the room, just come out for a bit.”

IF creeps out from underneath the sheets, still wearing the pajamas. The loose cloth collapses under your touch, you still haven't gotten used to how small IF’s figure is. Your smile comes naturally and IF relaxes.

“You looks great, only my Aiefu could pull this off~!”

IF looks up into your eyes, soon matching your smile.

“Y-You really think so?”

Like that, you emerge from the bedroom, a returning victorious hero with IF under arm. Nep and Compa give a cheer. Nep cracks open four bottles of ramune and hands them out.

“Cheers!” Nep calls out, the clink of glass separates her words. She looks at Aiefu as if she was supposed to say something, IF retreats against the couch before steeling herself. IF reaches into the pajama pockets, fiddling with something.

She retrieves a small gold ring.

IF tries her best to speak but only gibberish comes out. She covers her face in shame. You slide your hand under the bed, pulling out a box, opening it to a silver ring with a lonely emerald in the middle, the same deep green that makes up your sweetheart’s eyes.

“I’d been thinking about it too Aiefu.”

You do a 360 immediately. You’re the only one with clear eyes in the room, Compa is outright sobbing, even Nep’s eyes have a misty look about them as she clears the corner of an eye with her hand. Through her tears of joy, IF helps you slide the ring unto her finger.

“S-So Cheers-!” IF manages through gasps for air and voice cracks.

“T-to our en-engagement!”

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