Let's Make a Deal ch3: Kotaka-chan Appears

p1
>My name is Adele.
>As you can see, I'm a demon.

>Today, I'm investigating the "power spot"...
>that my roommate Ryouko stops by.

>For some reason, the mystery person who exorcised Ryouko
>was able to see me.

>To think someone without a contract would be able to see a demon.
>If, by chance, it happens to be an exorcist, I'll have to exterminate them...

>That's what I thought, but it turns out I was way off.
>E-Eep...
>I'm not suspicious or anything. I just want Ryouko-chan to feel better...

p2
>What are you? Ryouko's stalker?
>No! I'm Ryouko-chan's friend!

>Don't lie! That girl has no friends!
>H-How cruel!

>When I thought she was calling someone, it turned out to be a talking AI app.
>...True, I probably don't have the right to call myself Ryouko-chan's friends.
>We haven't been in touch in close to 20 years...

>That much is normal. I have friends I haven't gotten in touch with in a few centuries.
>Please don't put me on the same scale as a demon...

>But still, you must be pretty powerful to be able to see me.

>It's my first time seeing a demon, but...

>I could tell from a first glance.
>You're clearly different from the souls around here...
>You seem to be of a high class.
>!

>...Want an autograph?
>Eh!? No. I wouldn't be able to brag about it either way.

p3
>Why are you sneakily exorcising your friend in the first place?
>Uuh1

>So Ryouko doesn't have any friends after all?
>You're wrong! We were friends... up until elementary school, that is...

>I just happened to spot her in town just recently.
>Time for your check-up, Hitsuji-san!
>Hitsuji... No way... Ryouko-chan...?

>She was so possessed that I acted without even calling to her...
>Yaaah!
>You stuck your hands in, huh?

>Having someone you haven't met in decades shriek at you would definitely creep you out, right?
>Well, it would make you sound crazy.

>I ran out of there before she could find me out,

>and then followed her
>to her workplace.

>I learned that she always comes here during lunch.
>I just wanted to see her, so I came here every day...
>and ended up exorcising her.
>So you really are a stalker.

p4
>Actually, that girl won't be coming here anymore.
>Eh...?

>No way... Why would you say that?
>Did you do something to Ryouko-chan...?

>She has a bentou that I made her.

>Wah... Fried chicken tenders.
>Didn't she say frying stuff in the morning was a pain?
>She's so kind...

>Rare to see you with a bentou, Hitsuji-san!
>Wah~ Amazing! Did you make that yourself?

>Ah, my roommate made this...
>Ooh, not bad!
>Could it be your lover?
>Ah...

>Adele-san's just with me cos of our contract, so she's not really my anything...
>It's a really intricate bentou... This person must really care about you, Hitsuji-san.

>Y-You think so?
>Yeah~ I know so.

p5
>Achoo!
>All that awaits humans who make contracts with demons is destruction...

>I don't imagine that Ryouko-chan would willingly summon a demon.

>You...
>Why are you with Ryouko-chan?

>It was a matching app.
>Th-There's no way that's true!

>What about you?
>You're clearly not close if you haven't spoken in years,

>so why are you so obsessed with her?

>You said you were friends up until elementary school, right?
>I've got time to kill, so why don't you tell me all about it?

>It's been boring ever since I finished watching all that series I had recorded.
>D-Don't treat people's past memories like a drama series!
>You demon!

p6
>I had a sixth sense ever since I was little, so I couldn't pass the time like everyone else...
>Don't think you can go to school today either? ...Alright. Mama's heading out, okay...?

>I don't wanna go to school... I'm scared of all the ghosts...
>Kotaka-chan! I've brought over your printouts!

>Ryouko-chan lived nearby, so she was made to run errands for me.
>Kotaka-chan~
>I felt sorry for her, but at the same time, I felt happy.

>Wait a minute. That's Ryouko?
>She was a cheerful girl.
>So cheerful that not even a single soul could approach her...

>Ry-Ryouko-chan. Shall we play again?
>Let's play!

>Your mom's never around, huh?
>Yeah. She goes to meetings for my sake.
>But that's fine. If Mama was here, I'm sure she'd...
>Kotaka~? Is somebody here?

>No way! She's back already!
>I'm sorry, Ryouko-chan! You need to get out of here right now!
>Kotaka-chan, this is the second floor.

p7
>Ryouko-chan!!

>Stop it, Mama!
>That's no good, Kotaka!
>We need to remove any outside impurities!
>>Salt

>Stop it! Just stop it!
>~~~~~~~~
>I'm fine, Kotaka-chan.
>I taste salty.

>That's enough!
>...I'm sorry. Go home... and don't come here anymore...

>It's because I'm so weak that my mother was so overprotective and did something so cruel to Kotaka-chan.
>I couldn't bear to face her anymore.

>Ever since then, I've left that earthly life
>and trained hard to become someone who wouldn't fear ghosts.

>And just when I gained the power of exorcism, we reunited. It felt like destiny.
>Just look at these abs.
>And thus, a majestic stalker was born...

>My mother opened her eyes after seeing how strong I had become.
>You're no longer the Kotaka that I needed to protect anymore...
>I must've been crazy.
>Starting today, you've reach enlightenment.
>Still seems crazy to me.

p8
>Huh? Adele-san and...
>Ry-Ryouko-chan!? I'm... Amano Kotaka! Your classmate from elementary school...
>Eh? Ah! Kotaka-chan!?

>What are you doing here? Was the bentou not enough?
>Nah. I got stiff shoulders again, so I decided to hit the power spot...

>We can finally talk again...

>Are you perhaps the goddess of fortune...!?
>You already know that I'm a demon.

>Alright, I'm going home.
>Ryouko-chan, a moment...

>Why are you with a demon?

>She seems nice, but she's still a demon.
>Did you get wrapped up in something unpleasant...?

>We met on a matching app.
>That part was true!?