Val x Love (戦×恋)

Someone once said:

"Love is...

the source of a maiden's power."

B-boyfriend?!

I-I might not be ready for that yet...

What's a high school girl supposed to do if she doesn't fall in love?

Love is the source of a maiden's power, you know?

Natsuki-chan really is great.

Her doll-like loveliness, and her pure heart that indiscriminately interacts with everyone...

She's an angel!

I heard she even has a fan club for her at another school.

It's obvious that Natsuki-chan is going to win the beauty contest at this year's school festival, right?

Well, I dunno about that.

I'm definitely more of an Itsuyo type of guy.

She got inaugurated as student council president even though she just got admitted to the school!

She's beautiful! And so charismatic!

There's not a single man who hasn't fallen for her!

I want her to tie me up!

If you wanna talk about popular, Mutsumi-chan in class C is tops!

She's the latest up-and-coming idol!

Just once, I want to try to talk with her, even though she rarely comes to school!

Hey, you guys are in the same class as Natsuki-chan, so support her!

Mutsumi-chan!

Itsuyo-san!

Ugh.

Still popular as always, aren't you?

How confident are you that you'll win?

I have no interest in that beauty contest.

Or rather, I don't really like drawing attention to-

Well, of course you don't.

Between the two of you, you'd get the booby prize in the chest department!

H-hey! Don't touch me in such a weird place!

Chill out! It's not like they'll get smaller.

M-my nose is bleeding... Chill out! It's not like they'll get smaller.

M-my nose is bleeding...

A-an akuma!

I-I mean, it's Takuma Akutsu-kun.

Wh-what's wrong?

S-Sorry.

We were too rowdy and loud, weren't we?

So...u-um...

I don't really mind.

Please forgive me!

Yamada fell out of the window!

How many is that today?

There's an ambulance on standby outside of the main gate.

Huh? There's an ambulance on standby outside of the main gate.

Keep it down!

Don't just stand there yammerin' away to...

An akuma?!

I mean, Akutsu, have you done it again?

I see! That was my misunderstanding, huh?

Well then, I'll be heading back!

That was scary. I thought he was gonna get killed!

That Akuma guy's just having a free for all today.

You think he's the culprit of those serial "akuma" incidents?

The serial "akuma" incidents...

The stuff they've been covering on the news lately?

Some guy wearing a demon mask attacked pedestrians!

I can believe he'd do it.

I heard that even though he lives alone, you can hear a lot of voices coming from his house!

Freaky!

Natsuki, you keep your distance from that guy, too...

Natsuki, is something wrong?

No, it's nothing.

He's so creepy.

It's Akuma.

What's that book he's reading?

He should just hurry up and disappear.

Hey, he can hear you.

But it's all his fault...

What might all this commotion be?

Student Council President, it's that guy.

It looks like Akuma is causing problems again.

It's the Student Council President! It looks like Akuma is causing problems again.

It's the Student Council President!

She's so cool! Since the school festival is coming up,

Since the school festival is coming up,

I thought it'd be awful if we had even more problems come up now.

You mustn't do that, Matsumura-san.

Huh?

This is something that can only be corrected by the student council at that time.

The student council must not be the chain by which the students are tied down.

For the sake of the students and the academy, let's all do our best...

Vice President Matsumura.

Lovely... the Student Council President is just so lovely!

I'm definitely voting for her in the beauty contest!

Besides, I don't think that person is an akuma.

He looks more like a cowardly child.

Scary... Is that an akuma?

He's looking over here!

Let's go so we don't get involved in those incidents.

I'm not an akuma at all, though.

This "Akuma" is Takuma Akutsu, 16, who was once a normal boy.

True, however...

Hey c'mon, let's play dodge ball!

Uh... With you, Akutsu-kun?

Sorry, I'm kinda scared to.

Due to his intimidating air, everyone has been scared of him since early childhood.

Everyone that approached him was like that.

Why the hell you lookin' at us like that?!

You tryin' to pick a fight, fool?!

As a result, he stopped directly interacting with others and developed a phobia of humans.

Just like earlier when I stood up a little, they'd get surprised and fall of the window.

And even when I want to deny it, I'm so petrified I can't say anything.

I'm sick of this.

Today's guest is the currently insanely popular Mutsumi-chan!

You've been so busy lately you don't even have time to hang out with friends, right?

That isn't true!

Our high school campus festival is coming up soon,

and I've been really looking forward to it!

I promised my friends that I'd walk around with them there.

About the culture festival, Mutsumi-chan, will you be in charge of any of the events there?

I don't need any friends.

I sincerely believe that.

As long as I have that one thing, I'm okay.

What I need is...

my studies!

I got this correct.

This is correct, too.

What do we do?

Like I would know...

And these, too.

We should go to the police!

But he's just sitting there.

Correct!

Akuma!

Jeez, they almost gave me a heart attack with all the sudden shouting.

Hello, is this the police?!

There's an Akuma engrossed in reading his book of spells!

I want to study by myself.

Nothing good comes from interacting with other people.

This house that my parents left to me is the only place I can be alone.

Or so I thought...

T...Takuma-kun?

Oh my, welcome home.

Disgraceful!

Ugh, just how many times do you jerks have to

do these disgraceful things before you're satisfied?!

You pervert!

I-I-I'm leaving now!

Oh my, Takuma-san, let's talk a little more.

S-Student Council President?!

I don't like how stiff that sounds.

Will you call me "Itsuyo"?

And don't make that face, either.

Hey!

Wh-what're you doing?! Get away from her!

Aren't you going to get dressed first, Itsuyo?!

It doesn't matter what I'm going to do, does it?

Well, it is inevitable that someone like you with such a depressing chest would be jealous, though.

The size of my chest has nothing to do with this!

And I'm not jealous of you at all!

Oh? Do you want me to tie you up?

Now's my chance!

Ah, no!

I can't do it today! I get so sweaty after a live show!

Oh, Natsuki, you still wear childish ones like that?

I'm so sorry, you two!

How many times must you do these disgraceful things before you're satisfied?

I-I'm sorry!

Oh, it's Takumatchi! Welcome home!

Welcome back.

What's up with him?

I don't know.

Right now, this house...

is being controlled by nine women!

They're like demons on an all-out rage fest that just showed up out of nowhere.

I was completely enjoying my carefully-crafted life alone,

but now I can't even concentrate on studying.

Since it's come to this, I'm gonna call the police!

Are you saying you want us to leave?

Yo!

Since you allowed us to so brazenly occupy your home,

if this is what you have decided, we will obey.

We will.

However, what would our dear father say, were we to return home empty handed as we are?

We are!

You don't have to leave.

Hooray!

Really? Thank goodness.

By the way, why aren't they all afraid of being around me?

Big Bro Takuma, let's play! Big Bro Takuma? By the way, why aren't they all afraid of being around me?

This is too scary!

Concerning the frequent demon incidents,

the police are having a hard time with their investigation.

They have yet to obtain any clues on the matter.

Pass the soy sauce! They have yet to obtain any clues on the matter.

Pass the soy sauce!

Here you go!

Mutsumi, what about work today?

I'm off.

My, that's rare.

More, please!

Takuma-chan, you haven't even touched your chopsticks.

Oh, uh...

I'm afraid of people!

I don't want to associate with other people!

I just want to study by myself!

The entrance exams are next year, you know!