Chapter 41: Karin's Being Targeted?

Is someone stalking Karin at school ?

### Transition Milestones

Minami states the they will protect Karin as Maho Curry, the anime girl, instead of them as Minami, the childhood friend that is a perceived male.

### Relationship Evolution

Minami becomes closer to Karin when they affirm that they will protect Karin from a stalker, or anything that is troubling her.

### Skills Learned

The skills of having a new friendship with Yui is put to the acid test as Yui has to decide how to help Karin, even if it means that she has to reveal a family secret.

### Lessons Learned

Karin learns once again that she can trust her friends, even the newest friend, Yui !

KARIN'S BEING TARGETED ?

CHAPTER 41 OF THE MANGA

## Previously

The new member of the Maho Shoujo Club, Yui, certainly is making an impression on the other members of the club. Yui has found her place in the club, even though she is not going to become a maho shoujo girl. Yui requested and was given the position of manager of the club. One of the first things that she did as manager was to make a Chewtter account for the club. She also was the subject of quite the scene and commotion when the Maniacal 'Girl" unexpectedly visited the club one afternoon. The Maniacal 'Girl' did not quite know what to think of Yui, eventually declaring that Yui was not a combatant, and therefore not worth 'her' time. But there is more to know about Yui. She comes from a very wealthy family, and therefore can be expected to have perks and privileges that most ordinary people only dream of.

## Chapter Overview

Yui Furumi has a dream one recent night. She dreams about Maho Curry as a Knight Protecting a Princess, possibly herself. The next day at school, Karin reveals to male Minami that she feels as if she has been followed at school. A stalker ? Minami pledges their protection and cooperation to find out if this is really true. In the clubroom that afternoon, Yui is there alone, and acting strangely weird. But she seems to come to her senses when Minami and Karin enter the room. Yui makes the offer for Minami and herself to begin calling each other by their first names. This Minami agrees to, this being the beginning of a more intimate relationship between the two. Karin talks about her bad feelings about being observed and followed, but so far only at school. Yui clears up the suppositions by saying the one who has been following Karin is her personal maid and guardian, Ren Shutou. Ren is called for by Yui, and Ren steps out into the open, from hiding elsewhere in the clubroom. Introductions are made all around. When it is brought to Ren's attention that her actions have been making Karin very distressed, Ren fervently apologizes. However, Ren gives Minami a look of 'death before dishonor', catching Minami completely off guard !

## This Chapter's Story

During the night, of the day that the Maniacal 'Girl' visited, Yui Furumi is in her royal, princess-like bedroom, fast asleep. She is dreaming. She dreams of the scene that she witnessed earlier in the day in the clubroom. In her dream, the Maniacal 'Girl' is boldly objecting to Maho Curry's actions, threatening her not to get in the way of the Dark Lord (in reality, it was Karii Maki that confronted the Dark Lord) ! Then the Dark Lord is asking if she, Maho Curry, is a Knight protecting a Princess (Princess Yui?) ? Yui now begins to awaken, but is still in the shadowlands, the nebulous state halfway between dreaming and being awake. She ponders on the implication of who Karii Maki, as Maho Curry, actually is ? A Female Knight sworn to protect her, the Princess ? The more she thinks about it the more her heartbeat begins to beat like a tom-tom drum.

The next day at school, male Minami and Karin are walking together in the hallway. Minami asks if it is true that Karin feels as if she is being watched ? Is true ! For a few days now, Karin feels a strange presence, as if someone is staring at her from behind. A stalker ? Karin doesn't know yet, however, it has only been happening at school, nowhere else. Minami states that this could turn out to be a huge problem. Then the bold proclamation is offered to Karin that Minami will 'have her back', and to let them know whenever she feels threatened. Karin breaks into a sweet smile as she softly utters their name---Minami. But Karin feels that 'whoever' is watching the both of them right now ! In a flash, Minami scoots around the corner, but nobody is there, not at all ! Karin says that she looked around, too, but maybe this was just her imagination. Minami suggests that because they are stronger and faster as Maho Curry, maybe they both should go to the clubroom so that a transformation to Maho Curry can occur.

In the clubroom is Yui, sitting by herself, lost in thought and spacey as 'all get out' ! Minami enters the clubroom, and nonchalantly comments that Class 8 ( Yui's class ) must have gotten out early. Yui looks around to see Minami, but her heart jumps into her throat, as she recalls the somewhat romantic dream she had about Minami / Maho Curry. She kept thinking about Minami off and on all through the night, and never did get back to any meaningful sleep. Minami asks Yui if she is all by herself ? She is, since Chiyoko is still in class. Yui then romantically mentions that Minami can begin calling her by her first name. This is reciprocated by Minami saying that Yui can call them by their first name, too (\*)! Karin comes in the clubroom just in time to catch that the two of them are going to have a first name basis. She is glad that the two of them are getting along so well.

In a while, Karin asks Minami if they are really going to go out on the school grounds as Maho Curry, something that is not encouraged by the President of the club ? Minami, with a stern look on their face, says yeah, we need to work this out and get to the bottom of the matter. Yui then questions Karin, asking if something is causing her trouble ? Karin answers in the affirmative. She feels that someone is always watching her at school. With a look of sillyness on her face, Yui matter-of-factly states that the 'someone in question' is probably her personal maid and guardian ! Her personal maid has looked after her ever since she was a little girl. However, she can be somewhat overprotective, and as such, now follows her to school every day. But since her maid is not allowed on campus, she enters anyway and is in stealth mode all the time she is here. Minami is jolted by the reality that rich people can have an exclusive personal maid at their pleasure all of the time !

Yui offers to introduce her personal maid to everyone, and yells, **" Ren ! "** " You called? ", as a somewhat plain looking young woman probably in her late 20's, dressed in a maid's dress and wearing a long white apron, steps out into the open in the clubroom, from hiding around a corner. Karin is shocked almost out of her skin. Minami is visibly jolted for a second time. The maid formally bows to Karin, and thanks her for her friendship with Yui. She then introduces herself as Ren Shutou. Karin asks Ren if she was the one watching her all this time ? Yes ! Now glaring at Karin as if looking at a rabid dog, Ren states that when she found out that Karin and Yui had formed the bonds of friendship, Karin then had to be observed and investigated to make sure she was worthy of Yui's time and attention. With her face now softened a bit, Ren says that if there are no issues that come up, Karin will be treated favorably. Yui 'blows off' Ren, saying that Ren is always in this kind of mood.

"An observation, huh?", comments Karin. Yes! Minami next drops a social atomic bomb by accusingly remarking that the reason that Yui could not make friends was because of Ren's watchdog attitude, all along. Both Yui and Ren give Minami 'dagger looks that could kill" ! Minami doesn't flinch or move an inch. Minami further comments that apparently no one has been able to get close to Yui ever since Yui was a little girl, and that must have been very unpleasant for a long time ! Ren states that she has been doing that for now on close to 10 years. Karin offers the thought that being watched by someone all the time, as Yui has endured, must be just awful ! Yui confesses the she sorta knew that was the real reason that she lost so many would-be friends over the years. Now it is Ren to be shocked and jolted, as her mouth drops open in horror.

Quivering all over, and her mood abruptly changing to that of remorse, Ren shouts to Yui and everyone---

" MY DEEPEST, SINCEREST APOLOGIES ! I NEVER THOUGHT ....... IT WOULD BE ME WHO WOULD BE THE REASON THAT YOU COULD NEVER MAKE LASTING FRIENDS !!!!!!! "

Bursting into tears, Ren bows, as Yui confronts her, and holding her hands, also begins wailing. A profound Yuri moment is exchanged between the two girls. Another though dawns on Yui, as she realizes that the maid must have also caused discomfort to Karin lately. And for this Yui apologizes profoundly to Karin. Being diplomatic, Karin acknowledges that she has been feeling anxious lately, but seeing the two of you care for each other so much, makes the bad feelings just fade away. Tearful Yui calls Karin's name. But Karin is confronting Ren, telling her not to be watching her from now on. Ren only states that she will be discreet. Karin says a second time not to be watching her, period ! Yui makes the off-handed comment that she has become interested in Minami, too. Ren then fixes a glare towards Minami that is a 'look of death before dishonor' promise. Minami fires back to leave themselves out of this whole mess !

## Chapter Lookback and Commentary

Minami never let on to anyone, but he was scared that someone potentualy would be following himself, too.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

(\*) **Calling each other by their first names-**-- Using first names with your friend for an increased romantic interest---

Of course there are times (especially in anime) when they overdo it.

Many instances of this romantic trope in Japanese works may also
fall under First-Name Basis. In Japanese culture, it is customary to use
 family names plus an honorific (usually "san", sometimes "senpai" for
one's elders, "kun" for underlings, "dono" or "sama" for works set in
older times, etc.) when addressing someone else, even directly (they
rarely use the pronoun for "you" in formal settings, although they do
have a few for informal situations). Children, especially girls, will
often use first names with friends, although adults will usually only do
 this if they've been friends since childhood or are otherwise intimate,
 romantic friends. Teenagers will many times begin using first names as a precursor to a Love Confession, or after a Love Confession to 'seal the deal'. But when a couple has moved ahead in their
relationship, they will often switch to using first names as well. In
media, the first time a character calls their romantic interest by their
 first name (whether out of affection or a desire to become intimate),
the scene often ends up being an example of this custom.

Manga Fan's Commentary
Vũ Thanh / 6 weeks ago / 3 likes
An overprotective maid that is preventing her mistress from having a friend!? Interesting!

Devi Chan / 6 weeks ago
That will do! As long as you [Yui] forget about her [Karii Maki] being [perceived as] a guy [Minami]!

WPA / 1 month ago
This is why stealth is key.

Jedic / 2 months ago
Character Development and [now] a maid to spy on the Kaiserk [the Dark Lord]! Nice.

Tidel / 2 months ago
She [Yui] just had to say that when he [Minami] wasn't in his magical girl form. That will definitely trigger that servant's protection alarms.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

(Click on Chapter 42: A Chewt to be taken to the next chapter.)

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_