Chapter 2

The Witch Queen Who Loved a Boy from Another World 

Chapter 2: The Witch Queen and the Bento Box

Haruto Akiyama had always considered himself an expert at avoiding attention.

He mastered the art of blending into the background, scored average grades on purpose, and perfected a face that said “Please don’t talk to me.” And for seventeen quiet years, his method worked.

Until she showed up.

Celestia Moonveil, the newly transferred student, self-proclaimed Witch Queen of Eldoria, sat beside him as if she'd ruled that desk for centuries. Her every move shimmered with elegance, mystery… and the promise of disaster.

At first, Haruto thought she was delusional. But then she turned a crumpled worksheet into a living paper crane. And it winked at him before flying out the window.

Now, Haruto had no idea what to think.

---

The first half of the day dragged like a spell gone wrong.

“Multiply both sides by x,” the teacher explained, tapping the board.

Celestia tilted her head. “She seeks to capture this ‘x’ with multiplication? Fascinating.”

Haruto lowered his head onto his textbook. “Please stop talking.”

“I only seek to understand your mortal incantations.”

“It’s algebra. Not incantations.”

Celestia looked genuinely disappointed. “Then why does the board hum faintly when she writes?”

Haruto looked. It didn’t hum.

Or… had he just never noticed?

He rubbed his temples. Maybe he was going insane.

---

When lunch break finally came, Haruto escaped to the school rooftop—the one place he could usually count on for silence. The spring wind brushed gently against his face, and for a moment, he allowed himself to relax.

Until the door creaked open.

He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“I have brought an offering,” said Celestia, her voice proud. “As is the custom of Earth maidens pursuing affection.”

He turned. In her hands was a golden-trimmed lunchbox that seemed to glow.

“I thought you didn’t even know what a convenience store was yesterday.”

“I didn’t,” she admitted. “So I summoned my royal kitchen staff from the other side using a minor spatial ripple. Nothing excessive. The lunch should be intact.”

“You ripped space… for lunch?”

“For you,” she corrected.

Haruto stared.

She opened the box with a swirl of sparkles that vanished as soon as they appeared.

Inside were star-shaped rice balls that glittered faintly, egg rolls shaped like crescent moons, and soft blue jelly that wobbled like it had a soul. One of the carrots blinked before it turned into steam.

“…Is this safe?” Haruto asked.

Celestia nodded confidently. “Tested on three palace advisors. Two survived. One turned into a flower but seemed happy.”

“…Comforting.”

But curiosity—and hunger—got the better of him. He picked up a rice ball and took a cautious bite.

It was… amazing. Sweet with a hint of citrus, soft but warm. He blinked.

“This is good,” he muttered.

Celestia smiled so wide, the sun seemed to reflect in her eyes. “Then… does your heart now flutter?”

Haruto snorted. “No. My stomach flutters. That’s different.”

She leaned in closer, eyes shining. “I’ll make your heart flutter next time.”

“Please don’t.”

---

They ate in silence for a while. Or rather—Haruto ate. Celestia sipped something purple from a floating teacup and stared at the sky like she was listening to secrets the clouds told only her.

“Can I ask something?” he finally said.

She looked at him curiously.

“Why me? You keep saying ‘destined’ and ‘chosen,’ but I’m just… some guy. I’m not special.”

Celestia blinked, then set her cup down.

“In my world,” she said softly, “the Moon Mirror only reveals one person in a generation—the one who can change the fate of a queen’s heart. The moment I saw you, I knew.”

Haruto flushed. “That sounds way too romantic for me.”

“Romance is powerful magic,” she replied. “Stronger than war. Stronger than time.”

He looked away, unsure how to respond.

“You’re serious about this,” he finally said.

“Completely.”

“But I’m not a prince. Or a knight. I don’t have powers. I can’t even cook rice properly.”

Celestia chuckled. “That’s why I came. Not to make you magical… but to be beside you as you are.”

It wasn’t the answer he expected. Or one he could dismiss.

Before he could say anything else, a chill brushed over the rooftop like a cloud passed through them.

Celestia stiffened.

Haruto noticed her eyes narrow, her hand subtly touching the gem around her neck.

“What’s wrong?”

“Something crossed the veil,” she said, standing slowly. “Something not meant to be here.”

---

Elsewhere…

A shadow loomed in a dim alley not far from the school.

A swirling vortex of dark smoke formed, spitting sparks as a figure stepped through. Robed in black and crimson, with glowing red eyes and silver hair flowing like mist, the man smirked.

“So this is the world Celestia chose?” he muttered. “How quaint.”

He raised one hand. Shadows crept along the brick walls like vines searching for prey.

“Let the games begin.”

---

Back on the rooftop…

Haruto and Celestia returned to class without incident. But the air felt off.

Even Yuki noticed.

“Hey, did the lights flicker earlier? Or was I just hungry?”

Haruto didn’t answer. He kept glancing sideways at Celestia, who was still smiling but… tense. Like a soldier at a royal banquet.

---

Later, after school…

“Haruto,” she said, walking beside him as they exited the gates, “if something strange happens—something unnatural—you must promise to stay behind me.”

He frowned. “Why?”

“Because,” she said, holding up a glowing crystal pendant, “you may be normal. But someone has already noticed you.”

Haruto blinked.

“…What does that mean?”

“It means,” she whispered, “your quiet life may be over.”

---

To Be Continued...

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