What Should I Do About My Childhood Friend Being Such a Chuunibyou?

Ling Wu has a secret that's not much of a secret: his childhood friend, Tan Zhen, is a chuunibyou.

Ling Wu and Tan Zhen grew up together. As children, Ling Wu would sit on the doorstep eating the buns his grandmother made and watch Tan Zhen, the neighbor's kid, get covered in mud after stealing fabric from his own grandmother to make a Demon Lord's cape. Then Tan Zhen's grandmother would grab a whip and chase him around.

When their parents brought them home in middle school, they were lucky enough to become classmates and desk mates. On the first day, Ling Wu was secretly eating youtiao and drinking soy milk when Tan Zhen, his new desk mate, climbed onto his desk during the opening-day introductions, pointed at him, and loudly declared, "Everyone, look this way! I have an announcement! This is the most loyal chief retainer of the Great Demon Flame Emperor: the Lord of Mist!"

Ling Wu: "..."

In high school, Ling Wu wanted to keep his distance from Tan Zhen, but they ended up in the same class and became desk mates again.

This time, Ling Wu was eating a sandwich during the opening-day introductions. He'd barely taken a bite when he sensed trouble. Sure enough, the person beside him suddenly raised his hand, stood with one foot on his chair, covered his face with one hand, and laughed maniacally. "I am the Great Demon Flame Emperor! This is the chief retainer who has followed me for years, the Lord of Mist! Heh heh, ha ha ha ha ha! Together, we shall cloak the world in darkness and avenge its betrayal... We shall take control of this world once more!"

Ling Wu, so socially mortified he had gone numb: "..."

Ling Wu has another secret. For no reason at all, he seems to have fallen for this little chuunibyou.

*

Many, many years later, Ling Wu holds up the novel Tan Zhen wrote in middle school and crosses his legs. Looking at Tan Zhen, who is dieting for work, he reads aloud: "The Great Demon Flame Emperor Tan Zhen sneered as he unleashed flames capable of consuming all things. The entire world would..."

Tan Zhen, who's been a wage slave for years, covers his face, blushing with embarrassment. "QAQ Stop reading! Stop reading!"

A gong who always seems to be eating X a shameless chuunibyou shou

Theme: Study hard