8:08 p.m., Taimadou Academy Dormitory, Akane and Rin's dorm room
"By the way, Sis, Mihiro, and I started going out."
"I see… Wait what?"
They both were in the middle of eating dinner while mindlessly chatting about the events that had transpired today. Akane was talking about the four of them going out to a mall together. Hearing this surprise confession, Akane stopped chewing her food midway, frozen. Rin noticed this and prompted her to finish what was left in her mouth before asking him the details.
"Did you guys do it before I came back?"
It was not surprising that Akane somehow maintained her calm, as she was the older one of the two. Without saying it aloud, however, she was slightly blushing as she asked this question.
"Sis, you do realize that if I did it, I wouldn't say it straightforwardly, right? I have some tact."
"Right…"
Akane understood what Rin was saying. She questioned herself why she had even asked in the first place. She was acting her age as well; oblivious to relationships. Akane, being the heir to their clan, was equipped with knowledge regarding this, but knowledge and first-hand experience were not the same things.
"So, did you actually do it?"
"Sis…"
Akane, rightfully acting her age despite being the older one, was madly insistent on knowing.
"No, we didn't. If you count the time, it's impossible."
"I mean, if you guys did it right after getting back, it is reasonably possible…"
"Sis…"
"Sorry."
She had thought too far regarding this.
"So, what did you guys talk about then?"
As if just recalling this, Akane instantly changed the topic. Rin explained to her the events that had transpired, Mihiro being a spy and all, but did not include the part where he had cornered her and whatnot.
"I see, so Father was the one who sent her."
Akane seemed to piece the puzzle together as well.
"I don't see the problem currently, anyways, and I am interested in her, so it's two spells for the cost of one*."
(*: Rin's version of killing two birds with one stone, referencing the magic system. Meaning that doing something that will enable you to achieve two things that you want to achieve, rather than just one.)
"I see. I'll say that I didn't expect you to get a girlfriend."
"What a rude older sister. I am a young boy, you know. I am interested in things like this."
Akane chuckled in response, Rin was quite the jokester.
"Good luck, brother."
"Thanks, sis."
Akane wanted Rin to be happy foremost; that was her goal after all. Deep inside, though, she felt bad for someone else; someone close to them both.