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Chapter 176 - Exodia 176: Absence from school

"You already know me and Arisu."

Arisu waved.

She then pointed at Mashiro, who was smiling beside her. I'm surprised that she listened to my advice.

It's kind of weird seeing her without her fox ears though. It was the same when I first met Kuroha too. Speaking of which, I wonder how these two would get along.

"This is Mashiro Yuki. She seems to—"

"It's been long, Shoya!"

Mashiro cheered like a little girl. She really does remind me of Kuroha. I wonder, what're foxes afraid of?

"It has, Mashiro."

I replied with a smile.

"So you do know each other! Confess, Shoya-nii, how do you know so many girls? Are you secretly cheating behind Anastasia and Akane's backs?"

"N-no, I'm not. It's not my fault I meet girls by coincidence."

"It is."

"And this gloomy girl here..."

Kei said, turning to the purple-haired girl, silently sipping tea.

"Who're you calling gloomy?!"

The girl snapped at Kei.

"You, of course! Sitting two seats away from us while sipping tea! Just because you're a noble, don't think of yourself as superior. Now, get closer!"

Kei pulled the girl's dress to move her closer.

So that girl is a noble. She seems like a good match for Kei. They might just end up being the best of friends.

I smiled while thinking.

"Introduce yourself!"

Kei shouted at her.

"Hah?! But didn't you say that you would do it?!"

Yes, I can see their everlasting friendship transcend love itself. I'm glad that Kei found a friend like this.

"Because you decided to be lonely. You'll do it now."

Kei crossed her arms and turned away from the girl. The noble girl conceded and sighed while staring at me with a troubled expression.

"I'm Alicia Kou Sabre Reishville."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Shoya Sa—"

Eh?

That's why she has purple hair. She's Anastasia's sister. I didn't think she had any younger siblings because of what she said her older brother did.

Anastasia resents her older brother for killing her mother and little brother.

She still has a little sister though.

"If you're wondering, she's Anastasia's younger sister."

"Then—"

Alicia put her finger up to stop me.

Suddenly, words formed in my mind.

‹Not here. After let's meet up in the nearest karaoke place and we'll talk there.›

Telepathy? No, this is a spell. Must be a spell of a specific affinity.

I nodded.

"Shoya-nii?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I already forgot what I was going to say."

"You're so silly, Shoya."

Vienna chuckled.

"Haha..."

I may be able to find out what happened to Anastasia now.

"Anyway, Shoya-nii, what's with that eyepatch?! Are you turning chunnibyou?! Is that it?!"

"No, this is because..."

After I deal with my sister, who seems to have gotten way more expressive after entering Altheria.

·———·

We were hanging out for around an hour before we went out separate ways. Vienna wanted to hang out more but I told her I had something to do, so, instead, we exchanged LINE.

I went to the karaoke box. As soon as I entered, I was greeted by Alicia.

"You're here."

"Of course."

"Let's get a room."

We paid for a room for the next hour with service included.

I ordered a cola and Alicia ordered sparkling water. We didn't begin talking until our drinks arrived.

"Before we talk about the main subject, I'm curious about your telepathy. What is it?"

Alicia winced slightly.

"I wouldn't tell you if you weren't better than him."

Him?

"Telepathy is a special spell that can be learned through reading and understanding certain runes. Unfortunately, it's only one-way, unless the recipient can also use telepathy."

I always wondered why we learnt Ancient Runes but I guess it can help us acquire special spells also. Anyway, if so, why haven't we been taught that yet?

"Ahem, anyway, I'm guessing you want to know about—"

"Anastasia."

"Thought so."

Alicia smiled before taking a sip of her sparkling water.

"I'm happy that my sister has someone like you."

"Is it because of her father and stepmother?"

"Yeah. Only the servants and other relatives treat her well."

I furrowed my brow.

"Do you not?"

"I'm the daughter of the woman that helped Elder Brother to kill Sister's mother and little brother. Of course, she hates me."

But that doesn't add up.

"You didn't have anything to do with it, did you?"

The purple-haired girl shook her head and smiled.

"I'm so used to Sister hating me that I'm used to taking the blame as if I sinned."

I wanted to say something to her but I couldn't. Saying something like 'it'll get better with time,' would only be an insult. Especially since I don't understand how much she's hurting on the inside.

"Ali—"

With a BANG, Alicia slammed the table with her palm. I inched backwards slightly. Did I make her mad?

She then lifted her hand. A photo was under it. A photo of a young man.

He looked to be in his late teens or early twenties. His hair was blonde while his eyes were sensual and verdant.

"Who's this? Some sort of celebrity?"

I asked her.

Alicia scoffed a little.

"That's a nice way of describing him, but, sadly, you're wrong. He's a noble. A big one in England."

At this point, I feel like all English people just naturally look good. Everyone I've met from England is either beautiful, cute, cool or handsome.

"What's his name?"

"Alexander Darius King. He's the second son of the King family—"

Alicia sounded like she cut off her sentence. She worked up the courage to say,

"—and Anastasia's fiancée."

He's what I have to compete with. This is impossible! Wait, but if she chose me to be her boyfriend, then, technically, she thinks I'm better than him.

But... is dating someone else really what you should be doing when you have a fiancée, especially one like him.

"Hey, stop daydreaming."

"Ah, sorry. So, I know that he's Anastasia's fiancée but you didn't show me him just so that I can feel bad about myself, right?"

"Actually, I did."

"What?!"

"I jest. The reason I'm showing him to you is because he's linked with Sister's absence from school."

I glared at the photo.

This guy...

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