Observing Aria's flustered demeanor, Zhang Fan was completely convinced that she had let her imagination run wild, albeit quite ridiculously. However, given Aria's tsundere nature, her restraint from bursting out in embarrassment was somewhat relieving.
"Really?" Aria seemed to find a glimmer of hope in Zhang Fan's agreement, as if she had stumbled upon a delightful surprise.
"Indeed, but it's only a temporary arrangement. If anything unpleasant happens during the trial period, I reserve the right to dissolve our team," Zhang Fan stated, feeling the need to establish his dominance in this partnership to avoid being perpetually on the back foot.
"I understand. I will definitely prove my worth to you!" Aria's eyes shone with determination. Gaining Zhang Fan's assistance was a stroke of fortune. Initially confident, she now found herself unusually elated by the mere prospect of a temporary alliance with Zhang Fan. This peculiar feeling left her both confused and unable to pinpoint its source.
"Pleasure to collaborate," Zhang Fan smiled slightly, amused by Aria's naivety and her evident confusion. Teasing the little loli could be entertaining, though technically, Aria was past the age of a loli.
"Xiao Ya!" Having reached a provisional agreement, it was time to attend the school assembly, where the opening ceremony was about to start. Welcoming the freshmen was part of his duties as a senior. It had been a while since he last saw Sayana, and he expected her to cling to him more now that she was in her first year.
As soon as Zhang Fan and Aria arrived at the school auditorium, he noticed Riko waiting anxiously for him. Her worried look suggested something was amiss.
"What's wrong, Riko? You seem troubled," Zhang Fan quickly approached her with concern.
"Xiao Ya, you and..." Riko began, her expression growing more solemn upon seeing Aria.
"We've temporarily teamed up," Zhang Fan started to explain, but Riko interrupted him.
"Teamed up?" Riko exclaimed, as if the news was a significant blow to her.
"Riko, what's bothering you?" Zhang Fan asked, noticing her unusual demeanor.
"It's nothing, just a bit unexpected. I'm not feeling well today. Could you please inform Mr. Takatane Yutori that I'll be taking the day off?" Riko shook her head and swiftly left the auditorium. Her pale face and hurried departure left Zhang Fan feeling uneasy. Something was definitely off. He decided it would be best to talk to her about it.
"Aria, you go ahead to the ceremony. I need to find Riko," he instructed Aria before hurrying off in the direction Riko had taken. However, Riko was quick, and by the time he reached the back of the auditorium, she was gone.
"Looking for something?" a cool voice asked. Turning around, Zhang Fan was surprised to find Lei Ji, the sniper. It was unusual for her to attend such a collective event.
"Oh, it's Lei Ji. Have you seen Riko?" Over the past year, Zhang Fan and Lei Ji had completed numerous missions together, becoming quite familiar with each other. However, their relationship hadn't progressed much beyond professional acquaintances.
"I saw her," Lei Ji said, pointing in a certain direction.
"Thank you!" Zhang Fan quickly headed to the indicated location: a bus stop. But by the time he arrived, Riko was nowhere to be seen. Had she already left? Doubting the frequency of buses at that hour, he looked around in vain before deciding to postpone their talk until the next day.
Returning to the auditorium, the opening ceremony was only half over. He rejoined the audience, his thoughts drifting to his friends whom he missed dearly. He was interrupted by a cheerful voice.
"Master!" It was Sayana, waving enthusiastically from the freshmen's line, eager to catch his attention. Zhang Fan smiled warmly, knowing that he had to complete his mission before returning to a quieter life. He waved back, inadvertently drawing the jealous glares of his male classmates.
"You hooked up with another cute junior? You're going to be a playboy!" one classmate accused.
"Damn it, you'll definitely become a scoundrel!" another one added.
"Isn't Zhang Fan with Riko? And now he's close with Aria, and another new girl is about to fall prey to him!" a female classmate commented, fueling the gossip.
Sighing, Zhang Fan endured their curious looks until the ceremony ended. Eager to escape, he was the first to leave the auditorium, followed by Aria, who seemed determined not to leave his side. She was resolved to prove her worth to him, hoping to eventually save her mother by capturing the Martial Detective Assassin together.