*Next Day*
*Outside Shuchiin Academy*
I was standing outside this prestigious academy with Yamai and Agari. Yamai had a bag with everything we needed for our meeting with Saitou. We were waiting for our guide.
A few minutes later, we saw a small group of people approaching. It was a middle-aged man accompanied by Kaguya, her maid Ai, and a cute girl with pink hair. When they approached, the man introduced himself respectfully.
Man: "Welcome to Shuchiin Academy, young master. I am the academy director, my name is Ayato Fujibayashi." After finishing his words, he bowed respectfully.
Tadano: "Oh, you know my identity?" I asked curiously.
Ayato: "Of course… Our academy may have important ties with the Shinomiya family… but our strongest tie is with the Otori family, of which you are the son-in-law… Once again, thank you for your visit." He said in a very formal tone.
Ignoring the man, I looked at Kaguya and her maid Ai. They didn't look very different from when I saw them a few days ago.
Kaguya: "You're Tadano-san, right?" she asked in her characteristic icy tone.
I smiled upon hearing her.
Tadano: "That's right, Kaguya-san~" I said, giving her a smile.
She remained unperturbed and continued.
Kaguya: "Please maintain courtesies and address me appropriately. I don't think we have any prior relationship, nor do I believe I've given you enough familiarity to call me by my name." She said sternly.
I smiled, seeing ICE in all her glory.
Tadano: "I see, then my apologies, Shinomiya-san… As an apology, here you go." I said, and with a wave of my hand, a small cupcake materialized in my hand. It had cute puppy-themed decorations.
As I placed the cupcake in the hands of a stunned Kaguya, I looked at the little blonde beauty beside her. I nodded, seeing how much she resembled her mother. With another wave of my hand, a jar of bath salts materialized in my hand.
Hayasaka, having already seen my previous action, wasn't as surprised. She took the salts and examined them. When she saw the label, her eyes widened, and she looked at me with a sparkle in her eyes.
I ignored her and moved to the last person of interest.
Tadano: "And you are?" I asked.
Chika: "My name is Chika Fujiwara. Nice to meet you~" she said, extending her hand with a cheerful smile on her face.
Her energetic and lively personality took me a bit by surprise. When I shook her hand, she giggled and said,
Chika: "If you don't mind, would you like to play some games with me? I'm good at games, you know? Plus, I'm a member of the game creation club and have many games you could choose from… come on, come on!" she said, grabbing my hand and trying to pull me away to go with her somewhere.
Agari and Yamai raised an eyebrow and then shook their heads. Yamai then looked at Agari with satisfaction and extended her hand. Agari sighed in defeat and, with tears in her eyes, handed over her free ramen coupons from some famous restaurant chains. Yamai's eyes sparkled as she saw them and quickly stored them away. Agari grumbled in annoyance as she watched the coupons disappear, muttering under her breath about how beastly her master was.
Before I was pulled too far away, Kaguya and Hayasaka stopped us.
Kaguya: "Stop! Fujiwara-san, what do you think you're doing with our guest?" she asked her friend angrily.
Chika: "Eh? Nothing? I just want to play with him…" she said, somewhat bewildered by being stopped.
Kaguya was incredulous at her friend's audacity. She was dragging a man away; did she not realize how daring and lewd it looked? What would others think? Kaguya wondered. She would not allow her friend to behave this way. She quickly pulled her aside, intending to scold her and teach her the proper etiquette for dealing with members of the opposite sex.
While I watched Kaguya pull Chika aside, I saw Hayasaka next to me, looking at me with bright eyes.
Tadano: "What do you need?"
Hayasaka: "Where did you buy these?"
Tadano: "Oh? Interested?"
Hayasaka nodded.
Tadano: "And if I don't want to tell you?" I teased.
Hayasaka gripped my clothes tighter and made a pitiful, cute expression.
Hayasaka: "Please… Hitohito-kun…" she said in a sad and pleading tone.
I shivered for a moment.
Shinomiya: "She's good…"
Tomoya: "Damn it, she looks like Mei," he said, shivering.
Realizing this, I saw Nagisa with puffed cheeks looking at him.
Nagisa: "Moooh~ Tomoya-kun, you're staring too much," she said, pulling Tomoya aside.
Ignoring the idiots in my head, I looked at Hayasaka, who was still acting.
Tadano: "Alright, I'll give you the address…" I said, defeated.
Hayasaka smiled happily and let go of me. I took out my phone, and Hayasaka responded by taking out her own phone. After a quick infrared exchange, I sent her a message with the address.
Hayasaka glanced at it quickly and then asked, puzzled.
Hayasaka: "This is a bathhouse… wasn't it a store?" she asked, confused.
Tadano: "It's a bathhouse… but they sell good things that might interest you. Right, miss bath lover?"
Hearing my words, she looked at me, surprised.
Hayasaka: "You… how do you know that?"
Tadano: "I know many things, little Ai~"
For the first time, I saw her serious and expressionless face break, which gave me a feeling of superiority…
Before she could say anything else, I spoke.
Tadano: "How are you getting along with your parents lately? You're spending more time with them, right?"
Her eyes widened even more, and in a tone of disbelief, she spoke.
Hayasaka: "Do you…"
Tadano: "Yes, if you mean that they now spend more time with you, then yes… I mean, what kind of parents would stay away from their daughter for so long? With some help and a few words, they agreed to spend more time with you." I said, moving closer to her.
Hayasaka: "I… um… well, I should…"
She tried to speak, but I interrupted her.
Tadano: "And about Oko, you don't need to worry about it anymore. I've resolved that matter, and you no longer have to spy for him. You don't need to blame yourself for betraying your mistress… or should I say your dear sister?" I said, patting her shoulder.
Her eyes widened to their maximum, and a storm of turbulent emotions enveloped her. But above all, the one that triumphed was relief. She no longer had to keep betraying Kaguya. She didn't need to cause her more harm. She could now protect her wholeheartedly.
Hayasaka looked at the young man walking away. A few tears ran down her cheeks. But they weren't out of sadness. They were out of relief and joy. For the first time, she felt that a boy could be so reliable. Seeing the broad back of that young man, in her cold and dry heart, a small flame seemed to spark once more. A slight blush appeared on her white cheeks.
*With Kaguya*
Kaguya was scolding her friend about the appropriate behaviors of a lady.
Kaguya: "… Fujiwara-san, you should think more about your actions…"
Fujiwara: "Come on… it's not that big of a deal… Besides, I just thought it would be nice to spend some time with a cute boy like him…" she said, playing with her fingers.
Kaguya: "Cute? Are you serious?" she asked, incredulous at her friend's behavior.
Fujiwara: "Moooh~ Kaguya-san, you don't have to be like that… he really is a cute boy, you know? Besides, I'm at the age where I'd like a boyfriend too…" she said, pouting a bit.
Kaguya: "… You… How… how bold! You're so daring, Fujiwara-san!" said a stuttering Kaguya.
This seemed to strike a sensitive nerve in Fujiwara, and she stood up, annoyed.
Fujiwara: "Why only me! You were also looking at him a lot… you can't deny it because I saw you checking him out from top to bottom," she said with puffed cheeks, pointing accusingly at Kaguya.
Kaguya: "I never…" I tried to speak until I was interrupted by another voice.
Tadano: "Excuse me. But if it's not too much trouble, could you please tell me where your music teacher is?" said the young man who had started all this trouble.
Chika: "Sure! Let me guide you~" said the pink-haired girl, grabbing the young man's hand and dragging him inside the building.
Kaguya stood in shock for a moment but quickly followed them. Not far behind her were Hayasaka, Yamai, and Agari
. The director had apologized and returned to his office to deal with important matters.
Once in the academy's hallways, Fujiwara looked from side to side…
Then asked.
Chika: "What were we looking for?"
Tadano: "…"
After letting out a sigh of helplessness, I directed my gaze to the group of girls quickly approaching. Looking at Kaguya, the young man asked.
Tadano: "So, where should we look for him…" he asked.
Kaguya: "We should be able to find him on the second floor in the third music room. If my memory serves me right, he should be teaching class 3-C," she said, somewhat embarrassed for not having been able to fulfill her duty as a proper guide, though also a bit angry for being left behind.
Tadano: "Then let's go…"
Author's Note: "Well, here's today's chapter. Sorry for the delay; the author is having a busy weekend and the workload has increased, leaving no time to update. That said, remember to drink plenty of water and know that I love you very much. Sincerely, your favorite depressive author."
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