Volume 2: Aya Ichijo, Mitsuki Shiina Arc
Chapter 16: The Cherry Blossom-Colored Transfer Student
"Lily Kamisaka. Nice to meet you."
A soft voice resonated in the morning homeroom, causing the classroom to stir.
(She really walked in so confidently... Wait, where did this Kamisaka come from?)
Lily introduced herself as if it were the most natural thing and briskly walked to her assigned seat. She sat down without caring about the curious glances from those around her and briefly smiled at Akane.
(She's definitely enjoying this situation... Is Lily really a second-year student? Being a succubus, her age is ambiguous...)
As the class started, Akane thought about talking to her during break, but each time, classmates crowded around Lily, bombarding her with questions, leaving no opportunity for Akane to approach.
(Well, that makes sense... With that hair color and foreign-sounding name, anyone would be curious...)
The sight of classmates surrounding Lily was like a blooming cherry tree. Akane spent the break watching this scene with Aya and Mitsuki.
---
"I'm Mitsuki Shiina. Nice to meet you!"
"I'm Aya Ichijo. Nice to meet you."
After school, Akane finally managed to introduce her friends to the now-free Lily. Though she didn't really want to introduce them, there was no avoiding it.
"I'm Lily Kamisaka. Nice to meet you, Shiina-san, Ichijo-san."
"You don't need to be so formal. Since you're Akane's roommate, it's like you're our roommate too. Just call me Mitsuki, Lily."
"That's right. Please call me Aya as well, Lily-san."
"Thank you. Since your last name is Ichijo, could it be that..."
"Yes, the chairwoman is Aya's mother. Amazing, right?"
"My mother is my mother, and I am me."
"I see. Mitsuki, Aya, nice to meet you."
Lily bowed politely. Akane watched with a bitter feeling as the three started to get along.
(Ah, it's turning out like this after all... I wanted them to keep some distance from Lily... she's totally putting on an act...)
When Lily glanced at Akane with a wicked smile, Akane felt a pang of helplessness about the possible trouble that might befall her friends and her inability to stop it.
"Oh, things are going to get more fun from now on. Hey, Akane, why don't you let Lily help you redecorate that plain room?"
"Haha... yeah, maybe..."
Unable to say that the room was already overly fancy, Akane gave a vague response to Mitsuki's suggestion.
"What clubs are you two in?"
"I'm in the track and field club, and Aya is in the tea ceremony club. Aya is amazing, she's the club president."
"Mitsuki is more amazing. She almost made it to the national competition in the spring."
"You two are incredible. I respect that."
As they continued talking about clubs, Kurumi joined them.
"Nice to meet you, Kamisaka-san. I'm Kurumi Sakura. Feel free to call me Kurumi. Looking forward to being classmates."
"Nice to meet you, Kurumi. Please call me Lily."
(Kurumi doesn't seem to notice... but this isn't the time to be relieved.)
Seeing the casual greetings between the exorcist and the succubus, Akane felt conflicted.
"As the class representative, I should show Lily around the school, but I have student council work to do. Could I ask you, Akane, to take care of it?"
"No problem, Kurumi. I'll show Lily around."
Kurumi seemed to be asking about showing Lily around the school.
"Kurumi is always busy with both class representative and student council duties."
"If you think that, Mitsuki, you're always welcome to help."
"Oh, it's time for club activities. See you later."
With her usual quick escape, Mitsuki hurried off.
"I'll be off to my club too. Akane, Lily, see you later tonight. Good luck with your work, Kurumi."
With that, Aya also headed to her club.
"Akane, wouldn't having a normal student as a roommate make exorcist duties difficult?"
Kurumi whispered in Akane's ear.
"If you like, since I'm alone, Lily could move into my room, and you and I could room together."
"Hmm... I appreciate the thought, but it's already decided, and it would be unfair to leave the transfer student alone."
Had Lily been just a regular transfer student, Akane might have considered it, but being a succubus, that was not an option.
"Right... sorry, forget I said anything. I'll be off, so take care of Lily."
Kurumi quickly left, leaving Akane and Lily behind.
"Kurumi... she's nice. Unlike someone, she has a nice figure and seems fun to tease."
"... Sorry about that. Let's start the tour."
With Lily showing her true colors as soon as they were alone, Akane began the school tour.
"Hehe... this is going to be fun♪"