At noon, Rei Ao found Shizuka Hiratsuka.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I'm here to request leave."
"???"
Behind her desk, Shizuka Hiratsuka raised an incredulous eyebrow.
"You're requesting leave again? Do you even remember how many times you've taken leave in the past two weeks?"
"Hiratsuka-sensei, you know I'm not like other people."
"..."
Shizuka was speechless.
"Is there really so much going on in the 'other world'?"
Rei Ao shook his head. "While the state of the world does make disturbances more likely, like Tomoya Aki's death, this time I'm just visiting a friend."
"Huh?"
She had assumed he was off to deal with some extraordinary issue.
But what she just heard didn't sound like it at all.
And—
"Did you just mention Tomoya Aki?"
Shizuka felt as if she were brushing up against something deeply unsettling.
"Wasn't his death an accident?"
Her voice lowered, and a glint of curiosity sparked in her eyes. It felt impossible to let this mystery lie unsolved.
"He was killed by a demon."
"Tsk!"
Hearing the truth about Tomoya Aki's death, Shizuka couldn't hide her shock.
"If that's true, the world's far more dangerous than I thought!"
Rei Ao wasn't trying to frighten her. He simply wanted to give her a reminder:
"So, Hiratsuka-sensei, avoid deserted places whenever you can. Trouble doesn't find those who don't go looking for it."
"I'm just a regular person—if you're saying this, do you think I'd dare wander around?"
Shizuka chuckled bitterly. "But if I ever did encounter something, I don't even know what I'd do."
No sooner had she said this than Rei Ao suddenly took a step forward.
In the blink of an eye, the distance between them shrank to barely the length of a fist.
Even more outrageous—his arm slipped boldly around her waist.
"If it happens, just contact me," Rei Ao declared earnestly. "I'm courting you now, Hiratsuka-sensei, so naturally, I'd come to your rescue."
"But don't mistake me for a pushover. I'm only in this for you."
"???"
Shizuka's body softened under his fiery gaze, but her reason kicked in. She shoved him away, her face a mix of fury and embarrassment.
"Don't you dare act so disrespectfully toward your teacher!"
"Besides, I'm not interested in little brats like you!"
As she spoke, her eyes instinctively flickered downward.
"..."
Tch. Why is that so... visible?
There was no way something like that belonged on a so-called "little brat"!
"Hiratsuka-sensei, what are you looking at?" Rei Ao asked with a sly grin.
"Ahem!"
Shizuka coughed loudly, trying to mask her embarrassment, and quickly changed the subject.
"Fine! Your leave is approved. Now get out, quickly!"
She was genuinely worried that if Rei Ao stayed a moment longer, her composure as a teacher would completely crumble.
"Thanks, Hiratsuka-sensei."
With a smile, Rei Ao didn't push her further. He turned and left without another word.
The office fell silent.
Only then did Shizuka realize how unusually she was acting.
Thump, thump, thump!
Her heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears, fast and irregular.
Her cheeks burned as heat flooded her face.
"Did... did he just get to me?"
Shizuka stared at the door in disbelief.
Had she really just been flustered by a kid?
"..."
No, Rei Ao wasn't exactly a kid.
Recalling the unreasonable proportions she'd just glimpsed, she clicked her tongue internally.
She had always thought the jokes about him juggling multiple women were exaggerations. Now, she wasn't so sure.
"Ugh, what am I even thinking? Get a grip, Shizuka Hiratsuka!"
Berating herself for her stray thoughts, Shizuka was convinced that if she let this go on, she'd end up doing something utterly indecent.
If she stooped to dating someone that much younger—
It wasn't just others who'd look down on her; she wouldn't be able to respect herself either!
She needed advice—and fast.
"Haruno Yukinoshita…"
Only one name came to mind.
After a moment of deliberation, she pulled out her phone.
…
Rei Ao's leave of absence had a purpose.
Stella had reminded him about the upcoming intra-school battle at Hagun Academy.
Initially, Rei Ao planned to directly have Kurono Shinguuji initiate a trade request. However, something unexpected caught his attention.
[Ding! Hijiri Kasuga has joined the chat group!]
[Ding! Shinoa Hiragi has joined the chat group!]
Two new members had joined the chat group.
The names felt slightly unfamiliar to Rei Ao—or at least, he couldn't immediately recall who they were. He decided to check their profiles.
[Name]: Shinoa Hiragi
[Level]: 10
[Abilities]: None
[Items]: "Cursed Gear: Shikama Dōjo," "Cursed Talisman," "Cursed Gear Stimulants"
"It's her?"
Seeing her abilities and items jogged Rei Ao's memory.
She was Shinoa Hiragi from Seraph of the End.
The other newcomer, however—
[Name]: Hijiri Kasuga
[Level]: 15
[Abilities]: "Magic"
[Items]: "Grimoire: Astil Manuscript"
"..."
This one left Rei Ao stumped for a moment.
"Magic... Grimoire..."
He mulled over the clues for a while before finally recalling an obscure title from his distant memories: Trinity Seven.
"The younger sister of the protagonist?"
(Note: Hijiri Kasuga's character and setting will be adjusted accordingly. If you know, you know.)
Rei Ao found the addition of these two to be a pleasant surprise.
Both worlds represented unique power systems—one steeped in vampire progenitors and "angels," the other revolving around demon lords and forbidden magical grimoire.
These worlds piqued his interest.
Of course, his curiosity wasn't just academic. He was also interested in the two new members themselves—both of whom were undoubtedly within his target range of beautiful girls.
In fact, Hijiri Kasuga's world, the Royal Biblia Academy, featured multiple striking female characters, each with distinct personalities, appearances, and charms.
Since they had joined, it was only natural for Rei Ao to greet them.
Rei Ao: "@Hijiri Kasuga, @Shinoa Hiragi, welcome to the chat group."
Megumi Kato: "They're probably not from our world, right?"
Rei Ao: "At least, I haven't come across them in this one."
He couldn't say for sure, though—given that both Tohru and Mabel were also from entirely different worlds yet had made their way here.
Saeko Busujima: "Welcome, new members."
Ayame Yomogawa: "Welcome."
Shinoa Hiragi: "???"
Shinoa Hiragi: "Another world? Are you serious?"