During the lunch break, Ryuji suddenly sneezed as he got up.
"Do you have a cold?" Yumiko, who was nearby, looked at him with concern.
"No, probably just someone talking about me behind my back!" With Ryuji's current level of power, it was impossible for him to catch a cold. The only explanation was that someone, somewhere, was mentioning him. But who could it be? He shrugged it off. Plenty of people talked about him, and there was no point in trying to figure out who it was. Even if he did, what would be the point?
Ryuji didn't dwell on it and instead motioned for Yumiko and the others to follow him out of the classroom.
"Come on, let's head to the Service Club!"
Ever since he'd started coming back to school, Ryuji spent most of his lunch breaks and afternoons after class in the Service Club room, unless he had other obligations. Staying in the classroom too long would inevitably lead to being mobbed by curious students, all eager to get a glimpse of the school's renowned sorcerer.
"Ryuji! Ryuji!"
Usually, things were quiet in the Service Club, but today was an exception. Saki burst into the room, eyes wide with excitement as she looked at Ryuji.
"I've got a lead!"
"???"
Ryuji raised an eyebrow, and the other girls exchanged curious glances. It took them a moment to piece together what Saki meant.
Then it clicked for Ryuji. "So, you've found someone being haunted by a cursed spirit?"
Ryuji had previously told Saki that if she came across anyone dealing with a cursed spirit and looking for help, she could bring them to him. He'd handle it, though any rewards would be split, with Ryuji taking the lion's share.
The other girls quickly understood what was happening but couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"Aren't you a sorcerer now, too?" Yui asked, raising an eyebrow.
Saki looked sheepish, scratching her head. "Well, yeah, but… I don't really know what I'm doing yet!"
She had the ability but not the experience or knowledge needed to handle cases involving curses.
"You should bring them in first," Ryuji said, waving his hand dismissively. "We need to see what the issue is."
"Right!"
Saki grinned, glad Ryuji wasn't annoyed, and darted back out to get the people in question. The potential payment was good, even if she only got a small share. It would be enough to help her manage daily expenses, which was more than she could ask for.
It didn't take long for her to return, and this time she brought two girls with her.
They were strikingly beautiful, and their presence made Ryuji pause for a moment. Not because of their looks, but because they seemed familiar.
The silver-haired girl with a cane was none other than Arisu, the clever and cunning student leader from another prestigious school. Despite her frail appearance, she was known for her sharp mind and was even nicknamed the "Little Tyrant." The other girl, with waist-length hair and a guarded expression, was Masumi, Arisu's loyal but somewhat reluctant follower.
Ryuji's mind raced as he considered the sudden arrival of these two. What were they doing here at Sobu High? They must have just transferred in; otherwise, he'd have heard something by now. With Arisu's looks and capabilities, she wouldn't have stayed under the radar.
"Good afternoon, everyone," Arisu said, her voice calm and steady as she offered a graceful nod. Despite the many eyes on her, she showed no signs of nervousness. She was well-practiced in public decorum.
Masumi, on the other hand, had her eyes locked on Ryuji, a mixture of wariness and disbelief in her gaze. It was obvious she'd come here because of him, and she still couldn't understand why Arisu would drag her along.
They were in Class A at their previous school, with a path to secure futures if they graduated successfully. Why did they suddenly transfer, and why because of him? Just because he was a powerful sorcerer?
Masumi's background wasn't particularly affluent, so her perspective was different from Arisu's. She couldn't wrap her head around it.
Ryuji noticed Masumi's intense gaze and smirked slightly. It was hard not to notice someone staring so openly. The other girls in the room noticed it too, eyebrows furrowing.
"Masumi," Arisu called out smoothly, maintaining her polite smile.
"What?" Masumi snapped out of her daze and looked at Arisu, confused.
"Your staring is rather rude."
"…"
Masumi wanted to protest, but knowing they weren't alone, she kept her mouth shut.
"I apologize for any discomfort, Mr. Ryuji," Arisu said, the corners of her lips turning up as she addressed him directly.
"It's nothing," Ryuji replied, waving it off.
The sudden appearance of Arisu and Masumi had caught him off guard, but only momentarily. "You transferred here recently, didn't you? Was it your father's idea?" Ryuji asked, not bothering to hide his knowledge of who she was.
"Yes," Arisu admitted readily. She wasn't surprised by Ryuji's awareness and saw no point in hiding it. A person of his reputation wouldn't be easy to deceive, and any attempt to do so might earn his disfavor.
"My father thought it would be beneficial for me to befriend you. But I'm sure that's not surprising; plenty of people would have the same idea," she continued.
Ryuji didn't respond. It was true, after all. Arisu's father might not be a major player, but he was influential enough, being the head of a well-known academy.
"However, if it had only been my father's wish, I wouldn't have agreed. I came here because I, too, am interested in you," Arisu said, her eyes sparkling with determination.
The other girls in the Service Club exchanged glances. They could see Arisu's intention clear as day: she was here for Ryuji.
Were they annoyed? Not really. They knew that with Ryuji's current standing, many more girls would try to get close to him. Instead of being possessive, they realized that improving themselves would be a better strategy.
Arisu noticed their reactions and felt a touch of surprise. She had done her research and knew these girls were close to Ryuji. Yet, even after she made her intentions clear, they didn't seem fazed. It was different from what she'd expected. They were confident, unfazed by her arrival, as if they didn't see her as a threat at all.
That only made Arisu more determined. The harder the challenge, the more she wanted to conquer it.
"Wait a minute!" Saki interjected, frowning. "So, you didn't come here because of a curse spirit issue?"
Great. She thought she'd brought in a legitimate case, only to find out she might have been used as a pawn to introduce these two to Ryuji.
Saki's expression turned stormy at the thought.
"No, that's not it," Arisu said, shaking her head slightly. "We did experience something strange, but I'm not sure if it's a curse."
Saki's glare softened. As long as she wasn't just being used, it was fine. The last thing she wanted was to look like an idiot.
"Well, Ryuji is here. Tell him what's going on," Yukino said, curious along with the other girls. Even those who had seen Ryuji handle curses before were always intrigued by the process.
"It's not my problem, actually," Arisu clarified, gesturing to Masumi. "It's hers."
Masumi's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, you never told me I was supposed to act like someone targeted by a curse spirit. What does that even look like?"
Masumi had assumed that Arisu had used her as an excuse to get Ryuji's attention, but now…
Saki's eyes narrowed. Was this a waste of time after all?
"Relax, Masumi." Arisu still had that calm smile. She pulled out her phone and held it up.
"Do you really think I'd do something that would leave such a bad impression?" Arisu asked softly.
"…"
Masumi stayed silent. She knew Arisu well enough to know that while she could be manipulative, she always kept things within certain boundaries. Even if people figured out her schemes, they didn't hold it against her in the end. If Arisu said it was serious, maybe it was.
"But I haven't noticed anything weird!" Masumi said, frustration creeping into her voice.
"You just don't realize it," Arisu said. "Haven't you noticed gaining weight these past few days?"
Masumi's eyes twitched. What kind of explanation was that? Weight gain? Seriously?
The other girls exchanged puzzled looks.
Saki was about to say something when Arisu played a video on her phone.
"Everyone, take a look at this."
It was surveillance footage from Arisu's apartment. Because of their recent transfer, Arisu had arranged for them both to stay at a high-end place. The camera showed Masumi, in her pajamas, slowly walking into the living room.
"Hey! Why do you have this?!" Masumi's face turned red. The weather was mild, so her pajamas were light. It was one thing in front of the girls, but with Ryuji there, it was mortifying.
"Calm down, Masumi."
Arisu shot her an exasperated look. "This is from last night's surveillance. Are you sure you went to the living room last night?"
"???"
Masumi stared at the footage, confused. "Last night? I went to bed early and didn't wake up at all. How could that be me in the video?"
If that was her, why didn't she remember any of it?
Arisu's smile widened slightly. "That's why I said this might be related to a cursed spirit. Doesn't it intrigue you?"
"..."
Intrigue? How could she find this intriguing? A chill ran down Masumi's spine as she watched her figure move in the footage. The idea that she could have been controlled or possessed by something unseen was terrifying.
Looking at Arisu's calm expression, Masumi felt a creeping sense of dread. Am I really being haunted by something?
***
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