After all, congenital heart disease is indeed a serious problem for most people.
But for Ryuji, who had mastered the reverse cursed technique and Idle Transfiguration, it would be nothing more than a simple gesture.
Ryuji didn't mention any of this.
Whether or not to help Arisu with her treatment was simply a matter of choice for him.
For now, Arisu's condition was stable enough.
There was no need to rush into things; he would deal with it when she sought him out herself.
"Are we just leaving like this?"
Masumi, who had already exited the club, looked at Arisu walking ahead with a hint of confusion.
She knew that the entire purpose of coming here was for Ryuji.
But now, they were leaving without even getting his contact information. Wasn't that a failure?
"Patience is key!"
In response to Masumi's question, Arisu smiled.
She didn't see this first meeting as a failure at all.
"When dealing with someone as powerful as him, you need to tread carefully. One wrong word and you could ruin everything!"
"What a hassle."
Masumi wasn't as strategic as Arisu.
To her, it just seemed unnecessarily complicated.
If you want to be friends with someone, why not just say it directly?
Forget it, since this was Arisu's plan, Masumi wouldn't argue.
"Oh, by the way!"
Arisu seemed to remember something and stopped, turning to look at Masumi beside her.
"That million I just handed over, have you thought about when you're going to pay me back?"
Arisu said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"???"
Masumi's family wasn't poor, but they definitely weren't rich enough to throw around a million yen casually.
"Me?"
Masumi had assumed Arisu was footing the bill; why was she suddenly being asked to pay it back?
"That money was used to solve your problem, so of course, you're the one who should cover it!"
Arisu said, tapping her cane on the ground as though emphasizing a simple fact.
The best part was,
Masumi found herself at a loss for words. The logic made sense!
"Alright, I'll pay it back!"
Masumi wasn't the type to dodge her responsibilities. It was just disheartening. She hadn't even started working, and she already owed a million yen. Life suddenly felt bleak.
"Don't worry! Just work under me, and I won't treat you unfairly."
Arisu's intention wasn't to actually make Masumi pay back the money.
Due to her heart condition, there were many things Arisu could strategize but not execute herself.
So, she relied on Masumi.
Thinking about it, Arisu felt more confident that transferring Masumi to her school had been the right choice.
Who could be better suited for this than her trusty assistant?
"Tch."
Masumi clicked her tongue but said nothing more.
She had a bit of a prideful streak.
Even if she had already resolved to stay by Arisu's side, her expression remained one of slight annoyance.
"So, what's next? Should we just focus on our studies at Sobu High?"
Compared to other schools, Sobu High academic environment wasn't overly intense.
There was plenty of downtime.
"Don't worry, I already have a plan."
Arisu's smile hinted at the beginnings of a strategy involving Ryuji.
"Alright!"
Since Arisu said so, what else could Masumi do?
With a shrug, she obediently followed Arisu's lead.
Soon, night fell.
At that moment, inside the Shinomiya mansion,
Kaguya was clutching her phone, an anxious look on her face.
"Hayasaka!"
"Yes, ma'am?"
Ai, dressed in her maid uniform, turned around at Kaguya's call with a puzzled expression.
Even though the Hayasaka family had regained some status due to Ai's newfound abilities as a sorcerer, she chose to stay with Kaguya.
Not because she particularly enjoyed being a maid, but because she couldn't bear to leave Kaguya.
"Tell me, is my phone broken?"
Kaguya looked at Ai with a face full of despair, holding up her phone.
"???"
Ai was baffled.
She took the phone, examined it for a moment, and handed it back to Kaguya.
"There's nothing wrong with this phone."
"Then why hasn't Ryuji sent me any messages? His phone must be broken!"
She sounded so sure of herself.
"…"
Ai remained silent. Was it possible that Ryuji simply hadn't sent a message at all?
But looking at Kaguya's hopeful eyes, Hayasaka couldn't bring herself to say it. She opted for a more tactful answer.
"Maybe there's some technical issue with your phone!"
"Yes, that must be it!"
Kaguya's expression brightened.
"I knew something had to be wrong with the phone. Let's get a new one!"
"…"
Forget it.
With the Shinomiya family's wealth, buying a new phone was nothing.
Not one, a thousand or even ten thousand phones would be no issue at all.
"Hayasaka, when do you think Ryuji will send me a message?"
Kaguya asked expectantly as she fiddled with her newly acquired phone.
Ai didn't know what to say for a moment.
You're putting me on the spot here!
"As for Ryuji-San, he's probably just busy. As the strongest sorcerer, he must have countless responsibilities every day!"
Thinking of Ryuji, Ai couldn't help but recall what happened in the car that day.
Her face grew a little warm.
***
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