Is It Really That Kind of Relationship?

"At our Armed Detective High School, there is a system where upperclassmen train under lowerclassmen one-on-one, which is generally called the Combat Disciple system."

"Simply put, it is a master-disciple relationship established with the consent of both parties. Such relationships are common in our Armed Detective High School. Boys are called 'battle brothers' and girls are called 'battle sisters'. There are also terms like 'Combat Older Brother/Younger Sister siblings' and 'Combat Older Brother/Younger Sister'. All of them are collectively called ' Combat Disciple '."

"You are all second-year students now. If any first-year students want to form a Combat Disciple relationship with you, you should really consider it."

"This is not a troublesome system. Although as your elder brothers and sisters, you have the obligation to guide your Combat Younger Brother and Combat Younger Sister, at the same time, whether in normal times or during work hours, your Combat Younger Brother and Combat Younger Sister have the obligation to obey your elder brothers and sisters' orders and serve you."

"Therefore, if any juniors wish to form a Combat Disciple with you, please consider it carefully. However, as seniors, you must treat your juniors with strictness and clearly establish the superior-subordinate relationship. This is necessary for the smooth conduct of searches or combat operations. The relationship between the person giving orders and the person following orders must be very clear, and we cannot allow any situation where the subordinates defy their superiors."

"In view of this, in our Armed Detective High School, the status of seniors and juniors is different. I believe that you all did some chores when you were freshmen, which is proof of that."

"If anyone here already has Combat Younger Brother or Combat Younger Sister, then don't be shy, you can dump any chores on them."

On the stage of Class 2-A, the teacher in charge of the lecture had been talking about this system, which seemed extremely feudal to ordinary people, since the very beginning.

That matter-of-fact look on his face could make any lower-grade student cry.

However, the students present were all armed detectives who had been promoted from the first year. Just as the teacher said, they had done a lot of chores in the first year. Now that it was finally their turn to give orders as superiors, they listened with great interest and were very happy.

However, Fang Li seemed somewhat inattentive throughout, not paying attention to the lesson at all, and frequently glancing at the seat next to him.

That seat is Riko's seat.

However, today, this seat is empty.

For Riko, being late is nothing unusual.

This fun-loving girl often arrived late or even missed classes in various ways because of staying up all night playing games or sleeping in.

Therefore, this scene was nothing unusual for the students in the class.

Moreover, it is not unusual for armed detectives to take long leave due to missions that require extended periods of time.

Even Fang Li, when he was in first grade, took several long leave of absences due to some difficult commissioned tasks, each lasting one or two months, which is not surprising at all.

Perhaps Riko received some kind of commission and asked for leave from class; who knows?

However, even though it was a perfectly normal thing, Fang Li still cared a lot about it.

no way.

Yesterday after school, Riko's words really stuck with Fang Li.

"Disappeared or something..."

Judging from Riko's personality, she was probably joking, right?

Fang Li had always told himself this.

But I've been concerned about it since this morning.

"It's already the fourth period..."

The fifth period onwards consists of specialized courses.

In other words, if Riko doesn't come back after this class, it will be considered that she has missed a regular class.

"I wonder if I'll be able to come during my major courses..."

Fang Li thought about these things absentmindedly.

Unbeknownst to Fang Li, on the other side of him, Aria was biting the nib of a pen, looking at Fang Li's nonchalant demeanor with a thoughtful expression.

As time passed, the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class.

The students of the Armed Detective High School began to emerge from their classrooms and head to their respective department buildings.

"Fang Li," Aria said to Fang Li was packing his schoolbag. "Are you going to the Assault Department training today?"

"Wait a minute." Fang Li nodded, then looked at a corner at the back and said to Kinji Touyama, who was about to leave the classroom, "Kinji, you should be going to your Detective Department course, right?"

"Although I don't want to take these armed detective classes, I won't be able to advance to the next level if I don't get enough credits, and I don't want to do any missions, so I guess I'll just have to go to class." Kinji Touyama replied listlessly, "What? Do you have any work you want to take me with you? If it's the kind of work that involves dying, then please don't ask me for it."

"Don't worry, I don't want you to die in the line of duty." Fang Li crossed his arms and said to Kinji Touyama, "I just want to ask you to give me a call if Riko has a Detective Department class later."

"Riko?" Kinji Touyama scratched his head and said, "Well, if it's something like that, then it's fine."

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"Knew."

After saying that, Kinji Touyama picked up his backpack and walked out of the classroom.

"Alright, Aria." Fang Li then stood up and said to Aria, "Let's go."

However, Aria's reply was delayed.

Fang Li looked over with some confusion, and then saw Aria staring intently at him with a pair of crimson eyes.

Before Fang Li could ask a question, Aria spoke up, seemingly puzzled.

"You seem to have a good relationship with Riko. You've been concerned about her whereabouts since this morning."

"...You have excellent observation skills in this area too," Fang Li sighed. "But is that so strange?"

"Well... it's not that it's strange..." Aria said somewhat hesitantly, "It's just that as your partner, I feel there are some things you shouldn't hide from me, like... for example, your relationship with Riko, is it really... that kind of relationship?"

Seeing that Aria's face turned red as she spoke, Fang Li found it amusing.

Why ask when you're clearly not good at this kind of topic?

Just as Fang Li couldn't resist teasing this proud and aloof girl, his Fang Li pocket.

So, Fang Li took out his phone and turned on the standby screen.

The next moment, Fang Li's eyes narrowed slightly.