It seemed... a little strange.
As his gaze swept around, the teasing look Hada Ichiba had worn while toying with Hada Ryuhiko slowly faded, eventually turning serious. His brows even furrowed slightly.
As if he had seen something he did not want to see, yet something plainly laid before him.
"What is it, Brother Ichiba?"
At that moment, Hada Anna, who had been absentmindedly looking around and had completely lost interest in the conflict between Hada Ichiba and Hada Ryuhiko, asked this.
"Hmph! It's probably just another one of his tricks to fool us!"
Hada Ryuhiko was quite displeased, and naturally, his tone was far from pleasant, full of malicious speculation.
However, considering Hada Ichiba's various past behaviors, Hada Ryuhiko understood him rather well. Whenever this guy put on a serious expression like that, it basically meant no good could come of it.
Either he was plotting against someone.
Or someone was plotting against him.
Or someone was currently plotting against him.
Still, although his tone was dissatisfied, Hada Ryuhiko did not say anything more. After moving a little closer to Hada Anna, he snorted, turned his head away, and refused to look at Hada Ichiba.
He still seemed quite unwilling to have anything to do with Hada Ichiba.
Meanwhile, sensing Hada Ryuhiko move closer, Hada Anna simply grinned foolishly in delight.
Nothing? There really wasn't anyone?
At that moment, Hada Ichiba paid no attention to Hada Ryuhiko and Hada Anna's words. He merely continued inspecting the surroundings over and over until everyone began exchanging uneasy looks. Only then did he stop this searching—or rather, scrutinizing—and a rather startled thought crossed his mind.
Was my judgment wrong?
I thought I would definitely run into them here.
Then, after that surprised thought, another thought—both helpless and baffled—flashed through Hada Ichiba's mind.