"Exactly."
Toudo Touka nodded, affirming Ikki's idea. As for Ikki...
He scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed. "Well, actually, White Night was the one who brought it up."
"Don't be embarrassed, Ikki."
At that moment, White Night passed by him at just the right time, submerging the vegetables in the basket into water to wash them. "Even without my reminder, you would've noticed it anyway, wouldn't you?"
"All right, leave the rest to me." (White Night)
"You should go rest first..." (Touka)
For a moment, it seemed they had thought of the same thing. White Night and Toudo Touka spoke one after the other.
In the end, the two worked together. Meanwhile, Ikki and Miyuki Sawarabi quietly moved away, since they weren't particularly good at it.
Um...
Ikki stood in the shade, watching Toudo Touka from afar. Countless thoughts seemed to churn within his pitch-black eyes.
Although she was merely cooking as usual, wearing glasses and even seeming a little clumsy, it was precisely this version of Toudo Touka...
—That felt incomparably dazzling!
"What is it, Kurogane?"
"...I don't know why, but I can't seem to take my eyes off her." Ikki looked at Toudo Touka as he said this.
Miyuki Sawarabi stepped forward and stood beside Ikki, looking at Touka as well. "Because Touka is just that kind of person."
"Whether it's Raikiri or Senrigan, they're only parts of what makes Touka who she is..."
Closing her eyes as memories of the past surfaced in her mind, Miyuki Sawarabi's tone became somewhat wistful. "Back at the Orphanage, how should I put it... the atmosphere was pretty terrible."
"One child there had nearly been 'killed' by his parents. He was extremely violent, and it felt like he was beyond saving."
"But Touka never gave up on him. No matter how many times she was hurt, she was still willing to care for that child. Thanks to her, he regained emotions like a normal human being."
Then Miyuki Sawarabi revealed a bright smile. "Touka once said this:"
—Before I came to the Orphanage, I received so many smiles and so much love from my parents. Even after they were gone, those memories continued to support me."
"So I want to give everyone memories that can make them smile and support them too."
In Miyuki Sawarabi's memories, Touka back then... her long golden hair drifted in the wind, and her gentle face radiated a maternal glow. She was incomparably beautiful!
After a brief pause, Miyuki Sawarabi continued, "And just as she said, Touka gave every child at the Orphanage courage."
"Through her actions, she told everyone that even if you didn't grow up in a happy environment, you could still become an outstanding person. She continued to shine on the stage under the name 'Raikiri.'"
At noon, everyone sat down to eat. Ikki chewed his food, but his gaze kept drifting toward Touka...
—Not for herself, but dedicating her strength to others. That is the source of Toudo's strength. Then... what is the source of my strength?
Ikki kept thinking about this on the way back. When everyone got off the bus, however, they were met with bad news.
"They're back."
Shizuku, Arisugawa, and the others had been waiting at the station. As soon as they saw Ikki get off the bus, they hurried over. Kusagabe Kagami held a newspaper in her hand.
"Stella, Kurogane-senpai!"
"What happened, everyone?"
"You two need to look at this." As she spoke, she unfolded the newspaper and showed them the article.
Crimson Princess, a Dangerous Game
The headline sounded eye-catching, but the content was... mostly fabricated nonsense, even outright slander. In short, it directed all blame toward Ikki!
Yet it happened to include a photograph. As lovers, they naturally had intimate moments, and the paparazzi had caught one on camera.
Layer Upon Layer of Schemes
"So, Ikki..."
White Night stared at the photo for a long time. Stroking his chin, he gradually looked at Ikki with an odd expression. "How did you two get caught by paparazzi?"
"One is an A-Rank, and the other is known as the 'Uncrowned Sword King.' What kind of person could possibly follow the two of you?"
Um...
Ikki had nothing to say. This really was his fault. Perhaps because they were at the academy, he had let his guard down a little.
"We should think about what to do first. The media is already in an uproar. Stella is a celebrity on the level of a state guest, after all~" Arisugawa reminded them.
"Mm..."
Stella held the newspaper as flames gradually appeared around her. The paper beneath her delicate fingers carbonized and began to burn bit by bit. "Th-this is complete nonsense!"
"That's just how paparazzi are." (White Night)
"Ikki, have you offended anyone?" Arisugawa, the undercover agent, was the one offering advice instead.
Just then, a black sedan stopped by the roadside, and an ugly bastard who seemed to have grown sideways stepped out.
"Who is that?"
Arisugawa bent down slightly and whispered into Shizuku's ear.
"Akaza Mamoru, my father's lackey."
"Kurogane Ikki."
Akaza finally spoke. His fat face was covered in flesh, and his smile was nauseating. "Regarding this incident, we have decided to hold an inquiry."
"Could you come with me, Kurogane Ikki... This is an official Ethics Committee meeting. Of course you'll attend, won't you?" Akaza emphasized as he pressed the question.
"Don't be ridiculous! Do you think we'll agree to such an unreasonable demand?"
Stella stood in front of Ikki. Her temper flared fiercely, but Ikki reached out and stopped her. "Ikki?"
"It's fine. I'll be back soon."
Ikki smiled at Stella and took a few steps forward. Seeing this, Akaza's scheme had succeeded, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
"This guy really looks like he needs a beating."
"...Who said that?!"
Akaza wiped the smile off his face and quickly swept his gaze around until he locked onto White Night. Um... of course he had gathered information beforehand: Yakushi Byakuya, Yakushi Kiriko's younger brother!
"For your sister's sake, I won't hold it against you. Now then, Kurogane Ikki..."
Once again, his sly gaze swept toward Ikki. This time, there were no surprises. Ikki was "invited" into the sedan.
"Arisugawa, I'm leaving Alice, Shizuku, and Stella to you."
Ikki knew White Night was strong, but subjectively... he always felt that White Night was somewhat unreliable? Arisugawa nodded lightly. "Understood. Don't worry."
After making the simple arrangements, Ikki followed Akaza into the car. The sedan's door slowly closed... and right at that moment!
"Hey, you!"
White Night suddenly leaned over and knocked on the car window. "If I say you need a beating, then you need a beating. And one day, you'll get beaten up too. I never judge wrong."
Sigh. I apologize for missing anything earlier. Please provide the text you would like me to translate, and I will make sure it is completely rendered into natural English according to all your rules.
Veins faintly bulged on Akaza's forehead, but considering his status, he endured it: his purpose for coming had already been achieved, so there was no need to stir up more trouble.
Tch, such good self-control? In that case... White Night didn't mind provoking him even further. "Ugly bastard—!"
I'll endure it!
Um... he couldn't endure it anymore!
(╬◣д◢)
After only a moment, Akaza sat up slightly and slapped the driver's seat. "What are you doing? Drive already!"
With the roar of the engine, the black sedan gradually drove away... heading toward a sealed-off building.
After Ikki was taken away, Stella, Shizuku, and the others gathered together. Spread out on the table was that very newspaper:
"Man Who Stole the Princess's Purity."
"Famillion's King Is Furious!"
"Will This Escalate into a Diplomatic Issue Between Two Nations?"
Such things were printed all over the page. In short, they made everything sound as serious as possible.
"This is complete nonsense!"
Stella pressed both hands against the edges of the newspaper. Her vivid red hair lifted slightly, dotted with sparks.
"You've already burned enough of them. Let's keep this one." White Night snatched the newspaper from the table and began reading it himself.
—Kurogane Ikki had been poorly behaved since childhood, the problem child of the Kurogane family, and even had personality defects!
"Damn, they're really going all out?"
White Night sighed and continued scanning... Kurogane Ikki had improper relationships with women and, apart from Stella, had impure dealings with multiple women.
"They went this far?"
Further down, it even described Stella as someone who understood nothing, a foolish woman who could easily be deceived!
"Tsk tsk, they're smearing her name to this extent. Does that ugly bastard not know where to stop?"
White Night folded the newspaper and had no intention of reading any further. "At this level of slander, someone has to be pushed out to take the blame. Otherwise, I'm afraid... no, it definitely won't end well."
"What do you mean?" (Stella)
"Something probably went wrong somewhere. Slandering someone is one thing, but slandering a nation's princess..."
Even Bronya wore an odd expression. "That is no small matter."
"It's completely fabricated. Never mind that it never happened—even if it had, it couldn't be reported! Who would bear responsibility for the reputation of a nation's princess?"
A cold smile hung on White Night's lips. "He's courting death. Even if he successfully exposed it, would the king thank him?"
"That is impossible." Bronya agreed with White Night, her calm voice carrying a milky softness.
"Exactly. Not only would he not thank him, he'd find him an eyesore. After all... that's his precious daughter!"
"And that's assuming his plan succeeds. Ikki is standing at the very front to take the hit for him. If it fails..."
Having reached this point in his analysis, White Night slammed his right fist into his left palm. "What a warrior! If Ikki is found innocent and released, then Famillion's king can only vent his rage on him."
"Tsk tsk tsk, that's the ultimate one-for-one trade. And one mistake could even make it fail. What kind of grudge does he have to stake himself on this too?" White Night clicked his tongue in amazement.
Um...
"Is this guy really that suicidal?" Even Stella understood by now, and her expression became strange.
"Probably jealousy? Akaza is from a branch family and holds twisted resentment toward his older brother from the main family. He has always regarded his brother as a thorn in his side."
"That's why jealousy makes people unrecognizable."
White Night clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention, before announcing, "All right, everyone, relax for now. Leave this matter to me."
"I was originally planning to find time to beat that ugly bastard up anyway. I always keep my word."
As he spoke, White Night rolled his wrists. But since Akaza was courting death himself, "Now it seems that won't be necessary. That ugly bastard is bound to die sooner or later."
"White Night, can you really help my brother?" Shizuku's emerald eyes stared tightly at White Night, filled with hope.
"Isn't that obvious?"
White Night gave Shizuku a thumbs-up and glanced at Kuuga. "Just leave it to me. At worst, I can guarantee he'll be fine."
Cruel Facts
Elsewhere, after undergoing a round of harsh, even nitpicking questioning, Ikki was successfully locked in the Dark Room. It was completely empty inside, with surveillance monitoring him in real time.
Ikki sat leaning against the wall, his hands resting on his knees. With his head lowered, he closed his eyes to rest.
Before you continue