She gently took Saotome Yukina's little hand and lightly rubbed the soft flesh between the girl's thumb and forefinger.
Saotome Yukina's cowlick gave a sharp little "boki" on her forehead.
The focus gradually faded from her aqua-blue eyes.
"It's nothing."
Su Youzi took the bag back from Kujo Ryuko's hand.
The soft flesh between Little Rabbit's thumb and forefinger was likewise one of a girl's weak points.
It was only slightly less sensitive than places like the earlobes, neck, spine, or waist.
Although she and Sakai Miho both had the air of well-behaved girls, Saotome Yukina was the kind of girl whose entire body was made up of weak points.
She constantly radiated a sweet scent that seemed to say, I'm easy to bully, and I'm worth bullying too... enticing people to bully her.
And yet, this Little Rabbit was incredibly clingy.
"But Youzi... Sen... Senpai..." Saotome Yukina cautiously watched Su Youzi's reaction.
She also wanted to call Senpai by her name, just like Kujo Ryuko did.
But in the end... Little Rabbit chickened out again.
"I just suddenly remembered something from the past and realized that I might have misjudged someone." Su Youzi comforted Little Rabbit and forced a smile, trying to press down the bitterness welling in her eyes along with it.
"Someone who looks as cold as ice and as untouchable as a flower on a high mountain..."
"Behind closed doors, she might actually be an unexpectedly straightforward idiot."
Su Youzi had originally thought that she was already all alone in this world, abandoned and friendless.
But then... she suddenly discovered that the person who was always as cold as frost toward her and went out of her way to avoid her...
Had a favorability rating toward her that was almost maxed out under normal circumstances: 99 points of "pampering."
She was even... just one step away from the finish line. That person might already have unlocked her CG and scored the first kill.
And besides—
From her bath products to the night-light in her dormitory, all of them might have been carefully prepared by Soga Toyura.
Even her scent had been "chosen" by her.
She had actually believed that Shiritsu Megumi Garden Academy, a private noble academy, had been taking such meticulous care of its students.
They had even thoughtfully prepared night-lights for girls who were slightly afraid of the dark during the long nights.
But in the end... it had turned out to be like this.
The bitterness in her eyes refused to fade, making Su Youzi's gorgeous crimson eyes seem to shimmer with a layer of moisture.
Saotome Yukina did not understand who the idiot in Su Youzi's mouth was.
But the sensitive Little Rabbit could feel the discomfort pent up in Senpai's heart—that choked-up feeling.
She did not know what she should do.
She could only hug Su Youzi's arm tightly, as if trying to tuck it into her embrace, gently rubbing against it like a pampered pet.
She could feel the place that idiot occupied in Senpai's heart.
It must be very, very high.
She was so envious.
So envious of the person who could make Senpai feel so choked up.
Feeling Little Rabbit soothe her like a spoiled child, Su Youzi suddenly did not know whether to laugh or cry.
After gathering herself a little, she bought some things Sakai Miho would likely need in the hospital.
Su Youzi left with Saotome Yukina and Kujo Ryuko.
In the hospital... Sakai Miho's body had already almost fully recovered.
The girl had even wanted to go train at the training center with Su Youzi, but the doctor stopped her.
It really was worthy of a Physical Restoration ability user.
Su Youzi even felt that if the girl had not developed the habit of... working hard to improve herself...
She might already have recovered completely by now.
Inside the training center—
Su Youzi had Kujo Ryuko help instruct Little Rabbit.
She found a place where she could clearly see the two of them and leisurely practiced her sword swings.
Having Kujo Ryuko instruct Little Rabbit accomplished several things at once.
Su Youzi could not bear to scold Little Rabbit.
But Kujo Ryuko was completely different.
As a Senior Superintendent of the Fourth Action Department, Kujo Ryuko became practically the embodiment of ferocity whenever she got serious.
Little Rabbit was bullied until her eyes brimmed with tears, and they were almost spilling over.
But... when she saw Su Youzi gesturing encouragement from afar, Saotome Yukina immediately straightened up again.
Tears glimmered in her aqua-blue eyes, yet she stubbornly tightened her grip on the bamboo staff and told Kujo Ryuko to go again.
"I..."
"I don't want to embarrass myself in front of Senpai."
"..."
Watching Saotome Yukina look at her with tear-filled eyes, Su Youzi gestured encouragement before continuing to practice her sword swings.
It really was worthy of the expensive Central Training Center.
The nanomachines dancing through the dust constantly collected data on every sword swing and provided real-time training suggestions through the issued earphones.
They could even project recordings of senior Valkyries training for the students to imitate and study.
Because she had brought two walking cash machines, Saotome Yukina and Kujo Ryuko, with her...
All the expenses for developing the girls would be reimbursed twofold.
After deducting the cost of Su Youzi's own admission ticket—
Su Youzi had not only spent no money, she had even made some extra cash.
Just as Su Youzi was studying the legendary Seat of Evil, a knight completely clad in black armor, and practicing alongside the recording—
"Bzzz—"
A burst of piercing static suddenly came through her earphones.
As if sensing something, Su Youzi slowly turned around.
A girl with long orange hair and several other girls appeared in Su Youzi's field of vision.
The orange-haired girl was rather pretty, with a pair of gorgeous crimson eyes similar to Su Youzi's.
Su Youzi tilted her head.
Those distinctive red eyes... She was from the Soga Family.
"I never expected to run into Sister Youzi here." The girl appeared to bow respectfully toward Su Youzi.
But... Su Youzi could sense it.
There was an undisguisable arrogance and contempt hidden in the girl's words.
It was a completely different kind of contempt from Soga Toyura's.
Soga Toyura's contempt was like the disdain of someone standing high above and looking down upon ants in the dust.
But the person before her... mostly held the contempt of someone relying on status and authority.
Oh my, I really didn't expect this.
It looks like latching onto the Young Lady of the Saotome Family has its benefits. She can even afford to come to the Central Training Center now.
Behind her, several girls glanced sideways at Su Youzi.
"Don't talk about Sister Youzi like that." The girl slightly furrowed her brows, and the others immediately fell silent.
But... the mockery in their gazes at Su Youzi still refused to disappear.
Su Youzi stood there and slowly sheathed her sword.
To be honest... ever since the day she had failed to awaken even a Telekinetic Ability, she had grown accustomed to this kind of contempt and ridicule.
"I heard that Sister Youzi finally awakened an ability..."
"Congratulations." The girl looked at Su Youzi demurely.
"Pfft—" The girls behind her laughed.
Awakening an ability at seventeen.
What a disgrace to the Soga Family.
Clang—
Su Youzi slid her sword into its sheath.
She looked at the girl who seemed to be congratulating her.
Her crimson eyes.
They were gorgeous.
But compared to the pure hues of Su Youzi's or Soga Toyura's eyes, the girl's irises contained traces of other colors.
Like a gemstone that was not quite pure.
Without the slightest hint of mockery or sarcasm, Su Youzi smiled at the girl. "Thank you for your congratulations."
"But..."
"May I ask which branch family you belong to?"
Before you continue