Chapter 154

"Beep."

The phone rang.

Shinomiya Kaguya glanced at the caller ID, her eyes flickering, and then clicked to answer.

"Hasegawa-kun, I'm sorry to have bothered you..."

"Where are you now? I'll be right there. I always keep my word; since I promised you, I'll definitely do it."

"Huh? I, I'm at home right now..."

"Give me your address, and I'll come pick you up. Don't worry, no one can stop me."

Would someone really go to such lengths for me?

Shinomiya Kaguya evokes a strange sense of romance, reminding me of certain scenes from dramas.

Of course, in Hayasaka Ai's view, Hasegawa was only acting out of a sense of integrity.

However, let this wonderful misunderstanding remain.

"No, no need. I know you can do it, but..."

Out of concern, Shinomiya Kaguya didn't want him to have a direct conflict with the Shinomiya Family for her sake.

"Kaguya-sama, are you trying to make Hasegawa-kun break his promise?"

Hayasaka Ai took the opportunity to enjoy the breeze from the side.

Shinomiya Kaguya would certainly not be satisfied with it ending like this, especially since she was already wearing Yukata.

"Um... um, if it's possible, could you secretly take me away from here? Hasegawa."

Her voice became exceptionally soft and sweet when she called out her name.

Such a shameless invitation was far too outrageous for this sheltered Young Lady.

"Okay, let's do it that way then."

After saying that, the latter hung up the phone.

Because Hayasaka Ai has already sent out the address.

The two people in the room, one pressed his hand to his chest, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart.

The other person began to put on a disguise.

They weren't surprised that the person had managed to break in, even though security outside was quite tight.

That is indeed the case.

For Hasegawa Izumi, the layout here was practically useless; she could easily bypass the high wall outside and blend into the shadows.

"I am coming."

The sound, which sounded like a hallucination, made the two girls turn to look at the windowsill.

On the windowsill where the light flowed, the boy stepped down, as if he were walking on the moon.

'This place must be over six meters off the ground, right? Can Breathing Technique be practiced to such a level?'

Hayasaka Ai's head jolted.

"Hasegawa..."

"No time for nonsense, Kōko is getting impatient, come with me."

"Oh."

Seeing the other person's outstretched right hand, Shinomiya Kaguya gently placed her small hand on it, like a girl accepting a dance invitation.

Suddenly, in that instant, she realized something: her calloused hands were clearly different from others'.

Will this make me seem 'not like a girl'?

However, she didn't have time to dwell on gains and losses.

She had barely realized what was happening when she found herself being held in the other person's arms, and in a princess carry no less.

"Wait... Ah!"

Hasegawa Izumi jumped down from the windowsill, giving her quite a fright.

Seeing this, Hayasaka Ai ran to the windowsill, glanced down, and found that the two figures had already disappeared.

"Kaguya-sama, I hope you have a memorable night tonight."

Hayasaka Ai, dressed as Young Lady, revealed a sincere smile.

In the blink of an eye, the two had left the mansion.

"Thud."

After landing, Hasegawa Izumi put the girl in his arms down.

"Hasegawa, are you really human?"

Shinomiya Kaguya didn't even have time to feel shy; she was simply shocked.

He jumped down from such a high place, still holding her in his arms, yet it was still effortless.

"At least for now."

He thought for a moment and said.

"Actually, there's nothing surprising. I can tell you've also learned the 'Breathing Technique,' and you'll be able to do it in the future, and it won't be long."

"Really? I don't believe it."

The girl's smile was forced.

Although it was an exaggerated thing, her attention was still focused on the Fireworks Festival that was about to begin.

"Let's meet up with Kōko first."

Hasegawa Izumi led Kaguya to the waiting area outside a nearby tram station.

"You're Hasegawa-kun Little Sister? Kawaii~! Can I call you Kōko?"

When Shinomiya Kaguya saw Kōko, her eyes lit up instantly.

Hasegawa Izumi smiled, as expected.

There's no way around it, Kōko Little Sister in the world, and no one is allowed to disagree!

"Uh-huh..."

Kōko felt this enthusiasm, but as always, she was at a loss and hid behind her brother.

"In exchange, you can call me Kaguya too."

Shinomiya Kaguya found the little animal's behavior incredibly cute and bent down to say something.

"Um."

The Kōko seemed somewhat perfunctory.

As we approached the location of the Fireworks Festival on the tram, some congestion inevitably occurred in the carriages.

There were many people wearing Yukata nearby, preparing to participate in the Fireworks Festival.

After some twists and turns, the three finally arrived at the scene.

They arrived at the meadow designated for watching the fireworks.

Having prepared, he spread a picnic blanket on the grass.

The three of them sat down with peace of mind.

Shinomiya Kaguya hugged her knees, a look of inexplicable anticipation on her face, just like everyone around her, waiting for the fireworks to bloom in the sky.

She didn't have any special memories of summer because she hadn't had much contact with people growing up, so she naturally didn't have the idea of going out to play in the summer.

Therefore, even the smallest glimpse of light seen through the window would seem beautiful to her.

She used to think it didn't matter.

But the next moment, as the dazzling fireworks burst before her eyes, she changed her mind.

Call out!

A burst of light shot into the sky, then exploded violently, blooming into beautiful fireworks in the night sky, so dazzling that even the usually bright stars paled in comparison.

Such beauty, reflected in those wine-red eyes, took root in her heart.

The girl couldn't help but want to have a heart-to-heart talk.

"Oh, right, Hasegawa-kun, I haven't told you why I had Hayasaka call you earlier."

"It seems like that happened. Is there something wrong?"

Hasegawa Izumi turned her head and asked.

"Actually, I want to learn archery from you..."

"I don't know anything about archery, I just know how to shoot arrows."

"That's it."

"Why?"

"Why, you ask? Well, it's because you're much stronger than me, so much stronger that I have to admit it."

The fact that he wasn't arrogant was unexpected.

"Hasegawa-kun, do you know?"

Suddenly, Shinomiya Kaguya looked up at the fireworks blooming in the sky, a hint of loneliness appearing in her eyes.

"Actually, I've never felt happy learning archery."

44. The Wicked Eye of the Tyrant King User... Awakening!

Hasegawa Izumi knew what state the girl was in just by glancing at her profile.

Some things are only appropriate to say to your opponent.

"Since you don't like it, why do you want me to teach you?"

With his hands behind his head, he casually asked the question.

"Because there are some things you can't avoid just because you like them. If I were born into an ordinary family, that would be fine, but I was born into the Shinomiya Family. From a young age, everyone has looked at me differently, as if I have to be exceptionally outstanding just because I have this bloodline... Fortunately, I am excellent enough, especially in archery, where my talent is almost unparalleled. This has saved me from some outsiders questioning my 'background'."

Shinomiya Kaguya gritted her teeth, quite disgusted.

Hasegawa Izumi did not actively seek to understand the girl's background.

But seeing what happened today, he realized that the girl's status as a rich Young Lady was not as wonderful as people imagined. If it were an ordinary person, the pressure would be enough to crush them.

At this point, he finally understood.

For Shinomiya, archery was no different from playing the piano for Chika, and it was precisely because of this that Shinomiya was able to understand Chika's feelings and say those words to Chika.

But Chika can stop, what about herself?

"Looks like you've really had a tough time."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this to gain your sympathy!"

Shinomiya Kaguya turned her head to the side and puffed out her cheeks.

"So your purpose in learning archery is to prove your excellence and solidify your position?"

"You could say that."

Although that's what the girl said, it's hard to say what she really thought.

"Although what you said was very touching, but..."

What Hasegawa Izumi originally wanted to say was that she could offer some pointers if she had time.

After all, while he might have the time to actually teach a guidance class, there's no real need for him.

Shinomiya Kaguya sensed his refusal, her expression hardening as she interrupted, "Of course, asking you to teach me isn't free. How about 100,000 yen per lesson?"

Hasegawa Izumi's eyelids twitched.