Sakanayanagi Shusei

Not bad. Just the thing to test on Kushida—maybe it'll lower her guard around me.

"Since everything's fine now, I'll be going, Kano~"

Having collected his reward, Suzuki Tsubame prepared to slip away.

He had to admit, Spotlight never failed him. It worked perfectly on little girls like them every time.

"Wait..."

Shiranami grabbed the corner of Suzuki Tsubame's clothes and sobbed with tearful eyes.

"W-we haven't exchanged contact information yet..."

"Right, I almost forgot..."

In truth, Suzuki Tsubame had never intended to add her. Heh heh.

After exchanging contact information, Suzuki Tsubame was the first to step out from around the corner.

"What an interesting show. Thank you very much for your friendly performance, Suzuki-kun."

Sakayanagi stood alone by the corner of the wall.

The corners of her lips curved slightly upward, an unmistakable hint of amusement appearing on her face.

"Isn't this Her Highness Princess Arisu?"

Suzuki Tsubame smiled as well and gave her a standard gentleman's bow.

"I hope this subject's performance has brought Your Highness... even the slightest bit of pleasure."

[Sakayanagi Arisu]

[Appearance: 9.7]

[Intelligence: 9.5]

[Constitution: 5]

No wonder she had appeared here alone, without even bringing a cane.

It seemed the Enhancement Serum had not only raised her constitution by one and a half points, but had also repaired her congenital defects.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

"The performance was splendid. You played both the destroyer... and the savior."

Sakayanagi applauded him gracefully. Judging from her expression, though, it was impossible to tell what she was truly thinking.

He had no idea when she had arrived.

"By the way... where did Kamuro go?"

Suzuki Tsubame turned and scanned the surroundings, but he could not even see Kamuro's shadow.

He might as well change the subject... playing with someone's feelings like this was somewhat beneath him.

Although... someone like Sakayanagi probably would not care.

"Kamuro naturally has Kamuro's own matters to attend to. Since Suzuki-kun misses her so much, why not transfer to our Class A?"

As if she had seen through Suzuki Tsubame's thoughts, she extended her delicate hand before him, signaling for him to take it.

"...I'll pass on changing classes. I was just curious."

Suzuki Tsubame took her hand.

Unlike her forceful personality,

her body was truly light, like a feather that might be blown away by the wind.

Sakayanagi led Suzuki Tsubame toward Birch Shopping Center.

Was she trying to go on a date with me?

Suzuki Tsubame saw the corners of Sakayanagi's lips lift slightly. No... it seemed Sakayanagi's expression had always been like that.

"Is Her Highness planning to go on a date with me? There doesn't seem to be enough time at noon."

Walking beside Sakayanagi... even while holding hands, people would probably assume he was her butler or bodyguard.

Without turning back, Sakayanagi spoke unhurriedly.

"You'll find out soon enough... Could it be that you're worried Horikita might misunderstand?"

Suzuki Tsubame had an illusion.

After recovering, Sakayanagi seemed to have become even more devious. Or perhaps he should call her more lively?

The two arrived at an upscale sushi restaurant. There were not many people dining in the hall.

The moment the waiter saw Sakayanagi, he immediately set down his work.

He led them into an elevator and pressed F12, which was also the highest floor in the building.

As the elevator slowly ascended, Sakayanagi's expression remained unchanged, but Suzuki Tsubame had already formed a guess.

When the doors opened, an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows stood directly opposite the elevator, while a long table occupied the center of the room.

The floor space was probably over six hundred square meters.

Sure enough... seated at the head of the long table was an old man with graying hair.

He was also the chairman of this academy... Sakayanagi Narimori.

Like his daughter, he always wore a faint smile on his face.

"Student Suzuki, regarding Arisu... I am profoundly grateful."

Sakayanagi Narimori stood up to face Suzuki Tsubame, bowing slightly with exceptional sincerity in his voice.

Before Suzuki Tsubame could answer, he continued.

"Or perhaps I should call you Young Master Oto?"

Suzuki Tsubame's left eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

In the original Classroom of the Elite, aside from Wang Meiyu, there did not seem to be any other figures from Dragon Country.

The family powers Suzuki Tsubame knew of, apart from the Sakayanagis and the Ayanokojis, were only the Koenjis, Kanzakis, Kiryuins, Ishigamis, Amasawas, and so on.

He cleared his mind. There seemed to be no point in overthinking it.

Suzuki Tsubame looked at him calmly.

"My identity isn't important. My purpose... was merely that I did not wish to see a jewel covered in dust."

Sakayanagi Narimori naturally saw through Suzuki Tsubame's forced composure. He chuckled.

"Young man, there is no need to be so nervous."

"No matter what, you saved Arisu... Whatever your conditions may be, as long as it is within my power, I will do my utmost to fulfill them."

Was this what it meant to be a doting father?

In fact, Sakayanagi Narumori had originally supported the construction of the White Room, just like Ayanokoji Atsuomi.

It was only after his daughter Arisu was born that he realized the White Room's education was far too cruel.

Then the old man immediately proposed the creation of Advanced Nurturing to the government.

It was hard to judge... If Sakayanagi had been a boy like Ayanokoji, he would most likely have joined the White Room as well.

"Suzuki-kun, let's sit down and talk."

Sakayanagi Arisu pulled Suzuki Tsubame's hand and sat beside her father.

Sakayanagi Narimori sat down as well, picked up his teacup, and watched the two of them with a genial smile.

"Come to think of it, it was only when the Oriental Family sent someone here yesterday that I learned... the Oriental Family's young master had also come to Advanced Nurturing."

Of course. I only got the reward yesterday.

Suzuki Tsubame picked up his teacup as well.

Even he felt somewhat uncomfortable sitting at the same table as Chairman Sakayanagi.

After all, it was practically like meeting the parents.

"Student Suzuki's understanding of the Oriental Family should not be very deep, correct?"

Suzuki Tsubame looked at Chairman Sakayanagi in surprise. He had not said anything yet, but he himself knew perfectly well whether he had been awakened or not.

"Hehe, the Oriental Family's traditions are actually somewhat different from those of other families."

"To prevent their heirs from becoming arrogant, overbearing, and contemptuous of others."

"Although they also receive rigorous training, before becoming the young master, they often do not know what kind of family they belong to."

Sakayanagi Narimori patiently explained it to Suzuki Tsubame.

It was not only because Suzuki Tsubame had helped his daughter. He also wanted to board the Oriental Family's great ship.

With the help of this future head of the Oriental Family, his political career would be smooth sailing.

Suzuki Tsubame listened with a blank expression. In truth, what Young Master Oto? It was purely the system's divine power.