The Little Princess's Invitation

The hallway was bustling with people.

Students were walking in groups of two or three after school, discussing their upcoming plans, and the air was filled with a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.

Xu Nuo and Kamuro walked side by side.

The two maintained a subtle distance—

Neither too far nor too close.

It was just enough for others to see they were together, yet not so close as to appear overly intimate.

"..."

Kamuro Masumi pursed her lips.

Her expression remained icy, yet a hint of impatience flickered between her brows, and her violet-red eyes glanced at the man beside her from time to time.

She seemed to be pondering something.

"Hey."

Finally.

She spoke, her tone indifferent and casual, as if she were merely mentioning it in passing.

"Don't get the wrong idea."

"It was Sakayanagi who told me to come; she wants to see you."

As soon as the words fell.

Xu Nuo's footsteps halted.

He turned his head, a smirk curling the corner of his mouth, intent on teasing Miss Phantom Thief.

"Wrong idea?"

"What kind of wrong idea?"

Seeing that his expression didn't seem feigned, Kamuro Masumi was momentarily speechless, feeling her cheeks begin to burn, so she feigned a fierce demeanor and huffed:

"N-nothing!"

The only flaw was that her voice lacked conviction.

"Sakayanagi Arisu, huh..."

Clearly.

Xu Nuo had no intention of letting her off easily, but he shifted his approach, murmuring the name nonchalantly with an air of disdain.

Then.

He shrugged and turned as if to walk back the way they came.

"Then I won't go."

"What level is she at, that I should take the initiative to see her?" The words were spoken lightly, yet they carried an inexplicable arrogance, as if he truly didn't care at all.

"?!"

Kamuro Masumi was stunned instantly.

She hadn't expected this attitude from Xu Nuo at all and was caught completely off guard.

Wait—

Was this guy serious?

That was Sakayanagi Arisu, a wicked woman who could be called a little devil; even she had to submit to her intimidation, yet this guy dared to defy her?

And.

He actually dared to say something like "what level is she at"?

That's right.

Kamuro Masumi had essentially pegged him as one of Sakayanagi's subordinates, especially since his entrance had been so coincidental.

The two bastards had appeared one right after the other.

Therefore.

When Kamuro Masumi learned that Sakayanagi also knew this guy, she immediately misunderstood their relationship.

Or rather.

This perception of hers.

Was exactly the result of the little princess's deliberate guidance.

"Hey, hey!"

Seeing that he was about to leave.

Kamuro Masumi snapped back to reality, hurriedly reaching out an arm to block his path, a flicker of panic in her violet-red eyes as she stammered.

"Y-you, don't go!"

The girl's voice rose several octaves higher than before.

She was clearly getting desperate.

After all.

If she really let Xu Nuo just walk away like that, how was she supposed to answer to Sakayanagi? That detestable woman was not someone easy to deal with.

If she found out that she couldn't even bring one person over.

There was no telling how she would torment her.

At the thought of this.

Kamuro Masumi gritted her teeth and, steeling herself, spoke up, "That person Sakayanagi really does have something to discuss with you."

"Something very important!"

"Just, just go over there once, I'm begging you!"

The last sentence was said with great reluctance, almost squeezed out from between her teeth, and the expression on her face became incredibly twisted, looking extremely awkward.

Clearly.

For the proud Kamuro Masumi, humbling herself before someone else was even worse than being killed.

Just like Suzune.

Seeing this.

Xu Nuo stopped in his tracks, eyeing the girl before him with a half-smile, his tone somewhat teasing.

"Yo~"

"Why are you in such a rush?"

"Tell me, Masumi-chan, when did you become Princess Alice's lackey? You're so obedient."

"Tsk tsk tsk."

These words.

Were practically rubbing salt into her wounds.

"You!"

Kamuro Masumi's face flushed red instantly, whether from anger or shame, and her purple-red eyes burned with raging fury as she spoke unhappily.

"Who is her lackey!"

"I'm just..."

She wanted to retort loudly.

But she found she couldn't come up with a suitable excuse.

Because.

That was exactly the reality.

Ever since she was caught by that person at the supermarket, she had been forced to obey her, becoming a tool for that wicked woman, her heart overflowing with sorrow.

This humiliation.

Made her chest ache with anger.

"Just what?"

Xu Nuo shrugged, pressing the attack, "Just being manipulated by her? Or is it that Masumi-chan actually enjoys the feeling of being dominated?"

"Shut up!"

Kamuro Masumi finally couldn't take it anymore.

She glared fiercely at Xu Nuo, her eyes looking as if she wanted to swallow him whole, her teeth practically grinding together.

"You bastard."

"Stop gloating over there!"

Her voice trembled slightly, and she looked just like a provoked kitten.

Baring her claws, yet completely helpless.

Passing students cast curious glances their way.

After all.

Gossip was human nature.

"Huh."

"Isn't that Kamuro from Class A?"

"Why is she with that handsome guy from Class D?"

"They look like they have a close relationship; they're even arguing."

"Could they be a couple?"

Whispers rose and fell in waves.

Kamuro Masumi's expression darkened further as she heard the gossip, and she wished she could leave this place immediately.

But.

She couldn't just walk away.

After all, Sakayanagi's orders had yet to be fulfilled.

"Tsk."

Taking a deep breath, Kamuro Masumi struggled to calm her emotions before speaking again with a straight face.

"Are you going or not?"

"If you aren't, I'm leaving. Don't expect me to handle Sakayanagi for you; you can explain it to her yourself."

The girl attempted to threaten Xu Nuo in this manner.

Unfortunately.

She had completely misjudged the relationship between the two of them, making the scene rather comical.

Xu Nuo found it somewhat amusing.

"Fine."

"Say something nice, and I'll go with you."

"..."

Kamuro Masumi hesitated.

Seeing this.

Without a moment's hesitation, Xu Nuo turned and walked away.

"Wait!"

The girl blocked his path once more. Her expression was even more complex this time, filled with anger, helplessness, and compromise. She sighed, feeling weary:

"If Sakayanagi hadn't insisted I come, I wouldn't even bother with... your magic trick last time was impressive."

"There."

"Hurry up and come see Sakayanagi."

Kamuro Masumi kept her face taut, her tone flat and monotonous as if she were reading from a textbook, only regaining a hint of life in the final two sentences.

"Oh?"

"You actually knew that was a magic trick?"

Xu Nuo was somewhat surprised.

"Duh!"

Kamuro Masumi was speechless.

Afterward.

She bit her lip, a flicker of struggle crossing her violet-red eyes, before she finally lowered her head.

"P-please."

Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

Seeing this.

Xu Nuo blinked, inexplicably feeling a sense of deep guilt, as if he were bullying a young girl.

"Forget it, since you're so pitiful."

"However—"

He changed the subject.

"You owe me a favor, remember that, Masumi."

"Who—"

Kamuro Masumi grew agitated, but seeing the half-smile on his face, she ultimately chose to compromise.

"Say whatever you want."

"Just come with me!"

With that said.

She turned and marched away in a huff, her high side-ponytail tracing an arc through the air.

A hint of a girl's unique, sweet fragrance drifted toward him.

Smells pretty good...

Xu Nuo thought, keeping his composure.

He then shrugged and followed behind Kamuro.

Occasionally teasing the girl's body and mind.

It was truly delightful.

However.

What could that little princess want with him?

Xu Nuo narrowed his eyes.

And so.

The two walked one after the other.

Students in the hallway cleared a path, their gazes sweeping over them, occasionally revealing ambiguous, doting smiles as if they were shipping a couple.

"..."

Kamuro Masumi kept a straight face, saying nothing.

She only glanced back occasionally to confirm if he was still following, seemingly afraid he might run away.

Regarding this.

Xu Nuo was happy to take it easy.

He followed leisurely, admiring the scenery along the way, without a hint of tension.

Soon.

The two arrived at a secluded corner of the campus.

Ahead stood a pavilion; for some reason, few people passed by here, making it exceptionally quiet.

At this moment.

Kamuro Masumi stopped and looked back.

"This is it."

"That person is waiting for you inside."

After speaking.

She stepped aside, signaling for him to enter.

Xu Nuo nodded.

Immediately.

He stepped past the girl, but just as he moved forward, he heard Kamuro Masumi's voice from behind.

"Hey."

"Hm?"

Xu Nuo paused, returning a look of confusion.

"Be careful."

"That woman Sakayanagi is not someone easy to deal with, and you aren't allowed to do anything bad to her either."

"I'll be watching you the whole time!"

Kamuro Masumi said, her gaze drifting away as she kept a straight face.

Huh?

You're going to watch me the whole time too?

Xu Nuo's expression turned strange. Without making any promises, he waved his hand and walked straight inside.

"..."

Only Kamuro Masumi remained standing where she was.

She watched him enter the pavilion until the two met and began to talk, lost in her own thoughts.

After a long while.

She couldn't help but cover her face.

"Seriously."

"Why am I worried about that bastard?"

"And I said such inexplicable things, ahhhhh... Kamuro Masumi, you're so embarrassing!"