Angel Investor

After the meal, Kitagawa Kai returned to his dorm.

He took a shower, the hot water washing away the fatigue of sitting in the library all afternoon.

Changing into pajamas and casually drying his damp hair with a towel, Kitagawa Kai sat at his desk, ready to continue reading the mystery novel he hadn't finished that afternoon.

His phone screen lit up at that moment.

Kitagawa Kai glanced at it—a text from Kamuro Masumi, concise in content:

"Sakayanagi's coming to your dorm to play chess. Watch out."

Kitagawa Kai looked at the message, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

Coming to deliver more points again? But I don't need points right now.

He put down the towel, picked up his phone, and pulled up his personal points interface. After deducting the 50,000 he paid Ichinose every month, he still had 3.4 million left.

He tidied up the room a bit, quietly waiting for his angel investor to arrive.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Three raps on the door. Kitagawa Kai pulled it open in a flash.

"Good evening, Kitagawa-kun. Opening the door so quickly—were you expecting me?"

Sakayanagi Arisu's delicate figure stood leaning on her cane, her wine-red school blazer neatly draped over her shoulders, the collar of her white shirt immaculate. Her silver-white hair glowed with a soft luster under the warm yellow light, a slight departure from her usual cold demeanor.

Kitagawa Kai's gaze lingered on her for only a moment before shifting to the person beside her.

Kamuro Masumi.

She wore a simple dark T-shirt and jeans, her purple hair tied in a low ponytail, a chessboard clutched tightly in her arms. Under the light, her eyes weren't as indifferent as usual; instead, they sparkled, her violet irises dancing with joy.

Kitagawa Kai didn't respond to Sakayanagi Arisu right away. Instead, he greeted Kamuro Masumi first.

"Masumi, long time no see. Really, you shouldn't have—bringing a gift and all."

The moment the words fell, before Kamuro Masumi could react, Kitagawa Kai naturally took the chessboard from her hands.

Then he looked around, his gaze quickly sweeping across the hallway, Sakayanagi beside him, and his own empty hands.

Without further ado, he unceremoniously shoved the chessboard into Sakayanagi's hands.

"Sakayanagi-san, hold this for a sec." Kitagawa Kai's tone was flat, not even phrased as a question.

The wooden box was placed steadily into Sakayanagi's outstretched hands. She caught it almost reflexively, a flicker of surprise flashing through her eyes before it was masked by her usual smile.

The chessboard changed hands. Kamuro Masumi's arms were empty, and she stared blankly at her own hands.

In that split second of stillness, Kitagawa Kai gently pulled Kamuro into an embrace.

The hallway light was warm yellow, the air seeming to freeze.

Sakayanagi Arisu stood a step away, holding the suddenly assigned chessboard box, like an elegant bystander.

"Looks like Kitagawa-kun was more looking forward to seeing Kamuro-san. Should I not have come as the third wheel?"

Sakayanagi Arisu's words were half-truth, half-joke, laced with playful intent.

But Kamuro Masumi's body stiffened noticeably. Just coming back to her senses, her cheeks were already flushed red, and now they seemed ready to burn.

"Sakayanagi-san, do you want a hug too?"

"Kitagawa-kun's invitation is quite surprising." Sakayanagi Arisu's voice remained soft, but carried a hint of amusement harder to detect than before. "Still, in front of Masumi... isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

"It's fine. After hugging her, I'll hug yours."

With that, Kitagawa Kai released Kamuro Masumi and turned to face Sakayanagi Arisu, who was holding the chessboard.

His movements were without hesitation. He bent slightly, his right arm supporting her back, his left arm passing under her knees, lifting her and the chessboard together steadily.

A familiar posture.

Only this time, he could smell the refreshing scent of his body wash, mixed with his own aura.

The girl's body stiffened minutely at the moment of contact, but quickly relaxed, even adjusting her grip on the chessboard slightly.

"Kitagawa-kun's way of treating friends... is still this enthusiastic."

Kitagawa Kai set her down steadily on the chair at the desk and casually tidied a few strands of slightly messy hair.

"You're welcome." He straightened up, his gaze shifting to Kamuro Masumi, still frozen at the door.

"Masumi," Kitagawa Kai's voice was especially clear in the quiet room, "come in. Close the door."

Though Kamuro Masumi had long known Kitagawa might have more than one "kitten," seeing the scene before her, something twisted slightly in her heart—an indescribable feeling.

"I hope this hour isn't too much of an intrusion. It just suddenly felt like the night was perfect for a quiet game." Sakayanagi Arisu said as she fiddled with the chessboard.

"What's the game today?" Kitagawa Kai asked casually while pouring water for the two.

"If Kitagawa-kun loses, I won't take your points. I'll just ask you to do one thing within your power that doesn't violate your principles. Conversely, if I lose, the same goes."

"'Within your power' is too broad a scope," Kitagawa Kai said calmly, pushing the filled cups toward them. "If I asked you to drop out, that wouldn't violate principles either, would it?"

"But Kitagawa-kun wouldn't make such a request, just as I wouldn't ask you to do anything that harms yourself or others. This wager is a bet on our trust."

"Is that so." Kitagawa Kai sat down on the edge of the bed, picked up his own cup, and gently blew away the steam. "Then I'm a bit interested. I can state my terms right now."

"Let's hear them."

"If Sakayanagi loses, she'll wear a maid uniform for me and call me 'Chief' a few times."

Kamuro Masumi stared at Kitagawa Kai in disbelief, then looked at Sakayanagi Arisu. How could this be so absurd?

Yet the corner of Sakayanagi Arisu's lips still held that faint, enigmatic smile. Half-smiling, she turned to Kamuro. "Kamuro, do you know Kitagawa-kun usually plays this wild?"

"No, but coming from this guy, it's not impossible."

Kamuro Masumi nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"So, Sakayanagi, do you dare accept this challenge?"

Will you agree, Classmate Sakayanagi?

Sakayanagi Arisu sat there quietly, her fingers lightly resting on the edge of the chessboard.

"A maid uniform, and calling him 'Chief'~"

"Can you tell me, Kitagawa-kun, is this just a spur-of-the-moment condition you came up with?"

"Not spur-of-the-moment."

So it's been premeditated all along.

"I'm curious," Sakayanagi Arisu said softly. "If I really put on a maid uniform and call you 'Chief'... would Kamuro be watching on the side? Or would it be just me?"

Kamuro Masumi at that moment felt like a helpless husband, silently awaiting judgment. Are these two really students?

"Having both wouldn't be bad either." Kitagawa Kai's gaze grew increasingly perverse.

"Then," Sakayanagi Arisu spoke slowly, her voice gentle yet carrying a heavy weight, "Kitagawa-kun, this time, I won't lose again. Even facing the 'Peak of Advanced Nurturing'."

Peak of Advanced Nurturing?

What the hell is that?