[The Angel] Descends: Midnight Troubles / Ayanokoji Chapter: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's [Nightlife]

"What? A father?"

His words flowed into the ears of everyone present, followed by a collective shock.

"Are you saying you've taken your classmate who lives next door and treated him like your own son, even though you're not related by blood? You spend nearly four million yen a month on him, and you've personally taught him how to make friends and fit in?"

You—

Ahem. Do you happen to need another son or daughter?

Everyone present, including Ryuen Kakeru, Katsuragi Kohei, Hirata Yosuke, and even Karuizawa Kei, had that thought for a fleeting moment.

But the feeling lasted only an instant. They quickly emerged from their [impossible dream].

What's more, after that astonishing remark, no one brought up another topic. The four tables finished the expensive barbecue they rarely got to try, then left.

As they headed out, the students from Classes A and C left in their respective groups. Ichinose Honami was picked up by Shiranami Chihiro, who had been waiting for her. The [Good Friends Group] from Class D took Hirata away, ready to carry out the matchmaking plan they should have put into action over dinner. The [Empress Group] simply abandoned Karuizawa Kei to Hoshino En, leaving her no choice at all.

And so Hoshino En ended up heading back to the dorms with Kamuro Masumi, a still utterly [in the dark] Sakayanagi Arisu, a slightly exhausted Karuizawa Kei who'd worked hard grilling the meat, and a soft and cuddly Shiina Hiyori.

Kamuro Masumi, dejected: Hey, give me some peanuts!

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 47: [The Angel] Descends: Midnight Troubles

"By the way, Karuizawa."

After seeing Karuizawa Kei and Shiina Hiyori to their floor, Hoshino En suddenly called out to the blonde gal before they parted ways.

"Starting tomorrow, set aside two hours every afternoon to go to the library. I'll tutor you."

"Since I have practice with the Swimming Club, ask Shiina what time to come and where to meet."

Then he turned to Shiina Hiyori and said,

"Shiina, sorry for the trouble starting tomorrow. If I haven't arrived when Karuizawa gets there, please keep an eye on her for me."

"Okay," they replied in unison, neither objecting.

He watched them reach their respective doors and safely step inside. Only then did Hoshino En turn to Sakayanagi Arisu, who hadn't reacted at all since earlier.

"Miss, would you like me to walk you back to your room?"

As usual, he held out his right hand.

"...Ah, yes."

Sakayanagi Arisu reached out with her left hand, and her eyes seemed to have regained their light at last.

"Kamuro and I live next door to each other, and our rooms are upstairs. How about we take the stairs?"

She suggested it, then turned to Kamuro Masumi.

"Oh, right. Kamuro, if you're in a hurry to get back, you can take the elevator by yourself. Sorry for the trouble today."

So she was letting me go?

Kamuro Masumi was tempted.

"Then I'll be off?"

"Of course. But first, please take out that chess set."

"Sure!"

Without a second word, Kamuro Masumi took the expensive custom chess set Sakayanagi Arisu had brought in her backpack and handed it to Hoshino En. Then she darted into the stairwell and vanished in a flash.

"Goodness~ If I'd known she was taking the stairs too, I wouldn't have said that."

Watching Kamuro Masumi's retreating figure, Sakayanagi Arisu finally wore the playful smile she usually had.

It seemed she'd finally returned to normal.

"Kamuro ended up like that because you put her through the wringer, didn't she?"

Hoshino En helped her up the stairs one step at a time, grumbling helplessly as they went.

Earlier, at the library, he'd told Sakayanagi that giving Kamuro two conflicting tasks was meant to encourage her to develop subordinates and delegate the work. But that had just been something he'd said to comfort her.

If Kamuro really followed his advice, delegated the tasks, and completed them flawlessly, all that awaited her was Sakayanagi putting her to even greater use. If you're capable, then I'd be missing out if I didn't work you until you couldn't move.

"Hehe. Her problems are rather serious, after all. If I don't work her hard, who knows what kind of trouble she'll cause?"

"A self-satisfied thrill-seeking criminal?"

"Exactly. And one who isn't very capable, either."

"You must have a tough time dealing with her every day."

"I'm glad you understand. Be sure to comfort me properly. I'm pitiful too, you know."

"Sure, sure."

Hoshino En helped Sakayanagi Arisu to her door and watched as she opened it.

"Would you like me to sing you to sleep?"

After all, she'd sent Kamuro away early today. She probably wouldn't be entirely comfortable alone in her room.

"I'm not helpless, you know. Seeing me to the door is enough."

Sakayanagi Arisu smiled at Hoshino En. It suddenly occurred to her that he might be a little overprotective.

"Don't tell me you've started thinking of me as your daughter too?"

"Your health really isn't very good."

Hoshino En didn't deny it.

But since she'd said she didn't need him, he wasn't going to linger there.

"By the way, where would you like me to put this chess set?"

Before he left, he shook the chess set in his other hand and asked her.

As part of his general knowledge, he knew that some wealthy families liked to display expensive things in conspicuous places at home, showing them off to every visitor.

Sakayanagi Arisu was a genuine young lady, and she liked chess so much that she might have a similar habit.

"No need. You can have it. Consider it a gift to commemorate our first [date]."

"...You're calling what happened this afternoon a date?"

"What else? You were rather mean to me, Hoshino-kun, but I got something good out of it too. We both gained something, so that afternoon's [encounter] was a memorable [meeting], not a [nuisance]."

"Ah~ I like that way of looking at it."

Hoshino En wasn't the sentimental sort. He happily accepted Sakayanagi Arisu's custom chess set.

"Then I won't keep you. See you~"

He closed the door for her.

"See you tomorrow..."

Her farewell came through the crack in the door and reached Hoshino En's ears.

This girl could be pretty cute sometimes!

After saying goodbye to Sakayanagi Arisu, Hoshino En took the elevator back to his own floor, the fourth.

He walked to his room and was about to open the door with his Key Card when Kushida Kikyo suddenly appeared in the corner of his vision.

She was standing at the turn in the stairwell. When she saw him by his door, she looked surprised, then approached with a smile.

"Oh my~ Hoshino-kun, what a coincidence. We've run into each other again."

What a coincidence, all right!

Looking at Kushida Kikyo, who was putting on an act without looking ridiculous, Hoshino En muttered inwardly.

This was the men's floor. What was a girl doing here, pretending they'd just bumped into each other?

"Come inside if you have something to say. And that excuse was terrible. Think of a better one next time."

Hoshino En opened the door and invited Kushida Kikyo in.

But the moment he closed the door behind them, Kushida Kikyo's expression changed.

"Ugh, Wang Meiyu is such an idiot! A perfect opportunity was right in front of her, and she didn't do a thing. I really don't know what goes on in that girl's head!"

At last, she turned her tirade on the best friend she openly treasured most.

Hoshino En poured her a glass of water, ushered her into the bathroom, and turned on the shower.

"What's it about this time?"

He leaned against the bathroom doorframe, watching [Little Angel] kick the wall beside the pipes in a rage.

"It's Wang Meiyu again!"

Kushida Kikyo had run out of steam. She downed the water Hoshino En had poured for her and smacked her lips, seeming ready to start another round.

"I know it's about her. You were helping her get together with Hirata earlier, right? What, did she turn him down?"

"Exactly!"

With Hoshino En [joining in], Kushida Kikyo seemed to have found a [comrade] who shared her feelings. Her energy returned, and she vented even more fiercely.

"She was the one who said she wanted to pursue Hirata. We went to all the trouble of setting up tonight's gathering to bring them together. We got every bit of preparation right. All she had to do was take the final step, and then—"

At that, Kushida Kikyo seemed to have another fit of rage. She let out several wild yells and kicked the bathroom wall a few more times, nearly hitting him with a couple of them.

"Then that little brat backed out at the last minute. She gave some garbage excuse like, 'I don't think it's a good time to talk about this. Maybe we should just forget it.' I swear, I can't even."

"We did so much for her, and then she ran off on her own, leaving us hanging. Honestly..."

"All right, all right. Calm down."

Seeing that she seemed unsatisfied with kicking the wall and was about to use her hands as well, Hoshino En quickly stopped her.

"This little thing shouldn't be enough to make you lose it. You've said even more outrageous things to me before... What's wrong today? Why are you so stressed?"

When he pointed it out directly, Kushida Kikyo reined in her anger and gave him a deeply aggrieved look instead.

"It's because you gave me away. Ever since then, those gal pals who hang around Karuizawa have been watching me like a hawk. Every now and then, they make some disgusting remark too. I can't say much without damaging my image, so I just have to take it."

In other words, the four [gal pals] in the [Empress Group] had been putting pressure on her, and then her best friend Wang Meiyu had delivered a spectacular [backstab], crushing her when she was already at her limit.

Poor thing.

"But there's one thing you've got wrong: I wasn't the one who gave you away. It was Sakayanagi Arisu. If you want to blame someone, blame her. I even helped you cover up your motives and intentions. You can't bite the hand that fed you!"

Kushida Kikyo couldn't argue with Hoshino En's defense. She really couldn't bring herself to speak ill of someone who'd helped her.

"I just came to vent to you, like I usually do. I wasn't trying to blame you."

"Also, I want to join your [private tea party] with Ayanokoji-kun!"

She raised her hand like a well-behaved student asking the teacher for permission.

"I can tell you just want to eat."

It was only one more place setting, so Hoshino En didn't refuse.

"But you can do the dishes afterward. Kiyotaka has been washing up for a whole month. He deserves a break today."

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 48: Ayanokoji Chapter: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's [Nightlife]

On the night of April 2, my [neighbor], my [friend] Hoshino En, sent me a message. He said he wanted information about Horikita Suzune.

Because we were [friends], I didn't hide what I'd learned from Horikita. I told him everything in detail, and then our conversation ended... Or at least, that was how it was supposed to go.

I didn't know why the conversation had eventually turned to my social life, but since he'd offered to share his experience, I didn't mind [using] him as a helpful tool.

But things were far from as simple as I'd imagined. Every night from then on, he called me to his room on the pretext of [sharing his experience as an ordinary person], then had me eat foods I'd previously only studied as part of my education.

His unusual behavior made me wary, and I'd also picked up on another detail from what he'd said: he seemed to know all about me, including the [White Room] and my status as the [Masterpiece].

Could he be an assassin from the [White Room]?

I couldn't help wondering that at the time, and I felt boundless hostility toward him.

But the truth seemed different from what I'd imagined. He really did seem to be teaching me how to get along with people and build good relationships with my classmates. He'd even noticed my hostility and wariness, yet he hadn't shown the slightest hint of displeasure. Instead, he'd praised my reaction.