Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, grove.
"Ah, you caught me."
Ayanokoji Kiyoko emerged from the bushes with a robotic expression. She looked at Morishita Ran in Amasawa's arms, then at Amasawa Reigetsu.
Amasawa: This girl didn't even do anything, so why do I feel like I'm about to die!?
"Goodness~ Rei-kun, who's that in your arms?"
"Uh... a classmate... I guess?"
I hadn't done anything. I just didn't want to fight, so I used Induction to make Morishita Ran think she was fighting me when she was actually asleep. So why did I feel like I'd been caught in bed with someone?
Amasawa Reigetsu didn't understand.
"No! Amasawa Reigetsu, I surrender! Stop hitting me! Ahhhhh!"
Amasawa Reigetsu understood.
Morishita Ran was mercilessly tossed to the ground, and Ayanokoji Kiyoko took her place, occupying the nest.
"You used Induction on her too."
"That's cheating on me ( ᗜ ‸ ᗜ )"
"My heart's beating so fast, and my face feels hot... Am I overheating?"
"Rei, say something."
Amasawa Reigetsu said nothing. He simply lowered his head and covered Ayanokoji Kiyoko's mouth with his, stopping her from saying anything more.
This girl was such a Hajimi. Why did it feel like she was on the way to becoming a yandere? Oh man, I really couldn't beat her. Would I end up like those bizarre letters, where—
Somewhere unknown, in a basement.
"Rei, I really, really, really love you♡, but why are you trying to escape? Is the love I give you not enough?"
"Come on, let's keep loving each other. Not even death will tear us apart—"
"Or maybe I should make you a part of my body... Then you'll never leave me♡"
Amasawa Reigetsu broke out in a cold sweat. That sort of thing only happened in the bizarre letters next door... right?
Ayanokoji Kiyoko's robotic eyes suddenly widened. Her pupils contracted violently at the sudden assault, then quickly dilated again.
Ayanokoji Kiyoko: Ha!
Hajimi's fur stood on end.
Amasawa Reigetsu's presence enveloped her forcefully. His touch, carrying an unmistakable air of dominance, gradually wore down her defenses. Her shoulders, which had been slightly tense with nerves, had quietly relaxed.
The mechanical detachment in her clear eyes gradually melted into a pool of spring water. She slowly and obediently closed her eyes, her long lashes casting a quiet shadow beneath them. When she opened them again, a hazy mist had replaced the clarity in her gaze.
"Rei... you're so domineering. I love this feeling♡"
Their lips parted. Ayanokoji Kiyoko no longer tried to push him away. Instead, as if she'd found the safest harbor, she instinctively rubbed her head against Reigetsu's chest.
Could she really be a Hajimi?
Amasawa Reigetsu gently soothed Ayanokoji Kiyoko, then glanced at Morishita Ran, who was about to wake up—
Wait, there was another expert here?
Was this grove being livestreamed by the Throne of Heroes too!? Wasn't that even worse than high jumping? That was an invasion of my privacy, wasn't it?!
Amasawa Reigetsu was at a loss. Perhaps the chairman, the Class A, B, C, and D homeroom teachers, the leaders of Classes A, B, C, and D, the first-, second-, and third-year students, and even Ayanokoji Atsuomi were watching. Maybe even Amasawa Ichika and the others, who would arrive in the future...
There was no way that could happen... right?
In the opposite direction, Sakayanagi Arisu stood leaning on her cane, her face flushed and her eyes feverish as she watched him. The hand holding her cane trembled slightly, as if she might fall over at any moment.
"Which of you is stronger, you or Ayanokoji?"
"It's a 9-to-1 split. I'd be beaten into a cloud of blood in nine seconds."
The answer that the boy named Rei had given her in the White Room echoed in Sakayanagi Arisu's ears.
Sakayanagi's lips unconsciously curved into an almost entranced smile. It lacked the usual sense of effortless control and instead held an almost devout fervor. She gently stroked her cane, as though she were touching Amasawa Reigetsu himself.
Amasawa Reigetsu was a true genius. He really was favored by heaven, wasn't he?
But even she failed to notice that an instinctive yearning deep in her bones made Sakayanagi Arisu's heart beat faster against her will. Even her pale cheeks had taken on an unusual blush.
Haa...
Sakayanagi Arisu let out a long breath, as if expelling all her thoughts. Satisfied, she gently stroked the cane she had gotten from Amasawa, then turned and left.
Thanks for the meal. (licks lips)
Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, tree-lined path.
Amasawa Reigetsu didn't bother with Sakayanagi Arisu, who'd been peeking from the sidelines, then worked herself into a frenzy before leaving of her own accord, like a jerk who pulled up his pants and pretended nothing had happened. If he kept her there, the crowd watching might double.
At that moment, Amasawa Reigetsu had Morishita Ran on one side and Ayanokoji Kiyoko on the other—if they didn't get back to class, Kiyoko wouldn't be able to get her terminal!
Let's rewind two minutes—
"Waaahhhh!!" Morishita Ran finally woke from her nightmare—though Amasawa Reigetsu hadn't meant for her to have one. He'd only made her fight him in her dream. Who knew the little girl would be so bad at it?
"W-w-w-where am I?! Amasawa Reigetsu, I surrender! You can't hit me anymore!... Huh, I don't hurt? What's going on?"
Morishita Ran struggled to her feet, then saw Amasawa Reigetsu and an unfamiliar girl with an utterly ordinary, robotic air watching her. She immediately bristled, hissed, and surrendered in one fluid motion. Only then did she notice she didn't seem to have any injuries. The Hajimi's code conflicted, and her brain froze.
"This is my classmate, Morishita Ran from Class A. She grabbed me and tried to fight as soon as she got to class. I didn't do anything." Amasawa Reigetsu introduced her to Ayanokoji Kiyoko, then picked Morishita Ran up by the scruff—or rather, by her collar.
"This is my... um—"
"I'm Ayanokoji Kiyoko from Class D, and I'm Amasawa Reigetsu's mo—"
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!!!! Shut up! Are you trying to ruin the story? You sneaky girl!"
When Amasawa Reigetsu heard Ayanokoji Kiyoko stop halfway and realized something was wrong, his ability to dodge danger kicked in. He used his once-per-chapter teleportation and covered Ayanokoji Kiyoko's mouth before she could say something outrageous.
"I'm Amasawa Reigetsu's loyal dog. Nice to meet you, woof."
That was acceptable enough. He looked at Morishita Ran beside him. She showed no reaction at all.
Stand Users really did attract one another.jpg
Amasawa: "Take out your terminal. Let's add each other."
Morishita Ran: "Starting a harem group? Sure!"
Ayanokoji: "What's a terminal?"
Amasawa, Morishita Ran: ?
Ayanokoji's blanket was already out drying on the balcony.