Who Isn't a Herrscher

"Huh?"

A blush of crimson stained the cheeks of Kidewara Kanata's delicate and beautiful face, her azure eyes looking at Luo Mio with a hint of moisture.

Rare... this is truly a rare sight...

In Luo Mio's memory, he couldn't recall ever seeing Kidewara Kanata looking so vibrantly beautiful. While Sister Kanata, like Brother Awa, was mischievous when they were children, in the rare times he saw her after growing up, she always presented herself with elegant words and demeanor.

He found himself momentarily stunned.

Kidewara Kanata touched her flushed cheeks, which were hot from shyness, before regaining her composure and offering a graceful, concealing smile.

"It's nothing, I probably just finished bathing, so my face is still a little warm."

"Is that so..."

Ikki, who had been observing from the side, noticed something with his sharp insight, a flicker of confusion appearing in his eyes.

"...Kanata-senpai's emotions... they were clearly..."

He then looked at Luo Mio, who was sitting beside him, head bowed, his gaze hidden beneath his bangs, only his flushed cheek visible.

His gaze shifted to Touka... she was also silent. Although her cheeks weren't flushed, a side of her chestnut hair revealed ears that were completely red.

He then recalled what Luo Mio had just said... and it all clicked together...

Ikki's lips twitched slightly.

Could it be... Touka-nee and the others heard something in the bathhouse?

Just then, the silent Touka suddenly spoke, asking Luo Mio, "Miohua, um... Sister wants to ask you something."

"...Huh?" Luo Mio replied distractedly, "Go ahead."

Touka's voice drifted out softly.

"What kind of girls do you like?"

Girls...

Upon hearing this, Luo Mio's mind immediately conjured the image of Touka in the elegant white dress she wore at the banquet, and the blushing, radiant face of Kidewara Kanata from just now.

There was no need to think.

"Beautiful ones, like Sister and Kanata-nee."

Ikki spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness, covering his eyes.

Stella, as someone directly involved, understood Touka's current situation perfectly, and Luo Mio's answer clearly made her feel a bit embarrassed.

It was true that in terms of looks, both Touka and Kidewara Kanata were outstanding among women their age. Touka, with her chestnut-gold eyes and chestnut hair, was perhaps held back by her large glasses and twin-braid hairstyle.

Kidewara Kanata, on the other hand, had beautiful golden hair, an elegant and dignified face, and a noble aura. Her status as the eldest daughter of the Kidewara family further added to her allure.

Not to mention their strength.

Currently, both women were the dream girls of many male students.

If it were any other man, they would have refused without hesitation, but the person before them...

Upon hearing Luo Mio's words, Touka and Kidewara Kanata's faces became even more radiant, and the temperature on their cheeks gradually rose.

Ikki and Stella could see both Touka and Kidewara Kanata emitting shy heat like steam engines from the tops of their heads.

"..."

Luo Mio blurted it out instinctively. A moment of silence descended upon the group, and Luo Mio's mind gradually cleared and calmed down.

Realizing what he had said, Luo Mio broke out in a cold sweat, his mouth trembling.

"W-w-what did I just say..."

He then looked at Touka and Kidewara Kanata, who had turned into steam engines, so shy they couldn't even lift their heads because of his words.

And just as everyone remained in silent awkwardness.

Kidewara Kanata broke the silence.

"Um..."

She then shyly raised her head, her moist eyes filled with emotion looking at Luo Mio, her cheeks still flushed.

"Little Mio, if you don't mind... the age difference... I don't mind either."

"..."

"There is a difference!"

Touka, on the other side, suddenly stood up, her chestnut-gold eyes filled with determination on her blushing face.

"I will absolutely not give Little Mio to you, Kanata!"

Touka continued, "Little Mio is my brother! I should be the one to vet his girlfriend!"

"Eh?"

"...Sister?"

Kanata also stood up, her eyes fixed on Touka.

"You don't get to decide this, Touka!"

She pointed at Luo Mio.

"Little Mio does."

The two girls then looked at Luo Mio.

"...This"

Luo Mio looked at the two girls, unsure of what to do.

Chapter 47: It's Over

Luo Mio looked at Touka and Kanata, who were pressing him intensely.

He tilted his head slightly towards Ikki and Stella, the couple nearby, seeking help.

When Ikki noticed Luo Mio's pleading gaze, he returned a look of helplessness.

Sorry, Miohua, I really can't help you with this...

"Little Mio! ×2"

Luo Mio defensively leaned back.

"What are you guys doing?"

At that moment, a voice echoed from the restaurant hallway.

Everyone looked and saw Morohoshi Yudai standing there, wearing the Buku Academy student uniform with light blonde hair tied back by a black bandana, looking at Luo Mio and his group.

Upon seeing Morohoshi Yudai, Luo Mio felt as if he had seen a savior.

He then lunged forward.

"I'm saved! Morohoshi-senpai!"

"Eh?! What?!"

Morohoshi Yudai was completely bewildered, looking at Luo Mio with a blank expression, then at Touka and Kanata.

Touka and Kanata: "Stare..."

Morohoshi Yudai shivered under the sharp gaze of the two girls.

He hesitantly asked Ikki, "Hey, Kurogane, what's wrong with those two?"

Swallowing hard.

"They've been staring at me the whole time."

Ikki scratched his cheek and said with a wry smile, "This... maybe Morohoshi-senpai just came at the wrong time?"

Hearing Ikki's words, Morohoshi Yudai swallowed again, glanced at Touka and Kanata, then at Luo Mio, who had lunged forward and was clinging to his leg.

He muttered softly, "Is it too late for me to leave now?"

At the dining table, everyone ate their dinner in silence, the atmosphere incredibly awkward.

The reason was Luo Mio's seating arrangement, which gave Ikki and Morohoshi Yudai a massive headache.

Luo Mio sat between Ikki and Morohoshi Yudai. On the other side of them were Kanata and Touka.

Stella, who had been sitting next to Ikki, saw Luo Mio's seat and, sensing Kanata's burning aura, abandoned Ikki with extreme self-preservation instincts. She let Kanata take her seat and sat on the other side to watch the show.

On either side of Luo Mio, Ikki and Morohoshi Yudai sat on their chairs, feeling as if they were sitting on pins and needles.

Ikki looked pleadingly at Stella, who had sold him out.

"Stella..."

Morohoshi Yudai said to Touka, "Um, Tou—"

Before he could finish, Touka coldly asked, "Is there something you need?"

"Morohoshi—classmate?"

She said each syllable with heavy emphasis.

Morohoshi Yudai shivered and shook his head.

"Nothing... nothing."

He forced a smile on his face, but inside he was thinking...

Asei! Momiji! Come save me!

And then, in front of the restaurant's entrance, Shizuku and Arisugawa appeared.

"Oh my, isn't that Ikki's sister?"

From behind them, Asagi Momiji's voice rang out.

Shizuku looked back, seeing Asagi Momiji and Jonoshiraki Byakuya walking towards them.

"Senior Asagi," Shizuku bowed slightly and greeted her elegantly.

Arisugawa, standing beside Shizuku, also smiled and greeted Jonoshiraki Byakuya.

Jonoshiraki Byakuya nodded in return.

"Senior Asagi, what are you doing here?" Shizuku asked Asagi Momiji.

"Oh, that! A-Hoshi invited me and A-Sei to eat at the restaurant," Asagi Momiji said energetically, completely shedding the shyness she had in the bathhouse.

Shizuku looked at Asagi Momiji and Jonoshiraki Byakuya, then asked with a hint of confusion, "Then what about Morohoshi-senpai?"

Jonoshiraki Byakuya adjusted his glasses and answered for Asagi Momiji, "Yudai, he went into the restaurant ahead of us."

"I see."

Arisugawa smiled and invited them, "Then shall we go in and eat together?"

"We'll be troubling you then," Jonoshiraki Byakuya said with a polite bow.

"Not at all, not at all," Arisugawa waved his hand.

Shizuku and Asagi Momiji watched the two very handsome men converse, unable to interject for a moment.

Then, Shizuku said to Asagi Momiji, "Let's go in then, Senior Asagi."

"Okay."

Asagi Momiji nodded.