Afterward, the four of them walked into the cafeteria.
"Ah, aren't those Miohua and Morohoshi-senpai?" While looking for seats, Shizuku spotted Miohua, Morohoshi Yudai, and the others sitting in a corner.
Just as Shizuku was about to walk over, Arisugawa stopped her.
"Alice?" Shizuku looked at Arisugawa in confusion.
Jonoshiraki Byakuya rested his hands beneath his chin and analyzed the situation. "Let's not rush over there just yet."
Clearly, Arisugawa and Jonoshiraki Byakuya had already noticed the strange atmosphere at Luo Mio's table.
Arisugawa then found a spot where they could observe Luo Mio's corner.
"What's going on with Brother and the others...?"
Shizuku frowned and tilted her head slightly as she watched Luo Mio and the others.
Arisugawa gracefully lifted her hot tea and took a sip.
"Though I don't know what happened, given their current atmosphere, they'll probably be hard to approach."
"That's right." Jonoshiraki Byakuya also took a sip of warm water, then glanced at his close friend, Morohoshi Yudai.
Something felt a little strange.
From here, he could clearly observe Morohoshi Yudai's facial expression and emotions.
Restless, anxious, afraid.
Then he looked at Touka beside Morohoshi Yudai.
Her chestnut-gold eyes were cold and sharp, carrying the keen aura of a swordswoman.
The same aura emanated from Kidewara Kanata, the "Scarlet Lady," who sat beside Ikki.
The "Crimson Lotus Princess," meanwhile, looked utterly unconcerned, as though she were simply watching a show.
The "Uncrowned Sword King" shared the same emotions as Yudai.
And Touka's younger brother, "Thousand Stars White Night," looked fearful and evasive.
At that moment, Ikki seemed to sense something and slightly raised his head.
"...?!"
Ikki casually glanced toward Arisugawa's group. The instant he saw the four of them, he lowered his head.
Touka's attention was entirely focused on Kanata and Luo Mio, so she did not notice.
?
Jonoshiraki Byakuya was a little puzzled.
Why had Ikki lowered his head in a panic upon seeing them?
Jonoshiraki Byakuya had felt something strange since earlier.
As if realizing something, he looked toward Asagi Momiji.
The lively, playful aura that Asagi Momiji had possessed when they first met was gone.
Quiet. Silent.
She kept her head lowered, and through her side bangs, he could occasionally see a faint blush on her cheeks.
This...
Surprise appeared in Jonoshiraki Byakuya's intelligent eyes.
Normally, if Asagi Momiji saw such a scene, her eyes would have long since widened as she curiously observed everything. Yet now, she was lowering her head in shy silence.
Jonoshiraki Byakuya narrowed his eyes slightly and looked again at the table with the strange atmosphere.
Had something happened between them...?
Jonoshiraki Byakuya could only make a small guess.
Meanwhile, Ikki, who had his head down as he ate, was breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Why are Shizuku and Alice with Sister Momiji and Jonoshiraki-senpai?!"
"If Sister Touka and the others see Sister Momiji now..."
Ikki quietly swallowed.
Fortunately... Sister Touka and the others hadn't noticed Sister Momiji's arrival yet. And Alice and the others had clearly sensed the atmosphere between them, which was why they had sat at another table.
Now... as long as...
"Senior Asagi! Congratulations on winning today!"
"Congratulations, Senior Asagi!"
Several first- and second-year girls from Buku Academy had somehow arrived at Shizuku's table.
They then began congratulating Asagi Momiji.
Though the girls were not speaking loudly, Shizuku's table was not far from Luo Mio's, so Luo Mio and the others heard them clearly.
"..."
Ikki immediately covered his face with his hand.
It was over...
Today's haul 8,000 crystals, plus 8 supply cards Didn't pull Bronya A full set of Bronya's graduation stigmata, one Blood Dance, and Kafka M. Then I checked my own Armada's results. 10,000 crystals Graduation weapon + T and M In another group, someone bought out all the shop bundles. Then disappeared. All in all, I didn't lose out! Hehehehehehe, I was laughing wildly inside
The Opponent for the Next Match
Morohoshi Yudai also heard someone at Shizuku's table congratulating Asagi Momiji on her victory, and he looked up.
His eyes lit up.
"Momiji! A-Jo!"
Morohoshi Yudai beamed and waved both hands wildly at the four of them.
Signaling for them to come over.
Ikki and Stella stared at Morohoshi Yudai with their mouths slightly open.
Luo Mio remained expressionless, tears streaming down inside.
What was going on today?!
And why was Sister Momiji here?
"Hey, Momiji. Good evening."
Touka stood and spoke to Asagi Momiji as she approached.
"...Ah, good evening, Senior Sister." Asagi Momiji answered Touka somewhat awkwardly.
After all, because of what had happened at noon, whenever she left her room at the hotel, students from other academies would cast curious looks her way.
"I heard you won your match today? Congratulations!"
Touka congratulated Asagi Momiji with a smile.
"Th... thank you, Senior Sister." Asagi Momiji lowered her head and nodded slightly in response.
Although she had come over to Touka's table, Asagi Momiji still did not dare look at Luo Mio.
Arisugawa and Shizuku came up behind Stella.
Shizuku quietly asked Stella, "What happened to them?"
At the same time, Morohoshi Yudai walked over to greet Jonoshiraki Byakuya, complaining tearfully.
"A-Jo, you finally came."
Jonoshiraki Byakuya calmly glanced at him with his phoenix eyes, then looked toward Stella.
Stella gave a bitter smile and briefly explained the series of events from today.
"So that's how it is..." Upon hearing this, Arisugawa narrowed her eyes and smiled at the silent Luo Mio.
Shizuku, meanwhile, looked at Luo Mio with schadenfreude. Covering her little mouth, she quietly snickered. "Serves you right."
Morohoshi Yudai's mouth fell open as he muttered, "Did I just run straight into the line of fire?"
After hearing this, Jonoshiraki Byakuya glanced at Asagi Momiji, then at Luo Mio, and sighed.
Perhaps the addition of Shizuku's group of four eased the atmosphere at Luo Mio's table somewhat.
Everyone ate dinner in harmony.
Asagi Momiji and Touka, the two senior and junior disciples, also chatted together after a long time.
Shizuku and Stella competed to pick up food and place it in Ikki's bowl, while Ikki could only watch them with a bitter smile.
Arisugawa quietly watched the noisy trio of Ikki, Shizuku, and Stella.
Morohoshi Yudai and Jonoshiraki Byakuya, meanwhile, analyzed the content of the matches.
"By the way..." While chatting with Touka, Asagi Momiji remembered the atmosphere she had seen when she approached and asked, "What were you talking about just now, Senior Sister? The atmosphere seemed rather serious."
Those who knew part of the story...
Arisugawa's lips parted slightly, then closed. She lifted the hot tea from the table and held it before her mouth, concealing the upturned corners of her lips.
This is going to be interesting...
Morohoshi and Ikki kept their mouths shut, quietly picking at their food without saying a word.
Stella tilted her head to one side and pretended to ask Jonoshiraki Byakuya something.
Kanata elegantly lifted her teacup. Her refined smile made it impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Luo Mio was even less daring to speak. The hand holding his chopsticks trembled slightly as well.
Like she was watching a show, Shizuku glanced at Luo Mio, then at Touka, the corner of her lips twitching slightly.
"Ah, I heard Stella say that Sister Touka and the others were discussing what kind of girls Miohua likes."
"...?"
Arisugawa was slightly startled.
Stella's lips trembled.
Why am I the one taking the blame?!
Ikki silently wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Jonoshiraki Byakuya pushed up his glasses before his phoenix eyes.
Before you continue