Nagi Higashiyama

"X-Xiao Qian?! What are you doing here? And where did you hear about the b-boy-boyfriend thing?!"

The middle school girl before her, whose hair fell just past her shoulders and whose face bore some resemblance to Kobeni Higashiyama's, was Kobeni's youngest sister, Nagi Higashiyama.

Nagi Higashiyama's sudden appearance and completely unexpected question about a boyfriend left Kobeni Higashiyama so flustered that she could barely speak coherently. Sweat beaded on her face.

"I heard that a famous Devil Hunter transferred into the high school division, and that he's been spending a lot of time with you, Kobeni. Several of my classmates have been wondering if you're his girlfriend. Since Asaba-senpai is so famous, after all."

Seeing how obvious her sister's reaction was, Nagi Higashiyama's smile grew a little knowing.

"N-no! How could I possibly be Asaba's girlfriend?!"

Kobeni Higashiyama hastily denied it.

What she had worried about had happened after all. From what Xiao Qian said, quite a few people probably already thought she and Asaba-kun were dating. The rumors had even reached Xiao Qian's middle school division.

"Asaba?"

To anyone else, that might have sounded like a perfectly ordinary way to address a friend, but Nagi Higashiyama knew her sister well.

Kobeni almost always addressed people formally.

If she was comfortable calling him Asaba, her feelings for him were surely anything but ordinary.

Just then, Asaba Kotone happened to return.

Seeing an unfamiliar girl in a middle school uniform standing at the clubroom entrance, he asked, "Who's this?"

Nagi turned around and immediately recognized him. "Hello, Asaba. I'm Kobeni's younger sister, Nagi Higashiyama. Thank you for always looking after my sister."

Nagi Higashiyama was very polite, and both her voice and her smile were sweet.

"Your sister?"

Asaba Kotone remembered that Kobeni Higashiyama's family had nine sisters, including Kobeni herself, but he hadn't expected to meet one of them here.

She appeared to be a student in the middle school division, and she really did look a little like Kobeni.

"Then could I come in and have a look around, Asaba?"

Hearing Xiao Qian's question, Kobeni Higashiyama immediately panicked.

If Nagi saw the food she had made, her misunderstanding about Kobeni and Asaba would only deepen.

Cooking for a boy was generally something people associated with couples.

But she couldn't say anything, either. Protesting would only make her look even more suspicious, so all she could do was fret silently.

Every bit of what she felt showed on her face.

Asaba Kotone naturally noticed Kobeni Higashiyama's expression. She didn't seem particularly keen on letting Nagi Higashiyama into the clubroom.

He didn't know what kind of relationship Kobeni had with her younger sister, Xiao Qian, either. The original story hadn't introduced Kobeni's other sisters.

So he hesitated, leaving Nagi Higashiyama's question unanswered.

Just then, Nagi Higashiyama added, "Huh? Is there something tasty in there? It smells so good."

Kobeni Higashiyama panicked even more. There was no hiding it now.

Asaba Kotone couldn't very well keep ignoring her, so he replied, "Come in and have a look, then."

"Wow! Did you make this yourself, Kobeni?"

Nagi Higashiyama asked as she looked at the food on the table.

"Y-yes."

Kobeni Higashiyama stood there with a strained expression, as though she were afraid of something.

"But why are there two servings? It looks like you and Asaba are the only people in the club."

Nagi Higashiyama's words were loaded with meaning.

Looking guilty, Kobeni Higashiyama averted her eyes.

"You and Asaba really are close, Kobeni!"

Nagi added, "Then I won't keep being a third wheel. Bye, Kobeni! Bye, Asaba!"

Xiao Qian's abrupt decision to leave took Kobeni Higashiyama somewhat by surprise.

Once she snapped out of it, she hurried after her, explaining to Asaba Kotone, "I'll walk Xiao Qian out."

Asaba Kotone nodded.

Something had clearly been off about Kobeni's behavior, but Nagi Higashiyama seemed to get along well with her. He couldn't figure out why Kobeni had acted that way.

Still, he could tell that Nagi Higashiyama had kept emphasizing, both openly and through hints, how close he and Kobeni were. Was that the reason?

By now, they were some distance from the Reading Club's clubroom. Ostensibly, Kobeni Higashiyama was walking Xiao Qian out, but she actually had another purpose.

"Xiao Qian, things between Asaba and me really aren't what you think..."

Kobeni Higashiyama quietly explained to her younger sister, Xiao Qian.

Her greatest fear was that Xiao Qian would go home and tell their parents about this. She could hardly imagine how they would react. They would probably be furious, wouldn't they?

"I believe you, big sister Kobeni. But even if you really aren't dating, you definitely like Asaba, don't you?"

Nagi Higashiyama had already seen through everything.

"I... I..."

Kobeni Higashiyama wanted to deny it but couldn't get the words out, and she didn't dare admit that she liked Asaba, either. But the blush on her face had already revealed her feelings.

Nagi seemed to have figured out what was worrying her sister, too. "Don't worry, Kobeni. I'm on your side. I won't tell Mom and Dad anything."

"Ah... That's good."

Kobeni Higashiyama immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

She believed Nagi, because of everyone in their family, Nagi was the closest to her.

Besides, she could only trust Xiao Qian. It wasn't as though she could force Xiao Qian to keep quiet.

"Good luck, big sister Kobeni. If you like him, hurry up and tell him. Even in our middle school division, lots of girls want to write Asaba love letters. If you wait too long, someone else might snatch him up."

Nagi Higashiyama reminded Kobeni.

Although Kobeni Higashiyama felt terribly embarrassed, she also understood how serious this was.

If Xiao Qian hadn't reminded her, she would have almost overlooked the fact that Asaba was bound to be popular at school.

Though she felt she wasn't good enough for Asaba, she didn't want to give up before making even the slightest effort.

"Thank you, Xiao Qian. I'll do my best."

"Then hurry back, Kobeni. You don't need to walk me any farther."

"Okay."

Kobeni Higashiyama then returned to the Reading Club's clubroom.

Nagi Higashiyama watched her sister Kobeni walk away for a while before turning to leave herself.

What she had just said was true, but she had also said it deliberately.

Her sister had finally found a boy she liked, and he was an incredibly talented Devil Hunter to boot. Of course Nagi wanted her to seize the opportunity.

Being so close to him gave her a wonderful head start.

Kobeni's sister had finally found a boy she liked, and he was also a talented Devil Hunter. Of course, she hoped Kobeni could seize the opportunity.

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