"Hey! Yunyi, don't say things like that!" Mayumi Saegusa immediately stood up to protest.
Seeing how agitated she was, everyone present stopped what they were doing.
Mari Watanabe looked back and forth between Yunyi and Mayumi Saegusa several times. A teasing glint flashed in her eyes as she said, "Mayumi, huh~? I didn't see you for one day, and your relationship with Mayumi has progressed awfully fast, Liu Yunyi!"
"Mari!!!" Mayumi Saegusa grew even more agitated, startling Mari Watanabe.
But given how close they were, Mari quickly noticed that something was off with Mayumi Saegusa. She stopped teasing her and fell silent instead.
Suzune Ichihara had the same thought. Though she appeared unconcerned, her attention remained on Yunyi, waiting to hear how he would explain himself.
"Please don't say that, Chairwoman Watanabe! If other people found out that a Course 2 Student like me had some special relationship with Mayumi, I'm afraid her admirers would tear me apart. I just did Mayumi a small favor yesterday, so she gave me permission to call her that," Yunyi explained, hurriedly waving his hands.
Seeing him wave both hands like little electric fans, Mari Watanabe burst out laughing. She had only thought Mayumi Saegusa's attitude was a little strange and hadn't given it much thought.
"Just sit down already!" Mayumi Saegusa snapped at Yunyi. Then she got up, went to the meal dispenser, and brought a meal back for him.
"Thank you, Mayumi," Yunyi said with a chuckle, looking at the food placed in front of him.
"Don't! Mention! It!" Mayumi Saegusa, on the other hand, was gritting her teeth, looking as though she wanted to bite Yunyi to death.
Yunyi smiled and said nothing more. He didn't want to push Mayumi Saegusa too far either. If he really angered her, his plan would fall through.
But judging by Mayumi Saegusa's attitude, it seemed she was prepared to accept his proposal. It was just that, as far as she was concerned, she would feel more at ease keeping a dangerous person like him under her watch.
The little commotion livened up the mood at the meal. As Yunyi ate the food in front of him, he suddenly seemed to remember something. He looked at Tatsuya Shiba and said, "By the way, Tatsuya, I forgot to congratulate you on officially becoming a member of the Public Morals Committee. You started patrolling yesterday, right? You didn't run into any trouble, did you?"
"Yeah, thank you, Yunyi. I didn't run into any trouble on patrol yesterday," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Oh? So a scene like that didn't even count as trouble to you?" Mari Watanabe asked from beside them.
"What? Was there some kind of conflict yesterday?" Mayumi Saegusa asked hurriedly.
"Yes, there was a bit of a conflict. I was going to tell you after lunch, President," Suzune Ichihara said, taking over the conversation. She gave a detailed account of what had happened in the gymnasium the day before.
After listening to Suzune Ichihara's report, Mayumi Saegusa nodded slightly.
"If both the Public Morals Committee and the Clubs Management Group are fine with it, then there's no need to pursue the matter further. But Tatsuya-kun, please be careful on the job. That was B-rank magic, so you really should take extra care," Mayumi Saegusa cautioned.
"All right, I understand," Tatsuya Shiba said.
Listening to their conversation, Yunyi nearly laughed out loud. He really wanted to tell Mayumi Saegusa that the person sitting beside her was a Strategic-Class Magician in hiding! He really did want to see the expression on Mayumi Saegusa's face when she learned the news.
Come to think of it, what did the book say Mayumi Saegusa's reaction was when she learned Tatsuya Shiba was Tatsuya Yotsuba? Yunyi searched his memory, but he didn't have a photographic memory, so he had forgotten most of what was in the book.
Lost in thought, Yunyi seemed cut off from the outside world. Mayumi Saegusa called his name three times in a row, but he didn't respond at all. Finally, Miyuki Shiba, who was sitting next to him, gave him a discreet nudge, bringing him back to his senses.
"What is it, Shiba?" Yunyi asked, looking at the girl sitting beside him in confusion.
"The president is calling you," Miyuki Shiba said.
"Oh, I see." Yunyi turned to Mayumi Saegusa. He was about to ask what she wanted when he noticed a hint of resentment in the look Mayumi Saegusa was giving her?
"What happened? Mayumi, why are you looking at me like that?" Mayumi Saegusa's gaze made Yunyi a little uncomfortable. He felt as though he was about to break out in a cold sweat.
"Nothing. I just wanted to ask you something. But Yunyi, you seem closer to Miyuki than you are to me," Mayumi Saegusa said in an affectedly coy tone.
"Whoa!" Hearing Mayumi Saegusa say that, Yunyi hurriedly dragged his seat a little farther away from Miyuki Shiba.
"Come on, Mayumi, don't say things like that. Shiba's brother is right here. If he gets the wrong idea, I'll get beaten up!"
Watching his exaggerated reaction, Tatsuya Shiba blinked in confusion.
Yunyi's move away from her had initially made Miyuki Shiba a little uncomfortable. But after hearing his explanation, she laughed instead.
"Yunyi, I think you've misunderstood. My brother and I are just brother and sister. It's not like what you're thinking!" Miyuki Shiba placed particular emphasis on the fact that they were brother and sister.
After listening to her, Yunyi rolled his eyes, regardless of the others watching. He really wanted to record those words and play them back at a certain time to see how Miyuki Shiba would react.
Seeing him roll his eyes, Tatsuya Shiba asked in confusion, "You haven't really misunderstood something, have you?"
"No, no! Don't overthink it, Tatsuya. I don't have the slightest doubt about your relationship!" Yunyi assured him, doing his best to look serious.
With that, he didn't wait for any further reaction from the siblings and went straight to asking Mayumi Saegusa, "Mayumi, what did you want to ask me just now?"
Mayumi Saegusa looked at Yunyi, at a loss for words. She really wanted to ask, Aren't you tired of putting on an act like that?
Seemingly sensing the shift in Mayumi Saegusa's mood, Yunyi put away the slightly exaggerated smile on his face.
"I wanted to ask what kind of club you were planning to join."
After settling her emotions, Mayumi Saegusa finally asked her question.
"A club?" Yunyi repeated, then asked, "Does the go-home club count?"
"The go-home... club?" Azusa Nakajo, who had barely spoken until now, stared blankly at Yunyi. She had never expected to hear an answer like that.