"Seriously, how did things end up like this?" Yunyi rubbed his temples helplessly.
"What exactly are you so unhappy about?" Mayumi Saegusa snapped.
As for being unhappy, Yunyi didn't actually feel dissatisfied. After all, Mayumi Saegusa was outstanding in every respect. But precisely because of that, if rumors of a relationship between them got out, there would definitely be plenty of trouble in his life afterward.
"Come to think of it, how are you going to get your dad to agree? I'm just the useless young master of a declining noble family. There's no way he'd agree, is there?" Yunyi asked.
"Didn't I already tell you? You just need to reveal a little of your strength!"
Mayumi Saegusa chuckled. "The nine schools competition is coming up soon, too! I'll help you get a spot in it. As long as you get a good result, I'll have a way to persuade my father."
Yunyi blinked blankly. After a moment, he said irritably, "Had you already planned this out?"
"No, I hadn't!" Mayumi Saegusa was all smiles. From Yunyi's words, she could tell that he had already decided to agree.
"Let me make this clear first. I can't reveal too much, or it'll be too easy to attract the attention of the Ten Master Clans."
Yunyi had meant to give Mayumi Saegusa a warning in advance. Instead, she shot back, "I'm from the Ten Master Clans!" leaving him completely speechless.
"All right, we'll do as you say. I agree to take part in the nine schools competition. But there's one more thing. How are you going to explain me suddenly being able to use magic?" Yunyi asked, raising another question.
"Just leave it to your big sister!" Mayumi Saegusa promised, patting her chest.
"Sigh..."
Yunyi sighed deeply and slumped on the sofa, watching the beaming Mayumi Saegusa. He felt as though his clever plan had backfired.
Having reached an agreement with Yunyi, Mayumi Saegusa was clearly in a much better mood. Humming a song, she headed toward the stairs.
Seeing this, Yunyi asked in confusion, "What are you doing? Aren't you going home?"
"Hm?" Mayumi Saegusa looked at Yunyi in puzzlement.
"Of course not. I'm staying over tonight. Oh, and I'm borrowing your bathroom."
With that, she went upstairs, humming a cheerful tune without waiting for Yunyi to respond.
"I..."
Yunyi sat on the sofa, dumbfounded. Only after Mayumi Saegusa had disappeared from sight did he let out a curse.
In fact, pretending to be Mayumi Saegusa's boyfriend wasn't all trouble for him. There were considerable benefits, too.
The longer he remained undercover in Japan, the more trouble he would encounter. He couldn't hide his strength forever; the day would come when it was exposed. If he could reveal some of his strength under Mayumi Saegusa's cover before then, it would actually help him keep the more crucial things hidden. Wasn't that exactly what Tatsuya Shiba, that king of showing off, did?
"The nine schools competition, huh?" Yunyi pondered.
This year's nine schools competition still had the traditional events: Speed Shooting, Crowd Ball, Battle Board, Icicle Destruction, Mirage Bat, and Monolith Code. Of these, Mirage Bat was limited to the women's division, while Monolith Code was limited to the men's division.
For him, Icicle Destruction was probably the most suitable event if he wanted to show his strength without revealing too much. He also happened to have magic suited to that event, so he planned to enter that one.
Taking part in the nine schools competition had another benefit for him: he could seize the chance to capture No Head Dragon's leader, Douglas Huang! The man was a trusted subordinate of Richard Sun, that old black worm's little brother! If he caught him, he might be able to follow the trail and get a hold of that old black worm's tail!
With that thought, he stopped dwelling on pretending to be a couple with Mayumi Saegusa and got up to head upstairs.
Meanwhile, at the Saegusa Family residence.
Koichi Saegusa received word after Mayumi Saegusa left home. Although he was somewhat displeased by his daughter's willfulness that evening, he wasn't angry. But when he learned that Mayumi Saegusa had not gone where he had guessed, but instead to the home of the First High School student who had once helped her, Koichi Saegusa realized something was amiss.
"Nagura, look into the student named Liu Yunyi for me. I need the most detailed information you can find on him," Koichi Saegusa instructed.
"Yes, family head."
The next day.
When Yunyi got up and went downstairs, the dining table was already covered with a lavish breakfast.
Seeing Mayumi Saegusa emerge from the kitchen in an apron, carrying a plate, Yunyi couldn't help whistling. "What's this? A boyfriend perk?" he teased.
"Shut up!" A blush appeared on Mayumi Saegusa's pretty face.
"Then again, this is only a limited-time offering for this morning. It'll be gone tomorrow, so I suppose it doesn't really count as a boyfriend perk," Yunyi complained in a "low voice."
But his voice was just low enough for Mayumi Saegusa to hear.
"Are you eating or not?" Mayumi Saegusa asked with a smile.
"Tsk, tsk, how scary." After another teasing remark, Yunyi took a seat.
Mayumi Saegusa rolled her eyes at him, then put the cut sandwiches on the plate in front of him.
Yunyi was very pleased with Mayumi Saegusa's cooking, so much so that he ate all the breakfast on the table. Mayumi Saegusa was pleased with that response as well. After she cleared the table, the two headed to First High School together.
But before they left, Yunyi's remark, "Mayumi does have a bit of the good wife and loving mother in her," had made Mayumi Saegusa furious!
What do you mean, a bit!? I clearly could be...
Ah, no, no, Mayumi, what are you thinking!
Sitting in the car, Mayumi Saegusa's thoughts raced. Watching her expression change over and over, Yunyi nearly burst out laughing.
In front of the station, the two had barely gotten out of the car when First High School students on the road spotted them.
As student council president, Mayumi Saegusa was one of the most famous and well-regarded people at First High School. Her going to school with a male student was already big enough news to shake the school. On top of that, Yunyi was a Course 2 Student, so word had spread before the two even reached school!
The two parted ways after entering the school. Mayumi Saegusa had to stop by the Student Council to finish the work she hadn't completed yesterday. Yunyi went straight to his classroom.
Mayumi Saegusa had originally wanted to press Yunyi into helping her, but he fended her off by saying he had business with Tatsuya Shiba.
As soon as Yunyi walked into the classroom, he heard Erika Chiba's voice.
"Look, there he is! Leo, Miki, grab him, quick!"