"Are these the people you were talking about?" Tatsuya Shiba asked, puzzled.
"Yeah, they certainly seem to be the people involved, but where's Mizuki Shibata?" Baifeng Uesugi asked, puzzled.
"Mizuki's helping out in the kitchen. She refused to come out front no matter what I said, so I had no choice but to let him wash dishes."
Erika Chiba sounded exasperated.
"I'm impressed you managed to sneak in," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Hehe, that was no big deal. Did I surprise you?" Erika Chiba asked.
"You did. I was surprised," Tatsuya Shiba replied.
"Did I surprise you, Bai Feng?" Erika Chiba asked again when Baifeng Uesugi said nothing.
"Nope. Given the way you do things, it wasn't hard to guess you'd do something like this if I thought about it."
Baifeng Uesugi said.
"Hey, sounds like you know me pretty well, Bai Feng. Have you been watching me in secret all this time?"
Erika Chiba said, full of herself.
"Heh, you're reading too much into it, Erika. You're just easy to predict," Baifeng Uesugi said helplessly.
"What do you mean, I'm easy to predict?" Erika Chiba asked, puzzled.
"Bai Feng means that just looking at you is enough to tell that you're reckless in the way you do things. Am I right?"
Tatsuya Shiba said with a smile.
"Yeah, more or less." Baifeng Uesugi took a sip of his drink.
"Come on, Bai Feng. Honestly," Erika Chiba said, dejected.
"Hi, Erika."
Miyuki Shiba walked over and greeted her.
"You look so cute."
"Right? It is cute, isn't it? But these two didn't react at all when they saw me," Erika Chiba said helplessly.
"Haha, my brother isn't interested in this sort of thing. But Bai Feng should be quite interested. Why he didn't react when he saw you wearing it, though, I don't know."
Baifeng Uesugi had liked seeing her wear outfits like this before. At first, Miyuki Shiba hadn't thought much of it, and since Baifeng Uesugi liked seeing her in them, she'd obliged.
But after learning some special information about them later, Miyuki Shiba had seldom worn them.
"I see. So you're not interested in cosplay, Tatsuya. Then, Bai Feng, can you tell me why you didn't react when you saw me wearing this?"
Erika Chiba asked.
"Ah." Baifeng Uesugi sighed helplessly.
Seeing that Baifeng Uesugi didn't seem inclined to say it outright, Miyuki Shiba spoke up.
"This is cosplay?"
"I don't think so, but it seems the boys see it that way," Erika Chiba explained.
"By boys, do you mean Saijou?" Miyuki Shiba asked.
"Miki was the one who called it cosplay," Erika Chiba said.
"But I gave him a good thrashing for it."
"Miki?" Miyuki Shiba asked, puzzled.
"Oh, right, you haven't met Miki yet, have you, Miyuki?"
With that, she trotted off.
"Erika?"
Miyuki Shiba asked, puzzled.
"What's gotten into her?"
"Miyuki, that's just how Erika is. She's a bit scatterbrained," Baifeng Uesugi said.
"Bai Feng, it's not nice to say that about a girl."
Miyuki Shiba smiled.
"It's fine. She can't hear me anyway," Baifeng Uesugi said with a shrug.
"What if my brother tells Erika?" Miyuki Shiba asked, puzzled.
"Tatsuya, I don't think you'd tell her, would you?"
Baifeng Uesugi asked with a smile.
"Brother, don't worry. My lips are sealed," Tatsuya Shiba hurriedly replied, a chill running down his back when he saw Baifeng Uesugi's smile.
"But Bai Feng, I remember you quite liked outfits like that. You even kept asking me to wear them before, so why didn't you react when Erika wore one this time?"
Miyuki Shiba asked, puzzled.
"Miyuki, it depends on who's wearing it, okay? Erika, how should I put it? She doesn't really suit that kind of outfit. She'd suit something..."
"Bai Feng, Miyuki, so this is where you are." Shizuku Kitayama walked over to Baifeng Uesugi and greeted them.
"You're here too, Tatsuya," Honoka Mitsui said.
"Shizuku, no more boxed lunches for you."
Remembering how Shizuku Kitayama had blurted things out earlier, Baifeng Uesugi grew angry and immediately decided to cut off her food supply.
"Bai Feng, what's wrong? Did I make you angry?"
Realizing she wouldn't get to eat such delicious food anymore, Shizuku Kitayama hurriedly asked.
"What do you think? Is it because of what happened in the car?" Shizuku Kitayama asked.
"Yeah, as long as you know."
"Bai Feng, I'm really sorry, but could you please not stop making me boxed lunches?" Shizuku Kitayama pleaded.
"Bai Feng, don't blame Shizuku," Miyuki Shiba said, looking at Baifeng Uesugi with a smile.
But as Baifeng Uesugi looked at Miyuki Shiba's smile, he couldn't help feeling that something was off. It was as if she'd cause a death if he dared disagree.
"All right, since Miyuki has spoken, I'll forgive you this time. But you have to agree to one condition."
Under pressure from Miyuki Shiba, Baifeng Uesugi had no choice but to say.
"Okay, what condition?" Shizuku Kitayama asked.
"Hehe."
Baifeng Uesugi gave a cheeky grin, then leaned close to Shizuku Kitayama's ear and whispered.
"Ah, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
Shizuku Kitayama said shyly.
"What's inappropriate about it? It's perfectly normal," Baifeng Uesugi explained.
"What are you two talking about, Bai Feng?" Miyuki Shiba asked, puzzled.
"Miyuki, Bai Feng asked me to soak in the hot spring with him tonight," Shizuku Kitayama said.
"A hot spring? What? A hot spring?" Miyuki Shiba exclaimed.
She then turned an angry look on Baifeng Uesugi.
"Bai Feng, are you going to soak in the hot spring alone with Shizuku?"
Miyuki Shiba placed particular emphasis on the word "alone."
Baifeng Uesugi had never expected Shizuku Kitayama to say it outright, and he felt a little helpless at her airheaded innocence.
"No, you can all come along too," Baifeng Uesugi said.
"But Bai Feng, as far as I know, this hotel doesn't have a mixed-gender hot spring."
Honoka Mitsui reminded him.
"Really? I thought it did?" Baifeng Uesugi asked, puzzled. Then he turned to Tatsuya Shiba and asked.
"Tatsuya, does it?"
"It does. The hotel is equipped with a mixed-gender hot spring," Tatsuya Shiba explained.
"Really? You know this place pretty well, Tatsuya," Honoka Mitsui said.
"Heh." Tatsuya Shiba merely chuckled and didn't answer.
"Tatsuya, want to come?" Baifeng Uesugi asked.
"I'll pass, Bai Feng. I have something to take care of tonight," Tatsuya Shiba declined.
"All right, then it'll just be me, Miyuki, and Shizuku tonight, right?" Baifeng Uesugi confirmed.
"Bai Feng, did you forget about me?" Honoka Mitsui said angrily.
"Oh, you're coming too? That makes four of us. Once the gathering's over, let's meet at the hot spring."
Baifeng Uesugi said with a smile.
"Honoka, where is everyone else, by the way?" Miyuki Shiba asked, puzzled.
"Over there," Honoka said, pointing in a direction.
"This is absurd. They're all first-years at First High School and members of the same team," Kanon Chiyoda said.
"Chiyoda," Tatsuya Shiba greeted her.
Since he wasn't very familiar with Kanon or Kei, Baifeng Uesugi said nothing and quietly observed.
"Kanon, even when you know that, your body doesn't do as it's told. That's the human heart for you," Kei, standing beside Kanon, said.
"Kei, that's only acceptable on certain occasions," Kanon said.
"Both of you make very valid points," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"But there's a simpler solution right now."
"Miyuki, go join the others. Teamwork is important, after all."
"But, Bai Feng..."
Miyuki Shiba looked at Baifeng Uesugi questioningly.
"Miyuki, this concerns tactics too. There's nothing wrong with following Tatsuya's arrangement," Baifeng Uesugi explained.
"I understand, Bai Feng. Brother, I'll go over there now," Miyuki Shiba said.
"Bai Feng, see you tonight," Honoka Mitsui said.
"Yeah, see you tonight," Baifeng Uesugi said with a smile.
"Then we'll take our leave as well." After saying goodbye, Kanon left with Kei.
After watching everyone leave, Tatsuya Shiba asked.
"Brother, was it inappropriate for me to arrange things this way?"
"Tatsuya, haven't you made new friends too?" Baifeng Uesugi said with a smile.
Hearing that, Tatsuya Shiba immediately understood what Baifeng Uesugi meant.
"Yes, brother."
Tatsuya Shiba replied.
"All right, there are so many people here, and I can see quite a few from the Ten Master Clans. Don't call me brother; just call me Bai Feng."
Baifeng Uesugi said with a wave of his hand.
"Yes."
"Huh, where's Miyuki?" Erika Chiba asked as she came over with someone.
"Tatsuya, I'm heading back. I don't much like the atmosphere here."
Baifeng Uesugi really had no interest in gatherings like this. He'd rather go back and lie down for a while than spend his time here.
"I sent her over to the others. You can introduce them later," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Yeah, don't mind me. It's a little embarrassing to meet you for the first time dressed like this," Mikihiko said.
"Isn't that how hotel employees dress?" Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Miki, you're too self-conscious," Erika Chiba said.
"My name is Mikihiko," Mikihiko corrected her.
"By the way, where are Leo and Mizuki? They came too, didn't they?" Tatsuya Shiba asked.
"Do you think Leo could handle serving guests?" Erika Chiba said.
"He should at least know how to conduct himself," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Mizuki said she didn't like this outfit. I guess she and Miki are kindred spirits," Erika Chiba said.
"My name is Mikihiko," Mikihiko corrected her again.
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