"...A man named Nishioka Tofu suddenly fell ill and collapsed in Kita-Senju. After a thorough diagnosis by the coroner, it is suspected that new stress symptoms related to... have been found."
"The man was carrying four kilograms of..."
The morning news broadcast drifted into the dining room from the living room.
Phoenix Academy Maggie shifted her gaze from her breakfast to the open doorway, then swept over the exquisitely prepared breakfast on the table, and finally landed on Kochou.
She thought about it but eventually decided not to say anything. Instead, she stabbed a delicate blueberry cake with her fork and took a bite.
The blueberries and the fluffiness of the cake spread sweetness between her lips and teeth.
Breakfast in the Phoenix Academy household usually had no connection to Japanese style; it was completely Westernized.
Cakes, bread, egg tarts, and other pastries were paired with sweet red tea. There were dozens of varieties, which seemed like a lot, but the portions were actually quite small.
If two people were eating, there would indeed be some leftovers, but that small amount of waste didn't matter.
"Adachi District has become rather unsettled recently, even more chaotic than before," Kochou initiated the conversation.
Her underlying meaning was that Adachi District wasn't very safe, and she was probing whether a school transfer was necessary.
There were some minor issues that Kochou didn't like to state too explicitly, as being rejected could easily affect her authority.
Every time she chose to speak indirectly, she was gauging her daughter's opinion on the matter.
If there were no objections, then she would proceed with the transfer procedures for Phoenix Academy Maggie.
Phoenix Academy Maggie laughed. "Chaos is a ladder. It's just a matter of who has the skill to climb it."
"That is true." Kochou nodded. "I heard from your tutor that your recent grades have been very good. Don't get complacent; continue to work hard."
"Mother, I have never let you down, now or ever, and that will not change in the future."
"I believe in you." Kochou used this phrase to end their breakfast conversation for the day.
She believed that if a mother and daughter were too close, the mother would lose her authority.
Being both close and authoritative would only make the daughter feel her mother's personality was unpredictable.
Between being a gentle mother and a strict mother, Kochou chose to be strict in guiding Phoenix Academy Maggie.
She believed that education was far more suitable for her daughter than the warmth of familial affection.
Phoenix Academy Maggie arrived at school on time.
She hadn't originally wanted to get to school so early, but going too late would make her mother suspicious about whether she was properly attending her club activities.
Phoenix Academy Maggie was well aware that her mother was a very intelligent person; to deceive her, she had to get every detail right.
Her arrival time at school was usually around seven in the morning.
Now, with May upon them, the cherry blossoms had fallen from the branches, and the refreshing morning breeze carried the chants of the Track and Field Club.
She didn't head towards the athletic field or look at the club building. Instead, she walked straight into the academic building. At the shoe lockers near the entrance, she changed into her indoor shoes and stored her outdoor shoes.
"Hello, Phoenix Academy. I'm Matsumoto from Class 2-A; you should know me." A crew-cut boy suddenly approached, his face full of confidence. "You're not dating anyone right now, are you? If it's okay, would you like to go out with me next holiday?"
"I'm terribly sorry," Phoenix Academy Maggie said with a smile, rejecting what was her sixth confession since transferring schools.
Matsumoto stood frozen, not expecting that he, the ace of the baseball team, would be turned down by a girl.
Phoenix Academy Maggie paid him no attention and walked around him towards her classroom.
Matsumoto's friends, who had been watching the spectacle, burst out gleefully, some even applauding.
"As expected of the unattainable flower, shot down instantly." "We already told you, it's an impossible task." "If you think of monopolizing Phoenix Academy, you're asking for divine retribution."
How childish.
Phoenix Academy Maggie sighed inwardly, finding such easily made confessions to be quite frivolous.
Thus, she responded with the same frivolous, insincere attitude.
Real affection couldn't be declared upfront; it was something that slowly revealed itself as one discovered the other's virtues over days and months.
Those kinds of instant infatuations were nothing more than impulses produced by male hormones.
They come quickly and go just as fast.
Phoenix Academy Maggie arrived in the classroom, ignored everyone, took her seat, pulled out a book from her bag, and began to review the material her tutor had taught her the day before.
As for the school teacher's lessons, in her eyes, it wasn't new knowledge but revision.
Phoenix Academy Maggie quietly looked at her book.
The sky outside the window was azure, with an occasional cloud drifting by. Her golden hair, falling to her shoulders, further highlighted the snow-white complexion of her cheeks.
Just by sitting there reading, she instilled a sense of tranquility in anyone who saw her, creating a beautiful desire not to disturb the scene.
The chatter in the class became hushed.
Phoenix Academy Maggie read for a while.
Another girl approached her desk and stopped in front of her, saying, "Phoenix Academy."
Hearing the somewhat familiar, clear voice, Phoenix Academy Maggie looked up.
In front of her stood a Hot Girl, her school uniform jacket tied around her waist and her white shirt puffed out. Looking down from her superior height, she said, "Today is your turn for duty. It was originally arranged with Hojo. But that guy is absent as usual, so you have to clean with Aozawa."
Phoenix Academy Maggie asked with some doubt, "You're not the class president, are you?"
"The class president had something to do and asked me to say this for her."
Ayatsuki Ayaka's words were somewhat vague.
Phoenix Academy Maggie's eyes swept towards the class president in the room.
The class president smiled and adjusted her glasses, her expression slightly nervous.
"Okay, I understand," Phoenix Academy Maggie replied indifferently.
Ayatsuki Ayaka was inwardly surprised. She had thought Phoenix Academy Maggie would try to find a way to get out of cleaning duty.
Judging by her appearance, it was impossible to imagine her holding a broom.
Holding a knife, now that would make her look strikingly cool and beautiful, Ayatsuki Ayaka mused, unsure what to say out loud.
The two had no friendly relations, and it was even possible that their relationship could become hostile.
"Hmm," Ayatsuki Ayaka chose a short answer, turned around, and walked back to the Hot Girls Group, earning the thanks of the class president.
The girls in the class all consciously placed Phoenix Academy Maggie on a pedestal they felt they could not reach.
The class president could only ask the second-tier clique in the class, the Hot Girls Group, for help.
Phoenix Academy Maggie sighed inwardly. Am I really that difficult to get along with?
「Ten minutes before class.」
Aozawa hurried back to his seat.
Phoenix Academy Maggie turned to him. "We're on duty today."
"Oh." Aozawa wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed. "I'm honored to be on duty with the young lady. Do you even know how to sweep?"
"Do you take me for an idiot?" Phoenix Academy Maggie retorted. She had never swept a floor, but she'd seen others do it. How could such a simple task be impossible to learn?
"Did you see the news about Kita-Senju this morning?"
"I did. It's terrifying," Aozawa replied with a laugh.
Phoenix Academy Maggie lowered her voice. "The information I received says it's related to the destruction of the Misawa group. That person is from the Nippori Group, trying to seize their territory. You'd be better off staying home during the holidays. The Violent Gangs in Adachi District have been very aggressive lately."
"Thanks for the advice. I'll stay away from Adachi District," Aozawa laughed again.
Such a rare holiday. Naturally, I need to expand the scope of my experiments, not just confine them to Adachi District.