— — — — — —
Lynn looked at Megumi Kato's calm face and couldn't help but smile.
Didn't Natsuki-chan say this would happen?
"Natsuki-chan is doing her best for me. No wonder she didn't erase their memories."
Back when he'd just awakened the system, he'd invited Megumi too.
But she thought he was just being a cringe-worthy chunibyo.
She even sweetly checked his forehead for a fever, worry flashing in her eyes.
Thinking back to that scene, Lynn's mouth twitched a little.
Looks like things are finally falling into place.
Still, some things needed to be said clearly.
After thinking for a moment, Lynn asked, "Megumi, do you know what it means to become mine? Joining my 'familia'?"
Megumi blinked, glanced over at the group of stunning girls in the Supernatural Research Club, and tilted her head." Hmm… become part of your harem?"
Lynn: "…"
He rubbed his temples and sighed. "When did my reputation get this bad?"
Megumi looked puzzled. "Isn't it true though?"
"…"
Lynn paused, then shrugged. "Well… I guess you're not wrong."
Megumi's expression turned complicated. "You just admitted it so easily, huh…"
"Everyone already knows anyway."
"Still," Lynn added, not wanting to scare her off, "even if you do become part of my harem, as the leader, I still respect everyone's choices."
At the end of the day, yes, they were a harem, but he never forced anything on them.
...Okay, he forced some, but that was for the disobedient ones. Right?
Megumi seemed deep in thought.
As if something had clicked in her mind, a blush suddenly spread across Megumi's usually calm face.
She raised her hands and gently covered her cheeks, whispering, "I see…"
Yep, she was imagining some R-18 rated scenes.
Lynn noticed her flustered state, surprise flashing in his eyes.
This was the first time he'd ever seen Megumi like this.
He quickly took out his phone and snap!—captured the moment.
Rare photo: acquired!
Megumi froze, then looked up at Lynn, confused.
He smiled gently. "You were just way too cute right now. I couldn't help it."
"Mmm~"
Megumi blushed even harder, puffed out her cheeks a bit, but didn't ask him to delete the photo. She just turned her face away and avoided his gaze.
Lynn chuckled softly.
Then he asked, "So? Still want to join my harem?"
"…Can you not say it like this?"
In her heart, Lynn was special. He was the only person who'd never ignored her since they were kids.
The only one who remembered her name.
If she was going to spend her life with someone, Megumi hoped it would be Lynn.
Even if he was kind of a playboy.
"Oh, and by the way, once you join my familia, you'll be reincarnated as a devil~" Lynn added.
"Eh?" Megumi blinked. "A devil?"
She looked at him uncertainly. "Like… the same kind of devil as you?"
Lynn nodded.
Megumi blinked again. "But you..."
"Not that different from being human?"
"Or wait…" she tilted her head, curious. "Is this appearance of yours a disguise?"
Lynn deadpanned, "This iswhat I actually look like."
Megumi nodded. "Guess devils aren't really like the legends at all, huh…"
A devil, huh…What would she even look like?
There was a hint of anticipation in Megumi's eyes.
Lynn caught that look and said, "If you're sure, come to the Supernatural Research Club after school."
"Okay," Megumi nodded. "Got it."
Though she couldn't help but wonder…
Would becoming a devil fix her… "presence" problem?
Even her own family sometimes forgot about her.
That invisibility had always bothered her deeply.
That's why… when Lynn noticed her, even remembered her name, he'd naturally become someone really important to her.
---
Suddenly. The classroom door swung open.
Minamiya Natsuki walked in with confident steps, and behind her came a beautiful girl with long black hair and amber eyes.
The students in Class 1-B had complicated expressions.
Who would've thought?
That petite, seemingly cute but always acting all strict Natsuki-sensei. Was actually a supernatural being too?
Shuchiin Academy really was full of hidden monsters!
Could Natsuki-sensei maybe start a Supernatural Studies class? We'd totally sign up!
With that thought in mind, everyone turned toward Minamiya Natsuki with hopeful eyes.
Even the stunning girl behind her didn't get any attention.
Natsuki raised her eyebrow. 'What's with these kids?'
She cleared her throat. "This is a new transfer student."
Then looked at the girl and said, deadpan, "Introduce yourself."
The girl stepped forward, scanning the classroom. Her gaze paused briefly on Lynn before she said simply, "Himeragi Yukina."
Lynn narrowed his eyes a bit.
Yesterday it was Kirasaka Sayaka. Now Himeragi Yukina?
No doubt about it.
That look she gave him earlier said it all.
She was here for him.
"The Lion King Organization, huh..."
Lynn smirked.
Monitor him? They really think they can pull that off?
Natsuki then frowned.
"That's it? Just your name?"
Himeragi Yukina looked confused.
Natsuki sighed. "At least share your hobbies, dreams, something. Helps the class get to know you better."
"Ooh!"
Himeragi Yukina paused, thinking hard.
Hobbies?
Hmm...does "killing monsters" count?
She glanced around at the normal students in the room. Yeah, probably not the best thing to say here.
As for dreams— Yukina looked a bit lost.
But a "goal" should count, right? Right now, her mission was to rescue Sayaka from the clutches of a devil.
She glanced at Lynn again.
But… she couldn't exactly say that, could she?
She wasn't stupid.
Frowning slightly, she looked a little troubled.
Ah—wait!
Her eyes lit up. She remembered what her mentor had told her before she left.
As long as she could get into the Supernatural Research Club, she'd be halfway to completing her mission!
Alright! That's it!
Yukina clenched her fist and said with determined eyes, "My dream is to join the Supernatural Research Club!"
Minamiya Natsuki: "???"
Everyone in the Class: "…"
Wasn't that just Lynn's harem club?
The students all exchanged looks.
Megumi blinked, kind of impressed by Yukina's guts.
Huh?
Yukina noticed the weird looks around the room and felt confused.
Did… did she say something wrong?
"Himeragi Yukina, do you reallyknow what the Supernatural Research Club is about?" Natsuki asked with a strange tone.
Yukina hesitated. "Isn't it… a club that investigates supernatural events?"
Natsuki stared at her for a second, then sighed. "You should probably do some research."
"Ah… Yes, ma'am."
Yukina felt a vague sense of dread.
Did… did she mess up?
— — —
Later that afternoon
Yukina, remembering Natsuki's warning, seriously looked up the Supernatural Research Club.
"W-w-wait—It's a harem club?!?"
.
.
.