Chapter 1159: No Time Now
The season was late August.
It was already the hottest time of the year, and with the influence of oceanic climate, the entire Shinkou Island felt like it had been placed inside a steamer. The heat distorted the light, and the concrete ground was hot enough to fry eggs.
"So hot! I'm dying from the heat!"
Kojou Akatsuki lay sprawled like a limp rag on the leather sofa, continuously fanning himself with his hand.
"It's a family restaurant, so why isn't there even an air conditioner?"
At that moment.
He was in a common family restaurant on the southern island of Shinkou Island.
As the busiest of the five main islands—east, west, south, north, and central—of Shinkou Island, the place was already bustling with noise and activity, and the sweltering heat was at its peak. In this nearly 40-degree weather, the lack of air conditioning was practically life-threatening!
"Stop complaining. Are you going to do your homework or not?"
Beside him, a boy with spiky brown hair and headphones around his neck mercilessly slapped the table.
"I specifically gave up a date with my senior to help you with your studies at the end of this summer break. If you keep spacing out, don't blame me for not letting you copy my homework!"
"I'm really sorry!"
Kojou Akatsuki instantly cowered, grabbing his homework and frantically copying.
"Your senior—is that the charming third-year you said you're dating, Motoki?"
Across from Yaze Motoki, a girl who looked quite fashionable lifted her head out of boredom.
Her long hair was dyed a light golden color, and her face could be described as exceptionally refined and delicate.
Her school uniform wasn't buttoned up tightly like an ordinary student's; instead, it was slightly open at the collar, revealing her fair collarbone. The hem of her clothes, necktie, and other parts had been stylishly modified, and her nails were coated with glossy nail polish.
At first glance, she gave off a vibe of being very "supportive"!
"That's right! My girlfriend—speaking of her, she's really—"
"But I heard you haven't even held your senior's hand?"
Just as he was proudly introducing his girlfriend, a cold, detached voice came from the side.
"Didn't you make up the whole 'we're dating' thing yourself?"
Diagonally across from him, a tall, slender boy was inexplicably wearing sunglasses and a mask, dressed like someone with severe social anxiety. But the moment he spoke, Yaze Motoki froze.
"Wait, Eiji, where did you hear that?"
"Actually, your girlfriend has a crush on me. She told me herself."
Eiji smiled faintly, without a trace of emotion.
Leaving the mystery unsolved.
"Hahaha, I don't believe it!"
Yaze Motoki grinned slightly and picked up the drink on the table.
"Whoa, why did you spill it on me?!"
"My hand slipped. I already let you copy my homework, so don't be so stingy."
Just as he was about to explode.
Seeing his friend's trembling hand, Kojou Akatsuki couldn't bring himself to say anything.
He sympathetically patted Yaze Motoki on the shoulder.
That damn Eiji—sometimes he'd tease people with completely fabricated lies, but other times he'd say something painfully true in a joking tone. You could never tell if he meant what he said, or how many layers of meaning were hidden in his words.
Yaze Motoki made the sign of the cross over his chest and prayed devoutly.
What that damn guy said isn't true. That damn guy is joking. That damn guy has no parents to raise him!
"Seriously, why did I agree to attend such a boring holiday study session?"
Aasaki Asagi lay slumped over the table, her beautifully made-up face clearly displaying boredom.
She had only come here—braving the sweltering heat and squeezing onto crowded trains from the city center—after receiving a message from Kijou saying Eiji would be attending. She'd even rushed to put on makeup for the occasion, though she usually went bare-faced at home.
"Don't say that."
Eiji looked seriously at Asagi.
"At least we get to watch Kojou Akatsuki desperately racing against deadlines to finish his homework. Isn't that entertaining enough?"
"You're insane!"
Hearing this, Kojou Akatsuki threw down his pen in frustration.
"Did you come here just to watch me scramble to finish my assignments?!"
"Well, why else?"
Eiji looked at him with genuine confusion.
If there's no entertainment, why would I bother going out?
"Pfft—"
Asagi quickly covered her mouth, nearly laughing out loud.
Oh no.
When did I start taking pleasure in others' misfortune?
But watching someone frantically writing as deadlines loom does make those who've already finished their work feel exceptionally pleased!
"By the way, do any of you have plans for this afternoon?"
Asagi glanced at the time on her phone.
While Kojou Akatsuki was being shushed by an annoyed waiter and scratching his head in embarrassment, she casually posed the question to the three of them.
It was just past noon.
I went through the trouble of putting on makeup—I can't let it go to waste!
Alright!
Today, I must at least succeed in getting some alone time!
Kojou Akatsuki rolled his eyes and continued scribbling away without responding.
"I'll probably stay here with Kojou."
Yaze Kijou resumed his usual carefree demeanor, shrugging indifferently.
"I guess I don't have anything else to do either?"
Eiji rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
He'd already handed off his homework to Kijou's senior to complete.
He'd only come out today to watch Kojou Akatsuki rush through his assignments anyway, with no particular plans.
"W-well, in that case... I actually have two movie tickets here. Don't get the wrong idea—they were given to me by my family's housekeeper—"
Blushing slightly, Asagi pulled two slightly damp movie tickets from her skirt pocket. It was obvious she'd been clutching them for a while.
"Sorry, something just came up!"
But Eiji immediately retracted his previous statement.
He sprang up from his corner, deftly slipped past Asagi, and hurried toward the exit.
In no time, he had vanished from their sight in a whirlwind.
"Ah, what a tragedy!"
Watching Asagi's frozen smile, Yaze Kijou let out a deep sigh.
"Tell me about it. How can anyone be this clueless?"
Kojou Akatsuki wore an expression of exasperation, as if disappointed by someone's failure to meet expectations.
"You, a lolicon hiding your precious girl away, have no right to say that!"
Yaze Kijou elbowed him hard in the chest, making him cough repeatedly.
"Heh... heh..."
Asagi let out a couple of dry, dejected laughs.
Why did her invitations never go smoothly?
Could it be she was under some kind of curse?
...
Outside the shop.
A young girl walked past the crowd.
Her tense expression radiated an aura that warned others to keep their distance, amplifying her cold, striking beauty.
Yet everyone passing by couldn't help but be stunned by her extraordinary appearance.
She was a slender girl whose features, compared to Asagi's neat and delicate ones, carried a star-like elegance and grace. Her porcelain-like fair skin was particularly striking.
She carried two instrument cases.
One was slung over her shoulder, while the other was held in her hand.
As if carrying a sense of mission, her beautiful face never relaxed in the slightest. Anyone who tried to approach her retreated under her icy expression.
"This way?"
At the crossroads, she took out her phone.
After confirming the direction, she turned into a narrow alley nearby.
This should be a faster route to her destination.
She needed to complete the task quickly and leave this place.
She didn't want to breathe the air of this Demon Clan District for even a moment longer.