The Next Day – Saikai Academy
The air in the academy corridors was filled with the scent of spring, sunlight streaming through the tall windows and touching the polished wooden floors, while the sounds of students leaving after their morning classes rose in cheerful chatter. In front of one classroom, Kojou stood holding a medium-sized cardboard box, faint meows of tiny kittens coming from within.
"Thank you, Ishida," Kojou said, handing the box to his brownish-red-haired classmate, his expression showing genuine gratitude. "You've been a huge help by agreeing to take care of these kittens."
Inside the box were five or six kittens of various colors; some as white as snow, others marked with gray stripes or black spots, moving lightly as if they were little balls of life and innocence. Although Kojou had spent the previous day trying to find people to adopt them—among his classmates and an online group—the number of remaining kittens was still large, and Ishida's insistence on taking them was a lifeline.
Ishida smiled warmly, gently patting the side of the box:
"No need to thank me. Everyone in my family loves animals. When I told them I was bringing some kittens home, they were overjoyed."
Beside him stood a girl with long black hair and gentle eyes, her features soft, yet her presence suggested a close bond with him—perhaps his girlfriend, especially since they were always seen together. She looked at Kojou with a curious smile:
"But… I didn't expect you to know The Saint of Middle School, Akatsuki-kun."
Kojou tilted his head slightly, his tone calm:
"Not really. We only met yesterday… She's basically a friend of Nagisa."
In truth, he wasn't particularly close to Kanon—not at least at this stage.
But the girl's comment made him raise an eyebrow with curiosity:
"I didn't expect the title The Saint of Middle School to be popular even among girls. I thought it was just a nickname given by foolish boys."
The girl chuckled softly, shaking her head:
"It's not like that. I grew up near the convent where Kanase lived. It's natural that the title spread even among girls. Actually, one of my friends from the convent told me that Kanase had intended to become a nun someday… but that tragedy destroyed everything."
A heavy silence fell, the memory of the past hovering over the place. She lowered her eyes, her voice quivering slightly:
"Everyone… died. It was a true tragedy. And Kanon… she was the only survivor. I couldn't contact her afterward; just seeing her brought back memories of my lost friend."
Kojou felt a weight in his chest as he listened to her words, then spoke in a low, serious voice:
"I see… Please accept my heartfelt condolences for your loss. You might think these are just words of sympathy, but they come from my heart. And I believe… the culprit won't escape for long; they will be caught soon."
Kojou's words, though simple, left an impression on the girl's heart. A faint flash of gratitude appeared in her eyes, as if she hadn't expected someone who barely knew her to empathize. Ishida exchanged a quick glance with her, then gently pressed her hand reassuringly.
"Shall we go now, Akatsuki-kun?" Ishida said with a slight bow toward Kojou, leading his girlfriend away and carrying the box of kittens.
"Oh, be careful on the way so the teachers don't catch you," Kojou waved to the two of them and walked toward a nearby tree where Nagisa, Kanon, and Touka were waiting for him.
Kojou stopped in the shade of a large cherry blossom tree near the inner courtyard, where spring breezes gently played with the strands of hair of the three waiting girls. Pink cherry blossoms scattered across the stone floor, forming a delicate carpet of fleeting beauty.
Nagisa was the first to notice him; she waved, smiling brightly:
"Welcome back, Kojou-kun. Did you finish delivering the kittens?"
Kojou nodded as he approached, his expression calm but carrying a hint of hidden fatigue:
"Yes… Ishida took care of the rest. I think the kittens will be fine with him."
Kanon stood beside Nagisa, her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes shyly following him. She wore her school uniform neatly, but her delicate features and the gentle smile on her lips made her look as if she had stepped out of a sacred painting.
"I'm glad they found a home," Kanon whispered softly, as if speaking more to herself than to anyone else.
"Ah! Did they pick up another one?"
Kojou groaned upon seeing the new kitten in Touka's hands, who was completely absorbed in playing with it, seemingly unaware of his presence.
"Don't you know bringing animals to school is against the rules, Akatsuki Kojou?"
"But I might overlook your violation, under one condition."
"Natsuki-ch..."
Kojou didn't finish his sentence before a collapsible black fan hit him on the head.
"I told you not to call your teacher 'chan'."
Despite her sharp words, it was clear Natsuki wasn't angry or upset at all—it was more like a playful greeting between them.
"I'll keep that in mind. So, what's the condition, Natsuki-chan?"
"You—" Natsuki was speechless, clearly realizing he had no intention of changing how he addressed her, but a faint smile appeared on her lips; she was pleased with their relationship. "Well… it doesn't matter now. My condition is simple…"
"That I go with you somewhere tonight?"
A heavy silence fell before Kojou shattered it with his exaggerated remark:
"Oh~! So you've finally accepted my invitation to a love hotel, Natsuki-chan? How sinful I am with my dangerously charming magic!"
The three girls froze, their faces flushed with a mixture of shock and embarrassment, while Kojou raised his hand dramatically toward the sky, his expression radiating pure narcissism.
"As I told you before, you'll need ten years before thinking of taking me to a love hotel."
"And also, send that girl Astarte in my place for a while, as I need a maid for a time."
Despite Natsuki's biting words, a faint, unnoticed blush tinged her beautiful face.
"Of course, I'll make you her deputy master, but… what do you think of starting as lovers first and making our first date tonight an unforgettable one?"
"In your dreams."
With those words, a purple magical circle appeared under Natsuki's feet, and she vanished without giving anyone a chance to react.
But…
Just before disappearing, Kojou had clearly seen her face turn bright red, obviously extremely embarrassed by his words, but it didn't seem that she hated or opposed them.
...
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