Kudou Retsu, aside from being called a Grand Magician, was also the teacher of Saegusa Kouichi and the Yotsuba sisters.
However, just as Mahiro had said, Kudou Retsu was indeed a 'playful' old scoundrel.
First, he activated a large-scale mental interference spell to secretly observe the students' reactions from the shadows.
Then, he suddenly appeared to lecture them about their lack of vigilance.
After that, he boasted about his magical prowess—how he could wield magic with such finesse that even the weakest spell could deceive the geniuses present.
Only a handful of people could detect him.
Truly befitting of one hailed as one of the world's strongest magicians—the "Patriarch" and "Sly Warlock" Trickster.
Still an old scoundrel, though.
And so, the welcoming banquet for the Nine Schools ended in such a farce.
After the banquet dinner, the students returned to their respective rooms.
Beep!
Mahiro swiped his keycard and opened the hotel room door.
What greeted him was a luxurious suite.
Floor-to-ceiling windows made of multiple glass panels offered a breathtaking view of distant Mount Fuji and its dense forests.
If there were fireworks in the distance right now, he could guarantee this room would be the best spot to enjoy them.
Was this the legendary executive suite?
And a single-occupancy one at that.
Was this a privilege of being part of the Ten Master Clans?
Lost in thought, he sank deep into the sofa, tilting his head back to gaze at the extravagantly decorated ceiling and chandelier. He let out another scoff—one of many he'd made over the past few days.
"Tch, capitalism… Sure is great."
What started as a disdainful scoff abruptly turned into praise.
Just as he had once said, the world had no concept of fairness. The only reason people felt things were unfair was because those special privileges hadn't fallen into their own laps.
Mahiro was no different—just as worldly and ordinary as anyone else.
Faced with such a high-class room, how many people could resist indulging in it?
Especially when there was a beauty accompanying him.
That's right—he wasn't the only one who had returned to the room. Sayaka had been 'lured' back with him.
She sat stiffly on the other side of the sofa, looking somewhat nervous.
Though 'lured' might not be the right word—after all, Sayaka had followed him willingly.
And Mahiro, of course, hadn't refused.
Just a guy and a girl alone in a room—the atmosphere was slightly awkward. As a rookie still wet behind the ears, Mahiro had no idea how to interact with this Mibu-senpai.
After a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence.
"Um... Sayaka, what did you think of tonight's banquet? Was it as good as you imagined?"
Well, she was a Second Course student after all.
Aside from freaks like Tatsuya, most Second Course students would harbor some degree of fantasy and curiosity about places frequented by First Course students—especially glamorous events like the Nine Schools Competition banquet.
Otherwise, why would Erika have been willing to work as a server just to get inside?
And as a Second Course student in her second year, Sayaka was no exception.
"Mmm... i-it was okay. Some parts matched my expectations, but overall it was different. Still, I'm happy I got to witness the demeanor of that [Master] in person. Most importantly... I got to be there with you, Mahiro-kun."
Perhaps the ice had been broken, as the awkward tension in the air instantly dissipated.
Though Sayaka had started off stammering, her words gradually flowed more smoothly until, by the end, her face inevitably flushed red again.
Stealing glances at Mahiro, she couldn't help but ask curiously:
"...What about you, Mahiro-kun?"
"I had a great time too. Honestly, if you hadn't been there, I probably wouldn't have lasted half an hour."
This was the truth.
Though the banquet had a buffet, the food was just so-so.
Ten minutes would've been enough just for eating.
The remaining time would've been spent admiring pretty girls, sitting in a corner spacing out, and eventually sneaking away.
But with Sayaka there, it was different.
Getting to see her flustered like a startled fawn was worth the price of admission alone.
Not to mention, apart from Sayaka, Mayumi had also been keeping him company the whole time.
"By the way, do you want to take a bath?"
"B-b-b-bath?!"
It seemed his question had accidentally stepped on this beauty's landmine—her voice instantly jumped an octave.
But Sayaka quickly realized she'd overreacted and whispered, "Sorry, I didn't mean to... You should go first, Mahiro-kun."
He'd originally considered teasing her by asking if she wanted to bathe together.
That clearly wasn't happening now.
So without refusing, he headed straight for the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Sayaka on the sofa buried her face in her arms with a quiet whimper after he left.
This wasn't part of the plan at all.
What was she even doing...?
....
...
..
The bathroom's orange lighting wasn't harsh, giving off a warm, comfortable glow.
Steamy mist filled the space, creating a hazy beauty.
A three-tiered shelf hung on the wall—shampoo, body wash, facial cleanser and other toiletries neatly arranged.
Mahiro soaked alone in the tub filled with hot water.
It wasn't cramped, offering enough space to lie flat. Immersed in the warmth, his entire body relaxed contentedly.
Gazing at the ceiling, he recalled Sayaka's earlier expression and couldn't help feeling amused.
He wasn't an idiot.
Sayaka had known exactly what she intended to do when she followed him into the room from the very beginning.
But having never been intimately involved with a woman before, Mahiro was completely at a loss about how to handle the situation...
"Whatever, the boat will sink when it reaches the bridge. I'll just take it one step at a time!"
With a splash, Mahiro submerged himself completely in the bathtub.
Before long, he finished bathing and emerged from the bathroom, making way for Sayaka to take her turn.
Leaning back comfortably on the sofa, he listened to the gentle patter of the shower inside, like a beautiful celestial melody.
About half an hour later, the sound of the shower ceased, and after a few more minutes, the bathroom door opened.
Glancing instinctively toward the bathroom, he saw that both he and Sayaka had changed into the pristine white yukata provided by the hotel.
But when his gaze fell upon Sayaka, he couldn't help but freeze.
To be honest, Sayaka looked incredibly alluring in the yukata, but what caught his attention the most was her long hair.
Her usual tightly tied high ponytail had been let down all at once.
That lustrous black hair cascaded naturally down to her waist, looking as smooth and soft as black satin.
Compared to her usual spirited high ponytail, it was a perfect contrast!
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