Rei Ao: "Alright, enough talking about personal secrets. Let's switch gears to the real issue."
He knew Ai Hayasaka would figure things out on her own—or maybe one day, she'd ask soone for help, perhaps even him.
Rei Ao: "So, what did you tell Shinomiya Kaguya?"
Ai Hayasaka: "I just said I'd been involved in so supernatural event related to you."
Ai Hayasaka: "I suspect Lady Kaguya might co find you tomorrow to ask about it."
Ai Hayasaka: "Sorry if that causes you trouble."
Rei Ao: "That's it?"
Frieren: "So basically, you didn't spill anything important. Rei Ao doesn't have to worry about exposing his powers."
Mikoto Misaka: "Yeah, I was worried you might've revealed the chat group."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "She can't. Anyone outside the group is completely barred from hearing details."
Erica: "Then there's no issue."
Rei Ao: "Alright, Ai Hayasaka, don't overthink. I'll handle things if she does show up tomorrow."
Ai Hayasaka: "Alright."
…
The Next Day
Just as Ai Hayasaka predicted, Shinomiya Kaguya indeed ca looking for Rei Ao, deliberately choosing to do so during lunch break. gumi Kato and Michiru both recognized her intentions and politely refrained from interrupting.
Kaguya approached Rei Ao and, after taking a deep breath, said:
"Rei Ao, I hope I'm not bothering you. Could you co with to the Student Council room? I have a few things I'd like to ask you."
She paused, then added, "It's about Ai," worried he might not understand.
"Sure, let's go."
He agreed readily.
"?"
That took Kaguya aback. She had prepared several approaches in case he refused. But he simply said yes. Quickly regaining her composure, she nodded.
"Alright. Follow ."
They left the classroom one after the other. As soon as they were gone, Michiru edged over to gumi's desk.
"Hey, Kato…how do you think Rei Ao's going to 'handle' Lady Shinomiya?"
"Handle?" gumi tilted her head. "I don't think he'll 'handle' her in any negative way."
"Eh? Why?"
"Isn't there a possibility that Shinomiya Kaguya might end up liking Rei Ao?"
"…"
Michiru froze. She realized that was actually plausible.
"But that can't happen that easily, can it?"
"Haha." gumi let out a soft laugh, staring at Michiru until the latter got flustered, then finally said, "Whether it's that easy or not, maybe you'd know better than ."
"!!!"
Michiru blushed, suspecting gumi had an ulterior aning behind that remark.
…
In the Student Council Room
Kaguya led Rei Ao in, where Ai Hayasaka was already waiting for them. Rei Ao looked around.
"This is the Student Council room? Cozy."
"…"
Kaguya hadn't expected him to comnt on the room first.
"Well, it is a significant part of the school, so we keep it comfortable."
She handed him so black tea, then got straight to the point:
"Rei Ao, you might already guess why I asked you here, right?"
"Nope."
"Huh?"
"No need to guess—Ai Hayasaka told everything."
Rei Ao smiled at Ai:
"Isn't that right?"
"Huh?!"
Kaguya spun around to stare at Ai, that look clearly saying, When did you tell him?!
Ai took a breath.
"I'm sorry, Lady Kaguya. My thod of communicating with Rei Ao is very…unique, and I'm not allowed to explain it, so…my apologies."
"…"
Kaguya felt awkward. She'd co in acting all stern, but it turned out they were already on the sa page.
"Haha, no need to look so surprised, Shinomiya." Rei Ao teased.
"You want to ask about the supernatural phenonon that happened to Ai, but really, you're worried about whether it might harm her, right?"
He gazed steadily into her eyes.
"Ah…"
Kaguya felt uncomfortable. Talking about how she prioritized Ai's safety over all else was embarrassing in front of Ai herself.
"Lady Kaguya…"
Ai's heart clenched. Once again, she felt the depth of Kaguya's concern—and her guilt only grew heavier.
Kaguya pressed her lips together. She hated feeling so transparent, so overshadowed in this conversation. But she couldn't help it; she knew almost nothing about Rei Ao.
Initially, she hadn't paid him much attention, but he repeatedly blew past her in academic results, stirring her competitive spirit. She tried challenging him and lost, over and over.
Just when she started to see him as a real rival, Ai's situation surfaced—Ai said he possessed powers that seed supernatural. Each incident raised her confusion about him. The advantage was clearly on Rei Ao's side.
She tapped her fingertips against the table, the little thump, thump echoing. Suddenly Rei Ao spoke:
"What I can tell you is that Ai Hayasaka is perfectly safe. In fact, she's fortunate. So you don't have to worry about her safety at all."
"He's right, milady. I'm not in any danger."
Ai jumped in, worried Kaguya might offend Rei Ao sohow.
"…"
Kaguya's expression was complicated. Ai, have you already beco his? Of course, she was just ntally grumbling; she knew Ai wasn't Rei Ao's possession. She was simply warning her not to act rashly.
"Understood."
Kaguya chose not to push. She stood up.
"If this turned out to be needless trouble, I apologize. I'll trust what you say about Ai's safety."
"Though," she continued, "there's still sothing I don't understand: How does she count as 'fortunate' if she got caught up in a supernatural event?"
From her perspective, that sounded more like bad luck.
"Ah."
Rei Ao's lips curved into a faint smile.
"That's sothing you might have to discover for yourself."
"Discover for myself?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"How?"
"By opening your heart and really feeling it."
[Ding! You have confird a Sub-Group Grant for the target: Shinomiya Kaguya!]
~~~
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