Courage sat at the dining table, her usually vibrant and expressive face buried in deep, calculating thought. Across from the World Gourt Organization Inspector, a faint, almost imperceptible trace of nostalgia flashed through Momobami Kirari's icy blue eyes.
The Student Council President of Hyakkaou Private Academy rarely allowed herself to drift into the past, but the current atmosphere brought a specific, profound mory bubbling to the surface. It was the exact phrase Ren had spoken to her back when she had first decided to bridge the gap between them.
She still couldn't forget the way he looked that evening. The ambient, warm lighting of the restaurant had cast long, gentle shadows across his handso features.
He had been standing behind the counter, casually yet ticulously wiping a crystal glass with a pristine white cloth, his movents rhythmic and hypnotic. When he had delivered those words to her, his tone hadn't been overbearing or demanding; it had been an observation, a gentle dismantling of the towering walls she had built around her heart.
At that ti, Kirari had truly pondered his words for a very long ti. For a woman who made split-second decisions involving billions of yen and human lives, taking a full, agonizing month to firm her own resolve regarding a single man was entirely unprecedented.
"What are you all talking about?"
When that gentle, familiar voice suddenly sounded, pulling them from their respective thoughts, Kirari looked up. For once, the terrifyingly absolute ruler of the Momobami Clan wore a genuine, undisguised hint of tenderness on her lips.
She watched the man who walked over, fresh and impeccably dressed after changing out of his work clothes. Seeing him now, radiating that sa comforting aura, proved to her that her month-long resolve had not disappointed her in the slightest.
She was currently working hard on a second resolve—one that involved intertwining her life even further with his—but she knew this new goal would truly require so ti and careful maneuvering.
Ren stepped up to the table, imdiately noticing the strange, heavy atmosphere hanging over the group. His eyes swept over the girls, finally landing on Courage, who was staring at him with a particularly intense, expectant gaze. He blinked, a look of mild confusion crossing his face.
"What's wrong?" Ren asked, his brow furrowing slightly. "Why are you all looking at like that?"
Cerberus, leaning forward with her canine instincts practically vibrating, opened her mouth to speak. Before the demon could utter a single word, Courage panicked and quickly interjected, waving her hands in a dismissive gesture.
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Courage laughed, the sound just a pitch higher than her usual tone. "We were just discussing what to eat later, that's all. After all, we had a pretty intense workout today, and little Hibiki here still needs to strictly manage her weight loss routine, so we're just not entirely sure what to eat to balance it all out."
Sakura Hibiki opened her mouth, her instinct to complain about being singled out for her weight kicking in. However, she paused, her brain slowly processing Courage's excuse.
Thinking about it, they were technically hungry, and she did need to lose weight. Finding no flaw in the logic, the gyaru simply nodded vigorously, choosing not to expose the WGO Inspector's blatant lie.
Ren thought for a mont, his gaze shifting to the ceiling as he analyzed their dietary needs. "Oh? Is that so?" he murmured, a faint smile touching his lips.
"In that case, the options are quite limited if we want to hit all those macros. You're all going to eat together, right?"
Every single head at the table nodded in perfect, desperate synchronization.
Ren chuckled, the sound deep and resonant. "Alright, I know just the thing."
"So, Hibiki, first of all, you can relax. You are going to have a very, very happy al tonight."
The re ntion of the word 'al' combined with the promise of happiness was like a spark hitting dry kindling. Hibiki's entire being practically ignited with excitent. She slamd her hands flat on the table, her eyes sparkling like polished gemstones as she leaned forward eagerly.
"Brother Ren!" Hibiki squealed, her voice trembling with sheer anticipation. "What are we eating?! Tell !"
"Hotpot," Ren announced casually, slipping his hands into his pockets. "It should be considered a type of hotpot."
Hibiki's ecstatic expression imdiately plumted into a mask of pure, unadulterated horror. "Eh?! But... but can I really eat hotpot?!" she cried out, her mind instantly flashing to bubbling cauldrons of thick, calorie-dense chili oil and massive slabs of marbled beef. "Isn't that just a one-way ticket to gaining five kilos in a single night?!"
"Relax, it's the kind of hotpot you can eat without any guilt," Ren reassured her, waving a hand to soothe her panic. "It's a specialized Mizutaki—a pure chicken broth hotpot."
"It's incredibly helpful for both your and Gina's fitness recovery. It's packed with high-quality protein and amino acids that excel at relieving muscle fatigue."
"Oh, and because the broth is slowly simred to extract all the natural collagen from the bones..." Ren paused, flashing the group a knowing, charming smile. "It can also beautify your skin, by the way."
Seven feminine voices gasped in perfect, harmonious unison. The sheer shock of the word 'beautify' echoed through the dining room.
No girl in the world would ever dislike the prospect of becoming more beautiful—even soone as naturally flawless and untouchable as Kirari. In an instant, every single pair of eyes at the table locked onto Ren, practically glowing with ravenous anticipation. They waited for him to elaborate, to describe the magical properties of this culinary fountain of youth.
Instead, Ren simply smirked, clearly having no intention of explaining any further. He turned on his heel and walked gracefully back toward the kitchen, leaving the girls completely spellbound in his wake.
Once the kitchen doors swung shut, sealing Ren inside, Sakura Hibiki finally broke the silence. She turned her confused gaze toward the WGO Inspector.
"Eh? Sister Courage," Hibiki asked, tilting her head. "If we were just talking about food, why didn't you just say that earlier?"
"Why did you look so nervous?"
Courage let out a heavy sigh, adjusting her posture. "Because I can't betray Decora and Rantabi!" she declared with righteous conviction.
Lucifer, who had been quietly resting her chin on her palm, tilted her head in genuine bewildernt. "Eh? I'm pretty sure I rember Rantabi not having any thoughts on these romantic matters whatsoever."
"She barely notices anything outside of her inspections and food. Why are you directly considering her in this... intricate little love battlefield of yours?"
"Precisely because she has no thoughts at all!" Courage argued passionately, her fists clenching on the table. "Decora and I are deeply worried she might go down a path of no return!"
"If she falls for soone she shouldn't, or gets swept up without a safety net, it's over for her! So, we took the initiative and just pulled her right into our camp!"
Lucifer's mouth twitched, her crimson eyes staring at Courage as if looking at an entirely new species of demon. "In a way," the forr Queen of Hell muttered dryly, "you WGO won are truly terrifying..."
Four distinct hums of agreent instantly resonated around the table.
Except for Cerberus—who was currently too busy drooling over the thought of chicken hotpot to care about human romantic politics—everyone else understood the sheer gravity of Courage's plotting. Even Igarashi Sayaka, who usually remained fiercely neutral in anything not directly involving Kirari, gave a slight, solemn nod, fully expressing her stance on the terrifying nature of female solidarity.
Because their hushed discussion was kept at a low volu, and the soundproofing of the restaurant was flawlessly constructed, not a single word reached Ren's ears.
Inside the kitchen, Ren was entirely in his elent. The stainless steel counters glead under the pristine lighting. He stood before a massive, heavy wooden cutting board, a premium, free-range Nagoya Cochin chicken resting at the center.
His expression was a mask of absolute focus. With a swift, practiced motion, his heavy cleaver descended.
Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. The rhythmic, staccato sound of the blade effortlessly sectioning the bone-in poultry echoed through the room.
In a massive clay pot beside him, water was already coming to a rolling boil. He dropped the freshly cut chicken pieces into the water, adding thick slices of ginger, whole scallions, and a carefully asured handful of dicinal herbs—dried goji berries and sweet jujubes.
The mont the ingredients hit the water, a rich, savory, and earthily sweet aroma exploded into the air.
The hot water rapidly began to extract the fat and marrow from the bones, slowly turning the clear liquid into a milky, golden, collagen-rich broth. It was a sensory masterpiece, bubbling with the promise of utter rejuvenation.
anwhile, far away from the lively warmth of the restaurant, Sōryūin Akemi was making her way ho.
Despite her unfathomable wealth and her status as the young lady of the Sōryūin conglorate, Akemi rarely put on the airs of a spoiled heiress. When she wasn't pressed for ti, she genuinely preferred to experience the city like a normal high school student.
The golden hour of the setting sun cast long, beautiful orange hues across the bustling streets of Tokyo. Akemi walked with a light, rhythmic step toward the bus stop, the cool evening breeze gently rustling her dark hair.
She boarded the local bus, taking a seat near the window. As the vehicle humd to life and navigated through the sprawling tropolis, Akemi rested her cheek against the cool glass, her mind entirely consud by the events of the day.
She closed her eyes, and the mories of the afternoon flooded her senses. Her muscles carried that pleasant, deep soreness that only ca from an incredibly satisfying workout session.
But more than that, her stomach still felt entirely content, radiating a lingering, comforting warmth. At noon, Ren had personally grilled an immaculate barbecue feast for them.
She could still vividly rember the sizzle of the premium cuts of at hitting the hot charcoal grate, the intoxicating, smoky aroma that had filled the air, and the sheer explosion of savory, umami-rich juices that had coated her tongue with every single bite. It had been heavenly.
By the ti the bus dropped her off and she walked the remaining distance to the affluent, quiet residential district, the sun had fully set.
Akemi pushed open the towering, ornate double doors of her family's massive mansion. She stepped inside, slipping off her shoes.
She looked around the cavernous, impeccably decorated living space. Usually, she didn't mind the sheer size of the estate, but tonight, thinking about the lively, laughter-filled atmosphere at the gym and the restaurant, the grand house felt oppressively empty and cold.
Heading straight for the state-of-the-art kitchen, Akemi decided against ordering a lavish dinner. Because she had eaten such a vast amount of Ren's phenonal barbecue at noon, she still felt quite full.
However, heavily dedicated to her fitness regi, she knew she couldn't neglect her micronutrients. She needed to ensure her daily intake of vitamins and dietary fiber.
Moving with practiced efficiency, Akemi prepared a simple, elegant al. She washed and tore crisp, vibrant romaine lettuce leaves, slicing plump, ruby-red cherry tomatoes in half. She then took a piece of extrely lean chicken breast, boiled it just enough to retain its tenderness, and shredded it over the greens, finishing the dish with a light, zero-calorie vinaigrette.
Carrying her bowl to the massive dining table, Akemi sat alone in the silence. Between crisp, refreshing bites of her salad, she pulled out her smartphone.
She scrolled through the photo gallery, her thumb pausing on the pictures taken earlier that day. There were shots of the gym equipnt, selfies with Hibiki flexing her biceps, and finally, a candid, slightly blurry photo of Ren looking over his shoulder, a soft smile on his face.
Staring at the screen, the corners of Akemi's mouth curved up into a beautiful, genuine smile. When she wasn't in her intense, muscle-obsessed fitness state, Sōryūin Akemi was truly the epito of a gentle, refined young lady.
"So, Shion, you're still exactly as boring as ever~"
"Eh? Not really. After all, as long as everything in the conglorate goes smoothly, that's fine by . Besides, I've told you countless tis that you should just give up your apartnt and live here with from now on~"
"We'll see. After all, it's not like I don't have my own place to live, and I'm certainly not short on money, okay~"
Akemi froze, a cherry tomato halfway to her mouth. The sound of two distinct sets of high heels clicking against the marble foyer echoed into the dining room.
It seed her older sister had returned from work. But judging by the voices, she hadn't co alone.
Had she brought a friend? A business partner?
"Could it be..." Akemi murmured to herself, her eyes widening slightly in realization. "Could it be that 'Sister Amou Kirukiru' that Brother Ren ntioned today...?"
Curiosity piqued, Akemi put down her salad fork and walked gracefully out of the dining room. As she entered the opulent living room, she was t with a breathtaking sight.
[Akarin's Note: Amou Kirukiru is a major character from the Ard Girl's Machiavellism series. Known as the "Empress," she is a transcendent, terrifyingly powerful martial artist whose physical presence commands absolute fear and respect from anyone in the room.]
Walking alongside her sister was an older woman with striking, vibrant purple hair and an absolutely flawless, statuesque figure that radiated danger and allure in equal asure. The woman exuded an overwhelming aura of authority, her posture impeccable. Held loosely between her slender fingers was a lit lady's cigarette, the thin wisp of smoke curling elegantly into the air.
The purple-haired woman took a drag, blowing the smoke aside before smirking at the woman behind her. "The main thing is, if I move in, this way you can finally let teach little Akemi so real tricks~"
Sōryūin Shion, the formidable Chairwoman of Kōyō Won's Academy, sighed exasperatedly. "You are the absolute only person in the world who would want to train her best friend's own sister like a weapon. It's a very good thing my sister doesn't have any thoughts of resisting your crazy ideas~"
"My sister is very sensible, okay..." Shion started, before her eyes landed on the doorway. "Ah, Akemi, you're here too."
"Perfect timing. This is my friend, Amou Kirukiru. You can just call her Sister Kirukiru."
Akemi stepped forward, dipping her head in a polite, flawless bow. "Hello, Sister Kirukiru."
"It is a pleasure to et you. And welco ho, Sister!"
Shion smiled warmly, nodding in satisfaction. She turned her gaze back to Amou Kirukiru, gesturing toward her younger sibling.
"See? I told you. My sister is incredibly sensible and polite."
"You definitely won't be at a disadvantage having her around."
Kirukiru's sharp, calculating eyes swept over Akemi, thoroughly assessing her physique and posture in a fraction of a second. A predatory, amused smirk touched her lips. "We'll see about that. We'll definitely see~"
Shion let out a tired groan, slipping off her tailored, expensive suit jacket and casually tossing it onto a nearby armchair. The usually strict and imposing chairwoman looked remarkably lazy and deflated within the confines of her own ho.
She walked over to the coffee table, reaching for her silver cigarette case. Just then, she suddenly felt a piercing gaze burning into the side of her head.
Shion paused, looking over her shoulder in confusion. "Hm? Akemi, what are you looking at?"
"Do you want one too?" Before Akemi could answer, Shion quickly raised a finger.
"Let tell you right now, absolutely not. You're too young."
Akemi aggressively shook her head, a look of pure disapproval crossing her delicate features. "I don't want one! And Sister, didn't you promise last week that you were finally going to quit smoking for the sake of your health?"
Shion waved her hand dismissively, an unbothered expression on her face. "Small problem. I'll get to it eventually."
"Speaking of health, Akemi, did you go to that Silverman Gym today? Did you see anyone amazing or anything interesting happen?"
Amou Kirukiru let out a soft, mocking laugh, elegantly sitting herself down on the plush leather sofa. She crossed her long legs, tapping the ash from her cigarette. "What in the world could possibly be interesting in a public gym full of sweaty atheads?"
Shion nodded in agreent, stretching her arms above her head. "True."
"Oh, Akemi, is there anything to eat? I'm starving."
"Eh? I just made myself a fruit and vegetable salad with so chicken breast," Akemi offered.
"That actually sounds really good~" Shion purred, instantly turning and making a beeline for the kitchen.
Left alone in the living room, Akemi stood awkwardly as Kirukiru took another slow drag of her cigarette. Akemi couldn't help but look at the purple-haired woman with a strange, slightly intimidated expression. The sheer pressure radiating from Kirukiru's casual posture was suffocating.
Noticing the stare, Kirukiru exhaled a thin cloud of smoke and softly asked, "Is sothing wrong, little one?"
"N-Nothing..." Akemi stamred slightly, trying to compose herself. "It's just that... Sister Kirukiru feels very much like an absolute queen..."
Kirukiru's eyes widened a fraction before she threw her head back, letting out a rich, genuine laugh. "Good eye! You are already much, much better than your sister at reading people~"
Just then, Sōryūin Shion strolled back out of the kitchen, holding Akemi's glass bowl of salad. She speared a cherry tomato with the fork, popping it into her mouth and chewing thoughtfully.
"Kirukiru, I clearly heard that," Shion grumbled exasperatedly. "I think you need to explain the aning of that statent to later."
"And Akemi, back to my question. What kind of training did you do today?"
Akemi rubbed the back of her neck, whispering slightly, "Um... well, today I actually had a completely new training plan..."
Shion paused mid-chew, her brows furrowing in genuine confusion. "Hm?"
"The previous routine the trainers gave you was already very scientific and optimized for your body type. Who would dare change it for you?"
Akemi looked up, her eyes shining with absolute admiration and trust as she spoke the na naturally. "Brother Ren did..."
"Huh?"
Both won blurted out the word in perfect, stunned unison.
The single ntion of that na instantly acted like an invisible sledgehamr, shattering the relaxed atmosphere of the room. Akemi's innocent words instantly stunned both queens.
Amou Kirukiru, the terrifying Empress who feared no living soul, stiffened on the sofa, her cigarette hovering inches from her lips. Sōryūin Shion, the untouchable conglorate chairwoman, froze entirely, the fork slipping slightly from her grasp.
After a long, agonizing silence where only the ticking of the grandfather clock could be heard, Sōryūin Shion slowly lowered her salad bowl. Her usually sharp eyes were completely blank.
"So..." Shion started, her voice sounding incredibly dry and hollow. "...you t Ren today?"
Akemi nodded brightly, entirely oblivious to the psychological earthquake she had just caused. "Mm! He was amazing!"
Sōryūin Shion's mouth twitched violently. Without a single word, purely out of deeply ingrained, subconscious terror, she whipped around and violently extinguished her lit lady's cigarette into the crystal ashtray beside her, grinding it into dust. She didn't dare smoke if Ren was anywhere near her family's orbit.
For a long mont, the air in the opulent mansion fell dead silent.
[Akarin's Note:
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