Ren and Momobami Kirari ford one group, Kasugano Sora and Sayaka another, while Sonoko and her six companions made up the third. Three distinct parties, moving in three different directions from three separate locations, yet all converging on the sa destination.
Kirari's arm was linked with Ren's, her voice a soft murmur against the city air. "Shion ntioned she'll be bringing Akemi to the restaurant for dinner soon. If all goes as planned, it should be to discuss the Kengan Annihilation Tournant with you."
"It doesn't matter to ," Ren replied with a casual shrug. "I'm just a fighter, after all. Everything else is outside my concern."
Kirari let out a delicate sigh. "I truly don't know what to do with you sotis. But you're right. No matter what happens, you just need to win five matches and your part is over. That's quite nice, isn't it? You don't plan on continuing after that, do you?"
Ren considered it for a mont, a faint smile touching his lips. "Those fighters are a little… overzealous. While I still have so passion left in , I'm not looking to burn myself out completely. The five people you want to fight should be…"
Kirari's smile widened. "I have no idea what will happen by then. But you won't lose, Ren. Of that, I have always been certain."
"Probably," he conceded. "But will the tournant still be held on Ganryu Island?"
"Mm-hmm. But let's be clear about one thing: you are special. To be precise, we are special."
Ren paused, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "What do you an?"
"Because the combination of you as the White Butler and as the head of the Momobami Clan grants us direct entry into the elimination rounds. Alternatively, my status as the ruler of Hyakkaou Private Academy allows to have you fight on the Doom's Ferry."
"So you're letting choose?"
"Bingo," she chirped. "So, which will it be? Of course, I should ntion that even if you do fight on the ferry, it won't count toward your five required matches."
"Eh? If you put it that way, it could be a good warm-up, but… if I step onto that boat, Shion might have a few complaints. More, those two unscrupulous old masters of mine might just laugh themselves into an early grave."
Kirari's eyes widened for a second before her smile returned, amused. "Mm, that does sound like a possibility. In that case, let's do this: we'll skip the Doom's Ferry entirely. Honestly, it's much better to go straight to the Kengan Ship and enjoy ourselves."
Ren shot her a knowing look. "You're not going there to 'enjoy yourself,' are you? You're going to bully Sonoko and annoy Shion. Speaking of which, you're not secretly planning for to win the championship, are you?"
"That won't happen," she said, her tone firm. "If you won the tournant, it would be disadvantageous for both of us. So, just five matches. That's all."
"And the tournant lasts for five days," Ren added dryly.
"Hmph. Honestly, can't you have a slightly worse mory? Still, it's been a long ti since I've seen you fight. I'm quite looking forward to it. I wonder if there will be any interesting opponents this ti."
Hearing the genuine anticipation in her voice, Ren smiled. "Yes, quite a few. You should even know so of them."
Kirari's eyes lit up. "Tell . You're an insider. Leak so information to your boss."
"You just said it's inside information. How could I possibly tell you?"
"Hmph! There's a prize if you tell ."
"I doubt it's as good as the prize for the Excellent Fitness Coach Award, so I'll pass," he teased. "But Kirari, shouldn't you be heading back? Sayaka has already arrived."
Following his gaze, Kirari turned her head and saw Sayaka and Kasugano Sora standing a short distance away, Sayaka holding a small paper bag. Kirari sighed theatrically. "Fine, I'll let you off the hook this ti. Oh dear, it seems Lucifer and the others are back as well."
Just as they were speaking, Lucifer's group approached, their arms laden with shopping bags of all sizes. Ichihara Yuuko was about to say sothing when Kirari's smooth, cheerful voice cut through the air.
"Oh my, you must be Yuuko. Allow to introduce myself: Momobami Kirari. You are truly beautiful, and so tall. Ren is a very lucky man."
Ichihara Yuuko was montarily taken aback, but her composure was flawless. A faint, knowing smile graced her lips. "Mm, thank you for the complint. You're very beautiful as well, Kirari. Not many can pull off that hairstyle and lipstick with such confidence."
"Mm, you've made so happy," Kirari bead. "Ren never complints like that. Well then, Ren, I'll be leaving now. Oh, and I believe you'll need to contact them yourself. My word is rely the contract, but you're the one who has to sign it."
"Mm, got it."
Kirari glided past Sonoko, offering her a cryptic smile, before joining Sayaka. Without another word, the two of them departed.
Ren let out a soft sigh. "This is getting troubleso. Why is there still sothing like a free-for-all…"
"What free-for-all?"
Ichihara Yuuko looked at him, her expression one of confusion. Ren offered a reassuring smile. "Let's talk as we walk. Wow, you all bought quite a lot."
Yuuko nodded, and Lucifer let out a weary sigh, shifting the weight of her bags. "We walked an unusually long way today, but it was still a good trip."
Ren's voice softened. "Let's go. We'll talk when we get ho."
"Mm!" ca the chorus of five voices.
Ichihara Yuuko froze. It was clear she hadn't yet adapted to this new rhythm, but that simple phrase—'get ho'—sent an unexpected tremor through her heart.
She watched Ren, who had already moved to the front of the group and was now playfully entangled with Cerberus. A small, complex smile touched her lips as she muttered to herself, "He really is a successful playboy… But going ho… ho…"
"Yuko? Should I carry that for you?"
She was about to nod instinctively but caught herself, shaking her head quickly. "No, no, no! There's no need. I'll carry this myself." She paused, her gaze questioning. "But why did you co back?"
Ren turned sideways, gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder. "Because everyone is waiting for you."
"Waiting for ?"
"We went out together, we ca back together," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "So of course, we're going ho together. Let's go."
"Yuko…" Sonoko called out gently from the group.
"I never thought you had such an unexpectedly well-behaved side," Ren added with a soft chuckle.
Ichihara Yuuko glanced at Ren one last ti, then, with her queenly aura fully restored, she strode forward with her long legs to rejoin Lucifer and the others.
However, if one looked closely, they might have noticed the faint, almost imperceptible twitch of her eyebrow. It was clear that Ichihara Yuuko had been caught off guard once again.
Watching her go, Ren smiled to himself and murmured, "Hmm, this is a bit different from what Clow Reed left in his notes. She doesn't seem that willful after all. Is it because she's not used to it yet? I really need to study these notes carefully."
He was, of course, referring to the journals Clow Reed had left behind. They contained not only records of the magic Clow had created, but also his own summarized observations of Ichihara Yuuko—her strengths, weaknesses, interests, hobbies, personality, and even her thoughts.
But it was clear that the parts about her thoughts had been decisively crossed out. The Ichihara Yuuko of today was not the Ichihara Yuuko of that ti. After her rebirth, no one, not even Clow's ghost, could predict how her mind would develop.
"Humans truly are a wondrous creature."
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