It wasn't until noon the following day that the Kengan Ship finally drifted back to its port of origin. The previous night's festivities had escalated beyond anyone's expectations. Even the corporate titans, the powerful magnates who ran Japan's economy, were roaring drunk by the end, shedding every last shred of their usual decorum as they collapsed in a heap of snores and expensive suits.
Sōryūin Shion and her friends had bowed out gracefully while they were still just dizzy, long before true intoxication set in. But Lucifer and Ichihara Yuko? Those two showed no signs of stopping, and neither did Ren. The final battle had devolved into a four-way drinking contest between Ren, Himuro Ryo, Kaolan Wongsawat, and Okubo Naoya, with Lucifer, Yuko, and a surprisingly enthusiastic Cerberus cheering them on from the sidelines.
In the end, it was the toilet that claid Ichihara Yuko. After one too many drinks, she made a hasty retreat to the bathroom and never returned. With her last rival vanquished, Lucifer triumphantly declared herself the undisputed drinking champion of the household. It was a useless title, but she had won, and that was all that mattered. The vanity of Hell's Queen, it seed, was a thing to behold.
After Ren had said his goodbyes to his friends, Imai Cosmo bounced over. He stood on his tiptoes, balled a small fist, and gave Ren a light, playful punch on the chest. Then, he spun around to face his companions, his face alight with excitent.
"Hey! Did you see that? I just punched the White Butler!"
Wakatsuki Takeshi and Nishihonji Akira, standing nearby, were montarily stunned before breaking into weary smiles and shaking their heads. The kid was certainly one of a kind.
Ren sighed, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "What's there to brag about? Hey, Cosmo, when you get back to school, make sure you don't fail any of your classes."
"Eh?! Ren-nii, you don't have to be so harsh!" Cosmo protested. "But... of course I won't! I'm Imai Cosmo! A genius! Well, Ren-nii, we're heading out! See you around!"
Only when the last of the fighters had departed did Ren finally let out a long, relieved breath.
Kobayashi Rindou sidled up to him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Look at you, still looking like you haven't had your fill. Why don't you go ask Old Man Katahara to hold another Kengan Annihilation Tournant? I bet Shion would be more than happy to step in as the new Chairman."
"Rindou, don't drag into this," Shion said with a placid smile. "Well, everyone, and Ren, I'll be taking my leave. Akemi and I will stop by your place for dinner later. Don't forget my snacks. Sonoko, Ran, you two co with ."
"Alright!" the two girls chirped in unison.
Kirari stretched languidly, her arms reaching for the sky. "Aah, it feels good to be back. There's a real sense of belonging here. But Karura, Elena, what are the two of you planning to do now?"
Karura bead. "If we're looking for a place to eat, it has to be Ren's! It might be noon, but you should still have staff als, right?"
Elena added softly, her voice filled with anticipation, "I'm also very interested in Mr. Ren's cooking... I'm looking forward to it very much."
"As expected of Karura," Kirari said with a knowing smile. "Always thinking ahead. But did Old Man Erioh have anything to say?"
"Grandpa? He just told to rest up for a couple of days, and then it's back to school for ," Karura replied. "But it's the sa for Elena, isn't it? I think Mr. Mōkichi ntioned sothing..."
Elena nodded. "Yes. My brother hopes I can transfer to a school here in Tokyo, but we haven't decided on which one yet..."
As a fellow high school student, Kasugano Sora cleared her throat, stepping into the role of an expert consultant. "Actually, sending Elena to a place like Katagiri would be a bit of a waste of her potential. Teitan High wouldn't offer much freedom, either. And then there's..."
Sora proceeded to deliver a surprisingly eloquent analysis of several local high schools, earning the adoring gazes of the younger girls. She concluded with a casual, confident air, "...so, when you weigh all the options, the best choice is clearly..."
"My Hyakkaou Private Academy!" Kirari imdiately raised her hand, her smile dazzling. "Elena, you saw it yourself, didn't you? My school is a proud mber of the Kengan Association. When you think about it that way, doesn't it sound wonderful?"
Elena's mouth twitched. After Mōkichi had healed her, she had spent ti with Karura and the others, and they had told her all about Kirari's school. She had a good impression of the student council president, who was incredibly kind to her own people, but... that school... she had heard things.
Kobayashi Rindou threw her hands up in exasperation. "Kirari, I swear! Sending her to Totsuki would be a rcy compared to your den of sharks! Totsuki's a great school; it just focuses on cooking! Seriously, stop trying to abduct the poor girl!"
Kirari sighed, placing a hand over her heart in a gesture of deep sadness. "I am so deeply misunderstood."
"Uh..." ca the collective, deadpan response from everyone present.
Karura tilted her head, thinking for a mont. "Elena! You could choose Sora's school, or you could co to mine!"
This statent caught everyone by surprise. Lucifer blinked, a confused expression on her face. "Eh? Now that you ntion it, I don't think I actually know what high school you go to, Karura."
Startled, Karura scratched her head. "Oh? I haven't told you? It's Otonokizaka. It's one of only two all-girls schools in Tokyo."
Sora's eyes widened in recognition, and she clapped her hands together. "Oh! That school! It has a fantastic reputation. They say it places a high value on education and etiquette, but it's also relatively liberal, with a long and respected history. That's a really good school!"
"Right?" Karura said, smiling brightly. "I have lots of friends there. I even joined the wind ensemble!"
Everyone nodded in understanding. It made sense. She truly was different from the other beasts of the Kure clan. No wonder Kure Erioh doted on his great-granddaughter so much.
Suddenly, a thought struck Sora. "Wait a minute... If that's the case, I rember... Professor Kure Yakusha is your mother, isn't she, Karura? And Shion-nee is the President of the Koyo Academy Group, which is also an all-girls school with an excellent reputation for its ethos, etiquette, and education. Why didn't you go to Koyo Academy?"
At this, Karura let out a small sigh. "That's exactly why I didn't go. Because my mother is there... It just felt like it would be... really tough."
The group imdiately understood the sentint. It was a perfectly normal teenage reaction, especially considering that Kure Yakusha was a very... unique individual.
Elena considered her options. "In that case, I have to decide between Otonokizaka and Koyo Academy... This is so difficult..."
Kirari looked startled, tilting her head. "Eh? So you're not even considering my Hyakkaou Private Academy? Eh? Ren, what are you doing? You're being surprisingly clingy today."
Her sentence was cut off as Ren wrapped an arm around her, pulling her away from the group. "My point is for you to stop interrupting," he said, his voice laced with amusent. "It would take a miracle for anyone to pick Hyakkaou unless they were another Jabami Yuko."
"Eh? Honestly, that's a little sad," Kirari pouted, but then her eyes lit up. "But Jabami Yuko... oh, how wonderful!"
Watching Kirari get inexplicably hyped up at the re ntion of the na, Elena couldn't help but shiver. She had definitely dodged a bullet by not choosing that school.
Ren gently pinched Kirari's cheek, a smile playing on his lips. "We can talk more about this after we get back. Judging by the ti, Courage and Yuko must be starving by now."
"Mm!" ca the unified chorus of nine voices.
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