‘Hey, hey, what’s with this sudden character assassination!?’
But… it even seemed reasonable on the surface . Seiji found it difficult to counter Hitaka’s statement .
Being so affectionate with a beautiful girl who he was still unfamiliar with… This indeed seemed like…
‘No, I’m not!’ he denied vehemently . ‘Perverts… have dirty minds! Mine is pure!!’
Hitaka regarded him coolly .
Seiji looked back at her, his expression calm .
Inwardly, however, Seiji was having a mental collapse .
"I still don’t quite understand . " If this was a manga, there would surely be a series of question marks above the red-haired girl’s head .
"Then please don’t follow this line of thought anymore, and ignore it," Seiji begged sincerely .
"Alright . "
"Thank you . "
After a puzzling silence .
"What should we do now?" Seiji asked seriously, forcing himself to forget the little awkward episode .
Somehow, taking Shika Kagura to a hospital and returning home didn’t seem like a good idea .
"We’ll take her back to Milady," Hitaka stated .
Seiji nodded in agreement . This seemed like a reasonable development .
Seiji seemed to think of something else, as he looked at the cracked ground from Shika’s landing dubiously .
"Don’t worry; the ‘Cleaners’ will take care of it," Hitaka said .
‘Cleaners?’ Seiji raised his eyebrows in surprise .
This definitely didn’t sound like a janitor or anything like that…
‘Forget it; since Hitaka said it wasn’t necessary to worry, I shouldn’t think too much about it . ’
…
A seemingly ordinary three-story building was located in the eastern part of Genhana High School’s grounds .
This was Natsuya Yoruhana, Hitaka Shuho, and… Rana Kirin’s residence .
More accurately speaking, this was their temporary residence due to the current situation .
Seiji looked outside the window as he slowly sipped from the cup of hot tea in his hand .
The warm tea slid down his throat, giving him a soothing feeling .
A short while after they’d left the park together, Seiji, Hitaka, and Shika were picked up by a black luxury car, the latter being carried in Seiji’s arms .
The driver was a brown-haired woman who wore dark grey professional clothing .
After getting on the car, the driver took them to this residence .
As Seiji lifted Shika out the car, he saw Natsuya awaiting their arrival outside the door of the building…
Footsteps sounded from behind him, interrupting Seiji’s musings .
Seiji turned around and saw President Yoruhana .
"How… is she?"
"Her injuries aren’t too serious . I’ve had them treated already," Natsuya stated in a light voice as she walked to the table, took a teacup, and poured herself a cup of hot tea from the kettle .
"At the same time, I also sealed her powers as a Spirit-branded Retainer . "
After her red lips blew twice on the hot tea, she took a sip .
After her red lips blew twice on the hot tea, she took a sip .
"After she wakes up, I have some questions to ask her…"
"Information gathering… Of course . " Seiji put down his cup as he finished the tea . "But I doubt that she’ll have any useful information . "
Natsuya remained silent for a few moments, before sighing .
"You’re probably right, Haruta-kun . " Judging from the part she played in the enemy’s plot, as well as… the battle clothes she was wearing, it can be deduced that she was nothing more than a chess piece to be used and discarded by the enemy . "
Seiji raised his eyebrows .
"Her… battle clothes?"
"The formal name for these clothes is ‘Standard Retainer Combat Equipment…’ As you saw for yourself, Hitaka was also wearing a similar type, but the specific… details were different," Natsuya explained .
"Their clothes did seem quite similar, just with different colors . " Seiji thought back to what both of them had been wearing .
"This is the standard form, and most of them will greatly resemble each other . The differences come from… each Spirit-branded Retainer’s individual differences, so they normally have appropriate customizations . " Natsuya paused for a moment . "I inspected Shika Kagura’s battle clothes closely and found no customizations whatsoever . Apart from the fact that she was wearing the correct size, it was just the standard basic model with absolutely no modifications . "
"Not only that, it was also of rather low quality . "
Seiji mulled over Natsuya’s words in silence .
Of course, he wasn’t familiar with the equipment that Spirit-branded Retainers used for combat, but it wasn’t hard for him to understand what the president had just told him .
Shika’s equipment was basically the lowest-level starting gear that was available!
In tandem with the role she played in the enemy’s plot, it was certain that she was nothing more than…
Seiji slowly began frowning .
Even though he already expected this, confirming it still gave him a sense of discomfort .
"She probably won’t have any useful information, but even the very basics are helpful to me since I still don’t know anything… If I can find out just this much, then our actions tonight won’t have been wasted . "
Natsuya continued sipping from her tea .
"Such as your enemy’s name and identity?" Seiji folded his arms .
An indescribable light flashed through Natsuya’s eyes .
An indescribable light flashed through Natsuya’s eyes .
"Yes, that’s the most basic information, and it’s what I am most eager to know . "
"I’d also really like to know what type of bastard would use such a malicious plot," Seiji said lightly .
There was a momentary silence between the two .
"Haruta-kun, I can understand your anger, but…"
"I’m already deeply involved, President Yoruhana . "
He looked deeply at her face .
"I feel that I can’t back out of this anymore… alright, fine, I don’t want to back out of this, and I want to get even more involved . That bastard used a plot which would have dire consequences for every teacher and student at our entire school! Just this alone means that I can’t just ignore this situation and idly stand by… This isn’t because I doubt your strength or Hitaka’s abilities, it’s just that I want to be able to do something as well, otherwise I won’t be able to rest assured . "
"There’s also another reason—what happened to Shika Kagura was unacceptable . "
"I sympathize with her, and I feel rage at the way she was treated… In summary, I want to give this enemy a vicious beating!"
Seiji unfolded his arms and clenched his fist; the sound of his knuckles cracking was audible .
"That’s why I wish to participate to the end, even if there isn’t anything I can do . At the very least… I can give you some ideas . "
Natsuya eyes were focused on his face .
"You’ve already done plenty, Haruta-kun . Without you, things would have…" She lowered her eyes slightly . "In the end, as a Yin Yang Master, I… sigh… but being depressed right now is nothing more than a waste of time . "
Natsuya shook her head and forcefully injected some spirit into her voice
"This request of yours… I have no way to refuse you . Haruta… Seiji Haruta, I’m so sorry for getting you involved so deeply . I’m grateful for everything you’ve done so far, and… please continue to lend your strength to me . "
She accepted his request .
Not only that, she even gave him a sincere invitation .
Seiji blinked as he smiled .
He definitely wasn’t wrong about Natsuya’s character .
"Thank you, President . I’ve received your request… and I’ll do my utmost to assist you . "
He definitely wasn’t wrong about Natsuya’s character .
"Thank you, President . I’ve received your request… and I’ll do my utmost to assist you . "
Natsuya also smiled .
The sleek long black-haired girl’s smiles were always so moving .
…
Approximately 30 minutes later .
Hitaka reported that Shika had woken up .
However…
Seiji and Natsuya exchanged awkward glances as they went to the room Shika was in .
As they entered .
They saw that Shika was sitting on the bed and quietly looking out the window .
Hearing them enter, she turned her head around .
She quickly focused her gaze on Seiji’s face .
Then, a brilliant smile appeared on her face!
"Brother~"
Her voice was exceedingly gentle, and it sounded like she was begging to be spoiled .
After she spoke, she opened up her arms and gestured towards Seiji .
"Come hug me!"
Seiji and Natsuya were rendered speechless by this .
Just what the hell was going on!?
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