Rei Ao eyed this underclassman of his, whose over-the-top performance suggested her real motive. He could guess about seventy to eighty percent of her intentionsclearly part of her "get closer to Senpai" plan.
Still, seeing her work so hard at this little act wasamusing.
"Oh?"
He deliberately drew out his response.
"Why me? A cute, lively girl like Iroha-chan must have plenty of friends in your own class."
A light flush swept over Iroha's cheeks, but she quickly maintained her cheerful front.
"Because because you're the most dependable, Senpai!"
Rei Ao let out a laugh.
"That's pretty flimsy logic."
"Senpaaai~"
Iroha tugged gently on his sleeve, shaking it.
"Say yes, pleeease! I promise to practice really hard so I won't slow you down."
Seeing her eyes brimming with anticipation, Rei Ao mused that this girl really did go all out. He was curious what else she might concoct.
"All right."
He nodded at last.
"I'll do it. But if you keep falling over during practice, I might quit halfway."
"Yay!"
Iroha cheered, almost launching herself at him for a hug before she caught herself.
"Thank you, Senpai! I'll do my very best!"
She gave a lively wave goodbye and skipped off, leaving Class 3's entrance behind.
Rei Ao watched her retreating figure, shaking his head with an amused smile.
Katou Megumi, who had come over, also gazed after Iroha.
"Looks like that junior girl has her sights on you too, Rei Ao-kun."
"Can't be helpedI'm just that charming, you know?"
He gave a little grin.
"Megumi, want to head to Shizuka-sensei's office for a bit?"
All at once, Megumi's shoulders stiffened slightly. She pursed her lips with a hint of suspicion.
"You're not planning something weird, are you?"
"Hahaha, who knows?"
He took Megumi's hand, leading her toward the Hiratsuka Shizuka's office. Megumi, fully aware of his intentions, did not resist.
Knock-knock.
Rei Ao tapped on Hiratsuka Shizuka's office door.
"Come in," came a voice from inside.
The moment he opened the door and stepped in with Megumi, Hiratsuka Shizuka looked up.
Though her face momentarily showed delight, it then immediately shifted to a look of somewhat bitter grudge.
"Tsk, if it isn't that boyfriend who sets his sights on every pretty girl. What do you want? Come to show off your relationship?"
Obviously, Shizuka harbored some envy about how often he was close to various attractive women. Rei Ao responded by closing the door behind him, pulling Megumi inside. Shizuka abruptly sensed danger and straightened in her chair.
She watched, seeing Rei Ao's playful grin:
"Shizuka-sensei, you said you wanted me to keep you company. I happen to have time nowso do you?"
He advanced step by step, like each footfall thudding on her heart.
"I!"
Shizuka's gaze shifted downward, suddenly noticing something in his stance that made her throat go dry. This was her office, and she felt a pang of panic. The subtle taboo of it all, plus Megumi being right here
She tried making an escape excuse.
"Cough, I have a class next period."
"I'll handle it."
Rei Ao was already in front of her, scooping her up onto the desk. The heat in his eyes made Shizuka's heart pound.
"Shizuka-senseiwhat now?"
"!!!"
She reddened fiercely under that intense gaze. Unable to tear herself away, she gulped softly.
"F-fine then! Do what you want, jeez!"
"You said it yourself~"
Rei Ao snickered, starting his "whatever he pleases." Across the desk, the papers rustled. Shizuka closed her eyes, anticipating a thoroughly scandalous move.
Megumi merely observed quietly, planning to join in when the timing was right
Student Council.
Sitting behind the table, Shinomiya Kaguya stared blankly, the midday sunlight shining through the windows onto her glossy black hair.
Yet none of that bright light could chase away the gloom etched between her brows.
Her slender fingers tapped restlessly on the desktoptap, tap, tapan irregular beat betraying her disquiet.
"Rei Ao again going after a new girlfriend?" she whispered, voice nearly inaudible.
By rights, as Student Council President, she should forbid such conduct that violated campus norms. Yet she found herself oddly preoccupied by news about him.
Just then, the council-room door slammed open.
Like a pink whirlwind, Fujiwara Chika bounded in, hugging a precarious stack of file folders.
"Kaguya-chan! I finished transcribing last week's meeting minuteseh?"
She halted abruptly, instantly sensing the heavy mood that hung in the air.
~~~
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(Bonus Chapter) Chapter 643: Detective Chika Fujiwara on the Move!!!
After casually placing the documents on the table, Chika Fujiwara, having sensed something amiss, hurried over to Kaguya's side. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Kaguya-chan, your face looks so weird! What's going on?"
Chika tilted her head, brimming with inquisitive energy.
Shinomiya Kaguya swiftly composed her expression, reverting to her usual cool demeanor.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking about Student Council business."
"No way!"
Chika bluntly exposed the lie:
"Your expression just now was totally likelike"
She made an exaggerated gesture:
"like you just bit into a sour lemon!"
Kaguya's brow creased slightly.
"Fujiwara-san, please don't use such an odd comparison."
But Chika had already dragged a chair right next to Kaguya and sat down, her eyes shining like those of a detective on the hunt.
"Spill it, spill it! What's making our dear Council President so troubled?"
"Is it the upcoming tests? Some family issue? Or is it"
She suddenly lowered her voice:
"A love problem?"
Kaguya's fingertips jerked slightly on the table.
That tiny movement did not escape Chika's noticing.
Love-radar: Activated!
"Ah-ha! It is about love, right?!"
Chika Fujiwara clapped her hands in excitement.
"Who is it? Who is it? C'mon, tell me, Kaguya-chan~"
"It's nothing like that!"
Kaguya's tone rose an octave higher than usual. Realizing she'd lost her composure, she cleared her throat softly.
"I only meant a friend of mine is dealing with something."
Chika's eyes narrowed, a triumphant smile on her face.
"Oooh, a friend, is it? So, what kind of trouble is your friend facing?"
Kaguya turned her gaze away from Chika's inquisitive stare, letting her eyes rest on the cherry tree outside the window.
"She She's quite concerned about a certain boy. But that boy is doing things that break school rules, and she isn't sure what to do."
"Breaking school rules, you say? Like what, specifically?"
Chika had gotten serious now, thinking there must be a juicy development.
"Well"
Kaguya dropped her voice to a near whisper:
"like how he has multiplegirlfriends."
"Huh?"
Chika's mouth fell open.
"He's some two-timing playboy? A scumbag?"
"FuFujiaChika! That's"
At Chika's blunt words, Kaguya's face flickered with alarm.
"But, well she doesn't know why, yet whenever she sees that guy with other girls, shefeels uncomfortable."
Kaguya forced out those words, her ears already flushing red.
Chika's detective-like stare shifted to a calmer one. She gently took hold of Kaguya's hand.
"So your friend basically finds her heart stirred every time she spots this boy, yeah?"
"She can't help fixating on what he's doing, right?"
"And when she sees him getting close to other girls, she gets upset or even jealous?"
Kaguya froze.
Those questions struck her heart with pinpoint accuracy.
"IIlike I said, it's my friend"
She tried to clarify, but her voice faltered.
Then Chika's expression turned uncharacteristically solemn. She placed her hands firmly on Kaguya's shoulders.
"Kaguya-chan, from my expert analysis, there's only one explanation"
Kaguya unknowingly held her breath.
"Your friend has fallen for that guy!"
Those words thundered through Kaguya's mind like a sudden lightning bolt.
She sprang to her feet, her chair scraping loudly across the floor.
"That's impossible!"
She practically shouted.
"Mymy friend couldn't possibly love someone as frivolous as Rei Ao!"
Chika's face lit up in triumph.
"Aha! I didn't even mention who it was, but you just said Rei Ao's name yourself, Kaguya-chan~"
Kaguya's cheeks flared bright red. She frantically waved her hands.
"IThat's justjust an example!"
"Kaguya-chan,"
Chika said gently but firmly,
"Admit it. Your friend is attracted to Rei Ao."
"All the symptoms match: heart pounding equals excitement, constant focus means she cares, being unsettled seeing him with other girls is jealousy."
"That is love!"
Kaguya felt faint. She had to grip the desk to stay upright.
Lovefor Rei Ao?
That mysterious, yet shockingly womanizing Rei Ao?
"What do I do now?"
She murmured, forgetting even to add "my friend" as a cover story.
Chika responded with a bright, encouraging smile.
"Obviously, you make Rei Ao see the error of his ways and come back from being such a playboy!"
"Bring back?"
Kaguya repeated blankly, clearly confused.
Chika sighed, showing a rare glimpse of maturity.
"I never expected from what you said that Rei Ao might have so many girlfriends. But maybe it's not as bad as it looks."
"Anyway"
She suddenly produced a hat, a pair of glasses, and a toy pipe from who-knew-where, arranging them as if playing the role of Sherlock Holmes.
"Kaguya-chan, let me, Detective Chika Fujiwara, investigate the truth about this suspect, Rei Ao!"
"WaitChika!"
Before Kaguya could stop her, Chika had dashed out of the Student Council office, hollering:
"Kaguya-chan, leave your happiness to me!"
"Eh?"
Kaguya made to call her back, but it was already too late.
She'd wanted to say she already knew quite a bit about Rei Ao's reality, especially with the group chat's secrets, which Chika couldn't possibly uncover. But that unstoppable pink whirlwind had already gone, leaving the office door swinging in her wake.
~~~
Thank you for everyone who voted for this fanfic! I see that every week slowly the Powerstone Votes are getting lower and lower. I'm gonna keep doing this Bonus Chapter until there's no one voting. Anyway, thank you again for those who voted! Love you Readers!
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Chapter 644: Fifth Trumpet...
Late at night, the Imperial Demon Army's main headquarters was shrouded in an eerie silence.
Chaotic footsteps broke that stillness.
In her dorm room, Hiiragi Shinoa lay on her bed.
Suddenly
"Ugh!!!"
A piercing alarm blared throughout the entire base.
Then came screams, echoing one after another.
Shinoa's eyes snapped open, her amethyst irises contracting sharply in the darkness.
"An enemy attack?!"
She flipped off the bed in one swift move, almost by instinct summoning her Cursed Gear, Shikama Dji.
The demonic weapon hummed faintly in her grasp, as if sensing danger too.
Outside her window, fire lit up the night sky.
Shinoa pulled the curtains aside, and the sight made her inhale sharply.
Dozens of vampires were rampaging through the base, their crimson eyes glowing menacingly in the darkness.
Even more alarming, she caught sight of a figure clad in opulent attire.
"A vampire noble?!"
No time to hesitate.
Shinoa swiftly changed into her uniform.
Shikama Dji transformed into a large scythe in her hand.
She kicked open the window and leapt from the third floor. Landing with a roll to lessen the impact, she then sprinted toward the nearest battlefield.
A vampire had a human soldier by the throat, fangs poised to sink into his artery.
Shinoa's scythe flashed silver, and the vampire's head was severed before dissolving into ash.
The soldier gasped and coughed in terror.
"Our eastern defensive line has collapsed! A progenitor is herethere's a vampire progenitor!"
"Got it!"
Just as Shinoa turned to head that way, the ground shook violently. A blinding white light erupted from the center of the base.
"What on earth?"
All the battling vampires paused, warily eyeing the source of that brilliance.
Shinoa felt a sudden inexplicable dread, as though something terrifying was about to awaken.
From the central research building, an entire outer wall crumbled away.
A petite figure hovered in midair.
It was a girl, clad in a white lab coat, her body bound by numerous rune-etched chains.
Shoulder-length black hair whipped about in a storm of energy.
Behind her spread four wings of pure light.
But the most shocking detail was her eyesnow entirely black.
No pupils, nothing but dark emptiness within.
"Fifth Trumpet, activate."
An icy voice from the loudspeaker echoedHiiragi Kureto's, one of the leaders of the Imperial Demon Army.
"Target: Exterminate all vampires."
Suspended midair, the girl's movements were eerily mechanical as she slowly raised her head.
"!!!"
From her mouth came a shrill, inhuman screech.
Next moment, her form started to twist.
Under her skin, bizarre black markings emerged; the four luminous wings turned into six black, demonic wings.
"The Seraph of the End?!"
Shinoa, watching that spectacle, felt her grip on the scythe tremble.
It was the second time she'd seen a result of the Imperial Demon Army's Seraph experiments.
The vampires' assault, the Seraph unveiling its power Possibly linked to Hyakuya Yuuichirou's fate and the death of a progenitor.
Right then, that girl harnessing the Fifth Trumpet's power morphed into a massive demonic hunting beastAbaddon!
Transformed into Abaddon, the figure known as "Kimizuki Mirai" dove down.
Anything in her path, be it structures or living beings, was swallowed by black tar-like fluid.
One vampire noble tried to block her, only to be skewered through the chest by a blade formed from that tar.
"W-what is that monster?!"
Other vampires recoiled in fear, stumbling back.
"Mirai! Stop!"
A shout rang out.
A slightly younger boy, disregarding all obstacles, rushed toward Abaddon.
His gaze was torn between anguish and disbelief.
He was Kimizuki Shiho.
