Chapter 9

It was Monday morning.

I was leaning on my desk, my body aching from muscle soreness.

"Good morning, Kanzaki-kun."

I looked up to see Ohashi standing there. I returned the greeting and laid my head back down on the desk.

Huh? Where’s Tsukasa?

While Rin is one thing, Ohashi usually comes to school with Tsukasa every day.

Curious, I immediately looked up and asked Ohashi.

"Where’s Tsukasa?"

"He said he’ll be late today."

"Hmm, again?"

That guy is always late for school.

Without him, the members of the Tsukasa harem are pretty quiet.

I glanced at the corner of the classroom where Ryou was sitting.

Ryou Nishinomiya was already chatting with her new friends.

She noticed my gaze and smiled at me.

I felt my heart skip a beat.

If she could make such a cute smile, I wish she would do it more often.

I averted my gaze and sank back into my desk.

Still, what a rough day yesterday was.

I didn’t know throwing knives training would be so intense.

I closed my eyes. Maybe I’ll just sleep through the day.

"Hey, Kanzaki, wake up."

I was called by someone and sat up. The teacher was already at the podium, ready to start the morning homeroom.

"Starting today, we have one week until the tests. I’ll post the schedule on the board. Make sure to study hard."

It’s already that time of year.

I usually manage to stay in the top ranks, but I don’t think I’ll do well this time.

I glanced at Ryou and let out a dramatic sigh.

After homeroom, the teacher was replaced, and class began.

I sank back into my desk.

---

Tsukasa arrived just before the third period, and it was now lunchtime.

Tsukasa usually doesn’t bring a lunch.

That’s because Rin and Ohashi take turns making and bringing it for him.

I’m a bit envious, but it’s not like it bothers me.

However, I really wish they wouldn’t gather at my desk to eat.

Thanks to that, I can also partake in their side dishes, but it feels a bit hollow.

"Hey? Is that Fūto’s lunch today? That’s unusual. And it’s a pretty healthy one, too."

Tsukasa said, looking at my lunch.

Actually, this was a lunch Ryou made for me. Concerned about my daily unhealthy convenience store meals and bread, she started making them for me. She secretly hands me the lunch in the morning.

However, unlike Rin and Ohashi’s, this isn’t a love lunch.

Ryou’s is more like food to strengthen me.

No, that’s a bit rude. I should honestly say I’m grateful.

Ryou is eating with a different group of girls.

Her acting is thorough; she maintains her character even when no one is watching.

It’s impressive that she doesn’t slip up. I’ve only known her for a few days, but I’m constantly reminded of how amazing Ryou is.

My first impression of her being unpleasant has already been erased.

"Are you that interested in Ryou-chan?"

"Are you in love with her?"

"Kanzaki-kun can have a crush, too?"

I’ll let them have their misconceptions.

---

After school.

I immediately headed to the hideout.

Tsukasa had invited me to hang out, but I declined, prioritizing training.

I can’t let our relationship get too strained, so I need to hang out with him sometimes.

I arrived at Ryou’s room.

When I entered, I was greeted by a displeased Ryou.

"Sit over there."

I sat in the chair in front of the table as instructed.

Why is she angry?

I have no idea.

However, I knew Ryou doesn’t get unreasonably angry.

I must have done something wrong.

As I tried to figure out the reason, Ryou took out a loose-leaf paper from her school bag and quickly wrote something on it.

She then slid it across the table to me.

"Here’s what we learned today. Try to solve it."

The problems on the loose-leaf were math problems.

They were from today’s lesson, but they seemed to be advanced problems.

Of course, there’s no way I could solve them after sleeping through class.

I remained silent.

Ryou let out a heavy sigh.

"Why do you sleep in class?"

I was tired from the intense training. Of course, that’s no excuse.

Seeing me bow my head, Ryou’s lecture began.

"To get a recommendation, you need good grades, too.

You don’t seem to appreciate the value of learning from others. And..."

Her lecture continued for a while.

In the end, she made me promise to get into the top 20 in the next test before she finished.

Now, I was being forced to study.

Ryou is smart, and she helps me with the parts I don’t understand. Her handwriting is beautiful, and I need to start looking for her flaws.

I came to the hideout with the intention of training, but I never expected to end up studying.

The sound of my pencil scratching the paper was mixed with sighs.

I kept giving Ryou looks, trying to convey that I wanted to train, but one glare from her made me settle down.

I couldn’t slack off with her monitoring my progress.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"My angel Ryou! I’m back! Open up!"

A man’s voice. Who is it?

I looked at Ryou, who frowned and looked annoyed.

"Who is it?"

"Tsukiri. It’s that troublesome guy who’s back. I wish he’d stay at the branch forever..."

"Are you not going to open the door?"

"He’ll just come in anyway."

As soon as she said that, the door lock clicked, and the door opened.

Does he have a key? No, he asked her to open it, so that’s not it.

He must have done something.

Ryou sighed.

A blonde man entered the room. His hair wasn’t naturally blonde like Ryou’s; it looked dyed.

He was a bit older than us, tall, and looked like a complete host.

He went straight to Ryou and took her hand, kneeling down.

"Mademoiselle, how have you been?

I’ve thought of you every night!"

"...Long time no see, Tsukiri. I heard you’d be gone longer."

"For Ryou, I can finish my mission twice as fast!"

"I didn’t ask you to. But I’m glad you’re safe.

Now, go away. You’re interrupting Shion’s study session."

At that moment, Tsukiri fell silent.

He glared at me and slammed his hand on the table.

My heart skipped a beat at the sudden action.

"Why not me!? I’ve been working hard to become your partner! I completed the difficult mission alone! Just like you, delicate and beautiful!

But your heart remains locked!

And when I come back, I find it unlocked by someone else! You said you’d never have a partner!"

What’s with this sudden outburst...

I could only look back and forth between Tsukiri and Ryou.

"I apologize for that.

I ended up making a partner."

"...You, who refused to make a partner no matter who asked, including Hyde, accepted one so easily...! Why?"

That’s what I was wondering too. Ryou has been helping me, but why did she choose me?

Because the boss told her?

But she refused before... Why?

I looked at Ryou, and our eyes met, but she quickly looked away.

"It’s none of your business, Tsukiri. I can choose my partner freely."

Tsukiri lowered his head.

That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it? But it doesn’t seem like something I can interfere with.

"...Is it pity...? Reflecting on your past self..."

"I’ll get angry."

Ryou’s stern voice silenced Tsukiri.

I don’t understand, but it seems he said something he shouldn’t have.

Pity.

I’m aware that I was in a situation that could be pitied.

In the silence, Tsukiri’s gaze suddenly turned to me.

"Shion, was it?

Why you, of all people..."

I didn’t really want to be here.

If I hadn’t manifested, I would have had a relatively happy life.

But it’s pointless to say that now.

I don’t have any complaints about my current situation.

I just have some anxiety about the future.

I didn’t know what to say to Tsukiri.

Unable to bear his gaze, I looked away, and Tsukiri muttered.

"...I have to kill you.

Yeah, I’ll kill you."

The attack was sudden.

Ryou kicked the knife that was coming at me, and before I knew it, a fight had broken out.

Tsukiri was airborne, aiming a kick at Ryou’s face.

Ryou blocked it with her arm.

She then wrapped her arm around his leg and pulled him to the ground, slamming him.

Ryou’s attack didn’t stop there.

She silently dislocated his arms and legs, rendering Tsukiri combat-incapable in an instant.

The force of her attack left me stunned.

Tsukiri’s scream echoed, but Ryou grabbed his broken leg and dragged him out of the room.

She then asked a passing member to deal with Tsukiri, closed the door, and returned to me.

"That was close.

I didn’t expect him to lose it just because I got a partner."

"I was surprised..."

Mainly by Ryou’s movements.

But it seems I can’t let my guard down even in the hideout with someone like him around.

"Tsukiri can be reasonable when he calms down. He’s quite strong, though.

I’ll report this to the boss to prevent it from happening again."

A reliable partner.

But while I’m within reach of her, I should consider my life in her hands.

Her close-combat abilities are too dangerous.

"Let’s continue."

"Understood."

We resumed studying.

After studying, I was forced to train, and I didn’t get home until after 11 PM.

I tell my parents I’m working part-time, but I should avoid being away from home every day.

---

The next day after school. I was at the hideout again.

Ryou and I were walking down the hallway together.

I had learned about Tsukiri’s ability from Ryou.

Tsukiri’s ability is "Complete Lock."

He can unlock and lock anything.

The range of his ability changes depending on his mood.

It’s not that he can change the range; it actually changes.

While he can make someone close their eyes or open their hands, his ability is more than just a simple open and close.

According to Ryou, Tsukiri is as strong as her in actual combat.

However, he doesn’t use his ability against her.

The reason is something like, "You should unlock it yourself."

Tsukiri’s strength lies in temporarily disabling the opponent’s ability.

With his "Ability Lock" and a technique to unlock his own brain’s limitations, he can basically defeat anyone.

So, how can I defeat Tsukiri?

I have to take him out before he gets close.

"Got it? You have to finish it in one hit. If he gets close, it’s over. Go for the kill."

"...I don’t know if I can win."

"You can win if you’re serious. In fact, you have to win."

We were having this conversation because I had just been challenged to a duel by Tsukiri.

A duel for Ryou.

Of course, I refused. But Tsukiri brought the boss as a mediator, and the boss told me to fight.

It seems this is how internal conflicts are resolved in the organization.

Ryou’s objections were ignored.

"...I’m nervous."

"I’m the one who’s nervous. I might really get killed."

"I’ll step in if it looks like you’re about to die."

By the time we finished talking, we had arrived at the training room.

The observation room was filled with organization members, including the Black Dogs.

There were many people I hadn’t seen before.

"Here you are."

Tsukiri said, stepping in front of me.

"...Hello."

The atmosphere was so tense that I felt overwhelmed.

Tsukiri entered the training room first, stopped at the designated spot, and turned to glare at me.

...I’m genuinely scared.

"...Shion, I’m counting on you."

Ryou took my hand and squeezed it.

It’s embarrassing to receive such encouragement in front of Tsukiri.

I quickly pulled my hand away.

"...I’m going in."

I said and entered the training room.