"Is there anyone in this academy who surpasses you?" Kanata's words may have been framed as a question, but her tone left no room for doubt.
In terms of appearance alone, Ryoji undoubtedly stood at the pinnacle of Hagun Academy. In fact, even if one scoured the entire world, few could rival him.
However, Kanata was not the type to be swayed by looks alone. As the daughter of a distinguished family, she had seen more handsome men than Ryoji had seen beautiful women across both his lifetimes.
"What truly moves me is your unwavering resolve— to stay true to yourself and never back down." Kanata's golden eyes sparkled, filled with unhidden admiration.
It was a quality she longed for yet struggled to attain.
Ryoji could boldly declare his ambition to become the world's strongest and possess the unshakable will to see it through. That unyielding spirit resonated with her deeply, stirring something within her heart.
It was for this very reason that Totokubara Kanata had changed her mind.
She had originally planned to suppress her personal desires for the sake of her family. Yet, after witnessing Ryoji's way of life, the thoughts she had long kept buried began to resurface.
In other words, Ryoji had become her ideal.
With that in mind, there was only one person in her eyes— there were no alternatives, nor did she need any.
"Do you understand what I mean by this?" Totokubara Kanata lightly covered her lips as she chuckled.
Her refined demeanor reflected her noble upbringing, exuding grace and elegance. No one would have expected the wild boldness hidden beneath her polished exterior.
"Then I can't afford to disappoint you." Ryoji smiled, his warmth reminiscent of the gentle embrace of spring.
Since time was limited, they didn't dwell too much on their choice and casually picked a romance film that was currently being screened.
The movie itself was mediocre, with an uninspired plot. The heroine, forced by unfortunate circumstances, sold her body, and over time, she and the male lead gradually developed feelings for each other. In the end, with the male lead's support, the heroine managed to turn her life around.
It was a textbook "redemption from a tragic past" narrative.
Ryoji remained indifferent throughout, while Kanata— who might have been stepping into a cinema for the first time— watched intently, her expression never quite shaking off a hint of puzzlement.
"I would never want a love like that." As they exited the theater, Kanata sighed with a trace of melancholy.
"If I were the heroine and had sullied myself that way, I wouldn't be worthy of someone noble. If it were me, I would have left the male lead behind and disappeared."
Kanata carried a deep sense of pride.
Ryoji, watching her, silently reached a conclusion—
People with strong pride are usually unwaveringly loyal to their love.
"That said, it feels a bit ironic for us, of all people, to be discussing this." Ryoji shrugged.
"I've already started thinking of ways to break off my engagement." Kanata shot him a meaningful glance.
"For a family like mine, political marriages exist solely to bring mutual benefits. But as long as I can provide even greater benefits, breaking off an engagement isn't impossible. I've been considering various options… but the simplest and most effective solution would be to marry the world's strongest Blazer, don't you think?"
Kanata's implications were anything but subtle.
Hurry up and steal the bride.
She had no intention of outright rebelling against her family. She respected them and the mission they upheld— the philosophy of "the wealthy aiding the less fortunate."
But breaking off an engagement didn't necessarily mean she had to oppose them.
After all, political marriages are built on the foundation of equivalent exchanges. Annulling the engagement was a viable option as long as she could present something of equal or greater value.
Ordinary business methods would make it nearly impossible for her to amass that kind of capital within a year.
However, if the world's strongest Blazer were to steal her away, it would not only persuade both families with ease but also bring immense benefits to the Totokubara family, making it the perfect way to dissolve the engagement.
Ryoji suddenly felt the weight of it all.
"This... is going to take time."
"I'm getting married next year, so whether or not you can stop me from being wed into another family depends entirely on you." Kanata patted Ryoji's shoulder, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"Also, we can't keep this secret forever. You need to figure out how to deal with Touka!"
The time they could maintain their secret relationship was, at most, a year.
After that, they would either part ways or make their relationship public.
With Kanata's pride, she would never engage in an affair after marriage.
Ryoji himself couldn't stomach the thought of seducing a married woman. He was a firm believer in pure love. How could he just turn around and wear the mask of a deceiver?
Thus, Ryoji had only one path— to become the world's strongest within a year.
If he could accomplish that, Kanata's engagement problem would resolve itself, and perhaps even Senior Sister would go easier on him— or at least, he wouldn't fall so easily to "Raikiri."
He really had no idea how so many so-called scummy senpais managed to juggle multiple relationships. Just being caught between Senior Sister and Kanata already had him feeling completely overwhelmed.
Who could teach him the ways of a scummy man? Transmigrator senpais, bestow upon me your wisdom! Old big brothers, come guide me!
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the two arrived at a nearby family restaurant, intending to have dinner before heading back to school.
Though staying off-campus on weekends wasn't against the rules, if they were caught, it would undoubtedly increase the risk of exposure.
"This restaurant's food is surprisingly good!" Kanata exclaimed after taking a bite of her omelet rice, showering it with praise.
In reality, she had been eating nothing but nutritional meals for half a month and was simply craving a change.
They both removed their sunglasses, instantly illuminating the entire restaurant with their presence and drawing the eyes of many onlookers.
When Ryoji noticed someone preparing to snap a picture, he casually pulled out his Vrring knife and placed it on the table. The onlookers quickly quieted down.
He was a Blazer— provoking him was not a wise choice.
While Blazers were duty-bound to protect civilians, few ordinary people dared to test someone with such overwhelming power unless they were truly seeking trouble.
Kanata feigned ignorance, uninterested in being caught on camera herself.
She could only hope that, during this brief window without their disguises, no students from Hagun Academy would pass by—
"Oh? Totokubara San... and Nangou San?"
Ryoji: "..."
He suddenly recalled his Schrödinger-like luck.
Well, he only had himself to blame.
The unexpected voice made both of them tense as they turned to face the speaker.
A well-groomed girl with long black hair stood at the restaurant entrance, dressed in the Hagun Academy uniform. Her rare side fringe partially concealed her right eye, adding a touch of mystery to her composed yet inquisitive expression.
"It really is you two! I thought I saw you on the train earlier but I figured I was mistaken. I never expected to find you both in such a remote place... Could it be a date?"
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took in the sight before her.
Damn. They'd been exposed on the very first day!
(End of Chapter)
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