"Uwah!"
Before Kaito could even wonder why she was here.
Suou Yuuki suddenly let out a cry.
She threw herself into his arms.
"Onii-chan, I'm so glad you're okay! Yuuki was so worried about you!"
Kaito couldn't help but chuckle and pat her head.
"People who know what happened would think I just beat someone up."
"Those who don't would think I got beaten to death by the way you're acting."
Yuuki stuck out her tongue.
She didn't continue fooling around, just happily snuggled into his arms.
"Mr. Sora."
"Thank you so much this time."
Maria bowed deeply, her expression full of gratitude.
"Alisa's matter really troubled you."
"It's fine. We're all friends. Of course, I'd help if there's trouble."
"Regardless, I still want to thank you."
Alisa pressed her lips together and gave Kaito a deep, ninety-degree bow.
"Thank you so much."
"No need for thanks. It was just a small thing."
After chatting for a bit.
Kaito glanced at Nakano Nino, who seemed to have something to say, and then said, "Alright."
"I'm fine. It's not like I'm hospitalized. No need to visit me."
"Go on with your day."
"See you tonight, Onii-chan!"
Yuuki immediately understood that Kaito wanted to talk to Nino alone.
Maria also seemed to catch on.
Alisa, however, still wanted to say something but was gently pulled away by Maria.
Soon.
Only Nino and Kaito were left in the office.
"Nakano-san, do you need something?"
"Of course, I do."
Seeing that everyone else had left, Nino puffed up her chest and said, "You said you weren't from our school, right?"
"I just transferred today. When I met you, I wasn't a student here yet."
"You..."
Nino's chest heaved in frustration.
After taking a deep breath, she changed the subject. "What's your relationship with Suou-san and Kyoko-san?"
"What does that have to do with you?"
"Of course, it does!"
Nino blurted out without thinking, "You wouldn't want Suou-san and Kyoko-san to know about what happened on the subway, would you?!"
Silence.
Feeling the sudden awkward silence.
And Kaito's strange gaze.
Nino regretted it.
What on earth had she just blurted out in the heat of the moment?!
But the words were already out.
Nino could only bite her lip and stare at Kaito, as if saying, If you don't give me an explanation, I won't let this go!
After a long while.
Kaito suddenly stood up and walked toward Nino.
Nino instinctively backed away.
One step forward, one step back. The small office wasn't very spacious, and within a few steps, Nino's back hit the wall.
"W-what are you doing?"
"It's not a big deal if they find out, but..."
Kaito placed one hand on the wall beside her.
"Nakano-san."
"You wouldn't want others to know about what happened on the subway, would you?"
Checkmate!
Nino's mind went blank as she stared at Kaito, who was now inches away from her.
"Close your eyes," Kaito commanded.
Nino instinctively closed her eyes.
What was he going to do?
Was he going to kiss her?
Or do something even more outrageous?
After a while.
Nino didn't feel any movement from Kaito and couldn't help but peek through one eye.
She saw.
Kaito raising his hand toward her forehead.
Tap.
The moment she opened her eyes.
His index finger lightly flicked her forehead.
"Ow?!"
Nino covered her forehead, tears welling up in her eyes as she glared at him.
"Suou Yuuki is my little sister."
"As for Kyoko-san, she's just a friend."
"You can tell them if you want."
"But as for you, Nakano-san..."
Kaito's lips curled into a mischievous smile.
"You wouldn't want your sisters to find out about what happened on the subway, would you?"
Nino felt a wave of relief.
Hearing his "threat," which didn't sound threatening at all—more like a joke—Nino wasn't angry.
But she still puffed up her chest and said, "What do you want?"
"Let me think."
Under Nino's nervous gaze, Kaito snapped his fingers.
"I'm thirsty. I want a cola."
That's it?
Nino glared at him, then turned and walked out of the office.
Kaito lay back on the sofa and closed his eyes.
Not long after, the office door opened, and soon a cold can of cola was pressed against Kaito's face.
"That was fast?"
Kaito opened his eyes in surprise, only to be greeted by a perfect view of Maria's abosolut domain.
Looking up.
He saw Maria's gentle, smiling face.
"Maria?"
Kaito sat up in surprise, taking the cola from Maria's hand.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, I wanted to thank you privately, so I told Alisa I was going to buy some water. I also remembered that you really like cola."
"Private thanks?"
Kaito opened the cola and drank half of it in one go.
"Mm-hmm."
Maria smiled and raised her hand.
From Kaito's seated position.
If he looked up slightly, he'd see her chest.
If he looked down slightly, he'd see her legs.
Those fair, plump legs were right there, completely unguarded.
"Since you helped Alisa."
"I decided to let the kind Mr. Sora touch my legs."
As Maria spoke.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
Kaito, who had been about to place the remaining half of the cola on the table, instead downed it in one go.
Then, without hesitation, he reached out and touched the absolute domain between her skirt and stockings.
"Ah?"
Maria let out a soft gasp as Kaito's cold hand touched her skin.
"Mr. Sora, your hand is so cold."
"Sorry."
Kaito said apologetically.
But at the same time, he placed his other hand, which hadn't held the cola, on her leg to warm it up.
After a few strokes.
Kaito pulled Maria onto his lap, letting his hands roam freely over her plump thighs.
"Mr. Sora, you're really bad."
Maria's face was now bright red, and her body trembled slightly from embarrassment.
[Condition met, trigger keyword!]
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the keyword: Russian Proficiency!]
[Russian Proficiency]: You can understand and fluently speak Russian and related minor languages.
"We're both at fault."
After thoroughly enjoying himself for about a minute.
Maria grabbed Kaito's hands.
"Alright."
"I... I should get back to the student council."
"Otherwise..."
Kaito didn't continue touching Maria's legs.
Reluctantly, he withdrew his hands.
He gave Maria's gratitude a five-star review while expressing high expectations for future "treatments."
Afterward.
Maria didn't stay long, and soon Hiratsuka-se returned.
Then.
Nino finally returned with the cola.
With Hiratsuka Shizuka present, Kaito didn't tease Nino further, and Nino just glared at him before leaving.
Time flew by, and soon it was afternoon classes.
Hiratsuka Shizuka took Kaito to Class 2-B, which she taught.
After a brief self-introduction.
Hiratsuka Shizuka assigned Kaito to the second seat in the last row, near the window.
Notably.
The seat by the window in the last row was occupied by Alisa.
Naturally, since Kaito didn't have any textbooks, he shared Alisa's desk for the day.
Once everything was settled.
Hiratsuka Shizuka began her lecture.
Kaito, however, propped his chin on his hand and scanned the female students in the class.
Miura Yumiko, Yuigahama Yui, Nakano Miku.
And...
Kaito glanced at the girl sitting to his right, who was dozing off on her desk—Shiina Mahiro. His gaze lingered on her black-stockinged legs for a few seconds.
"My legs aren't worse than hers!"
"Why don't you look at mine?"
Kaito pretended to be confused and turned to Alisa on his left.
"Alisa-san, were you talking to me?"
Alisa immediately tensed up.
"Y-you can understand Russian?"
"Were you speaking Russian just now? I didn't catch it. I just heard you say something."
Alisa breathed a sigh of relief and huffed, "I was just telling you to pay attention in class!"
With that.
Alisa sat up straight and focused on the blackboard.
Her red ears were particularly adorable.
Kaito found it amusing and wanted to reply in Russian, Alisa-san's legs are indeed amazing. But after some thought, he held back.
The shame was only at level one.
He'd wait until it built up more before revealing that he understood Russian.
Tsk.
With anticipation.
Kaito continued scanning the legs of the other girls in the class.
Just as Alisa was about to blurt out another Russian phrase.
Kaito suddenly turned his gaze.
To her legs.
And complimented, "Alisa-san's legs are really nice."
"Huh?"
Alisa's face turned bright red.
Her white-stockinged legs pressed together as she stammered, "W-what are you suddenly saying? What legs..."
You were the one who wanted me to look at your legs earlier.
Now you're blushing just because I complimented you.
Your defense is way too low.
Kaito found it amusing and continued teasing, "Can I touch them?"
Alisa's face turned even redder, and she lowered her head, whispering in Russian.
"Sure."
Alisa felt her mind was in chaos.
Before, she had found Kaito's flirtatious nature annoying.
But.
After what happened at noon, she didn't know why, but she suddenly found herself caring about him. His teasing didn't feel unwelcome anymore.
"Hmm? Alisa-san, what did you say?"
"Was that a yes? Then I'll touch them."
Kaito reached out his hand.
Alisa watched as Kaito's hand slowly moved toward her legs.
In her mind, angels and demons battled.
Finally.
Alisa couldn't muster the courage.
She covered her legs in embarrassment.
"It's a no!"
"I won't let you touch my legs!"
Then.
Alisa whispered in Russian, "Pervert! Idiot! Big dummy who doesn't understand Russian! Leg-loving pervert!"
"Is that so?"
Kaito didn't expose her.
He put on a disappointed expression and then lay down to sleep.
Seeing Kaito's lost expression as he went to sleep, Alisa opened her mouth, feeling a bit lost.
Did I...
Should I not have refused him?
She wanted to tell him, Don't look so sad, I actually agreed to let you touch my legs earlier...
But after opening her mouth several times.
Alisa couldn't bring herself to say such a thing in Japanese.
She could only whisper it in Russian.
Seeing that Kaito didn't react, she didn't know whether to feel relieved or more anxious.
In any case.
For this entire class.
Alisa didn't hear a single word Hiratsuka Shizuka said.
When the first class ended.
Kaito had planned to skip class, but as soon as Hiratsuka Shizuka left, a group of girls surrounded him, chattering away.
"Kaito-kun, have you practiced martial arts before?"
"Kaito-kun, you were so cool at noon!"
"Kaito-kun, are you and Kyoko-san dating?"
Suddenly.
Miura Yumiko, sitting a seat away, spoke up.
The room fell silent.
All eyes turned to Kaito and Alisa.
Alisa also looked at Kaito nervously.
Kaito smiled and said, "Not really. We're just friends."
Miura Yumiko breathed a sigh of relief, and many of the girls cheered, starting to ask questions like, Kaito-kun, do you have a girlfriend?
"What's this? Am I worse than Tohsaka-san?"
"Am I not good enough for you? Why can't I be your girlfriend? Idiot!!!"
Alisa muttered dissatisfaction in Russian.
Kaito looked at Alisa in confusion.
"Hmm? Alisa-san, what are you saying?"
Alisa's heart raced, but remembering that Kaito didn't understand Russian, she relaxed.
"Nothing."
"Just saying that you and I are just classmates."
Adachi Ward.
This area was considered the outskirts of the capital, with low land prices and affordable rent. As a result, many people from outside Tokyo who came to study or work but couldn't afford the city's high costs lived here.
By the time Kaito arrived.
It was already past 3 p.m.
Thinking about helping Alisa accumulate more shame.
Kaito didn't skip the second class.
Instead, he took every opportunity to get Alisa to say something in Russian.
Then, using his photografic memory ability, he memorized everything Alisa said, imagining the future scene when she found out he understood Russian.
After the second class ended.
Since Rin had club activities.
Kaito used his Imaginary space ability to come here alone.
He stopped in front of a small, rundown house.
Kaito looked up.
Admiring the dilapidated building for a moment.
His eyes seemed to travel through home.
The location was the same.
But the time had returned to that stormy night during the typhoon.
Torrential rain poured down.
A beautiful but injured woman stumbled to the door of this house.
Then, unable to hold on any longer.
She collapsed to the ground.
Unconscious.
Not long after, the door opened.
A sweet-looking girl stepped into the rain, worriedly looking at the unconscious Medusa, gently shaking her.
She made soft, unintelligible sounds.
After getting no response for a while.
She ran back inside.
Soon.
A tomboyish girl and a beautiful woman who looked strikingly similar to her followed her out.
Seeing the injured woman on the ground.
The woman frowned.
After some apparent argument with the girl who had found the injured woman, she finally relented.
Together, they dragged the injured woman inside.
The scene ended.
Looking at the old house bathed in the黄昏 sunlight.
Kaito smiled and walked up to the door.
He gently knocked.
"Coming."
A mature, gentle voice came from inside.
"Is that you, Miko?"
"Why are you back so early..."
The door opened.
A purple-haired, voluptuous woman with a gentle smile opened the door. But when she saw who was standing there.
Her smile froze.
It quickly turned into tension, panic, and despair.
In contrast.
Kaito's smile widened.
"Long time no see."
"Medusa-san."