I can’t just leave Aris alone.
Clack.
I slam my teacup down on the table, making a ruckus.
The oolong tea sloshes a little.
“Let’s stop this. Mr. Association President.”
At my words, Aris’s eyes widen.
Ichiro’s eyebrows twitch.
“My relationship with the president senpai is merely that of upperclassman and underclassman. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Oh?”
Ichiro’s gaze turns toward me.
“From what I see, the way you jumped in, it doesn’t seem like an ordinary relationship.”
I knew this would happen.
That personality of his, always testing people, hasn’t changed since the washing machine incident.
Of course, I’ve long prepared a response for this.
I spat out my answer.
“It’s just that I became closer to Saionji-senpai through our bond during the Kyoto Exchange Tournament, and we’ve been training together after school every day since. It’s nothing beyond the usual upperclassman-underclassman relationship.”
A truthful, fact-based reply.
It’s unlikely, but even if the Association President used his power to investigate our relationship, he wouldn’t find anything more than this.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung…”
Just as Aris called my name with a hint of concern.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Ichiro breaks into applause.
He laughs heartily.
“Ha, hahaha, hahay! It’s the first time Saionji-san brought along a student rather than a council officer on an association trip, so I was just making a joke. Don’t take it too seriously, both of you.”
Despite his words, nobody thinks it’s a joke.
Could it be that cliché?
Forcing laughter from a lame dad joke using his authority?
Just as I was about to say something.
“That was a funny joke. Mr. Association President.”
Aris lifts her head and replies.
The flustered expression from before is nowhere to be seen; she’s back in her usual calm, perfect student council president mode.
Phew, I feel a bit relieved now.
“Right? Hahaha. Even the subordinates in the association compliment me on my sense of humor. Especially that friend, Mingwang; he really likes my jokes.”
Ichiro laughs and sips his oolong tea.
Inside, I sent my condolences to Mingwang.
“Well, I’m glad. You two seem to be getting along well.”
Ichiro tightens his grip on the teacup.
He speaks.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Ichiro’s gaze sharpens as it lands on me.
“I was impressed by your exemplary display of protecting your senior in distress today. You are indeed a desirable talent. But…”
But?
What is he getting at now?
“If a single tear falls from my daughter’s eyes, from that day onward, you will be my enemy. No matter how much of a benefactor or talent you are, I won’t spare you. I shall never forgive you.”
“If a single tear falls from my daughter’s eyes, from that day on, you shall be my enemy. No more talk of gratitude or talent—it’s irrelevant. I will never forgive you.”
Well, well.
Who would’ve thought you’d be such a doting dad?
Just listen to him, it’s unbelievable.
Sigh.
I nodded internally while giving a resigned sigh.
“Yes, understood, President.”
“Good.”
Ichiro laughed heartily.
“Now that work and small talk are done, you may leave. I still have things to take care of.”
“Understood, President. I’ll see you next time.”
After Ichiro and Aris exchanged farewells, I left the President’s office with Aris.
*
Bang.
The door to the President’s office closed.
“Hmmm.”
Ichiro let out a contemplative sound.
His eyebrows twitched.
“Saionji Aris…”
Aris denied it, but Ichiro knew.
He was aware of her feelings for Kim Deok-Sung.
And that wasn’t all.
Click.
As Ichiro pressed a button on his desk, the wooden table transformed into a sleek metal desk with a modern design.
Pressing the keyboard above, holographic screens popped up, displaying all the personal information of the heroines connected to Kim Deok-Sung.
“Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, Nishizawa Eri, Hoshino Kasumi, Kamiya Makoto, Saionji Aris, Evangelin Stewart, and then….”
Pop.
A photo of a white-haired, red-eyed Gothic Lolita beauty appeared before Ichiro’s eyes.
“Unbelievable, even the Chairwoman… What a mess she is.”
Sigh.
Ichiro exhaled dramatically.
“There are just too many rivals for our dear Rin.”
Ichiro’s eyes narrowed.
Kim Deok-Sung was the owner of the transcendent weapon Durandal and the person who rescued him.
There was no way he could let him slip away.
Click.
As Ichiro pressed another button, a photo of Rin in a kimono, attending a bridal class, appeared.
A content smile crept across Ichiro’s face as he saw Rin arranging flowers.
“But don’t worry, Rin. Your father will help you. Even if it means using the power of the Association…”
Just then, as Ichiro was murmuring sweetly at Rin’s photo, a mechanical sound echoed.
Swish.
The automatic door opened, and someone walked in.
“I’m here, President.”
With a grumbling voice and a somewhat dazed expression, it was Meiou Nakayama Sojiro.
Once Ichiro saw Sojiro, he hurriedly switched off the hologram.
“Ahem. You’re here, Nakayama Vice President.”
“Yes, yes. I can tell from your expression that you were looking at your daughter’s pictures again, right? Sigh. Some of us are working overtime, while others are lounging about in the tatami room playing doting dad. It feels like a black company… no, a black association!”
As Sojiro complained while taking a seat, Ichiro brushed off the familiar grumbling.
“What’s the outcome of your investigation?”
“Here it is. This Kim Deok-Sung cadet, why is it so hard to gather intel on him? All students at Shuo Hero Academy are like that, but for him, it’s even worse. I thought I was going to lose it. If you want me to do stuff like this again, better pay me extra.”
Slap.
Sojiro plopped a USB memory stick on the desk while muttering complaints.
“Good work.”
As Ichiro took the USB, a dry smile appeared on his lips.
With the information gathered using the Association’s power, writing a strategy report on Kim Deok-Sung would surely help Rin, who was busy with her bridal classes.
“Rin will definitely be helpful too.”
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. You must become Shinozaki Deok-Sung.”
Ichiro fiddles with a USB drive, a sly smile on his face.
Rattle, crack.
Shishiodoshi falls to the ground with a sound.
“Ao. President, haven’t you cleaned up that Shishiodoshi yet? It’s annoying.”
Sojiro furrows his brow.
Ichiro, seeing this, comments, “It’s my preference.”
“…You’re like a bad boss, like a black association. Can’t even leave work.”
Hearing Sojiro’s grumbling, Ichiro laughs.
*
In front of the association building.
Aris bit her lip, face flushed.
‘Ugh…’
Thump.
Thump-thump.
Her heart raced painfully in her chest.
When Ichiro said she wasn’t acting like Student Council President Saionji Aris.
Aris panicked.
She knew in her head he didn’t mean it that way, but her heart took it differently.
Hearing that she was wearing a mask.
Not the perfect superhuman lady Saionji Aris, but the bullied country girl Aris.
Aris gasped for breath.
So, she couldn’t say anything.
Because Ichiro’s words were true.
Her outward appearance was all a lie, just a crafted mask.
‘If it weren’t for Mr. Kim Deok-Sung…’
If he hadn’t stepped up for her.
Perhaps a glimpse of her true self might have shown.
[Please stop, President.]
His words echoed in her ear.
President of the Japan Hero Association, Shinozaki Ichiro.
As the strongest in Japan, a top contender globally, Kim Deok-Sung confronted him head-on.
‘He, he was trying to save me…’
Thump.
Aris’s heart raced.
Her face grew hot.
As the Student Council President, she must behave impeccably and set a good example for everyone, so romance was off-limits.
But if she saw such a sight…
‘That’s unfair…’
Aris shook her head, trying hard to deny her feelings.
Her face turned red.
‘Like Mr. Kim Deok-Sung said, we’re just seniors and juniors…’
A slightly closer relationship.
Just that is good.
Nothing more.
That’s what she thought.
But when Kim Deok-Sung drew the line like that.
Aris felt disappointingly surprised by her own emotions.
‘Still, there’s no need to be so decisive about it… No, why am I having such shameless thoughts right now?!’
Aris shook her head again.
Her face turned even redder.
There was no reason to feel disappointed, so why did she keep feeling that way?
Aris pursed her lips.
“Senpai.”
She heard his voice by her ear.
Thump.
Her heart raced again.
The disappointment melted away like snow.
“Why does your expression keep changing? It’s different from usual.”
Hearing Kim Deok-Sung’s voice, Aris’s face turned bright red.
“No, it’s nothing compared to that…”
Aris mumbled.
Her confused feelings didn’t matter.
After all, she had received help again.
It was only polite to express gratitude.
Even if it was from a junior.
Aris bent her waist.
“Thank you for stepping in earlier on my behalf.”
Aris said with a slightly trembling voice, bowing her waist.
It’s not like I did anything that great to deserve a folder bow.
I felt a bit awkward for no reason.
Ah, the kindness of this light novel world.
“It’s nothing, so please don’t worry about it.”
“Still… thank you, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
“Yes, understood.”
After a few rounds of thank-yous, Aris lifted her head again.
A brief silence.
“Well then, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, it’s getting to be dinner time, so if you’re okay with it…”
Aris tucked her silver hair behind her ear and spoke with a slightly flushed voice.
“Would you like to have some ramen with me…?”
What?
Is she serious?
[What’s up, partner? Why are you flustered?]
The Black Prince shouted in my head.
When she said “let’s have ramen,” I suddenly felt a strange sensation.
I knew that in Japan, ramen refers to that noodle, but somehow it didn’t sound right.
Damn it.
I’m losing it.
My face turned slightly warm.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung? Do you perhaps not like ramen…?”
Noticing my expression, Aris asked in a small voice.
I shook my head at her words.
“No, it’s not that. I like ramen.”
Aris has a simple taste, liking gyudon and ramen, as is her setting.
“That’s a relief.”
Aris placed her hand on her chest.
She bowed her head and sighed in relief.
A small smile appeared.
I knew it.
Right now, Aris’s face was adorned with a pure smile of a country girl, unlike the perfect superhuman act she usually put on.
“Since I owe you for my earlier help, dinner is on me today. Please follow me.”
So, I was led by Aris to the ramen shop.
“Here we are.”
The place we arrived at was a small ramen shop with a shabby sign and a worn-out interior.
It looked more like a street vendor than an actual shop.
This wasn’t the kind of place you would expect a renowned noble lady like Aris to frequent.
But I knew.
This was the secret ramen shop that the original Aris frequented without anyone knowing.
In other words, this ramen shop served as a hidden hobby for Aris, the country girl, rather than the student council president.
It was featured in the anime too and was the place Aris visited alone with the protagonist after the epilogue of volume 7 in the original work.
“Is the exterior of the shop not to your liking? If that’s the case, I can guarantee the taste…”
When I fell silent for a moment, Aris spoke with a slightly reddened face.
“No, let’s go in.”
I cut her off.
Since it was described as really delicious in the original, it couldn’t possibly be a bad place.
“Ahem. Understood.”
Probably feeling awkward, Aris cleared her throat as we entered the ramen shop.
“Welcome! Customers!”
A middle-aged man, looking like a typical ramen shop owner, greeted us with a red face.
Following Aris, we sat down.
We were seated side by side at a long table that stretched horizontally, much like a bar.
Together with Aris, we ordered ramen.
